Chapter 408

Once the one-on-one tournament was declared as the final examination project for the first-years, the spotlight instantly shifted toward the newest students.

“So, for this term, the first-years are the only ones having a practical showcase open to external observers, correct?”

This question floated around during a recess period in a sophomore practical session within the Summoning Department. The second-year pupils had congregated in small groups, passing the time with casual conversation. Through their perspective, they watched their junior counterparts from the Summoning Department undergoing intense martial drills to prepare themselves for the upcoming competition. Ever since the brackets and battle format had been made public, the freshmen had been completely consumed by relentless training from dawn till dusk.

“Has the matchup for the opening stage been finalized yet?”

“Who is your assigned mentee going up against in the first round?”

“Word is it’s a middle-of-the-pack student from the Knight Department.”

“Wow, you got a lucky draw.”

“How is that lucky? My mentee’s academic standing is already floating near the lower-middle tier.”

The sophomores were fully aware that their own destiny regarding whether they could remain at the academy hung entirely on the performance of their assigned freshmen. Naturally, their own sophomore final examination scores played a role as well, but it felt incredibly unjust to potentially face banishment from the institution—despite passing one’s own upperclassman exams—simply because a freshman mentee fell short. Consequently, anxiety was running exceptionally high among them.

“That is completely wrong!”

“Is this truly the best effort you can put forth?!”

“Get your act together! Have you completely forgotten that if you face banishment, I will be cast out right along with you?”

Furious reprimands echoed across the fields as several second-years used their class intermissions to aggressively instruct their underclassmen. The targeted freshmen flinched away, lowering their gazes in shame. The previously amicable bonds between the upperclassmen and underclassmen were beginning to fracture under the strain. Ultimately, the overwhelming burden of this upcoming final assessment was weighing heavily upon both cohorts.

“The tension out here is remarkably thick.”

“It was bound to happen.”

When Chen Xia murmured this observation while monitoring the chaotic scene, Eliza merely let out a mocking scoff.

“Regardless of whether they are freshmen or sophomores, haven’t they spent the entire opening term lounging around without ever feeling the blade of academic banishment over their heads?”

Eliza, displaying her habitual arrogant smirk, watched the older students shouting at the top of their lungs and the thoroughly intimidated novices trembling before them.

“They are simply absorbing the consequences of their past comfort now.”

The rigorous framework at Lumern, which systematically discarded individuals with inadequate performance, had always served as a constant specter hanging over the student body. In truth, because the academic curriculum at Lumern was naturally brutal and carried a legitimate risk of mortality if a student slipped up, allowing incompetent individuals to linger within the academy would have been highly negligent. By the time students reached their third year, having survived the initial gauntlets to become competent hero prospects, the rate of banishment dropped off drastically.

However, for those in their first or second years, even maintaining average placements offered no security against being cast out if they suffered a sudden misstep. This constant threat of removal acted as a persistent catalyst, driving the students to continuously push past their boundaries. Yet, it was equally undeniable that the rollout of the mentor system had allowed everyone to navigate the initial semester with an unprecedented sense of ease, free from the immediate terror of academic termination.

Now, that peaceful facade was collapsing.

The weight felt by the freshman class was particularly severe. In contrast to the sophomores, who had already spent an entire year battling to survive within the institution, the newest arrivals were confronting this crushing anxiety for the very first time.

“You look like you are thoroughly enjoying this.”

“Goodness, did it really show across my face?”

Eliza offered a subtle grin in response to Chen Xia’s remark. Given her somewhat warped temperament, the unfolding panic was highly entertaining.

“To be perfectly honest, I felt there was a fundamental flaw with how things were running. I assumed that the relentlessly aggressive environment Lumern is known for had grown entirely soft.”

Eliza began casually inspecting her fingernails.

“Looking at them now, however, it seems my assumptions were premature. They are simply absorbing all that delayed anxiety in a single, massive wave.”

“The faculty likely engineered it this way on purpose.”

“Eek?!”

Startled by a voice materialized directly behind her shoulders, Eliza let out a sharp gasp and instinctively grabbed onto Chen Xia for safety.

“Did that truly catch you off guard? Were you frightened, Miss Eliza?”

Chen Xia gently patted the top of Eliza’s head, wearing a serene, mature expression.

“Quit treating me like a helpless infant!”

With her complexion turning crimson, Eliza glared fiercely at the newcomer through narrowed eyelids.

“Stop creeping up on people like that! Leo Flobe!”

Leo merely offered a quiet laugh at her outburst. Becoming even more agitated by his dismissive amusement, Eliza instinctively moved her hand toward her whip, though Chen Xia’s calming grip managed to hold her back. Inhaling deeply to compose herself, Eliza crossed her arms defensively.

“What exactly do you mean by calling this ‘engineered’?”

“Throughout the preceding semester, both cohorts were essentially granted the freedom to develop at their own pace within Lumern. My theory is that the administration implemented this mentor framework to analyze which condition yields superior results: allowing students to operate without immediate threats, or subjecting them to intense, high-stakes pressure.”

Leo shifted his gaze over to the frantic freshmen.

“Because they enjoyed such a prolonged period of relaxation, they are now forced to confront the full weight of their accountability all at once. The mental burden is naturally going to be far worse.”

“I see. So it was never intended to be a genuinely relaxed academic experience.”

“Precisely. There are undoubtedly many students in both years who have pushed themselves to their limits only to hit a wall of helplessness.”

No matter how fiercely an individual fights, fixed boundaries eventually present themselves, and the student is always the first to realize their own shortcomings.

‘The academy is evaluating whether they possess the resolve to break through those personal walls.’

Leo narrowed his eyes in contemplation. Noticing his expression, Eliza spoke up.

“Hmph. Setting that aside, are you actually going to come out of this unscathed, Leo Flobe?”

“What are you implying?”

“The underclassman you selected happens to be the absolute bottom-ranked freshman in the entire school, isn’t he?”

Eliza locked her gaze onto him.

“Though, considering that student was picked by someone as calculating as you, I imagine you must be hiding some sort of secret strategy.”

“Do I truly strike you as a calculating person?”

“You definitely possess a certain old-fashioned, mature demeanor. Consider it a compliment from Miss Eliza that you carry yourself like an adult,” Chen Xia intervened, answering the question Leo had directed at Eliza while offering a gentle smile.

“That wasn’t what I meant at all!” Eliza swiftly countered, her brow furrowing in irritation.

“In any case, I appreciate that you are looking out for my well-being.”

“Why on earth would I waste my time worrying about you?” Eliza huffed, turning her head away.

Leo let out another soft chuckle as he observed her defensive behavior.

“There is absolutely no reason to stress over Luke. Even if he happens to drop his opening match, he won’t face immediate elimination.”

“Oh?” Eliza curled her lips into a skeptical line. “You are placing your comfort in the existence of a consolation bracket? That is remarkably short-sighted for someone of your caliber.”

Leo merely offered a mysterious smirk in response to her skepticism. Spotting that look on his face, Eliza’s expression soured further.

“What is the meaning behind that grin?”

From an objective standpoint, this freshman final examination should have represented the most perilous crisis for Leo. He had successfully maneuvered through countless complications prior to this, but this particular event relied on variables he could not directly command through his own martial prowess. Despite this, Leo’s calm demeanor remained entirely unshakeable.

‘What sort of bizarre methods has this man inflicted upon that freshman?’

The question inevitably echoed through Eliza’s mind.

Once the daily academy sessions concluded, the central training grounds became completely packed with students from both years. The sophomores had dragged their respective freshman charges out into the open to conduct rigorous practice sessions.

“How do you expect to survive if you cannot even evade an attack of that speed?”

“Put more strength into it!”

Aggressive, strained commands echoed continuously from the upperclassmen. Weathering the brunt of such high-strung mentors, the freshmen looked entirely drained of confidence.

Concurrently, Emio, an elite second-year student hailing from the Magic Department, let out a disdainful snort.

“Look at them all, frantically flailing around only when the crisis is literally burning at their heels.”

Walking right beside him was Remment Morlak, the third-ranked freshman belonging to the Magic Department, who responded to Emio’s overt mockery.

“Their current desperation looks incredibly clumsy and unrefined.”

“Well, given their circumstances, they have no choice but to struggle clumsily, don’t they?”

As Emio traversed the crowded grounds, his eyes locked onto a specific quadrant of the field, and a wide smirk spread across his face. In reality, Emio had no practical requirement to utilize the public training fields. He was the descendant of a highly celebrated military lineage. When evaluating practical arcane warfare, he was widely recognized as one of the premier talents among the sophomore class.

Because of this pedigree, Emio had been systematically training his junior partner, Remment, in combative spellcasting since the very inception of the term. This thorough preparation gave him absolute certainty regarding the outcome of the tournament. Furthermore, upon discovering who they were matched against in the opening bracket, he had secretly celebrated his fortune.

His primary motive for stepping onto the public grounds today was simply to humiliate that specific competitor.

“As one would expect, our student council president is a paragon of virtue. He could easily secure a private hall for his sessions, yet here he is, drilling right alongside the rest of these failures.”

Upon hearing his loud declaration, not only did Leo—who was currently managing Luke’s regimen—look over, but the surrounding pupils also shifted their attention directly toward him.

“Emio. If I recall correctly, you have not filed the mandatory authorization request to utilize these grounds today.”

“I haven’t. I merely dropped by to observe the pathetic displays of these desperate losers.”

“Watch your language, Emio Luce.”

“By what authority do you think you can just wander in here and label us as failures?”

Several of the nearby second-years spat back defensively. Watching their outrage, Emio merely let out a mocking chuckle.

“Know your place and hold your tongues.”

“What did you just say?”

“You people seem to mistakenly believe we belong on the same tier, simply because you managed to avoid getting cast out during the opening semester due to sheer luck. If the academy hadn’t implemented this mentor system to shield you, you wouldn’t even have the chance to scramble around like rats right now.”

“You arrogant bastard!”

The vast majority of the sophomores currently working with underclassmen on these fields were individuals whose prior academic performance would have normally resulted in automatic banishment, or at least placed them on the verge of it. This dynamic existed because when the second-years were selecting their charges, they naturally gravitated toward freshmen whose capabilities mirrored their own low or average standings. The only pairings that featured a massive, polarizing gap in rank were Leo matched with Luke, alongside Kal paired with Juen.

“If you recognize how inferior you are, keep your mouths shut and accept it. Do not attempt to act as though you are above your station.”

“Why you…!”

Following Emio’s inflammatory statements, a dangerous hostility began to manifest among the gathered sophomores. Observing the escalating tension, Leo finally intervened.

“Refrain from insulting your fellow classmates and control yourself, Emio.”

“Oh? Is the student council president stepping in to shield his precious peers?”

“The individual who truly needs to recognize their place here is you.”

“What did you say?”

Emio’s features tightened instantly, while Leo maintained a cold, biting smile.

“Exactly as you pointed out, there is a clear hierarchy among the second-year class. I hold the position of student council president, Emio Luce. Therefore, do not attempt to overstep your bounds. Keep your mouth shut and stay exactly where you belong.”

Furious sparks practically erupted from Emio’s eyes. Then, his mouth twisted into a malicious sneer.

“How much longer do you truly believe you will hold onto that title? For that matter, do you honestly believe you will even be permitted to remain within Lumern after this term?”

Emio shifted his piercing gaze directly onto Luke.

“That underclassman of yours is guaranteed to face banishment during this assessment. When that occurs, you will be thrown out of this academy right alongside him, Leo Flobe. Surely you aren’t planning to abuse your administrative authority as president to save yourself, are you?”

Emio’s assessment was grounded in objective reality. By any rational metric, Luke occupied the absolute bottom slot of the student roster. Virtually no one in the student body harbored any belief that Luke—who had demonstrated zero observable progression since the day he arrived at the academy—could somehow survive the tournament brackets to secure a place for the following term.

Leo merely let out a calm laugh at Emio’s accusations.

“I have absolutely no intention of relying on my presidential privileges.”

“Heh. So you are openly admitting that you will submit to your banishment without a fight?”

“No.”

Leo looked squarely into Emio’s eyes and delivered his response.

“He is going to achieve total victory over every single opponent.”

“What kind of garbage are you spewing…?”

“Luke’s opening match is scheduled against your own mentee, Remment, is it not?”

Leo’s smile widened slightly.

“I fully expect Luke to emerge victorious.”

At that pronouncement, Remment finally spoke up.

“President. While I hold immense respect for your status as my upperclassman, I cannot simply ignore a statement that insulting.”

Remment cast a condescending look down at Luke, who was noticeably shorter than himself, and stated flatly, “I cannot fathom a scenario where I would ever suffer defeat at the hands of Luke Elda.”

“In that case, you can look forward to the match. And I highly advise you to bring your absolute best performance,” Leo replied with a calm smirk.

“Because you are about to bear witness to something truly extraordinary.”