Chapter 463

Leo’s day commenced exceptionally early.

He woke up at an hour that could easily be described as daybreak.

Stepping out from his private quarters, Leo made his way down into the common area.

“Good morning, Leo.”

Chloe was just coming down from the young women’s residence hall, letting out a soft yawn.

Gently rubbing her eyes as she walked down the steps, Chloe still appeared to be caught in the fog of sleep.

It was a rare moment where Chloe, who typically kept a guarded and perfect composure, seemed completely at ease.

With a slightly dazed look, she moved toward a table situated in a corner of the common area.

Cartons of milk, which were delivered daily for the resident students, were piled there in orderly rows.

Once she finished drinking a carton of milk, a sense of alertness began returning to Chloe’s gaze.

Now completely awake, Chloe picked up a volume and accompanied Leo as he left the building.

Leo was heading out to perform his early training routine.

Chloe intended to take in the crisp morning atmosphere while diving into her reading.

Click!

The pair opened the entrance door and stepped outside.

Right beside the residential building were the individual postboxes designated for the students.

Leo and Chloe noticed one particular postbox stuffed so heavily with envelopes that it appeared on the verge of bursting open.

“Isn’t that your postbox?”

Chloe questioned, her expression filled with bewilderment.

“Yes, it is.”

With a perplexed look, Leo unlocked the box to examine what was inside.

Observing the vibrant papers and elegant penmanship, Chloe asked with a look of utter disbelief.

“Could those possibly all be romantic letters?”

“It seems so.”

While he frequently received correspondence, the sheer volume this time was on an entirely different scale compared to his usual mail.

Leo wore an expression of pure astonishment.

“There are quite a few sent from outside the academy as well, aren’t there?”

Among the pile were missives not just from young noblewomen of prestigious lineages in foreign lands, but also from individuals who seemed to be royal princesses of various realms.

The expense required to dispatch mail to Lumern was quite formidable.

Nonetheless, an immense variety of correspondence had converged upon Leo from every corner of the globe.

“Could this be the result of my status as a hero?”

Leo let out a soft laugh, displaying a relaxed and unbothered attitude.

“Do you plan on reading through each one?”

As Chloe inquired with a tone of curiosity, Leo gave a firm shake of his head.

“No.”

Leo pushed the letters back inside the postbox and proceeded toward the practice grounds to begin his exercises.

“Weren’t you planning to read out in the courtyard?”

“Yes. However, the autumn air is quite crisp, so I felt like changing my usual surroundings today.”

Harboring an undefinable sense of premonition, Chloe stayed right by Leo’s side.

A brief moment later.

“President! Since the second semester has just begun, I wanted to kick off my early practice with a brand-new attitude. Would you mind assisting me?”

“I am starting a new routine for my magical arts training…”

“Excuse me! I am attempting to strengthen my rapport with spirits and was hoping I could receive some guidance from you.”

The practice grounds, which were customarily tranquil at this hour, were currently crowded with young women.

Observing the female students overflowing with determination on the very morning after the term commenced, Chloe’s jaw dropped in surprise.

‘Ah, so even those who were merely observing from a distance until now are going to be much more aggressive.’

The words Iliana had spoken the previous day flashed through Chloe’s mind.

‘Is this what she was referring to? She usually seems so oblivious, yet she is incredibly sharp about matters like this.’

Massaging her temples, Chloe thought back to Iliana, who had accurately foreseen this exact scenario, and turned her gaze toward Leo.

Chloe’s eyes wavered slightly with uncertainty.

‘I am well aware that Leo isn’t someone to be easily swayed by the adoration or focus of female students, but still…’

As long as Leo was human, wouldn’t it be entirely natural for him to develop some fondness for young women who approached him with radiant smiles?

Furthermore, the female students who were directly approaching Leo were exceptionally gorgeous.

‘They actually showed up for early training fully made up. Wow, and she is wearing something incredibly revealing!’

Muttering quietly to herself, Chloe snuck a look at Leo’s expression.

Leo, observing the gathered students, maintained a gentle, polite smile.

Blinking as she took in Leo’s countenance, Chloe quietly withdrew from the practice grounds without a word.

‘What’s this? Chloe Muller. Is she really just walking away?’

‘She was quite bothersome, hanging around him since daybreak.’

‘Is she taking herself out of the equation?’

The female students secretly celebrated among themselves as they watched Chloe depart.

“Such immense dedication so early in the day,” Leo remarked with an encouraging smile.

“Your drive to grow more powerful is truly commendable.”

“Because you are dedicating yourself so deeply, we felt inspired to put in greater effort as well.”

One of the more sophisticated-looking young women spoke up, gracefully brushing her locks over her shoulder.

The ambiance shifted to something subtly captivating.

Leo offered her a pleasant smile.

“I will do my absolute best to assist all of you as well.”

“Wonderful! Before we begin, I prepared this specifically for you.”

“Me too! It is a vitality replenishment tonic blended with fresh fruit nectar! I promise it tastes incredible!”

The female students began pulling out beverage containers, eager to present them to Leo.

“Please hold onto those. You will certainly require them far more than I will.”

“Pardon?”

The young women exchanged bewildered glances.

“Well, seeing as the sun is just rising, why don’t we commence with some basic physical conditioning?”

“Uh, alright.”

“Physical drills, of course.”

Though they sensed that something was amiss, the female students remained brimming with enthusiasm.

In order to draw Leo’s attention by any means necessary, they needed to display their absolute best performance.

A short while later.

Aieeeeeee!

From the early morning hours, the anguished wails of the female students began to resonate across the grounds.

Resting on a wooden bench within Glory Garden, savoring the cool autumn breeze alongside her morning literature, Chloe raised her eyes.

“They seem to be having a remarkably difficult time.”

“Ughhh.”

The morning session for Combat Studies.

As this marked the inaugural lecture of the second semester, it took place within the grand auditorium.

With the entire second-year cohort assembled, Karl took a seat right next to Leo, wearing an utterly exhausted expression.

“Why do you look so completely drained so early in the day? Did you receive that brutal special training from Leo Oppa as well?”

Chelsea, who was seated on Leo’s other side, let out a giggle as she asked.

The tale of Leo administering a grueling, military-style training regimen to the female students who had attempted to flirt with him at dawn had already circulated across the entire campus.

“Do you have any idea how much I’ve been pestered since early this morning, not just by our peers but even by upperclassmen?” Karl replied, looking as though his very spirit was escaping his body.

“That attraction elixir that stirred up such a massive controversy last term. You cannot fathom how many people are badgering me to brew it for them.”

“The student council strictly prohibited the production of that bizarre concoction, didn’t they?” Chelsea questioned, her brow furrowing deeply.

The attraction elixir.

It was a draft Karl had crafted using a formula from Dwenno’s text on alchemy during the previous semester, which had triggered a massive disturbance.

At that time, it was considered an utter failure, but the student council had formally outlawed the replication of that specific mixture.

Karl had no desire to court trouble with the administration by brewing an ineffective liquid anyway, so he had abandoned the idea entirely.

‘Though in reality, it was an absolute triumph.’

It was simply a potion created entirely under Dwenno’s eccentric artistic vision, meaning its actual outcomes differed drastically from what ordinary people anticipated.

‘In any case, it is a substance that would trigger immense complications in various ways if utilized upon a fellow student.’

“How utterly shameless! Who exactly placed the order with you?”

“I have no clue either. The requests were submitted completely anonymously. I spent my entire morning rushing around to report the incidents to the student council.”

“What sort of fool would even desire a potion like that?”

“Undoubtedly one of the female students aiming to win over Leo.”

“Why are they suddenly targeting Leo Oppa to the point of resorting to forbidden elixirs?”

“It seems our innocent young lady remains entirely blind to the harsh realities of society,” Karl remarked.

“I will personally ensure your future is filled with darkness.”

“Aieeeeee—! Stop it! Let go!”

Karl cried out and flailed wildly as Chelsea grabbed his head with both hands, pressing her thumbs firmly against his eyelids.

Barely managing to break free from Chelsea’s iron grip, Karl rubbed his face and spoke.

“It is primarily because Leo was officially recognized as a hero during this past break. He was already considered a guaranteed winning lottery ticket from the start. Just picture that lottery ticket’s grand prize suddenly multiplying to astronomical heights. If anyone manages to secure Leo, their entire life status is permanently elevated. Wouldn’t the girls who had their eyes on him from the beginning become far more desperate now?”

Karl propped his chin up with his palm.

“Leo, isn’t it such a waste? You possess the power to court absolutely anyone you desire, so why not seize this opportunity to revel in an academy experience that feels straight out of a romance tale? If I were in your shoes, seriously. Sigh~”

“How incredibly crude.”

“Oh, come on! Crude, you say? I am merely advocating for the healthy, delightful, poignant, thrilling, and perhaps slightly perilous romance between young men and women! When else are you going to encounter such emotions if not during your time as a student?”

“Crude.”

“Hey, Leo, back me up here. You harbor an interest in those kinds of experiences as well, don’t you?” Karl asked, feeling completely slighted by Chelsea’s continuous rebukes.

“Not particularly,” Leo replied with a subtle, calm smile.

“See? Leo Oppa is cut from a completely different cloth than you!”

“How can you possibly have zero interest? You are a young man as well!”

“View me as an individual with far more life experience than you could ever suspect.”

“We are the exact same age, yet you speak like an elder? Furthermore, your entire life revolves solely around academics and martial training, so what sort of grand experience could you possibly possess?”

Karl, who was intimately familiar with Leo’s monotonous daily schedule, wore an expression of intense skepticism.

Chelsea, conversely, let out a soft gasp.

‘Come to think of it, Leo Oppa really does possess the gravity of a mature adult, doesn’t he?’

The legendary, phenomenal savior.

Not a mere academy student.

‘Ah, if he is a fully grown adult in spirit, then as expected…’

“Hey, are you coming down with something? Why has your face suddenly turned bright crimson?”

“Ah, it’s absolutely nothing at all!”

Chelsea shook her head rapidly in response to Karl’s observation.

It was at that exact moment that Leo cast a gentle, knowing smile in Chelsea’s direction.

Thump!

“My exceptional students! I trust your recess was fulfilling!”

The main doors swung inward, and Sedgen strode into the room.

“I am well aware that several of you enjoyed a highly sophisticated vacation!” Sedgen proclaimed, sweeping his eyes across the gathered second-year cohort.

“Gathering experiences that surpass what is expected for your tender age is a magnificent thing. I expect all of you to utilize those encounters as a launching pad for an even grander leap forward! And for those among you who did not experience such things, do not lose your resolve or shrink away! You remain incredibly youthful, not merely young!”

Ahem-hem! Sedgen, who had been shouting words of inspiration with his arms folded firmly over his chest, widened his gaze.

“In light of that philosophy! I shall now outline the practical assessment for this second semester’s Combat Studies!”

Upon hearing that pronouncement, the gathered crowd stared back at Sedgen in stunned silence.

They were already second-year individuals who had grown thoroughly accustomed to the institutional patterns.

There was little reason to be shocked that the criteria for the semester’s practical exam was being introduced on the very first day of instruction.

Duran then raised his arm to speak.

“Speak! My cherished disciple! Duran!”

“Does this specific Combat Studies practical cover the period leading up to midterms? Or is it sustained across the entirety of the second semester?”

“This assessment will span the whole of the second semester. Furthermore, effective immediately, all second-year Combat Studies sessions will transition into self-directed periods.”

At that revelation, the students exchanged glances of sheer astonishment.

This was highly irregular.

Combat Studies was a core discipline that carried immense importance, equal to their primary academic lectures.

For such a fundamental course to be converted entirely into independent study for the rest of the term was completely unpredicted.

“To be perfectly precise, the coursework for this term will lean heavily toward independent field assignments,” Sedgen stated with a broad grin.

“For this semester’s Combat Studies, your final grades and standing will be determined solely by your accumulated quest tallies.”

“Does that imply…”

“Precisely. Starting this term, you will formally accept missions as official hero prospects and be deployed to various sectors across the globe!”

“Wow, that is genuinely unprecedented.”

Following the conclusion of the lecture, the midday dining hour arrived.

Karl, seated within the open-air pavilion eatery located just before the Hero’s Tower, voiced his profound shock.

“I still find it hard to comprehend that our core classes will be entirely independent. That is practically identical to the curriculum structure usually reserved for third-year students in their first term, isn’t it?”

It was a known fact that students began accepting official assignments during the latter half of their second year.

However, it was never an open-ended system where they could freely choose their own missions like this.

Typically, the academy arranged pre-selected assignments that perfectly aligned with the standard capability level of second-year students.

While anomalies occurred for a select few, that rule only applied to the absolute elite of the class.

Unrestricted autonomy was never granted to an entire academic year in this fashion.

“It is due to the leadership harboring immense expectations for our specific generation. Furthermore, it appears the instructional staff believe our cohort is sufficiently capable of handling this tier of independence.”

In response to Chelsea’s assessment, Karl adopted a thoroughly miserable expression.

“Couldn’t they display a modicum of empathy for the individuals sitting at the very bottom of the rankings?”

“Karl, we shall simply march forward using your fallen form as a stepping stone.”

“Do not casually terminate my life! And absolutely do not utilize me as a stepping stone either!” Karl cried out in despair.

“Aside from that, what exactly is Leo focusing on over by the notice board?”

Karl observed Leo, who was positioned intently in front of the public directory board, with a look of confusion.

“It appears he is reviewing the available assignments.”

“Aren’t the vast majority of the notices posted on that public board notoriously complex to clear while offering incredibly low marks?”

“That is accurate.”

“Why would he bother inspecting those? He possesses the capability to effortlessly select any straightforward task. I recall hearing that providing security detail for high-ranking dignitaries offers excellent compensation and grants substantial points—it’s essentially a paid holiday.”

As Karl spoke with obvious jealousy, Chelsea replied while perusing the food selection.

“Given that it is Leo Oppa, he undoubtedly possesses a profoundly deep motivation for doing so.”

While Chelsea and Karl proceeded to order their midday meal, Leo remained stationed before the notice board, narrowing his eyes at a specific sheet of parchment.

The faded grey assignment paper bore the title: ‘Eradication of Tomb Raiders.’

It was a task that appeared entirely trivial upon initial inspection.

However…

‘The detail that every single defiled sepulcher belongs to a historical hero is highly unsettling.’