The content of the practical exam in Knight Studies was simple.
It was a series of duels, with the goal of achieving five victories.
The moment one achieved five victories, the exam was passed.
Of course, the detailed scoring depended on the opponent and the content of the duel, so winning or losing wasn't the only criterion.
However, winning and passing the exam quickly was important.
Naturally, Leo's goal was a perfect record.
"Being the first one, you think you got lucky? I don't even care about that!"
Leo's first opponent, Haul, said with a laugh.
Haul Snape.
He comes from a hero family in the southern region of the Tul Kingdom on the continent.
Compared to Gerdinger, his fame is lower, but he still holds the title of a hero family.
He particularly excels in the unpredictable spear technique called the Snape Spear.
In fact, he is the third most highly regarded student in the first-year Knight Studies class, after Celia and Duran.
Haul licked his lips and pulled out a spear from his subspace bracelet.
It was a long spear, about 1.5 times longer than a regular spear.
Seeing this, Leo also drew his sword from his waist.
"As we discussed beforehand, the side that renders the opponent combat-incapacitated wins. Treat this as a real battle."
Ain, who had finished the brief explanation, stepped back.
There were no out-of-bounds rules.
The entire training ground was the duel area.
Facing each other, Haul licked his lips.
"I'm looking forward to this. After losing to your 5th class in the combat class at the beginning of the semester, I've been thinking about getting even."
"Still holding a grudge over that?"
When Leo chuckled and asked, Haul laughed coldly.
"A person from the Nape family doesn't forget humiliation."
"Did you hate cleaning the bathroom that much?!"
"Ugh! Do you know how much the other class students teased me?!"
Haul clenched his fist.
"I'll repay the humiliation from back then! Leo Flaubert!"
Swish-!
Haul lowered his stance, gripping his spear tightly.
It was a preparatory stance that resembled a snake's attack.
Seeing this, Leo lowered his sword.
"Leo, I've heard about how impressive you were during the entrance exam."
Haul curled his lips.
"But you're definitely behind the other students from the start! I heard you didn't awaken your Aura during the entrance exam! Can you really block this attack?!"
Crack-! Swoosh-!
Haul's spear tip aimed for Leo's chest.
Incredible speed!
A regular spear thrust is a straight line.
Thus, no matter how fast it is, it's easy to dodge if you can predict it.
'But the Snape Spear starts from there!'
The spear thrust of the Nape family moves like a living snake.
Thus, dodging recklessly can lead to a disadvantage.
'If you dodge, you'll be cornered!'
Most students would normally have to lose the first move and be defeated by Haul.
But Leo was not an ordinary student.
Thud-!
"…!"
Haul's eyes widened.
Leo had grabbed the spear shaft just before it reached him.
"You heard about me from the other students, but didn't you hear about me from Celia, who's in the same class?"
Leo smiled coldly.
Whoosh-!
"Huh?"
Leo lifted Haul straight up into the air, spear and all.
Haul, who was prepared for Aura, opened his eyes wide when he saw Leo lifting him with sheer strength.
"It's about strength!"
Whoosh-! Bang-!
Leo threw Haul to the ground.
Of course, Haul minimized the damage by using Aura Armor just before hitting the ground.
Haul, regaining his composure, chuckled.
"Of course I heard. I was just a bit surprised by your strength."
Rumble-!
The spear shaft glowed green.
"But just because you're strong, it doesn't mean your fundamental weakness is solved!"
Haul's green eyes flashed.
Leo quickly let go of the spear.
Squeak-!
A small puff of smoke rose from the ground where Haul stepped.
'Poison Aura? An unusual attribute.'
Leo's expression showed interest.
It was an Aura attribute that was overwhelmingly advantageous in a prolonged battle.
It was understandable why he was so confident.
'But you're still far from it.'
"Talking about my weakness, huh?"
Leo chuckled.
"Isn't a weakness there to be overcome?"
Whoosh-!
The flame Aura that erupted from Leo's body pushed back Haul's Poison Aura.
Seeing this, Haul grinned.
'Flame Aura is definitely a weakness for me! But I can reverse the disadvantage if it's not at Celia's level!'
Whoosh-!
Haul's body emitted a more potent poison.
In response, Leo increased his firepower.
'It's useless! Not at Celia's level!'
Whoosh-!
Flame-!
As if in competition, the intensity of the flames increased with each surge of poison.
Haul's face gradually hardened as time passed.
'Celia… not at… her level…?'
Haul's pale face met Leo's red eyes.
'No way! At Celia's level of firepower?!'
Leo's prowess was a story from the beginning of the semester.
Moreover, he had never shown his full strength in a duel that evaluated overall combat ability.
Thus, most people predicted Haul's victory in this exam duel, where the overall skills of the first-year students had rapidly improved.
But Leo, defying such predictions, pressured Haul with his powerful flame Aura.
Celia, who was watching the situation with her arms crossed outside, showed a surprised expression.
'When did he get this strong?'
Celia was one of the few who predicted Leo's victory.
But she didn't expect Leo to have increased his flame Aura's intensity to this level.
Duran, who was watching, chuckled.
"Haul seems inadequate."
"It's not over yet. Haul hasn't lost."
A first-year Knight Studies student scolded Duran, who laughed.
"Are your eyes for decoration? Haul is already at a disadvantage in terms of attribute and strength. Do you think he has a chance?"
"Even so, Haul still has the Snake Spear. The attribute of Aura isn't the only factor in determining victory or defeat."
"Tch! Do you think Haul can overwhelm Leo Flaubert with technique?"
"He's our class's number four."
"It doesn't matter if Haul is the fourth strongest in our class."
Sparks crackled from Duran's body.
"I'm the one who will beat him."
"You? I don't think so."
Celia, standing beside him, laughed.
"Are you just defending him because you're close? Celia Gerdinger."
"I'm not defending him. I'm the one who will beat Leo. You can't even beat me."
"Talking nonsense. I'll show you who's superior right now."
"Fine. I'll crush you."
Crack-!
Flame-!
Duran, who always wanted to surpass anyone above him, and Celia, who had a strong sense of pride, had a terrible relationship.
"Hey, hey, hey! How can we fight each other! We should be cheering for Haul! Hey, hey! Stop raising your Aura!"
A first-year student panicked and tried to stop them, but they showed no signs of calming down.
"Both of you. If you fight now, it won't end with just a reflection paper, you know?"
At that moment, Chen Xia smiled and tried to stop them.
Duran snorted and walked away, while Celia elegantly flicked her hair back.
"The first-year class is full of competitiveness."
"It's not really competitiveness. I just want to smash that annoying guy's face."
"Isn't that competitiveness?"
Professor Sedgen, who prohibited duels among students in the same class, meant that Celia and Duran would never have a match.
"Speaking of which, Xia. You also want to fight Leo, don't you?"
"Indeed, I want to fight Lord Leo. But he's not my only goal."
"Then?"
"I also want to fight Miss Celia and Duran. My goal is to defeat all three of them."
"Ultimately, you have the strongest competitiveness."
Celia sighed, looking at Chen Xia, whose black eyes sparkled.
The surrounding students, who had been watching the tension between the top students, breathed a sigh of relief when nothing happened.
"Leo is popular."
Nella said in her characteristic lazy voice, and Iliana, standing beside her, shook her head.
"I'd decline that kind of popularity."
***
"Haa!"
Haul urgently used Aura Step to dodge the flame Aura Leo swung.
He had to create some distance.
But Leo wouldn't allow Haul to create distance.
'I have to stop him!'
He swung his poison-filled spear at the approaching Leo.
Flame-!
But Leo's Aura burned away all of Haul's poison.
Not only was he at a disadvantage in terms of attribute, but he was also weaker in power.
It was a clear disadvantage.
"Ugh!"
The shock of completely misjudging his opponent pressured Haul.
But he quickly regained his composure and lowered his stance.
'Unexpected, but I can't just keep taking hits!'
Haul's eyes turned like a snake eyeing its prey.
'I already have a plan!'
Haul, who had been called a genius since childhood, didn't come in first in the entrance exam.
But he didn't feel resentment, only regret.
'Because of that monster!'
No one from the southern region didn't know about Warden