Chapter 307

307

Ren Horse.

He had been a famous magical prodigy ever since his student days at Lumeran.

Due to a lack of hero dungeon clearings and external activities, he hadn’t achieved the feat of having his name inscribed on the Hero Record, so he wasn’t very well-known by the public.

However, in the magical academia, his reputation and influence were stronger than even those magicians who had had their names inscribed on the Hero Record.

He had created countless groundbreaking magical theories and published papers accordingly.

His genius was recognized, and at a young age, he served as a professor at Hero Academy Lumeran, quickly becoming regarded as one of the finest professors in the Department of Magic.

Such was Ren, who unhesitatingly believed that his second-year students, known as the “Golden Generation,” would become his greatest disciples.

Chloe and Abad from the Department of Magic.

These two were far more promising magicians than anyone Ren had ever seen.

Chelsea was also a spirited girl more than capable of capturing Ren’s heart.

Moreover, there was Leo.

Leo wasn’t someone who, when taught one thing, only learned ten.

It was more like an evolution.

He absorbed everything and made them his own.

Ren fully believed without a doubt that Leo would become the most magnificent magician since the ancestor of the stars, Luna.

However… But!

‘I couldn’t be present during the crucial Smith Exclusive Contract period for the second-year students!’

This was a shock to Ren.

He, who had prided himself on knowing everything about the second-year students!

He, who had taken pride in being close with the students by providing constant advice!

He had been surpassed by a rookie teacher who just joined this year!

Since then, Ren had been forcing first-year students to tutor themselves while anxiously waiting for two weeks for his second-year students.

He hoped his dear students would come to him for advice regarding wand making.

He wanted to hear them say, “We need Professor Ren!”

“Thanks to Professor Mel, it’s been great. She gave us advice beyond what I could have ever thought.”

“Our instructor, but she perfectly understands us and gives appropriate advice.”

“Yeah, and she even gives us cookies. The first-year magic students are lucky. They get to eat such delicious cookies every class.”

Chloe, Chelsea, and Iliana.

The conversation they had while walking was enough to give Ren a tremendous shock.

“The second-year students don’t need me! Hahaha! In the end, Professor Mel is a better teacher than me! So our students envy the first-year students! Hahaha! Huhahaha!”

Tilting his head back, Ren laughed wildly and then began sobbing as he collapsed to the floor.

Watching this, Anna pressed her temples.

“Professor Ren. How many times do I have to tell you? The female students simply envy the first-years because of Professor Mel’s delicious cookies. The second-year students still need you.”

“Am I a professor who can’t even rival cookies?”

“How many times do I have to explain this to you to understand?”

“Khryhryhry! Professor Anna, you will eventually leave me for Professor Mel, won’t you?”

“Why would I leave Professor Ren? I respect you.”

Anna gave a bitter smile as she consoled Ren.

“I want to work under Professor Ren forever.”

“Anna…”

Ren lifted his head and gazed at Anna.

“Are you planning to live as an eternal spinster? Well, thinking about your personality…”

Anna, her face expressionless, gripped a bottle upside down.

Seeing this, Luke frantically clung to her.

“H- Hey, calm down!”

“I’ll let go, then I’ll k*ll you.”

Thanks to Luke’s desperate efforts, Anna’s icy demeanor was just barely restrained.

“As you can see, I’m like this.”

Anna regained her composure with a sigh, set down the bottle, and grabbed her head.

Watching this, Leo said,

“Professor Ren.”

“Leo student…?”

Professor Ren looked up at Leo.

“What do you need here?”

“I came to seek consultation from Professor Ren.”

“Consultation from me?”

Professor Ren gave a self-deprecating smile.

“Isn’t it better to consult with Professor Mel? She is more capable than me.”

“Perhaps it might be.”

Anna stared wide-eyed at Leo. It was sure to come as a shock to the already discouraged Professor Ren.

“Professor Mel is definitely friendly. And she teaches magical theories well.”

“Hahaha! See! As an educator, she is one step above me! Hohoohoho!”

This was inevitable.

No matter how brilliant Ren was as a magician, his opponent was none other than the Dragon Lord. Their lifetimes of experience differed.

Watching Ren’s self-deprecating reaction, Leo spoke.

“But I believe Professor Ren’s research experience as a researcher is more necessary for the second year students.”

“…”

“The role of a professor is not just teaching. I also think it is creating the path students should follow.”

He was not exaggerating.

While Professor Mel was better at teaching students, Ren was a man who lived up to the title of genius in the field of creating new magical theories.

Just by looking at ‘The Beginners Guide to the Magic of the Stars’ written using Leo’s Bible, one could see Ren’s genius.

‘Luna would have probably adored it if she had seen it.’

As Leo mumbled these thoughts within himself,

Ren’s head drooped, and his shoulders shook.

WHAM! CLANG! CHING!

He swept the liquor bottles off the desk with his hand.

The bottles shattered on the floor, scattering shards everywhere.

“So, I’ve been foolish!”

An agitated Ren began to lose control.

“To waste two weeks of time on useless thoughts! I still have a long way to go! Very far! HoHoHoHoHo! Thanks to you, Student Leo! Through you, I’ve gained a new insight! HoHoHoHoHoHoHoHo!”

As Ren grabbed his face and burst into wild laughter, Luke looked at him with a frightened expression.

“D- Is he alright?”

“…It doesn’t seem like it, but it might be better than him wasting away like a drunkard.”

Saying this coolly, Anna smiled softly at Leo.

“Thank you, Student Leo. Thanks to you, Professor Ren seems to have regained his vigor.”

“There’s a friend with a similar inclination to Professor Ren in the field of magic.”

“Do we have any such crazy… rather, insane students in our school?”

“He’s not from our school.”

“I wouldn’t want to meet him.”

Anna shook her head.

Of course, the friend Leo referred to was none other than Luna.

In the midst of this, Ren loudly asked,

“So! Student Leo! What do you wish to discuss with me?”

To Ren’s question, Leo led Luke forward.

“Hmm? A first year? And from the Department of Knights too.”

Ren’s face showed slight disinterest.

“Why is he here?”

“He also has talent as a magician.”

“Hmm?”

Ren rubbed his chin.

At the same time, Anna began tidying up the professor’s office, which Ren had made a mess of, using magic.

The bottles returned to their original forms.

The liquid content was neatly sucked back into the bottles.

Watching this, Luke had an expression of amazement on his face.

“Magic is incredible.”

“Tch, for someone from the Department of Knights, that’s quite an insightful comment.”

Ren, wearing a satisfied expression, nodded his head.

“So, what’s your name?”

“Luke Eldar.”

“Luke student. You seem to have a sharp mind for someone from the Department of Knights; let me give you a lecture on magic.”

Ahem- clearing his throat, Ren spread his arms and began.

“Magic refers to the act of understanding and interfering with the laws of all things in this universe! We magicians are great explorers, studying the principles of the world. Why does the starry sky shine, for instance?”

“Uh… because it shines?”

“Because it shines… That’s a philosophical answer! Good! Now I understand your inclination…”

“Enough. Professor, your introductory lecture on magic could go on indefinitely if we listened to it today.”

Anna, holding a magic broom, poked Ren, preventing him from continuing.

The broom then automatically began cleaning.

Satisfied, Ren crossed his arms.

“Alright, I understand that Luke student has some aptitude for magic. So what?”

“I want to teach him magic.”

“Student Leo, while I understand your desire to mentor this student, asking a professor for personal tutoring for a mentorship like this is a bit…”

Anna frowned unhappily.

Ren nodded in agreement.

“I do value Student Leo, but I dedicate much time to research in magical theories as well.”

Seeing this Ren, Leo patted Luke’s head and said,

“It’s not about teaching him magic. I want to discuss with you about the magical initiation that suits his mana characteristics.”

“Ho ho. Seeing that you say this, he must have an unusual mana characteristic, no? What is it?”

“He’s a congenital mana amplifier.”

“What?”

Ren’s complexion changed dramatically.

Anna’s eyes widened.

“This boy can amplify mana based on emotions.”

“Can he demonstrate it?”

At Ren’s question, Luke hesitated before summoning his aura.

Soon, Luke closed his eyes and focused.

Whoosh!

Watching the amplifying aura, Ren gasped in admiration.

For a moment, Luke’s aura had grown to enormous proportions.

“Does it strengthen even more when emotions intensify?”

“Yes.”

“Marvelous! Marvelous! Does it apply to magical power as well?”

“He hasn’t awakened his magical power yet, so it hasn’t been confirmed, but the magic power should work the same.”

“Excellent!”

Ren’s eyes sparkled.

This had research value.

To freely amplify mana was one of the abilities all magicians yearned for.

“Still, even if he has the inclination of a magician, awakening magical power won’t be easy, which I worry about. Especially given that he has already trained his aura.”

Anna said regretfully, and Leo smirked.

“You don’t need to worry about that. This guy hasn’t mastered the true art of aura cultivation but has awakened it through self-teaching. His mana receptiveness should be sufficient.”

“Self-taught and still managed to enter Lumeran?”

“Good luck.”

Luke scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.

“Hmm. Got it.”

Ren nodded his head.

“Luke student. As of today, you must abandon the Department of Knights.”

“Huh?”

“Transfer to the Department of Magic.”

“Huh, what….”

“Do you plan to waste such an extraordinary talent by becoming a mere knight?”

“Kiik?”

Luke wore a frightened expression as he looked at Ren with widened eyes.

“Your ability is the one that all magicians yearn for. It can’t be wasted in the sweat-drenched Department of Knights! You must drop out of the Department of Knights immediately and change your major to the Department of Magic! And then we will conduct research on your mana characteristics!”

“Bu, but…”

“Ho ho ho! How satisfying! A new research subject! Ho ho ho! Today is a wonderful day indeed! Let’s begin by awakening your magical power so you may enter the world of magic!”

As Ren began losing control, Anna spoke.

“I understand Student Leo’s intention. Since Professor Ren seems to have taken a liking to Student Luke’s mana trait, he will research how to maximize Luke’s potential for learning magic.”

Anna opened her eyes sleepily.

“You’re quite clever, Student Leo.”

“I merely believe in Professor Ren’s passion as a magician.”

“Hmm. That’s probably true. However,”

Anna let out a deep sigh.

“If he stays here any longer, Professor Ren might attempt to dissect Student Luke. Therefore, it’s best to return home today.”

At that, Luke laughed brightly.

“Ah, you’re joking too much.”

However, Anna did not smile.

“That man would do even more.”

Luke’s face turned pale.

*

The next day.

The combat practice class.

The second-year students gathered in the training grounds according to their dormitories.

The one taking charge of today’s class was none other than Halind.

With his characteristic listless expression, Halind said,

“Today, I’m standing in for Sedgen, who is busy. Also, I will announce the format of the midterm examination in combat studies.”

The students began murmuring among themselves.

“By the way, this midterm evaluation for combat studies is also the combined practical exam.”

In other words, the practical exam consisted only of combat studies.

“Is it going to be like last year, planning a hero dungeon clearance?”

Iliana raised her hand and asked.

The second-year students had frequently done hero dungeon clearances during their first semester’s midterm.

“No, this term’s examination will be a mock battle.”

“A mock battle?”

“Yes.”

Halind looked at the puzzled second-year students and continued.

“A large-scale mock battle in a dormitory-based tournament format.”

The second-year students widened their eyes in surprise.