Chapter 16

【16】15

At the heart of the expansive Rumearn Academy lay the enormous training ground known as Erek.

It was the venue for major school events, most notably the entrance and graduation ceremonies.

And now, all the students of Rumearn had gathered there at Erek.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Figures you’d be drenched, huh?”

“ahaha! Look! I told you there wouldn’t be many folks still in one piece!”

Upperclassmen with nasty personalities hurled jeers.

A few freshmen, strong in pride, trembled with shame but none reacted with anger.

Amidst this, Artian, who had accompanied the freshmen, spoke from the middle of Erek Training Ground.

“Please line up by your regions. And top students, please come forward to represent everyone.”

Upon her words, the students lined up neatly in five rows.

Naturally, the number of students from the Western Province was notably fewer.

The professors on the podium watched this scene and clicked their tongues.

“Should we blame Professor Alby? The number of students from the Western Province is ridiculous.”

A teacher, scolding with a deadpan face, spoke toward Alby who sat expressionlessly.

But Alby didn’t even flinch.

Leo stood at the very back.

“Ah! Leo-nii! Hey!”

Just then, Chelsea LeWalyn, who had been on his team during the entrance exam, approached with a broad smile.

“I’ve been so busy, I’m just seeing you now!”

Seeing Chelsea approach with a lively smile, Leo chuckled.

“Get in line quickly.”

“Okay!”

Chelsea stood beside Leo and started chatting animatedly.

“Back then, watching you fight really moved me. I’m thinking about taking the Department of Knights as my minor.”

“Hmm? Now that you mention it, didn’t you say you wanted to be a Battle Mage?”

“Yup!”

Upon her quick response, Leo glanced at Chelsea briefly before speaking.

“In that case, you’ll need to dedicate yourself more to magic practice, won’t you?”

“Huh? But I’m already good at magic. Why more practice?”

As Chelsea asked this, looking slightly bewildered, Leo was about to respond when —

“We will now begin the entrance ceremony. Let us first hear a word from the principal.”

At the announcement by the professor conducting the event, Chelsea closed her mouth.

At the same time, an elderly man appeared at the center of the podium.

The freshmen wore tense expressions.

In this academy, there was no one who did not know this old man.

The greatest of the currently living human heroes.

Swordmaster, Kalyan Beydian.

“I commend you all, young ones, for your efforts in making it here.”

Kalyan spoke with an unexpected vigor for his age.

“I won’t speak at length. I’ll only tell you about the path you must tread!”

Bang!

Kalyan slammed his fist onto the podium.

“If you dream of being a hero, stake everything on yourself always! Transcend your limits! Those who cannot—”

The Swordmaster’s cry left the freshmen holding their breaths.

“Are unworthy of Rumearn.”

With those final words, he left the stage with no trace of regret.

A brief silence followed.

And then…

“Waaaaaaaah!”

A roaring cheer erupted from the freshmen.

In the short address, short enough not to be called a speech, lay a power that ignited the freshmen.

The Swordmaster turned around and, with a solemn face, drew a V in the air with his finger, directed at the professors.

At that sight, a few professors grabbed their heads.

‘Teacher Principal!’

‘It would’ve been so cool if only you’d stayed serious!’

‘Sniff, the longer I live this life as a Rumearn professor, the more my illusion of the Swordmaster shatters.’

The professors all knew, despite their frustrations, that their revered, admired top hero was, in truth, a rather frivolous old man.

The presiding professor also grabbed his head as he spoke.

“Now, we will hear an address from the freshman representative.”

At those words, everyone at Erek Training Ground focused their attention on the presiding professor’s announcement.

The freshman representative.

It referred to undoubtedly the best among the geniuses of Rumearn’s freshmen.

Literally, among hundreds of hero candidates, one who stood out as an exceedingly powerful hero candidate.

Even the valedictorians at the forefront wore tense expressions.

Among all the attention, the presiding professor began to speak.

“Freshman representative, Leo Flove.”

“Leo Flove?”

“Who’s that?”

“The rep isn’t the valedictorian?”

The freshmen looked around and murmured amongst themselves.

Even the six valedictorians sitting at the front wore perplexed expressions.

Professors unaware of who the freshman representative was showed their surprise.

At this moment, the presiding professor spoke.

“Student Leo Flove, please come to the podium.”

At this, Leo stood up from his place.

Chelsea looked up at Leo with wide eyes.

Kal, sitting further behind, muttered under his breath.

For a regular student who was not the valedictorian to be appointed as the representative was a highly unusual occurrence.

The upperclassmen too showed their shocked reactions.

All gazes were fixed on Leo.

“Am I the freshman representative?”

Leo wondered as well.

He was certain he had made quite an impression during the entrance examinations, but he believed students like Celia and Abad would have scored higher.

In reality, those two had performed the most significantly during the test and had been crowned as joint valedictorians.

As he pondered this while ascending to the podium, Leo’s eyes met with Alby, the supervisor from the Western region exam.

The usually stoic Alby managed a smile.

It seemed to be the supervisor’s recommendation.

Having cleared his doubts, Leo stood on the podium.

Awaiting on the podium was the prepared address.

“Esteemed professors and seniors, thank you for welcoming us freshmen. From now on, we will walk proudly as members of Rumearn Academy…”

Leo delivered the address without a trace of nervousness.

Several emotions were directed at Leo through the gazes of the audience.

Curiosity and questions about how a regular student could become the representative over the valedictorians.

Jealousy and envy over occupying such an honorable position.

“… And thus, the freshman representative, Leo Flove.”

Clap clap clap clap clap-!

At the end of the speech, applause erupted.

“Very good, Student Leo. As the freshman representative, please share a word about your aspirations.”

The presiding professor grinned mischievously.

As the freshman representative, sharing aspirations was a Rumearn Academy entrance ceremony tradition.

It was a chance given to students who broke through numerous competitions to seize the role of freshman representative, allowing them to speak to the entire academy.

However, it also held another purpose – to stimulate the other first years.

“Is this a provocation to those who could have taken this spot?”

Leo smirked.

Certainly, there would be students who covet this position due to their consistent excellence.

Turning his body, Leo glanced down at all the freshmen.

“I am the freshman representative, Leo Flove.”

The polite greeting from Leo left the presiding professor with a disappointed look.

‘This year’s freshman representative seems to be a well-behaved student. Though, having ambitions as the top student isn’t bad either.’

In truth, even a student who usually caused trouble would find it hard to say anything out of place in this particular position.

‘It looks like we’ll have a smooth entrance ceremony this year…’

“If you desire this position, please take it.”

The presiding professor’s eyes widened.

The other freshmen opened their mouths wide in shock.

Leo gave a brief smile and descended from the podium.

Leo had correctly recognized and followed the school’s intentions.

‘But still, that was a bit too much!’

The presiding professor silently screamed within.

Laughter escaped from the upperclassmen.

“This year’s entrance ceremony will go down as legendary.”

“We’ve got some crazy freshmen coming in.”

Everyone’s gazes again focused on Leo.

Despite all the attention, Leo descended from the podium without batting an eye.

As he returned to his seat, his eyes met Celia’s.

Looking steadily at Leo, Celia let out a subtle scoff and raised her chin.

Abad, seated beside her, smiled gently at Leo.

“Wow! Wow! Leo-nii was the representative!”

When Leo returned to his seat, Chelsea excitedly whispered.

“Isn’t it disappointing that Abad-nii didn’t make it?”

“Brother may have missed out, but both him and I have seen you fight firsthand, Leo-nii.”

Hmmm! Chelsea crossed her arms and nodded her head while speaking.

“He might not have said it aloud, but even Brother must have acknowledged you, Leo-nii.”

“Is that so?”

With that, Leo looked at the back of Abad’s head, who was sitting in the front seat.

After a little while, the entrance ceremony concluded.

*

After the conclusion of the entrance ceremony, the freshmen were immediately guided to their dormitories.

Naturally, the dorms were divided by gender.

The dorms, built next to each other and resembling luxurious mansions, stood impressively.

In the center was a garden and surrounding grounds housed the training yards.

One of the dorm managers spoke to the gathered freshmen.

“The dormitory assignment is one per room. There is also a curfew. In case of special reasons, staying out overnight is permitted. However,”

The dorm manager paused briefly.

“Rash entries into the opposite gender’s dormitory are strictly prohibited.”

The manager’s face turned stern.

“I am aware you are at the age of developing interest in the opposite gender, but please maintain boundaries.”

“Yes~”

The freshmen answered cheerfully.

The dorm manager smirked at the response.

Even while answering like this, due to their youthful vigor, students usually break this rule at least once a year.

“Of course, they never break it after that.”

“Now, please find your luggage and unpack in your assigned dormitory rooms. Then, please reconvene here in an hour.”

Pointing at the luggage delivered during the ceremony, the dorm manager instructed.

The freshmen chattered with friends while retrieving their bags and checking their assigned dorm rooms.

“Hey! Leo! We’re neighbors!”

“Great, isn’t it?”

With a bright tone, Kal spoke, and Leo smiled.

“I’m honestly shocked, never thought you’d be the representative!”

“Same here. Even I didn’t know.”

“Did you perform exceptionally well during the exams?”

“Seems like the examiners looked favorably upon me.”

After saying this, Leo and Kal carried their luggage to the second floor, their assigned rooms.

Other incoming freshmen’s gazes followed them.

“That’s the freshman representative?”

“Why did he bypass the valedictorians? Maybe he has connections?”

“Connections wouldn’t get you the freshman representative position.”

“Since the first day, you’ve become quite the spotlight.”

After changing into casual wear in his room and reconvening, they spent a hectic day.

First came the class assignment.

Although Rumearn Academy primarily focused on specialized courses, there were also common courses.

For these latter ones, students listened alongside their classmates.

For the first year students, there were ten classes numbered one to ten.

Among these, Leo, Chelsea, and Kal were assigned to class five.

They were then guided through the facilities within Rumearn Academy.

As one of the four hero academies in existence worldwide, the Rumearn Academy campus was vast.

It took half a day just to visit the key facilities.

After ending the tour, they returned to the dormitory where the dorm supervisor was waiting.

“Greetings. I am Obelio, responsible for the freshman dormitories. You’ve all had a long day. Starting tomorrow, a week of temporary classes will begin.”

During this brief period, students were allowed to freely take any course they desired.

Even if one aspired towards the knights’ department, one could attend magic or summoning courses.

It was often during this time that students discovered talents they hadn’t recognized in themselves.

“Starting tomorrow, the official classes begin, so don’t get too carried away and get some sleep today.”

After Professor Obelio dismissed the students, they all returned to their dorm rooms.

“Phew…what a hectic day!”

Stretching, Kal spoke lazily.

“Really excited for what’s coming tomorrow! See ya, Leo!”

“Yep, see you too!”

After exchanging pleasantries, they entered their respective rooms.

Changing into his pajamas after entering his room, Leo lay down on the bed.

Sinking into the comfort of the mattress, he drifted off to sleep.