Chapter 403

Chapter 403

“Hold on, what?! Ar is receiving isolated instruction from the Lumern student council president?!”

The massive tiger beastman, Borman, bellowed in disbelief.

“Are the rest of us just wasting time while he gets specialized mentoring all to himself?! That is completely unfair…!”

Observing Borman squeezing his fists together in a rage, Lewen, who was casually brushing his fur while resting on his own tail, spoke up.

“Listen, it might be labeled as specialized mentoring, but from where I stood, it didn’t resemble instruction at all.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Honestly, it looked more like he was undergoing a waterboarding session, you get me?”

“He’s undertaking training so brutal that it mirrors actual torture? Ar… that guy is truly incredible.”

Lewen simply shook his head, staring at Borman, who was twisting the situation to fit whatever narrative he preferred.

Trying to have a rational conversation was a lost cause.

Shifting his focus, Lewen walked over to a cluster of Azonia girls who were fixedly watching the Lumern students.

“What has captured all of your attention so intensely?”

“Lewen, check it out over there.”

Following the direction of the female wolf beastman’s finger, he saw Abad and Duran lounging on recliners beneath a large shade umbrella.

Abad was flipping through a tome of sorcery with his habitual detached demeanor, and Duran was similarly engrossed in reading.

“What about them? Are you girls suddenly itching to challenge those two? If so, I’d ask you to restrain yourselves.”

By nature, students from Azonia possess a fierce warrior spirit and an innate desire to test themselves against formidable opponents.

Because of this, Lewen assumed his classmates, who were eyeing Abad and Duran—two of the premier talents within Lumern’s Knight and Magic Divisions—were looking for a duel.

“No, that’s not it at all.”

“We’re actually hoping to just hang out with them.”

“They possess a completely different appeal compared to the meatheaded brutes in our department.”

Hearing that, Lewen cast another look toward Abad and Duran.

They definitely represented a category of scholar that simply did not exist back in Azonia.

A few moments later, a handful of Azonia girls walked over to Abad and Duran to strike up a conversation.

Elsewhere on the grounds, a substantial number of Lumern and Azonia peers were mingling and enjoying themselves together.

Among the crowd, several Lumern underclassmen were peppered with various inquiries by the Azonia scholars.

‘As expected, the pupils of Lumern possess an admirable thirst for knowledge.’

Lewen nodded in approval, though his eyes soon narrowed into a squint.

‘On the flip side, look at these blockheads.’

“Are they seriously trying to practice aquatic combat maneuvers utilizing playthings like that?”

“Hmph. I highly doubt that provides any meaningful conditioning.”

Right as Lewen sighed, watching the Azonia students mistakenly view the Lumern peers splashing around with water toys purchased from Karl as a legitimate tactical exercise, a sudden disruption occurred.

Splasssh-!

An abrupt, massive geyser of water erupted from the distance.

Every single student present turned their attention toward the source of the noise.

“What is the meaning of this unprovoked assault?!”

“Seriously! That is completely against the rules!”

Celia and Chelsea, who had been snapping at one another and engaged in a fierce pursuit just a moment earlier, cried out in protest at Eliza, who was bearing down on them with terrifying speed while gripping Karl’s customized water blaster.

“Pipe down! I’m going to submerge both of you permanently today!”

Eliza let out a low snarl, unleashing a frantic torrent from the water weapon directly at the pair.

“Yikes!”

“Get out of the way!”

“Gargle gargle gargle!”

The unlucky bystanders caught in the path of the chasing trio ended up completely drenched and disheveled.

Witnessing the spectacle, Borman squeezed his fists tight once more.

“I would expect nothing less from Lumern’s elite; even their recreational activities mimic the intensity of a real battlefield!”

Swept up in the fervor, Borman let out a hearty shout.

“Count me in on this clash!”

Lewen merely clicked his tongue, observing Borman, who continued to interpret the chaos in his own skewed way, sprint after the three girls.

‘What an utter circus.’

“The second-year mentors are performing far better than I initially anticipated.”

One of the faculty members sent to Ellem to supervise the underclassmen spoke up.

Mel made the comment while sorting through the field logs turned in by the sophomores.

In response, Halind, the director for the freshman class, offered his perspective.

“If they lacked the competence to manage even this much, I would never have trusted them with these roles.”

His reply came off as entirely nonchalant, yet his underlying confidence in the second-years was unmistakable.

Recognizing this, Mel merely offered a gentle smirk.

“Professor Halind, who was the particular pupil who commanded most of your focus back when the current sophomore class were just freshmen?”

Mel threw out the inquiry casually, as if it were a passing thought.

To that query, Halind provided a rather startling reply.

“Karl Thomas. For both positive and negative reasons.”

Hearing Halind’s choice, Mel’s eyelids raised in surprise.

“Is that choice unexpected?”

“Indeed. I fully anticipated you would name Leo.”

“Under normal parameters, certainly.”

Halind cast a glance back down at the paperwork, continuing in his detached tone.

“However, speaking strictly from my own observations, I find myself questioning whether Leo Flobe even fits the standard definition of a student. Regardless of how monumental and staggering a person’s inherent capabilities might be, climbing to such heights at Leo Flobe’s pace is generally an impossibility.”

Halind’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“A singular theory I formulated during my year serving as his primary instructor is this: could he perhaps be reclaiming his former might rather than genuinely developing anew?”

‘Incredibly sharp of you.’

Mel kept a subtle grin to himself.

“Even so, Karl is quite a shocking pick, wouldn’t you say? Consider that Chelsea shares that exact same classroom. It is fascinating that your attention would lock onto Karl, the individual tracking closest to failing out among a sophomore group widely heralded as the absolute ‘golden era’ of the institution.”

“Did I not mention? My interest encompasses both positive and negative attributes.”

Halind let out a weary breath.

“In a negative light, Karl is an individual bound by very rigid boundaries. He is fundamentally incapable of standing on the grand stage alongside a true savior. To be frank, Karl himself does not harbor the slightest inkling that he will ever become a savior. Viewed from that angle, he fails the criteria of a hero candidate.”

“That is an undeniable assessment.”

“Yet, in spite of those flaws, he managed to survive. Even while peers possessing far greater raw capability faced expulsion. Furthermore, in his sophomore term, he successfully navigated and conquered the realm of the God Blacksmith.”

Halind’s eyes tightened.

“He represents an entirely separate breed of scholar compared to the standard Lumern pupil. It is exceedingly rare to encounter someone who actively targets a auxiliary path from the exact moment they step through Lumern’s gates.”

“I certainly view him as an individual who possesses a remarkably realistic and accurate measure of his own capabilities.”

“Precisely. Since his enrollment at Lumern, while you cannot claim he is entirely devoid of capability, when measured against the institutional baseline, it is accurate to state Karl lacks conventional gifts. Yet, despite this disparity, a vast array of his peers find themselves relying on Karl Thomas in various capacities. The current scenario is no exception.”

He didn’t merely offer guidance to the fresh arrivals; this time around, Karl took charge when confronted by adversaries wielding mysterious draconic sorcery.

He displayed that same reliability during the mid-term evaluations as well.

“When deployed in an active theater, he serves as the foundation that anchors the other scholars, enabling them to tap into reserves of strength that exceed their natural boundaries. That represents an incredibly distinct capability.”

“In that case, would you classify him as a commander?”

“He lacks the qualities to be a commander. However…”

The corners of Halind’s mouth tilted upward.

“He is perfectly suited to serve as the bedrock that holds a commander up.”

Reflecting on Halind’s assessment, Mel found himself remembering a statement Leo had once made.

‘No matter how monumental a savior might be, they are incapable of achieving victory entirely isolated. As you well know, even the greatest figures endure agonizing and grueling periods. Karl is precisely the sort of anchor who provides a reservoir of resolve for saviors when they are faltering and in despair.’

Mel, nodding along as he resurrected Leo’s words in his mind, posed another query.

“Looking at the current freshman class, which individuals are currently drawing the bulk of your focus?”

“There are two specific pupils. Again, for both positive and negative reasons.”

“I assume one of them is naturally Ayna Baidena, correct?”

Halind gave an affirmative nod.

When weighed against the sophomore tier—regarded as one of the finest collections of talent in the annals of Lumern—the incoming class is similarly impressive.

They could easily be labeled an extraordinary harvest.

It starts with Ayna, alongside Habiden within the identical Knight Division.

Then there is Juen representing the Magic Division.

And even Sasha from the Summoning Division.

It is a rare phenomenon to witness such dazzling prodigies assembled within a single cohort.

They form an incredibly formidable class, fully matching the caliber of the group containing Rhys, Torua, Ulta, and Jamua, who finished their tenures just last term.

Chief among them is Ayna, who, as the direct descendant of the Sword Saint, is displaying an astonishing degree of aptitude and acceleration in her progression.

‘Her foundational capabilities exist on an entirely separate plane from her contemporaries.’

Halind’s eyes narrowed.

Yet, a massive complication loomed.

“The ultimate goal driving Ayna is not the path of a savior, but rather the pursuit of vengeance.”

Sword Saint Kalian Baydean.

Mel was also intimately familiar with Kalian’s legacy.

Had Mel ever chosen to attempt the “Hero Record of Genesis” once more, Kalian would have been the supreme warrior he sought out first to anchor his squad.

He was, without exaggeration, a monumental champion, fully equipped to anchor an entire era.

Yet his domestic life was marred by tragedy.

Walking the path laid by Kalian, who spent his entire existence warring against Tartaros, every single member of his lineage likewise took up arms against Tartaros.

Kalian’s child, his grandchild, and even his granddaughter-in-law.

Every one of them walked the halls of Lumern as graduates and carved out legacies that brought honor to the Sword Saint moniker.

Yet, from Kalian’s perspective, it culminated in utter heartbreak.

Because every last one of them perished in active combat against Tartaros.

Ultimately, Kalian himself met his demise on that very same battlefield against Tartaros.

From Ayna’s vantage point, the entirety of her immediate family had been stripped away by Tartaros.

To be fair, across the sprawling timeline of the conflict against Tartaros, lineages suffering such fates were not uncommon.

The true issue lay in her sheer capability.

Her staggering proficiency with a blade, frequently whispered about as the “reincarnation of the Sword Saint,” provided Ayna with the actual means to wage war against Tartaros.

Consequently, she had spent her life honing her edge for retribution.

“From my perspective, the apparent fixation she harbors toward Leo is fundamentally tied to that desire for retribution.”

The reality that she required Leo’s formal validation to claim the entirety of the Sword Saint’s inheritance remained a hidden truth known to nobody else.

Building upon Mel’s observation, Halind added.

“Fueled entirely by a thirst for retribution, she is bound to collide with an unyielding barrier before long within these walls.”

“Unquestionably. So, who is the second individual?”

“Luke Elda.”

“Luke, interesting. He is certainly a dedicated, exemplary scholar. He possesses a gentle nature and a deep thirst for knowledge. Even if his academic standings fail to properly mirror those traits.”

Mel let out a soft grin.

“True. However, there is a specific cause behind that discrepancy.”

Halind was well aware of the hidden factors stalling Luke’s development.

Furthermore, he caught fleeting glimpses of the immense latent capability Luke possessed.

Mel shared that exact insight.

‘Even so, it is genuinely astounding that his internal resolve remains completely unyielding, even as everyone surrounding him surges ahead while he remains anchored in place.’

That demands a level of psychological fortitude far beyond the ordinary.

“Setting aside his academic marks, are there specific elements concerning Luke that warrant concern in a negative light?”

“He represents an incredibly volatile personality type in numerous ways.”

Halind clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“He belongs to that class of individual who will recklessly plunge himself into extreme peril for the sake of his convictions. Judging by the account Chloe provided, he engaged in another act of sheer madness during this recent incident without a second thought. Granted, that reckless drive serves as the engine for his advancement, and in certain contexts, such a quality is deemed essential for a savior, yet…”

Halind intentionally let his voice trail off, leaving the conclusion unspoken.

A characteristic defining a savior.

It is a trait that can easily result in an early grave if one miscalculates even slightly.

Furthermore, it happened to be the exact profile of student that Halind found most objectionable.

“Regardless of the risks, it is a certainty that he is poised to experience a massive surge in growth. The upcoming final assessment promises to be quite a spectacle.”

In response to Halind’s prediction, Mel offered a nod of agreement.

“Quite so. It ought to provide an excellent catalyst for Ayna.”

Hearing Mel’s phrasing, the corners of Halind’s mouth curled upward.

“The very presence of Luke Elda has consistently functioned as a ‘catalyst’ for Ayna Baidena.”

‘Ever since the moment Leo agreed to take Luke under his wing as a mentor—no, perhaps it traces back to the initial entrance trials.’

“No matter how hard she attempts to disregard his existence, this recent turn of events will ensure Luke becomes an even more potent catalyst for Ayna.”

As darkness fell that evening.

A gathering was thrown at the residential quarters where the Lumern scholars were being housed.

The event served as a celebration for the successful execution of their practical field assignment prior to their departure back to campus.

The scholars of Azonia received invitations to the festivities as well, blending seamlessly with the crowd.

Positioned a short distance away from the heart of the gathering, Leo stood with his arms folded across his chest, observing his peers chatting merrily.

“What finds you standing out here entirely detached from the group?”

Mel walked up beside Leo, throwing out the question.

“Oh, just reflecting a bit on the days of old.”

Leo offered a soft chuckle as he replied.

“This marks the very first occasion I’ve witnessed you reflecting on historical occurrences, Lord Leo.”

“Naturally. I crossed paths with Lysinass during this excursion.”

For Mel, who had been completely occupied with her responsibilities as a professor, this piece of information came as a complete surprise.

“Lysinass?”

“I encountered Rodia as well.”

“What precisely transpired out there?”

Looking at a thoroughly stunned Mel, Leo went on to detail the events that had unfolded during the mission.

“To step into a realm belonging to ancient champions once more, nestled inside a pocket of history.”

Leo let out another soft laugh, noting Mel’s bewildered expression.

Turning his gaze back toward the ongoing festivities, he continued.

“Back in that era, whenever we concluded a major campaign, we invariably threw a feast, intending to wash away the grim realities and steel ourselves to press forward.”

“Whose concept was that originally?”

“It was entirely Lysinass’s concept.”

Hearing Leo’s explanation, Mel nodded in understanding.

Then, a look of deep intrigue crossed her features.

“What was the atmosphere like on the specific day that Lord Leo and Lord Lysinass first crossed paths?”

“The atmosphere, you ask?”

Leo’s expression turned bittersweet as he conjured up the ancient memories.

“Even back then, the two of us shared a feast that didn’t quite resemble a standard feast. It simultaneously marked a fresh dawn.”

In the aftermath of the massive aerial offensive launched by Tartaros.

Inside the establishment managed by the Elf, Tila.

Kyle and Lysinass had taken up positions at a table.

Lysinass, who had been stationed on the upper level drafting her personal records, shut her chronicle and rose to her feet.

Inhaling deeply, she positioned herself before a looking glass to adjust her garments and appearance.

‘The journey commences now.’

Her very first ally.

He proved to be an incredibly difficult partner to manage, yet he represented the opening chapter of the entire endeavor.

Stepping out of the quarters, Lysinass made her descent down to the main floor.

The interior of the establishment was entirely devoid of patrons.

Lysinass glided toward a wooden table adorned with a pair of unrefined ale tankards, settling into the seat opposite him before speaking.

“Apologies for the delay. I found myself occupied with a minor task for a moment.”

Faced with her apology, Kyle maintained nothing but a cold, indifferent mask.

“Given that today represents a monumental occasion marking the official formation of our crusade party, you should indulge in drink to your heart’s content. Were it feasible, I would gladly finance a round for every soul in attendance. Unfortunately, with the two of us occupying this space, no ordinary citizen possesses the courage to even approach this establishment.”

“That is because champions who manage to survive are viewed as harbingers of doom, while simpletons peddle empty optimism, turning us into figures to be actively shunned.”

“That reflects our current reality, certainly. However, before long, the public perception regarding our existence will undergo a total transformation. This entire settlement will transform alongside it.”

Uttering words laced with unyielding resolve, Lysinass elevated her tankard.

“Now then, prior to entering into deeper negotiations. This signifies a fresh dawn. A toast to secure a blessing for our shared destiny and the fading optimism of this world.”

Kyle let out a heavy breath, begrudgingly bringing his own tankard forward to meet hers with a dull clink before taking a draft.

Throughout the entire sequence, Lysinass kept her gaze unblinkingly fixed upon Kyle’s features.

Kyle grew increasingly irritated, feeling the intense, unyielding stare of the dragon seated directly across from him.

He remained completely baffled as to how he had been roped into participating in such a preposterous undertaking, and an involuntary sigh escaped him as he contemplated the grueling path stretching out ahead.

Yet, above all else, the most grating element was Lysinass, who refused to break eye contact for even a fraction of a second.

“Is there an issue?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“Why do you persist in staring at me with such intensity?”

Confronted by Kyle’s sharp, abrasive inquiry, Lysinass took a measured sip from her vessel and gave a slight shake of her head.

“No reason at all.”

Hearing her response, Kyle assumed that the suffocating focus would finally dissipate.

Yet, Lysinass continued to keep her eyes locked onto Kyle without flinching.

“In all seriousness, what is the purpose behind that look?”

Ultimately, unable to tolerate the scrutiny any further, Kyle demanded an answer once more, prompting Lysinass to prop her chin up with her hand.

“Simply because.”

A faint, almost imperceptible trace of a smile graced her lips.

“Because I find myself fond of you.”