Chapter 252
Chapter Title: An Unconventional Test
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“Which senior are you going to ask to be your mentor?”
“Well… If I can, I want to ask a senior who’s in the top ten of the magic department.”
“Should I ask Senior Celia?”
“Hehe. You don’t stand a chance.”
The next morning.
While eating breakfast, the first-years couldn’t hide their excitement.
Just one year above them.
Seeing the second-years, known as the Golden Generation, personally visit and show interest in them, the first-years had regained their confidence.
Among them, the four who received the most attention were, of course, Aina and Habiden from the Knight Department, Juen from the Magic Department, and Shasha from the Summoning Department.
However, other freshmen from famous hero families or those who were renowned in their respective regions also became subjects of interest.
Luke watched his classmates with admiration.
No second-year had shown any interest in him.
It was understandable, as Luke hadn't made a particularly impressive showing during the entrance exam.
He had managed to pass by holding out against Leo, who was considered the most difficult part of the exam.
But it was widely believed that he had only succeeded thanks to the help of Aina, Juen, Habiden, and Shasha.
He had an image of being “persistent” for not giving up against Leo, but that was all.
In reality, Luke was the weakest among the first-years.
From the second-years’ perspective, Luke was essentially a bomb to be avoided.
‘But where is Aina?’
The beautiful girl his age, who should have been conspicuous, was nowhere to be seen.
It should have been impossible not to find her.
As the Sword Saint's granddaughter and the year representative, Aina was always surrounded by people, making her stand out.
‘Did something happen?’
Luke felt a twinge of worry.
In truth, it was strange for Luke to be worried about Aina.
The top student of the first year and the bottom.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a difference between heaven and earth.
And yet, Luke was worried about Aina.
It was because of the uneasy appearance she had shown during the entrance exam.
Just as Luke was scratching his silver hair.
A commotion erupted at the entrance of the dining hall.
The first-years turned to look at the entrance.
And everyone’s eyes widened.
“Aina! What happened?”
“Who on earth made such a mess of you!”
Aina was the very model of a top student.
For her, who always maintained a neat appearance and attire, to arrive at the dining hall in such a disheveled state, the first-years couldn't help but be shocked.
“It’s nothing to worry about. I’m just hungry.”
Aina spoke calmly, then staggered to get a tray and sat down.
Her usual followers, sensing the unusual atmosphere, dared not approach her carelessly.
*Thud.*
Slumping weakly into her seat, Aina suddenly looked forward.
And when she spotted Luke, her eyes wavered for a moment.
Aina and Luke hadn't exchanged a single word since enrolling.
Though they were in the same department and had crossed paths several times, they had never bothered to speak to each other.
Just as Aina looked away from Luke and was about to eat.
“G-Good morning, Aina.”
Luke greeted her with an awkward smile.
“Yeah. Good morning.”
Aina replied calmly.
With that, the conversation died.
Just as Luke was scratching his cheek in embarrassment.
“You’ve been through the wringer, haven’t you, Aina? You were with Senior Leo all night, right?”
*Snap.*
At that moment, Shasha approached, snapping open her folding fan and narrowing her eyes.
Before coming to the dining hall for breakfast, Shasha had seen the female dormitory head fuming about a student who had stayed out all night without permission.
Seeing Aina’s current state, she knew instantly who the unauthorized overnighter was.
“It’s obvious you went to Senior Leo and asked him to be your mentor.”
Aina gripped her spoon without answering.
Taking that as a confirmation, Shasha smiled faintly.
“You made the first move, didn’t you, Aina?”
“Wow~ And yesterday, you didn’t even glance at the other seniors who came~”
Juen had also quickly come over and sat next to Aina.
“Quick on your feet, as expected, Aina Veydean.”
Habiden also plopped down next to Luke.
“Um. I’ll go somewhere else.”
Luke, thinking this wasn’t his place, cautiously picked up his tray to get up.
“You can stay. We’re comrades who fought alongside Senior Leo during the entrance exam, aren’t we?”
Closing her fan, Shasha smiled faintly and pressed down on Luke’s shoulders with both hands to keep him seated.
‘Well, the level gap was a bit too wide to say we fought *together*, wasn’t it?’
Luke replied inwardly with an awkward smile.
The attention of all the first-years turned to the five of them.
‘Why the hell is that country bumpkin sitting there with them?’
Just as the gazes on Luke were filled with questions.
“So.”
Juen took a sip of the iced tea that came with her breakfast and asked.
“Judging by your appearance, it doesn’t look like you became Senior Leo’s mentee. You were given some kind of test, right? What was it?”
At Juen’s question, Aina, who was munching on a piece of salad she had speared with her fork, let out a small sigh.
“Senior Leo said he’d take me as his mentee if I could land even a single successful attack on him.”
At those words, the entire first-year group began to murmur.
“Ugh. Isn’t that impossible?”
“If he counters, you’d be knocked out in one hit, right?”
As the first-years looked troubled.
“No, Senior Leo said he wouldn’t counterattack.”
“What?”
“He said he would only dodge and block, so I could attack as much as I wanted.”
At those words, the first-years looked intrigued.
“Under those conditions…”
“Isn’t it worth a try?”
The first-years' eyes lit up.
***
Around lunchtime, after the morning classes had ended.
The first-year magic department classroom was crowded with second-years.
“Hey, how about me as your mentor? Ah! My grades are at the bottom, of course, but I’ve got the best know-how for surviving until second year at this school…”
“Ah! Thank you for the offer, but I’m sorry! I already have someone in mind…”
“Ugh.”
“Senior Chloe!”
A first-year female magic student ran over to Chloe, who was reading a grimoire a short distance away.
“Please take me as your mentee!”
Looking up from her grimoire, Chloe glanced at the student.
“You’re an ice-attribute mage, I see.”
“Yes! My name is Betty Marste. My family’s magic is the ice attribute!”
Betty curtsied, slightly lifting the hem of her uniform skirt.
Generally, mages are drawn to others of the same attribute.
Moreover, the Marste family was a famous mage family from the eastern continent.
Of course, Chloe had heard of them.
Chloe smiled faintly, opened a subspace, and took out a thick book.
“Would you read this?”
“Huh? Ugh!”
Betty, who had blankly accepted the book, staggered under its weight.
Struggling to hold up the incredibly heavy book, Betty read the title.
[A Study on the Philosophical Reasons Why an Ice Mage Must Learn Ice Magic]
‘What’s with this weird title?’
Betty stared blankly at the book, whose title alone seemed enough to give her a headache.
“Read it and submit a report by the day before the mentor selection deadline.”
“What? No, rather than that, my magic skills…”
“I know you’re a skilled mage.”
Chloe smiled faintly.
“But I want to know what kind of mage you are.”
With that, Betty left with a dazed expression.
Karl, watching this, spoke to another male student.
“Hey, you! Thinking of making me your mentor…”
“I’m sorry! Senior Chelsea!”
The first-year then approached Chelsea, who was sitting under a tree and stretching.
“Please take me as your mentee.”
“Hmm. I’m not planning on taking a mentee. I’m busy enough with my own training.”
“I-I see… Then, Senior Abad…”
“Hmm. Will you show me your magic?”
Abad asked with his characteristic gentle smile. The male student’s face brightened as he naturally demonstrated his magic.
Watching him cast wind-attribute magic, Abad nodded.
“You’re good.”
“Then…”
“I’m sure you’ll be able to find a great mentor.”
At Abad’s words, the male student’s shoulders slumped.
Meanwhile, Karl also trudged over with slumped shoulders.
“Finding a mentee is really hard.”
“Did you think it would be a free ride?”
Chelsea covered her mouth and giggled.
“Hey! A free ride!”
“Honestly, you’re dying to have an easier first semester, aren’t you?”
“…”
Karl flinched at Chelsea’s pointed remark.
Indeed, not having to worry about expulsion recommendations until the end of the first semester was a huge merit for a low-ranking student like Karl.
“Still, Karl’s experience will be very useful to the first-years.”
Abad said with his usual gentle smile, leaning against a tree.
“Aww! You’re so different from your ill-tempered sister.”
“What did you say!”
Chelsea’s eyes flashed as she kicked at Karl.
Just then.
“The big shot has arrived.”
As Abad murmured, the second-year magic students flocked to one student.
“Hey, won’t you be my mentee?”
“Juen! It’s been a while! How is your father? By the way, we studied together at the Mage Tower, right? How about we do it again?”
The first-years' grades hadn't been released yet.
But for now, the de facto number one in the first-year magic department was Juen.
That’s why the second-year magic students were fiercely competing to take Juen as their mentee.
Just then.
“Juen Tobidna.”
A male student stood in front of Juen.
The magic department students flinched.
“Emio.”
“So he’s after Juen, too.”
Emio, one of the top five in the second-year magic department, crossed his arms.
“Sniper magic is your specialty, right? Then taking me, the heir of the Luchan family, as your mentor will be a great help to you.”
The Luchan family was a famous military family.
They specialized in magic related to warfare.
And sniper magic was also frequently used in war.
Certainly, Emio’s guidance could be a great help to Juen, whose specialty was sniping.
“I’ll think about it seriously.”
Juen bowed her head and spoke politely.
Emio scoffed and walked away.
After refusing one second-year’s offer after another, Juen approached Karl.
“Senior Karl.”
“You’re here to ask about Leo, right?”
“How did you know?”
“The top student wouldn’t ask me to be their mentor, would they?”
Karl shrugged.
“Speaking of which, Karl, where did Leo go?”
Chelsea asked, tilting her head.
“He went to the student council.”
As the student council president, it wasn't strange for Leo to go to the student council. But since he hadn't visited since the semester started, Chelsea looked curious.
“Oh.”
“It’s Senior Leo.”
Just then, Leo appeared at the first-year magic department building.
Hearing this, Juen’s eyes sparkled.
A few first-years tried to rush over to Leo.
“Leo!”
But Chelsea was faster, reaching him first.
Naturally, all the first-years stopped.
“What did you go to the student council for?”
“I had a personal announcement for the first-years, so I went to get permission to post it.”
“A personal announcement? Is that even allowed?”
“I’m the student council president.”
“Ooh.”
Chelsea’s eyes sparkled.
“So, what’s the announcement?”
At her question, Leo went to the bulletin board at the entrance of the first-year magic department building and posted a notice.
After reading it, Chelsea’s expression turned sour, and she put some distance between herself and Leo.
Once Leo moved away from the bulletin board, the first-years crowded around it.
Juen, after checking the board, also looked horrified and stared at Leo, who had plopped down on a bench.
The first-years gathered around Leo, swallowing nervously.
Leo smirked.
“You’ve all heard the story from Aina, right?”
Leo gestured toward the bulletin board with his chin.
“The school approved it, too.”
Leo scanned his juniors.
“So, what's there to hesitate about?”
Silence fell at his words.
A moment later.
“Fire Explosion!”
*BOOM!*
A first-year abruptly cast a spell.
That was the signal. The first-years began to unleash a barrage of magic at Leo.
The second-years watched, stunned.
“What on earth did the notice say?”
-Notice-
For the next week, all first-year students are permitted to attack Leo Flove. Any resulting property damage will also be overlooked.
-Lumerne Student Council-
The second-year students who checked the bulletin board looked at Leo, who was blocking and dodging all the first-years' magic, with dumbfounded expressions.
“This looks fun. Maybe I should pick my mentee this way, too.”
Abad said with a laugh, but Chloe replied coldly.
“Don’t. Leo is enough of a troublemaker for one person.”
***
While the first-year magic students were bombarding Leo with spells to land a valid hit.
A golden aura and a wind aura swirled.
*BOOM!*
Leo generated aura in both hands and deflected the attack.
*Thud, thud.*
Two people landed in front of Leo.
“Aina! Habiden!”
“This is the magic department’s area! What are the knight department students doing here!”
A few magic students protested, but Habiden scoffed.
“I have no business with the magic department. I'm just here to challenge Senior Leo…”
*Whoosh!*
“Don’t get a head start, Aina!”
Habiden, annoyed to see Aina charging at Leo while he was still talking, tightened his grip on his sword and rushed forward.
*CLANG!*
Leo blocked Aina’s attack and burst out laughing.
“You pushed yourself all night. Aren’t you tired?”
“The same goes for you.”
A golden light swirled around Aina’s body.
“It won’t be so easy this time.”
Leo smiled at Aina, who was radiating a powerful aura.
“I’m looking forward to it.”