The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student-Chapter 22: The Weight of Talent

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The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student

[Original — Yerona]

[TL — MiT7]

[PR — Spades]

[QC — Lumi]

Chapter 22 — The Weight of Talent

——————

At the heart of Lumern stood the Hero's Tower.

This place was more for the faculty than the students.

At its pinnacle lay the headmaster's office.

Headmaster Kalian, seated at his desk with a relaxed expression, turned toward the window.

Whoosh!

A woman with crimson hair appeared amid flames.

"Welcome, Firina."

Kalian greeted her with a warm smile, but his face hardened instantly.

"Has the intruder made a move?"

Five years ago, an intrusion had occurred within Lumern.

With no casualties, it wasn't publicized, and the culprit was never caught.

But Lumern wasn't just an academy—it housed a Hero Record.

Someone had breached its defenses, caused an incident, and escaped.

If this became public, it would spark chaos, so it was hushed up.

Yet the search for the culprit never stopped.

That's why Kalian had asked Elrun to invite Firina to Lumern.

No magical beast surpassed a Phoenix for monitoring the vast academy.

"Not that, but I bring good news."

"Good news?"

"A Lumern student has become a Phoenix's pact-bearer."

"Is that true?" Kalian asked, astonished.

"Did they contract with you? Or another Phoenix?"

"With my newborn child."

"Your child was meant for the Runda heir, wasn't it?"

"That was the plan, but things turned out this way."

"A young Phoenix, so a contract was possible... Still, a student achieving that! Besides Ulta, is there such talent among the fifth-years?"

Kalian assumed the pact-bearer was a senior.

Aside from Ulta, the Pegasus pact-bearer, fifth-year Summoning Studies students specialized in spirit summoning, making it surprising.

"Not a fifth-year."

"Oh? A fourth-year? Well, the current fourth-year beast summoning top ranker is exceptional."

"Not a fourth-year either."

Firina shook her head.

Kalian's expression grew subtle.

"A third-year, then?"

"No."

"..."

"A second-year?"

Firina smiled without answering. Kalian let out a hollow laugh.

"Are you saying a first-year became a pact-bearer?"

"Correct."

"Who?"

"Leo Flove."

"Ha ha ha. Leo Flove?"

The student Albi, known for his high standards, had recommended as a hero candidate.

Despite faculty opposition, Kalian had named him freshman representative, and now he'd become a Phoenix's pact-bearer.

'Wasn't he a Knight Studies major?'

Kalian stroked his beard, stunned.

'I need to meet him soon.'

---

"Good work!"

After Summoning Studies, the first-years shouted their farewells and rushed out of the training ground.

It was late evening.

Growing teens, exhausted from the taming exam, had stomachs roaring for food.

The first-years swarmed toward the dining hall.

"Young Master Leo, want to grab dinner together?"

"Sure."

Leo started to leave with Chen Xia.

"Leo."

"Yes?"

"The professor wants to see you," Carlo said, approaching.

"Guess we'll eat separately."

"No helping it. See you next class, Young Master Leo."

Xia left the classroom first.

Leo followed Carlo to the professor's office.

At the office, Carlo knocked, and a curt "Come in" came from inside.

"Go ahead."

Leo thanked Carlo and entered.

Despite Yura's free-spirited nature, her office was impeccably organized.

Seated at her desk, Yura gestured to the chair opposite.

"Sit."

As Leo sat, Yura got straight to the point.

"I'll be direct, Leo."

"Yes?"

"That beast you contracted earlier—it's a Phoenix, right?"

'She knew.'

"Yes."

Yura visibly shook at Leo's confirmation.

She'd suspected, but hearing it from him was staggering.

"Can you show me?"

With a trembling voice, Yura watched as Leo reached into his uniform pocket.

Firina had said she'd pick Fiora up tonight, so Leo still had her.

He placed Fiora on the desk.

"To think I'd see a young Phoenix in my lifetime!"

Adult Phoenixes were rare, but a baby Phoenix was even rarer. Even a Lumern professor couldn't help but be thrilled.

"Such majestic presence!"

Majestic or not, Fiora was dozing like a sickly chick.

'Is she blind?'

"What's its name?"

"Fiora."

"How'd you find it? I didn't even know a Phoenix was in the beast forest."

Lumern professors held high status.

All were experts in their fields, wielding significant authority in emergencies.

Even to them, Firina's presence was a secret.

Having learned this from Firina, Leo had prepared an excuse.

"I found an egg while wandering the forest. I don't know why it was there, but it was a Phoenix egg."

It was a flimsy explanation.

But only luck could explain a Phoenix contract.

And there was no way to verify Leo's story.

"Even so, recognizing a Phoenix egg can't have been easy."

Despite their fame, Phoenixes were mysterious, with little known about them.

That's why related information was so costly.

"My mother's family is tied to Phoenixes, so I've read ancient texts about them."

"Your mother's family?"

"Zerdinger."

Yura was shocked.

'That makes sense... Zerdinger's aura flame comes from Phoenix power.'

With summoning talent, no one was better suited to be a Phoenix's pact-bearer.

'Still, a fifteen-year-old kid contracting a Phoenix.'

Yura's eyes gleamed.

Questions lingered, but what mattered was Leo's talent—contracting a Phoenix as a student, just one day after enrollment.

"Alright. Thanks for your time. You can go."

Yura escorted Leo to the door.

Before opening it, she said seriously, "Leo."

"Yes?"

"Keep your Phoenix contract a secret for now. It'll cause a stir if it gets out."

"Understood."

"Good. Enjoy dinner, and see you next class."

Yura patted Leo's shoulder and closed the door.

Sitting back down, she pondered.

'How do I teach that gem?'

Yura swelled with dreams.

A summoner of unprecedented talent as her student!

She wanted to make him the greatest summoner, no matter what.

'Should I push for him to skip grades? Talented students are such a headache!'

Imagining a future where her student became a legendary summoner, Yura sank into happy dilemmas.

She'd even offer private lessons if Leo wanted.

Yura was certain he'd choose Summoning Studies as his main major.

Why wouldn't he? With that talent, going to another department was unthinkable.

'The next five years, Summoning Studies will reign supreme!'

Yura didn't know.

Leo had no main major.

---

The next morning.

Leo headed to the Magic Studies building with Carl for class.

"Hey! Chloe!"

Carl spotted Chloe walking ahead, a Magic Studies textbook tucked under her arm, and waved.

"Morning, Leo, Carl. Yawn."

"Up early yawning already?"

"Stayed up late reading a grimoire."

"Oh? Then how's this?"

Grinning, Carl pulled a small bottle from his pocket.

"Carl's Trading Co. Fatigue Recovery Potion! Just five shillings."

"It's not sketchy, right?"

"Look, the label's got ingredients and a certification mark."

"Hm."

Chloe checked the label, nodded, and bought the potion.

Sipping it, she glanced at Leo.

"You're really taking Magic Studies?"

"Told you I was."

"Get this—he took Summoning Studies yesterday too," Carl said.

Chloe looked at Leo, intrigued.

"What class did you take yesterday?"

"I'm a pure mage aspirant, so I had no classes. Studied in the library."

"Wow, true honor student."

The trio chatted casually as they reached the Magic Studies building.

Today's class was in the [Great Lecture Hall], a massive circular room seating up to 500.

Seeing it, Carl grinned.

"Prime seats in the back are still open! Come on, let's go!"

"What? Prime seats are in the front."

"We're on different paths, my friend."

Carl was ready to ditch Chloe.

But Chloe grabbed his ear first.

"Ow ow ow?!"

"Planning to nap in the back, huh? A magic student should study hard."

"Hey! Let go, let's talk! Yo!"

Chloe dragged Carl to the front row.

"I'll get caught by the professor if I doze off here!"

Chloe smiled at Carl's wail.

"Or, study hard, and the professor will notice you positively."

Carl glared resentfully, but Chloe ignored him, opening her textbook.

Leo, stuck in the front too, stifled a chuckle.

A man stepped onto the lecture platform.

Step. Step. Step.

In a sharp suit with slicked-back hair, he was the picture of a handsome professor.

Some female students squealed as he stood at the podium, smiling.

"Greetings, first-years. I'm Ren Horse, your Magic Theory professor for the year."

Applause erupted at Ren's introduction.

"Any questions before we start?"

A barrage of questions from female students followed.

"Professor, do you have a girlfriend?"

"How old are you?"

"What's your ideal type?"

Irrelevant to the class, but Ren answered each with a kind smile.

"Handsome professor, huh? The girls are swooning. But Ren Horse? Never heard of him. Chloe, you know him?" Carl asked, pen on his lip, hands behind his head.

Chloe shook her head. "Never heard of him either."

When the personal questions died down, Ren spoke.

"Today, we'll cover the basics of Magic Theory. But first!"

Snap!

Ren flicked his fingers.

Whoosh!

Papers fluttered across the lecture hall.

Each bundle landed precisely in front of a student.

"Before we begin, we'll have a short Magic Theory test."

"Whaaat?"

"A test on the first day? That's harsh, Professor!"

Complaints echoed.

Some female students whined playfully.

"For reference, students scoring below the cutoff won't be allowed to take any Magic Studies classes."

"..."

The light mood turned icy.

Cautiously, a student raised their hand.

"P-Professor, what if a Magic Studies student fails the test?"

"Well, obviously," Ren said lightly, as if it were a silly question.

"They'll be expelled."