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“Expulsion? Is that not too severe?” Karl asked, breaking into a cold sweat, with Chloe by his side.

“Are you feeling nervous?” Chloe inquired.

“Of course! If it’s a Lumeren magic exam, it’s bound to be challenging!” Karl replied.

“Do you think they might ask questions beyond a freshman’s level?” Chloe questioned further.

“It must be nice to be a top student,” Karl muttered under his breath.

Karl, who had barely passed the entrance exam, naturally felt anxious about the upcoming test. He wasn’t the only one feeling this way, though.

“Expulsion?”

“That seems excessive!”

“Don’t the professors have the authority to expel students? Surely, everyone is aware of this,” someone remarked.

“Well, they can’t expel without a valid reason!” another student chimed in.

“Indeed, expelling without a proper reason is not permissible,” added a third student.

Professor Ren tapped the test paper with his finger.

“However, if you can’t pass an exam at this level, you are not qualified to study magic at Lumeren.”

A male student, who appeared to be from a different department, raised his hand.

“What about students who want to take magic classes as a minor?”

“You can take magic classes as part of your minor,” Professor Ren replied.

“And what about those who wish to pursue dual classes?” the student inquired further.

Professor Ren trailed off, wearing a smile.

“In temporary classes, you might discover hidden magical talents,” he said, leaving the students puzzled.

“That’s why we have the same test for minor students,” Professor Ren continued.

A few students visibly flinched at his words.

“Is it not presumptuous for someone who has never studied magic to attempt to stand on equal ground with those who have dedicated their lives to it?” Professor Ren asked, his smile contrasting with his cold gaze.

Chloe enthusiastically nodded in agreement.

“The exam is graded out of 100 points, and you must score at least 40 to pass,” he explained.

The students breathed sighs of relief upon hearing the lenient passing score.

With a snap of Professor Ren’s fingers, a large hourglass materialized in the air.

“You have one hour to complete the test. Once you’re finished, submit your papers and wait outside the classroom.”

The students quickly retrieved their writing instruments.

“Begin.”

As the hourglass turned, the sand began to trickle down.

The students meticulously reviewed their exam papers using their quill pens.

The examination comprised a question paper, an answer sheet, and numerous sheets for spell formulations.

Upon glimpsing the exam questions, Leo’s expression stiffened.

“Explain the effect when these magic formulas are combined,” the question demanded.

A headache began to gnaw at him.

“What kind of spell is this?” he wondered aloud.

If he had to pinpoint the field that had undergone the most transformation since his days as Kyle, it would unquestionably be magic.

Magic inherently remains an uncharted realm.

While the fundamental runes have endured, the application of formulas has evolved over time.

Especially in this era, magic formulas had made remarkable progress due to the Hero Records.

Having not laid eyes on a magic tome since his reincarnation, Leo was entirely in the dark about the spells of the current era.

Glancing to the side, he noticed that Karl, who had seemed downcast earlier, was now tackling the questions.

Chloe was swiftly jotting down the answers.

‘These youngsters are exceptionally sharp. Are they mentally computing these intricate spell combinations?’ Leo pondered, feeling somewhat frustrated.

‘Alright, let’s at least grasp a rough understanding of the spells of this era. Even if the spells change over time, understanding their structure can provide a decent estimate.’ 

Leo gathered his resolve.

‘I can’t afford to be ousted on the first lesson; that would be too embarrassing!’ He reminded himself of his pride as the hero who had saved the world.

With determination blazing in his eyes, Leo began deciphering the spells at an astonishing speed.

“Thank goodness! Only the spells I’m familiar with have appeared!” 

Meanwhile, Karl, who had been diligently working on the problems, let out a sigh of relief.

Contrary to his apprehensions, the exam was not excessively challenging.

All the spells on the exam were ones he had committed to memory.

While the combinations were fairly complex, as Professor Ren had asserted, if one couldn’t solve them at this level, they weren’t deserving of studying magic at Lumeren.

‘As expected, at this level, Chloe is mentally working through spell combinations,’ Karl couldn’t help but admire Chloe, who was writing down answers without showing her calculations.

When he glanced at Leo, he saw the quill pen moving astonishingly fast.

However, despite the speed, Leo’s answer sheet remained blank.

‘What’s happening? Is Leo, aiming for a dual class, lacking knowledge of spell formulas?’ It became evident that Leo would not be able to attend the magic major classes at this rate.

Karl wore a disappointed expression as he contemplated the possibility of not being able to take the magic class together.

“Only thirty minutes left,” he muttered.

“Ugh, this isn’t the time. Let’s concentrate on the problems,” he added.

Meanwhile, Leo, who had completely filled an entire sheet of scratch paper, put down his quill pen in frustration.

‘Who in the world made these spell formulas so complicated!’ he exclaimed.

Given more time, he might have been able to decipher them. But time was the problem.

As he moved on to the next problem, he encountered yet another set of unfamiliar spell formulas. Leo scratched his head while checking the problems, and his gaze settled on the last question.

The test comprised a total of 50 questions. Questions 1 to 49 involved combinations of spell formulas, while the final question required interpreting a spell formula to arrive at a result. This particular spell formula wasn’t as complex as the previous ones.

After calculating the answer mentally, Leo noted it on his answer sheet and stood up.

All eyes in the room turned towards him.

‘He’s giving up. It’s understandable, considering he couldn’t even solve the first problem. Any more time would have been a waste,’ thought Karl, watching Leo submit his answer sheet to the assistant.

‘I guess it’s time to drop the magic class,’ Leo mumbled to himself. How could he attend the class when he only understood one out of 50 questions? ‘I’ll have to learn it on my own.’

Blaming his own carelessness, Leo left the classroom, leaving the hourglass to continue flowing.

However, no other student followed Leo’s lead. Even those who weren’t majoring in magic had some basic knowledge, having chosen it as a minor.

“Time’s up, everyone. Please hand in your answer sheets to the assistants.”

“Ugh, that was tough,” Karl sighed, stretching as he turned to Chloe.

“Hey, Chloe, what was the answer to the last question? I couldn’t figure it out.”

Watching Karl shake his head, clearly exhausted, Chloe frowned slightly.

“I couldn’t finish in time either.”

“Really? It was quite challenging.”

“What about Leo?”

“It seemed like he couldn’t solve a single question.”

“So, he left,” Karl concluded.

Chloe nodded and got up to approach someone, with Karl curiously following her.

“Brother, is this answer correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct!” 

“Yay!” 

Chloe had approached Abad and Chelsea.

“Chelsea, hi,” Chloe greeted.

“Hmm? Karl, who’s that girl?” Chelsea asked.

“This is Chloe Muller.”

“The North’s valedictorian?” Chelsea’s eyes widened.

“Nice to meet you, Abad Lévalin. Did you manage to solve the last problem?” Chloe asked Abad.

“I couldn’t finish it due to the lack of time. How about you?” Abad replied.

“I had the same issue,” Chloe admitted, taking out her test paper.

“I’m curious to see how our solutions compare. Can we check?” Abad suggested.

“Perfect timing. I was wondering the same,” Chloe agreed.

Chloe’s test paper was filled with workings for the last question’s spell formula, and Abad’s paper was almost as full.

Karl was astonished. “Valedictorians are really something else. With more time, they could have solved everything, right?”

“What about Leo?” Chelsea inquired.

“After he left earlier, I haven’t seen him in the magic building. It seemed like he couldn’t solve a single problem,” Karl responded.

“Well, it’s not a problem a knight could solve,” Chelsea remarked, acknowledging Leo’s prowess as a knight.

Just then, Professor Ren returned to the podium, and the students quickly took their seats.

“Everyone did their best on the exam,” Professor Ren said with a friendly smile.

“Very soon, the assistants will finish grading. But before that, I’ll briefly introduce the magic theory class I’ll be teaching,”

Professor Ren’s lecture began.

As the students attentively listened to the lecture, they couldn’t help but be filled with amazement.

The content of Professor Ren’s lecture was exceptionally captivating.

Instinctively, they understood that they were in the presence of one of the finest professors.

“I look forward to attending more lectures by someone of his caliber in the future!” one student exclaimed.

Anticipation swelled within the students.

By the time Professor Ren concluded his discourse, a male assistant entered the lecture hall.

“Professor, the test results have been released,” he announced.

“Shall we all examine the test results together?” Professor Ren inquired.

Other assistants brought a notice board to the front of the lecture hall, displaying the exam rankings.

“In reality, this test consisted of forty-nine questions, each worth one point, and one question worth fifty-one points.”

As the students murmured among themselves, Professor Ren continued his explanation.

“This examination serves not only as a preliminary test for selecting students for the magic major class but also as the cornerstone of my teachings.”

“Over the past few centuries, magical formulas have progressed rapidly. Consequently, spells that once demanded a profound understanding can now be activated simply by memorizing their triggering conditions.”

Professor Ren extended his hand, and a spell activated through mana.

With a snap, he dispelled the spell, causing fragments of magical energy to scatter in all directions.

“This progress in spells has led to the decline of wizards!”

His sudden declaration caught the students off guard.

“Among modern wizards, the prevailing trend is to memorize an increasing number of formulas! Undoubtedly, it provides an easier route to utilizing magic… But! This is not the essence of a true mage. A mage’s core lies not in memorization but in exploration and comprehension! Yet, what are today’s young wizards doing? They overlook the understanding of spells and fixate on memorization! The advancement of spells has contributed to the diminishing stature of wizards!”

Professor Ren extended both hands above his head, conjuring a vast array of magical formulas in mid-air.

“This is the essence of the magical formula I have created. It’s not a conventional activation formula that everyone learns; it’s entirely my own creation, from inception to completion. Are there any contemporary wizards who are dedicated to researching their unique formulas?”

It was unquestionably the embodiment of an individual’s distinct magical realm.

To the eyes of the wizards, Professor Ren’s magical world appeared incredibly enchanting.

“The battle of magic versus magic transcends sheer power. It hinges on who can fathom and unravel the opponent’s formula more swiftly. Relying solely on activation formulas will not propel you to higher echelons. Thus!”

The expansive magical formula created by Professor Ren vanished in an instant.

“I shall conduct a class aimed at deepening your comprehension of magical formulas! So that each of you can undergo a transformation into true wizards!”

Professor Ren fervently addressed the students.

Touched by his passion, the students erupted into applause.

The term ‘true wizard’ struck a chord deep within the hearts of the young students.

Acknowledging the enthusiastic response from the students, Professor Ren gestured towards the bulletin board.

“Please verify your scores and rankings. Those who scored below 40 points, I must regretfully request that you exit the lecture hall. That will be all.”

The students gathered in front of the board.

With an intense gaze fixed upon the students, Professor Ren was approached by a male colleague.

“Professor.”

“What is it, Associate Professor?”

“There’s a student who answered the 50th question correctly.”

“They achieved a perfect score?”

Professor Ren was genuinely astonished.

‘Such a talent has emerged! Abad? Cloe? Ah! Could I finally have a lifelong disciple?’

“It’s not a perfect score.”

“Not perfect?”

Professor Ren’s expression took on an unusual aspect.

It was evident that a student capable of solving the final question wouldn’t find the preceding 49 questions particularly challenging.

Yet, not a perfect score?

“Ah, I understand. They must have skipped a few questions to tackle the last one.”

“That’s not the case either. Apart from the last question, everything else is left unanswered. Take a look here.”

The associate professor handed Professor Ren the answer sheet.

Examining the pristine white answer sheet, Professor Ren inquired with a grave countenance.

“…Who is this student?”

***

After perusing the board, Cloe instinctively turned her attention to the top rankings.

She was left astounded.

2nd place. Cloe Muller, Abad Lewalin. (49 points)

3rd place. Chelsea Lewalin (48 points)

No matter how she looked at it, Cloe and Abad were tied for second place.

And at the very pinnacle of the list:

1st place. Leo Plov. (51 points)

With a rigid expression, Cloe shifted her gaze to the front row, where Leo was seated.

There rested Leo’s test paper.

She hurriedly approached it to inspect the examination paper.

‘What in the world is this?’

Upon seeing the spell solution that Leo had abandoned on the first question, Cloe couldn’t conceal her astonishment.

‘Leo Plov… just who is this individual?’

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In the heart of Lumeren stands the Tower of Heroes.

This location primarily serves the faculty rather than Lumeren’s esteemed students.

Perched atop the Tower of Heroes is Principal Galian’s office.

Principal Galian, who had been comfortably seated at his desk, shifted his gaze towards the window.

Swoosh!

A woman with fiery red hair materialized, surrounded by flames.

“Welcome, Pirina.”

Galian, who had initially greeted Pirina with a warm smile, suddenly adopted a different expression.

“Has there been an intruder?”

Five years ago, Lumeren experienced a security breach incident.

Although no casualties were reported, it remained undisclosed to the public, and the perpetrator was never apprehended.

However, Lumeren is more than just an educational institution; it also serves as a repository for Hero Records.

An intruder had not only breached Lumeren’s security network but also triggered an incident that went unresolved.

Revealing this incident to the public would undoubtedly lead to widespread chaos, so it was kept under wraps. However, the pursuit of the culprit never ceased.

Galian extended an invitation to Pirina to come to Lumeren at Ellen’s behest. No being was better suited to oversee the expanse of Lumeren than the Phoenix.

“It’s not that, but I bring good tidings.”

“Good tidings?”

“A Lumeren student has recently formed a contract with a Phoenix.”

“Is that so?”

“Did they contract with you, or did they choose another Phoenix?”

“It was a pact with my newly born offspring.”

“Weren’t your child meant to form a contract with the successor of the Lund family?”

“That was the initial plan, but circumstances took a different turn.”

“An infant Phoenix available for a contract… Still, to contract as a student! Besides Ulta, did we have such exceptional talent among the 5th graders?”

Galian naturally assumed the contractor hailed from the highest grade. Considering the 5th-year students, apart from Ulta, the Pegasus contractor, most specialized in spirit magic, so this revelation was unexpected.

“It’s not the 5th grade.”

“Oh? The 4th grade, then? Well! The current leading 4th graders in summoning magic are indeed remarkable.”

“It’s not the 4th grade either.”

Pirina shook her head. Principal Galian’s expression subtly changed.

“Don’t tell me it’s the 3rd grade?”

“No.”

“…”

“The 2nd grade?”

Without a direct response, Pirina chuckled, prompting Galian to join in.

“So, you’re telling me that a contractor emerged among the 1st graders?”

“That’s correct.”

“Who?”

“Leo Plov.”

“Hehehe, Leo Plov?”

This student, who was highly recommended for the hero title by Albi, majoring in knight studies, was chosen as the grade representative and unexpectedly became the Phoenix contractor.

‘Wasn’t that student specializing in knight studies?’

Surprised, Principal Galian stroked his beard.

‘I’ll have to meet him soon.’

***

“Well done!”

After the summoning class concluded, the spirited 1st graders departed from the training grounds in a swarm.

The evening was already upon them.

These burgeoning students, having also completed the taming exam, had worked up an appetite.

The 1st graders eagerly made their way to the student cafeteria.

“Leo, would you care to join me for dinner?”

“Of course.”

Leo was about to leave the classroom with Chen Shia.

“Student Leo.”

“Yes.”

“The professor is looking for you.”

Carlo approached and informed him.

“I suppose we’ll have to dine separately.”

“It can’t be helped. I’ll see you in the next class, Leo.”

Chen Shia departed from the classroom ahead of Leo.

Leo followed Carlo to the professor’s office.

Upon their arrival, Carlo knocked on the door, and a brief ‘come in’ was heard from within.

“Please, go in.”

After acknowledging Carlo, Leo entered the room.

Despite Professor Yura’s typically free-spirited demeanor, her office was impeccably organized.

Seated behind her desk, Professor Yura gestured toward the chair opposite her.

“Please, have a seat.”

As soon as Leo settled into the chair, Professor Yura began to speak.

“I’ll get straight to the point, student Leo.”

“Yes.”

“The creature you contracted with earlier, was it the Phoenix?”

‘She’s aware,’ Leo thought.

“Yes.”

Leo’s response seemed to unsettle Professor Yura. She had expected this, but hearing the confirmation from Leo himself was still surprising.

“Can you show me?”

With a trembling voice, Professor Yura inquired. Leo reached into the pocket of his uniform.

Pirina had mentioned that she would pick up Fiora tonight, so the young Phoenix was still with Leo.

He gently placed Fiora on the desk.

“I never thought I’d witness a young Phoenix in my lifetime!”

Seeing a mature Phoenix was rare enough, let alone a juvenile one, so even a Lumeren professor couldn’t hide their excitement.

“Oh! Look at this majestic posture!”

Despite the compliment, Fiora looked like a drowsy chick, nodding off.

‘Could her vision be impaired?’ Leo wondered.

“What’s its name?”

“Fiora.”

“How in the world did you come across it? I wasn’t even aware of a Phoenix in the Forest of Spirits.”

The status of a Lumeren professor was far from insignificant. Each one was an expert in their respective field and held significant authority in emergencies.

Even for a professor of this stature, Pirina’s existence remained a well-guarded secret.

Leo, who had learned this fact from Pirina, had prepared an explanation.

“While wandering in the forest, I stumbled upon an egg. I didn’t know why it was there, but it turned out to be a Phoenix egg.”

It was a somewhat flimsy explanation, but there was no other way to account for the Phoenix contract. Furthermore, Leo’s words could not be easily verified.

“It must have been challenging to recognize it as a Phoenix egg?”

Despite its fame, the Phoenix was a mythical creature about which little was known. As a result, any related information commanded a high price.

“My maternal family has a connection to the Phoenix, and I’ve had access to ancient documents about it.”

“Which family is that?”

“Zerdingher.”

Professor Yura was visibly surprised.

‘Ah, Zerdingher… Now I understand. The source of their flame aura is the power of the Phoenix.’

If someone possessed the talent of a summoner, there could be no better condition than having a Phoenix contract.

‘But for a mere fifteen-year-old to have a contract with a Phoenix…’

Professor Yura’s eyes sparkled.

Numerous questions remained, but for now, the immediate focus was on Leo’s extraordinary talent, as he had forged a contract with a Phoenix on just his second day.

“Very well. Thank you for your time. You may leave now.”

Professor Yura escorted Leo to the office’s entrance.

Before opening the door, she spoke with a solemn tone.

“Student Leo.”

“Yes.”

“It’s best to keep your contract with the Phoenix a secret for now. If word gets out, it will create quite a stir.”

“Understood.”

“All right, enjoy your dinner, and I’ll see you in the next class.”

With a reassuring pat on Leo’s shoulder, Professor Yura closed the door.

As she returned to her seat, she contemplated, ‘How should I instruct this gem of a student?’

Yura was elated. Having such a talented summoner as a student was a dream come true. Surely a student of such caliber wouldn’t consider transferring to another department, right?

“Haha, for the next five years, our Summoning Department will be unparalleled!”

Unbeknownst to Professor Yura, Leo didn’t have a declared major.

***

The following morning, Leo headed to the Magic Building with Karl to attend their magic class.

“Oh, Chloe!”

Karl waved at Chloe, who was walking ahead with a magic textbook tucked under her arm.

“Hello, Leo, Karl. Yaw~n.”

“Yawning this early in the morning?”

“I was up late reading magic books.”

“Really? How about this?”

With a sly grin, Karl produced a small bottle from his belongings.

“Karl’s Fatigue Recovery Potion! Only 5 shillings.”

“It’s not some weird concoction, is it?”

“Look, it even has a label with the ingredients and certification mark.”

“Hmm.”

After inspecting the label, Chloe nodded and purchased the fatigue recovery potion.

She took a sip and stole a glance at Leo.

“So, you’re really attending magic class, huh?”

“I did say I would.”

“He even had a summoning class yesterday,” Karl added.

Upon hearing this, Chloe regarded Leo with curiosity.

“What class did you have yesterday?”

“I aspire to be a pure mage, so I had no classes yesterday. Instead, I spent my time studying in the library.”

“Wow, you’re truly a top student.”

The trio chatted as they arrived at the Magic Building.

Today’s classroom, the “Grand Lecture Hall,” was a large circular auditorium capable of accommodating up to 500 students.

Observing the lecture hall, Karl grinned.

“Look! The best seats in the back are still available! Come on, let’s hurry!”

“The optimal seats are in the front.”

“It appears we have differing preferences.”

Karl was all set to leave Chloe behind without a second thought.

However, Chloe acted swiftly, seizing his ear.

“Ouch! Ouch?!”

“You’re planning to doze off at the back, aren’t you? As a magic student, you should concentrate on the lecture.”

“Hey! Let’s discuss this, okay? Ouch! Ouch!”

Eventually, Chloe compelled Karl to occupy a seat in the front row.

“If we sit this close, the professor will notice if we nod off!”

Chloe grinned in response to Karl’s lament.

“On the contrary, if you pay attention, the professor will appreciate it.”

Karl gave her a resentful look, but Chloe simply opened her textbook, paying him no further attention.

Leo, who had ended up in the front by association, suppressed a chuckle.

At that moment, a man ascended the podium.

Tak Tak.

Dressed in a sharp suit with meticulously styled hair, he epitomized handsomeness.

A few female students gasped when he positioned himself at the center of the stage and smiled.

“Hello, first-year students. I am Ren Hors. I will be your instructor for the Magic Theory course this year.”

Applause broke out at Ren’s introduction.

“Any questions before we commence the class?”

A barrage of questions from female students followed.

“Professor! Do you have a girlfriend?”

“How old are you?”

“What’s your ideal type?”

Irrelevant queries inundated him.

Yet, Professor Ren patiently addressed each one with a smile.

“A handsome professor, huh? The female students will be smitten. But Ren Hors? I’ve never heard that name. Chloe, do you know him?”

While Karl pondered, his pen poised above his upper lip, Chloe shook her head.

“I’m not familiar with him either.”

After the personal inquiries waned, Professor Ren continued.

“Today, we will start with an overview of magic theory. But before that!”

Snap!

With a flick of Professor Ren’s fingers…

Swirl!

Sheets of paper began fluttering about the classroom.

The bundles of papers landed precisely in front of each student.

“Before delving into the lesson, we’ll begin with a brief magic theory test.”

“What?!”

“A test on the first day? That’s too demanding, Professor!”

Complaints erupted.

Some female students even tried to charm him.

“For those who don’t meet the standard, they won’t be permitted to attend any magic major classes.”

“……!”

The cheerful atmosphere suddenly turned frosty.

Amid this, a student cautiously raised his hand.

“Professor, what if a magic department student fails the test?”

“That’s self-evident.”

Professor Ren responded casually, as if questioning why such a question was raised.

“They will be expelled.”

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“Have a contract with Pirina?”

-Yes. When Ellen and I offered to repay our debt, Reina declined, stating that assisting a friend was an inherent obligation. However, I have always harbored reservations about it.

Pirina offered a faint smile.

-The source of Zerdingher’s power lies in the flame of the Phoenix. If you possess the qualities of a summoner, then there is no greater qualification than being a contractor of the Phoenix.

“But I never anticipated that the Phoenix would propose a contract directly.”

The proud Phoenix would never initiate a contract first.

-Of course, I am not suggesting that we make a contract right now. As you continue to develop as a summoner…

“Is it currently possible?”

-Hmm?

No matter how much Pirina desired a contract, it was unattainable with Leo’s current power.

However, Leo remained confident that he could achieve the contract.

After all, he was the one who had brought an end to the age of disaster and had controlled a powerful spirit in his past life.

‘I never entered into a contract with the Phoenix in my previous life.’

Even during his time as Kyle, he had aspired to contract with the Phoenix.

A contract with a powerful spirit, in and of itself, accelerates the growth of a summoner.

But Pirina appeared hesitant.

-I understand your determination, but you cannot contract with me at this moment. If you attempt it recklessly, you might risk your life.

Contracting with the Phoenix is an especially daunting challenge.

It’s something even Pirina cannot assist with.

“I comprehend. However, I am confident.”

‘He truly resembles Reina, unafraid to take on the impossible. But I cannot endanger her son.’

After pondering, Pirina came up with an idea.

-If you are so determined, I will permit the contract, but it will not be with me.

“Pardon me?”

Whoosh!

In front of Leo, a crimson flame danced.

As the flames dissipated, a gold-colored egg, the size of a fist, appeared, causing Leo’s eyes to widen.

“A Phoenix egg?”

-That egg will soon hatch into my offspring. Try to tame it.

Taming the yet-to-be-born Phoenix egg would naturally establish a contract.

Since it was still an egg, attempting a contract posed no danger.

However, the difficulty of taming equaled that of the top-tier spirits.

“A Phoenix egg. What a formidable test.”

Accepting the golden egg, Leo smiled.

‘For an ordinary individual, perhaps.’

Whoosh!

When Leo invoked his spirit energy, the Phoenix egg responded with a deep crimson flame.

Faced with the intense heat, Leo gritted his teeth.

‘Even if it is weak, the Phoenix’s flame is not something a young human boy can withstand.’

Pirina believed that Leo would soon give up.

But Leo proved her wrong. He closed his eyes and concentrated.

His consciousness began to drift.

When he reopened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by darkness.

It was a space where one is tested by top-tier spirits.

It was, in essence, a world of trials that assessed the worthiness of the contractor.

In the world of the unborn Phoenix, there was nothing but a burning crimson flame.

Without hesitation, Leo reached out.

Responding to his touch, the flames enveloped him and began to burn fiercely.

The Phoenix immolates itself to unleash potent flames, enduring unending agony throughout the process. Its ability to withstand this pain is what elevates it to the status of the mightiest spirit. The connection forged with this spirit is rooted in comprehension. To establish a bond with the Phoenix, one must grasp the depth of its suffering. This is precisely why entering into a contract with the Phoenix is an exceptionally daunting task.

“Ugh!”

Leo winced in pain, his facial expression contorting. Only unwavering determination could conquer this trial.

Pirina’s eyes widened in disbelief.

-Is he…?

Whoosh!

The intense flames were reabsorbed into the golden egg.

Crack!

A fracture appeared on the egg’s surface, leaving Pirina in stunned amazement.

-Did he succeed?

With all the flames drawn back, Leo slowly opened his eyes. For a fleeting moment, his red eyes gleamed a profound crimson.

Thud-

Exhausted, Leo slumped, taking deep, labored breaths. His entire body was drenched in sweat, but his face bore a self-assured grin.

“I’ve succeeded in establishing the contract.”

-Ahahaha!

Pirina burst into laughter.

-Incredible! Remarkable, Leo Plov! You’re a prodigy!

“Rather than being a prodigy… I suppose it’s more about effort.”

-If a summoner your age taming a Phoenix egg isn’t a prodigy, then who is? You possess the finest qualities of a summoner by birth!

As Pirina chuckled with genuine delight, Leo struggled to get to his feet.

‘What does a baby Phoenix even look like?’

Even during his previous life as Kyle, he had never encountered a fledgling Phoenix.

Crackle!

-It’s hatching, my child.

Fractures spread across the egg’s surface.

Snap!

Golden fragments scattered in all directions, resembling the shattering of a piece of glass art. Leo’s expression subtly shifted as he beheld the Phoenix emerging from the broken egg.

‘A chick?’

The newly born Phoenix bore a striking resemblance to a chick.

Whoosh!

Then, accompanied by a burst of flames, Pirina transformed into her human form and gently cradled her child in her hand, taking it from Leo.

-This child’s name is Fiora. Leo, despite your successful contract, she’s still very young. So, I’ll care for her for a while.

“Yes, but I need to show the spirit I’ve contracted with to the professor for the test.”

-In that case, you can keep her with you during that time.

With a warm smile, Pirina placed Fiora on Leo’s head.

Although she had just hatched, Fiora, true to her Phoenix nature, pecked at Leo’s head with her tiny beak a few times before settling down contentedly.

‘Is this truly a Phoenix? It looks more like a chick to me.’

However, when he gazed upon Pirina, who adoringly regarded Fiora, he refrained from voicing his thoughts.

Chirp!

‘Indeed, unmistakably a chick.’

***

Professor Yura retrieved a clock from her pocket, signaling that the allotted three hours were nearly at an end. Most of the students had already had their tamed spirits evaluated by Professor Yura, with some even successfully forming contracts.

‘Let’s see… only four students remaining?’

These remaining students were the ones Professor Yura had been eagerly anticipating.

Thump! Thump!

The ground suddenly shook, catching the students off guard. A massive blue bear emerged from the nearby bushes.

“Ah!”

“Kyaa!”

Terrified, the students screamed and scattered in all directions. Some recognized the blue bear and appeared horrified.

The blue bear approached Professor Yura and lowered itself. From its back, Chen Shia dismounted.

“Professor, there’s still time left, right?”

“Yes.”

‘Judging by her torn uniform, she went through quite an ordeal.’

“You claimed to only understand taming in theory, but you brought a juvenile Aqua Bear.”

“Should I call it taming… or just following me?”

Chen Shia awkwardly scratched her cheek. It wasn’t a perfect taming.

“If it’s following you to this extent, a bit more practice, and the taming will be complete.”

‘Maybe I should strongly encourage her to major in summoning studies.’

Even though it was a juvenile, taming an Aqua Bear was still an impressive achievement. It was regrettable that a top student like her wanted to major in knight studies instead of summoning.

While Professor Yura contemplated this, Chen Shia sent the Aqua Bear back into the forest.

Shortly after, Warden emerged from the bushes, a small crow perched on his shoulder.

“What kind of spirit is that?”

“For a top student, that’s a rather modest spirit.”

The students looked puzzled, but Vice Professor Carlo and the assistants were taken aback.

“Ho? Taming a Shadow Crow, especially when your major is spirit magic, is quite impressive.”

Professor Yura stood in front of Warden, admiring his achievement. Although the Aqua Bear was a mid-tier spirit, the Shadow Crow Warden had tamed was fully matured. Furthermore, taming a Shadow Crow was no easy task, and its difficulty level matched that of upper-tier spirits.

‘He truly possesses top-tier talent as a spirit summoner.’

“I couldn’t form a contract.”

“That’s more than sufficient.”

Simply taming a mid-tier spirit placed one among the top freshmen across all subjects.

‘Although Eliza will likely be the top in the spirit summoning subject.’

As if living up to that expectation, Eliza returned shortly after, appearing just as composed as she did at the beginning of the class. She approached Professor Yura, swinging her hair.

“Where’s your spirit?”

At Professor Yura’s inquiry, Eliza chuckled softly and opened her hand. A summoning circle materialized, revealing a gigantic snake.

Hiss! Hiss!

“Kyaa!”

“It’s a snake!”

As the colossal white snake, large enough to engulf a person whole, flicked its tongue, the female students panicked and scattered.

“Heavens… you’ve entered into a contract with a Gorgon Snake.”

“It’s a spirit not within our family lineage. I seized the opportunity to establish a contract.”

The Gorgon Snake.

It was a mid-tier spirit, and a exceedingly rare one at that.

‘Certainly fitting for the heir of the Hergin family.’

“Outstanding work, Eliza!”

“Thank you.”

Eliza gracefully lifted the hem of her uniform in acknowledgment of the praise.

‘Hehehe. This year’s harvest is quite abundant.’

Internally delighted, Professor Yura tilted her head.

‘But where is Leo Plov?’

Time was running out.

Once the allotted time elapsed, no matter which spirit they brought, it wouldn’t count.

Feeling thirsty, Professor Yura requested, “Could you fetch me some water?”

“Yes, Professor. Here you go.”

Opening the water bottle provided by Vice Professor Carlo, Professor Yura glanced at the time.

Just then, Leo emerged from the nearby bushes.

“Master Leo, welcome.”

Chen Shia greeted him with a smile and waved, then tilted her head.

Taming often involved physical exertion.

That’s why, except for Eliza, all the students had uniforms torn or dirtied.

However, Leo’s appearance was in a league of its own, far messier than the rest.

His uniform bore scorch marks in various places.

Judging by his condition, one might assume he had returned with an incredibly powerful spirit, but all that was visible was…

‘A chick?’

A small red bird chirped merrily on Leo’s head.

“Pfft! Did you just tame a chick?”

“Amazing! Our class representative tamed a chick!”

“Hey, hey, don’t laugh too loud; he’ll hear! Teehee!”

The students tried to stifle their laughter.

“I had high hopes for Leo after witnessing how he handled the Griffin earlier. This is rather disappointing.”

Carlo chuckled and turned toward Professor Yura.

“Pff-?! Choke! Cough! Cough!”

Upon hearing the comment, Professor Yura nearly choked on her water.

While Vice Professor Carlo appeared displeased, Professor Yura, having regained her composure, stared at Leo in astonishment.

‘Did this madman just tame a Phoenix?!’

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“Practical examination on the first day?”

“Why is it only our class when other classes are temporary?”

Observing the surprised students, Professor Yura spoke earnestly,

“I have already informed you. Those who lack commitment should not attend. Do you believe our field is equivalent to the other two?”

In response to her question, the students maintained their silence.

“If you are pursuing summoning, you should be aware. Summoning is not merely a matter of mana sensitivity. To form contracts with spirits, you must possess an affinity with them, and to control beasts, you require ‘taming’ skills.”

Professor Yura gestured expansively.

“As a result, the number of summoners is significantly fewer compared to knights or mages. Hence, the representation of heroes from our discipline is limited.”

The students gritted their teeth in the face of this undeniable argument.

“Nevertheless! Summoners who attain hero status achieve more remarkable feats than their counterparts in other disciplines!”

She exclaimed with a visibly proud expression.

“Do you think you should be treated the same as students from other majors?”

“No!”

“Aren’t you the chosen ones?”

“Yes! We are!”

“Then, let’s commence with great enthusiasm from the very beginning!”

“Yes!”

“Excellent! Let’s proceed!”

“Let’s proceed!”

As Professor Yura cheered with a raised fist, the first-year students followed suit.

The atmosphere instantly became lively.

Observing her students’ immediate engagement, Professor Yura displayed a satisfied expression. A silver-haired female student then raised her hand.

“So, what kind of practical examination are we to undertake on the first day?”

“An excellent question, Eliza Hergin.”

Upon hearing that name, the students began to murmur.

The Hergin family.

A renowned family of summoning heroes in the northern continent.

“On this island, there are beasts under the management of Lumeren.”

For summoners, these beasts function as weapons.

“We will evaluate your taming abilities.”

Yura gestured toward the forest.

“Tame a beast from this forest and present it. Your scores will depend on the type of beast you tame.”

Upon hearing the specifics of the examination, Eliza inquired once more,

“Do we need to both tame and form a contract?”

This question made the students nervous.

Taming and forming contracts were distinct processes.

Taming served as the initial step to establish a connection with the beast, and if one possessed the necessary ability, they could proceed to form a contract.

Smiling at Eliza’s query, Yura replied,

“If you successfully form a contract, that beast will be yours.”

“Wow!”

“As expected of Lumeren! Recognizing a contract made during class!”

There were two methods to form contracts with beasts.

The first involved summoning through a catalyst, while the second entailed directly encountering the beast to establish a contract.

In the latter scenario, a beast that had not yet formed a contract could be ‘sold.’ Consequently, such beasts commanded exceedingly high prices.

Having the opportunity to form contracts with such creatures naturally fueled their motivation.

“Professor, what about students aspiring to study spirit magic?”

This time, Chen Shia inquired.

“A summoner can effectively manage both spirits and beasts. While there are specializations, Lumeren’s summoning class focuses on maximizing proficiency in both, so put in your best effort,” Professor Yura emphasized.

Chen Shia nodded in agreement.

‘Beasts.’

In his previous life, Leo had also formed contracts with formidable beasts.

‘But they all vanished in battles.’

As he reminisced about those weaker creatures from the past, Professor Yura addressed the students,

“You have three hours! Begin!”

“Alright!”

The first-year students eagerly dashed into the forest.

“Hmm? Aren’t you going?”

Professor Yura gazed curiously at Leo, Chen Shia, Warden, and Eliza, who remained at the starting point.

The so-called top students of this first-year group were still standing there.

Eliza, casually cleaning her nails, remarked,

“I’m not interested in low-tier beasts.”

She playfully blew air from her fingertips, wearing a mischievous smile.

“…”

Warden, the quiet one, gave no response.

“Well… I only have theoretical knowledge of taming, so I’m still deciding.”

Chen Shia wore a somewhat troubled smile.

Finally, Leo, who had been staring into the forest, began to walk.

“Oh, Mr. Representative?”

Leo turned to look at Eliza.

“I’ve heard about your skills in the Knight class. Should I expect the same in the Summoning class?”

With a smirk, Eliza inquired, and Leo simply shrugged.

“I’ll give it my all.”

Observing Leo calmly brush off her provocation, Eliza expressed a bored expression.

As Leo entered the forest, Professor Yura chuckled.

“Ah, youth.”

“Well, Professor, you’re not exactly getting any younger either…”

Thud!

“Ugh?”

Professor Yura playfully punched Carlo in the ribs and grinned while watching Leo’s departing figure.

‘I have high hopes for him personally.’

Her intuition told her so.

***

‘I never imagined such a magical beast ecosystem could exist.’

Internally, Leo marveled as he ventured deeper into the forest.

In his previous life, he had never encountered such a diverse gathering of magical beasts in one place.

For summoners, this forest was an absolute treasure trove.

Students scoured the forest tirelessly in search of these creatures.

Frequently, disagreements erupted over a particular beast, resulting in some students losing their finds.

For those with a summoning reputation, caution was the key.

The more powerful the beast, the more hesitant it was to reveal itself to humans.

This explained why Warden and Eliza remained near the starting point.

In terms of skill, Eliza was on par with Warden.

“Isn’t that guy going too deep in?”

Some students appeared puzzled as they watched Leo venture further into the forest.

Though they were noisily exploring the forest, most refrained from going too deep.

Higher-ranked magical beasts often harbored hostility towards humans.

Moreover, this was not merely a class exercise; it was a practical exam.

In one way or another, they would be graded.

Attempting to recklessly contract with a high-ranking beast and failing would result in a score of zero.

Lumeren was an exceedingly competitive environment.

There was no room for excuses like “I had bad luck” or “At least I tried.”

“Just let him be; he probably thinks that if he fails here, he can always switch to the Knight course.”

“Likely, don’t you think?”

A few students chuckled and lost interest.

Deeper into the forest, Leo surveyed his surroundings.

Making sure no one was nearby, he produced a gray feather he had discovered upon arriving on the island.

‘Indeed, this is…’

With a gleam in his eyes, Leo generated an aura.

The gray aura gradually ignited.

It was the power of the Phoenix Breath that Leo had mastered.

The aura flames transferred to the feather, causing it to burn even more intensely.

Then, it turned to ash and dispersed.

Roar!

‘Could it be that this feather came from a Phoenix? Is there even a Phoenix in this forest?’

The Phoenix, one of the most potent magical beasts, was notoriously challenging to contract.

Its fiery feather, a summoning catalyst, would turn to ash upon reacting with mana, rendering it useless for summoning.

The only way to form a contract with a Phoenix was to encounter it directly.

However, the proud Phoenix was not easily swayed.

It was often considered the dream beast for summoners.

“It truly is Lumeren. Impressive.”

Just as Leo’s eyes sparkled,

Whoosh!

“…!”

A brilliant crimson flame flickered above Leo’s head.

Blinded by the intense light and overwhelmed by the heat, Leo swiftly shielded himself.

Roar!

Realizing what was happening, Leo looked stunned.

The intense flames soon transformed into a gigantic bird.

With each flap of its wings, flames danced.

Leo created an aura flame barrier to protect himself.

Responding to Leo’s action, the Phoenix spoke.

-Is that the flame of Zerdingher? I thought it would be Reina’s flame… I detected a familiar scent of the flames and came to see, but it wasn’t hers. Was I mistaken?

Hearing the murmurs, Leo, taken aback, asked,

“Do you know my mother?”

-Your mother?

The Phoenix’s eyes widened, and then it laughed joyfully.

-Indeed! It seems I wasn’t entirely wrong! Yes! If she had a child, he’d be around your age!

The intense flames subsided.

-Hehehe, do I know your mother? Of course, I do! I owe a great debt to your mother, Reina.

Flapping its beautiful wings, the Phoenix settled down in front of Leo.

The Phoenix, renowned for its pride, now radiated an unexpectedly gentle aura.

Leo couldn’t help but wear a surprised expression in response to such a change in the Phoenix’s demeanor.

‘The Phoenix Risinas had was worlds apart from this one. That bird was utterly rude.’

How serious must it have been for Luna to suggest capturing and eating it?

“Young son of Reina, what is your name?”

“It’s Leo Plov.”

“Alright, Leo. My name is Pirina.”

“What’s your relationship with my mother? You mentioned earlier that you owed her a favor, right?”

In response to Leo’s question, Pirina offered a subtle smile.

“Reina saved the life of my pact-bearer, Ellen Lund.”

“Ellen Lund?”

Pirina’s words caught Leo off guard.

The Lund family was a distinguished lineage of heroes among the elves.

Furthermore, Ellen served as the head of the Lund family, a hero whose name was enshrined in the Hero Records.

“At that time, Ellen was a dungeon explorer assigned to confront a dungeon in Seirun.”

“You mean the hero dungeon that appeared due to the runaway lost pages of the Hero Records?”

“Yes.”

Only five locations held the Hero Records.

However, Hero Records also existed elsewhere in the world.

To be precise, they were the lost pages of the Hero Records.

These scattered pages occasionally went awry, creating a world of heroes.

These were known as hero dungeons.

“Hero dungeons encroach upon reality. Over time, monsters from the dungeon world begin to emerge into our reality. Locating and dealing with these dungeons is one of the primary missions of the Hero Academy.”

Many countries concealed the existence of such dungeons.

If a dungeon was successfully cleared, it could inherit the world of the hero.

Numerous nations that attempted to hide these dungeons faced ruin.

Only the most skilled individuals could undertake such a perilous task.

“One day, Ellen was sent on a mission to clear a hero dungeon. The mission failed, and all her comrades perished. She, too, was on the verge of death when Reina saved her.”

Pirina recollected the past with a bittersweet sigh.

“In the process, Reina lost her flames. If that hadn’t happened, she might have achieved the status of a hero…”

“My mother never dwelled on the past. She always believed that the present was what mattered most.”

“Hehe… it seems she hasn’t changed.”

With a gentle smile, Pirina inquired,

“But why are you here in Lumeren?”

“I came at the request of Lumeren’s principal, Galian.”

“The principal’s request?”

“Yes, but I can’t disclose the exact reasons.”

Leo couldn’t help but be intrigued by this secret.

“And you, why are you on this island? Shouldn’t first-year students of the Knight Academy be elsewhere?”

Pirina had assumed that as Reina’s son, Leo would naturally be enrolled in the Knight Academy.

“I’m also enrolled in the summoning class.”

“What?”

Initially taken aback, Pirina then noticed a faint magical aura surrounding Leo.

‘Although his magical energy is weak… his potential is remarkable.’

Pirina, assessing Leo’s potential, chuckled.

“Hehe. This must be fate.”

“Pardon?”

“Leo, would you like to form a pact with me?”

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“Chen Shia, right?”

“Yes, nice to meet you, Leo Plov. Just call me Shia.”

“You can call me informally as well.”

“Then, I’ll call you Master Leo.”

With a warm smile, Chen Shia engaged in a friendly conversation.

“I wasn’t aware of your talent for summoning magic. What’s your area of expertise, Master Leo?”

“Currently, I’m specializing in spirit magic.”

“I suppose we’ll be encountering each other frequently then.”

Chen Shia grinned and extended her hand.

Swoosh!

Tiny water droplets converged, giving rise to a lower-tier water spirit named Undine.

“Which spirit have you formed a contract with, Master Leo?”

“I haven’t formed one yet.”

Chen Shia nodded knowingly.

It was not uncommon for students pursuing minors to have a strong spiritual affinity without contracts. Chen Shia presumed that Leo fell into this category.

“If you ever need guidance on summoning spirits in the future, feel free to reach out to me. I’ll be happy to assist.”

Clearly, she enjoyed assisting others.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Ahem. And how old are you, Master Leo?”

“Fifteen.”

“Well, I’m older. I’m seventeen.”

“Seventeen?”

Leo looked at Chen Shia with a puzzled expression. The age range for admission to Lumeren was between 14 and 17, so there was nothing unusual about it. However, Chen Shia had a petite stature and a youthful appearance.

‘I would believe it if she claimed to be the same age as Chelsea. But two years older?’

“Master Leo, did you just think something impolite about me?”

Playfully, Leo responded to Chen Shia, who had wide eyes.

“No.”

“It seemed like you did.”

As Chen Shia maintained her curious gaze, the class began.

In contrast to the prior knight studies class, the summoning class had notably fewer students.

Nevertheless, despite some time passing, there was no sign of the professor.

“It seems like the professor should be here by now, but they haven’t arrived.”

As Chen Shia wore a puzzled expression, Leo glanced at the sky.

“They’re coming.”

In response to his words, Chen Shia also directed her gaze skyward.

A massive wyvern descended with powerful wingbeats.

Roar!

The wyvern touched down on the ground, flapping its wings.

“Wow! A black wyvern!”

“That’s a high-tier summon!”

The students cheered at the appearance of this rare summon.

A person descended from the black wyvern.

A female professor, appearing to be around 170cm tall, secured her gray hair in a loosely tied ponytail, exuding a hint of a wild aura. Her snug leather attire accentuated her shapely figure, and a leather whip hung at her waist.

“Greetings, first-year students! I’m Yura Marnin, and I’ll be your summoning instructor for the next year!”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Professor Yura!”

All the students chorused in response.

Professor Yura crossed her arms and nodded, her generous bosom subtly catching the attention of a few male students, who blushed.

“Where are the assistant professors and TAs?”

In response to Professor Yura’s call, someone who appeared to be an assistant professor hurriedly approached.

“P-Professor, everything’s ready.”

“Why were you so late, assistant professor?”

“You changed the class schedule on short notice!”

“Don’t complain! Haven’t I been unpredictable with my schedule for days now? You should always be prepared!”

“Ugh! That’s not fair!”

Assistant Professor Carlo looked on the verge of tears.

‘So commanding,’ thought Leo and the other students unanimously.

Could they truly learn effectively under such a professor? While some male students were busy admiring Professor Yura, their eyes glazed over.

“So, are the preparations complete?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, kiddos. I assume everyone here possesses summoning talent, correct?”

Professor Yura wore a grave expression.

“If there’s any audacious student here who has the talent but still chose summoning as a minor,”

Her eyes flashed with a hint of danger.

“Leave immediately.”

Despite her words, no one budged. It was unlikely that students who had passed the entrance exam would be deterred by this and leave the class.

“No takers, then? I’ll take that as everyone being prepared. Let’s move, everyone.”

Chen Shia raised her hand.

“Where are we going?”

“Over there.”

With a cunning grin, Professor Yura pointed in a specific direction.

Over yonder, teaching assistants led a group of griffins.

“It’s our practical training site.”

***

The students, riding the griffins in pairs, erupted in cheers.

Flying summons were a rarity. Summoning them was a challenging feat, so most students aspiring to study summoning had never had the chance to ride a griffin before.

“I’m thrilled I came to Lumeren!”

“I can soon form a contract with a summon like this, right?”

The students brimmed with aspirations.

“Hey! Swap now! I want a turn to control!”

“Ah! Just a little longer!”

After ten minutes, the first-year students began to argue over who would take the reins of the griffin.

“It’s quite enjoyable.”

Chen Shia, holding the griffin’s reins, expressed her excitement.

“Be cautious.”

“Huh?”

“Griffins can be challenging for beginners to handle.”

“But it’s so gentle and obedient?”

“That’s because it’s currently under the control of the professor.”

Leo, who was observing Professor Yura leading the way on a black wyvern, replied.

“Well, given the professor’s disposition, she probably won’t restrain the griffins for too long.”

Squawk!

“Whoa?”

Before Leo could finish his sentence, the griffin suddenly began to roar.

Not just the griffin ridden by Leo and Chen Shia, but all the griffins that had previously been obedient to the students were now going wild.

Chen Shia, alarmed, attempted to control the reins, but the griffin showed no signs of calming down.

“Ah! It won’t listen!”

“Why is it behaving this way all of a sudden?”

“Professor! Help~!”

The other students also started to panic.

Professor Yura, perched atop a black wyvern, chuckled.

“If you can’t even handle a griffin properly, can you call yourself a Lumeren student? Show me your control!”

“That, that! Kyaa-!”

Chen Shia’s grip on the reins was jolted by the griffin’s sudden movement, causing her to rise slightly from the saddle. However, true to her major in knight studies, she swiftly regained her balance.

With determination in her eyes, Chen Shia began to assert control over the unruly griffin.

Leo, using his right arm, encircled Chen Shia’s waist and pulled her closer.

“Uh? Master Leo? You’re quite bold… What are you—?”

“Griffins have strong pride. Attempting to overpower them with force only agitates them further.”

Leo gently manipulated the reins with his left hand.

The griffin, which had been vehemently resisting, hesitated at the familiar touch and gradually began to calm down.

‘This one’s well-trained and easy to handle.’

For someone well-versed in the art, there was no flying summon more manageable than this.

Observing this, Chen Shia gazed at Leo in amazement.

“Master Leo, have you worked with griffins before?”

“No. This is my first experience in this life.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Shia swiftly turned her head to scrutinize Leo’s face.

Leo returned her gaze with a ‘what did I say?’ expression.

“You seem sincere.”

Shifting her focus forward, Chen Shia tilted her head slightly.

“But how are you so adept at handling the griffin? Do you have some special secret?”

“I primarily learned from textbooks.”

“Hmm! You certainly have the knack for stirring things up, just like you did at the entrance ceremony.”

Chen Shia chuckled as if she were genuinely impressed.

Without making a fuss, Leo pulled Chen Shia closer to him.

“I’m going to pick up the pace a bit, so stay close.”

“Aren’t you being quite forward with an older lady?”

“An older lady? Oh, my apologies.”

“And you’re also being impudent.”

Chen Shia, her eyes wide, playfully pinched the back of Leo’s hand that was around her waist.

Realizing that Leo had no ulterior motives, she comfortably leaned against his chest.

Once they were prepared, Leo called out.

“Let’s go!”

As Leo tugged on the reins, the griffin let out a sharp cry and soared upward.

“Wow!”

Chen Shia exclaimed in amazement, noting the distinct difference in the griffin’s behavior compared to when she was in control.

“Hey there, kid?”

Professor Yura took notice as well.

“That student is incredibly skilled at managing the griffin. Who is that?”

“Well, that’s Leo Plov.”

“Leo Plov? The student representative? I heard he aspires to study knight studies.”

“That’s right. He even won a duel against the top student, Duran Moira, in a previous class.”

“He handles the griffin like that? Does he have a personal griffin?”

“No, he hails from a noble family in a small kingdom, but it’s not a household that owns a griffin.”

Carlo responded diligently, double-checking the student register.

“So… it’s about talent, isn’t it?”

Professor Yura’s eyes gleamed as she moistened her lips.

“He’s skilled enough to major in summoning rather than knight studies, isn’t he?”

“Professor, I understand your intentions, but the knight studies professors might not take kindly to it.”

“If they voice their concerns, what will they do? There are plenty of students with talent for knighthood but not for summoning. And at this moment, he hasn’t even selected a major yet, correct?”

Professor Yura provocatively grinned.

Watching this, Carlo felt uneasy.

‘Let’s hope nothing troublesome arises.’

The destination they reached while riding the griffins was a sizable island situated in Lumeria Lake.

Within the expansive lake, which could easily be mistaken for a sea, several such islands dotted the waterscape.

Hence, they were frequently utilized for practical training.

“This location is excellent.”

Chen Shia elegantly dismounted from the griffin.

As Leo descended, the griffin affectionately brushed its beak against his cheek.

While Leo extended a piece of fruit to feed the griffin, he momentarily halted.

He had spotted a large gray feather perched on a tree branch.

‘What’s this…?’

“Master Leo, is something the matter?”

“It’s nothing.”

Leo discreetly stowed the feather in his pocket.

Meanwhile, the other students also arrived on the island.

“Ugh!”

“It’s… exhausting.”

“I feel like I might throw up… Ugh!”

Most of the students appeared drained from the griffin ride.

Of course, there were exceptions, those who seemed unfazed.

An exemplary case was Warden Tyden, the top student from the southern entrance exam.

Additionally, a somewhat aloof female student appeared to be in excellent condition.

She busily manicured her nails and cast a disdainful glance at her fellow students.

Both of these students handled the griffin with the same finesse as Leo.

‘Warden, Eliza. These two are bound to be the stars of this year’s first-year summoning class!’

Yura’s eyes glittered as she observed the two students.

“Some students possess exceptional taming abilities. How long will you all stay down? Everyone, gather around!”

Professor Yura, who wore a contented smile, called out, and the students quickly assembled.

Surveying the lined-up students, Professor Yura chuckled.

“Today, we’ll have a practical examination!”

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Leo and Duran positioned themselves at the center, with the students dividing into two groups on each side. The atmosphere was electric as they awaited the title match between the freshman representative and the valedictorian student.

“Who do you think will emerge victorious?”

“I’m placing my bet on Duran!”

“Indeed, he had quite a reputation even before joining the school, didn’t he?”

“But remember, he’s the freshman representative. Do you think he’ll demonstrate something extraordinary?”

“Come on, he didn’t even secure the top spot in the exams, and I heard he hasn’t fully mastered the Aura Step.”

Despite these doubts, all the first-year students were predicting Duran’s triumph.

Amidst this anticipation, Selia appeared visibly concerned and asked, “Are you going to be okay?”

“Don’t you have faith in me?”

“You’ve only recently learned the theory of the Aura Step.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll win.”

Duran gestured toward a large tree affixed to the far end of the training field wall. “The rules are simple. We’ll run around that tree, and the first one to return here wins.”

“Understood.”

Both competitors stretched before the race. Leo removed the bracelets from his wrists and ankles, recalling the Aura Step theory taught by Professor Ain.

As their preparations concluded, and they stood at the starting line, a student acting as the referee raised his hand. “Ready.”

Leo tensed his muscles in anticipation. “Go!”

They both burst off the ground and sprinted forward. Initially, Leo took the lead. Observing Leo’s back, Duran furrowed his brow. ‘He’s so fast.’

“Go, Leo!” Karl clenched his fist and cheered, while Chelsea hopped around with excitement. However, Selia continued to wear a worried expression.

‘Duran hasn’t used his Aura Step yet.’ Currently, they were both relying solely on their physical strength. Given Leo’s impressive physical prowess, acknowledged even by Selia, it was natural for him to be faster without utilizing the Aura Step.

However, this initial advantage was short-lived. Once Duran activated his aura, the gap between them rapidly closed.

Zap-! 

Golden sparks enveloped Duran’s legs. It was the lightning aura. “I’ll take the lead, slowpoke,” Duran taunted as he surged ahead.

Running at an astonishing speed, Duran circled the designated point much faster than Leo. To any observer, it seemed like Leo’s defeat was imminent.

But then, Leo suddenly accelerated explosively toward the training field wall.

“Aura Step? Didn’t they say the representative couldn’t use the Aura Step?”

“Did he deceive us?”

The students buzzed with astonishment, and Selia’s eyes widened. ‘No way, how can he learn that quickly!?’

As she silently screamed, despite nearing the training field wall, Leo displayed no signs of slowing down.

Whooooosh-! 

“Wait, can’t he stop?”

“He’s going to crash!”

As Leo sped towards the wall at an alarming pace, the students couldn’t contain their screams.

Boom-!

In that critical moment, Leo concentrated his power in his legs and leaped. Using the wall as a launching pad, he glanced back at Duran’s retreating figure.

Crack-!

The force of his jump was so intense that it left a noticeable crack in the wall, and Leo continued his pursuit of Duran.

The students watched in awe.

Even Duran, who had looked back, had a tense expression on his face.

Leo raced after him like a bullet.

‘What’s with this guy?’

Caught off guard by the unexpected chase, Duran quickly regained his composure.

‘He lost some momentum when he landed.’

Duran wasn’t worried about being caught since he maintained his speed. However, Leo kicked off the ground once more and gave chase.

With the Aura Step activated, their speed was now incomparably faster than before, but the gap between Leo and Duran didn’t close.

They were now halfway to the starting line.

“Go, Leo!”

“Run, Duran!”

The students were divided in their cheers, loudly supporting their favorites. Selia bit her lip slightly.

‘No, he can’t catch up.’

Leo knew that too.

Whoosh-!

Suddenly, flames erupted from Leo’s feet.

‘The technique Professor Ain used when walking on thin air.’

Leo recalled the demonstration he had seen from Professor Ain. Attempting to replicate it now was a stretch, considering he was just a beginner in the Aura Step. Nevertheless, he could use it as a reference.

Activating his Phoenix Breath, Leo focused his aura on his feet.

Whoosh-!

And then…

‘Push off the ground!’

Boom-! Bang!

The students were taken aback by the unexpected explosions. Selia’s mouth fell open.

‘Phoenix Step? Hasn’t Leo not mastered it yet?’

Bang-! Bang-!

A series of small explosions followed, propelling Leo to an incredible speed.

Expending all the little aura he had, Leo closed the gap right behind Duran.

“Tsk? This kid!”

“I’m ahead now, slowpoke.”

Leo wore a wicked grin and forcefully pushed off the ground.

Bang-!

“Leo Plov!”

Duran shouted with wide eyes as he tried to keep up with Leo. Although the distance between them wasn’t widening, Duran couldn’t match Leo’s increasing momentum.

The air was filled with Leo’s aura flames and Duran’s lightning aura as they raced. In a nail-biting finish, Leo crossed the starting line first.

“Whoa!”

“Incredible! He’s unbelievably fast!”

The students couldn’t contain their amazement.

“Huff-! Huff-!”

Duran, catching his breath, shot a glare at Leo. Leo, equally exhausted, had his hand on his knee, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

“Wow, that was something! Wasn’t Duran supposed to be the fastest in our grade? And you beat him?” Karl exclaimed, and then Selia chimed in.

“If it were a longer distance, he might have lost.”

“Huh?”

“Selia’s right. Duran has a much larger aura capacity.”

Leo nodded, concurring with Selia’s observation.

“But I still won, right? I told you I’d win.”

“Ugh, fine. You’re impressive.”

Selia shook her head, seeing Leo revel in his victory.

“Leo, here’s some water!”

“Thanks.”

Chelsea handed Leo a water bottle, and he responded with a warm smile.

“Even as a guy, I have to admit, he’s pretty cool. I bet he’s popular with the ladies. Is this what they mean by a gentleman?”

Karl admired Leo, and Chelsea shook her head.

“Not exactly a gentleman.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“He threatened to set my butt on fire during the entrance exam to get me to cooperate,” Chelsea replied with a wry expression.

Hearing this, Karl quipped, “A perverted gentleman.”

***

“Even as I observed yesterday, it’s evident why Professor Albi recommended him as the freshman representative,” Professor Ain remarked from the rooftop overlooking the misty field.

Associate Professor Claria, with a sigh, pointed out, “Isn’t it your responsibility as a professor to intervene in student disputes, Professor Ain?”

Ain chuckled in response. “It happens every year, doesn’t it?”

Lumeren Academy attracted elite students from diverse cultural backgrounds around the world, leading to varied backgrounds and occasional conflicts at the start of the academic year.

“Knowing about it and not intervening is the real issue, I believe.”

“This year’s freshmen show great potential to become heroes. That’s why they’re under the academy’s scrutiny. I felt it was necessary to identify the exceptional ones right from the beginning of the semester.”

While Lumeren’s professors upheld equality for all students, personal biases naturally led to favorites.

Ain, outwardly reserved but deeply passionate about his students, earned a lot of respect from his former pupils.

Yet, his lingering regret was that none of his disciples had achieved hero status.

“I’m determined to nurture a hero, Claria. You know how much that means to me, don’t you?”

With a sigh, Claria pulled out a notebook.

“So, what’s our plan?”

Even though it was an impromptu lesson, students organizing a duel without a professor’s consent violated academy rules.

“It wasn’t really a fight. We can let it slide.”

‘Professor Ain seems to have taken a particular liking to student Leo.’

Known for his strict adherence to academy regulations, Professor Ain chose to overlook the incident this time.

Claria chuckled while watching Leo interact with his peers.

***

After class, Leo sat in the student café.

By that time, the story of Leo and Duran had become the talk of the academy.

“You’ve become the talk of the town on your very first day!”

Karl gave Leo a thumbs-up, and Chelsea, sipping fruit juice through a straw, added, “Leo oppa’s* performance was undeniably impressive.”

“Hey, Chelsea Lewalin. Why do you call Leo ‘oppa’ but address me by my name?”

“It just feels right.”

Chelsea playfully stuck out her tongue.

“You!”

“If you don’t like it, you can call our dear Leo ‘oppa’ too!”

“Just call me by my name; it’s simpler.”

Karl decisively dropped the matter.

“Our next class is Summoning, right? Is anyone even going to attend?”

Karl checked his timetable and asked.

“I am,” Leo replied.

The trio gave Leo a collective ‘Why bother?’ look.

While knight classes allowed students to learn combat techniques and magic classes were popular for improving magic resistance, summoning classes were seen as pointless for those without innate talent.

Observing the trio’s reactions, Leo mused to himself as he sipped his drink through a straw, ‘I wonder how they’d react if I told them I’m taking all three major subjects.’

After bidding farewell to his three friends, he made his way to the lecture hall.

On the way, he contemplated the unusual reward he had received during the entrance examination.

In most cases, conquering a hero’s world didn’t yield any rewards.

‘But I received a reward.’

It was something out of the ordinary. Furthermore, he had a question related to this reward.

‘Why did I specifically receive a pact with the Fairy King?’

The rewards typically aligned with the power of the world’s owner.

‘Professor Albi is a pure mage.’

Normally, the abilities one gained should be related to magic. Yet, Leo had been granted the ability to summon.

The last known contractor of the Fairy King in history had been Luna. The pact with the Fairy King had been severed after the Age of Calamity, but now it had been bestowed upon Leo.

‘But forming a contract requires more than just a pact.’

To summon familiars, a catalyst related to the summon was needed. In the case of summoning fairies, it was the leaf of the World Tree.

However, all the World Trees had been eradicated during the Age of Calamity by Erebos.

To contract with a fairy now, one would need to journey to Fairy Land, where the fairies resided.

‘But Fairy Land is under the jurisdiction of the elves, and humans are forbidden. Even if I manage to go, there’s no guarantee of meeting the Fairy King.’

For the time being, the reward seemed rather useless.

“Are you also attending the summoning class?”

A voice came from behind him. Turning around with a puzzled expression, Leo spotted a female student standing there.

‘Let’s see… She’s definitely the Eastern Valedictorian, isn’t she?’

Trivia:

“Oppa” is a Korean term that is commonly used to address an older brother, older male friend, or a romantic partner who is older than the speaker. It is a term often used by females to refer to older males, and it signifies a close relationship or familiarity. In a romantic context, it can be used affectionately by a younger female to address her older male partner.

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The following day.

After having breakfast in the dormitory cafeteria, Leo immediately made his way to the ‘Start Building,’ where the first-year classes were held.

Today’s primary class was a lesson in Knight Studies.

As it was an interim class, not only students from Knight Studies but also many from other departments were in attendance.

Due to the large number of students, the class was divided into sections.

In the section Leo attended, Chelsea and Karl were also present.

Karl took an active interest in this interim class to get to know the students from the Knight department better.

Chelsea mentioned her intention to minor in Knight Studies as she aspired to become a battle mage.

All the students gathered at the practice grounds, waiting in anticipation.

Soon, Professor Ain made his appearance.

“I’ve already introduced myself, so I won’t do it again. This is my assistant professor, Claria Ribache.”

Claria nodded slightly.

Assistant professors were selected by professors from among Lumeren graduates, which made them elite in their field. They assisted in teaching and sometimes even substituted for the professors.

Professor Ain scanned the students.

‘Leo Plov, Selia Zerdingher, Duran Moira.’

A satisfied expression crossed Professor Ain’s face.

Both the student representative and the top student had come to attend the class, which was undoubtedly pleasing.

“Those from the Department of Magic and Summoning department, please raise your hands.”

More than half of the students raised their hands.

Professor Ain nodded and pointed at Claria.

“You will go to the assistant professor. She will teach you how to apply magical and spiritual power in martial arts.”

After separating the knight students, Professor Ain began to speak.

“Today marks our first lesson. Let’s discuss Aura, the most fundamental concept in Knight Studies.”

The students’ eyes sparkled with interest.

“There are three powers derived from Mana: Aura, Magic Power, and Spiritual Power. Among these, Aura is the most challenging to manipulate. Does anyone know why?”

Right from the first question, the first-year students were puzzled.

The nature of Aura?

Almost none of them were interested in such matters.

What knights typically concerned themselves with was how to better sense Mana and manifest a more potent Aura.

However, not all students were clueless about the answer.

Selia raised her hand.

“I’m Selia Zerdingher.”

“Very well, Selia. Please go ahead.”

“Aura loses the properties of Mana during its transformation.”

“That’s correct.”

Magic Power amplifies Mana, and Spiritual Power resonates with the user’s will within Mana. Consequently, they retain the innate qualities of Mana.

However, Aura is a force forged by absorbing and adapting Mana to the body’s needs. During this process, it loses its natural fluidity and solidifies, making it more challenging to control.

“So, can anyone elucidate how we employ the accumulated Aura within our bodies?”

This time, even Selia found herself at a loss.

“How do we utilize it?”

“How do we articulate its application?”

“Isn’t it simply… using it when needed?”

They relied on their instincts, following the patterns of Aura techniques they had learned. None of them possessed a concrete way to describe its utilization.

Naturally, Ain didn’t anticipate an immediate response. He was delving into the foundational theories of Aura Studies, a subject introduced to Lumeren only last year. Previously, this content was exclusive to the Azonia Hero Academy. Thus, it was unsurprising that first-year students were unfamiliar with it.

As Ain was about to elucidate further, a student raised their hand.

Observing this confident student, a satisfied expression crossed Professor Ain’s face.

No professor disliked a student who boldly presented their ideas, even if they might be mistaken.

“I am Leo Plov.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“We harness Aura’s power by channeling Mana and burning it.”

Professor Ain appeared surprised.

“That’s correct. Do you also understand what’s most crucial when channeling Aura in this manner?”

“Endurance.”

“Incredible, Leo. Have you previously studied Aura Science?”

“No.”

“Then, how did you come to know this?”

“Because it encapsulates the very essence of Aura.”

Occasionally, people tend to overlook the true nature of the power they wield. While you can certainly use Aura without comprehending its essence or principles, there exists a significant disparity between those who do and those who don’t. This distinction is particularly pronounced with Aura, as it is heavily influenced by the user’s will compared to Magic Power and Spiritual Power. A vivid mental image is an invaluable tool for harnessing this force.

“Excellent. Five bonus points for Selia and ten bonus points for Leo.”

Envious gazes from their peers were directed towards the two.

“As Leo pointed out, we employ the power generated by burning Mana.”

Professor Ain spoke earnestly.

“Starting this year, I intend to incorporate Aura Science into the curriculum for our first-year students.”

“Professor! What exactly is Aura Science?”

“It is a field of study dedicated to understanding Aura. It serves as one of the core subjects at the Azonia Academy.”

Upon hearing about a subject entirely new to them, the first-year students’ eyes lit up.

“As today marks our inaugural lesson, we will delve into the practical application of Aura. Our topic for today is ‘Aura Step.'”

‘Aura Step’ is a technique that concentrates Aura’s power into the legs, enhancing leaping ability to the maximum extent.

‘Aura Step.’

Leo’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

This technique was a concept that didn’t exist during Kyle’s time.

“Anyone with Aura can learn the Aura Step, but its effectiveness varies based on proficiency,” Professor Ain explained.

Raising his foot, Professor Ain enveloped his toes in a shimmering silvery Aura, suspending himself mid-air. The students gasped in astonishment.

With grace, Professor Ain walked through the air and began, “Now, I’ll elucidate the principles of the Aura Step.”

The lecture on the Aura Step commenced.

‘The fundamentals of using Aura aren’t vastly different.’

When Aura empowers the body, strength naturally increases. The Aura Step could be thought of as channeling this enhanced body ability into the legs.

While Professor Ain was instructing the students, a messenger entered the training ground.

“Professor Ain, Professor Betes is looking for you and Assistant Professor Claria.”

“Professor Betes? Understood.”

Professor Ain nodded and addressed the students, “While I’m away, practice the Aura Step.”

With those words, he departed.

“Leo, would you like me to teach you the Aura Step?” Selia asked, approaching with a sly grin.

Leo wore a grouchy expression as he retorted, “You expect me to address you as ‘Miss’?”

“Am I really that petty?”

Selia crossed her arms and smirked.

“I’m older than you, so how about calling me ‘sister’ once, and I’ll help you.”

“I won’t learn from someone as conniving as you.”

“Is that so? The student representative doesn’t even know how to use the Aura Step? That’s rather pitiful.”

At that moment, their conversation was interrupted by someone else.

Turning around, they saw Duran Moira, the top student of the central exams.

Duran clicked his tongue and looked disapprovingly at Leo.

“To think someone like you is the representative of our grade. I can’t fathom Lumeren’s standards.”

“Do you have a problem with me being the representative?”

Stepping forward, Leo challenged Duran, who merely curled his lip in response.

“It’s not a problem. It’s just disheartening that the representative of our grade can’t even utilize the Aura Step.”

Speaking mockingly to the other students, Duran continued, “And it’s not just you, Leo. There are quite a few who don’t know how to use the Aura Step. I’m concerned about our grade’s reputation.”

Duran’s words riled up several students, but they hesitated to retaliate. After all, he was the top student in a grade of nearly 500 students, clearly one of the best.

In response to Duran’s remarks, Leo retorted, “If you aspire to be a hero, perhaps you should maintain a bit of dignity?”

“Dignity? Are you discussing the dignity of a hero with me, someone from a heroic lineage?”

Duran belonged to the Knight Kingdom of Moira, a nation founded 50 years ago by the knight hero Diol Moira, renowned as the ‘Golden Sword.’

From a young age, Duran, who pursued the path of a hero, had unwavering confidence in his heroism, believing it surpassed anyone else’s.

“What does lineage have to do with being a hero?” Leo questioned.

“It matters. A hero is someone chosen,” Duran replied firmly.

“I see it differently. To me, a hero is someone who never gives up.”

“It’s pitiful for someone who’s the representative of the freshmen to speak of such idealistic notions.”

“Aren’t you placing too much emphasis on your lineage?”

“For me, lineage is merely an added bonus. What I believe in is something more.”

“And what might that be?”

“Skill, Leo Plov.”

In the blink of an eye, Duran swiftly closed the gap between himself and Leo.

The other students gasped in awe at his incredible speed, a level most wouldn’t even attempt to match.

However, Leo remained unperturbed. “You’re not as fast as you think.”

“It appears I need to demonstrate what ‘level’ means,” Duran replied with a menacing smirk. “If you’re so confident, how about a test of speed?” 

“Don’t be absurd, Duran Moira. Do you think it’s logical to compete with someone who hasn’t even learned the Aura Step?” Selia interjected with a furrowed brow.

Duran seized the opportunity he had been waiting for. “Selia Zerdingher, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Why did Leo Plov become the Grade representative?”

“How would I know?”

“Could it be because the top students from the west are so lackluster that he stood out?”

Chelsea, among the students from other departments who had gathered due to the commotion, stepped forward.

“Did you just call my elder brother lackluster?”

“I’m just stating facts, Chelsea Lewalin. You belong to one of the two legendary hero families of the Roden Empire. I expected more, but you allowed someone like him to become the class representative. Frankly, it was disappointing.”

Selia smirked with a cold demeanor. “You seem quite bitter about not becoming the representative. But did it ever occur to you that you didn’t earn the position simply because you weren’t deserving of it?”

“If I were in his place, he would never have become the representative,” Duran stated confidently with an arrogant expression.

“It’s merely luck that he holds that position,” he added.

“Let’s go, Leo. There’s no need to entertain such nonsense,” Selia urged.

“Agreed,” Agreeing with Selia’s comment, which could be considered hostile, Chelsea mockingly pulled down the skin below her eye and stuck her tongue out.

“To be protected by girls.”

The students from the central region, aligned with Duran, jeered at Leo.

Leo, however, chuckled. “I’ll accept that challenge.”

“Leo!” Selia scolded.

“He’s provoking us, and it’s hard to ignore, isn’t it? Besides…”

Leo grinned, displaying his teeth. “People like him need to be reminded of their place.”

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