Chapter 124
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“What did you do with those kids just now?”
“Don’t worry. I simply sent them far away.”
He answered the flustered Hero’s Rest employee with a listless expression, then spun around.
And vanished into the crowd.
‘Why is a dragon here?’
A dragon.
A race hailed as the strongest on the continent.
In the past, they had settled in various places across the land, but now they were a rare sight outside of Dragonia, the so-called kingdom of dragons.
‘And a dragon like that is in Lumeria City.’
He was momentarily intrigued but decided to let his interest go.
Considering the number of issues that had cropped up in Lumerne over the past six months, it wouldn't be strange for a dragon to visit to observe the situation.
After that, Leo continued to show Elsie around Lumeria City.
Along the way, they witnessed more scenes like the one at the Hero’s Rest.
They often saw dropouts seeking out professors, begging for just one more chance.
Some of the first-years who saw this scoffed at those who, until recently, had been their peers.
A clear line was drawn between the survivors and those who couldn't make it.
As the sun began to set, they returned to the hotel and saw a familiar face.
“Uncle Jis.”
“It’s been a while, Leo. Have you been well?”
“Yes, I’ve been fine.”
Jis, the vice-head of the Jerdinger family, smiled warmly at Leo.
Besides Jis, there were others in the hotel who appeared to be Jerdinger knights.
Since the Jerdinger family had rented out the entire hotel, there was no one else around.
The Jerdinger knights cast curious glances at Leo.
The top first-year student at Lumerne and a boy who had mastered the Phoenix Breath, a technique only recognized blood relatives of the Jerdinger family could learn.
From the knights' perspective, he was someone to watch.
“So? What conclusion did the family come to?”
Celia asked, her face tense.
‘She seems more concerned about this than I am.’
Leo chuckled, watching Celia show far more interest in the matter of his succession rights than he, the person in question, did.
“To get to the point, the matter of you gaining succession rights has been postponed.”
“Ah…”
Celia let out a sigh of disappointment.
“Why?”
Jis smiled wryly at Celia’s clearly displeased expression.
“The main reason is that the family doesn't really know what kind of person you are, Leo.”
“I still don’t get it! Leo is Aunt Reina’s son, and he’s skilled enough to be considered a direct descendant of the Jerdinger family!”
“This was decided at the family council. Arguing with Uncle Jis won’t solve anything, will it?”
Leo gently tapped the forehead of the worked-up Celia and asked.
“Does ‘postponed’ mean it will be judged later?”
“Yes. It seems the decision will be made after the family members meet you in person and judge for themselves.”
“Does that mean…”
“Visit the Jerdinger estate during the winter break.”
“Understood.”
Jis grinned as Leo nodded calmly.
Celia continued to look displeased, but knowing that arguing wouldn't change anything, she said no more.
“For now, don’t worry about family matters. The most important thing for you two to focus on right now is the second semester.”
“Yes.”
“It will be very different from the first semester.”
“Is it that different?”
“It is.”
As a Lumerne graduate himself, Jis gave his niece and nephew a meaningful look.
“You could say the real Lumerne Academy starts now.”
***
During their stay in Lumeria City, Leo and Celia spent their time in a flurry of preparations for the new semester.
And then came the day of the opening ceremony.
Students gathered at the docks leading to Lumerne.
The docks were separated by year, so there was no chance of running into upperclassmen.
“Oh! Good to see you! How was your break?”
“It was great! You look like you got a tan.”
“I spent the break at our villa.”
The female students were busy chattering about what they did during the break.
“Hmph, I spent some time hunting monsters during the break.”
“When I went back, I was so busy with party invitations. At the parties, even daughters of noble families I didn't know were acting all familiar, you know?”
“Do you know where I went during the break?”
The male students boasted about their exploits over the vacation.
“Seeing this really makes it feel like the semester is starting.”
Celia swept her hair back with a smile.
“Leo! Celia!”
“Chloe!”
From a distance, Chloe approached with a bright smile.
“Did you have a good break?”
“Yeah! How about you?”
“I was swamped with family matters.”
As the president and vice president of Class 1, the two were close friends.
“How about you, Leo?”
“Well, it was pretty normal.”
“Normal? Attending the Azonia entrance ceremony is normal?”
“The Azonia entrance ceremony?”
Chloe’s expression was one of utter shock.
“I’ll tell you the details later.”
Leo replied with a smile.
“Yo! Leo! Chloe! Celia!”
Just then, Karl spotted the three and walked over with a grin.
Seeing him, Celia looked amused.
“It’s amazing. To think that you, Karl, survived until the second semester.”
“Hmph. Isn’t this all skill?”
Karl, who had been stroking his chin with a profound look, giggled.
“But honestly, I’m surprised I survived too.”
He had worked hard during the first semester, it was true, but there was a limit.
Frankly, he still felt dazed to be standing here.
“Anyway, Leo, the class is gathered over there. Let’s go.”
“Alright.”
Leo nodded and said to Celia and Chloe.
“See you in a bit.”
“Okay. See you.”
“Hahaha! In the second semester, we’ll take the spot of the number one class!”
As Karl laughed and provoked them, Celia crossed her arms with a dismissive look.
“Not a chance.”
Thanks to Sedjen and Halind, Class 1 and Class 5 shared a strong, unspoken rivalry.
As Leo and Karl headed toward where Class 5 was gathered, female students greeted them from all over.
“Ah! It’s Leo!”
“Hi, Leo~”
Watching the girls wave and squeal, Karl smiled bitterly.
“You get good grades and you’re popular with the girls too?”
“I haven’t really noticed.”
“You know you ranked third in the first-year male student popularity poll last semester, right?”
Karl grumbled.
“Who even runs a poll like that?”
“Who else? I did.”
He explained that while doing business with the entire first year, he had conducted a popularity poll among the female students.
“It might be unofficial, but it’s pretty credible. Hehehe.”
“Why would you even investigate something like that?”
“I was thinking of making and selling something like a photo book.”
Leo let out a hollow laugh at the giggling Karl.
‘Still, I am a little curious about the rankings.’
“Who’s number one?”
“Abad Llewellyn.”
It was no surprise. Abad, who was handsome, always kind to those around him, and wore a gentle smile, was bound to be popular.
Moreover, he was the heir to the Llewellyn family, a renowned lineage of heroes.
Skill, looks, personality.
He was a man who lacked nothing.
“And second place?”
“Duran.”
Karl made a face as if he’d tasted something sour.
“His personality is trash, but he’s got the looks, the skills, and that high pride. Crucially, he’s a prince.”
Though he wasn’t the eldest son, the prince of the knightly duchy of Moira had been designated the next king due to his overwhelming skill.
“And you’re third. It was a very close race with Duran.”
“That’s strange. I never really felt it.”
“Of course you wouldn’t. Abad and Duran get confessions or letters every week, but you haven’t gotten a single thing.”
Karl shrugged.
“Why is that?”
“…Just think about the people around you.”
“The people around me?”
Leo, Karl, and Chelsea were already famous throughout the school as a trio of close friends.
So wherever Leo was, Chelsea was almost always there.
On top of that, Nella, the vice president of Class 5, was one of the prettiest girls in school.
They were always together during departmental events.
As an added bonus, Iliana, who often helped with class matters, was no slouch in the looks department either.
Besides them, he was also very close with other class presidents like Chloe and Chen Xia.
“And the deciding factor: Celia. It’s a secret that you two are cousins, right? Because people don’t know that, quite a few of them think you two are dating.”
Since they had been sticking together since the entrance ceremony, it wasn’t unreasonable for people to think that.
“That’s why other girls can’t even think of approaching you.”
Karl grinned.
“How about it? Feels good to be so popular, doesn’t it?”
Leo let out a hollow laugh as Karl playfully nudged him in the ribs.
“If word gets out that you and Celia are cousins, you’ll shoot straight to first place.”
“The Jerdinger family did say they were planning to make a public announcement soon.”
“Really? The students’ reactions are going to be fun to watch.”
Karl grinned.
“I was feeling pretty bad because there are a lot of jerks who secretly look down on you for being from a frontier kingdom. There are still plenty of them who talk behind your back.”
Karl was incensed at the fact that his friend was being underestimated.
As Leo chuckled at him, a voice called out.
“Ah! It’s the class president!”
A cheerful voice rang out.
Turning his head, he saw Iliana waving her hand.
“Leo, have you been well?”
“Welcome, Leo.”
Teide and Nella also greeted him warmly.
Overall, the atmosphere in Class 5 was excellent.
That was to be expected, as they were one of only two classes, along with Class 1, to have not a single dropout.
Their sense of unity was naturally on a different level from the other classes.
As they were exchanging greetings and talking about what happened during the break, a voice rang out.
“Everyone seems to be in good spirits. So fresh. I can feel the youth.”
Someone spoke, their voice amplified by magic.
In response, the first-years’ gazes turned toward the source of the voice.
Standing there was none other than a black-haired man.
“Who’s that? I’ve never seen him before.”
“Is he a professor?”
“No, we didn’t have anyone like that among the first-year professors, did we?”
All the students looked at the unknown man with puzzled expressions.
‘It’s that dragon from before.’
The man spoke in a languid voice.
“So full of drive and vitality. All I’ve done is get old. Sigh.”
‘What… what’s with this guy?’
The first-years looked bewildered at the man who was complaining with not an ounce of motivation.
“Greetings, everyone. My name is Riven. I am the vice principal of Lumerne.”
The students’ eyes widened.
Professor Riven, the vice principal of Lumerne.
A professor who had been away from the academy for the past five years.
Because of that, even the fifth-years didn't know much about the vice principal.
For him to appear so suddenly, the first-years couldn't help but be surprised.
Riven pulled a student roster from his coat.
“The total number of new students this year was 440. Of those, a total of 346 have survived until the second semester.”
That meant 94 students had dropped out.
At first glance, it might seem like a large number of students had been expelled, but considering Lumerne’s standards, it was actually a higher survival rate than in previous years.
Every year, by the end of the first semester, an average of nearly 200 students were expelled.
This year, in particular, the number of incoming students was lower than usual, thanks to the Mage of the Evil Eye, Albi, being in charge of the western entrance exam.
Considering that, 94 dropouts was a very small number.
“The world is calling you the Golden Generation. You’re all aware of that, aren’t you?”
At those words, the first-years looked proud.
“That is why the principal, Kalian, personally asked me to become the head professor for the first-years’ second semester.”
At Riven’s words, the students began to murmur amongst themselves.
“But, you know, it’s such a pain.”
He said with a lazy expression.
The students were taken aback by his words.
“I understand that you are exceptional. But I don’t know if you’re at a level worth my teaching. So, I’d like you to prove it.”
Riven pointed a finger toward Lumerne.
“From this moment, you are to head to the main gate of Lumerne.”
The students looked on, not understanding what was happening.
Having already experienced the kraken attack at the entrance ceremony, they had expected the opening ceremony would be no walk in the park.
But to suddenly be told to head to the school’s main gate?
“I’ll warn you, it won’t be easy.”
Riven, who had been muttering in a listless voice, curled the corner of his lips into a smirk.
“It’s possible no one will make it.”