After observing Leo’s rigorous endurance training, Karl immediately fled.
On the first day of training with Leo, Chelsea sensed that something was terribly amiss.
However, it was already too late to reconsider.
Initially hesitant, Selia eventually yielded and fully committed to training with Leo.
Thankfully, having already endured it once, the experience was somewhat more bearable than the first time.
“Is this truly effective?”
“It is. Leo’s training is brutally demanding, yet strangely systematic.”
As they walked back to the female dormitory, Selia replied to Chelsea’s inquiry with an exhausted expression. Then, she flashed a wicked smile at Chelsea.
“Welcome to the abyss, Chelsea Lewalin.”
Chelsea looked genuinely frightened at that smile.
“It appears you’re fine if you can converse.”
“Don’t jest! You demon!”
While Leo chuckled and spoke, Selia seized him by the collar and shook him.
For some, it was an enjoyable weekend.
For others, it was a torturous weekend. And so, the second week began in Lumeren.
Karl, slouched at his desk, inquired of Chelsea, who was trembling in exhaustion.
“Chelsea, are you still alive?”
“No… I feel like I’m on the brink of death.”
“Here. I went to Lumeria yesterday and procured a high-quality patch for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes, we’re classmates, after all.”
Karl handed Chelsea a muscle recovery patch.
Chelsea, slightly touched, accepted the patch.
Then, looking at her, Karl extended his hand.
“What’s the meaning of this gesture?”
“I’m offering it to you at a special 30% discount, considering we’re friends.”
“Go to hell.”
Chelsea retorted with a cold tone and tossed the patch at Karl’s face.
Karl chuckled and placed the patch on Chelsea’s desk.
“Stay resilient. If you aspire to become a Battle Mage, endurance is crucial, right?”
“Do you want to join us? I can inquire if Leo will allow it.”
“No, no, I’m good.”
Karl awkwardly laughed, then whispered to Leo.
“Didn’t you push her too hard?”
“I actually took it easy on her.”
“That’s your version of ‘easy’?”
Karl made a solemn vow to never train with Leo again.
“By the way, I wonder who our homeroom teacher will be.”
Karl, seated in a chair, tapped the back of his head.
“I hope it’s an attractive female professor.”
All of a sudden, the classroom door swung open, and a middle-aged man in plain attire, with dark circles under his eyes, entered while clutching an attendance sheet.
Upon seeing him, the startled students hurriedly returned to their seats.
The man placed the attendance book on the lectern and wrote his name on the blackboard.
Tap-tap, tap.
The faces of the students in class 5 paled as they caught sight of the name.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Hallind Edmon, your homeroom teacher.”
He was one of the most esteemed instructors at Lumeren.
Typically, he taught senior students in the 4th or 5th grades!
He was famously referred to as the “Wall of Lamentation”!
He held the record for expelling the most students at Lumeren!
That was Hallind Edmon.
Observing the unexpected reactions of their fellow classmates, Leo whispered to Karl, who was seated in front.
“Is he a renowned professor?”
“Not just renowned. He’s been teaching at Lumeren for nearly 20 years.”
Karl whispered back, his nerves evident.
“He’s had numerous students who became heroes, but also quite a few who were expelled. He usually handles senior classes, so why is he teaching freshmen…!”
Hallind opened the attendance book.
“I’ll now take attendance. Karl Thomas.”
“Y-yes!”
“Iliana Raden.”
“Yes.”
Though it was merely a roll call by the homeroom teacher, the students in class 5 displayed a tense demeanor.
Out of 45 students, Leo’s name was the final one called.
“Leo Plov.”
“Yes.”
Thud-!
Hallind, concealing the attendance book, spoke with an exhausted expression.
“Some of you might be wondering why I’ve taken charge of a first-year class.”
Casually sliding his hands into the pockets of his coat, he spoke with a lack of enthusiasm.
“This batch has relatively higher entrance exam scores compared to your seniors. Consequently, Lumeren’s higher-ups have high expectations for all of you.”
The students, taken aback by this previously undisclosed information, looked amazed.
The classroom atmosphere quickly filled with excitement.
At that moment, a female student raised her hand.
“What is it? Iliana Raden.”
“Do other professors typically not teach first-year classes either?”
“That’s correct.”
“Is the assignment of homeroom professors done randomly?”
“No, each of us chose the class we wanted, and I selected yours.”
Hallind wasn’t just renowned for expelling numerous students; he was also a capable professor who had nurtured many outstanding students.
The students in class 5 naturally felt elated to hear that such a professor had chosen them.
“Is there a specific reason you picked our class?”
“Out of the ten classes, your batch had the lowest average score on the entrance exam.”
The previously cheerful atmosphere instantly deflated.
“Do you know why I expel the most students? Iliana Raden.”
“Ah, no.”
“It’s for efficiency.”
Professor Hallind fixed Iliana with a stern gaze.
“It’s better to identify students with no potential early on and focus on teaching those with potential, don’t you think?”
Confronted with Hallind’s intimidating stare, the same kind that would make even Lumeren’s seniors uneasy, tears welled up in Iliana’s eyes.
All of the students in class 5, except for Leo, held their breath, anticipating Hallind’s next move.
The tension was interrupted by a woman in her mid-twenties wearing glasses who entered the classroom.
“Oh dear! Professor Hallind, why are you scaring the students on the first day!”
She sighed deeply and stood next to Professor Hallind.
“Hello, class 5! I’m Senna Tilia, your co-homeroom teacher.”
With light brown hair and a cheerful demeanor, Professor Senna appeared to be the complete opposite of Hallind.
“Everyone! Don’t be too frightened of Professor Hallind! Even though he speaks this way, he truly cares about his students…”
“Senna Tilia. Step outside.”
As she tried to reassure the students, Professor Senna was called away.
“You haven’t changed since you were a student. How many times have I told you to fix that reckless attitude?”
“I’m sorry! I’ll correct it! I promise not to do it again!”
Through the slightly ajar classroom door, they saw Senna bow deeply, looking somewhat frantic.
“I like our co-homeroom teacher.”
“Me too. It’s nice to have at least one teacher with a good personality.”
Chelsea remarked with a chuckle, and Karl nodded in agreement.
The atmosphere seemed to lighten a bit among the other students as well.
A moment later, the two professors returned to the front of the classroom.
“I mentioned earlier that I’m in charge of you because your entrance exam average scores were the lowest, right?”
“Y-yes…”
As the students replied in a subdued tone, Professor Hallind wore a stern expression.
“In Lumeren, entrance exam scores become meaningless after just three months.”
The students widened their eyes in surprise.
“No matter what education you received before Lumeren, Lumeren goes beyond that. Therefore, the grades of Lumeren’s first years fluctuate significantly. It’s common for top-ranking students to hit rock bottom and vice versa.”
Professor Hallind slammed his hand on the lectern.
“Even during the upcoming midterms, one of you might rank first in the grade.”
The atmosphere in the class stirred.
“But remember this. While conquering the world of heroes is a privilege of the hero cadets, it’s also a duty. Does anyone know why it’s a duty?”
Chelsea raised her hand.
“Chelsea Lewalin, give it a try.”
“It’s because we could lose our lives.”
“Correct.”
Professor Hallind stated coldly.
“During my 20 years of teaching at Lumeren, I’ve attended the funerals of many students.”
The sound of people swallowing hard echoed throughout the room.
“As Lumeren students, you cannot refuse to venture into the world of heroes. It’s a matter of life and death. I want to send only students with the ability to survive there. For those who can’t…”
Professor Hallind emphasized his words.
“… I’ll expel them before they face a miserable end. This is the reason I took charge of you, who have the lowest average scores.”
Having made this statement, Professor Hallind handed the attendance book to Senna.
“That’s all I have to say. We’ll start combat training now, so change into your gym uniforms and head to the training ground.”
Professor Hallind promptly exited the classroom.
“Then everyone! See you at the training ground!”
Senna smiled at the students and left the classroom.
Students at the back of the classroom retrieved their gym uniforms from the lockers and proceeded to the changing rooms.
“He doesn’t appear to be just intimidating.”
Karl, entering the male changing room, commented.
“Right. If you think about it, Professor Hallind is one of the most respected professors at Lumeren.”
A classmate walking beside him remarked.
‘Was his name Tade?’
As Leo recalled the name, Tade continued speaking.
“He has the lowest student fatality rate.”
Every year, a significant number of students die at Lumeren.
It’s not because the academy pushes them to their limits.
In fact, Lumeren prioritizes student safety.
However, fatalities still occur because the students aspire to be heroes.
A hero is someone who leaps into challenges to save others.
Navigating the world of heroes and dungeon tactics.
And resolving incidents from all over the world.
Life at Lumeren Academy is always fraught with danger.
“Professor Hallind scared us from the beginning to remind us of this. So, let’s work hard from now on.”
Everyone nodded seriously at Tade’s words.
“Oh my? You look skinny when you dress up?”
A soprano-toned voice echoed from the open window.
Giggles from the chatty female students could be heard.
It turned out the male changing room was right next to the female one.
Hearing the voices from outside, the male students wore serious expressions.
They gathered in the middle of the changing room and whispered.
“Who do they think looks skinny when dressed?”
“Iliana?”
“No, that was Iliana’s voice just now.”
In a much more serious mood than before, they continued their discussion.
“Could it be Nella?”
When Karl mentioned a slender-framed beauty, Nella Kabin, the boys gasped in astonishment.
“I knew it!”
“True! Nella seems to have a surprising charm.”
Listening to the unnecessarily serious conversation of these adolescent boys, Leo shook his head.
‘These guys must be hero cadets.’
Anyone would wonder if such talk was fitting for potential heroes.
But Leo knew of a man who would discuss such matters even amidst life-threatening situations.
A hero.
Not just any hero, but a great hero.
It was [God’s Blacksmith] Dweno.
‘Why is such a guy still remembered and respected, but I’m forgotten?’
Leo felt wronged once again.
Cliche Novel 