Chapter 78

Leana passed through the entrance of the wall with an ice block the size of a single bed on her back. She was almost the last one to arrive.

In the training ground, the students who had signed up for Bellen’s class were already there, busy glancing at Leana.

“Did she bring that here?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Why didn’t she break it up and put it in a bag like we did?”

Leana placed the ice block on the ground and panted heavily.

Just as she was starting to catch her breath, Bellen appeared with two professors. She was holding a bottle of alcohol in her hand.

“Get ready.”

At Bellen’s brief command, the professors waved their wands, placing large metal basins in front of each student.

The metal basins sizzled as soon as they touched the ground, as if they had been heated by fire.

A student, wide-eyed with surprise, asked, “What is this?”

“Put the ice you brought into these.”

“Ice?”

Bellen didn’t bother to answer, simply taking another swig from her bottle.

The students, still bewildered, placed the ice they had brought into the basins.

Steam rose quickly as the ice melted.

Ssssss!

“Hiccup, ugh….”

Bellen walked past the orderly rows of basins on the training ground, casting a glance at each one.

“Failed. You too.”

The students pointed out by Bellen protested indignantly.

“What? Why?”

“Why is that?”

“The basins aren’t filled with water.”

The basins of the students she had pointed at were only about half full.

“But then you should have set a standard from the start.”

“I’m sure I said to bring as much as the basin could hold.”

“How were we supposed to know you meant these basins?”

“A basin is a container, too. Why are you arguing so much?”

Ignoring the questions, Bellen continued to expel students.

“You’re out, too. Don’t think I didn’t notice you adding more ice just now. You can leave as well.”

Students grumbled at the harsh disqualifications.

“What kind of class is this?”

“Seriously… I thought I’d learn something from a famous knight, but all she’s doing is making us do weird tasks.”

Students gradually left.

Bellen stopped in front of one basin.

Ssssss!

There was still ice melting, with water already overflowing onto the ground. As the steam cleared, Leana’s face emerged.

“You brought an absurdly large piece of ice,” Bellen said curtly, narrowing her eyes.

After inspecting all the basins, Bellen looked around at the remaining students, who were now less than half of the original number.

“The water quality is poor. Bring cleaner ice tomorrow.”

The students grumbled in unison.

“Tomorrow as well?”

“Is there any point in bringing ice?”

“What should we do with the ice we worked so hard to get?”

Bellen laughed.

“The water you brought was meant to make alcohol. But the quality is bad. Do whatever you want with it, dump it or whatever.”

“Alcohol?”

Only then did the students realize that Bellen’s actions were a form of harassment disguised as a class.

“Damn it, we wasted our time.”

“I’m done with this.”

Another half of the students left voluntarily this time.

Watching the departing students, Bellen finished her bottle with a satisfied look.

Then, seeing the few remaining students, she turned her back.

Leana was still dumbfounded. Bringing a large piece of ice was the correct answer, as he had said.

-Just so you know, don’t feel guilty. It’s not a competition to trample on others. It’s about having the qualities to complete that difficult task.

The reliability of that statement was reinforced by the attitude of the professors supporting Bellen’s so-called class. The academy must have had a good reason to accept it. ℞

Leana stood firmly in the training ground, looking towards the Schlaphe Hall.

…How does he know?

He seemed a bit different. Maybe he was more attentive than she thought.

Leana soon shook her head.

That’s too much speculation. It’s more likely that he overheard something due to their family connection.

Still, she couldn’t deny the impression he left.

***

Hetherson was being led down the corridor by an old professor.

He stopped to look at the scenery outside the window. He saw Hersel receiving fish from a young maid.

“Something?”

“Just checking out what’s outside.”

His gaze remained fixed on the window. The old professor spoke in a puzzled voice.

“Hmm, but I don’t understand.”

“Why?”

“Liquid Gold was your prized weapon, wasn’t it? You scoured the world to gather it. Why did you give it to a student?”

Only then did Hetherson take his eyes off the window and look at the old professor.

“So what? It’s mine to give, and I’m about to die anyway.”

The old professor lowered his voice.

“Did you know?”

“From the moment I set foot here, specifically after seeing that bastard’s face.”

Hetherson had realized Frost Heart was a death trap upon seeing the curly-haired, black-haired man.

The old professor muttered softly.

“You saw Rockefeller…”

Rockefeller possessed magic that could probe people’s memories.

Although they had set up a security barrier to prevent this, it was only a matter of time. The barrier would eventually be breached, and once the barrier was removed, they would discover how to extract memories.

“This is too cruel. Dying at the hands of a traitor is not enough.”

“Calling him a traitor is a bit much. At the time, Rockefeller was a soldier. He was just doing his duty.”

Hetherson tapped his head and asked.

“So how long will it take?”

“A month.”

Once again, his gaze turned to the window. Hetherson looked at Hersel and smiled.

“Idiots. They can search forever.”

Liquid Gold had another secret: it could store memories, not just resonate with mana.

The memory of Inventory Magic had already been transferred with Liquid Gold.

He had used dark magic to store the memory in Liquid Gold in case of emergencies.

“Ugh, I haven’t slept well lately. I’m so tired. I keep yawning.”

It had only taken time because he was carefully progressing with a tiny amount of mana due to the hexagonal curse.

“Hmm? Your nose is bleeding. Wipe it.”

“Thanks, old man.”

If Hersel drew the set code with Liquid Gold, the memory would be reproduced in that golden-haired head.

Of course, Hetherson had no intention of giving him the key.

He was merely a means to hide the secret magic, nothing more, nothing less.

***

Meanwhile, in the principal’s office, Rockefeller calmly reported.

“Hetherson’s case will be resolved in about a month.”

Interpreting the complex security spells on his head was only a matter of time. Extracting his brain would be the only option, but the crucial part was the memory of Inventory Magic.

The life of a condemned man was worthless.

“Good to hear we’re making progress. His Majesty will be very pleased.”

Arkandric smiled in satisfaction.

Rockefeller internally sighed in relief. He had expected to be chastised about why that guy was still in the magic department, but recently, things had been quiet.

“By the way, did you notice any promising students among those who entered the dungeon practice?”

“Yes. There is an outstanding talent.”

“Oh, you rarely give praise. Explain in detail.”

“Ricks Don Orien. He has exceptional leadership skills. He even managed to foster unity, preventing a coin-snatching battle. The core members he leads are also not just suitable for Schlaphe.”

Arkandric’s face beamed with joy.

“A hidden gem, huh? This year has been exceptional.”

Indeed, this year had been exceptional. There were twice as many talented students as usual, with eight particularly outstanding ones.

“One student from Adelle Hall is already aiming for a position in the top ten.”

Riamon Sel Rebetura from Adelle Hall.

A first-year who could already infuse aura into his sword.

He might make it to the top ten before the end of his first year.

“I have high expectations. We need to push that kid harder.”

The one Arkandric personally mentored was none other than the mentioned individual.

“And how is Luon Al Banas?”

“He’s growing well. He’s a student I personally chose. I’m excited about the prospect of our academy having a magic swordsman.”

Recently, Arkandric had been heavily focused on Luon.

He had awakened his sense of smell, the highest form of magical talent, without any training. It was understandable.

Moreover, he was a rare talent who had chosen the path of the sword, not magic. His value was extremely high.

However, there were many concerns.

“I’m not sure. You know what kind of person he is.”

Before recommending his admission to the Banass family, they had thoroughly investigated him.

From his childhood, there were only bad stories, making a strong impression.

A twisted person who turned his stepmother and half-siblings into that state and meticulously left no evidence.

When Rockefeller first met him, he was convinced.

‘He’s a monster with intelligence.’

Such a gaze had been seen countless times on the battlefield. A person who wielded the sword purely for pleasure, not driven by a sense of duty.

With his qualifications as a magic swordsman and learning swordsmanship from the old master of the Frost Heart, the outcome was clear.

After a long silence, Arkandric spoke.

“I understand your concern, but this is a place of learning. We will do our best to correct his nature before graduation.”

Rockefeller could say no more.

For Arkandric, he was an invaluable talent worth taking the risk for.

“I won’t object to your decision. I’ll take my leave now.”

As he was about to leave, having finished his report, Arkandric called out.

“By the way, what’s going on with Hersel Ben Tenest?”

Ah.

Here it comes.

“That…”

“Relax, relax. Just speak comfortably. I’m not going to berate you about that anymore.”

“Excuse me?”

Rockefeller couldn’t believe his ears.

The man who always pressured him as if he were about to devour him was now calm.

“Actually, thanks to that kid, something great happened.”

Arkandric took out a letter from the drawer.

“Do you know what this is? It’s a letter from the mistress of the Tenest family.”

Rockefeller’s eyes widened as he read the letter.

“This is…”

It was about the admission of Mircel. Although there was an absurd condition to send him home once a month, his innate talent made it worth considering.

The Tenest family was one of the empire’s pillars, and the head of the family was a graduate of Frost Heart, ensuring security concerns would be addressed.

Rockefeller understood Arkandric’s reaction.

“That mischievous little kid wants to come here to see his brother. How could I hate him?”

The number one recruit prospect sought after by other academies was coming voluntarily.

Despite his young age, he was offered incredible benefits, with rumors of a strategic marriage by the royal family.

With such a blessing, other principals would be envious and jealous.

“As disappointing as it is, Mircel is good enough. Let’s set aside the matter of Hersel.”

But this is not acceptable.

“I plan to transfer Hersel Ben Tenest to the knight department.”

Although he held a grudge, it was a rational decision.

“Why?”

“Because he has the qualities to excel as a knight. No, he has already reached an extreme level. I’ve witnessed it several times with my own eyes.”

He might have even approached Aol’s level.

If so, he was already at the peak, merely a step or two away from becoming the strongest.

Letting him stray into magic would be an unacceptable regression for an educator.

‘That would be a retreat.’

He couldn’t let such talent live as an unknown magician.

“Moreover, I don’t recognize him as a magician.”

Rockefeller finished speaking and cleared his throat, feeling embarrassed by his outburst.

Fortunately, the principal seemed pleased and smiled.

“Do you understand why I can’t give up on Luon?”

Rockefeller realized.

Arkandric had planned this all along, mentioning Luon before bringing out the letter.

He was a cunning old man.

“Alright. If that’s what you want, do it. But how will you do it? I heard rumors that he might go to Adelle Hall. Remember, keep it within the regulations.”

Rockefeller calmly answered Arkandric’s question.

“I plan to pull a stunt during the midterms in a month. I’ll make sure he realizes that transferring to the Knight department is the only way.”