Chapter 351
Chapter Title: The Magical Society
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The Magical Society.
A conference where the world's greatest mages gathered to discuss magic.
It was a society that literally led the future of the magical world.
Various groups attended, from the Mage Towers of each region to the magic guilds of several nations and the hero academies.
Among the diverse groups gathered at the Magical Society, the Mage Towers held the most influential voice.
Mages from the hero academies or the kingdom guilds were the most publicly famous.
It was natural, as they had proven their skills and built their reputations by fighting on the front lines of battle.
But a powerful mage was not necessarily the best mage.
They were merely the ones who best utilized existing things; those who created new things, pursued change, and led trends were inevitably the researchers.
That was the essence of magic.
And the mages of the Mage Towers were the ones who best understood and pursued this essence of magic.
This year's Magical Society was uncharacteristically held at Seirun. The other hero academies, such as Lumerne, Azonia, and Demian, often hosted the society, as befitting educational institutions representing each race, with a high interest in magic.
However, the path of magic that Seirun pursued was fundamentally different from the conventional one.
Star Magic.
A magical system left behind by Luna, the progenitor of the Nebula, hailed as the greatest mage to have ever existed in this land.
Because this Star Magic was precisely what Seirun pursued.
A unique magic exclusive to elves.
Most of the new magical theories or interpretations presented at the society were incompatible with Star Magic.
Added to that was Seirun's characteristic insularity.
Due to a combination of various factors, despite Seirun being the hero academy that valued magic the most, it rarely hosted the Magical Society.
As such, with the Magical Society being held at Seirun, the attention of the magical world was focused on it.
***
Two days after the midterm exams ended.
Lunchtime.
The lower-class students rushed out to eat lunch.
Although they were the lower-class students who had achieved overwhelming results in the exam, the official results had not yet been released.
Therefore, the discrimination based on class rank continued.
However, no students were intimidated by this outward discrimination anymore.
They had already proven their skills through the exam.
No middle- or upper-class students looked down on the lower class anymore.
In fact, they would even watch cautiously whenever the lower-class students passed by.
Even so, the lower-class students still didn't eat lunch in the cafeteria.
As always, the lower-class students prepared their lunch in the lounge, their hideout.
While they were making sandwiches for lunch, Eclair arrived with a bright smile.
“Hey, everyone!”
After becoming friends with the lower-class students, Eclair continued to hang out with them.
After the exams ended, Leah also joined them for lunch.
Of course, Leah's purpose was to see Leo.
“Some other people came with us today, is that okay?”
“Yeah, it's fine.”
Angre said with a grin.
“She says you can come in!”
Eclair gestured from behind the door, and some well-known students entered.
They were none other than Elric, currently ranked second among the first-years, and Yoinia, ranked fourth.
The lower-class students' eyes widened at the appearance of the unexpected students.
“They want to have lunch with us.”
Eclair said with a cheerful smile, but Yoinia spoke in a sullen tone.
“I only came because I have something to ask.”
Yoinia, with her arms crossed and a scoff, approached Angre.
“You're Angre, right? The lower-class representative.”
“Yes.”
“I have something to ask. How were you all able to improve your skills so much?”
Angre scratched her cheek.
She couldn't very well say, *We read a book banned by the school*.
“It's thanks to the excellent guidance of Teacher Laura and Senior Leo.”
At Angre's words, Yoinia glanced over at Leo.
Then she approached him and bowed politely.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Leo Flove. I am Yoinia of the Tella family. I've heard much of the Lumerne student council president's reputation. It's an honor to meet you.”
After greeting him elegantly like the daughter of a prestigious family, Yoinia asked seriously.
“I'll be direct. How were the students here able to improve their skills so quickly in such a short time?”
“I only provided the catalyst. Improving their skills was the result of their own individual efforts.”
“Then please, tell me about that catalyst.”
“I don't particularly feel like telling you.”
Yoinia's eye twitched.
“Is it because I'm in the upper class?”
“It means you don't really need it.”
Yoinia looked puzzled at his words.
“Back then, if your team had demonstrated proper teamwork, the Verus team wouldn't have been able to achieve such an overwhelming victory. If I had to point out a weakness, I'd say you focus too much on high-level magic.”
“You sound like the second-year seniors.”
Yoinia fell into thought.
Rather than denying reality after her defeat, she was trying to find a breakthrough.
Just then, Leah, who had gotten a sandwich on a plate, handed it to Leo and said.
“After the exams, quite a few students in the upper class have started to question the existing teaching methods. Yoinia is one of them.”
It was only natural, having been surpassed in skill by the lower-class students overnight.
As they were enjoying their meal, Eclair tilted her head.
“I just thought of something I'm curious about.”
“What is it?”
“How do Lumerne's first-years compare to us?”
At her words, the Seirun first-years who were eating lunch froze.
Lumerne and Seirun.
They were rivals who competed in the Lu-Se Games, and the current Lumerne first-years were rivals the Seirun students would have to compete against in the future.
While everyone wore tense expressions at Eclair's question, Leo spoke.
“What's there to compare? You and the kids at my school are all just chicks who've barely finished their midterms.”
At that, Elric adjusted his glasses.
“I am curious. I heard Lumerne has a 'mentor' system now, right? You have a mentee, don't you?”
Hearing this, Leah, who was munching on her sandwich, perked up her ears.
She whipped her head around, eyes wide, and stared at Leo.
“I do.”
“If they're your mentee, they must be famous, right? Aina Veidna from the Knight Department? Harviden Virsen? Or maybe Sasha Sienne Rhodren from the Summoning Department? If not, is it Juen Torvina from the Magic Department?”
“Elric… you sure know the names of Lumerne's first-year students well.”
Eclair said with a fascinated expression, and Elric replied.
“They are our future rivals. It's only natural to keep track of strong opponents.”
Hearing Elric's words, Leah's eyes burned with fire.
‘Who is it! To be personally mentored by Senior Flove! What an enviable person!’
Angre bit into her sandwich roughly, as if tearing into meat.
“It's a kid named Luke.”
“Luke? Elric, do you know anything?”
“…Never heard that name before.”
Elric scratched his head.
‘Luke! From this day on, you are my enemy!’
Leah inwardly burned with a fighting spirit.
And just like that, Luke had made an enemy of Seirun's top first-year student.
“Anyway, the society starts tomorrow. I wonder what kind of magic theories will be presented.”
“Personally, I'm curious about the 'Introduction to Star Magic'. They call it an unholy grimoire here at Seirun, but a reinterpreted formula that allows anyone to use Star Magic… As a mage, I can't help but be curious.”
At Yoinia's words, the entire lower class flinched inwardly.
[Introduction to Star Magic].
It was none other than the driving force behind their recent great reversal.
‘The society, huh. I should go meet Associate Professor Anna this evening.’
***
That evening.
Seirun was busy preparing to welcome its outside guests.
It was very rare for so many outsiders, regardless of race, to visit Seirun at a time other than the Lu-Se Games.
No matter how heavily the influence of the Pureblood Society loomed over Seirun, these were the world's leading mages.
Among them were many mages who had even earned a place in the Hero Record and attained the rank of hero, so the society attendees could not be treated poorly.
The entire student body gathered in front of the school grounds to welcome the mages attending the society.
“Hoo! It's cold! So cold!”
Early evening.
Lunia, shivering in the cold wind, narrowed her eyes as she looked to her side.
“You know you really stand out like that, right?”
Lunia said, clicking her tongue.
Leo chuckled at her words.
“It's the same uniform you always see me in.”
Leo was wearing none other than his Lumerne uniform.
Leo was also attending the Magical Society to assist Associate Professor Anna.
As such, he was naturally in the position of representing Lumerne and, of course, wore the Lumerne uniform.
But at this moment, before anyone had arrived.
Leo, standing confidently in his Lumerne uniform amidst the entire Seirun student body, stuck out far too much.
Lunia clicked her tongue again, watching Leo remain unfazed even as the gazes of every Seirun student were fixed on him.
‘Sometimes, it's like his face is made of steel.’
“The Seirun uniform looks good on you too, though.”
She was grumbling slightly.
Just then.
Mages began to arrive on the school grounds.
“Welcome to Seirun.”
Each time the mages appeared, the students welcomed them in unison.
Amidst this, Leo, who was watching the arriving mages, spotted Associate Professor Anna and approached her.
“Associate Professor Anna.”
“Ah! Student Leo!”
Associate Professor Anna smiled brightly upon seeing Leo.
“How is life at Seirun?”
“Yes. It's been fun.”
“…I can clearly see you must have had a hard time.”
Associate Professor Anna looked at her student with a bittersweet smile.
“Anyway, leave this society to me.”
Associate Professor Anna wore a determined expression.
“I can't let you suffer any more, Student Leo.”
“Ah, about that.”
Leo smiled.
“I've stirred up a little trouble here at Seirun.”
“…”
Seeing Leo's smile, Associate Professor Anna felt a sense of foreboding.
“What… does that mean?”
“I'll tell you the details when we get to your lodgings.”
***
“It's been a while, Teacher Herdium.”
“It has been a long time.”
Herdium warmly exchanged greetings with the elf mage who had greeted him cheerfully.
He was none other than the Master of the Northern Mage Tower.
Algren Vegs.
He was a mage so great that he had secured the position of Master of the Northern Mage Tower despite being an elf.
Despite his considerable abilities, he was not a graduate of Seirun.
The reason was simple.
He had been unable to learn Star Magic.
A few Seirun teachers narrowed their eyes at him.
They were from the Pureblood Society.
However, they couldn't treat a mage who was the Master of the Northern Mage Tower with disrespect.
“I'm looking forward to this year's society as well.”
“Yes. But this time, more than me,”
Algren grinned and pulled the girl standing next to him closer by the shoulder.
“I hope you'll look forward to my daughter's performance.”
A beautiful woman who appeared to be in her early twenties bowed her head to Herdium.
A half-elf.
The faces of some Pureblood Society teachers contorted openly, but Herdium paid them no mind.
“It's a shame. If Miss Anyas had enrolled at Seirun, I'm sure she would have been a remarkable student.”
Herdium said with a regretful expression, and Algren grinned.
“My daughter has little interest in becoming a hero, you see.”
“What? But isn't she prime material for a hero?”
“No, I can't become a hero.”
Anyas shook her head.
Herdium looked at Anyas with a puzzled expression.
After finishing their greetings, the father and daughter began to walk away.
“Father. Look over there.”
Algren looked where his daughter was pointing.
“Hoh.”
And he spotted Leo, whose attire stood out distinctly among the Seirun students, and his eyes gleamed.
“So that's the Leo Flove.”
Algren's eyes sparkled.
‘An All-Class, just like the Great Hero of Shadows.’