Chapter 252

“Who are you going to ask to be your mentor?”

“Hmm… If possible, I’d like to ask a senior in the top ten of the Department of Magic.”

“Should we ask Senior Celia?”

“Hehe, you don’t stand a chance.”

The next morning.

First-year students couldn’t hide their excitement while having breakfast.

It was because students of the second year – known as the Golden Generation – had personally visited and showed interest in them. Watching this, the first-year students regained their confidence.

Among them, four students received the most attention.

Aina and Habidden from the Department of Knights, Juen from the Department of Magic, and Sasha from the Department of Summoning.

But even other freshmen, who were either from renowned hero families or were famous in various regions, also became points of focus.

Luke, watching these classmates, marveled.

No second-year student showed any interest in Luke, for he had not made a remarkable impression during the entrance exam.

Though he managed to qualify by enduring a battle against Leo – called the hardest obstacle of the entrance exam – his success was attributed to the help of Aina, Juen, Habidden, and Sasha.

While he earned a reputation for perseverance for not giving up against Leo, that was all there was to it.

Luke was, in reality, the weakest among the first-year students.

To the second-years, Luke seemed like a bomb to be avoided at all costs.

‘Where could Miss Aina be?’

Where usually the beautiful girl of his age would be visible, Aina was nowhere to be found.

It wasn’t that she was hard to spot; given that as the granddaughter of the Sword Saint, Aina was often surrounded by a crowd, her absence was noticeable.

‘Did something happen?’

Luke felt a slight worry.

Frankly, Luke’s concern for Aina seemed odd. The top-ranked first-year and the bottom-ranked first-year seemed as different as heaven and earth.

Yet Luke worried about Aina because of her anxious expression during the entrance exam.

As Luke was scratching his silvery hair,

Rustle-Rustle-

A commotion arose at the entrance to the dining hall.

Everyone turned their eyes to see what had happened.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“Aina-sama! Is everything alright?”

“How dare someone make such a mess!”

Aina was a model of an excellent student, always tidy in her appearance and conduct, yet here she was, disheveled as she entered the cafeteria. The sight startled the first-year students.

“It’s fine. I’m just hungry.”

Calmly said, Aina staggered while holding a tray and sat down.

Normally, her followers would rush to her side, but the unusual atmosphere kept them from approaching.

Plop.

Aina sat down weakly but suddenly looked forward.

Seeing Luke, her eyes flickered momentarily.

Since the entrance, Luke and Aina hadn’t exchanged a word.

Though they were in the same department and crossed paths multiple times, they never started a conversation.

When Aina was about to begin eating,

“Morning, Miss Aina.”

Luke awkwardly smiled and greeted her.

“Mhm. Good morning.”

Aina responded calmly as well.

That was the end of their conversation.

Luke, scratching his cheek uncomfortably, was about to pick up his tray and leave.

“Sit if you wish. We are, after all, comrades who fought alongside against Senior Leo in the entrance exam.”

ShaSha, relaxing her posture, grinned and pressed both of Luke’s shoulders gently with her hands.

‘Well, we didn’t exactly fight on the same level, did we?’

Luke grinned awkwardly, answering silently in his mind.

All first-year students turned their gaze toward the group of five.

‘Why is that country bumpkin there?’

Right when there were questions in the eyes looking at Luke,

“So.”

Juen took a sip of iced tea from the breakfast spread.

“Judging by your appearance, it seems you didn’t become Leo’s mentee. Was there an exam? What kind of test was it?”

Sighing subtly while putting salad into her mouth with a fork, Aina responded to Juen’s question.

“Senior Leo said if I could even land a single successful hit on him, he’d take me as a mentee.”

The entire first-year group began murmuring at her reply.

“Ugh. Isn’t that impossible?”

“If you attack and get countered, you’ll be out in one move.”

At their bewildered expressions,

“Actually, Senior Leo said he wouldn’t counterattack.”

“What?”

“He said he would only evade and block, so feel free to attack.”

Hearing this, the expression of the first-years brightened.

“Under those conditions…”

“It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”

The first-years’ eyes sparkled.

At around noon, after the morning classes had ended, the classroom of the first-year Department of Magic was bustling with second-year students.

“Hey, how about me as your mentor? Oh! Of course, my grades are at the bottom, but my survival skills for getting through the second year in this school are truly top-notch…”

“Eek! Thank you for the offer, but I’m sorry! I’ve already thought about someone else…”

“Ugh.”

“Senior Chloe!”

A first-year female student in the Department of Magic ran towards Chloe who was sitting somewhat far away, reading a magic book.

“Please make me your mentee!”

Upon looking up from the book, Chloe briefly glanced at the girl.

“You’re an ice-attribute mage, right?”

“Yes! My name is Betty Marsste. My family’s heirloom magic belongs to the ice attribute!”

With a slight lift of her skirt, Betty bowed deeply.

Magic users generally show favoritism towards those of the same attribute. Moreover, the Marsste family hailed from the Eastern Continent, being a renowned magical lineage.

Chloe, having naturally heard of the name, smiled slightly and opened up a space, retrieving a thick book.

“Would you like to read this?”

“Huh? Wh-what is this?”

Betty received the book, almost tripping under its weight.

Upon seeing the title,

[Philosophical Reasons for Why Ice Mages Should Learn Ice Magic]

‘What is this strange title?’

Just from the look of the title, it suggested that it could be mind-boggling, making Betty gape dumbly.

“Please submit a book report by the deadline day for choosing mentors.”

“Wait, shouldn’t I demonstrate my magical skills…”

“I already know you’re an excellent magician.”

Chloe smiled gently.

“But I’d like to know what kind of magician you are.”

With those words, Betty left dumbfounded.

Kal, watching this, approached another male student.

“Hey, you! Think of taking me as your mentor…”

“Sorry! I’ll go for Senior Chelsea!”

The first-year student approached Chelsea, who was stretching under a tree.

“Please take me as your mentee.”

“Uh-huh. I don’t plan on taking anyone as my mentee. I’m too busy practicing.”

“What if… then Senior Abad…”

“Hmm. Would you show me your magic?”

Abad, smiling softly, asked and the male student naturally demonstrated his wind-element magic.

Nodding in approval, Abad said:

“You do well.”

“So…”

“You’ll find an excellent mentor.”

Faced with Abad’s words, the student let his shoulders droop.

Kal, too, trudged with his shoulders slumped.

“Finding mentees is really tough.”

“Is it any easier to get something for nothing?”

Chelsea chuckled, covering her mouth.

“What?! Eat for free?”

“Honestly, don’t you just wish for an easy first semester?”

“…”

Chelsea’s critique made Kal feel a bit uneasy.

Certainly, graduating the first semester without receiving a withdrawal recommendation was a great advantage for lower-tier students like Kal.

“Still, Kal’s experience could be very helpful for the first-years.”

Abad, leaning against the tree, smiled gently.

“Ugh! You’re definitely different from that nasty-tempered younger sibling.”

“What?!”

Chelsea, glaring, kicked Kal.

At that moment,

“A big character has arrived.”

As Abad muttered, second-year students of the Department of Magic gathered around one student.

“Will you be my mentee?”

“Juen! Long time no see! Is your father doing well? Oh, we studied together in the magic tower before, remember? So, how about it this time?”

The first-years’ grades were not yet out, but currently, the first-year Department of Magic’s top student was Juen.

Thus second-years were fiercely competing for Juen to be their mentee.

Then at that moment,

“Juen Tubiden.”

A male student blocked Juen’s path.

The second-year magic students tensed.

“Aemio.”

“Of course you’re targeting Juen.”

Among the top five of the second-year Department of Magic, Aemio crossed his arms.

“You specialize in sniping magic, no? If so, choosing an heir of the much-war-skilled Luchan family, like me, as a mentor would greatly benefit you.”

The Luchan family is a renowned military dynasty, specializing in war-related magic. Sniping magic, used frequently in wars, is one example.

Certainly, if sniping is her forte, Aemio’s guidance could significantly assist Juen.

“I’ll seriously consider it.”

Juen bowed deeply and replied politely.

With a sneer, Aemio walked off.

Refusing various second-year invitations, Juen approached Kal.

“Master Kal.”

“Planning to ask about Leo?”

“How did you know?”

“The top-ranked wouldn’t ask someone like me to be their mentor, right?”

Kal shrugged.

“By the way, Kal, where did Brother Leo go?”

Chelsea, tilting her head, inquired.

“He went to the Student Council.”

Since Leo was the Student Council President, it wasn’t unusual for him to go to the Student Council.

However, he hadn’t visited the council since the start of the semester, so Chelsea seemed intrigued.

“Eh.”

“Senior Leo is coming.”

At that moment, Leo appeared at the building of the first-year Department of Magic.

Upon hearing this, Juen’s eyes sparkled.

Some first-years hurried toward Leo.

“Brother Leo!”

But Chelsea reached Leo faster.

“Did you head to the Student Council for something?”

“I went to get permission for a personal announcement to the first-years.”

“Personal announcement? Is that allowed?”

“I’m the Student Council President.”

“Hmm.”

Chelsea’s eyes twinkled.

“So, what’s the announcement?”

In response, Leo went to the bulletin board at the entrance of the first-year Department of Magic classroom building and posted the announcement.

Upon reading it, Chelsea’s expression turned sour, and she distanced herself from Leo.

As Leo moved away from the bulletin board, the first-years gathered around it.

Juen, upon seeing the bulletin board, sat down on the bench, visibly shocked.

The first-years, swallowing their dry throats, gathered around Leo.

Leaning slightly, Leo smiled.

“You’ve heard the story from Aina, so you all know, right?”

Leo nodded toward the bulletin board.

“The school has approved it.”

Leo scanned through his juniors.

“Is there a reason to hesitate?”

As he spoke, silence enveloped.

A little while later,

“Fire Explosion!”

BOOM!

Without warning, one first-year activated magic.

This triggered a cascade, and the first-years began firing magic towards Leo.

Second-years, watching this spectacle, had astonished expressions.

“What kind of announcement is this?”

-Announcement-

For the next week, all first-years are permitted to attack Leo Flove. Any damages to school property will be overlooked.

-Lumeran Student Council-

After reading the bulletin board, the second-year students stared at Leo with incredulous expressions as he deflected and dodged all the magic attacks from the first-years.

“Isn’t this fun? I might decide mentees this way.”

Abad grinned as he said,

“Don’t do it. Causing such a ruckus with Leo alone is more than enough,” snapped Chloe coldly.

*

As the first-years of the Department of Magic were casting spells at Leo in an attempt to deliver a good hit,

A swirl of golden aura and wind swept around.

BOOM!

Raising aurora in both hands, Leo deflected the attack.

Thud! Thud!

Two figures landed in front of Leo.

“Aina! Habidden!”

“Hey, this is the Department of Magic territory! Why’s the Department of Knights here!”

A few students from the Department of Magic flared up, but Habidden just smirked.

“I have no business with the Department of Magic. I just came to challenge Senior Leo…”

WHAM!

“Beat it! Aina!”

As Habidden tightened his grip on his sword while speaking, Aina charged towards Leo.

CLANG!

Leo laughed after blocking Aina’s attack.

“Aren’t you tired after staying up all night?”

“Both of us pushed ourselves all night.”

A golden glow surged from Aina.

“It won’t be easy this time.”

Seeing Aina emit such powerful essence, Leo grinned.

“I’m looking forward to it.”