Chapter 406

406.

In the lecture hall, the first-year students were bustling with excitement, exchanging stories.

Creak—

The front door of the lecture hall opened.

Simultaneously, the murmuring first-years fell silent all at once.

Thud— Thud—

The one who entered the lecture hall was Professor Mel.

Upon Mel’s appearance, the first-years started talking again.

“What on earth is the assignment?”

“Maybe it’s survival-related, like the seniors from last year?”

“Perhaps it’s an interdepartmental competition.”

“Hmm? Then, that means you’re my opponent, huh?”

“You can look forward to it. I’ll take you down without mercy.”

“You’re the one who should say that.”

The students were actively engaged in heated discussions guessing the assignment.

The reason the entire first-year class had stopped talking when the lecture hall door opened was simple.

They had mistakenly thought that the legendary Professor Halind and Professor Artian, the most terrifying professors to first-years, had entered, causing unnecessary panic.

Halind was naturally the dreaded “Wall of Wailing” for the whole school, and Artian was notorious for punishing students who talked or distracted during her lessons with the help of other spirits.

Compared to those two, Mel was a gentle and benevolent professor.

In other words, in good terms, she was a “comfortable” professor among the first-years, and in bad terms, she was considered an “easy target.”

Ordinarily, such an attitude might offend someone, but Mel merely smiled faintly.

For someone as powerful as a Dragon Lord, it was absurd for her to get angry with young students over such trivial reasons.

“Everyone, please pay attention.”

At Mel’s words, the students turned their eyes to her.

In particular, all the students from the Department of Magic focused on Mel.

Regardless of everything, from the first-year magic students’ perspective, Mel was the greatest magic professor.

It was natural for them to listen carefully to her words.

However, students from the Department of Knights and the Department of Summoning weren’t entirely focused.

But their side conversations didn’t last long.

“Aah? What is this? Are you saying Professor Mel’s words aren’t words worth listening to?”

Suddenly, Artian appeared with a fierce tone.

What’s more, she had already been possessed by another spirit upon her appearance, indicating her “berserk mode.”

‘Eeeekkk!’

All the conversing students screamed.

The terrifying and brutal gaze of Artian made the first-years avert their eyes.

“Hmph, I’m fine, Professor Artian.”

Mel laughed warmly, trying to dissuade Artian, who growled in response.

“You should consider yourselves lucky.”

Once the entire first-year class fell silent, Halind appeared behind them.

“Those who ignored Professor Mel and were chatting will receive a 10-point deduction.”

At that statement, the penalized first-years didn’t dare utter a word.

“How pitiful.”

Shasha let out a small sigh of disdain.

As Halind stepped onto the podium,

“I’ve gathered you here today to inform you of the final exam assignment.”

At those words, the disheartened first-years brightened their eyes.

The awaited announcement of the final exam assignment was finally here.

Halind continued, observing the excited first-years.

“You seem to be harboring some rather unnecessary expectations.”

Halind curled his lips.

With a cynical smile, Halind spoke.

“Perhaps some of you think you can enjoy this situation, given the overlap of the World Summit and the final exams.”

Halind’s eyes grew cold.

“Listen well. Usually, nearly half of you would have been expelled before taking the final exam.”

At that abrupt statement, the first-years’ faces turned rigid.

“Fortunately for you, due to a change in the school operation policy, many of you have survived up to now. Surely none of you believe you’ve survived because of skill, do you?”

At Halind’s cruel words, many students started to choke back tears.

“To those few who have accumulated a mediocre level of skill…”

Halind wasn’t finished.

“It is true that many powerful figures and heroes are visiting Lumeran for the World Summit. It is also true that you, the first-years, will present the results of your studies for the final exams in front of these visitors. However, remember this.”

Halind narrowed his eyes.

“Rather than purely assessing your skills, the audience will often compare you to your mentors — the second-years.”

The first-years’ faces stiffened.

“Currently, the second-years achieved an almost legendary feat during the first-term final exam last year. They successfully resisted a major monster and gigantes invasion in a completely isolated condition. As mere first-years back then, they not only overcame the great crisis but also managed to successfully slay the gigantes. This event became the decisive turning point, giving them the nickname ‘The Golden Generation.'”

Halind scanned through the first-years and continued.

“The entire world knows that you are the mentees of the second-years. Given that context, do you think you’ll be able to reveal your own value when compared to the second-years? While the mentor system undeniably offers you great opportunities, it also has the side effect of forcing comparisons between you and the second-years. Will the outsiders ultimately say, ‘The first-years are amazing,’ or will it be, ‘The second-years are amazing, but the first-years are still lacking’?”

Halind’s gaze turned icy.

“In a situation where you could become lifelong jokes, you still dared to dream. Moreover, more than half of you are likely to be expelled after the final exams. Have you forgotten this fact?”

After Halind’s words ended, the first-years’ faces turned pale.

They had overlooked it.

The fact that their year was a bit special.

They had gotten carried away with nothing but their improved skills.

And now, with the comparison target being the second-years, known as the golden generation, they couldn’t help losing their confidence.

Seeing the heads hanging low and silence among the first-years, Artian, who had returned to her original personality, looked perplexed.

“Isn’t it a bit too much to break the first-years’ spirit like this?”

“I believe it’s necessary. There’s also a factual lack of tension among the first-years.”

Mel smiled faintly.

Indeed, the atmosphere among the first-years had shifted dramatically.

“Compared to the second-years?”

“What if we make a mistake and get expelled?”

“Ugh. My stomach feels weird.”

“What exactly will the assignment be?”

The first-years, who had only focused on the positive, could now clearly recognize the potential negative aspects.

Certainly, there would be students among them who would earn glory.

But they were a minority.

The majority would face disappointment.

Moreover, the looming possibility of expulsion added pressure.

Their entire attitude towards the final exam had changed.

Tension spread through the previously relaxed atmosphere.

Halind glared coldly at such first-years and spoke.

“Now, I’ll begin announcing the practical exam assignment for the final exam.”

At those words, the first-years fixed their tense gaze on the board.

Tap tap – Thud!

He wrote the test assignment in large letters on the board with chalk.

Whispers began among the students.

Thunk!

Setting down the chalk, Halind looked at the students.

“This year’s final practical exam for you first-years will be a 1-on-1 tournament.”

*

“1-on-1 tournament? Harsh, huh?”

After the announcement of the practical exam for the first-years, Kal, sitting in the private room of the library, clicked his tongue upon hearing the news.

Kal, who said that, made Juen, who had brought him the story, look curious.

“What is it?”

“Simply put, it’s a pure exhibition of skills. There’s no way to coast, and no room for relying on luck.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“I managed to get by during my school years just by coasting.”

Kal clicked his tongue.

“Looks like my plan to sell know-how has failed.”

“… Were you really planning to sell that?”

“Of course.”

Kal shrugged as Juen sighed deeply.

In the middle of that, Kal spoke.

“Well, shall we start?”

“With what?”

“Data analysis.”

Kal used an item to open some space, and a massive stack of papers popped out.

Bang!

Juen’s eyes widened.

“Do you see why I rented such a private room despite difficulties?”

Kal smirked.

“It’s because of all this confidential data.”

Hearing Kal’s words, Juen reached out to check the data Kal had prepared.

It was none other than the data of Aina Bayden.

Juen began reading it slowly.

There was even a gem that captured video with magic.

“Where did you even get such things?”

“I happen to be friendly with the faculty members?”

Kal chuckled.

Students, except for the professors teaching them, also included many school staff like janitors, building repair personnel, and others.

Kal, with his amicable nature, had become fast friends with many of them since his first year.

“I asked them to film other first-years during their practice sessions.”

Kal’s most remarkable skill was information-gathering, which he fully utilized given the upcoming first-year final exams.

“Wizards lack agility compared to knights or summoners.”

Kal adopted a serious expression.

“Take Chelsea for example. There are no weaknesses in her case because she is specialized that way. But even Aabad and Chloe are relatively less skilled in dealing with unexpected situations when compared to the best of other departments.”

That was an unavoidable characteristic of wizards.

Wizards, in principle, have lower mobility.

In order to unleash powerful magic, they have to stay in one place while concentrating mentally.

So while they could create massive variables on the battlefield, paradoxically, they were highly vulnerable to unexpected situations due to those very advantages.

The point Kal aimed to supplement for Juen was to thoroughly analyze the data on individuals of concern to minimize unexpected situations as much as possible.

“Do you know how much data you prepared? This wouldn’t have been necessary if it weren’t for the tournament.”

Looking at Juen’s bewildered expression, Kal smirked.

“Juen, you’re an extraordinary wizard. Honestly, even in regular exams, you could aim for being the top representative of the year. However, if there was one unfavorable exam format for you, I thought it was a 1-on-1 duel. Mobility is essential in a 1-on-1 duel. Compared to Aina, Habidden, and Shasha, you’re certainly less mobile. You could counter that through concealment magic, but it would also be challenging to use that magic in a 1-on-1 tournament.”

Kar crossed his arms.

“That’s why I prepared this data to prepare you for the worst-case scenario.”

“Do I really need to go this far?”

“I haven’t been a great help to you as a mentor, have I?”

Speaking frankly, both in magical power and in handling magical formulas, Kal was inferior to Juen.

Juen was without a doubt a brilliant talent deserving the title of genius.

In comparison, Kal was more average.

“Still, you selected me as your mentor because you thought there was something you could learn from me.”

Kal gazed at Juen with serious eyes.

“Given that, I’ll do my best to help you become the top representative of your year. I’m aiming to be king-maker after all.”

“Kal, senior…”

Juen looked touched.

“Kal, senior, you are truly the best mentor!”

Smiling brightly, as Juen ran up and hugged him, Kal spoke.

“Yeah. Don’t forget to advertise me as the best mentor Kal, a lot. And if I come back for the second semester, use a lot of my materials.”

After saying that, Kal continued.

“Well, let’s check out who our concerns are now. Before I tell you something. Fritz, Aabad’s mentee, and Jane, Chen Sia’s mentee, are just as much of concern as Aina, Habidden, and Shasha.”

Although their school grades may not be top-tier when compared to the year’s best, their combat prowess certainly isn’t ordinary.

Moreover, there’s almost no data on either of them.

‘These two are probably among this year’s Shadow Candidates.’

Kal had heard from Leo that there were Shadow Candidates among this year’s first-years.

Shadow Candidates.

To be honest, even to Kal, they were unknown entities.

“Although these two are thorns in the side, we can prioritize them lower for now.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because the first round opponent is already set.”

“Set already?”

Kal, who was a bit startled, asked.

“Who’s your first round opponent?”

Kal wore a surprised look as Juen showed him the protagonist of the data she was holding.

“Can it be… Aina Bayden?”

Juen nodded, looking at Kal’s astonished expression.