Chapter 154 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Instructors for the Candidates
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154
The students looked puzzled at the word 'instructor.'
"Are we going to be teaching students from other academies?"
Celia asked, crossing her arms and tilting her head.
Her black hair swayed.
"Yes."
At that answer, Eliza, who had been trimming her nails, spoke up.
"Instructors. Not a bad idea. But no matter how much of a skill gap there is between Lumerne and the Three Great Class Academies, we're still students… Will they really accept being taught by us?"
Eliza's point, made with narrowed eyes, was very reasonable.
They would have their own pride.
They certainly wouldn't be pleased to be bossed around by other students, even if they were from Lumerne.
Just as the other students nodded in agreement with Eliza's words, Halind spoke.
"It's fine. The students you'll be teaching are prospective Lumerne candidates."
The other students paused at his words.
Prospective Lumerne candidates.
In other words, students who would be taking the entrance exam next year.
The Three Great Class Academies also taught students preparing for Lumerne's entrance exam.
In fact, quite a few current Lumerne students had come from one of the Three Great Class Academies.
"Of course, you can refuse if you don't want to. You'll be busy during the joint classes, so you might not have time for your personal studies or training. There are no extra credits for this, either."
At Halind's words, Chloe smiled brightly.
"But you're telling us this because it's something we should do, isn't it?"
While the year representatives were the official faces of their grade, the influence of the top students in each department was significant.
As such, they often participated in external events.
That was why Halind had summoned them.
Moreover, with their recognition soaring after the Gigantes incident, the role of the top three students from each department was crucial for this event.
"That's right. As the top student of the Knight Department, I can't miss an event like this."
Celia, too, swept her hair back and puffed out her chest.
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
"Elegant! Elegant! Just as expected of students Chloe and Celia! Spoken like my proud pupils! I can feel the dignity of Lumerne students!"
Sedzen appeared, clapping.
Then, thud-! he stood beside Halind.
"Alright. Is there any student who wishes to decline the instructor position?"
No student shook their head at the question.
This was, in a way, a position representing the school.
Though there was no tangible reward, participating in such an event was a great honor in itself.
Seeing that no one was leaving, Sedzen nodded in satisfaction.
"Excellent! I, Sedzen, have become the professor in charge of the prospective candidates!"
"Not Professor Halind?"
Leo looked on with a puzzled expression.
At Leo's question, Sedzen's eye twitched.
"Why did you think Halind would be in charge of such an important task, Student Leo?"
Sedzen, who harbored a sense of rivalry toward Halind, was a man who felt fulfilled only when he bested Halind in every little thing.
In that context, Leo, who could be considered Halind's student, was questioning why he, and not Halind, was in a position to get a first look at the prospective candidates.
From Sedzen's perspective, Leo's question was more than enough to provoke him.
'Well, it's admirable to think highly of one's supervising professor.'
"Student Leo. Do you think Halind is better suited to manage the prospective candidates than I am?"
"Both of you are excellent professors, so I can't say one is better than the other."
"Then why did you question the fact that Halind wasn't doing it?"
"Professor Halind is the most famous professor at our school, isn't he?"
Halind was a man whose mere gaze could make any Lumerne student tremble in fear.
He was just as famous outside the academy.
"I thought Professor Halind would be perfect for intimidation."
Among the Lumerne candidates, there were bound to be some who were already arrogant, acting as if they were already Lumerne students.
To prevent such candidates from causing trouble, there was no professor better suited than Halind.
"Indeed."
"If they saw Professor Halind, they'd probably be trembling in fear."
"But the one who can embrace the students is Professor Sedzen, right?"
"Oh? Are you saying I can't embrace the students?"
"What? N-No, that's not what I meant…"
Just as Celia's face turned pale from her slip of the tongue, Sedzen spoke.
"I, too…"
Sedzen clenched his fists tightly.
"I, too, can be as fearsome a professor as Halind! Very well! I shall show you the fearsome side of Professor Sedzen, the tiger professor! From now on, the most fearsome professor at Lumerne is none other than I! Sed…"
"Be quiet."
Halind clamped a hand over his long-time friend's mouth, who was spiraling out of control again, and let out a deep sigh.
"I have to be with the instructors from the Three Great Class Academies. And Celia Jerdinger is right. Sedzen is a better fit than I am to handle the new candidates. He will take good care of the students."
At those words, the spiraling Sedzen froze, a look of emotion on his face.
"Halind… you. Did you acknowledge me that much?"
"Of course. You are my friend and my rival."
"Indeed! Halind! You truly are the greatest rival of my life! Mwahahahahaha!"
His mood lifted, Sedzen placed a hand on his face and burst into joyous laughter.
The ten students watched the scene with strange expressions.
'My, why is he giving him such lip service all of a sudden?'
As everyone thought the same thing, Halind spoke to Leo.
"From now on, be careful what you say in front of Sedzen, Leo Flove. It will do no good if that fool tries to poorly imitate me."
"Did something happen?"
When Leo looked puzzled, Halind replied with a blank expression.
"You will see hell."
His words were flat and devoid of emotion.
But the students felt a chill run down their spines.
'Just what would happen for Professor Halind to say something like that?!'
"I am curious, though."
'Don't be curious!'
Everyone glared at Leo, who had muttered so casually.
"In any case, I'll take it that all of you accept the instructor mission. Sedzen will be calling on you often, so be prepared. You're dismissed."
With Halind's words, the ten students exited the faculty office hallway.
"Instructors for prospective candidates. This is a new experience."
"It actually sounds like it could be fun."
"You think so too, big brother? Me too! Me too!"
Chelsea's eyes sparkled as she agreed with Abad.
Watching them, Celia swept her hair back and said.
"I was curious about the skill level of the Eicott Academy students, so this is perfect. I'll get to witness their swordsmanship."
"Celia, I always feel like you're overflowing with enthusiasm for everything."
"It's the family motto. Do your best in all things."
Celia grinned at Chloe's words.
In response, Chloe looked at Duran.
"Duran, I thought you'd refuse, saying you had no interest in underclassmen."
At her words, Duran chuckled. "Hmph."
"I'm curious to see what level the prospective candidates are at."
As he put on his characteristic arrogant expression, Eliza scoffed.
"Are you in any position to judge someone else's skills?"
"Are you picking a fight with me now? Eliza Hergin."
"Yes."
"Hmph. It seems we don't need to wait for the dueling evaluations starting next week. I'll show you what class means right now."
"We're on the same page. I was also feeling unsatisfied that we couldn't settle our match on the day of the opening ceremony."
The two, who had ended up fighting by chance while aiming for Leo on the opening day, never got to finish their duel.
As the two notoriously ill-tempered students glared at each other, creating a tense atmosphere, Chen Xia stepped between them with a bright smile.
"Now, now. That's enough, you two. You might end up falling for each other. Hmm… or maybe not. Then you'd get along, so would that be a good thing?"
"What are you talking about, Chen Xia?"
"That's right. Do you really think I'd get along with this person?"
Duran and Eliza snapped in unison.
Watching them, Chen Xia burst into laughter.
Amidst it all, Leo spoke up.
"Magic class is soon. Let's go."
"Okay! Brother Leo!"
"They said there's a special lecture related to star magic today, right? I'm looking forward to it, Leo."
Chelsea and Chloe followed behind Leo.
Abad, who was about to follow, paused and looked at Woreden.
"What have you been doing all this time? Woreden."
Woreden had been standing still, staring intently at Leo's back.
"I'm gauging it."
"Gauging?"
"The difference between me and Leo Flove."
At those words, Abad's eyes narrowed.
"Hoh? Is this because of the dueling evaluations starting next week?"
"Yes. I'm confident I can win against anyone here."
Woreden's lips curled into a smirk.
His words caused the atmosphere among the others to shift.
"Hey, hey. Woreden. That's a bit too provocative."
Jureden, the third-ranked student in the Summoning Department, wore an awkward expression.
Though he was third in his department, there was a gap between him and the other students who had participated in the Gigantes raid.
Of course, Jureden knew this, so he wasn't provoked by Woreden's words.
But the others were different.
Knowing they all had immense pride in their skills, Jureden couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
"Hmph. It doesn't matter, since everyone here thinks the same way."
Woreden sneered coldly.
At that, Jureden clutched his head.
'Even so, if you provoke them like that, they're all going to snap!'
Regardless, Jureden continued speaking calmly.
"But I can't be sure when it comes to Leo Flove."
Jureden looked surprised.
In his eyes, Woreden was more than deserving of the title of monster.
'Honestly, I can't imagine him losing to anyone.'
It wasn't just because they were in the same department.
Objectively speaking, Woreden was a monster.
Even the stories from the southerners confirmed it.
For such a Woreden to mention that he couldn't guarantee victory…
"That's why defeating him is my goal."
Watching Woreden's cold smile, Duran crossed his arms.
"You speak as if I'm not even in your sights."
At that, Woreden gave him a bored look.
"Isn't it the same for you? Duran Moira."
Woreden scanned his classmates.
"The same goes for all of you. You don't see each other as rivals. Because you saw it."
Woreden looked at Leo's back, walking far ahead.
"The back of the one who walked ahead, as if it was natural for him to be shamelessly above us."
Woreden crossed his arms and said with a blank expression.
"The sight of him leading us as if he were our leader."
A belligerent look appeared on Woreden's face.
"And you all realized that you had accepted that fact."
Woreden began to walk, step by step.
"Haven't we all lived our lives unable to accept someone standing above us? If so, our goal can only be the same."
To defeat Leo Flove.
That would be the goal for the school life ahead.
No, perhaps it was the moment an entire life's goal had been set.
"Of course, I'll be the one to defeat him."
"Sorry, but that's not going to happen, Woreden."
Abad smiled.
"I'm first."
"Don't be ridiculous. I am."
Watching the three male students speak competitively, Eliza trimmed her nails with a look of disdain.
"Boys are so childish. Who cares who defeats him first? Just defeat him."
"Isn't that part of their charm?"
Chen Xia smiled brightly, watching the three bickering boys.
"Don't you find that cute too, Celia?"
"Hmph. Cute? It's disgusting. And you three!"
Celia crossed her arms and scoffed.
"I'm the one who's going to defeat Leo!"
Watching Celia bicker with the boys after her bold declaration, Eliza sighed.
"Celia has a surprisingly tomboyish side to her."
At Eliza's words, Chen Xia covered her mouth and giggled.
***
The day the joint class exchange was announced.
Lumerne was bustling with preparations to welcome its guests.
They had to create an environment where the large number of visiting students could focus on their studies without any inconvenience.
Attendants hurried about.
The students, too, prepared a welcoming party before the classes began.
In any case, with the visit of outside guests, the overall atmosphere was one of excitement.
Amidst all this.
There were also students heading out to Lumeria City.
"Coming out to Lumeria City on a weekday like this. It feels kind of strange."
Chelsea said with a slightly excited voice on the boat.
"We're not here to play, so don't get too excited."
Celia shot her a glare.
"Hmph! I know that! So there!"
"You little!"
Leo chuckled watching the two bicker as always.
The students who had taken on the role of instructors were heading to Lumeria City to greet the students from the Three Great Class Academies.
'Prospective underclassmen… I'm a little excited to see what kind of kids they are.'
As his eyes sparkled, the boat arrived at the dock.
Leo stepped off the boat.
"Well, it's not time to gather yet. We have free time until then, so should we look around?"
"Should we?"
Just as Leo nodded at Celia's words, a voice called out.
"Leo Flove."
Someone at the dock called out to Leo.
Leo looked ahead.
He wore a puzzled expression upon seeing the person standing there.
Celia hastily bowed her head.
"Hello, Vice Principal."
Standing there was none other than Lumerne's vice principal, Reuben.
His appearance, after not being seen since the opening ceremony.
While everyone else was still flustered, he spoke.
"Leo Flove. Can we talk for a moment?"
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