257
Juen, who had been watching the back of Luke standing in front of Leo, said something.
“Senior. Can’t you take that guy as your mentee?”
“Isn’t that the Department of Knights? And I’m from the Department of Magic?”
“Nobody said you can’t mentor students from other departments, right? And Kal Senior, you haven’t taken any mentees so far, right? Shouldn’t you take Luke?”
“That’s true.”
Kal sighed deeply.
But soon, he smirked.
“But I think he probably won’t come to me.”
“Huh?”
“It’s you all.”
“…?”
“Didn’t you give up too easily?”
At Kal’s words, Juen frowned.
“Senior, haven’t you seen what we’ve done so far? We’ve done every desperate act possible!”
“Yes, Juen, especially you threw out magic spells that I wouldn’t dare to conjure.”
It wasn’t just Juen.
Aina and Habidden, and Shasha too, poured their best attacks on Leo.
“But you all haven’t learned yet, right?”
Kal laughed.
“The stronger the attack, the more vulnerable it becomes, right?”
Chaeng-!
Luke’s sword was blocked by Leo’s.
“At first glance, Leo’s task given to the first years may seem too easy. But soon, you’ll realize it’s an insurmountable wall. Then, most of the mediocre ones just give up automatically.”
Kal looked at the four people and smiled.
“And then, only the great ones like you remain, trying out all the attacks you can possibly muster.”
“Right.”
Juen, who had crossed her arms, nodded.
“Then I have just one question. Over the past week, have any of you observed Leo’s movements closely even once?”
“Of course I… ”
Juen froze in the middle of answering.
It wasn’t just Juen.
The other three were no different.
“And another thing.”
Kal grinned.
“Has any of you observed this boy Luke’s duel with Leo closely even once?”
‘No.’
The four of them hurriedly observed Leo and Luke’s moves.
To them, Luke wasn’t a competitor.
Although they never ignored him, they considered him incomparable.
That was true.
Knocking Luke down was far too simple.
But…
‘When did he grow this much?’
Luke’s movements had changed significantly compared to a week ago.
Especially, Aina and Habidden felt the impact deeply.
‘The sword skills… they can’t even compare to a week ago.’
Still, he wasn’t yet their match.
But considering his growth rate, it was astonishing.
Moreover, it was clear whose movements he’d referenced to build his skills.
‘Senior Leo, and… me and Habidden.’
Aina’s hand trembled slightly.
She couldn’t help it.
After all, Luke had clearly been acknowledged by Leo during the entrance examination.
But then he was also overlooked in a way.
Yet now, this rookie, who they deemed far beneath them, was keeping up better with Leo’s movements than they were.
Not because Leo was playing nice.
Because Leo had essentially spent the past week on defense and avoidance.
‘I was so focused on hitting him with the best attacks I could.’
Aina clenched her fist tightly.
‘I never once observed my opponent.’
If the opponent was impossible to beat, they should have studied his movements and devised strategies.
A very basic principle.
But for a whole week, they failed to properly observe Leo’s movements even once.
Her face turned red with shame.
Kal looked at their expressions and smiled gently.
‘We were like that too.’
Certainly, this wasn’t just an issue with the current first year students.
Even the second years faced many criticisms from professors for the same reasons.
‘Although, in this case, Leo is doing the professors’ work for them.’
Meanwhile, Leo smirked at seeing Luke keeping up with his movements.
It was originally an impossible challenge.
But Luke was steadily catching up to Leo’s movements through sheer persistence and talent.
And in an instant.
Hoaak-!
Luke’s aura surged unnaturally strong.
Luke’s mana trait.
Mana amplification through emotion.
With sheer willpower alone, he can turn the situation around at any time — a sort of ultimate technique.
Swoosh-
“Wow.”
Leo murmured in admiration at Luke’s sword that barely grazed the tips of his hair.
“Hah… I made it…”
As Leo was about to smile, Luke tripped and fell flat on the floor.
“Poor finishing.”
Smirking slightly, Leo turned to look at the frozen group of four.
‘This should be a good stimulation for those younger ones too.’
Perhaps if Luke had succeeded, the others wouldn’t have dared to challenge.
Because Luke had achieved this result by observing Leo’s movements for an entire week.
On the other hand, the four hadn’t done that.
The core of turning impossibilities into possible isn’t miracles; it’s hard work.
Leo reached out his hand to Luke who was struggling to get up.
In response, Luke hastily pulled out a piece of paper from his robe.
The section for the mentor’s name was blank.
There, Leo wrote his own name.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Leo! I’ll do my best as your mentee!”
Looking at Luke’s beaming face, Leo smiled warmly.
If Celia or Chelsea or the Slayer Order were to witness this, they would tell Luke to run immediately.
Juen, arms crossed stood with a huff in front of Kal.
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“Please be my mentor.”
“What’s this nonsense?”
Kal gave her an incredulous look.
“Senior, listening to what you just told Luke made me realize there’s much to learn. From you.”
“Seems like you’ve caught a fever or something. Cool down a bit. Though, I wouldn’t mind taking you as my mentee, but you could get a better mentor… Whoa Whoa Whoa!”
Juen pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket, wrote Kal’s name on the mentor field, and dashed away.
“See you tomorrow~ Ho ho ho ho ho!”
Kal was still looking bewildered when…
“Senior.”
This time, it was Aina who approached Kal.
“What is it?”
“Could you tell me the name of the senior from the Department of Knights who’s closest to Senior Leo?”
“Celia.”
“Thank you.”
Aina bowed slightly and left.
“Come along, Aina-sama. I also need to visit Senior Warden.”
Shasha also left along with Aina.
“Senior Kal.”
“What’s up now, Prince?”
“I wish to meet Senior Duran.”
‘Another Prince combo, huh.’
Kal chuckled inwardly but nodded his head as if understanding.
Taking Habidden to the Noble Dormitory, Kal approached Duran who was lounging in the dorm lounge.
“What is it, Kal Thomas? Do you have any suggestions for the dorm leader?”
“There’s a mentee of yours waiting outside. He’s quite like you.”
“Habidden, I see. He seems like a competent fellow.”
Duran smirked.
“Hmph. I see you’re considering yourself as Leo Flove’s second, huh?”
Eliza snorted from the side, making Duran’s face twist nastily.
“Ah, whatever. It matters that one of the top three students in the first-year Knights Department chose you as their mentor.”
Though Kal secretly wanted to mock Duran along with Eliza, it’d be exhausting if Duran got angry.
“Hmph.”
As Kal stood up to leave the dormitory, Eliza cleared her throat.
“Ahem.”
Kal, unaware that Eliza had something to say, was about to head back to his room.
Whish! Bam-!
“Ow!”
Eliza’s whip coiled around Kal’s neck.
“What now!”
“Kal Thomas. There are no freshmen coming to see me? Like Princess Shasha.”
“Shasha? She went to Warden.”
Eliza’s shoulders shook.
Sparks flew from Eliza’s enraged eyes.
“Why did that familiar-summoner go to him? Why!”
“I don’t know.”
“This is disgraceful! Why is there not a single freshman requesting me as their mentor?”
“Seems like you were expecting it.”
“Expecting? Expecting?! Don’t joke around! As the Hergin Family’s heir, this is a matter of pride!”
Given her character, it seemed like she would’ve found being a mentor bothersome, and she actually might’ve, but deep down, she was indeed hoping for it.
Considering her reputation, she thought juniors would line up.
But there was none.
And to worsen it, Shasha went to her rival Warden instead.
Eliza’s massive hysteria made the Noble students scream.
The Third Dormitory Noble.
Primarily a dorm for prestigious families, and it consisted of students with strong pride in themselves.
Still, even so, the students seemed to cower infinitely in front of an angry Eliza.
‘Phew, how come they are always so meek in front of her?’
Kal was the only one smirking in front of Eliza.
Brutal Duran, prickly Eliza—Kal’s charm still shone even before them.
“Here’s what I think.”
Kal’s words made Eliza’s eyes flicker.
She clearly warned him that she wouldn’t tolerate nonsense, to which Kal calmly said,
“Isn’t it because you’re too amazing?”
Her eyes twitched at this.
Eliza crossed her arms, reclined in her seat, crossed her legs, and gestured with her chin.
“Explain.”
“The freshmen thought like this: with my skills, how could I dare be Eliza Senior’s mentee? Of course, if there were any students who could pass your high standards, you would’ve surely made them the best summoner in the Department. However, the freshmen were too intimidated to approach you.”
“What about Princess Shasha?”
“She was toyed with by Leo’s Spirit Magic this time. I think her self-esteem was seriously wounded. She probably wants to learn from a Spirit Magic expert to prepare herself.”
“Hmph. Sly. Are you trying to placate me with fancy words?”
“Even if I am, it’s still the truth.”
Kal shrugged.
‘Hmph. Abad and Duran sure have a good eye for people.’
Eliza glanced disdainfully at the trembling dormitory students.
She lightly clapped her hands, and her followers hurried to set up tea and snacks.
“Well, I thought it might’ve been annoying anyway. Without mentees, I have it easier.”
Regaining her composure, Eliza chuckled arrogantly.
“Kal Thomas. You don’t have any mentees either, do you? Try wriggling about. You seem more competent than I thought.”
Though it seemed rude and arrogant, it was Eliza’s way of encouraging him.
Of course, Kal was startled by her statement.
‘If I say I unintentionally took Juen as a mentee, she’ll go ballistic.’
Kal thought about it and said,
‘Eh, who cares. I’ll tell her later anyway, which will definitely cause a ruckus, so what’s the point.’
“I have a mentee.”
“Really? Who?”
“Juen Thorvina.”
Eliza’s eyes trembled.
“Why would she…”
“Don’t know. She said there’s something to learn from me.”
Saying that, Kal hurriedly ran away.
There was nothing he could do now.
Because if he tried to stop after taking the top first-year student as his mentee, it would only lead to ridicule.
‘I’ve done my best. You all figure out the rest.’
Kal silently cheered on the dormitory students and quickly headed back to his room.
Principal Rina of Lumeran rested her chin on her hand.
And she was gazing down at a fancy letter.
Knock knock- Creak!
“Rina. It’s about time for the second years to head to Demian, right? Haven’t heard any contact yet?”
“Perfect timing.”
Rina swung the letter envelope she was holding.
“Though, he sent a rather arrogant request.”
“An arrogant request?”
“Yes.”
Rina threw the letter onto the desk and smirked.
“They said they’ll ‘assess’ students from the three Hero Academies in Demian.”
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
