Chapter 092
Chapter Title: Special Training
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“What a mess.”
Leo clicked his tongue as he arrived for magic class.
The lockdown declared that morning was enough to turn the entire academy upside down.
Even though a good amount of time had passed since breakfast, the students were still buzzing about the lockdown.
“I know everyone is unsettled by the sudden situation. But don’t let it distract you. Prepare thoroughly for the interdepartmental competition.”
Ren said in an indifferent voice.
“As you all know, outside dignitaries will be observing the interdepartmental competition.”
The restless atmosphere changed in an instant.
Outside dignitaries.
The words literally meant the influential figures of various nations.
Not everyone who attended Lumerne would become a Hero.
But simply having attended a Hero academy greatly increased one’s chances of attaining a high position in the future.
“Today, we will practice Fly magic, just like in the last class.”
At Ren’s words, the students’ expressions grew tense.
Fly magic itself was easy in terms of difficulty, but its application was extremely challenging.
It was especially difficult for the Lumerne Magic Department students, who were all accustomed to Wing magic.
“And the four students who passed the first class, please step forward.”
At the call, Leo, Chelsea, Chloe, and Abad stepped forward.
Ren drew his staff and waved it through the air.
*Shhh-!*
An entrance materialized in midair.
“You four will be under the guidance of Senior Albi.”
The four, including Leo, immediately passed through the space to the next training area where Albi was waiting.
All the students watched the four of them with envy.
‘What’s the difference between me and them? Damn it!’
While Emio was grinding his teeth internally, the four crossed over to where Albi was.
The four of them moved to a training hall that was excessively large for just four people and approached Albi, who was seated in a chair in one corner.
“Professor Albi. Professor Ren sent us here.”
At Chloe’s words, Albi, who had his eyes closed, opened them.
“Chloe Müller. What do you think your weakness is?”
“Pardon?”
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Chloe thought for a moment before answering.
“The power of my spells?”
“...Aren’t you the most powerful among the four of you in that regard?”
“Well, stronger is always better.”
“Chelsea Llewellyn, what do you think is your weakness?”
“My close-quarters combat skills!”
“But your close-quarters combat is excellent, even for a battle mage.”
“It’s not enough! I think I should be able to take down the average Knight Department student!”
*Yah-!* Chelsea shouted, pumping her fist in the air, prompting a sigh from Albi.
“Ren’s educational philosophy is to maximize each student’s individual strengths. Following that philosophy, you have all been honing what you’re good at here at Lumerne.”
Chloe and Chelsea nodded at Albi’s words.
“But focusing too much on one area isn’t good either. Chelsea Llewellyn. Your biggest weakness is the power of your spells.”
“But Professor, I’m a battle mage!”
“You mustn’t misunderstand, Chelsea Llewellyn. A battle mage is a mage who fights on the front lines of the battlefield. Not a knight. Your position doesn’t change the fact that you are a mage.”
“Mmm!”
“What is the fundamental role of a mage?”
“To change the tide of battle!”
“Do you think you can fight on the front lines and change the tide of battle with your current skills?”
“N-no.”
Albi crossed his arms.
“You will set that as your goal and direct your training accordingly.”
“What kind of training should I do, specifically?”
“You’ll need to practice multi-casting.”
“Multi-casting?”
Chelsea’s expression was uncertain.
She was already practicing multi-casting quite a bit.
In fact, the field of incantation was her greatest specialty.
“I’m not talking about ordinary multi-casting.”
Albi raised both hands.
A Fireball formed in his right hand.
And in his left…
“Hell Fire?”
The strongest magic of the fire element was generated.
Simultaneously casting spells of different elements but similar power was a relatively simple task.
However, casting a low-tier spell and a high-tier spell at the same time was difficult.
The fundamental structures of the magic formulas were different, as was the power output.
Naturally, the greater the gap between the spells, the more difficult it became.
“If you aim to be a Hero as a battle mage, you should be able to do this with ease.”
At Albi’s words, Chelsea swallowed hard.
“Begin your practice.”
“Yes, sir!”
Chelsea answered sharply and immediately immersed herself in training.
Albi’s gaze turned to Chloe.
“Chloe, you know your weakness without me having to say it, right?”
“That I’m weak in a melee.”
“Correct. In truth, melees are a problem for all types of mages except battle mages. Securing mobility through Wing magic is also a way to avoid them. But the fundamental problem remains unsolved. Especially for you, Chloe. You’re a classic mage.”
“Ugh!”
Chloe flinched at Albi’s words.
A classic mage who focused solely on studying magic.
Of course, as a Lumerne student, she had done basic physical training, but that was all.
“To prepare for melees to some extent, you will study martial arts.”
“In magic class!?”
“Today’s lesson is a special class for the interdepartmental competition.”
“Oh, I see…!”
“Go and warm up.”
At Albi’s words, Chloe’s shoulders slumped as she began to warm up in a corner.
“Abad Llewellyn.”
“Yes.”
“At this stage, you don’t really have any weaknesses to speak of.”
At those words, Abad smiled faintly.
He was inferior to Chelsea in close combat and to Chloe in spell power.
But in terms of overall combat strength, Abad was the strongest among the first-year mages.
“Help Chelsea.”
“Yes.”
“The same goes for you, Leo. You will help Chloe with her practice.”
“Understood.”
Having given the two their tasks, Albi closed his eyes.
Leo and Abad walked toward the center of the training hall where Chloe and Chelsea were preparing to practice.
“Come to think of it.”
Leo stopped at Abad’s words.
“Is this the first time we’ve talked like this, just the two of us?”
Abad smiled faintly.
Half the semester had passed, but Leo and Abad had never really had any point of contact.
They weren’t in the same class, nor did they take magic classes together.
“I suppose so.”
“My sister is always in your debt. It seems you’ve been helping her with one thing or another.”
“I’m enjoying school life thanks to Chelsea, too.”
At that reply, Abad spoke with a gentle smile.
“In this interdepartmental competition, I plan to defeat you.”
Leo’s expression showed a hint of surprise at the quiet and calm declaration of war.
“I’ve been thinking about you since the entrance exam.”
At the time of the entrance exam, Leo’s skills had been no match for Abad’s.
“Back then, I thought you were just an outstanding knight, but once the semester started, I found that wasn’t the case. You showed remarkable talent in both magic and summoning, one after the other.”
Abad’s gaze met Leo’s directly.
“The fact that someone like you existed was fascinating. But before I knew it, you were already running far ahead of me.”
“I’m honored you think so highly of me.”
“It’s not my assessment; it’s the public’s. In fact, I’m grateful for your existence. Without you, I would have had nothing to aim for, and school life would have been boring.”
Abad smiled, a smile like a gentle spring breeze.
“In this interdepartmental competition, I will make you my target.”
‘He’s handsome even to a guy like me. No wonder he’s the most popular male student among the first-years.’
Celia might dismiss Abad as being too smooth, but he was still the most popular male student in their year.
In any case, after talking with him, Leo didn’t dislike Abad.
At Leo’s words, Abad bowed gracefully like a challenger and approached Chelsea.
Watching his retreating back, Leo let out a chuckle.
“Well now. Being popular is a problem in itself.”
***
“What did you talk about with Abad?”
“He said he’s going to defeat me in the interdepartmental competition.”
“Celia and Duran are also incredibly fired up.”
“Those two have been like that since the beginning of the semester, so what’s new?”
Watching Leo speak so nonchalantly, Chloe added.
“I heard at the last class president meeting that Chen Xia and Eliza are targeting you too?”
“…”
“Woreden is so quiet and indifferent to others, so I don’t think he’d be like that.”
“He told me last week in summoning class that he would defeat me.”
“Really?”
Chloe covered her mouth and grinned.
“What’s with that smile?”
“Oh, nothing. Just thinking how nice it must be for our year representative to be so popular!”
Leo chuckled at Chloe, who was teasing him with a wide grin.
“What about you? Am I not your target for this competition?”
“Huh? Not really.”
“That’s strange. The girl who, during the midterms, was so obsessed with that goal that she got dark circles down to here from some weird book.”
“Hey! Why are you bringing that up now!”
Chloe, her face beet red, yelled and kicked out, but Leo dodged her nimbly.
“Leo. I will definitely beat you in this practical exam!”
“I told you not to do that!”
Furious at Leo for even mimicking her tone, Chloe swung the grimoire in her hand wildly.
“Huff-! Huff-!”
Ultimately, it was Chloe who tired out first. Straightening her hair, she said.
“Let me make this clear. My target is still you. That hasn’t changed.”
“Oh?”
“It’s just that before that, my priority is to restore my grades to a level befitting the top entrant from the north.”
“Well, that’s admirable.”
“Hmph!”
Chloe turned her head away sharply.
“Anyway, for now, I need to build up my close-combat skills like Professor Albi said, right? I’ll help you stretch.”
Leo helped Chloe with her stretches.
He pressed down on her back as she sat in a split, and they helped each other stretch by lifting the other while sitting back-to-back.
“Ughhh, that feels good.”
Chloe murmured as she swayed back and forth on Leo’s back.
“Are you an old man?”
At that, Chloe lightly pulled on Leo’s hair.
“Alright, even mages learn basic martial arts, right? What weapon did you learn with?”
“Swordsmanship, the most standard one.”
“Then how about you swing a wooden sword for a bit?”
Leo took a wooden sword from his subspace and handed it to Chloe.
Chloe took out the wooden sword and assumed a stance.
‘Oh? Not bad.’
Leo was impressed by her decent form.
Chloe, who loved to read, had thoroughly read the swordsmanship manual, so her posture was excellent.
“Hah!”
*Whoosh-!*
And then she swung the sword.
Seeing it, Leo nodded.
“You’re a classic klutz, aren't you?”
Chloe pouted.
“Wouldn’t it be better to use magic to increase my mobility and escape a melee faster?”
“That’s one way, but you still need to be prepared for close combat as a basic.”
“Huh?”
“Here, hold the sword like this.”
Leo approached Chloe and placed his hand over hers on the sword.
Suddenly, they were close enough for their breaths to mingle, and Chloe’s mouth hung open.
“Use your wrist like this, smoothly. And put strength in your hips.”
“…!”
When Leo’s hand touched her waist, Chloe’s shoulders trembled like a startled cat’s.
“The atmosphere is pretty racy for a class, don’t you think?”
At the voice that came from behind, Chloe jumped in surprise and moved away from Leo.
Leo turned his head to look.
“Hello, my cute juniors.”
There sat Elena, legs crossed, on a flying staff.