Chapter 259
Chapter Title: A Convergence of Academies
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After the weekend passed.
The entire sophomore class gathered in front of the warp gate.
“Everyone looks excited.”
“How could they not be? This is the event we’ve all been waiting for.”
Chen Xia said with a grin in response to Leo’s comment.
Unless it was a special case, an armament was bound to be a consumable item.
No matter how meticulously you maintained it, it would break one day.
Even the longsword Leo had received as a gift from Seirun’s principal last year had become unusable during the fight with Silatuna.
Of course, the issue wasn't the sword's performance, but the opponent being far too formidable.
“Well, Young Master Leo, you’ll be receiving one of the Jerdinger family heirlooms, so you might not be that interested. Still, the students at Demian are all exceptional artisans, so having an exclusive smith will be a great help. The Demian students will probably be very interested in you, too.”
The students of Lumerne had grown somewhat accustomed to Leo, the unprecedented All-Class.
He was still a marvel, but not to the point of shocking them anymore.
But the other hero academies were a different story.
Especially in the case of Demian, whose students were artisans who crafted weapons before they were hero cadets.
They were bound to be even more intrigued by an All-Class.
“Speaking of which, Young Master Leo. What about the armament you’ll be receiving from the Jerdingers?”
“I decided to take my time choosing.”
“They say a knight’s heart flutters at the sight of a fine weapon. Don’t you feel anything like that? Of course, you’re not purely a knight. Still, if it were me, I’d be so thrilled I’d pick one right away.”
A Jerdinger family heirloom was sure to be an extraordinary item.
Anyone else would have been excited and chosen quickly, but Leo was in no rush.
It wasn't that Leo had no desire for weapons.
‘I’m just too used to the weapons Dweno made.’
During the subjugation team’s journey in the past, Leo had naturally used Dweno’s weapons.
‘He was an eccentric pervert who paraded himself as an artist, but neither I nor the others ever disputed that he was the greatest blacksmith in history.’
With his standards set by Dweno’s armaments, even seeing a remarkable item didn’t particularly stir a desire to possess it.
“You seem pretty excited, though.”
At Leo’s question, Chloe nodded.
“Of course! The performance of a magic staff made by a dwarven artisan is incredible!”
Chloe’s eyes sparkled.
Tucked under her arm wasn't her usual grimoire, but a bundle of papers.
‘Are those the magic formulas she wants to engrave on the staff?’
Of course, she wouldn't be able to fit all of them.
Magic staves had a ‘capacity,’ after all.
A dwarf who made magic staves had to have a profound knowledge of magic, so she would need to select the formulas through discussion.
For a mage, creating a custom magic staff like that was a very exciting prospect.
Watching Chloe clasp her hands, her eyes twinkling, Chen Xia covered her mouth and laughed.
“Miss Chloe, do you know how cute you look right now?”
It was then, as the students buzzed with their own expectations.
“Gentlemen! An elegant morning to you all!”
“Hello! Good morning, Professor Sedjen!”
“Mm! Indeed!”
Sedjen, arms crossed, nodded at the students’ bright greetings.
Behind him stood the professors in charge of supervising this off-campus activity.
From the supervising professors of each dormitory to the heads of the sophomore departments.
They were all familiar faces to the second-year students.
All except for one professor.
“Huh? Wait a minute.”
“Professor Ren is…?”
Confused murmurs erupted from the magic department students.
Students from other departments also looked with curiosity at the professor standing between Ain and Yura.
Standing there was Mel, the professor in charge of the special Heroics class for all grades.
Just as everyone was feeling puzzled.
“I cannot accept this!”
Ren’s voice echoed through the air.
“Principal! Please reconsider! How can I be absent from such an important department event!”
The students were dumbfounded by the scene unfolding before them.
Principal Riina was walking over, with Ren clinging to her trouser leg, being dragged along.
Becoming the center of a bizarre spectacle, Riina pressed her temples and spoke.
“Professor Ren. I’m sorry, but this was a decision made by the board. I can’t change it on my own authority.”
“I understand that! But surely you can use your authority as principal to add me to the list!”
“Then who will teach the first-year magic theory classes for two weeks?”
“We can have Assistant Professor Anna do it!”
Ren pointed to Anna, who had followed him.
“These are the students I’ve taught for a year! I understand the second-year students better than anyone! My advice will be essential for the smith contracts!”
“Principal, Professor Ren is certainly very familiar with the second-year magic students.”
“Assistant Professor Anna!”
Ren’s face brightened at Anna’s words.
“However, I am also quite familiar with the sophomores, so any advice Professor Ren could give, I can give as well.”
“Assistant Professor Anna! Are you betraying me?!”
Anna, Ren’s assistant professor, was attending this department event.
She didn't even flinch at Ren's fury.
Finally, Riina, unable to watch any longer, spoke.
“What are you all staring at? Get this leech off me!”
At her command, Ain and Yura grabbed Ren and dragged him away.
Ren’s desperate cries could be heard, but they soon faded.
“Serves him right.”
Anna muttered under her breath as Mel scratched his cheek.
“I feel bad for Professor Ren.”
“It was the board’s decision, so you don’t have to worry about it, Professor Mel.”
In truth, none of the professors understood why Mel, a first-year magic professor, was suddenly replacing Ren.
But it was a decision from the board, so they had no choice but to follow it.
Once the commotion settled, Riina stood before the sophomores.
“Sleep well? You second-year brats.”
The students’ expressions tensed at Riina’s words.
Having revealed herself to be from the Shadow, the second-years found the new principal intimidating.
Just then, Duran raised his hand.
“What is it, Duran Moira?”
“Are you the head supervisor for this trip, Principal?”
“The head supervisor is Professor Sedjen. There’s a meeting of hero academy principals at Demian. I’m just attending that.”
“So the principals' meeting is being held at Demian.”
“For all the hero academy principals to gather… that’s unusual.”
The students began to murmur.
Looking at them, Riina spoke.
“It’s not just the principals who are gathering.”
“Pardon?”
“Demian sent a notice asking us not to announce this until our departure, so I’m only telling you now.”
Riina crossed her arms.
“Lumerne isn’t the only one going to Demian this time.”
At those words, the sophomores wore expressions of disbelief.
“Seirun and Azonia will also be heading to Demian.”
“Why?”
“Aren’t the exclusive smith contract periods for each school usually adjusted so they don’t overlap?”
“That’s usually the case.”
The students of Demian had long crafted armaments for the students of Lumerne, Seirun, and Azonia.
In a way, it might seem like a form of service.
But it was by no means a loss for Demian.
The students of Demian were artisans before they were hero cadets.
For dwarven artisans, the greatest honor was for an armament they created to adorn a page of history.
To achieve that, they needed someone who could become the greatest hero to use their creation.
This was also the reason they formed exclusive smith contracts with cadets from other hero academies.
In that sense, the exclusive smith contracts were not a loss for Demian either.
It was a chance to connect with future heroes.
That was why the contracts were formed between equals.
As such, it was customary to meet with the students of Lumerne, Seirun, and Azonia separately.
The relationship between Demian and the other hero academies was one of equals.
It was never a place for the artisans to critique the hero cadets of other schools.
But now, they had broken that custom.
The sophomores’ faces hardened.
They couldn't possibly be pleased about being openly compared with students from other hero academies.
“Well, it’s annoying, but I can see why Demian would think to do this.”
Riina clicked her tongue.
“Why is it understandable?”
Emio from the Noblesse dormitory openly showed his displeasure.
“Our class is considered to be clearly ahead of the sophomores from other hero academies. As the principal, you can’t be unaware of that fact, can you?”
‘Wow, the nerve on that guy.’
‘Is he openly disrespecting her because she’s from the Shadow?’
‘How can he talk to the principal like that?’
‘If Professor Halind were here, he wouldn’t have let that slide.’
The sophomores clicked their tongues inwardly.
But at the same time, they sympathized with his words.
“Of course, you all are considered to be ahead of the other schools’ sophomores.”
At Emio’s words, Riina’s lips curled up.
“But the reason you’re considered ahead is entirely because of that outlier monster over there, you know?”
Riina pointed at Leo, and the Lumerne students’ expressions changed.
“Gentlemen, you are indeed considered one of the most elegant golden generations in Lumerne’s history.”
Sedjen took a step forward.
“However, you are not the only elegant ones. Coincidentally, the sophomores of the other schools are also being called a golden generation.”
“Take Seirun, for example. Weren’t you evenly matched during last year’s Lumerne-Seirun festival? In particular, Seirun’s top sophomore is already being discussed as a candidate for student council president in that rigid school. The second-ranked student is that top student’s rival. And the third is no pushover either.”
Riina said in a strong tone.
“The five warriors from Azonia, led by Ar Tune, are not to be taken lightly either. As for Demian, well, they’re a bunch of shut-ins, so there’s no data to evaluate them, but they aren’t a place that makes empty boasts. The moment they had the nerve to talk about evaluating three schools, it means they’re confident.”
Riina stated flatly.
“I’m sure Seirun and Azonia think Lumerne is the best among the current hero academy sophomores. But that’s only because of Leo Flove. If it weren’t for Leo Flove, they’d probably think they’re superior to you.”
The sophomores’ faces twisted.
“Of course, I…”
Riina grinned.
“I think you all are the best.”
The students focused on Riina.
“Isn’t it arrogant? Who do they think they are, thinking we’re nobodies without Leo Flove?”
A vein popped on Riina’s forehead.
“Let’s take this chance to firmly engrave in the heads of those pointy-ears, beasts, and dwarves just who is the best! Got it?!”
“Yes, Principal!”
The sophomores answered in unison.
Watching the scene, Yura muttered.
“Wow, her ability to command the students is no joke.”
“She’s considered a legend in the Shadow.”
In the world of the Shadow, Riina was considered an equal to the Emperor of the Shan Empire, who was called the King of Shadows.
“It’s not for nothing that Professor Halind and Professor Sedjen recommended her for principal.”
“Alright! Then! Let’s depart for Demian!”
“Yes, sir!”
***
The bitter cold of the continent’s far north knows no season.
Despite it being spring, the weather in Seirun was frigid.
Amidst a swirling blizzard, the student who had gathered the sophomores before the warp gate spoke coldly.
“Descendants of the Founder, listen.”
His voice, colder than Seirun’s harsh frost, was filled with elven authoritarianism.
“The other races foolishly debate who is the best, ignoring us, Seirun. It is a very unfortunate reality, but it cannot be helped, given their ignorance.”
More than half of the Seirun sophomores nodded at his speech.
Seeing this, Herdium let out a deep sigh.
‘To think Lord Lehagen would be the one to become acting principal in Lord Benit’s place.’
A few months ago.
After Seirun suffered a massive invasion by the monster queen.
There had been many personnel changes within Seirun.
The biggest was that Principal Benit had stepped down from the front lines.
Benit, who was already old, had overexerted himself during the monster queen’s invasion, and his health had deteriorated.
He had then nominated Lun Ersar as his successor.
But since last year, there had been a great change in elven society.
‘I never imagined the Founder’s descent would bring about such a change.’
Herdium wore a worried expression.
“However. There is one thing that cannot be tolerated.”
Lehagen’s eyes flashed.
“It is that there are foolish beings who spread the word that Leo Flove is the Founder’s successor.”
The fact that Leo had restored the magic Luna had ultimately pursued.
The [Magic of Blooming Flowers], was already a famous story in the magical academic world.
Because of this, there were jokes circulating in academia that Leo was the true successor to Luna.
Of course, these were words spoken among humans, beastkin, and dwarves, not elves.
But for the elves, with their strong sense of racial superiority, these words were absolutely unacceptable.
Furthermore, Lumerne had recently published a basic formula in academia that allowed other races to be initiated into Star Magic.
Thanks to that, some elven mages were furious.
“Star Magic is the Founder’s legacy. And the Founder’s legacy is the legacy of the elves. It is not a domain that other races dare to trespass upon.”
“That’s right!”
“So go and prove it. Prove that the other races cannot trespass upon our great legacy!”
“Yes!”
Watching her classmates shout resolutely, Eiran didn't know what to do.
‘Leo.’
Eiran thought of the boy she admired with a worried expression.
Meanwhile, Lunia let out a deep sigh.
‘I just hope we don’t end up embarrassing ourselves.’
***
In the middle of a desert under a scorching sun.
A tiger beastkin swished her tail.
“That Leo Flove kid. He’s super famous, right? Yeah, I admit it. Unprecedented All-Class, first-year student council president. He must be crazy strong. But.”
The principal of Azonia, Jeppia, flashed her eyes.
“Have we ever lost to students from other schools in a simple brawl?!”
“Never!”
“But people are saying he’s a better fighter than us! Can you tolerate that?!”
“No, we can’t!”
“I don’t know what this All-Class thing is, but in a straight-up fistfight, we beastkin are the best! Go and prove it!!”
“Waaaaaah!”
The Azonia sophomores roared.
Normally, their goal would have been to contract with an outstanding smith, but the simple-minded students of Azonia had a different goal this time.
It was to defeat Leo Flove through a martial arts duel!
Ar, who would have normally been shouting along with them, was different this time.
Ar knew very well what kind of monster Leo was.
Ar’s white tail swayed gently.
‘A lot of people are going to end up in the hospital this time.’