Chapter 80

【80】79.

The following day, the excitement and fatigue from the field trip had yet to subside.

The department schedule at Lumeran carried on as usual.

Most first-year students were floating in a state of not adapting to the atmosphere while attending classes.

Amidst that, just as the last class before lunch was ending,

“Everyone, pay attention, I have an announcement.”

Professor Dragon of the History Department caught the students’ attention.

Once the students focused, Professor Dragon began to speak.

“The afternoon class schedule has changed. A joint major class will take place, so gather in the great hall of the Hero’s Tower after lunch. There will be no exceptions.”

As Professor Dragon left, the students began to chatter.

“Joint major class? We’ve never had our specialized classes combined until now, right?”

Kal stroked his chin.

“Seems like the smell of a new department event, doesn’t it?”

Kal smirked, and Leo replied.

“Likely. Our school never leaves the students alone, does it?”

“Brother Leo! Let’s have lunch at the café near the Hero’s Tower!”

“Should we?”

“Chelsea! Abad is looking for you.”

“Hmm?”

At the sound of a voice from the back of the classroom, Chelsea approached Abad.

A moment later, Chelsea returned and said apologetically.

“Sorry, but I seem like I’ll have to have lunch with Brother.”

“Understood. Enjoy your time.”

“Have a good lunch.”

As Chelsea left with Abad to eat, Kal spoke up.

“Well, let’s head to the Hero’s Tower side then? There are quite a few upperclassmen around, which is subtly burdensome.”

The two left the classroom and headed toward the Hero’s Tower.

The Lumeran campus featured a variety of cafes, kiosks, and restaurants in addition to the student cafeteria.

Of course, unlike the student cafeteria, payment was required, but their food was never bad, and the wide range of cuisines meant that students frequently visited them.

“Apparently, it’s super competitive to get a spot here in our school.”

Kal spoke while surveying the restaurants around the Hero’s Tower.

“Leo, how about southern cuisine today?”

“Sure.”

“Great! I heard there’s an amazing southern restaurant near the Hero’s Tower, and I wanted to check it out!”

Leo followed Kal toward a highly recommended spot.

Sure enough, the place was crowded with customers, as Kal had mentioned.

Just as Leo and Kal were about to take an available seat,

“Excuse me.”

“Huh?”

At that moment, a group of students cut in front of them and quickly occupied the seat.

“Excuse me, we were about to sit here.”

“Huh?”

Upon hearing Leo’s words, the students widened their eyes and began laughing.

“Is this first-year talking back to us? How dare you?”

“Trying to challenge us? How cute.”

“Wait, white hair and red eyes… isn’t this guy Leo Flove?”

The line-cutters turned out to be second-year students from the Department of Summoning.

Being stronger in seniority traditions compared to other departments, these second-year Summoning students disliked the fact that Leo, who never showed up during summoning classes, was bypassing seniors.

Of course, Leo wasn’t one to blink an eye at what seniors thought of him.

“True to the rumors, you’re arrogant.”

“What? Just because you’re a class representative doesn’t make you special, right?”

The second-years exuded a menacing atmosphere, and Kal awkwardly laughed.

“Not at all. We’ll just eat somewhere else. Let’s go, Leo.”

“Still, this is why country bumpkins and commoners don’t fit, right? No manners. None.”

Kal forced out a smooth laugh.

“Leo, let’s just go. There’s no point in trouble with upperclassmen…”

CLUNK!

“Eek?”

KANG!

A second-year deliberately tripped Kal. Clearly done on purpose, Kal fell and had water from a kettle on the table poured over his head.

“Watch your behavior. You’ll be like your friend soon.”

“Hey, that’s going too far. He’s from another department.”

“Would the Magic Department care about some nameless commoner? Besides, he’ll probably be asked to withdraw before the semester ends anyway.”

The students smirked at each other.

“Excuse me.”

Leo turned to an awkward waiter who had paused in serving, smiling apologetically. He then picked up the soup bowl from the tray the waiter held.

SPLASH!

“Grgh?”

Without hesitation, Leo slammed the scalding hot soup bowl onto the face of the second-year who had tripped Kal.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I slipped.”

Leo, showing not an ounce of regret, pressed the soup bowl against the second-year’s face.

“AAAARRRRGHH!”

The second-year, who unexpectedly got scalded, grabbed his face and screamed.

“You’re insane!”

“How dare a first-year commit such an insolent act?”

The other second-years’ eyes flared with anger.

“It’s not technically a rule violation, though.”

Leo smiled savagely.

At the moment Leo’s intimidating presence sent chills through the second-years, but soon their pride took over, and their faces turned red.

“You come with me. I’ll make sure you pay dearly for challenging a second-year!”

As the atmosphere grew hostile,

“That’s enough.”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward a corner of the restaurant.

The second-year students who had picked a quarrel with Leo quickly stood at attention.

“U-Ulta-senpai!”

He was a pale-skinned fifth-year male with light blond hair.

Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he addressed the second-years.

“You were the ones who started the quarrel, weren’t you? If you continue causing a commotion, I, as a senior in your department, can’t stand by and watch. Can’t you leave it at this?”

“Y-Yes! Of course!”

“Understood!”

The second-years from the Department of Summoning quickly apologized and scrambled out of the restaurant after changing their stance.

Ulta stood up and approached Kal, helping him to his feet.

“Apologies from the Department of Summoning. Sorry.”

“Not at all.”

Kal smiled awkwardly while shaking his head.

Ulta then looked at Leo.

“Sorry to interfere, but it looked painful. Even if they’re terrible, seeing lowerclassmen thrash first-years like that hurts my heart, so I had to b*tt in.”

Ulta gave a meaningful smile and left the restaurant.

“Who is he?”

“You don’t know Ulta Legdissen? He’s the second-ranked fifth-year! The rival of Ris Zerdinger through all five years! I heard he went on a mission, but when did he return?”

Kal spoke with excitement.

Hearing this, Leo smirked.

‘Indeed. If he’s the second-ranked fifth-year, it makes sense he’s a Pegasus contractor.’

Ulta was the contractor of Pegasus, one of the three great familiars, alongside Phoenix and Fairies.

Once the first-year students gathered by departments.

Chaos still filled the great hall as three silhouettes appeared on the podium.

“Hold on, isn’t that Toluah-sempai?”

“Is that Jamua-sempai?”

“Ah! It’s Ulta-sempai!”

The best students from each department in the fifth year.

They were the true heroes closest to becoming full-fledged heroes among the Hero Candidates.

The appearance of these rare figures sent the entire first-year grade into a whirlwind of excitement.

In the midst of that, Toluah noticed something.

Currently, the first-year group was divided into four large sections.

The Department of Knights, the Department of Magic, the Department of Summoning, and then one expansive section occupied alone by…

“Hey, Leo. Why are you being isolated by yourself?”

“Let me correct you, Toluah-sempai.”

Leo smirked.

“I’m not just isolated by my year. It’s the entire grade.”