Chapter 265

265

Dwenno’s mana, which had been swirling, soon subsided.

Leo looked down at his hand and murmured.

‘I’ll need to check this later.’

The fact that Dwenno’s mana reacted meant there was definitely something to it.

‘It wouldn’t be strange for weapons crafted by Dwenno to still be lying dormant in Demian.’

Leo glanced once at the highest point of Demian Academy before moving his steps.

He passed by the statues of the Great Heroes and entered the interior of Demian Academy.

Demian Academy was an ancient, massive fortress over 5,000 years old, encompassing five millennia of Dwarf history since the end of the Era of Catastrophe.

Architectural styles vary depending on the era, region, and race.

And Demian Academy was a fusion of all the architectural styles of the world, characterized by continuous renovations that kept up with the evolving trends in architecture.

Thus, the building designs within the castle walls were varied and eclectic.

“It’s like we’ve walked into a museum of buildings.”

Chloe said, her eyes twinkling.

“Isn’t it all over the place? It lacks harmony.”

Chelsea tilted her head, frowning.

That was undoubtedly true.

It was certainly an advantage to be able to see architectural styles from various eras and regions all at once, but the mix of different styles felt somewhat strange.

“Such chaos is, in fact, the aesthetic of this place called Demian.”

Someone spoke at that moment.

The students turned their gazes toward the source of the voice to see a Dwarf stroking his lush brown beard and smiling.

“It’s been a long time, Depeto.”

“Nice to see you, Professor Sedgen.”

At Sedgen’s greeting, Depeto grinned widely and replied cordially.

“Everyone, introduce yourselves. The Depeto Smith you see here is the head blacksmith of Demian Academy’s second year.”

“Nice to meet you, Master Depeto!”

“Nice to meet you!”

“I’m glad to meet you all too, young hero candidates from Lumeran. It’s an honor to encounter famed hero candidates like yourselves. Come in. Our second-year students are waiting for you.”

At Depeto’s words, the Lumeran students looked puzzled.

“Are second-years waiting for us?”

“Could it be that they’re going to choose our smith contracts as soon as we arrive?”

The Lumeran students tightened their expressions and adjusted their clothes nervously.

Being evaluated by all the schools was not a pleasant feeling.

But they couldn’t let that show.

“Looking nervous?”

Chelsea smirked as she glanced at Kal.

“Naturally. Choosing a smith contract will be extremely important for our school life ahead.”

Kal’s words made Chelsea cover her mouth and teasingly comment.

“Oh? So it’s going to be shaky even in the second semester?”

“Gah~ You’ve hit a sore spot.”

Just as Kal grabbed his chest and groaned, a mocking voice came from behind.

“Foolish. Kal Thomas.”

Kal blatantly stuck out his tongue in annoyance, and Chelsea’s face contorted.

The one who had interrupted their conversation was none other than Emio.

“Do you think the students of Demian would consort with an underachiever like you?”

“So, we’re supposed to at least try to look good on the surface, aren’t we?”

Kal smirked playfully in response, causing Emio to scoff disdainfully.

“Even Abad must be perplexed, wondering why he accepted someone as inferior as you as his top choice for the dormitories.”

“Same here. If I had gone to Leone or Chelsea’s dorm, I wouldn’t have been bothered by a fake tough guy like you.”

Kal sighed as if truly regretful.

At that, Emio, who normally would’ve raged about such a slight, only shot back a deep mocking smirk this time.

“It’s probably because Abad has taken you in as friends of Chelsea LeWalyn.”

“Hmph! Our big brother doesn’t pick people for such reasons! Seems like it’s pretty frustrating for you not to have a proper place elsewhere and end up in the nobles’ dorms only by grace?”

“Have you said all you need to say?”

“No! Not yet! Why!”

As Chelsea growled angrily, Leo stepped in between them.

“Stop it.”

“This is another school. Let’s refrain from fighting. And Emio.”

Leo gave Emio a chilly stare.

“Let’s avoid making derogatory or belittling comments towards classmates, shall we?”

“Hmph, taking sides now, are you?”

“And what will you do about it? Want to duel, perhaps?”

As Leo smiled coldly, Emio flinched.

Then, with a scowl, Emio left the scene.

“Argh! d*mn him! I swear, I’ll tear him apart if I catch him!”

Chelsea started nervously stomping her feet on the floor when Kal laughed.

“Ah! Ah! Didn’t you say you’d use only pretty and refined words in front of Leo?”

“Oops!”

Chelsea hastily clapped a hand over her mouth and widened her eyes in surprise.

Her eyes darted around, but Leo smirked upon seeing her nervousness, patted her head, and walked over to Professor Sedgen, since as the year’s representative, he needed to lead the students.

Cheered up by Leo’s gesture, Chelsea chuckled.

Seeing this, Kal shook his head and straightened his tie.

‘It’s frustrating, but he’s not wrong. It’s highly likely that Demian students won’t even glance at someone at the bottom of the class like me.’

Demian students would also want to choose someone they could keep an eye on for as long as possible.

With Juen under his mentorship, Kal wasn’t worried about leaving school within the first semester.

‘Juen will certainly pass smoothly into second semester, and even into second-year. But not me.’

If the final exam results were poor, Kal’s time at Lumeran would end after the first semester of second year.

‘Even getting this far is a miracle.’

His initial goal was just to survive until the first semester of first year.

‘What can I do? I’m not like Leo, Chloe, or Chelsea.’

If other students had heard that, they might have mocked him.

In fact, there were many second-year students who made fun of Kal.

A kid who lucked out being friends with the top students of the second year.

Thanks to that, he barely survived into second year.

And now, here he was, catching another once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck by mentoring Juen, one of the biggest assets of the first-year Department of Magic.

Even among the first-years, there were students who mocked Kal.

Once thought to be talented in his youth, now he knew the truth.

He was an ordinary person, not much different from anyone else.

‘I feel it even more acutely being surrounded by real geniuses. But I’ve come this far, haven’t I?’

Kal took out a mirror from his pocket, fixed his hair, and smiled wryly.

‘I wonder just how far I can go.’

Tucking the mirror away, Kal tidied up his appearance.

Meanwhile, the Lumeran students had arrived at a massive door.

From within, the sounds of thumping and chaotic noise could be heard.

Sedgen opened the door.

Whoosh!

“We are the glorious descendants of Dwenno! Let’s raise our cups!”

“Raise them!”

“Let’s enjoy this moment! Let’s raise our cups!”

“Raise them!”

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Inside, a raucous party was in full swing.

The enormous hall had four long tables, seemingly able to seat hundreds.

The tables were laden with food, and at the table adorned with the flag bearing the emblem of the anvil and hammer that symbolized Demian, the students, dwarves all, were already reveling in the chaos of the party.

They stood on tables, danced and sang to each other with wild abandon.

The festive spirit of a town market filled the entire hall.

True to dwarven nature, alcohol was a must-have. Students of Demian raised their mugs of beer high, reveling in the party.

Upon noticing the stunned faces of the newly arrived Lumeran students, the Demian dwarves pointed and shouted.

“Over here! The Lumeran friends have arrived!”

“Woo-hoo!”

“Welcome to Demian!”

The dwarves greeted them with enthusiastic welcomes.

“That’s not why they gathered us here, right? They were supposed to evaluate us.”

“What is this…?”

As a few Lumeran students looked confused:

A couple of dwarves approached.

“Professors, please move forward. We’ve prepared seats for you.”

“Are you tired? Let us take your coats.”

“We’ll carry your luggage.”

The uniforms of Demian were far more formal compared to those of Lumeran, Seirun, and Azonia.

Black robes paired with white shirts. Neat black neckties and black pants.

Lastly, black mortarboards served as an accent.

“Isn’t the mortarboard for graduation ceremonies?”

“In Demian, that’s the actual uniform.”

“Wow, isn’t that a bit suffocating?”

“I guess not. Besides, they barely wear uniforms in daily life. Look.”

Many of the Demian students had casually dressed uniforms.

Mortarboards, which were supposed to be worn on heads, were lying scattered all over one corner of Demian, rolling around on the floor.

Then, a male student approached them.

True to Dwarf form, he was small in stature.

But he didn’t have a beard.

His face was rather clean and had a cute impression.

“Geez, isn’t that dwarf rather handsome and cute?”

“That’s true! I thought dwarves were just bearded uncles.”

The female students squealed.

The male students muttered quietly upon seeing the Demian female students gleefully downing drinks.

“Kind of cute, right?”

“Somehow, there’s a unique charm to dwarves.”

“Clank-clank-clank…”

“Hey! Not the clanky one.”

The male students chuckled.

“Nice to meet you! My name is Digness. I’m the top student of the second year at Demian. Are you Leo Flove?”

Digness flashed a handsome smile and extended his hand to Leo.

“I’m Leo Flove. Nice to meet you too.”

Leo smiled back and shook hands.

“Please take care of us for the next two weeks! Your seats are over here!”

Digness cheerfully smiled as he guided the Lumeran students to their designated seats, marked by the flag featuring the crossed swords of the Department of Knights, the staff of the Department of Magic, and the amulet of the Department of Summoning, symbols of the Lumeran Academy.

“What does ‘take care of us for two weeks’ really mean?”

“Is it about the smith contract?”

“How exactly will that process work?”

The Lumeran female students seemed fond of Digness and smiled coyly as they asked questions.

“You’ll find out tomorrow. For today, we’ve prepared a grand welcome banquet for you, so please enjoy.”

Digness left with a charming smile, prompting Kal to mutter,

“I thought dwarves were burly machos, but there are smoothies like him too? Feels like he might charm a few women.”

At Kal’s comment, Chelsea tilted her head.

“What’s wrong with him? He seems like a nice person.”

“Yeah, yeah. The little miss can’t sense it, can she?”

“I’m only a year younger! Why do you keep treating me like a kid?!”

As Chelsea kicked Kal, he nimbly dodged.

Just then, the doors opened, and Azonia students entered.

The Azonia students momentarily stopped upon seeing the Lumeran students, and Lumeran students mirrored their hesitation.

The atmosphere grew awkward between the two schools for a brief moment.

But that too was fleeting.

The Demian students greeted the Lumeran students just as warmly and guided them to their seats.

Hero Academy, gathered by Demian to be evaluated, reacted similarly among Azonians, who saw the same warmth extended to them.

But soon, the atmosphere turned festive.

“Nice to meet you, Professor Sedgen. I am Tigan from Azonia.”

“Nice to meet you, Instructor Tigan. I’m Sedgen.”

Sedgen and Tigan shook hands. They were meeting for the first time today.

“I apologize again for the unpleasant incident earlier today.”

“The kids might have done that, but our elegant students don’t hold grudges over such things.”

Sedgen chuckled, “Hoh!”

To which Tigan roared with laughter.

“It’s been a while, Ain.”

“There you are, Berga.”

Ain greeted Berga, an old friend and instructor from Azonia.

“Ain, I have something to say related to Leo Flove, the son of Reina.”

“Related to Leo?”

Ain looked surprised at the sudden topic, his eyebrows raised.

“What is it?”

“Send Leo Flove as an exchange student to our school.”