“Ahahahahahahaha!”
The sound of laughter reverberated across the café terrace, located at the beginning of the street.
Selia, who was convulsed in laughter, clutching her stomach, found tears in her eyes after her bout of giggles.
“So, did you just answer one question and then ditch the magic class?”
“Are you finished laughing?”
Leo, maintaining an expression devoid of emotion, took a sip of his fruit juice.
“What did I say? Pursuing a major in magic is futile.”
Selia, now having composed herself after her laughter, spoke while lifting her teacup.
“If you’re from Zerdingher, you should be devoted to swordsmanship.”
“I’m not from Zerdingher.”
“If you’re studying the Phoenix Breath, and you’re not from Zerdingher, then where on earth are you from?”
Selia sipped her tea, looking at Leo with an incredulous expression.
“Regardless, you’re free until the afternoon class, right? Would you like to train with me?”
“Shall we engage in some physical training then?”
Selia’s face turned pale.
To others, Leo’s physical training sessions were akin to torture.
Recalling the grueling week at Plov House, Selia laughed awkwardly.
“I’ll focus on honing my sword skills…”
“You’re not planning to back out, are you?”
Leo smirked.
“How disappointed would Uncle Zis be to hear that you ran away from physical training out of fear?”
“Hey! Are you trying to get back at me for making fun of the magic class? You sly trickster!”
Seeing her cousin’s mischievous smile, Selia clenched her teeth.
“Alright, let’s train diligently.”
“Nope. Forget it.”
As Selia flailed, attempting to catch Leo, who was making his way to the armory, she called out.
“Hey, Leo!”
Karl rushed over.
“What’s happening? What about the class?”
“Professor Ren is searching for you.”
Selia’s face turned red.
“Professor is looking for you, Leo. You should hurry.”
“Why is he looking for me?”
“You ranked first in the magic theory exam.”
“What?”
Both Leo and Selia looked astonished.
Karl, panting heavily, quickly explained.
“The class is in chaos! The professor is furious because the student who ranked first didn’t show up!”
***
When Karl brought Leo back to the lecture hall, the atmosphere was icy.
The students who had passed the exam fixed their gazes on Leo as he entered through the classroom door.
Feeling their stares, Leo briefly appeared flustered.
‘Why is the mood so tense?’
“Student Leo, where were you instead of attending the class?”
Assistant Professor Anna, from Professor Ren’s team, asked quietly. Leo awkwardly replied with a smile.
“I was at the cafe.”
“We said the class would start immediately after the exam, didn’t we? Why were you at the cafe…”
Clap- Clap- Clap- Clap-
Suddenly, there was applause.
Professor Ren approached, smiling.
“Student Leo! I’m truly impressed by your genius. You ignored the easy questions and selectively solved the most challenging one, then left the class. Haha! Well, for a genius, the test I provided might have seemed trivial. Especially for a knight major student!”
Although he smiled, his eyes were sharp.
Knights and mages had long maintained a competitive relationship.
Consider the Lodren Empire, one of the strongest human nations, where there were political divisions based on knight factions led by Zerdingher and mage factions led by Lewalin.
At Lumeren, there were even some extremist students who believed their field was superior.
Therefore, a freshman representative, renowned for specializing in knight studies, attending a magic major class and turning in a nearly blank answer sheet, except for one challenging question, was more than enough to create misunderstandings.
Furthermore, Leo hadn’t returned to the class after leaving.
Leo quickly explained.
“Professor, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“I thought I had failed the exam. I didn’t even know I ranked first.”
Upon hearing this, Professor Ren, who was relatively young among Lumeren professors, scrutinized Leo’s face.
‘He doesn’t appear to be lying. But why didn’t he answer the other questions?’
“I need to have a brief interview with Student Leo. Assistant Professor Anna, please take charge of the class for me.”
“Of course, Professor.”
Professor Anna nodded and proceeded to the podium.
Professor Ren led Leo to the back preparation room.
“Why didn’t you attempt the other questions on the exam?”
“Well…”
“Did you think the questions were too easy and not worth your time?”
“No, it’s just…”
Leo hesitated for a moment, silently thinking,
‘It’s embarrassing. In my previous life as a grand mage, I struggled with questions even a ten-year-old could solve?’
But he couldn’t lie. Staying silent could complicate his school life.
Eventually, Leo whispered, “The questions were too challenging for me.”
“What?”
Having solved the most difficult question and now claiming that the others were too tough didn’t make sense.
“I self-studied magic spells at home, but all I had were very old magical books. So, I only studied the outdated formulas. I had no idea that modern magical formulas were so complex. I’m ashamed that I underestimated my magic major and couldn’t attend the class.”
After explaining, he asked with a puzzled expression, “But what do you mean I ranked first? I barely solved one question.”
‘So, he didn’t grasp the activation formula structure and couldn’t handle the composite problems… So he gave up and only tackled the last question?’
The explanation started to make sense to Professor Ren.
If he had been self-studying from old magic books, he might not have been exposed to the activation formula.
The activation formula might be the latest trend, but it wasn’t a historically deep-rooted spell.
‘If he focused solely on spell interpretation, then it’s not implausible.’
Professor Ren picked up a piece of chalk and wrote a magic formula on the small blackboard in the preparation room.
“Try to solve this. Then, I’ll believe your explanation, Leo, and clarify why you ranked first.”
With his anger subsided, curiosity took over.
Younger generations were sensitive to trends.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the activation formula had become mainstream among young mages, rather than just a trend.
In that sense, Leo could be seen as somewhat outdated.
However, he possessed strengths not commonly found among the current generation of mages.
‘He has a solid foundation. After all, the essence of magic lies in interpreting spells.’
A tree with strong roots might grow slower, but it grows taller in the end.
Professor Ren anticipated that Leo was already constructing ‘his own world of magic’.
Spell interpretation might have one correct answer, but there could be multiple paths to reach it.
He was intensely interested in observing how this rare type of student from the current generation approached spell-solving.
By witnessing the process of spell-solving, one could grasp a mage’s magical philosophy.
‘Let’s see what method of interpretation he uses.’
With shining eyes, he observed Leo as he stood before the blackboard.
Without uttering a word, Leo examined the question posed by Professor Ren and began to write.
Click-! Bang! Bang!
With each sound of the chalk, Professor Ren felt a thrill.
After writing down the correct answer, Leo turned around.
Professor Ren couldn’t discern Leo’s approach to solving the problem.
“I’m finished.”
This was because Leo had mentally deciphered the intricate magic formula.
***
‘Why isn’t he coming out?’
Assistant Professor Anna gazed toward the preparation room, her expression puzzled.
Whether it was a reprimand or dismissal, she expected a swift resolution, but it was taking longer than expected.
Among Lumeren’s magic professors, Professor Ren was the most passionate about magic.
Although not well-known outside, he was acclaimed as a genius within the field of magic academia.
Anna had also admired him after reading his magical research paper and applied to be his assistant.
‘But that image has shattered since becoming an assistant professor.’
Normally a mild-mannered man, he exhibited all sorts of eccentricities when it came to magic.
Bang-!
As if to validate Anna’s concerns, the door to the preparation room burst open.
The students were startled.
Upon seeing Professor Ren’s countenance, Anna sighed, looking at the ceiling.
‘He’s had another one of his episodes. I wish he wouldn’t act like this in front of the freshmen.’
Fortunately, Professor Ren soon exited the lecture hall.
Leo emerged from the preparation room, moving at a deliberate pace.
“What did the professor say, Student Leo?”
“He told me to attend the class.”
“Very well, take your seat. We will proceed with the lesson.”
Without further delay, Assistant Professor Anna picked up her chalk.
The students wore puzzled expressions.
Whether it was the professor suddenly dashing out of the classroom on the first day or the assistant professor who appeared unfazed by such behavior, something was amiss.
In contrast, Leo remained composed.
Of course, even Leo couldn’t fathom why Professor Ren was behaving in such a manner.
‘But isn’t it typical for mages to act eccentric? It’s not as if it’s a rare occurrence.’
Leo, more than anyone else, understood the idiosyncrasies of mages.
***
Bang-!
The door to the magic department office swung open abruptly.
The professors working inside glanced up.
Upon seeing Professor Ren’s expression, they casually returned to their tasks.
“Senior!”
Professor Albi turned his head with an impassive demeanor.
“Thank you! Senior! You’ve given me an incredible gift!”
Professor Albi, whose face had been seized by the enthusiastic junior, brushed him aside as if discarding a bothersome object.
He then left the faculty room without hesitation, well aware that dealing with Professor Ren was always a chore.
Professor Ren, who had tumbled to the ground, swiftly got to his feet and followed Albi.
“What’s gotten into him today?”
“Just let it be; it’s one of those days.”
The other professors reacted with indifference.
“Senior! I’ll treat you to a meal soon.”
“I’d like to hear the reason for this sudden gratitude.”
Facing the junior who was expressing abrupt appreciation, Professor Albi inquired, to which Professor Ren grinned.
“It’s about the student Leo Plov, whom you recommended as the grade representative.”
“Why him?”
“Student Leo is a magical prodigy.”
“…? But isn’t he from the Knight department?”
“No. Leo should be in the Magic department.”
Professor Ren gestured expansively.
“A magical prodigy in the Knight department? Oh, come on. That’s a ridiculous notion. He’s not meant to wield a sword. Sending such a student to specialize in Knighthood is an affront to magic, senior.”
Subsequently, Professor Ren enthusiastically recounted the events that unfolded during the initial lecture.
After hearing the entire narrative, Professor Albi also appeared astonished.
“Senior! Leo has attained a 5th-year level skill in spell interpretation through self-study! If that’s not genius, then what is?”
“What do you want from me?”
Ren inquired directly, wearing an enigmatic smile.
“Please use your influence to ensure that Leo can confidently select the Magic department.”
“Choosing a department is the student’s prerogative, and if he possesses such talent, he would naturally choose Magic without my persuasion.”
“That seems probable.”
Professor Ren seemed convinced.
“If he possesses such talent and still doesn’t choose magic, then he must be an oddity.”
“It doesn’t seem fitting for you to say that.”
***
Time had flown by since the freshmen had first enrolled.
Before they realized it, it was the final day of the provisional lessons.
After school, the students were seated in their respective classrooms.
Now, they would select their majors and commence their formal classes.
The students were not aware yet, but their homeroom teachers had already been assigned.
The teaching assistant, who had supervised the students during the provisional lessons, began the explanation.
“We will now commence the process of choosing departments and registering for classes. As previously explained, there are no elective courses in the first semester of the first year. All time slots are allocated for mandatory subjects.”
These mandatory subjects included combat and heroics, crucial for aspiring heroes, as well as language, math, history, etiquette, and morality.
The class collectively had seven subjects in total, and their schedules were predetermined.
In addition to these, they needed to register for their major subjects.
The students of class 5 quickly completed their department application forms and class registration schedules.
The teaching assistant, positioned at the podium, carefully reviewed the documents the students submitted.
And, after going through the last sheet, he paused for a moment.
“Student Leo?”
“Yes, teaching assistant?”
“You’ve made a mistake with your major selection. You’ve listed three.”
With a friendly smile, the assistant returned the form.
Taking the form back from the assistant, Leo replied.
“No, I filled it out correctly.”
“Huh?”
“I intend to pursue all three majors.”
For a moment, the attention of all his classmates focused on Leo.
Leo stated calmly.
“I’m an all-around student.”
Cliche Novel 