Chapter 53

The spotlight fell on Leo.

“Congratulations!”

But the atmosphere was strange.

While Class 5 was overall in a celebratory mood, students from other classes seemed dissatisfied.

Emio Luchan from Class 2, who ranked third in the Department of Magic, raised his hand.

“Excuse me! I have an objection! How can Leo Flove, whose department ranking didn’t even make the top three, become the grade representative?”

“That’s right! It’s strange!”

“Please explain the reasoning!”

“I don’t understand!”

Complaints poured in from all around.

As Arctian was feeling flustered due to the reactions, someone spoke up.

“I’ll explain the point selection process.”

Professor Halind began his explanation.

“First, students in dual classes are not factored into the department ranking. Dual-class students cannot compete fairly in either field. Take for instance, a sword mage – their pure aura abilities are weaker than a pure knight, and their magical abilities are weaker than a pure wizard. However, when their powers are combined, they unleash an incredible synergistic effect.”

“Second, Leo Flove ranked first in 1st year’s practical Hero & Combat Studies exam.”

“Huh? Didn’t other students also score top marks in the practical exam?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Leo Flove exceeded the requirements in the Hero’s World examination.”

The students who were unaware of this fact stared wide-eyed at Leo.

“In fact, he defeated Chubarn during the process. Does that explain it now?”

No one could argue against that.

It was peculiar to have complaints about giving the top spot to a student who had accomplished the impossible.

“You defeated Chubarn? And you were alone with him? Are you serious?”

“Professor Halind said he’d automatically expel anyone who fights Chubarn! Aren’t you scared of anything?”

As Teid and Iliana asked hurriedly, Leo sipped his drink and replied calmly.

“There was no other way to escape the Hero’s Dungeon.”

“Wow! You’re insane! You’re genuinely crazy!”

Iliana gasped, looking shocked as Leo gave her a sly smile.

Meanwhile, the assistants revealed the rank board.

Students rushed towards it.

“Ah…! Higher than expected!”

“My goodness! How could my grade be that low?”

Students reacted in various ways as Chelsea observed.

“It’s exactly as Professor Halind predicted. A lot of students from the lower ranks climbed, and some of the upper ranks fell.”

True to Halind’s early forecast.

Among the top-tier students, only Chloe showed significant movement in the mid-term results due to some trouble.

Chloe was still practically one of the best in the freshmen year, so no one underestimated her.

“Kids tend to grow quickly. If you get complacent, you might be overtaken by those below you before you know it.”

“Hmm. That won’t happen to me. But Leo, your tone is too old for someone of our age.”

As Chelsea pointed this out and Leo chuckled, Kal approached.

“I just checked the reactions from other classes. They’re all talking about you, Leo.”

“That’s understandable.”

“Uh-huh,” Chelsea nodded.

Subsequently, the party began in earnest.

Leo chose his buffet food, enjoying the party.

With participants from various regions, the food options were diverse.

“There are so many delicious dishes from the eastern region!”

Kal cheerfully loaded his plate with fried pork while speaking enthusiastically.

“Indeed.”

Watching the two enjoying the party from the professor’s table, Professor Ren idly swirled his wine.

“Professor Ren, you don’t seem very happy.”

As Ann, Ren’s assistant professor, asked curiously, Ren clicked his tongue.

“Ann, how can I enjoy this party? For that, Leo would need to be a student of the Department of Magic.”

“But didn’t you want Leo to become the grade representative?”

“Of course, I’m happy, but to purely enjoy it, I would need Leo to be in the Department of Magic.”

“That’s really a shame.”

As Ann agreed and glanced toward Leo,

It was already half a semester since the freshmen entered.

There were many students in the Department of Magic, but if they were to pick the top three, they would undoubtedly be Abad, Chloe, and Leo.

‘Both Abad and Chloe possess endless potential.’

In all his years as a practicing mage, he had never encountered such gifted individuals.

As a teacher, it brought him immense joy.

Teaching them was like watching a raw gemstone being refined.

‘There’s no greater fulfillment in education than this.’

‘On the other hand, Leo…’

Ann slightly shuddered.

‘While Abad and Chloe are like unpolished gems with limitless potential, Leo’s depth is indescribable. It’s too profound.’

When Leo learned something in class, it wasn’t simply about absorbing the knowledge—it was about reinterpreting it to fit his needs and fully assimilating it.

The professors of the Department of Magic marveled at Leo’s talent.

But to Ann, it didn’t feel like Leo was processing a raw gem—it was more like he was polishing a perfect gem to make it shine even brighter.

Occasionally, his boundless potential sent shivers down her spine.

Of course, she wasn’t suggesting Leo shouldn’t have chosen another department. On the contrary, she hoped he would switch to the Department of Magic sooner.

How much potential could be harnessed if his incredible talent were channeled entirely toward magic?

“Whyyyy! Why did heaven grant Leo talent for swordsmanship and summoning as well?! Oh dear! What should we do here, Professor Ann?”

‘He’s drunk again, isn’t he?’

Ann sighed, hearing the familiar tone.

Dr. Ren couldn’t hold his liquor, and when he did, his emotions swayed drastically.

The problem was that while he ranted, he said things other professors should not hear, leading to potential chaos.

‘That’s what makes genius! They don’t care about others’ opinions.’

Watching Professor Ren, who was already hugging the wine bottle and crying, Ann resolved to intervene quickly.

“Maybe he’ll select the Department of Magic soon.”

“Reason?”

“Think about his closest classmates—Chelsea and Kal.”

“!”

Dr. Ren’s head shot up.

“Ann! You’re a genius! Yes, there’s that way! We can convince Leo through them.”

“Persuade? Professor Ren! Just hold on!”

“Hahaha! Why didn’t I think of this easier method earlier?”

“Department coercion is a breach of school rules! If a teacher encourages something like that, it will lead to more than just disciplinary action!”

“Call them immediately…”

“Hey! Listen to me, you!”

Ann lunged to cover Dr. Ren’s mouth.

“Why are you blocking me? It’s a golden opportunity to prevent Leo from wasting his time needlessly!”

“What counts as wasted time?”

Ann’s face turned pale.

The last person they wanted to encounter had arrived.

“Ah, Professor Ain.”

“Nice to see you, Professor Ain.”

“Interesting topic just now.”

Ain chuckled.

“Leo seems to get along well with the students from the Department of Magic. This proves that Leo belongs to that department.”

“Just acquaintanceship? That’s quite naive. The educator’s role is to provide the best spot for the student’s talent, right? And Leo Flove is undeniably a perfect fit for the Department of Knights.”

“Of course, I understand your desire to have Leo. But let’s think objectively. Isn’t the true ability of a magician to view things with clarity… Oh! My mistake. You, Professor Ain, seem to have a head full of muscles and can’t perceive clearly. No help for it. Let me explain why Leo fits into Magic Studies with my keen magician’s insight.”

“Even someone with the keen eyesight of a magician would expect to get beaten up after talking so politely.”

As Ann looked despairingly at the ceiling, Ain smirked and grabbed the front of Ren’s shirt.

Regardless, Ren was busy expounding his argument.

“What are you two doing? Don’t you find it embarrassing in front of the students?”

As Yura asked incredulously, Ain replied.

“We were talking about Leo’s department choice.”

“Leo?”

‘These people are daydreaming again. Leo’s in the Summoning department.’

Yura looked at her senior and junior professors with deep sympathy.

‘Isn’t it natural for someone who summons a phoenix to be in the Summoning Department?’

Pitifully shaking her head, Yura stared at them with an indifferent expression, causing both Ain and Ren to narrow their brows.

Among the three, Yura had the least grasp of reality but was also the most ambitious in her aspirations for the department.

‘Hmph! Why’s she looking at me like that?’

‘That Yura is up to something unsettling again!’

Both Ain and Ren muttered internally.

Meanwhile, the professors watching this mental battle shook their heads saying, “There they go again.”

At this moment, Professor Sedgen graciously tapped the edge of his wine glass with a spoon to gather the students’ attention.

“Your attention, everyone. Are you enjoying the party?”

“Yes.”

“Good! As promised, I will now announce the field trip location.”

The students’ eyes sparkled.

“Of course, field trips aren’t just for leisure. They’re opportunities to broaden your horizons in unfamiliar places.”

Professor Sedgen dramatically waved his hand, pointing to the side where an assistant brought in a covered bulletin board.

With a flick of his finger, the assistant uncovered it with a flourish.

The board revealed a map of the continent.

“Was it necessary to make it so dramatic?”

“Professor Sedgen enjoys that kind of stuff.”

As Kal murmured, Leo chuckled in agreement.

“The group travel locations will be decided by each class.”

With that, classes burst into lively discussions.

“Eastern Region! Let’s go to the East!”

“What? No way. Did you forget I’m from the East?”

“How about the South? I want to see what a desert looks like.”

“Eww! It’s too hot! Let’s visit the cool North instead!”

The chaos erupted between the students until Duran raised his hand.

“Ooh! Duran student! Do you have a question?”

“Professor, you mentioned broadening our horizons, but among the freshmen, there are those who have been to various regions already due to their background. Is this field trip purely to accommodate those without such experiences?”

Duran was correct.

While there were students like Leo who had never left their home country, many others had visited several countries and regions across the continent.

Many students nodded in agreement with the question as Professor Sedgen chuckled in approval.

“Great question! Yes, Duran student.”

Professor Sedgen spread his arms wide.

“True, some among you have travelled all over since childhood! Offering them more horizons wouldn’t apply! Lumeran is not about offering trivial experiences!”

Murmurs ran through the students.

If it wasn’t merely about visiting a new area, then what else?

Professor Sedgen approached the continental map and tapped the northern region.

“The place you will be visiting is not within human territory!”

The students were startled.

“Th-Then! Surely you don’t mean…!”

“Exactly! Different races! The Elves’ domain!”

The announcement was met with cheers and cries of excitement.

“Ohhh!”

“Amazing!”

“Of course Lumeran! Who would have thought we’d be able to visit the Elves’ territory!”

Even Duran appeared dazed, yet a smile crept onto his face.

Watching this, Leo blinked.

‘Time has really changed things.’

In the past, racial barriers didn’t exist, but times had changed.

While all races generally interacted, it wasn’t as if they could freely traverse each other’s territories.

‘Wasn’t there a war between races in the past?’

Indeed, humans and elves historically had a poor relationship.

In Kyle’s time, such a field trip would have been unimaginable.

‘On the other hand, the past may also seem unimaginable in today’s times.’

“Hey, Chelsea! Have you been to the Elves’ domain before?”

“No way!”

“Looking forward to it! So, where are we going? Which country?”

“Leo! Which country do you want to visit?”

Kal inquired as Leo pointed to the map.

“There.”

“Hmm?”

“I want to visit Elsalbekia.”

Elsalbekia.

It was one of the smaller countries among the Elves’ lands.

What made this nation special was its historical significance.

[Fairy Forest]

A name that now belonged to ancient history.

Despite its title, the Fairy Forest no longer harbored any fairies.

After the Era of Catastrophe, it was said the fairies departed.

But before then, this was the sacred sanctuary of the fairies.

“Surprisingly, the opportunity to visit came sooner than expected.”

Leo clenched his fist.

As a summoner, Leo held a single important contract.

The King of the Fairies pact.

“I don’t think it’s likely the fairies would give up their sanctuary so easily. Even if they did decide to leave it…”

Leo’s eyes gleamed.

“There’s a high probability they left something related to the Fairy King behind.”