Leo headed towards the Tower of Heroes, located in the center of the academy where the student council was.
Upon arriving in front of the Tower of Heroes, Leo looked up at the towering building.
"It's ridiculously tall."
Leo marveled.
"You're a first-year, aren't you?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh, how cute."
The upperclassmen who passed by noticed Leo and muttered in surprise.
The Tower of Heroes was a place often visited by upperclassmen.
First-years had an instinctive fear of the seniors who had experienced everything.
Therefore, they tended to avoid areas where upperclassmen frequently appeared.
"Oh? Leo-kun?"
Someone called his name, and he turned his head.
There stood Toula, a fifth-year from the Magic Department.
"What brings you here?"
"I have something to discuss with the student council president."
"With Ries?"
Toula, who had been tilting her head, nodded.
"Do you want to come with me?"
Toula took Leo into the Tower of Heroes.
"So, Leo-kun. When do you plan to drop your other majors?"
"I don't plan to drop my other majors."
"Leo-kun, as I've said before, time is limited. I know you excel in other majors, but from what I see, you are best suited for magic."
Toula grumbled unhappily but didn't say more.
She had been scolded by the professors before.
Leo looked around the interior of the Tower of Heroes and let out a sigh of admiration.
The entrance was adorned with numerous portraits of heroes, all of whom were graduates of Lumern.
The facilities were far superior to those of the first-year building.
While the first-year building wasn't lacking in facilities, the Tower of Heroes was overwhelmingly impressive.
Standing in the elevator that moved by levitation magic with Toula, they quickly ascended to the upper floors.
They arrived at the floor used by the student council.
"Hello, Vice President. Who is this first-year?"
"This is Leo-kun."
"Leo? The famous first-year representative?"
A third-year student council member's eyes lit up.
"Yeah. He came to see the student council president."
"Showing interest in the student council from your first year? That's commendable."
Smiling, he took some documents and left.
Overall, the student council was in a very busy atmosphere.
"By the way, wasn't the midterm assignment for first-years to develop a unique magic?"
"Yes."
"Do you have any ideas?"
"A magic formula system based on neutral mana."
"Neutral mana? I've never heard of that concept. Can you explain it?"
"Magicians have a primary magic attribute, right?"
"Right. That's why there are opposing elements. Even if you can handle all attributes, you can't use opposing elements simultaneously."
"Exactly. I want to use neutral mana to freely handle all magic attributes and increase versatility."
"An interesting idea, but it's unrealistic."
Toula chuckled.
"There's a reason why people don't attempt it."
"I understand."
Leo nodded with a smile.
"But wouldn't it be better to do something special if I'm going to do it?"
Toula, who had been leaning against the wall, chuckled.
It seemed the junior in front of her wasn't just proficient in magic formulas.
'Magicians always need new attempts. It's really a waste.'
A junior who was a true magician in all aspects.
'If he has potential, he should firmly set his path from the beginning. I need to have a serious discussion with Professor Ren.'
Determined to somehow make Leo choose the Magic Department, Toula stood in front of the student council president's office.
Knock knock-
"Come in."
Bam-
"Hello, Ries. Leo said he wanted to see you, so I brought him."
"Leo?"
Ries, who had been sitting at his desk moving a quill, stood up with a welcoming smile.
"Right, Leo. What do you need?"
"Student council president."
"You can call me 'bro' when we're in private."
Ries smiled, and Leo nodded.
"Then, Ries-bro. I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"I want to enter the Forbidden Library."
"I don't know why you want to enter the Forbidden Library, but students can't just go in."
Toula, reaching for a snack on one side of the room, said.
"Can't even the student council president go in freely?"
"Unfortunately, it's beyond my authority."
Ries smiled, resting his chin on his interlocked fingers.
"Of course, there is a way for students to enter."
"What is it?"
"By clearing a Hero Dungeon."
"Hero Dungeon?"
"Right. The pages recovered from clearing a Hero Dungeon are traditionally returned to the Hero Record by the person who cleared it."
"Of course, you still can't read the books in the Forbidden Library at will. So, give up."
Toula grumbled.
In summary, there was no reason for a first-year to enter, and even if they did, it would be difficult to obtain the desired information.
'Well, I can sneak in then.'
When someone tells you not to do something, it often makes you want to do it more.
Ries and Toula, unaware of Leo's conclusion, smiled meaningfully at him.
"How's your exam preparation? Are you nervous about your first exam?"
"I'm doing pretty well."
Leo answered calmly to Ries's question.
"Is that enough? Do you know that the grade representative changes with each exam at Lumern?"
"Yes."
"There will be a lot of people gunning for your position, right?"
Toula said, munching on a cookie.
Although it wasn't yet prominent at the beginning of the semester, the position of grade representative at Lumern came with many advantages.
The grade representative was the best among the best at Lumern.
They represented the class in various internal and external events and received significant benefits.
They were, in essence, the face of their cohort.
Most importantly, the grade representative was the position closest to the next student council president.
"Do you know that your cohort is highly expected by the upper management of Lumern? Can you keep the grade representative position from those formidable competitors?"
"I'm not particularly interested in the grade representative position. But."
Leo smiled.
"I have no intention of giving up the top spot."
"Your confidence is impressive. I'll be looking forward to it."
Ries smiled contentedly.
***
The first grade exam after enrollment was enough to make the students nervous.
However, on the other hand, all the first-years were also quite looking forward to this exam.
Chelsea, sitting in the audience of the first-year classroom building's training ground, tapped her foot and said.
"Professor Halind really did it. They've changed beyond recognition in just a few months."
She muttered, twirling her staff in the air.
Runic words imbued with mana spread in the air, and the spell was instantly completed.
Taid, a classmate, whistled in admiration.
"You're always so fast."
"High-speed casting is my forte. Of course, I've become much faster."
As Halind had predicted, the first-years' skills improved rapidly.
Even Chelsea, who had received all kinds of excellent education from a young age as a member of a hero family, had noticeably grown.
The new Chelsea was now aware of her current standing.
The freshmen felt a strange sense of confidence and excitement.
"Still, I'm worried about Leo-bro."
Chelsea said, looking at the training ground, and Taid sighed.
"Well, there are quite a few people targeting Leo."
At the beginning of the semester, most major classes focused on theory rather than practical application.
And the standout in class was none other than Leo.
A top student recognized by all professors.
However, there was a part of Leo that could be considered a weakness.
"The Lumern exam has a significant practical component. I wonder if he'll be okay."
Aether, mana, and spirit.
Leo was weak in the fundamental powers of abilities.
Especially since Leo was taking three majors simultaneously.
Compared to students who focused deeply on one major, the gap would inevitably be larger.
Therefore, many students evaluated Leo as being only proficient in theory and weak in practice.
"Of course, the top-tier students won't be a match for Leo-bro, but the upper-middle students might struggle."
"Maybe he should choose one major now."
While Taid was muttering, Professor Ein, who was in the middle of the training ground, announced.
"I will now begin the first-year Knight Practical Exam."
The voice imbued with aether resonated throughout the vast training ground.
Cheers and applause erupted from various places.
Although there were still two weeks until the exam period, the practical exam for the Knight Department started today.
The first-year classroom building's training ground was packed with students who had come to watch the Knight Practical Exam.
Among them were not only first-years but also upperclassmen.
"Is Kal really planning to sell snacks?"
"Where there's a crowd, there's money. That's his philosophy."
Chelsea said, looking incredulous, and Taid chuckled.
As she said, Kal was out selling snacks.
"Professor Sedgen."
Kal approached Professor Sedgen, the homeroom teacher of Class 1, with a floating snack stand.
"What is it, Kal?"
Professor Sedgen looked at Kal indifferently.
He wasn't pleased to be approached by a student from Halind's class, whom he considered a rival.
"How about some popcorn and a drink?"
"Hmph, do you think I'd buy that? Sell it to Halind and your classmates."
Sedgen sneered, and Kal looked dejected.
"I thought you'd buy it because you're a leader who can boost the morale of your class. I guess I was mistaken."
"Hmph. If you think I'd fall for such a cliché, you're greatly mistaken, Kal."
Just as Sedgen was about to turn away, a student from Class 1 shouted.
"Professor! Are you buying us popcorn?"
"Wow! It must be delicious!"
The students of Class 1 cheered.
Sedgen's ears perked up at their reaction.
"Of course, Professor is a leader who can boost the morale of the class!"
Currently, all the students of Class 1 were there to cheer under Sedgen's leadership.
Sedgen's lips curled into a smile at the cheers of his students.
"Since the students want it, I can't refuse. Go ahead and distribute it."
"Yes, sir!"
"Give them the caramel-coated ones."
"Thank you!"
After finishing the transaction, Kal handed out popcorn and drinks to the Class 1 students with a friendly smile.
He subtly gave some jerky to the students who had responded earlier.
"Alright, everyone! Shout elegantly! Class 1, fighting!"
"Class 1, fighting!"
The atmosphere of Class 1 students heated up as they shouted energetically.
Meanwhile, Kal sighed, looking at Chloe, who was sitting in a corner reading a black grimoire.
"Chloe."
"..."
"Hey, Chloe!"
"Huh?"
Chloe looked up.
Seeing her friend's exhausted face, Kal sighed.
"Take a break. You'll collapse if you keep this up. You need to know how to enjoy yourself sometimes."
"I don't have time for that."
Chloe frowned.
Kal, scratching his head, handed her a fatigue recovery potion from his pocket.
"I didn't bring money."
"It's fine. I'm giving it to you as a friend."
"Here! Popcorn and drinks!"
"Yes, sir! Yes, sir! I'll go! Hey, take a break! Got it?"
After waving goodbye, Kal quickly ran to the senior who had placed an order.
Chloe sipped the potion, smiling slightly as she watched Kal's back.
At that moment,
"The first sparring match. Class 1, Haul Nape, Class 5, Leo Flaub. Step forward!"