Chapter 408

408.

After the announcement of the 1:1 tournament as the final exam project for the first-year students.

All attention was focused on the first year.

“Other than the first-years, there doesn’t seem to be a presentation exam for outside observers this time, right?”

During a break in the second-year Department of Summoning practice.

The second-year students had gathered together to chat.

In their view, the first-year students from the Department of Summoning, who were training for the tournament, could be seen.

Since the announcement of the tournament battles, the first-years had been fully devoted to training all day.

“Hasn’t the first-round opponent been decided yet?”

“Who’s your mentee’s first-round opponent?”

“I heard some mid-ranking guy from the Department of Knights.”

“Good luck.”

“What’s good about it? My mentee is ranked in the lower-middle tier.”

The fate of whether the second-year students would stay at the school was also determined by the results of the students they mentored.

Of course, their performance on the second-year final exams also mattered, but failing to remain at the school due to their first-year mentee after passing the second-year exams was a highly frustrating and unfair situation, so they couldn’t help but be on edge.

“Isn’t it different?”

“Can’t you do better than that?”

“Do it right! Have you forgotten that if you’re expelled, I’ll be expelled too?”

During a break from class, a shout rang out among the second-year students who were trying to teach their mentees.

The first-year mentees flinched and lowered their heads.

Even the previously good relationship between seniors and juniors was starting to crumble.

The pressure of this final exam was immense for both the first and second-year students alike.

“The atmosphere is unusual.”

“There’s no way it wouldn’t be.”

As Chen Sia murmured while observing the situation, Eliza snorted.

“Whether a first-year or second-year, up until now, hasn’t everyone been relaxing during the first semester without the pressure of expulsion?”

Eliza, with her signature smirking smile at the corners of her lips, looked at the second-year students raising their voices and the intimidated first-year students.

“They’re paying the price now.”

Lumeran’s system of expelling students with poor performance has always been a factor pressuring students.

Of course, since Lumeran’s curriculum itself is incredibly rigorous, with cases where a misstep could cost a life, it’s more irresponsible to keep students who lack the required skills at the school.

Starting from the third year, when students become competent as Hero Candidates, the number of expulsions significantly decreases.

However, first and second-year students, even those in the mid-tier, could be expelled if they make a mistake.

The pressure of expulsion serves as a driving force for students to grow, in a sense.

But it’s also true that with the introduction of the mentoring system, students were able to spend the first semester without worrying about expulsion, leading to a somewhat relaxing period at school.

However, cracks began to appear in that peace.

The pressure on the first-year students was even greater.

Unlike the second-year students who had been dealing with the threat of expulsion for the past year, this was the first time the first-years were experiencing such pressure.

“Looks like they’re having fun.”

“Really? It seemed that way to you?”

Eliza smiled faintly at Chen Sia’s remark.

For someone with a devious streak, the current situation was very amusing.

“In fact, I did think there was a problem with this system. I thought Lumeran’s relentless competitive department system had grown a little slack.”

Eliza fiddled with her nails.

“But judging from the looks of things now, that doesn’t seem to be the case. They’re receiving all the pressure at once, after all.”

“Maybe it was intentional.”

“KYAAAHHHHHH?!”

Eliza screamed in fright and clung to Chen Sia when a voice suddenly sounded from right behind her.

“Scared, weren’t you? Ms. Eliza.”

Chen Sia smirked like an adult and patted Eliza’s head.

“Don’t treat me like a kid!”

Eliza, her face turning bright red, glared up at Leo.

“Don’t scare people! Leo Flove!”

Eliza’s reaction made Leo chuckle.

Frustrated by Leo’s reaction, Eliza reached for her whip, but Chen Sia stopped her.

Eliza crossed her arms after taking a deep breath.

“What do you mean by ‘intentional’?”

“During the first semester, the first and second years were allowed to grow autonomously within Lumeran. I think the school introduced the mentoring system to test which is more effective— growth under coercive measures or without.”

Leo looked at the first years.

“Since they have enjoyed their time so far, the pressure now is bound to be even greater when it hits all at once.”

“Hmm. So it wasn’t just a cushy school life then?”

“Right. Definitely, there will be first-year and second-year students who are floundering and feeling despair.”

No matter how much they struggle, limits exist, and the first to sense them are the individuals themselves.

‘This is likely a test of whether they can transcend those limits or not.’

Leo narrowed his eyes.

At this, Eliza said while looking at him.

“Hmmn. Anyway, are you okay? Leo Flove?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Your chosen mentee is the lowest-ranked first-year, right?”

Eliza narrowed her eyes.

“Still, considering your scheming nature, I suppose you might have some ace up your sleeve.”

“Am I really that scheming?”

“Well, there is something of an adult-like side to you. That’s Ms. Eliza’s compliment.”

When Leo asked Chen Sia about this comment, Chen smiled and responded.

“Isn’t that what you meant?”

Eliza frowned and answered immediately.

“Well, still, it feels nice that you’re worried.”

“Why should I worry about you?”

Eliza snorted.

Amused by Eliza’s reaction, Leo smirked.

“Luke? There’s no need to worry. Losing the first round doesn’t mean automatic elimination, after all.”

“Hmmn?”

Eliza raised her lips.

“There’s a loser’s bracket, so it’s fine? That’s a rather complacent thought for you, isn’t it.”

At Eliza’s words, Leo gave a peculiar smile.

Seeing Leo’s expression, Eliza had a uneasy look.

“What is it? That face.”

Perhaps this year’s final exam for the first-years could be the most dangerous moment even for Leo.

Though Leo had overcome various obstacles until now, there was nothing he could do about this one.

Yet, despite all this, Leo wore the same expression as always.

‘This guy, what exactly did he do to that first-year?’

Eliza couldn’t help but think.

*

After school.

The training grounds were filled with first-year and second-year students.

The second years had brought their first-year mentees out for practice.

“If you can’t even dodge that, what will you do?”

“Do better!”

Irritated voices erupted from the second-year students.

Affected by the over-sensitive second-years, the first-years could only grimace.

Meanwhile, Emio, a top student in the 2nd year Department of Magic, snorted derisively.

“Tsk, criticizing them as if their feet are on fire now.”

Lament, who ranked third in the 1st year Department of Magic, responded to Emio’s obvious mockery.

“It just looks like pathetic flailing.”

“Still, they have to flail, don’t they?”

As Emio strolled through the training grounds, he smirked when he noticed a group off to one side.

In fact, Emio didn’t need to use the training grounds.

Born into a famous military family, he’s one of the top experts in combat magic among the second years.

That’s why he’d been teaching his mentee, Lament, magic combat since the beginning of the semester.

Therefore, Emio was confident about this tournament.

When he learned his first-round opponent, he secretly rejoiced.

The reason he came to the training grounds today was to mock that opponent.

“Students Council President, you’re indeed a role model. Renting out a private training ground would’ve been a cinch, but here you are training with all the riff-raff.”

Not just Leo who was overseeing Luke’s training, but even the surrounding students turned to look at him at his words.

“Emio, I believe you didn’t file a request to use the training grounds?”

“I didn’t. I’m just here to watch the flailing of the losers.”

“Hey, Emio Luce, watch your words.”

“What makes you think you can call us losers and badmouth us?”

The second-year students snarled warningly.

At this, Emio let out a laugh.

“Don’t talk back.”

“What?”

“You seem to mistake me as someone of your level just because you’ve managed to escape expulsion for the first semester. Without the mentor system, you wouldn’t even be here flailing, you riff-raff.”

“What?!”

Most of the second-year students guiding the first-years on the training grounds currently would have either been expelled or faced the threat of expulsion.

Because when second-year students chose their mentees, they naturally selected first-year students similar to themselves.

The only exceptions were teams like Leo and Luke, and Karl and Juen, where the performance gap between mentor and mentee was significant.

“Know your place and shut up.”

“Little b*stard!”

With Emio’s words, a tense atmosphere spread among the second-year students.

Leo then spoke.

“Stop disrespecting your peers, Emio, and quiet down.”

“Ho. Is the Student Council President taking care of his peers?”

“You, on the other hand, need a reminder to know your place.”

“What?”

Emio’s face hardened as Leo smiled coldly.

“Not all second-year students are the same simply because they’re in the same year. I’m the Student Council President, Emio Luce, so shut up and stay out of my way.”

Sparks flew from Emio’s eyes.

Then he smirked.

“Do you think you’ll remain Student Council President forever? Or do you even think you’ll stay in Lumeran?”

Emio turned his gaze to Luke.

“Your mentee, isn’t he likely to be expelled? If that happens, you’ll be expelled too, Leo Flove. Surely you’re not considering using the power of the Student Council President?”

Emio was right.

From a practical standpoint, it was hard to believe that Luke, who ranked last in performance and hadn’t grown at all since entering, could make it to the next semester through the tournament.

To this, Leo smirked.

“I won’t be using the Student Council President’s power.”

“Kick. So you’re willingly resigning yourself to expulsion?”

“No.”

Leo stared straight at Emio and spoke.

“I’m going to win them all.”

Everyone around momentarily questioned their own hearing.

What was the goal of the lowest-ranked student?

“What nonsense…?”

“Isn’t Luke’s first match against your mentee, Lament?”

Leo smiled faintly.

“Will Luke win it?”

At Leo’s words, Lament spoke up.

“President, I respect you as a senior, but that statement is unacceptable.”

Lament looked down at Luke, shorter than himself, and said.

“It’s unimaginable that I’d lose to Luke Eldar.”

“Then you should look forward to it. And you’d better give it your all.”

Leo smiled faintly.

“You’re about to witness something extraordinary.”