Chapter 332

332

The day after the midterm exams ended.

Even though the exams were over, the departmental schedule did not let the Lumeran students rest.

The students were inevitably pushed into a tight departmental schedule.

However, despite that, they seemed unable to shake off the sense of liberation that came with the end of the exams.

The students wore expressions of relief.

Except for one class.

“Uuuuugh.”

Iliana, who had her face down on the desk, let out a m*an filled with pain.

She wasn’t the only one.

Most students wore expressions that suggested their souls had left their bodies.

“Dad, Mom grilled me so hard!”

“I’m about to lose my allowance for a month. I’ll have to go out on weekends to work part-time in Rumelia City…!”

“It seems like our professors are only thinking of how to torment us.”

Moans could be heard from all around.

Thanks to the mentoring system, second-year students were no longer at risk of being advised to drop out until the end of the first semester, which was why they were overall relaxed about the written exams.

Of course, there was a justification for investing time in honing ‘practical skills,’ but to their parents, that was merely an excuse.

Particularly, the students of the Department of Magic were suffering greatly.

Since parents are typically sensitive about exam scores, most students were tormented by their parents instead of enjoying yesterday’s party.

Especially for the parents of students from the Department of Magic, who had generally shown academically superior performances, it was inevitable that they would be even more sensitive to written exam scores.

As Kal clicked his tongue while looking at his lamenting friends, he said, “You should have studied hard for the exams.”

“Ugh! You failed the written exam too!”

“Puhahahaha! In my case, my parents’ expectations are already bottomed out! Just surviving is enough for them to praise me! Hahahahaha!”

Kal erupted into laughter before his expression turned gloomy.

“This is somewhat pathetic.”

Of course, there were free spirits amid such a disaster.

They were the top students in the department.

“Chloe and Abad got perfect scores again, right?”

“How enviable.”

The gazes of their peers filled with envy turned toward the two.

Chloe, who hadn’t taken her eyes off her magic book, looked up and tilted her head, while Abad wore his usual gentle smile.

Just then, Leo entered the classroom.

As Leo stepped in, all the students fell momentarily silent.

The shocking image of Leo from yesterday still lingered in their minds.

Leo casually sat next to Chloe and Kal, who were in the front row.

An awkward atmosphere enveloped the room.

Chelsea then came into the classroom.

“Oh, Leo! Good morning!”

Chelsea greeted Leo with her usual energetic expression.

“Did you and Kal sleep well?”

“After the exams, I slept like a log.”

“I slept well. How about you?”

Kal replied casually, and Chloe followed with a bright smile.

Chelsea returned the smile brightly, “I slept well too.”

Yesterday, Chelsea had not attended the party.

“Leo, how was I yesterday?”

“You were great; you wouldn’t be out of place being called a proper wizard now.”

Chelsea beamed at Leo’s words.

“See you at lunch later!”

With that, she cheerfully waved and headed to Abad.

Chelsea always made sure to have her magic class with Abad.

Kal smiled at the sight.

“I’m glad she’s her usual energetic self.”

“Chelsea is stronger than you think.”

“I know she’s strong—very strong, in fact. To the point where she gets back up like a cockroach… Gah!”

“Did you just compare me to a cockroach?”

Chelsea, who had arrived out of nowhere, delivered a dropkick to Kal’s side.

With Chelsea’s appearance, the classroom atmosphere, which had been stiff due to Leo’s presence, was slightly relieved.

Other dorm students approached Leo to initiate conversation.

Some even asked about the incantation magic Leo had used.

In response, Leo briefly explained that it was the effect of his unique magic, the ‘Bible.’

Chloe also seemed interested and participated in the discussion about incantation magic.

Just as they were engaging in conversation about magic.

Clap, clap, clap!

“Wonderful! Everyone! That passion for magic! This is the right attitude! Truly the right attitude!”

The classroom door swung open, revealing Ren.

Ren, enthusiastically clapping with an emotional expression, climbed up onto the classroom podium.

“A wizard, by all means, shines the brightest when discussing magic with passion! Now! In that spirit, look! The beautiful figure of Associate Professor Anna, who is preparing for the magic conference to be held in Seirun!”

Ren pointed at Anna.

Anna looked at Ren with exhausted eyes, a clear malice reflected within them.

“Now! Let’s give warm applause to Associate Professor Anna, who is about to raise the reputation of our Lumeran at the magic conference in Seirun!”

As Ren clapped, the students reluctantly joined in.

The more they clapped, the deeper the malice in Anna’s eyes grew.

“Looks like I need to go calm her down,” Leo mumbled, resting his chin on his hand as Chloe and Chelsea took a few female students to Anna’s side.

The phenomenon of Ren’s outbursts had already become familiar to second-year students.

In the early months of the first year, they had been startled, but after experiencing it countless times for about a year, everyone had learned how to respond.

When Ren had an outburst, the responsibility fell mainly on the male students led by Leo and Abad.

However, as they entered the second year, female students also began to take on the role of calming Anna down after she started having outbursts due to Ren.

Fortunately, Anna’s outbursts had warning signs, making them preventable.

Chloe, who had calmed Anna down, raised her hand.

“Yes, Chloe.”

“Professor Ren. Can students accompany us to the magic conference presentation?”

In response to Chloe’s question, Ren smiled brightly.

“Of course, it’s possible. However—”

“It’s not planned to take students to this conference presentation.”

At Ren’s ambiguous words, Anna sighed.

Several students, including Chloe, showed disappointed expressions at that.

Seeing the students, Anna forced a smile.

“If it were another conference, I’d gladly accept your help. However… I don’t want to take you to this conference. The chances of it being a bad experience for all of you are high.”

The students looked bewildered at Anna’s words.

“Everyone! Let’s leave this conference to the experienced Associate Professor Anna! Now, let’s start the class!”

With Ren’s words, the students hurriedly returned to their seats.

As they observed the students, Ren spoke.

“First, I’ll select the top student from the magic department practical exam.”

All the students’ gazes converged on Leo.

It was a given that Leo, known as the Demon King and radiating an overwhelming presence, would surely secure the top spot in the practical exam of the magic department.

However, the student Ren announced was not Leo.

“The student who ranked first in the servant familiar category is none other than Chelsea LeWalyn.”

Everyone’s eyes widened in astonishment as they looked at Chelsea.

Chelsea, equally stunned, pointed at herself with a bewildered expression.

Leo seemed to expect this, resting his chin on his hand.

“Professor! I’m curious why Chelsea is the top student instead of Leo!”

Iliana raised her hand and asked.

“I’ll explain that on behalf of Professor Ren.”

Just then, the classroom door opened, and Tina, with dark circles under her eyes, entered.

Tina, who had climbed onto the podium, looked around at the students and said, “The task for this practical exam was to demonstrate how excellent your servant familiar magic could be. In that sense, Chelsea LeWalyn completed a servant familiar magic that deserves a perfect score.”

She had displayed a familiar suited to her affinity and augmented her shortcomings using the servant familiar.

Moreover, its power was outstanding.

“The highest score was also awarded for creating a spell that could enhance the magic itself through her unique magical abilities. It’s exceptional. She created a servant familiar that surpasses my expectations.”

Tina smiled brightly at Chelsea.

“It’s true that Leo showed overwhelming results. However, he did not showcase any servant familiar abilities for the exam.”

‘Well, that’s probably the right sound since he doesn’t need to.’

Tina glanced at Leo.

For Leo, who could already summon three great familiars, servant familiars were practically meaningless.

Leo was well aware of that.

That was why he had been neglectful during the practical exam of the magic department.

Of course, she didn’t want to bring this up and further demoralize the already downtrodden students.

“The student who created the second-best servant familiar could be Chloe.”

Chloe created an ice slime using magical engineering.

It was a slime specialized in defense and boasted overwhelming defensive capabilities.

It served to cover for Chloe’s gaps while she unleashed powerful magic.

“Abad was a close third. Do you understand why?”

“Because I created a contract magic instead of a servant familiar.”

“Exactly. It’s a truly magnificent magic. However, it slightly veered from the intent of this exam, so points were deducted.”

“I’m fine with that considering the context.”

Abad flashed an attractive smile, causing a few female students to blush.

Tina nodded.

“Thus, the students who placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the magic department practical exam are these students.”

As soon as Tina finished speaking, Ren crossed his arms.

“And we also selected a student who greatly excelled in combat.”

“Hmm! It must be Leo, right?”

Kal said, placing his interlaced fingers behind his head.

“It’s a joint award. Leo and Kal.”

“What? Me?”

Kal looked bewildered.

Other students wore disbelieving expressions, but Abad smiled as if he had expected it.

“High marks were awarded for strategic planning abilities.”

Ren grinned at Kal.

“Wow! This is my first time getting the top score!”

Kal’s expression was lively.

“Alright! Now that the midterm evaluations are complete, it’s time for a fun class!”

Ren spread his arms wide.

“Today, we will continue our studies on the Magic of the Stars!”

After class, Ren went to his office with Tina.

“Today’s lecture was excellent, Professor Ren.”

“No, it’s all possible thanks to your help, Professor Tina.”

Ren smiled brightly.

Though he was merely a visiting professor, his sincerity about Tina’s passion for magic was genuine.

Thus, Tina actively helped with Ren’s lectures, and he had felt students’ satisfaction greatly increase since Tina had joined as a visiting professor.

‘Inviting Professor Tina wasn’t a wrong decision after all.’

As Ren smiled in satisfaction, praising his past self, he was interrupted.

“Professor Ren, I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”

“What is it? I’ll do my best to help you as long as it’s within my capabilities.”

Ren smiled gently.

“It’s about Leo.”

“Hmm? Leo?”

Ren raised an eyebrow.

“Yes.”

Tina nodded and said, “I want to send Leo as an exchange student to Seirun.”

For a moment, Ren thought to himself.

‘Did I teach too passionately? Am I hearing things?’