The person holding the list glared at Arid Sabé and then put down the list.
“It seems you’re just a gatekeeper, but no matter…”
At that moment…
Swoosh!
The person holding the list reached out at an incredible speed and grabbed Arid Sabé by the collar.
Grab.
“Wh-what are you doing?” Arid Sabé stammered in surprise as he was helplessly dragged along.
It was understandable because Arid Sabé was a 1-star, 5th-grade knight, considered a genius in his family for his rapid growth, yet here he was, powerless and being dragged by his collar.
The person holding the list pulled Arid Sabé close, right up to their face.
“What about the Sabé family?”
“O………. O………”
“When your family submitted the admission letter to the academy, you ceased to be a noble and became a student of this academy.”
The person holding the list stared directly into Sabé’s eyes, releasing a heavy aura.
“Oh.” Eugene, who was watching the scene from up close, inwardly admired the display.
The aura itself wasn’t particularly unique, but the sheer presence it commanded was impressive.
“He’s someone who won’t be intimidated anywhere.”
“And I am Daiker Cordelu, the head instructor.”
“Ah!” The once arrogant Arid Sabé was shocked upon hearing the name Daiker Cordelu.
As explained earlier, Landbard Academy’s students progress through ranks if they pass the tests.
All new students start at rank 1.
Each rank has an instructor in charge, and Daiker Cordelu, whom Arid had antagonized, was the head of the instructors.
Plop.
“Let’s see if your grades are as good as your temper.” Daiker let go of Sabé’s collar and glared at him as Sabé bit his lower lip and walked past the main gate.
“Next.”
Swish.
“Eugene Bedia.”
“Hmm.” Daiker looked at Eugene, not because of the Bedia family name, but because Eugene’s voice didn’t waver.
Typically, young students who witnessed such a scene would be frightened, stammer, or lose confidence.
Daiker had intimidated Arid Sabé to preemptively scare any students who might act up.
However, Eugene’s voice was steady.
There was no fear, arrogance, or pride.
“Go inside and enter the green building on the left.”
“Yes.” Eugene received a name tag with the number 1 on it from Daiker and walked past the gate into the green building.
Buzz, buzz.
The green building, resembling an auditorium, was filled with new students talking and laughing as they recognized each other.
After a while, once the building was filled with 100 students, two people ascended the distant platform.
Step, step.
“Oh! It’s Terron Riod and Hobin Jessup.”
“Wow… to see them in person…”
The students murmured in awe as they watched the two figures on the platform.
The two on the platform were Sword Master Terron Riod and 9th Circle Grand Magician Hobin Jessup.
They were currently serving as the deans of Landbard Academy.
Boom!
“Silence!”
Terron Riod stomped his foot on the floor with a powerful voice, commanding attention.
The previously noisy auditorium instantly fell silent.
“You all are a mess. Do you think you’re here to play?!”
‘What an incredible presence,’ Eugene thought, admiring Terron Riod, who momentarily unleashed his aura from the distant platform.
Terron appeared to be just over 50 years old, yet the aura he possessed was akin to the pinnacle of martial prowess.
With a sweeping glance, Terron Riod quieted the incoming students, allowing the white-bearded Hobin Jessup to step forward.
“Hoho, it seems Terron Riod has made the atmosphere a bit heavy. We have high expectations for this new batch of students. We hope you will approach your studies with the same lively energy.”
‘Is that so?’ Eugene let out a slight chuckle, noting the contrast between the kindly smiling Hobin Jessup and the stern Terron Riod.
Unlike the scolding Terron, Hobin’s gentle smile masked a more severe nature.
‘He’s mixing a lethal intent with his gentle voice to subdue the students.’
As a result, the 100 incoming students in the auditorium felt an overwhelming pressure, barely able to lift their heads.
Most attributed this intimidation to Terron Riod’s earlier reprimand.
“At the entrance, the boys received black name tags and the girls received white ones. If you look on the back, you will see a number. You will live in dormitories in groups of ten based on these numbers.”
Swish.
“What’s this about?”
As soon as Terron Riod finished speaking, someone in the front raised a hand.
“You mentioned groups of ten; does that mean we will be in teams?”
“Sharp. That’s correct. Those ten will form a team for the first test.”
Murmurs spread through the students, though not as loud as before.
The students forming each group were complete strangers.
Although the groups were randomly assigned to prevent any unfair advantages among friends, the young students were naturally averse to being separated from their acquaintances.
“Additionally, each team will consist of both knights and magicians, not just one or the other.”
“Don’t worry about that; training will be conducted separately.”
Eugene narrowed his eyes at Terron Riod’s statement.
Separate training?
Specifically mentioning only the training implied that the tests would be conducted jointly.
‘So the tests will require cooperation between knights and magicians.’
When taking the first test, knights and magicians would need to combine their strengths.
Eugene glanced around at the incoming students.
‘A few sharp ones have already grasped the essence of Terron Riod’s words.’
While most students were disoriented, looking around in confusion, a few were already assessing their potential teammates.
“Everyone will now follow the instructors to your assigned dormitories. Gather here again in two hours.”
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
As Terron Riod finished speaking, ten instructors emerged from behind the platform.
***
Whoosh.
“Damn it. Staying in this shabby place…”
One of the new students, upon entering the boys’ dormitory, the Fifth Dormitory, threw his bag onto a bed in frustration.
It was none other than Arid Sabé, who had caused a commotion upon entering the academy.
Swish.
Eugene was the last to enter the dormitory after all the students had settled in.
‘To think I’ll have to take the first test with someone like him.’
Eugene frowned as he spotted a familiar figure in the dormitory.
It was the second son of the Sabé family, who had stood in front of him in line at the entrance.
“Well, well, it must be quite uncomfortable for you proud magicians to share space with us lowly knights, huh?”
Arid taunted, looking at the magicians sitting on their assigned beds.
“Act like a noble if you are one, Arid Sabé.”
“Huh? Who are you?” Arid frowned at the knight on the opposite bed who was giving advice.
“I’m Ken Pelven.”
“Pelven? Never heard of that family. Are you from some backwater place? How did you get into Landbard? Haha.”
Arid sneered at Ken Pelven, a fellow knight, causing the other group members nearby to chuckle.
“Hey, you in the corner.”
Eugene, who was arranging his belongings next to his bed, turned his head at Arid’s voice.
“You’re from the Bedia family, right?”
“Be… Bedia?!”
At Arid’s words, the other group members widened their eyes and stared at Eugene. They had assumed he was from a minor family since he was quietly organizing his things in the corner, but he was actually from the prestigious Bedia family, known as the top magical family in Seifran.
“I’m from the Sabé family.”
“I know.”
Eugene answered curtly, not wanting to engage in conversation.
“As expected of someone from the top magical family, you speak very cleanly. Let’s get along well.”
Arid gave a creepy smile at Eugene’s aloof demeanor, assuming he was trying to befriend him because of his family background.
***
Two hours later, the incoming students gathered in the auditorium again to hear about the training schedule and important notices before returning to their dormitories.
“Damn, what was the point of all that if they were just going to give us a speech?”
As expected, Arid grumbled as soon as he entered the dormitory.
Currently, only Eugene, Arid Sabé, and Ken Pelven had returned; the other members had gone to collect necessary supplies for the dormitory.
“Hey, Bedia family.”
Eugene silently looked at Arid.
“They say you were abandoned by your family, right?”
“?!”
Ken Pelven looked at Eugene with surprised eyes at Arid’s words. Who could have told him that?
‘Who else? It must have been Antonio.’
Eugene turned his head, ignoring Arid’s provocation. There was no need to react to such taunts.
“Hey, Pelven family. Move to the bed next to that abandoned Bedia guy.”
“What…?”
Ken Pelven frowned at Arid’s words.
“Switch beds. My subordinate needs to be near me.”
Arid pointed at the bed and called Ken his subordinate.
‘Already forming factions…?’
Eugene let out a slight laugh internally.
Even though they were all incoming students, they were already establishing hierarchies.
It seemed many students had attached themselves to noble families when they gathered in the auditorium.
“So, switch beds.”
“You call yourself a knight…”
Thud!
“Ugh.”
Wham.
As Ken Pelven tried to get angry, Arid kicked him, then pressed down on Ken’s chest with his foot as he lay on the ground.
“Do you think I’m joking when I speak nicely? Do you think you and I are equals? If it weren’t for this place, you wouldn’t even be able to look me in the eye…”
Press.
“Ugh.”
Ken groaned in pain from the pressure on his chest. Even though Arid was thoughtless and reckless, his strength couldn’t be ignored.
A 1-star, 5th-grade knight was among the top ten knights admitted. Typically, reaching the 1-star, 5th-grade level took until at least 18 to 20 years old, but Arid had reached it at 15.
In contrast, Ken Pelven had just barely reached 1-star. Consequently, he couldn’t shake off Arid’s strength.
“Heh, your face shows how unfair you think this is. But who told you to be born into such a worthless family? Blame your parents.”
Ken bit his lower lip and trembled with anger at Arid’s words. He was powerless to do anything as Arid insulted his family and parents.
At that moment…
“Ha… I can’t listen to this any longer.”
Eugene sighed from the corner and stood up from his bed.
“Did you just say that to me?”
Arid sneered as he watched Eugene slowly rise from the bed.
Without a magic wand, what made him so confident to stand up like that?
“Are you really going to try to fight me bare-handed?”
“If there’s a serious disturbance in the dormitory, you know expulsion is the consequence, right?”
Swish.
Clang!
Eugene raised his hand, casting a quadrilateral barrier spell around the dormitory.
Simultaneously…
Whoosh!
Bang!
Using lightfoot technique, Eugene approached Arid in an instant and punched him in the face.
Cliche Novel 