Book 1 Chapter 95

As the start time for the departmental battle approached, external guests began to take their seats one by one.

Amidst this, a commotion arose from one area.

"No way… the mage with the evil eye, Alby Zerion?"

"It's surprising that he's participating in a departmental event."

External guests murmured as they watched Alby, who had taken a seat in the spectator stands.

However, no one approached Alby.

This was because many feared him as much as they respected his reputation as a hero.

"It's surprising that Uncle is attending an event like this."

A female student, with a lap full of snacks, approached Alby with a composed face and sat next to him.

At this sight, the external guests murmured again.

She was Elena Zerion, the acting head of the Zerion family, who was currently in charge, and renowned as a genius in magic.

'Is that… the arrogant genius Elena.'

It was at this moment, as the external guests looked on with interest, that a young and handsome man confidently approached Elena.

"Greetings, Lady Elena."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Alak Turka. I am the prince of the Turka Kingdom."

The Turka Kingdom.

It was a center of trade located at the border between the western and central regions.

Alak was the crown prince of that kingdom.

'As the rumors say, she is truly beautiful.'

Alak swallowed hard as he saw Elena up close.

Up close, Elena was breathtakingly beautiful.

Even Alak, who had encountered all sorts of beautiful women as royalty, had never seen a woman with such looks.

Furthermore, Elena was a powerful hero candidate with an impressive background.

For Alak, who was of marriageable age, she was a desirable prospect.

'It's best to build some rapport first. My status should not be ignored.'

Alak glanced fleetingly at Elena's school skirt and smiled gently.

"It is a great honor to meet the renowned Lady Elena. Please grant me the opportunity to escort Lady Elena."

He bowed and unhesitatingly reached out to take Elena's hand.

Elena smiled faintly.

Alak, taking her smile as a positive sign, rejoiced internally.

A pink magical energy flickered from Alak's body.

"Huk?"

Elena flicked her finger without even looking at him.

Swish! Crack!

"Curk!"

Alak was embedded in the spectator stands.

"How dare you!"

Alak, enraged, stood up abruptly.

"Do you know who I am!"

"Are you angry?"

Elena asked, her eyes wide open.

Alak's convulsing eyes suddenly became dazed.

"Ah, no!"

"Right? You're not angry, are you?"

"Of course not! How could I be angry at this point! Hahahahaha!"

"Then, since it's unpleasant, could you please get out of my sight?"

"Understood!"

It was an extremely rude remark to say to a crown prince of a kingdom.

However, Alak did not mind at all and disappeared from Elena's sight like a dog.

Elena took out perfume from her pocket and sprinkled it into the air.

The external guests around her looked at Elena with expressions of disgust.

'As expected of Elena Zerion…!'

'To cause such a diplomatic blunder so casually!'

'The Witch of Lumern!'

Before being called the Queen, Elena was also called a witch.

"I told you not to use that power so carelessly?"

Alby said in a cold voice, and Elena replied with annoyance.

"Didn't Uncle see it too? He was looking at me with those dirty eyes first."

Elena scoffed.

Having possessed a powerful background and beautiful appearance since childhood, Elena was accustomed to people's lustful gazes.

Even if they hid their true intentions, she could easily sense such inclinations.

"And it's not like I used magic. Isn't it the one who can't resist this much power who is incompetent?"

Elena smiled brightly.

Her innate power was the ability to captivate people's hearts with her natural beauty and charisma.

As a child, her ability simply made people around her easily follow her, but now it had become a charm that could bewitch people with just a glance.

"By the way, why are you really here, Uncle?"

"I came to see a student who caught my interest."

"A student who caught your interest?"

"A student who is worthy of being a hero."

Elena, who was opening a snack bag, paused.

'A student worthy of being a hero? He never said that to me either.'

"Are you talking about Leo Flov?"

"Yes."

Elena's lips curved upwards.

As the successor of the Zerion family, Elena had met numerous heroes and hero candidates since childhood.

In Elena's eyes, no one was as worthy of the title of hero as Alby.

'Not even Father.'

Therefore, Elena had unconsciously strived to be recognized by Alby.

However, Elena had never been recognized by Alby.

'A student recognized by Uncle?'

Elena's cold gaze turned towards Leo in the distance.

'This will be interesting.'

***

[Welcome to our esteemed guests. I am Sedjen, and I will be in charge of this departmental battle today.]

Sedjen's voice echoed throughout the entire Erek training grounds.

The murmuring crowd stopped their chatter and focused on Sedjen.

[Students! As announced in advance, this departmental battle will be a Battle Royale! You will compete in your skills, strategies, and survival abilities to become the glorious last one standing, and this departmental battle will end! And the department to which the last one standing belongs will be the winning department!]

"Battle Royale."

"It's a method I've never seen before."

"It feels more like an individual competition than a departmental battle."

The external guests' eyes gleamed.

It was a rather unique method that piqued their interest.

'Especially since they said there are many excellent students this year.'

'We should sponsor promising students and draw them to our side in the future.'

Sedjen continued his explanation.

[You will each be given an artifact to check your physical condition! This artifact is set to teleport you here immediately if it determines there is a problem with your life!]

Sedjen took out a magic bracelet and showed it to the students.

[In other words… you can torment your opponents to the extent that you don't kill them. This is a warning, but please do not misuse it.]

Sedjen's unusually cold gaze fell upon the students.

The first-year students flinched.

[Also, a notice to our esteemed guests.]

Sedjen said in a serious voice, looking at the spectator stands.

Everyone's expression became tense at the words of Professor Sedjen, who was renowned even in Lumern.

[The main viewing point of this departmental battle is the magnificent performance of the elegant first-year students of Class 1! Everyone, pay close attention when the students of Class 1 appear…]

"Drag him away."

Halind said ruthlessly, seeing Sedjen, who had suddenly started showing favoritism.

At his words, Ain and Ren, who were waiting, climbed onto the platform and dragged Sedjen away.

"W-What is this! How can you do this to me! I treated you so well during my school days! Ugh! Let go! Let go! You lackeys of Halind!"

The spectators were dumbfounded as they watched Professor Sedjen being dragged off the stage.

"Class 1! I look forward to your elegant performance!"

Starting with Karl, who shouted playfully, laughter erupted from various first-year students.

Thump- thump-

However, the relaxed atmosphere immediately turned rigid due to the presence of a single man on the platform.

It was Halind, the professor most feared by the students.

[Before the departmental battle begins, I have one announcement to make. This departmental battle will also serve as the practical exam for the final.]

"Whaaaaaat?"

"This is the final practical exam!"

[The objective of the departmental battle is pure survival, but this is not the final exam. All your actions will be recorded on the bracelet you are given. Students who are eliminated early can receive higher scores than those eliminated later. Therefore, be cautious in every action. That is all.]

Leo chuckled upon hearing Halind's words.

'He's clever.'

For the sake of winning the departmental battle, they could team up within their departments and take down opponents.

Furthermore, personal sacrifice was entirely possible for the sake of the department.

However, the story changed when it came to the final practical exam.

'Acting solely for the department might lead to failing the exam. This makes strategy planning even more crucial.'

While Leo's eyes were shining, Halind spoke.

"The departmental battle will begin in 10 minutes. Prepare yourselves."

Assistants came and distributed the bracelets.

"Hoo! I'm nervous?"

Karl said with a stiff expression, and Leo chuckled.

"You'll do great, Karl."

"Of course. Leo, you be careful too. There are many people who are targeting you."

"Don't worry."

Leo and Karl bumped fists.

"Aah! Me too! Class representative, share some good vibes!"

Iriana came and bumped fists in the same way.

Starting with that, the Class 5 students flocked to Leo one after another.

"Leo oppa, fighting."

"You too, stay strong."

When he bumped fists with Chelsea for the last time, Halind spoke.

[Preparation time is over. We will now begin the departmental battle.]

Woong-!

As soon as he said that, a giant magic circle appeared on the ground.

As warned by the school, they were going to be teleported to Naygwang all at once.

Flash-!

Thus, a bright light enveloped their vision.

Whoosh-!

And when they opened their eyes…

"Kyaaaaaaaah!"

"W-What is thissssss!"

"We can't use magic?"

The entire first-year class was screaming as they plunged downwards.

Before falling, Leo took in the sight of the entire ruined Naygwang city.

'The entire city is covered in all sorts of curses!'

He understood why this place was a forsaken land.

'The curses are repeating activation and deactivation.'

There was only one area where they could move freely.

'The only area without curses is…'

Leo's eyes fell upon the giant castle in the center.

'The castle ruins!'

Flash-!

Leo adjusted his posture, minimizing air resistance, and fell to the ground.

'The most important thing is to get to the castle first!'

When he reached the ground.

The floating magic embedded in the artifact safely landed Leo on the ground.

Crack-!

Leo got into a ready stance.

The ruined city was literally overgrown with vegetation.

The unmanaged human civilization had been futilely crumbled by nature.

'The curse hasn't activated in this area yet. Then I should hurry to the castle…'

"Huk! Leo Flov!"

A male student from the magic department, who had landed on the ground late, spotted Leo and flinched.

"Hm? You?"

"W-What! Are you going to fight me now!"

The male student, who had tensed up, was someone Leo knew well.

'His name was Jebin, wasn't it?'

He was a magic department student who had been clinging to Chloe until just before the midterm exams.

"I'm not planning on fighting you right now."

As Leo ignored him, the tense Jebin grinned.

"Really? But what to do? I'm going to catch you!"

"What?"

Jebin raised his staff and fired magic into the air.

Keeing! Bang-!

Leo narrowed his eyes and turned his head.

"It's not just our department. There are quite a few people who don't particularly like you."

Jebin, with a sinister smile, pointed his staff at Leo.

"So, we who share similar feelings got together and came up with an idea. When we meet you, we'll cooperate to defeat you first."

He could feel presences rapidly approaching from various directions.

"Don't be too frustrated! Cooperation is also a strategy!"

"No, I'm not particularly frustrated."

Leo chuckled.

"Do you have the confidence to handle the aftermath?"

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