Chapter 17

The next morning.

After finishing breakfast in the dormitory dining hall, Leo headed straight to the Hall of Beginnings, the 1st Year classroom building.

The first major class of the day was the Department of Knights.

As it was an impromptu class, there were many students from the Department of Knights as well as students from other departments attending.

Due to the large number of people, the class was divided into smaller groups.

In Leo’s group, there were Chelsea and Kal.

Kal was actively utilizing the temporary classes to get acquainted with the students from the Department of Knights.

Chelsea, aspiring to be a combat mage, mentioned that she planned to take the Department of Knights class as a minor.

The students gathered in the training hall and waited.

Eventually, Professor Ain appeared.

“I won’t introduce myself again since I’ve already done it. This is my associate professor, Claudia Rivace.”

Claudia lightly bowed her head.

An associate professor can only be someone selected from the graduates of Lumeran.

They assist the professor in conducting classes and may also lead classes in the professor’s absence.

As a graduate of Lumeran, her skills were guaranteed, and she was an elite.

Professor Ain surveyed the students.

‘Leo Flove, Celia Zerdinger, Duran Moira.’

Professor Ain wore a satisfied expression.

It was only natural to be pleased that both the student representative and the class valedictorian had come to attend the class.

“Students from the Department of Magic and the Summoner Department, please raise your hands.”

More than half of the students raised their hands.

Nodding, Professor Ain pointed to Claudia.

“You all go with the associate professor. She will teach you how to apply mana and spirit power in martial arts.”

Gathering the knight students separately, Ain began to speak.

“Today is the first class. Therefore, I will talk about aura, which is the most fundamental aspect of the Department of Knights.”

The students’ eyes sparkled at Ain’s words.

“The three powers derived from mana are aura, magic power, and spirit power. Among them, aura has the most difficult characteristics to handle. Does anyone know why?”

Right from the first question, the 1st Year students fell silent.

The characteristics of aura?

Very few showed interest in such things.

Usually, knights are concerned about how to better sense mana and manifest a more powerful aura.

Of course, there were some who knew the answer.

Celia raised her hand.

“I am Celia Zerdinger.”

“Very well, Celia. Please answer.”

“Aura loses the properties of mana during the transformation process.”

“Correct.”

Magic power is the force created by amplifying mana and spirit power resonates the will of the user with mana.

Thus, it does not lose the properties of naturally occurring mana.

However, aura is a force created by absorbing mana and processing it to fit the body.

In that process, it loses its natural fluidity and becomes solidified.

That is why it becomes difficult to handle.

“Then, is there a student who can explain how we use the accumulated aura in our bodies?”

This time, Celia was at a loss.

How do they use it, you ask?

‘How do I explain the form of use?’

‘You just… use it with strength, right?’

They simply used it sensibly according to what they learned, in alignment with the flow of the aura technique.

There was no way to explain the form in which it is used.

Of course, Ain did not expect an answer.

The question he was asking was the foundational theory of aura studies, a subject that had not existed in Lumeran until last year.

This year, Ain was trying to introduce content that had only been taught in the Beastman Hero Academy Azonia.

So it was only natural that the 1st Year students were unaware.

As Ain was about to explain, someone raised their hand.

The student who stepped forward courageously made Professor Ain show a satisfied expression.

Professors generally dislike students who do not speak confidently, even if they are wrong.

“It’s Leo Flove.”

“Very well, go ahead.”

“We use the power of aura in the form of igniting mana.”

Ain looked surprised.

“Correct. So, do you know what is most important when igniting aura?”

“Stamina.”

“Amazing, Leo. Have you studied aura?”

“No.”

“Then how did you know that?”

“Because it’s the most fundamental essence of aura.”

Sometimes people tend to neglect the essence of the powers they use.

Of course, it’s no problem to use aura without knowing its essence or principles.

However, knowing or not knowing the characteristics of the power you wield makes a significant difference.

Especially since aura is a force that is greatly influenced by the user’s will compared to magic power and spirit power, and it is incredibly beneficial for drawing out the mental strength.

“Excellent. I will give an additional 5 points to Celia and 10 points to Leo.”

The envious gazes of their peers turned toward the two.

“As Leo said, we are using the power that occurs when mana is ignited.”

Professor Ain spoke seriously.

“This year, I intend to incorporate aura studies into my lessons for you 1st Years.”

“Professor! What is aura studies?”

“It is the study of aura. It is one of the compulsory subjects at Azonia Academy.”

The 1st Year students’ eyes shone at the mention of a new subject.

“Now, since this is our first class, let’s learn about the application of aura. Today’s lecture will be on Aura Step.”

Aura Step is a technique that maximizes jumping ability by concentrating the power of aura in the legs.

‘Aura Step, huh.’

Leo’s eyes sparkled.

It was a concept and technique that hadn’t existed in the era when Kal lived.

“Aura Step can be learned by anyone who possesses aura. However, its effectiveness is distinctly tied to proficiency.”

As Professor Ain lifted his foot, a silver aura rippled at his toes, and he stood suspended in mid-air.

The students erupted in admiration.

Professor Ain walked lightly through the air as he spoke.

“Now I will explain the principles of Aura Step.”

The lecture on Aura Step by Ain began.

‘The principles of aura manipulation aren’t much different.’

When the body is strengthened with aura, naturally, the physical power also increases.

Aura Step could be viewed as a concentration of that physical strengthening in the legs.

While Ain was guiding the students, someone who appeared to be a messenger entered the training hall.

“Professor Ain. Professor Bethes is looking for you and Associate Professor Claudia.”

“Professor Bethes? Understood.”

Nodding, Ain spoke to the students.

“The associate professor and I will be stepping out for a moment, so practice Aura Step.”

With that said, Professor Ain left the room.

“Leo. Should I teach you Aura Step?”

Celia approached with a mischievous smile.

Leo asked with a disinterested expression.

“Are you trying to make me call you ‘Miss’?”

“No way, who would do that?”

Celia crossed her arms and smiled broadly.

“I’m older than you, you know? So if you call me ‘sister’ once, I’ll help you.”

“I won’t learn from you because it’s dirty and pathetic.”

“What’s up with that? The student representative can’t even do Aura Step? Pathetic.”

At that moment, someone interrupted their conversation.

Turning their heads, they found Duran Moira, the valedictorian of the Central Exam, standing there.

Duran clicked his tongue while looking at Leo.

“I can’t believe someone like you is the class representative. I simply don’t understand Lumeran’s standards.”

“Are you dissatisfied that I’m the class representative?”

Leo stepped forward to ask, and Duran smirked.

“I’m not dissatisfied; it’s just lamentable that someone who can’t even use Aura Step is the class representative.”

Duran said irritably while looking at the other students.

“You are not alone. There are more than a few who don’t know how to use Aura Step. I’m worried that the overall dignity of our year will decline.”

At those words, several students bristled.

But they couldn’t easily confront him.

No matter how you looked at it, he was the top of the class.

He was definitely one of the best among nearly 500 first-year students.

In response to Duran’s remarks, Leo said, “If you’re aiming to be a hero, wouldn’t it be better to uphold some dignity?”

“Dignity? Are you talking about dignity as a hero to me, who is of hero bloodline?”

The Duchy of Knights Moira, to which Duran belonged, was a nation founded by the hero knight Dior Moira, who was called the Golden Sword fifty years ago.

Duran, who had been pursuing the path of a hero since childhood, was proud of his strong qualifications as a hero.

“What does bloodline have to do with being a hero?”

“It has a lot to do with it. A hero signifies someone who has been chosen.”

“That’s a different perspective. I believe a hero is someone who never gives up.”

“It’s pathetic for someone who is the freshman representative to talk about such a dream.”

“Aren’t you just relying on your bloodline and acting all cocky?”

“To me, bloodline is just an accessory. I believe in something else.”

“What is that?”

“Skill, Leo Flove.”

In the blink of an eye, Duran closed the distance to Leo.

The incredible speed amazed the other students.

It was a speed that ordinary students could not even begin to contemplate.

However, Leo merely smiled dismissively.

“Not that fast.”

“If that’s the case, I suppose I need to show you what it means to have ‘rank’.”

Duran smiled fiercely.

“If you’re so confident, how about a race to see who is faster?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Duran Moira. Do you really think it makes sense to race someone who hasn’t even learned Aura Step?”

Celia interjected with a frown, and Duran seemed pleased.

“Celia Zerdinger. I had something I wanted to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Why did Leo Flove become the class representative?”

“How would I know?”

“Is it because the top students from the West are so poor that this guy got highlighted?”

Chelsea, who had come over amid the students of the minor specialty, spoke up.

“Are you saying that about our brother right now?”

“I’m just stating the facts. Chelsea LeWalyn. I expected better from the illustrious hero family of the Rodren Empire, only to see someone like him become the class representative. Honestly, I’m disappointed.”

Celia smiled coldly.

“You seem quite upset that you couldn’t become student representative. But have you ever thought that the reason you couldn’t become the student representative is simply that you’re not good enough?”

“If I were in the same position, there’s no way this guy would have become the student representative.”

Duran said with an arrogant expression, confidence in his voice.

“The only reason this guy became the class representative is that he was just lucky.”

“Let’s go, Leo. There’s no need to listen to such nonsense.”

“Right.”

Agreeing with Celia, who could be called his rival, Chelsea playfully pulled her lower eyelid with her left finger and stuck out her tongue.

“Being protected by girls, huh?”

The students from Duran’s faction jeered.

Leo chuckled.

“I accept that challenge.”

“Leo!”

Celia admonished him.

“Is it really appropriate to ignore him after he’s gone this far? And—”

Leo grinned, showing his teeth.

“It’s necessary to show someone like him what rank means.”