Chapter 157

157

Tap- Tac- Tap-

The sound of chalk echoed throughout the café.

Giggling quietly, the students from Emeral Academy gradually turned from smirking to expressions of perplexity as time went on.

Tap-

Leo stepped back from the board after putting down the chalk.

He looked at Sila who was awkwardly opening her mouth.

“How’s it look?”

“I, I didn’t know this kind of approach was possible!”

Startled, Sila briskly approached the board.

‘What on earth is this? How did he interpret it? And this magic actually works?’

At Emeral Academy, 20 students are divided into groups to tackle group research assignments.

The problem that Leo had just solved was none other than Sila’s group task.

And he had solved it effortlessly.

From the perspective of Emeral students, their jaws had no choice but to drop.

To be honest, even after watching Leo solve the formula beside her, she couldn’t understand even half of it.

‘d*mn it! How on earth did he do this!’

Understanding that the formula would activate is one thing.

But how it activates was completely unfathomable.

Sila glared daggers at the board and then sneaked a glance at Leo who was nonchalantly turning the chalk around in his hand, gritting her teeth.

She wanted to ask for detailed explanations, but her pride wouldn’t let her.

“By the way.”

“Yeah?”

“Instead of this approach, I think there’s a more efficient way to activate the magic, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Huh?”

Leo grinned and began to erase the board and write down a new formula.

“The magic you saw earlier uses a minimal amount of heat magic to obtain a large output of energy, right? Since it’s a fire series magic, it’s natural for fire formulas to be included. However, it consumes a great deal of mana, so we use wind magic for compression in this case.”

Leo started writing the new magical formula on the board.

The sight of this left the mouths of the Emeral students agape.

It was such a complicated magic that it was hard to comprehend.

‘Where’s the efficiency in this?’

‘My head’s going to explode!’

“Using wind formulas in this way to compress, we can greatly amplify the firepower, which will reduce mana consumption.”

Leo shrugged.

“Hang on! Hang on! It’s true that this will probably reduce mana consumption! But efficiency is not just about that! The time it takes to cast the magic and simplicity must also be considered!”

Upon hearing Sila’s critique, Leo smirked.

“Isn’t there something called an activation formula in the world these days?”

“Transforming this complex formula into an activation formula is not an easy task!”

Sila’s eyes opened widely with disbelief.

Looking at such Sila, Leo smirked again.

“It’s not that difficult.”

“What?”

Leo activated the magic from the formula he had interpreted moments ago.

A flame appeared in Leo’s hand before being compressed by the wind, turning into a lump of energy.

Seeing this, Sila’s jaw dropped.

“Though it’s still lacking in practicality for actual combat, I think it could become a pretty decent result with a little more research.”

As Leo nonchalantly shrugged after deactivating the magic, Sila’s body trembled.

Then she soon nodded, understanding.

“O, oh! So you were studying this type of magic as well? Indeed, you’re from Lumeran! Studying magic in such a direction already?”

Sila broke out into a forced laugh.

“Hahaha! So you’ve just imitated the research from Lumeran, huh? How embarrassing.”

“There’s not really any special research like that in Lumeran?”

“What?”

“While Lumeran certainly studies various experimental magic theories, at the school level, it doesn’t happen. Lumeran focuses more on specializing and applying existing magic towards combat rather than developing new magic.”

Leo shrugged.

Indeed, that was true.

The ultimate goal of Lumeran’s Department of Magic is to foster heroes.

As such, it mainly researches adapting existing magic formulas for practical use in battle.

Even though Professor Ren emphasizes academic approaches, it doesn’t become the mainstream.

Thus, such unique experiments rarely occur in Lumeran.

“Alright, wait a moment. How did you interpret this formula, and how did you convert it into an activation formula right here on the spot?”

Sila widened her eyes.

“Yeah.”

As Leo coolly nodded, Sila took a step back.

Other Emeral students also started murmuring.

“Don’t joke around! You just glanced and then easily interpreted, right? It would be impossible unless you already knew the content… Wait. If you did it mentally, it could possibly be done but…!”

“Indeed, mentally.”

“……!”

Silence.

Everyone from Emeral Academy, including Sila, froze up.

“No way… That’s a lie! A person couldn’t possibly do something like that! Ahhh, uaaahh!”

Shocked, Sila quickly left the café.

“Hey! Group leader, where are you going?”

“I, I’m coming!”

“Hieeeek?”

The Emeral students who were following Sila hastily fled but quickly locked eyes with Leo and trembled in fear.

Looking at the students from Emeral who were gazing at him as if he were a monster, Leo scratched his cheek.

“Was it a bit too harsh?”

*

It was time to gather.

Six hundred external students had gathered at the ferry terminal to head to Lumeran.

“Apparently, all students who came this time are first years, right?”

On the ferry terminal bench, Celia was sitting on the left of Leo, and Chelsea on the right.

“Celia, did you get into any trouble wandering around Lumelia City?”

“Trouble? Not particularly, but?”

“Chelsea, did you?”

Sitting on the bench and swinging her legs, Chelsea looked at the Emeral students and shook her head.

“I didn’t either. Why? Were there any fools who caused trouble for Brother Leo?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, those people must have bad luck. How dare they provoke you?”

Celia said it indifferently.

Upon seeing Celia, Leo crossed his arms.

“Why is it always me?”

“Even our school students often despair when they see you. If we discourage them before the joint class, that’s a problem.”

Seeing the shrugging Celia, Chelsea stifled a laugh, covering her mouth.

At that moment, the leading professors appeared at the terminal.

Ain, Yura, and Ren.

Upon seeing the three professors, Chelsea said seriously.

“I occasionally don’t understand our school. Those three professors cause incidents when they’re together, so why do we keep putting them together for big events?”

While two professors together create a chemical reaction, three do even worse. It’s not uncommon to see them moving together.

Hearing Chelsea’s remark, Celia nodded in agreement.

“All inspectors gather.”

As soon as Ain spoke, ten students stood in front of them.

Curious eyes from students of three academies were trained on them.

“Yeah, they’re cute.”

“Celia-sama… You’re beautiful!”

“Is that Chelsea LeWalyn?”

“Who’s that girl from the Department of Magic?”

“Is that small girl really from the Department of Knights?”

“Heritage of the Hergin family seems hard to approach.”

The male students stared in awe at the female students from Lumeran,

However, the reaction from the Lumeran girls was lukewarm.

Celia, showing no interest, flicked her hair.

Chelsea crossed her arms with a sullen expression.

Chloe read her magic book as usual, paying no attention.

Eliza didn’t even glance up, and was busy cleaning her nails.

Only Chen Sia offered a small wave with a smile.

On the other hand, the reactions from the female students were similar.

“Wow! They look like they belong in a picture.”

“Wow! Super handsome.”

“He’s, he’s intimidating.”

Conspicuous among the males, Abad, Duran, and Warden were capturing all the female students’ attention.

“Is that white-haired boy Leo Flove?”

“All Class!”

“Hmm, what can I say? He looks cute, doesn’t he? I thought he’d be more muscular.”

At that moment, a few female students let out a shriek.

Suddenly, Chelsea, Chloe, and Chen Sia all looked that way.

Meanwhile, Celia crossed her arms and said.

“What’s so good about butter that they’re raising a fuss?”

“Our big brother why is it butter?”

Chelsea flared up.

“Be quiet.”

Ain said coldly.

Hearing Ain’s words, the students from the three academies closed their mouths instantly.

“These students, though they are similar to you, have been assigned as inspectors. So, follow their instructions well.”

At Ain’s words, one female student raised her hand.

“Professor! We like that inspector! We’d like him to lead us!”

The one who raised her hand was a female student from Icot Knight Academy.

Pointing at Abad with her finger, she spoke confidently.

“Abad LeWalyn is in the Department of Magic. He has nothing to do with you from Icot.”

Upon hearing Ain’s words, the female student giggled.

“What does that matter? Since we’re all Lumeran students anyway? What if we’re from different departments?”

Students of Lumeran looked at the girl incredulously.

Her supporters, it appeared, cross their arms and nodded.

Even Duran’s mouth dropped.

It’s unimaginable to defy and rebel against a proper professor in Lumeran.

Especially if that professor is Ain!

“Woah… That’s insane.”

“This girl looks like she wants to d*e.”

Chelsea’s exclamation made Eliza lift the corner of her mouth.

But Yura and Ren wore expressions like they somehow expected this.

“What is your name?”

“I’m Sirina Pia! The princess of Tchea Province!”

Sirina puffed out her chest with a proud expression.

Tchea Province.

A fairly large province located in the eastern part of the continent and part of a kingdom.

Upon hearing Sirina’s words, Ain responded.

“Student Sirina, warning. You’ll have to prepare to go back to school if you receive three warnings, so take note.”

As Professor Ain, coolly speaking, was about to begin the schedule,

“Wait a moment! Why should I receive a warning? And about packing? Do you even know who I am?”

Sirina flared up.

“Second warning. Be cautious not to receive a third!”

“Are you serious? Why should I receive a warning?”

Sirina wore a hysteric expression.

Lumeran is a school that everybody aspires to enter.

Even though it’s called a combined class, the fact that you’re taking a class from such a place is an enormous deal.

Sirina was clearly annoyed that she received a warning and had to return before even having her class.

“Wow… crazy.”

“Looks like she’s looking for d*ath.”

Hearing Chelsea’s exclamation Eliza raised her lips.

“However, Yura and Ren wore the expressions like they somehow expected this.”

“What is your name?”

“I’m Sirina Pia! The princess of Tchea Province!”

Sirina proudly stuck out her chest.

Tchea Province.

A fairly large province located in the eastern part of the continent.

To Sirina’s statement, Ain responded.

“Student Sirina, warning. If three warnings accumulate, you must repack and return home. Understand that.”

Ain, matter-of-factly, was about to tell the students the schedule.

“Wait a moment! Why should I receive a warning? And repacking? Do you know who I am!”

Sirina became furious.

“Second warning. Watch out not to receive a third!”

“But seriously! Why on earth would I receive a warning?”

Sirina’s face contorted into a hysteric expression.

Lumeran Academy is a school that everyone aspires to enter.

Even though it’s just a combined class, it’s a great opportunity to take a class here.

Before she could even take the class, if she had to leave because of a warning, Sirina was clearly upset.

“Third warning. Expulsion.”

Ain pulled out a list from his chest.

“Hey! Even if you’re a professor at Lumeran, you don’t have the right to kick me out at your whim!”

The agitated Sirina approached Ain, pointing her finger.

Seeing this, Yura mumbled.

“Overstepping the line.”

“Such students have always been around, but the degree is quite severe this year.”

Ren sighed.

Plop!

“Guh?”

“Listen carefully. Sirina Pia. Whether you are the princess of Tchea Province or the princess of any kingdom, I don’t care about it the slightest bit.”

At Ain’s icy voice, Sirina’s face went pale.

“This is Lumeran, and a professor’s words here are absolute. Perhaps if it were Icot, but such petty power means nothing in Lumeran. So, disappear from in front of me.”

Aaaah!

“Kyaaa!”

Splash!

Professor Ain threw Sirina into the water and then addressed the stunned students from the three academies.

“Be warned. This is neither Icot, Emerald, nor Scoun, but Lumeran. A student’s identity is simply a student, neither above nor below. There is no hierarchy between students. Starting from this moment, I will treat all of you as equivalent to Lumeran students. So, any who wish to use family status, please leave here immediately. That’s all.”

At Ain’s words, students from other academies held their breath.

Seeing this action, Chelsea murmured.

“It seems worse than what we heard about.”

“What?”

Leo looked puzzled, then Chloe, who had closed her magic book, said,

“The students from the three elite academies don’t establish a student hierarchy based on ability like Lumeran does.”

“Huh?”

“Many children of high-ranking officials from various countries enter. Although our school is the same, the influence of power holders tends to be stronger in their case.”

Chelsea crossed her arms and sighed.

“That’s why even though they lack skills, I’ve heard there are many reckless people who rely on their family backgrounds. They even say the professors take notice.”

Hearing this, Leo murmured.

“There’ll probably be some disorder for a few days.”