Seeing Leo's special physical training, Karl immediately ran away.
On the first day, Chelsea, who trained with Leo, felt that things had gone terribly wrong.
But it was already too late to turn back.
Celia, who initially said she hated it, gave up and joined Leo's training.
Fortunately, she had already experienced it, so it was more bearable than the first time.
"Is this really effective?"
"Yes. Leo's training is systematically brutal."
As they walked back to the girls' dormitory, Celia answered Chelsea with a soulless face.
Then she gave Chelsea a smile full of malice.
"Welcome to hell, Chelsea Levalin."
Chelsea's face turned pale with fear.
"Since you're chatting, it must be doable, right?"
"Don't joke! You devil!"
When Leo laughed, Celia, with her trembling arms, grabbed and shook Leo's collar.
After such a weekend, which was like honey for some and hell for others, the second week at Lumern began.
Karl asked Chelsea, who was lying on the desk, shaking her limbs.
"Chelsea, are you still alive?"
"No... I feel like I'm going to die."
"Here. I got you the best muscle ointment in Lumern yesterday."
"For me?"
"Yeah, we're classmates."
Karl handed Chelsea the ointment, and she took it with a slightly moved expression.
Then Karl held out his palm to Chelsea.
"What does this mean?"
"I'll give it to you at a special 30% discount. Because we're friends."
"Go to hell."
Chelsea coldly threw the ointment at Karl's face.
Karl, who chuckled, put the ointment on Chelsea's desk.
"Still, hang in there. It's something you have to do if you want to be a battle mage, right?"
"Want to join? I can ask Brother Leo to let you join."
"No, no. I'm good."
Karl awkwardly laughed and shook his head, then whispered to Leo.
"Shouldn't you have gone easy on them?"
"I was lenient."
"Is that being lenient?"
Karl resolved never to train with Leo again.
"By the way, who is our homeroom teacher?"
Karl, who was leaning back in his chair, interlocked his fingers and placed them behind his head.
"I hope it's a pretty female teacher."
Creak-
As soon as he finished speaking, the classroom door opened, and a middle-aged man in a disheveled outfit entered with an attendance book.
Seeing the man with dark circles under his eyes, the students quickly returned to their seats, startled.
The man standing at the lectern casually placed the attendance book and wrote his name on the board with chalk.
Thud, thud.
The faces of the students in Class 5 turned pale as they confirmed the name on the board.
"I'm sure some of you are wondering why I, Halind Edmond, am your homeroom teacher."
He casually stuck his hand into his jacket pocket and said with a lack of enthusiasm.
"This year's batch has higher average entrance exam scores compared to your seniors. That's why you're receiving high expectations from the upper echelons of Lumern."
The students, who had been unaware of this, looked surprised.
The classroom atmosphere quickly heated up with the news of their high expectations.
At that moment, a female student raised her hand.
"What is it? Iliana Raden."
"Do other teachers usually not take charge of first-year students?"
"Yes."
"Is the homeroom teacher assignment random?"
"No, each teacher chose the class they wanted, and I chose you."
Halind is not only famous for expelling the most students but also for being an excellent teacher who has nurtured many outstanding students.
The students in Class 5 couldn't help but be excited to hear that such a teacher had chosen them.
"Is there a special reason you chose our class!"
"Because your class has the lowest average entrance exam score among the ten classes."
The excited atmosphere immediately cooled down.
"Do you know why I expel the most students? Iliana Raden."
"No, no."
"Efficiency."
Professor Halind looked at Iliana with a cold, expressionless gaze.
"It's better to filter out students with no potential early and focus on teaching those with potential. Don't you think so?"
Iliana, who met Halind's gaze, had tears welling up in her eyes, even though she was a fifth-year student at Lumern.
As the rest of the students in Class 5, except for Leo, held their breath and watched Halind, the atmosphere became tense.
It was then that a woman in her mid-twenties wearing glasses entered the classroom and saved Iliana.
"Oh dear! Professor Halind, you shouldn't scare the students on the first day!"
She sighed deeply and stood next to Professor Halind.
"Hello, Class 5! I'm Senna Tilia, your assistant teacher."
Senna, with her light brown hair and bright personality, was the complete opposite of the stern Halind.
"Everyone! You don't have to be too scared of Professor Halind! Even though he talks like this, he actually cares a lot about his students..."
"Assistant teacher Senna Tilia, come outside with me."
Senna, who was trying to reassure the students, was called out.
"You haven't changed since you were a student. I've told you many times to correct your silly personality."
"I'm sorry! I'll correct it! I won't do it again!"
Through the slightly open classroom door, Senna's pale and frantic bowing could be seen.
"I like our assistant teacher."
"Me too. Even as an assistant, a good personality is important to breathe and live."
Chelsea smiled, and Karl nodded.
The atmosphere seemed to ease up a bit among the other students as well.
A moment later, the two teachers returned to the front of the classroom.
"A moment ago, I said I took charge of your class because you have the lowest average entrance exam score, right?"
"Y-yes..."
As the students answered with deflated voices, Professor Halind looked uninterested.
"At Lumern, entrance exam scores become meaningless after three months."
The students' eyes widened.
"Regardless of the education you received before coming to Lumern, Lumern teaches you more. That's why the grades of first-year students at Lumern can fluctuate greatly. It's not uncommon for top students to fall to the bottom, and vice versa."
Professor Halind slammed his hand on the lectern.
"You might produce the top student in the year during the midterm exams."
The atmosphere in the class stirred.
"But remember this. Entering the world of heroes is a special privilege for hero cadets, but it's also an obligation. Does anyone know why it's an obligation?"
Chelsea raised her hand.
"Chelsea Levalin, answer."
"Because it can cost you your life."
"Correct."
Professor Halind said coldly.
"During my 20 years at Lumern, I've conducted many students' funerals."
The sound of students swallowing hard could be heard from all over the room.
"As long as you are students at Lumern, you cannot refuse to enter the world of heroes. It's a matter of life and death. I only want to send students who have the ability to survive there. Those who don't..."
Professor Halind said firmly.
"Will be expelled before they meet a miserable death. That's why I took charge of you, the class with the lowest average score."
He handed the attendance book to Senna.
"That's all I have to say. We'll start the combat studies class now, so change into your gym uniforms and head to the training ground."
Professor Halind left the classroom with a swish.
"Then, see you at the training ground!"
Senna smiled at the students and left the classroom.
The students, who had gathered their gym uniforms from the lockers at the back of the classroom, headed to the changing rooms.
"He doesn't seem to be just scary."
Karl, who entered the boys' changing room, spoke.
"Yeah. Thinking about it, Professor Halind is one of the most respected teachers at Lumern."
A classmate walking beside him added.
'His name is Taid, right?'
While Leo was recalling the name, Taid continued.
"He has the lowest student mortality rate."
Every year, a significant number of students die at Lumern.
It's not because the academy drives them to their deaths.
On the contrary, Lumern prioritizes the safety of its students.
However, deaths still occur because the path the students pursue is that of a hero.
A hero is someone who jumps into trials to save people.
Entering the world of heroes and conquering hero dungeons.
Solving incidents that occur all over the world.
Life at Lumern Academy is always fraught with danger.
"Professor Halind probably scared us to remind us of this fact. So let's work hard from now on."
As Taid spoke, everyone nodded seriously.
"Hey? You look thin when you wear clothes?"
A soprano voice came from the open window.
Squeal! The voices of the girls chatting could be heard.
Then they realized that the girls' changing room was right next to the boys' changing room.
The boys, hearing the voices from outside, put on solemn expressions.
They gathered in the middle of the changing room and lowered their voices.
"Who do you think looks thin when they wear clothes?"
"Iliana?"
"No, that was Iliana's voice just now."
They discussed in a serious atmosphere that was a stark contrast to a moment ago.
"Maybe it's Nella."
When Karl mentioned the slender and beautiful girl, Nella Caven, the boys exclaimed.
"That makes sense!"
"Yeah! Nella seems to have a hidden charm."
Leo shook his head at the boys' completely unnecessary but serious discussion.
'These guys are hero cadets, I guess.'
Anyone who saw this might wonder how these guys could be hero candidates.
But Leo knew someone who could seriously discuss such topics even in the midst of life-and-death situations.
A hero.
Not just any hero, but a Great Hero.
The [Divine Blacksmith] Dwenno.
'Why is such a guy still respected and remembered, while I'm forgotten?'