Chapter 332
Chapter Title: A Shocking Proposal
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332
The day after the midterms ended.
Even though the exams were over, the academic schedule at Lumerne showed the students no mercy.
The students were thrust right back into their packed schedules.
But even so, they couldn't quite shake the sense of liberation that came with the end of exams.
The students wore expressions of relief.
All except for one year.
“Ughhhhh.”
Iliana, slumped over her desk, let out a pained groan.
She wasn’t the only one.
Most of the students looked as if their souls had left their bodies.
“My mom and dad nagged me to deaaaaath.”
“I'm getting my allowance cut off for a month. Now I have to get a part-time job in Lumeria City on the weekends…!”
“It's like our professors only think about how to torture us.”
Wails of despair echoed from all corners of the room.
It was true that the second-years had, as a whole, grown lax about the written exams, knowing the mentor system would prevent them from being advised to withdraw until the end of the first semester.
They had their reasons, of course—that they had used the time they would have spent on the written exams to “hone their practical skills.”
But to their parents, that was nothing more than an excuse.
The magic department students had been hit particularly hard.
Since parents are inherently sensitive about test scores, most students hadn't been able to enjoy the party yesterday, instead suffering through their parents' lectures.
And it was inevitable that the parents of magic students, who were generally expected to excel academically, would be even more sensitive about the written exams.
Watching his wailing friends, Karl clicked his tongue.
“This is why you should've studied hard for the exams.”
“Ugh! You bombed the written exams too!”
“Puhahaha! In my case, my parents' expectations are already at rock bottom! They praise me just for surviving! Hahahahaha!”
Karl burst out laughing, then his expression suddenly turned glum.
“That's... kind of pathetic in its own way.”
Of course, there were some souls who were free from this tragedy.
Namely, the department's top students.
“Chloe and Abad got perfect scores again, right?”
“I'm so jealous.”
The students’ envious gazes turned toward the two of them.
Chloe, who hadn't looked up from her grimoire, finally raised her eyes and tilted her head, while Abad offered his usual gentle smile.
Just then, Leo walked into the classroom.
The moment Leo entered, every student fell silent.
The shocking image of Leo from yesterday was still fresh in their minds.
Leo went and sat next to Chloe and Karl in the front row, just as he always did.
As an awkward atmosphere settled over the room.
Chelsea entered the classroom.
“Oh, Leo! Good morning!”
Chelsea greeted Leo with her usual cheerful face.
“Karl, Chloe, did you two sleep well?”
“Now that the exams are over, I slept like a log.”
“I slept well. You?”
Karl answered breezily, and Chloe, answering after him, smiled brightly.
Chelsea beamed in response.
“I slept well, too.”
Chelsea hadn't attended the party yesterday.
“Leo, how was I yesterday?”
“You were incredible. You're more than worthy of being called a full-fledged mage now.”
Chelsea grinned shyly at Leo's words.
“See you at lunch!”
Then, she cheerfully said her goodbyes and went over to Abad.
Chelsea always made sure to sit with Abad during magic class.
Watching them, Karl laughed.
“Good to see she's as energetic as ever.”
“Chelsea's stronger than you think.”
“Oh, I know she's strong. Incredibly strong. Annoyingly so. She's got the resilience of a cockroach, you could stomp on her and she'd just get back up... Gack!”
“Are you comparing me to a cockroach?”
Chelsea, who had appeared out of nowhere, landed a dropkick to Karl's side.
Chelsea's arrival helped to slightly ease the tense atmosphere that had formed because of Leo.
Students from other dorms approached Leo and started conversations.
A few even asked about the Dragon Tongue magic he had used.
To this, Leo gave a simple answer, explaining it was an effect of his unique magic, ‘Bible.’
Chloe, who also seemed interested, joined the discussion about Dragon Tongue magic.
Just as their conversation about magic was starting to blossom...
*Clap, clap, clap, clap!*
“Excellent! My students! Such passion for magic! This is how it should be! This is exactly how it should be!”
The classroom door opened, and Ren appeared.
Ren, clapping enthusiastically with a look of deep emotion, stepped up onto the classroom dais.
“A mage is at their most beautiful when passionately discussing magic! Now! On that note, behold! Look at the beautiful sight of Assistant Professor Anna preparing for the upcoming magic conference in Seirun!”
Ren pointed at Anna.
Anna, with exhausted eyes, slowly turned to look at Ren.
The look in her eyes was one of pure murderous intent.
“Now! Let's give a warm, encouraging round of applause for Assistant Professor Anna, who will soon attend the Seirun magic conference and elevate Lumerne's reputation!”
As Ren clapped, the students reluctantly joined in.
With each clap, the murderous glint in Anna's eyes grew stronger.
“Shouldn't we go stop him?”
Leo muttered while resting his chin on his hand, prompting Chloe and Chelsea to lead a few other female students over to Anna.
Ren's fits of passion for magic were something the second-years had already grown used to.
They had been flustered at the beginning of their first year, but after experiencing it countless times for a year, everyone had learned how to handle it.
When Ren had one of his fits, it was usually the male students, led by Leo and Abad, who dealt with him.
However, since the start of their second year, Anna had started having fits of her own because of Ren, so the female students took on the duty of calming her down.
Fortunately, Anna's fits had warning signs, making them preventable.
After calming Anna down, Chloe raised her hand.
“Yes, Miss Chloe.”
“Professor Ren, can students also attend the magic conference as assistants?”
Ren grinned at Chloe's question.
“Of course, it's possible. Possible, but...”
“We have no plans to take students to this conference.”
Anna answered with a sigh, cutting through Ren's vague response.
At that, Chloe and several other students looked disappointed.
Seeing the students, Anna gave a bitter smile.
“If it were any other conference, I would have welcomed your help... but I don't want to take you to this one. There's a high chance it will be an unpleasant experience for students.”
The students looked bewildered by Anna's words.
“My students! Let's leave this conference to the experienced Assistant Professor Anna! And now, let's begin class!”
At Ren's words, the students scrambled back to their seats.
Looking at the students, Ren spoke.
“First, we will announce the top student from the magic department's practical exam.”
At Ren's words, all eyes turned to Leo.
It was obvious that Leo, who had shown such overwhelming power that he was being called the Demon Lord, would receive the top score.
But the student Ren named was not Leo.
“The student who took first place in the familiar category is none other than Miss Chelsea Llewellyn.”
Everyone's eyes widened as they stared at Chelsea.
Chelsea, too, looked bewildered, pointing a finger at herself.
Leo, as if he had expected it, simply rested his chin on his hand.
“Professor! I'm curious why Chelsea got the top score and not Leo!”
Iliana shot her hand up and asked.
“I'll explain that part on Professor Ren's behalf.”
Just then, the classroom door opened, and Tina walked in, dark circles ringing her eyes.
Stepping onto the dais, Tina looked over the students and spoke.
“The assignment for this practical exam was to create the most outstanding familiar magic. In that sense, Chelsea Llewellyn completed a spell worthy of a perfect score.”
She summoned a familiar of an element that suited her and used it to compensate for her own weaknesses.
On top of that, its power was exceptional.
“What earned her the highest score was that she designed a formula that could enhance the magic itself through her own unique magic. It's brilliant. You created a more wonderful familiar than I ever expected.”
Tina smiled brightly as she looked at Chelsea.
“It's true that Leo showed overwhelming power. But he didn't demonstrate the familiar part of the assignment.”
*Well, it's more accurate to say he didn't need to.*
Tina glanced at Leo.
For Leo, who could already summon the three great phantom beasts, a familiar was essentially meaningless.
Leo knew that full well.
That was why he hadn't put much effort into this practical exam.
Of course, she didn't bother bringing that up and further demoralizing the already discouraged students.
“After Miss Chelsea, the next most impressive familiar was created by Miss Chloe, I believe.”
Chloe created an ice slime using magical engineering.
It was a slime specialized in defense, boasting overwhelming defensive capabilities.
It was a familiar meant to cover Chloe's openings while she cast powerful spells.
“Mr. Abad, you're third by a narrow margin. Do you know why?”
“Because I created contract magic, not a familiar.”
“Yes. I think it's a truly incredible spell. But it deviated slightly from the exam's objective, so points were deducted.”
“I took that into account when I made it, so it's fine.”
Abad gave a charming smile, causing a few female students to blush.
Tina nodded.
“And so, these are the students who took first, second, and third place in the magic department's practical exam.”
After Tina finished, Ren crossed his arms.
“We also selected students who distinguished themselves in combat.”
“Heh! This one's gotta be Leo, right?”
Karl said, lacing his fingers behind his head.
“It's a joint award. For Mr. Leo and Mr. Karl.”
“Huh? Me?”
Karl looked stunned.
The other students also looked incredulous, but Abad simply smiled as if he'd known all along.
“You earned high marks for your strategic planning.”
Ren gave Karl a wide grin.
“Whoa! This is the first time I've ever gotten a top score.”
Karl's face lit up with excitement.
“Now! With the midterm review concluded, it's time for a delightful lecture!”
Ren spread his arms wide.
“Today, we will continue our study from last time on the magic of the stars!”
***
After class, Ren returned to his office with Tina.
“That was another excellent lecture today, Professor Ren.”
“Not at all. It's all thanks to your help, Professor Tina.”
Ren smiled warmly.
Although she was only a visiting professor, Tina's passion for magic was genuine.
That was why she actively assisted with his classes, and Ren himself felt that student satisfaction had greatly increased since her arrival.
*Inviting Lady Tina was the right decision after all.*
As Ren smiled in satisfaction, inwardly praising his past self...
“Professor Ren, there is something I would like to discuss with you.”
“What is it? If it's something I can do, I will do my utmost to help.”
Ren smiled gently.
“It's about student Leo.”
“Hm? Student Leo?”
Ren looked puzzled.
“Yes.”
Tina nodded and then said,
“I would like to send student Leo to Seirun as an exchange student.”
For a moment, Ren thought to himself.
*Did I lecture too passionately? I seem to be hearing things.*
*Thud!*
Just then, Anna, who was organizing documents in the back with an exhausted face, dropped a stack of papers on the floor.
Anna's face had gone deathly pale.
“Assistant Professor Anna. For you to drop your papers... you must be very tired. Please hang in there a little longer.”
After encouraging his assistant professor with a gentle smile, Ren asked again.
“Professor Tina, I must be tired, as I didn't quite catch what you just said. Could you please repeat it?”
“I would like to send student Leo to Seirun as an exchange student.”
Seeing Tina repeat the exact same words, not even a syllable different, Ren's expression turned frigid.
He hadn't misheard.
“I'm sorry, I must have misheard you.”
“I would like to send student Leo to Seirun as an exchange student.”
Watching Tina repeat the exact same words for a third time, Ren thought.
*What kind of absolute moron brought this damn pointy-ear to the academy?*
His reason paralyzed, Ren hurled every curse and insult he could think of at his past self.