Chapter 650

Book 1 Chapter 650

The dining hall of the Clock Tower living quarters.

With the instructors of Lumern assembled, Riina, presiding at the head of the long table, spoke up as she observed the incoming pupils filling the dining hall.

“This occasion is meant for greeting the incoming freshmen. Everyone, hold off on hazing your underclassmen until tomorrow. For today, focus purely on making them feel welcome. Is that understood?”

“Understood.”

“Absolutely!”

The senior students answered with amiable grins.

Then, their attention shifted toward the massive tables groaning under the weight of the feast.

“Hey. Take a look at the floor.”

Prompted by someone’s remark, the attendees cast their eyes downward.

Etched into the flooring were the distinct insignias representing each separate department.

Arranged directly above these symbols were lavish spreads of food presented in a grand buffet arrangement.

“This is a pretty clear sign that we are supposed to mingle strictly within our own departments, isn’t it?”

As Celia murmured this, a shadow of discomfort crossed Nella’s features.

“Yeah. It feels like they are deliberately driving a wedge between us, which makes me feel a bit uneasy.”

“Hmph. You are looking at this through too soft a lens.”

Duran scoffed.

“Those people out there are rivals we are destined to overcome. Quit uttering such spineless words. When the time comes to best them, simply strike them down without a shred of hesitation.”

In response to Duran’s declaration, paired with his usual combative grin, Chen Xia beamed radiantly.

“So you are saying we should clash intensely when the situation demands it, and then cast all rivalries aside to be companions when it is time to socialize?”

“How on earth did you pull that meaning out of what I said?”

Duran grimaced, though he refrained from pressing the matter further.

“Doesn’t it seem like Duran has a hidden soft spot for Chen Xia when you watch them interact? He behaves quite abrasively toward the other female pupils, but the moment he speaks with Chen Xia, it feels like he yields.”

Illiana murmured in a low voice while Nella scratched at her cheek in contemplation.

“Do you think so?”

“Come to think of it, Nella. He exhibits that same behavior around you as well.”

Folding her arms, Illiana cocked her head to the side before nodding in agreement.

“Ah! That means he yields easily to those who are older than him! He possesses a secretly endearing side, doesn’t he? Hehehe!”

Hearing this speculation, Celia wore a look of mild exasperation.

“It is less about him yielding to older individuals and more likely that he simply nags less at those who actually know how to carry themselves properly.”

“Wait, what? You are always lecturing me.”

“Because you have no idea how to carry yourself properly.”

Illiana pouted in response to Celia’s blunt assessment.

“Alright, let’s put a pin in this and talk over some food. I rushed around so much today that I am absolutely famished.”

Chen Xia nudged her companions forward, guiding them toward the territory designated for the Knight Department.

“Student Leo.”

Tina glided over to Leo, who had been quietly observing the student body segregate themselves by their respective departments.

“Professor Tina. Let me extend my congratulations on your promotion to a full professor.”

“My thanks.”

Tina, taking up a spot right beside Leo with her hands thrust deep into her lab coat pockets as per usual, inquired.

“So, how do you find the living quarters?”

“It is truly spectacular.”

The Clock Tower living quarters were, in the most literal sense, the pinnacle of monumental magical engineering.

It represented a masterful accumulation of advanced magical arrays, majestic enough to draw a genuine gasp of admiration even from someone like Leo.

“So you can appreciate its craftsmanship, can you?”

Tina flashed a wide grin.

“This Clock Tower living quarters is packed with countless enigmas and concealed corridors.”

Keeping her hands firmly in her pockets, Tina flared the edges of her academic gown as if displaying a pair of wings, adding in a playful tone.

“It is even possible to slip undetected into the other residential halls.”

“And yet, my personal quarters features a doorway capable of transporting me to entirely random locations, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed. That is a special privilege granted exclusively to the student council president. Ah! But you must never abuse it for devious escapades, alright?”

Leo offered a serene response, watching Tina deliver her warning in an intentionally stern manner.

“I have no intention of doing so.”

“How incredibly tedious. Youthful students ought to have a bit of fun stirring up some trouble now and then.”

Leo simply shook his head in amusement as he listened to Tina’s mock grumbling.

Meanwhile, the welcoming festivities for the incoming class commenced across the individual departments.

“Even in a setting as lively as this, you still manage to keep your nose buried in a text?”

Karl, seated at the table allocated for the magic department, asked with a thoroughly bewildered expression, prompting Chloe to respond.

“A particular magical concept intended for a brand-new unique spell just crystallized in my mind. Would you care to listen to it?”

Chloe’s gaze shone with intense fervor.

Witnessing this reaction from Chloe, Karl hastily dismissed the offer with a wave of his hand.

“Your magical concepts are bound to be intricate enough to make my brain implode. Even if you took the time to map it out for me, I wouldn’t grasp a single bit of it anyway.”

Following Karl’s remark, Betty, who had been absentmindedly prodding at her food with a fork nearby, suddenly perked up.

“Senior Chloe! Please share it with me!”

“Oh, I find myself deeply intrigued as well.”

Juen also voiced his curiosity.

At this present moment, the undisputed most powerful spellcaster within Lumern’s magic department was none other than Elena.

Ever since entering her third year, she had been hailed as “the ultimate power” alongside Torua.

She was, quite literally, the foremost prodigy of magic within Lumern.

However, even if Elena herself were pressed to identify the supreme authority on magical theory, she would readily name Chloe as the absolute finest.

Chloe, having already penned and released numerous academic papers within the domain of magical scholarship, was widely celebrated as the “prodigy maiden.”

Prompted by Chloe’s words, the surrounding students also focused their attention, their eyes gleaming with intellectual curiosity as they waited for her to speak.

“Haha, truly the darling of the magical academy. Her underclassmen hang on her every word with shining eyes. With such dependable juniors taking over, there is absolutely no reason for me to stick around and listen, is there?”

Karl offered a firm thumbs-up! And with that, Karl promptly beat a swift retreat.

Chloe cast a sharp glare at Karl’s departing figure.

This reaction stemmed from her awareness that once Chloe entered a discussion regarding magical concepts, the conversation would stretch on without end.

“Senior. Please enlighten us. Pretty please? Yes?”

Betty’s eyes gleamed with intense fascination as she shifted her seat closer to Chloe’s side.

Chloe, giving a firm nod to the junior who served as her direct mentee, began to speak.

“It is a particular magical concept I formulated because I wished to implement ice clones in a far more profound manner.”

“Ice clones?”

Ice clones represented one of Chloe’s most specialized and long-standing techniques, a pinnacle of her ice-elemental sorcery.

It was far from a basic illusion meant merely to deceive an adversary’s perception as a standard replica would.

These manifestations possessed the capability to channel spells independently, as well as inflict severe trauma upon opponents by detonating themselves.

Naturally, every individual replica was restricted to invoking a singular spell and could only sustain basic engagement, but the core principle relied on each manifestation contributing to the overall incantation process.

To put it another way, simultaneous spellcasting could be executed as many times as there were active replicas available.

The deployment of ice clones was an intensely demanding discipline in its own right, yet Chloe had optimized the spellwork to a degree that it could practically be considered a personalized modification.

As a direct consequence, Chloe’s ice clones had reached a sophistication where they could easily be classified as a distinct unique magic entirely unique to her.

The second-year students, along with the nearby underclassmen tuning in, displayed expressions of sheer mental exhaustion.

‘Just processing the concept makes my head spin.’

It became instantly clear why Karl had vanished with such absolute urgency.

“Oh wow!”

“I can scarcely imagine what the structural formula for such a spell will look like!”

‘This is precisely what attending Lumern is supposed to be like!’

‘To be granted an opportunity to hear Senior Chloe break down her magical concepts firsthand!’

Only the fresh-faced incoming students, who had yet to grasp the terrifying reality of her lectures, maintained their enthusiastic, shining eyes.

“Precisely. To begin, the foundational core of my updated structural formula draws heavily from the parallel world theory.”

“Huh?”

“What did you just say?”

The freshmen’s expressions instantly locked up in absolute bewilderment.

Meanwhile, the second-years and upperclassmen buried their faces in their hands.

Before long, as Chloe delved deeper into explaining her innovative magic, every single freshman belonging to the magic department took on a deeply strained, intense expression.

‘What on earth is she talking about?’

‘I cannot comprehend a single word of this.’

‘She is laying it out with such immense passion that I can’t possibly admit I have no idea what it means.’

Chloe, who was typically recognized by her frosty moniker of the “Ice Queen,” would have her gaze burn with incredible intensity whenever the topic shifted to theoretical magic.

That brilliant demeanor was so deeply alluring that many individuals would approach Chloe with the intent of debating magical concepts with her.

Of course, they would inevitably end up wearing utterly crushed expressions afterward due to failing to comprehend the material, which would subsequently leave her feeling an immense wave of personal accountability.

“What exactly are you all discussing that has gathered such an intense crowd?”

“Oh! Chelsea!”

“Your timing is absolutely impeccable!”

The underclassmen beamed with profound relief and dragged Chelsea over to the table where Chloe was currently holding court.

“What’s the matter? What is happening here?”

“Ah. I was merely outlining the theoretical principles applied to a unique magic that I recently conceptualized.”

Observing Chloe’s brilliant smile, Chelsea immediately attempted to push herself up from her seat.

“My sibling was looking for me, so…”

“I can easily summon Avard over here.”

“Wow! Chloe is bound to get even more passionate if an elite scholar like Chelsea stays to participate!”

The magic students firmly pressed down on Chelsea’s shoulders to keep her from rising, while a few others darted off to fetch Avard.

Chelsea rolled her eyes in vexation and beneath the table, she viciously lashed out with her feet against her peers’ shins.

This desperate reaction was born from the fact that even someone of Chelsea’s caliber found it completely overwhelming to engage with Chloe once she dove into a serious dissertation on theoretical magic.

Before long, as Chelsea listened to Chloe’s ongoing explanation, her countenance grew increasingly grim.

“What are your thoughts on it?”

“I can follow the general trajectory of what you are proposing, however…”

“Wow! She actually understands it!”

“As expected, Chelsea truly belongs to a different species altogether!”

“Hey! What precisely do you mean by calling me ‘a different species’!”

Chelsea, after rolling her eyes once more, crossed her arms in a defensive stance.

“Are there any specific areas you believe require further refinement?”

“I am already utilizing every ounce of my mental capacity just to track your magical concept. I lack the creative energy to propose any actual enhancements.”

“Is that so?”

It was precisely at the moment Chloe displayed a slightly disappointed demeanor.

“What could you possibly be discussing that has cast such a somber mood over what is supposed to be a welcoming celebration?”

“Leo.”

“Brother Leo.”

Both Chloe and Chelsea turned their attention toward Leo.

Chelsea’s gaze instantly lit up with hope.

“Brother Leo! Chloe has formulated a brand-new spell concept! Please listen to her theoretical breakdown.”

“Indeed. Leo, I would value hearing your perspective on this.”

“Let’s hear it then. Speak freely.”

At Leo’s prompting, Chloe launched into an explanation of her theoretical framework once more.

As he absorbed the details, Leo nodded slowly, letting out an intrigued murmur, “Oh?”

“What do you think?”

Chloe, having concluded her delivery, inquired with a touch of anxiety.

“It is truly remarkable.”

‘How in the world does her mind generate such concepts?’

Even Leo found himself thoroughly staggered.

His companion seemed to devise increasingly bizarre and unorthodox magical concepts as time marched on.

‘It is certainly not without justification that Luna offered her endless praise.’

“Granted, when attempting to endow a replica with an independent consciousness, there are undeniable restrictions when relying on a self forged strictly through magic engineering.”

Sentient ego weapons possessing an individual self could indeed be constructed via magic engineering, but their functional boundaries remained rigidly defined.

“Therefore, to construct a genuine alternate version of myself, summoning forth the reflection within the glass… which is to say, the version of me dwelling within an alternate reality.”

Whether such a feat was genuinely executable remained up in the air, but the foundational premise was undeniably captivating.

“Do you perceive any structural vulnerabilities that could be fortified?”

Faced with Chloe’s deeply hopeful gaze, Leo could only summon a helpless, silent laugh within his own mind.

‘It’s not as though I possess the mind of Luna.’

Had it been Luna in his position, she would have enthusiastically envisioned all manners of wild possibilities, but unfortunately for Chloe, Leo was fundamentally a pragmatic spellcaster.

Leo, who was just about to decline with a shake of his head, suddenly locked eyes with Chelsea.

She was peering up at Leo with an expression brimming with absolute reverence.

‘Brother Leo is a legendary figure! There is no doubt he can pinpoint areas for further refinement, right?’

Feeling somewhat overwhelmed by a gaze that radiated such boundless confidence in him, Leo offered a measured response.

“What if you were to approach the dilemma utilizing the many-worlds interpretation?”

“The many-worlds interpretation?”

Chloe tilted her head in confusion.

“It represents one of the major paradigms concerning alternate realities.”

Leo proceeded to recount the concepts that Lian had imparted to him during a previous conversation.

Upon absorbing that information, Chloe’s eyes expanded in sheer revelation, and she abruptly bolted upright from her chair.

“I must gain access to the archives immediately!”

Witnessing Chloe, her countenance flushed with immense fervor, preparing to charge right out of the welcoming celebration then and there, Leo extended a hand and firmly snagged her by the back of her collar.

“Let us draw the line for today.”

“But Leo! That concept is an absolute paradigm shift! Before some other scholar compiles the research and registers the findings, you ought to document it under your own name…!”

“Hush.”

Leo gently pressed a single finger against Chloe’s lips.

Offering a comforting smile to Chloe, whose eyes remained wide with astonishment, Leo spoke softly.

“First, restore your composure. Inhale deeply.”

“Inhale. Exhale.”

Leo continued, watching Chloe steady her breathing as instructed.

“What true difference does it make who claims authorship of the paper? So long as it serves to push the boundaries of magical advancement, the outcome is positive. Furthermore, it isn’t as though I was the original architect of that principle either.”

“Who could have possibly conceived such a brilliant concept?”

“An acquaintance of mine.”

‘I can hardly reveal that it originated from a deity, can I?’

Leo offered a casual shrug.

He then gave Chloe a playful tap on her shoulder.

“In any case, keep your focus on the welcoming celebration for tonight. There is a whole host of underclassmen eager to converse with you.”

“Huh?”

“Regardless of what anyone claims, you stand as the true darling of the magical academy, don’t you?”

“Stop mocking me!”

Leo gave a warm chuckle, watching Chloe strike his shoulder with a deeply crimson countenance.

“Academic sorcery research is vital, but remember to embrace leisure when the occasion calls for it.”

“Lady Luna expressed those exact words to me in the past.”

Chloe gave a firm nod, her mind drifting back to the events of the preceding year.

Beholding her expression, a bittersweet smile touched Leo’s lips.

‘It appears she had already shared that counsel with her.’

Following the conclusion of the welcoming festivities.

Leo, having made his way back to his personal living quarters, set about organizing his various belongings.

As he sorted through his academy uniform and everyday attire after unzipping his travel gear, his hand eventually came to rest upon the deep obsidian mantle.

The very mantle that Lisinas had bestowed upon him a long time ago.

The authentic piece had crumbled into cinders and faded from existence long ago, yet this was Kyle’s mantle, brought back to reality through the power of the Hero Record.

The exact instant Leo raised the mantle to position it upon a garment hanger.

Thud-! Clink! Clatter-!

“What was that?”

The sound of something slipping free from the fabric echoed through the room.

Wearing a look of mild confusion, Leo secured the mantle onto the hanger and stepped toward the object that had dropped from the vestment and spun across the floorboards.

“A band?”

Leo, extending his hand to retrieve a band he had absolutely no recollection of storing within his travel gear, suddenly froze mid-motion.

“Could this be…?”

With his eyes widening in sudden realization, Leo meticulously lifted the band from the floor.

It was a specific token pulled straight from the depths of his recollections.

“Luna’s ring?”