CH 34

Leo headed to the Heroes Tower, located at the center of the Academy, where the student council was housed after his classes were over. As he arrived in front of the tall building, he looked up at it in awe. "It's really high."

"It’s a freshman."

“What is he doing here?”

“Oh my, he’s cute.”

Passing senior students noticed him and murmured in surprise, as the Heroes Tower was a frequent destination for them.

Meanwhile the First year students had an innate fear of their seniors, who had gone through a lot during their time in the Academy. This often kept them from going to areas where senior students frequently appeared.

"Oh? Leo?”

As Leo was lost in thought, someone called his name. It was Toura, a fifth-year Wizard student.

"What brings you here?"

"I have something to discuss with the student council president."

“To Riss?” Toura, who was tilting her head, nodded. "Would you like to come with me?"

Toura took Leo into the Heroes tower.

“So, Leo. When are you going to quit other majors?”

"I have no intention of dropping my other majors."

“Leo Leo. As I said before, time is limited. I know you excel in other majors, but your true calling lies in magic,” Toura grumbled, dissatisfied, but said nothing more.

It was because the professors had called her the other day and spoken about this.

Leo was amazed as he looked inside the tower. There were countless portraits of heroes hanging at the entrance of the building, all of whom were graduates of Lumeln. 

The facilities were also far superior to those of the first-year buildings. It wasn't that the first-year buildings lacked facilities, but the Heroes Tower was simply overwhelming.

Leo and Toura stepped into a floating elevator and quickly ascended to the floor where the student council was located.

"Hello, Vice President. Who is this first-year student?"

“This is Leo.”

"Leo? The famous freshman representative?" said the 3rd year student council executive with his eyes lit up.

"Yes, he came to meet with the student council president about something."

"Has he been interested in the student council since his first year? That's unusual." he smiled and continued with the paperwork. 

The student council was generally a very busy place.

"Come to think of it, didn't the first-year midterm exam require students to create their own original magic?"

"Yes."

“Do you have any ideas in mind?”

“It’s a magic spell based on non-attribute magic.”

"Non-attribute magic? That's a concept I've never heard of. Can you explain?"

"Wizards typically have a main magic attribute, right?"

"Right. So there are opposing attributes. Even if you can handle all attributes, you can't use them simultaneously."

"Yes. I want to use my non-attribute magic to freely manipulate all magical attributes and increase their effectiveness."

"That's an interesting idea, but it sounds absurd," said Torua, laughing. "There's a reason why people don't attempt these things."

"I know," Leo smiled and nodded. “But isn't it better to try something new?”

Toura crossed her arms and smiled, sensing that the student in front of her was not just skilled in magic techniques.

‘New attempts are always important to wizards. It's such a waste.'

A junior who was more like a wizard than anyone else in this department.

‘Those with many skills need to get on the right track from the start. I should have a serious discussion about it with Professor Ren.’

Determined to somehow persuade Leo to choose the magic department, Toura stood in front of the student council president's office.

Knock knock.

"Come on in."

Creek-

“Hi Riss, Leo said he wanted to speak with you, so I brought him.”

“Leo?”

Riss, who was sitting in the office and writing with a quill pen, stood up with a welcoming expression on his face. “Yes, Leo. What's the matter?”

“Student president.”

"When it's just the two of us, you can call me Brother." Riss smiled and said, and Leo nodded.

"Okay, Brother Riss. I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

“I want to enter the Forbidden Library.”

"I'm not sure why you want to enter the Forbidden Library, but students are not permitted to enter without permission," Toura said, reaching for the sweets on one side of the student council president's room.

"Can't even the student council president enter without permission?"

"Unfortunately, it's beyond my control." Riss laughed, resting his chin on his hand. "Of course, it's not like there's no way for students to enter."

“What is it?” Leo prompted.

"It's by conquering the hero dungeon."

"Hero dungeon?"

"Yes. The raiders are required to return any pages they retrieve from the dungeon directly to the Hero Record.”

“Even then, you can't read the books in the Forbidden Library carelessly. So I suggest you give up on this idea." Toura grumbled.

In summary, it was difficult to enter the Forbidden Library in the first year, and even if one did, it was challenging to obtain the desired information.

'Then maybe I should sneak in.'

It's human nature to want to do something that you're told not to do.

Unaware that Leo had already reached this conclusion, Riss and Toura smiled significantly at him.

"By the way, how are you preparing for the exam? Aren't you nervous since it's your first exam?" Riss asked.

"I'm doing just fine," Leo replied calmly.

"Would that work? Did you know that in Lumeln, the grade representative changes every time the exam is held?" Riss continued. 

"Yes, I know."

"There must be many students aiming for your position, right?" Toura chimed in while munching on a crispy cookie.

Although it was not yet emphasized because it was the beginning of the semester, being Lumeln's grade representative was a position with many benefits. 

The grade representative represented the best in Lumeln, where only the best were gathered. 

In addition to participating in various internal and external events, the benefits were significant. They were essentially the face of the grade. 

Ultimately, being the grade representative was also the closest position to the next student council president.

"Will you be able to defend your position as the first-year representative against such outstanding students?" 

"I'm not particularly interested in being a representative, but..." Leo paused and grinned. "I have no intention of giving up the top spot."

"Look at that confidence. I'll be looking forward to it," Riss smiled contentedly.

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ 

The freshman midterm exams were nerve-wracking for the students, but they were also eagerly anticipated.

Sitting in the audience of the first-year parade ground, Chelsi tapped her legs.

“As Professor Hallind said, we've changed beyond recognition in just a few months," she murmured softly, twirling her cane in the air.

Magical runes imbued with magic spread out into the air, and in an instant, a spell was complete.

Seeing the sight, Tade, who was in the same class, said with awe. “You’re fast.”

"High-speed casting is my specialty. Of course, it's gotten incredibly fast."

As Hallind predicted, the first year's skills improved in an instant.

Even Chelsi, who had received an excellent education as a member of a hero family, had noticeably grown in skill.

The freshmen were feeling a strange sense of confidence and excitement.

"Anyway, I'm worried about Brother Leo," Chelsi said, looking at the parade ground. 

Tade let out a sigh. "Well, there are quite a few guys who are after Leo."

Since it was in the early stages of admission, most of the major classes were based on theory rather than practice.

Leo, recognized as an honor student by all professors, particularly shone in the class.

However, even such a Leo had a weakness that could be evaluated.

“The Lumeln test has a large proportion of actual battles, so is he going to be okay?”

Leo’s foundational abilities in aura, mana, and spirit power were weak, especially since he was taking all three major subjects at the same time.

Typically, students who focused on only one major had deeper skills in a particular subject, and now the difference was even more pronounced. Consequently, quite a few students viewed Leo as merely theoretical and weak in practice.

"Of course, upper-middle-level kids won't be able to compete with Brother Leo, but I think the high-ranking students will be difficult to handle," Chelsi replied.

"At this point, I think it would be better for him to choose a single major," Tade muttered.

Meanwhile, Professor Ain, who was in the middle of the parade ground, announced, "From now on, we will begin the first-year knight practical exam."

The voice carried by the aura resonated across the vast ground, followed by a chorus of whistles and applause from the students gathered there.

The practical exam for the knight department had begun two weeks before the official exam period, and the parade ground at the 1st-year building was filled with spectators, including not only freshmen but also senior students.

"Is Karl really thinking about selling snacks?"

"His philosophy is, 'Where people gather, money gathers.'" Tade smirked as Chelsi looked dumbfounded.

As she said, Karl had gone out to sell snacks.

“Professor Sedzen.”

Karl, with snack racks floating around him, approached Sedzen, the homeroom teacher for Class 1.

“What is it? Student Karl.”

Professor Sedzen looked at Karl with a sullen face. His response was not good since a student of Hallind, who he considered a rival, talked to him.

"How about some popcorn and a drink?"

"Hmph, do you think I'll buy that? Sell it to your homeroom teacher Hallind and your classmates."

As Sedzen sneered, Karl made a sullen expression.

"I thought Professor Sedzen, as a person with leadership skills who knows how to raise the morale of the class, would buy it. But I guess I was mistaken."

"Hmph, if you think I'll fall for such a cheap trick, you're mistaken, Karl."

It was when Sedzen made an expression that was absolutely unacceptable.

"Professor! Are you buying us popcorn?”

"Wow! That sounds delicious!"

Students from Class 1 cheered.

Sedzen's ears perked up at that response.

“As expected, the professor has leadership skills and knows how to raise the morale of the class!”

Currently, Class 1 was in a situation where all the students were cheering under Sedzen's leadership.

Sedzen's mouth twitched at the cheers of the students.

"Well, I can't help it if the students want it. Go ahead."

"Yes, sir!"

“With a sprinkle of caramel.”

"Thank you!"

After finishing his calculations, Karl handed out popcorn and drinks to Class 1 students with a friendly smile.

To the few students who responded positively earlier, he also gave a sly wink.

"Okay, everyone! Let's cheer elegantly! Class 1, GO GO!"

"Class 1, GO GO!"

Anyway, the atmosphere had heated up, and the students in Class 1 cheered loudly.

In the meantime, Karl sighed as he saw Chloe sitting alone in the corner looking at the black magic book.

“Chloe.”

“… … .”

“Hey, Chloe!”

"huh?"

Chloe raised her head.

Looking at his friend with a tired face, Karl sighed.

"Take a break and relax a little. You'll collapse if you keep going at this pace. You should know how to enjoy yourself during times like this."

“I don’t have time for that.” Chloe frowned and said.

Looking at Chloe like that, Karl scratched his head and handed over a recovery potion from his pocket.

"I didn't bring any money".

"Don't worry about it. I'll give it to you as a friend who's concerned."

"Hey! Popcorn and drinks!"

"Yep! Coming right up! Hey, take a break! Got it?"

After Karl waved his hand, he quickly ran to the senior who ordered.

Looking back at him, Chloe smiled slightly and took a sip of the potion.

It was then.

"The first duel. Class 1's Howl Nape versus Class 5's Leo Flove. Let's get it started!"

'Leo.'

Chloe looked at Leo and clenched her fists.

"I won't lose."