Chapter 27

【27】26

The male students, now dressed in track suits, headed towards the training ground.

In the vast training ground, there were not only Class 5, but other classes as well.

All classes that had a combat study lesson were gathered in the training ground.

Of course, thanks to the enormous size of the training ground, there was no overlap in their activity areas.

Standing in front of the clustered students on the dirt ground was Professor Sena.

Halind observed Sena’s class from the back.

“In combat study, we will conduct training to apply your abilities. Any questions from students?”

Iliana raised her hand.

“Yes, Iliana.”

“What does ability application training specifically mean? Is it different from the training done in major subjects?”

“It’s different. Let’s take magic as an example. Iliana, create a fire ball.”

Iliana, who aspired to be a dual-class swordsman, easily created a fire ball the size of her fist.

“Now! How will Iliana maximize the efficiency of that fire ball?”

“Um! First, I will inject a lot of magic power into the spell composition. Then, if I add a damage-boosting spell and a spell copying spell!”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The fire ball grew larger and then duplicated.

“This way, I can maximize the efficiency of the fire ball!”

“Is that all?”

“Excuse me? Um… I mean, what other spells can I add here…?”

Seeing Iliana flustered, Professor Sena smiled kindly.

“It’s okay. Next is Chelsea?”

“Yes, Professor.”

“What is another way to further maximize the efficiency of the fire ball?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t think of anything besides what Iliana mentioned.”

“Alright. Then next…”

The magic major students averted their eyes little by little.

How could they possibly answer when even the top magic student in the class couldn’t?

“Leo?”

“Yes.”

“How can we maximize the efficiency of the fire ball?”

“Control. Even if you raise the power, you need to be able to hit to extract efficiency.”

“That’s correct! I’ll give five question points to Leo.”

Students showed dejected expressions at such a simple answer.

“You tend to focus more on raising power than on control when training your abilities. This is why most students are relatively clumsy with ability control.”

Hearing this, the students looked puzzled.

How could they, who used their abilities daily, be clumsy with control?

“Here’s a challenge.”

Professor Sena summoned a Sylph spirit.

“If there’s a student among you who can capture this Sylph, I will grant extra points. Feel free to use all of your abilities.”

The students burned with enthusiasm and attempted to catch the Sylph.

However, no one was able to catch the Sylph, which wasn’t particularly fast nor emitted a strong wind.

The Sylph evaded the students’ attempts with seemingly supernatural movements.

A little later, several students rushed in simultaneously but still failed to capture it.

“Gasp-! Gasp! That might not even be a Sylph!”

Kal lay sprawled on the ground, catching his breath.

“Hey! Then what is it?!”

Chelsea asked, sitting down.

“How am I supposed to know?!”

As the Sylph hovered in the air, hands on its hips, it made a mischievous expression.

Whoosh-!

A fiery aura swirled around.

Leo, who had been standing still, lunged at the Sylph.

The Sylph initially appeared to escape with composure.

Leo picked up speed, reducing the distance, and reached out his hand.

The Sylph dodged his hand with a swift motion.

Flames erupted from Leo’s extended hand, blocking the Sylph’s escape path.

As if it had predicted this, the Sylph pivoted in mid-air.

However, the wall-like aura quickly turned into ropes that pursued the Sylph.

Caught off guard by this unexpected turn, the Sylph panicked.

Suddenly, it accelerated and soared high into the sky before the ropes could ensnare it.

“Oh no, Sylph! That’s cheating!”

At Professor Sena’s words, the Sylph put on a apologetic expression.

It seemed that in its surprise, it had used more power than allowed.

“Regardless, great job, Leo.”

Sena clapped her hands.

“As you witnessed, Leo didn’t exhaust great power. Combat study trains you to apply such techniques in battle.”

The students in Class 5 could understand the point about being clumsy with control.

Halind, watching the class from the back, smiled a little.

‘Certainly, Ain is drooling over this.’

Based on aura control alone, Ain was predicted to be the top among the first years.

“Hmm, that’s not very elegant.”

With a crackle-!

The sound of sparking echoed as a golden aura surged forth, overtaking the Sylph.

Thud-!

Before the Sylph could react, it was caught in one hand.

Thwack-!

Duran, a male student who had landed, shot a glare at Leo.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

“Sure enough, Duran! An excellent performance befitting the top student!”

“Too much praise.”

Duran replied to the middle-aged teacher.

“Oh my? How strange? Halind, the most respected professor in Lumeran, yet none of your students managed to capture the Sylph while our Class 1 students did it so easily, huh?”

Halind looked at the elegantly-dressed, middle-aged teacher with a weary expression.

“Ah! Now that you mention it, Class 5 has the lowest averages, right? Oh dear, I seem to have said something inappropriate out of forgetfulness.”

“Are you teaching? Sedgen?”

Halind sighed, watching Sedgen apologize with exaggerated motions.

“Of course! I came here to teach!”

Sedgen spread his arms wide.

“Class 1 versus Class 5! I propose a class competition! Surely you won’t back down? Of course, even if you do, I won’t hold it against you! Our elegant Class 1 has three top students, after all! Hahahahahaha!”

Sedgen pointed at the three students at the forefront of Class 1, including Duran, and laughed merrily.

Leo looked at the two students among them.

“Hi? Elegant and beautiful Class 1 students.”

Celia and Chloe, who had their heads bowed, raised their heads and glared at Leo with fierce eyes.

Of course, Leo was not one to flinch at such glares.

“Homeroom Professor, why is that professor acting like that?”

Chelsea asked with a bewildered expression.

“That’s Professor Sedgen. He’s a colleague of Professor Halind.”

“If it’s Professor Sedgen, he’s just as famous as Professor Halind, isn’t he?”

“Indeed, he’s known as the best professor in Lumeran.”

Unlike Halind, who had a notorious reputation, Sedgen was a teacher many students wished to learn from.

However, among the graduates, the most respected professor was Halind, followed by Sedgen.

Therefore, Sedgen had a strong rivalry with Halind, according to Sena’s explanation.

After hearing this, the students from Class 5 observed Sedgen, who was provoking Halind in every possible way.

‘Professor Halind isn’t even batting an eye.’

‘Sedgen seems somewhat pitiful.’

Unable to stand Sedgen’s attempts to provoke Helind without getting a reaction, Sena said.

“Professor Sedgen, since today is the first class, a sudden class competition might be a bit….”

“Oh! Sena Tilia—no, Sena the Associate Professor!”

Sedgen approached Sena, arms spread wide.

“It’s been such a long time! I was so worried about you! Seeing you as an associate professor brings me so much joy!”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Sena replied awkwardly, smiling as she greeted him.

“Anyway, Associate Professor Sena! It doesn’t matter that it’s the first class! Unexpected situations can occur for Lumeran students at any time!”

“Still….”

“Our proud Class 1 students are always ready for a class competition! Isn’t that right?”

“Yes!”

“Truly elegant!”

At Sedgen’s words, which bore a satisfied expression, Kal approached Class 1 with a snicker.

Then, with his usual charm, he started teasing the Class 1 students he had befriended during the temporary class period.

“Truly elegant! Class 1 students!”

“Do you want to d*e?”

“Don’t mess with us!”

A few students from Class 1, including Celia and Chloe, growled at Kal.

However, Kal’s teasing continued.

“What event should we hold for the competition?”

“Hmm! Surely you’re not going to run away! Are you really alright? The students in Class 5 are sure to lose!”

“I’m not concerned about winning or losing.”

Halind spoke in a dry tone.

“What’s important is that there are lessons to be learned, regardless of the outcome.”

“In that case, your students will learn the feeling of defeat!”

“Even if they learn the feeling of defeat, we can teach them how to rise again. And….”

Halind smirked.

“Conversely, they might learn the ease that comes with victory.”

Watching Halind counter excellently, the students from Class 5 showed expressions of admiration.

“Professor Sena’s words were true!”

“Even if he speaks sternly, the homeroom professor surely cares for us a lot!”

“We respect you, Professor!”

Sedgen’s smile turned cruel.

“Alright. Then let’s make a bet. The losing class will clean the first-year classroom toilets for a month as punishment. And the defeated professor will buy beverages for the winning class!”

“I don’t mind.”

At that response, a scream echoed from Class 5.

“Gaaahhh!”

“How could you accept something like that so readily?!”

“Hey, beautiful ladies?”

Kal, who had been teasing all along, started to sweat nervously.

“No matter what, we’re friends, right? You’ll let it slide, right? Maybe we can go for a tie?”

“We are definitely going to win.”

“Yeah, elegantly.”

Celia said with a chilling smile as she swept her hair back, and Chloe cracked her knuckles with a malicious grin.

“Leo! Chelsea! We’re counting on you! Save our class!”

Kal immediately made a pitiful face and clung to Leo and Chelsea.

In Class 5, the only students who could stand against the top students were class representative Leo and second in the western exam, Chelsea.

“I have no intention of losing.”

“Right. A magician from the LeWalyn family wouldn’t be learning about defeat.”

Leo responded nonchalantly, while Chelsea folded her arms with a huff.

“So? What event will we use to settle this?”

“Hmm! Isn’t there a traditional event from Lumeran’s combat studies?”

At Halind’s inquiry, Sedgen gave a meaningful smile.

“Indeed, it must be that.”

Halind let out a small sigh.

Tension began to flow between Class 5 and Class 1.

“Surely… is it that?”

“Will we actually have to do it?”

“I’ve done it before.”

The students gulped nervously.

Only Leo looked puzzled.

“Must be quite an intense event?”

“No kidding. It’s classified as a proper event even in exchange competitions with other hero academies.”

Chelsea chimed in with a tense voice.

If it’s a formal event in school pride during exchanges, it must be fiercely competitive.

Clap-!

As Sedgen clapped his hands, Class 1’s homeroom teacher handed something to him.

It was a transparent ball the size of a fist.

“One of the traditions of Lumeran’s combat studies! We will settle it with Bastera!”

‘Seriously, after setting such a serious atmosphere, is it just a game with a ball?’

Leo looked on in disbelief.

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