Chapter 268 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: The Smiths' Evaluation
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268
The next morning.
The second-year students from Lumerne gathered in the dining hall attached to the dormitory building assigned to them by Demian.
They chatted as they ate breakfast.
"No matter how I think about it, didn't it seem like those Seirun kids were glaring daggers at us yesterday?"
"The second-year head teacher looked like he was about to shoot lasers from his eyes."
"Why are they like that, anyway?"
The main topic of conversation was Seirun's attitude the previous night.
Most of the Lumerne and Azonia students had enjoyed the banquet prepared by Demian.
Of course, there were some noble students who felt put off by the banquet's atmosphere, which was more akin to a tavern on the street.
But they were few in number, and even they didn't show it outwardly.
In that situation, Seirun, who had arrived late, ruined the banquet, so it was only natural that not only the Demian students but also those from Lumerne and Azonia wouldn't look upon them kindly.
On top of that, Seirun had shown extreme hostility toward Lumerne.
For the second-years who had experienced the Seirun students during the Lumerne-Seirun Exchange, it was a bewildering experience.
The atmosphere was completely different from back then.
While angered by the sudden change in attitude over a few months, they also felt a sense of bewilderment.
"It must be because of Professor Ren."
"Professor Ren? Why him? He didn't even come this time."
"The magic theory Professor Ren recently published must have offended the elves."
At the magic department student's words, students from other departments looked puzzled.
"The magic theory Professor Ren published?"
"You mean the one related to star magic?"
"What about it?"
"Seriously? Do I have to explain it?"
During the first magic class of the second year's first semester, Ren had revealed his latest completed magic theory to the students.
[An Introduction to Star Magic]
It was a new conceptual magic theory that allowed anyone with an aptitude for magic, not just elves, to be initiated into star magic.
In fact, during that first class, Chloe, one of the top students in the second-year magic department, had immediately succeeded in her initiation.
It was, quite literally, a magic theory that could change the entire landscape of the magical world.
Indeed, when Ren's paper was published, the magical world was in an uproar.
But Seirun, the very center of the elven magical world, was in an uproar for a different reason.
If you were to name the most conservative magical society among the races, it would be the elves.
Star magic was considered the unique magic of the elves.
The great legacy left by Luna, the progenitor of the Nebula, had until now been regarded as the exclusive domain of the elves.
Occasionally, exceptionally talented mages of other races managed to learn star magic, but they were an extreme minority.
In fact, before Professor Ren published [An Introduction to Star Magic], the only second-year mage initiated into star magic was Leo.
Since only a tiny fraction of non-elves could learn it, the elves hadn't paid them much mind.
But [An Introduction to Star Magic] could turn many mages into star mages.
Star magic, which they had considered their exclusive property for thousands of years, was no longer theirs alone.
Star magic was also a significant contributor to the elves being called the race of magic.
The elves were perceiving [An Introduction to Star Magic] as an infringement upon and a threat to their traditions.
A knight department student crossed his arms after hearing the magic student's explanation.
"Is that so?"
"Guess it was a difficult story for a musclehead like you."
"What? Are you done talking?"
Shouts erupted. It was a boisterous morning.
Meanwhile.
"Chloe, is something wrong?"
Celia asked Chloe cautiously.
Chloe looked somewhat dazed, listlessly spooning soup with her fork.
After watching Chloe for a moment, Celia turned to Chen Xia beside her.
"Xia, did something happen?"
"Nothing special happened."
"Really?"
"I said nothing happened."
"Uhm…"
Celia looked at Chen Xia with a slightly uneasy expression.
'I probably shouldn't mess with her.'
Although she was smiling with her usual face, the atmosphere around her was strangely sharp.
Just as Celia was cautiously observing Chen Xia.
"Seriously, what was with that creepy stare?"
An irritated voice was heard.
Turning her head, she saw Chelsea, holding a tray, walking while complaining to Karl.
"Oh, you know. I wasn't supposed to say anything, but I was just curious to see your reaction if you found out."
Karl, who had been teasing Chelsea with a sly grin, spotted the three girls and greeted them.
"Oh! Good morning!"
"Karl. Would you like to sit here?"
"Sounds good~"
Chelsea glanced at Celia and said coyly.
"I'm going to go to my brother."
"Hey, just sit here. Abad is probably with Duran anyway."
Chelsea pouted, glanced once at Celia, who was elegantly eating her salad, and then took a seat as far away from Celia as possible.
"By the way."
Karl looked at Chloe and Chen Xia with a wicked smile.
"You ladies look like you had a restless night."
"I slept well, Karl."
"Really?"
Karl chuckled playfully.
Chen Xia smiled brightly at him and asked.
"By the way, where is Young Master Leo?"
"He said he's sleeping in a bit more. Seems he's tired."
"Did he stay up late last night?"
"He did. Veeeery late."
"That's strange. Leo sleeping in."
"I know, right? That kid's a monster when it comes to stamina. He's not the type to oversleep just because he stayed up late."
Celia and Chelsea, unaware that Leo had left the dormitory without permission the night before, wore puzzled expressions.
"Well, maybe he was working hard enough at something to get tired. I wouldn't know, though."
"What was it?"
"If you shared a room, you should know what he did."
"Ask these two. They might know."
Karl chuckled and took a bite of bread.
*Clank—*
'Clank?'
Hearing an unusual sound from the bread, Karl pulled it out of his mouth.
The bread was frozen solid, so cold it even hurt the hand holding it.
Karl swallowed hard and turned his head.
If anyone here would do something like this.
"…"
He turned his gaze toward Chloe, who was glaring at him, her shoulders trembling and her face beet red.
"Karl."
"Yes, milady."
"We're friends, but you know I'm older than you, right?"
"Of course, ma'am."
"And I come from the Shadows. I've learned various methods of torture, you see."
Chen Xia rested her chin on her interlocked hands.
Cold sweat poured down Karl's back like rain as he sat bolt upright, his posture perfectly straight.
"Should you be teasing me? Yes or no?"
"No! I'm sorry! It won't happen again!"
Karl answered with military precision.
Watching him, Chen Xia gave a deep smile.
"…What's going on?"
"How should I know?"
When Chelsea asked with a puzzled look, Celia also showed she had no idea what was happening.
"Good morning."
Leo, holding a tray, sat down with a yawn.
Chloe flinched upon seeing him.
Chen Xia also relaxed her posture and glanced at Leo.
"This is new. You, sleeping in."
"Something came up last night."
"Something? What was it?"
To Celia's question, Leo answered calmly.
"I had to meet Professor Mel late at night."
"Pfft!"
Chelsea, who had been drinking water, involuntarily spat it out.
"You left the dorms without permission to see Professor Mel?"
Celia asked, her brow furrowed.
"Why?"
What could possibly be so important that he had to sneak out late at night to meet a professor?
Besides, Mel was a young and very beautiful professor.
Chloe, her face slightly flushed, looked away and pricked up her ears.
Chelsea was completely flustered and fidgety, and while Chen Xia wore her usual smile, her eyes had hardened slightly.
"She told me to be careful not to get involved with the Seirun kids. She also gave me some pointers about the elves."
Leo said calmly.
"She said she came this time instead of Professor Ren to avoid provoking Seirun."
"Ah~"
Celia nodded in understanding.
"Come to think of it, your name was also listed as a co-author on the [An Introduction to Star Magic] that Professor Ren published, right, Leo?"
Hearing the story, Chelsea giggled as usual.
Chloe's expression returned to normal, and Chen Xia smiled faintly.
Watching them, Karl said slyly.
"You all have such vivid imaginations~ What on earth were you thinking… Ugh! Chloe! I'll stop!"
As all the food on his tray began to freeze over, Karl screamed and begged for forgiveness.
"What were you all thinking, anyway?"
At Leo's question, Chen Xia smiled faintly.
"Well, you said you were meeting the pretty Professor Mel late at night… so we were worried that, you know, something like that might have happened."
"You thought a male student and a female professor were on a date at night?"
Leo clicked his tongue.
"Kids these days have such impure imaginations."
"What nonsense are you spouting? You're a kid these days too."
"Young Master Leo. Do you realize how much like an old man you just sounded?"
As Celia and Chen Xia stared at him with incredulous faces, Leo thought to himself.
'What's the big deal? Even Mel, who you guys think of as an adult, treats me like an old man.'
***
After breakfast.
The students from Lumerne, Azonia, and Seirun gathered in one place.
Assembled in the main auditorium where Demian's second-years took their classes, the students from each academy sat amongst themselves.
"Think there's anyone in Seirun who'd be fun to fight?"
"Doesn't look like it. It'd probably be more fun to fight the Lumerne kids."
"I want to have a go at Leo Flove as soon as possible."
Azonia, seated between Lumerne and Seirun, looked at both academies with gleaming eyes.
"Hmph, all they have in their heads is fighting."
"They're just as the rumors described."
The Seirun students scoffed at the Azonia students.
"Don't they look kind of dangerous?"
"Beastkin and elves are natural enemies. We should have sat in the middle."
As Karl clicked his tongue in concern, Chelsea sighed.
*Creeak—! Thud—!*
The auditorium doors opened, and Demian's second-years came pouring in.
They weren't in the formal uniforms they'd worn yesterday.
The Demian students, dressed in their respective work clothes, took their seats at the front of the lecture hall.
*Clomp— Clomp—*
Then, a single dwarf walked up onto the auditorium's stage.
"Good to see you again, students of the hero academies."
The one on the stage was the second-year head, Smith Depetto.
"The reason we've gathered you here today is for you to form exclusive contracts with our Demian smiths."
Depetto looked around the audience and spoke.
"5,000 years ago, the Divine Blacksmith, Lord Dweno, was responsible for crafting the equipment of his fellow Great Heroes. Continuing that tradition, we dwarves have crafted the equipment of heroes for generations."
Depetto's expression grew meaningful.
"And today, our Demian students will be evaluating you as blacksmiths."
At Depetto's words, Iliana from Lumerne shot her hand up.
"You there, the pretty, innocent-looking young lady. What's your question?"
"Oh, my. He called me innocent-looking."
Iliana squirmed, her face flushing as if embarrassed.
"Ugh!"
"I feel sick."
Of course, the reaction from those around her was harsh.
After kicking the male students who were teasing her, Iliana spoke.
"I am Iliana Laden of Lumerne! You said the Demian students would be evaluating us, and I was wondering what method of evaluation you'll be using."
"It's nothing complicated. You will present the equipment you wish to commission from our Demian students."
At those words, all the hero academy students paused.
"What materials you will use, the weapon's durability or mana output, or what additional enchantments it will have. What characteristics the weapon will have, and what its strengths and weaknesses will be."
Depetto looked over the students.
"Think about the specifications of your equipment in detail and present them. The Demian students will watch and choose you based on that."
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