Chapter 345
Chapter Title: Strengthening Magic
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345
*Click-clack- Click-clack-*
Laura took a deep breath and quickened her pace.
This morning.
She was on her way to the classroom after the faculty meeting.
During the meeting, Teacher Otren, who had been in charge of Advanced Class 1, had stepped down from his position for health reasons.
Of course, Laura knew the real reason Otren had been removed from his post.
‘It was because he lost the duel with Leo.’
To a mere student.
The Pureblood Society, which now controlled Seirun, would never tolerate the fact that he had lost a duel using star magic to a Lumerne student.
The result was his dismissal from the position of teacher for Advanced Class 1.
Seirun’s Advanced Class 1.
It was home to the most promising hero candidates of the future.
Becoming their homeroom teacher was an immense privilege granted only to a select few among Seirun's instructors.
As soon as they heard the news of Otren’s departure, the eyes of every teacher at the faculty meeting had gleamed.
Laura let out a deep sigh.
‘A sudden change in homeroom teachers won't be good for the students with midterms just around the corner.’
That was what worried Laura the most.
For the teachers, it was an opportunity, but for the students, a major staff change would inevitably cause confusion.
‘For now, I'll just focus on teaching my own students!’
The exams were just around the corner.
The scope of the written exam was already set.
But the content of the most important practical exam had been shrouded in mystery until today.
And today, at the faculty meeting, the details of the practical exam were announced.
Eager to inform her students, Laura arrived at the lower-class classroom.
‘First period is Aura Studies.’
Of course, all the students would be training on their own, so she'd have to call them all together.
*Slide-!*
Opening the door, Laura's eyes widened.
The entire lower class was seated.
“Good morning, Teacher Laura!”
The students greeted her with bright voices.
“Good morning, everyone. But… isn't first period Aura Studies?”
Normally, they would be studying individually at this time, yet the entire class was here.
Laura couldn't help but be surprised.
Leo answered Laura's question.
“We were having a study session.”
“A study session?”
“Yes. The others said they had questions about my duel with Teacher Otren the other day.”
Leo glanced around at the students.
Not just the knight-track students, but even the summoner-track students were staring at the blackboard with sparkling eyes.
They were all filled with the same motivation they showed during Laura's star magic classes.
“We were discussing how knights and summoners should strategize when facing a powerful mage.”
It was a lecture on a topic Laura couldn't have taught them.
“Thank you, Leo.”
At Laura's words, Leo smiled and returned to his seat.
Standing before the lectern, Laura cleared her throat. *Ahem*!
“Everyone, the practical exam assignment for the midterms was decided at today's faculty meeting.”
At her words, the entire lower class tensed up.
The midterm practical exam.
It was arguably the most important test of this exam period.
Looking at the tense students, Laura spoke.
“Monster subjugation.”
“Monster subjugation?”
The lower-class students' eyes widened.
“Yes. The assignment for this practical exam is to work together to subjugate a powerful monster. Your ranks will be determined by how quickly you can defeat it, utilizing your best strategy, tactics, and teamwork.”
At Laura's words, a student named Angre raised his hand.
“Teacher, I have a question!”
“Yes, Angre.”
“That's not all, is it?”
“No, it isn't.”
The lower-class students wore expressions that said, ‘I knew it.’
“As you've probably guessed, you must complete the subjugation using only star magic.”
At that, a collective sigh of lament erupted from the lower-class students.
Looking at the students, Laura said,
“Don't worry too much. You were all prepared for this, weren't you? I think this is actually an opportunity.”
Laura said in a strong tone.
“An opportunity to prove, without a doubt, that you don't belong in the lower class.”
***
“I'm a little confused.”
Angre asked in a slightly puzzled tone.
“The exam only allows star magic, so is there any need for aura training?”
The large auditorium where the lower-class students usually trained.
All the students of the lower class were gathered there.
Not just the knight students, but the summoners and mages were all there as well.
In response to Angre's question, Leo asked,
“Are you a mage? Are you going to walk the path of magic for the rest of your life?”
“Well, no, but…”
“Then you should stay true to your main profession.”
Having said that, Leo looked at the summoner students.
“The same goes for you.”
Verus, the de facto leader of the lower class's summoner students, raised his hand.
“Leo, I understand what you're saying. But will your training methods, as a magic swordsman, really help us summoners?”
At Verus's question, the other summoner students nodded.
Looking at Verus, Leo said,
“The magic I'm about to teach you will be helpful to all of you.”
“What kind of magic is it?”
“Strengthening magic.”
At Leo's words, Angre tilted his head.
“Strengthening magic? The only strengthening spells in star magic are unique spells passed down through prestigious families, right? There are no common spells, so how can we learn it?”
Strengthening magic.
A type of buff magic.
It was a spell inspired by the fairies' blessing magic, one that Luna often used in close combat.
In fact, Luna had more than once fought in incredible close-quarters combat on the front lines while unleashing powerful spells left and right.
But now, its remnants only existed as secret family spells passed down through bloodlines.
A common version of strengthening magic that anyone could use didn't exist.
“But it does exist.”
At Leo's answer, all the students looked surprised.
“It can strengthen not only the body, but also summoned beasts and spirits.”
Leo brought over a small blackboard and wrote down the interpreted magic formula.
It wasn't the original spell Luna used, but a modified version Leo had reinterpreted for modern elves to use.
‘Well, its power is weaker than the original, but it's still a sufficiently powerful spell.’
“Ooooh!”
“Awesome!”
The lower-class students began to copy the magic formula into their notebooks.
Watching them, Angre approached.
“Is it really okay to teach us something like this so freely?”
For a mage, a spell known only to oneself was of immense value.
Especially a strengthening spell in the star magic system that anyone could use just by knowing the formula—it was incredibly valuable.
For Leo to share such a spell so readily, Angre couldn't help but be bewildered.
Looking at Angre, Leo replied,
“If she saw you all, I think she would have been furious.”
“Who?”
“Your great senior.”
If she saw the lower-class students being deprived of the opportunity to learn.
Luna would have been incredibly enraged.
‘She probably would have smashed the heads of every single one of those Pureblood Society bastards who did this.’
Leo gave Angre a faint smile.
“Don't overthink it, just work hard. That's all that matters.”
At Leo's words, Angre's eyes widened, and then his face flushed slightly.
‘He's a first-year just like us, but he's so mature.’
Taking out his notebook, Angre copied down the magic formula from the blackboard.
“Everyone! Let's work hard! Let's show Seirun what we can do!”
Angre, who had taken on the role of class representative, encouraged the students.
“Yeah!”
“Let's do our best!”
The students cheered.
“Hmph, how noisy.”
Just then, some elf students walking down the hall outside the auditorium sneered.
“Looks like one of the lower-class dregs got arrogant after luckily beating Teacher Otren.”
“What's the point of trying so hard?”
The Advanced Class 1 students scoffed.
Watching this, Geras, the new homeroom teacher leading the Advanced Class 1 students, spoke.
“The unchosen sometimes indulge in the fantasy that they can overcome the chosen through effort.”
Geras smiled faintly.
“All you have to do is prove it to them. Prove just how meaningless a fantasy like 'effort' is.”
At Geras's words, the Advanced Class 1 students looked triumphant.
*Creeak-*
Just then, Eclair, who had slightly opened the auditorium door and seen the friendly atmosphere of the lower class, muttered.
“I'm so jealous.”
It was a stark contrast to the atmosphere of Advanced Class 1, where everyone was trying to step on each other to get ahead, hiding what they'd studied.
The sight of an entire class sharing what they'd learned and laughing together was the very picture of the school life Eclair yearned for.
“Eclair.”
“Y-Yes?!”
“What are you looking at?”
Geras shot Eclair a cold glare.
“Eclair, your position as year representative is on the line with these midterms. You need to be more focused.”
“Yes, sir…”
Reprimanded by Geras, Eclair's ears drooped.
The other advanced-class students snickered at her.
Then they shot her hostile glances.
‘I might not be able to beat Leah, but I can definitely beat Eclair.’
‘After these midterms, I'll become the year representative for sure.’
Under her classmates' gazes, Eclair shrank back even more.
*Pat-!*
Just then, Elric, the second-ranked first-year, came up and patted Eclair on the back.
“Don't mind them.”
“Yeah. I won't.”
Smiling brightly, Eclair glanced back at the lower class's auditorium door before walking away.
“Now, everyone, look forward to it. I will provide you with a class unlike any you've experienced before.”
‘I'm different from that fool Otren. I'll prove that I'm the teacher truly worthy of Advanced Class 1.’
He was originally in charge of Advanced Class 2.
‘Even Advanced Class 2 was beneath me.’
Geras wore a triumphant smile.
***
“How is Leo Flove doing?”
“He's spending time with the lower-class students.”
“Hmph. How fitting.”
Lehagen scoffed.
“It would be good if he learned even a little about our Seirun's educational values.”
“Wouldn't that be impossible?”
Orlen's lips curled into a smirk.
“By the way, Lord Lehagen. Are you… truly planning to incinerate Lord Seirun's Hero Record?”
Seeing Orlen's cautious question, Lehagen's expression turned cold.
“Do you think that makes any sense?”
At his words, Orlen flinched.
“I do not know why Lord Seirun left such a letter. But all of this is for the sake of our great elven race. Even if it means disobeying Lord Seirun's words, we have a duty to reveal his Hero Record to the world.”
>Lehagen rose from his seat.
Looking down at the view of Seirun, Lehagen spoke.
“This is an age where Luna, the Founder of the Stars, transcends the Hero Record to descend upon this land.”
Lehagen's eyes gleamed.
“Is there any law that says Lord Seirun cannot do the same? Any law that says he cannot descend upon this land once more?”
“There is not.”
“Exactly! That is why we have a duty to protect Lord Seirun's Hero Record and pass it down to future generations.”
Lehagen's lips curled as he spoke.
“If they learn of the existence of Lord Seirun's Hero Record, our entire race will rejoice as one. And if that happens, even the Tingel Family will have no choice but to help with Lord Seirun's world conquest.”
*Step- step-*
Lehagen stood before Seirun's Hero Record.
“I will announce it at the upcoming conference, so prepare thoroughly.”
“Understood, Lord Lehagen.”