REAPER SCANS

[The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student]

[Translator – Aine ]

[Proofreader – Ash ]

Chapter 18

"You're Chen Xia, right?"

"Yes, that's me. Pleasure to meet you, Leo Plov. You can call me Xia."

"Feel free to address me informally, as well."

"Then, I'll call you Leo."

Chen Xia smiled warmly, her eyes softening.

"I didn't take you for a summoner. What's your major, Leo?"

"I'll be taking some contractual summoning courses."

"Then we'll be seeing a lot of each other."

Chen Xia smiled, extending her hand.

Splish!

Tiny water droplets coalesced, creating the form of Undine, the lesser water spirit.

"What kind of spirit have you contracted with, Leo?"

"I haven't made a contract yet."

Chen Xia nodded.

If he were a major, she would’ve thought it strange.

But she assumed Leo was among many other students minoring in summoning who hadn't made a spirit contract, only possessing an affinity for spirits.

"Let me know if you need any advice on summoning a spirit. I'd be happy to help."

She seemed to enjoy assisting others.

"Thank you."

"Ahem. And how old are you, Leo?"

"Fifteen."

"So, I’m older than you. I'm seventeen."

‘Seventeen?’

Leo glanced at Chen Xia with surprise.

In Lumene, acceptable ages for freshmen ranged from 14 to 17, so it wasn’t unusual.

But Chen Xia appeared much younger than that.

"Did you think it was rude to doubt my age, Leo?"

Leo smirked, meeting Chen Xia's playful gaze.

"No."

"I think you did."

Then, their conversation paused upon the start of class.

Unlike the previous knight studies class, the summoning class was notably smaller.

Yet, there was no sign of their professor.

"I expected the professor to come by now, but no sign of them."

Leo gazed at the sky, Chen Xia mirroring his puzzlement.

"Here they come."

Chen Xia followed his gaze skyward.

A colossal dragon descended, its wings beating.

Whooooooooooooooooooom!

Upon landing, the black wyvern flapped its wings, creating a stir.

"Wow! A black wyvern!"

"That's legendary!"

Students erupted in cheers at the rare sight.

A figure dismounted the wyvern.

Professor Yura, nearly 170 centimeters tall, exuded a wild aura.

Her long gray hair was tied back and she wore leather attire, emphasizing her athletic physique, a whip coiled at her waist.

"Hello, first-years! I'm Yura Marin, your Summonology professor for the year!"

"Pleasure to meet you, Professor Yura!" the students answered in response.

Professor Yura nodded, her arms crossed in satisfaction.

Some boys blushed, hearts aflutter.

"Where’s the assistant professor?"

The person who appeared to be the assigned associate professor hurried to Professor Yura's call.

"Professor, I'm here."

"Why are you so late?"

"My class schedule just changed last-minute!"

"Don't complain! My schedule's been changing every day for a while now! Always be prepared!"

"Th-that's a bit much, don’t you think…"

Carlo, the associate professor, looked teary-eyed.

‘She’s pretty unpredictable…’ 

All the students, including Leo, agreed on this.

Though, of course, some boys were busy just admiring Professor Yura.

Can anyone really learn properly from a professor like this?

"Anyway, are you prepared now at least?"

"Yes, ma’am."

"Alright, everyone. The fact that you’re here alone means you have talent as summoners, right?"

Professor Yura's tone was serious.

"If any of you with poor summoning skills was thinking of minoring in it, think again."

Her eyes glistened in a frightening way.

"Get out now."

No student dared to move at her command.

These students who passed the entrance exam couldn't be scared away from class by threat alone.

"No takers? Then let's get started. Everyone, follow me."

Chen Xia raised her hand.

"Where are we going?"

"Follow me."

With a smile, Professor Yura gestured to her side.

An assistant led a group of griffins.

"We’re headed to the training grounds."

* * *

Reaper Scans

[Translator – Aine]

[Proofreader – Ash]

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The students cheered as they rode the griffins in pairs.

Such an experience was rare.

Summoning griffins was so difficult that most students aspiring to summon had never had the chance to ride one.

"I'm so glad I came to Lumene!"

"I'll be able to contract with one soon, right?"

The students were filled with swelling excitement over these seemingly-realistic dreams.

"Hey! Let me take control now!"

"Gimme one more minute!"

In their excitement, some of the first-year students argued over who got to steer the griffin.

"How amusing!"

Chen Xia, holding the griffin's reins, spoke excitedly.

"Be careful, though."

"Why?"

"Griffins are hard to handle for first-time riders."

"But they seem so gentle and obedient."

"Because the professor is here."

Leo glanced at Professor Yura, who was riding the lead griffin.

"Well, I doubt they'll behave once we're out of sight of the professor's watchful eye."

Roooaaarrr!

"What's happening?"

As soon as Leo spoke, some of the griffins began to roar.

It wasn't just the griffin Leo and Chen Xia were on, however.

All the griffins, previously obedient, began to buck and jump.

Chen Xia panicked and tugged on the reins, but the griffin refused to obey.

"Ugh! He's out of control!"

"What's happening?"

"Professor, help!"

The other students were also in a panic.

Professor Yura, on a black wyvern, chuckled.

"Can you call yourselves Lumene students if you can't handle a griffin properly? Take control!"

"Oh no! Ah!"

Chen Xia tried to stay determined as she struggled with the reins.

Despite her struggle, Chen Xia's grip on the reins remained firm.

But the griffin's strength pulled Chen Xia's hand away, nearly lifting her from the saddle.

But thanks to her physical strength derived from training as a knight, she was able to quickly regain control.

Chen Xia, with a determined expression, tried her best to assert her strength in the struggle.

Leo wrapped his arm around Chen Xia's waist, pulling her closer.

"What? Leo? What are you doing?"

"Griffins are prideful creatures. Trying to overpower them only makes it worse."

Leo gently took hold of the reins with his other hand.

With nothing but a gentle touch on the reins, the griffin, previously wild, began to calm down.

"He's well-trained, so he responds to a gentle touch."

For first-time riders, griffins are notoriously difficult to handle. 

But somehow, Leo made it seem easy.

Chen Xia watched in amazement.

"Leo, have you ever ridden a griffin before?"

"No, this is my first time."

Chen Xia turned to Leo with surprise.

"Really?"

Leo returned her gaze with a calm expression.

“Pretty sure."

Chen Xia turned back, puzzled.

"How did you become so skilled with griffins, then? Do you have a secret?"

"I mostly studied them from textbooks."

"Hmm! Quite impressive for someone who caused such a scene at the entrance ceremony."

Chen Xia chuckled, warming up to Leo.

Unfazed, Leo pulled Chen Xia closer.

"I'm going to go faster. Hold on tight."

"Are you always this forward with older women?"

"An elderly woman, you mean? My apologies."

"Hm, rude, too."

Chen Xia playfully pinched Leo's hand.

Realizing Leo’s lack of improper intention, however, she relaxed, leaning comfortably on his chest.

With everything set, Leo called out.

"Let's go!"

He tugged on the reins, and the griffin soared even higher in the air.

"Wow!"

Chen Xia marveled at the griffin's newfound obedience.

“Hm, what’s going on over there?”

Professor Yura's eyes gleamed with interest.

"He’s quite skilled with griffins for a student. Who is he?"

"That's Leo Plov, this year’s freshman representative."

"Leo Plov? The knight studies major?"

"He defeated Duran Moira, the central region captain, in his last class."

"And he handles griffins like that? Does he own one personally?"

"No, he hails from only a minor aristocratic family. Owning a griffin is beyond their means."

Carlo nodded assuredly while scanning the student roster.

"Ah... Then he’s quite the talent, isn't he?"

Professor Yura licked her lips, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"He’s talented enough to be the star student in the year’s summoning department, not just in knight studies."

"I understand your interest, Professor. But I doubt the knight studies department will allow us to poach one of its best."

"What can they do about it? These students are exceptional. They're sought after worldwide, not just by the summoning department. Plus, they haven’t even chosen their majors yet, right?"

Professor Yura grinned challengingly.

Carlo felt a pang of unease at the exchange.

'Hope nothing goes wrong.'

Via griffin, they finally arrived at a large island in Lake Lumeria.

Lake Lumeria, about as vast as an ocean, harbored several such islands.

Their seclusion encouraged the Academy to use them often for training.

Chen Xia dismounted the griffin with a swift, graceful leap.

As Leo dismounted, the griffin affectionately nudged his cheek with its beak.

About to pluck a fruit off one of the surrounding trees for the griffin, Leo noticed a large gray feather on a nearby branch.

‘What's this...?’

"Why are you stopping, Leo?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

Leo tucked the feather into his pocket.

Meanwhile, other students began arriving on the island.

"Oh, man!"

"That was tougher than I thought."

"I might be sick..."

Most were exhausted from the griffin ride, though a few seemed unfazed.

Walden Thaidin, the South's captain, was one such example.

Another was a slightly aloof-looking girl, equally composed.

She casually inspected her nails, shooting a disdainful glance at a fellow student.

These two, along with Leo, seemed adept with griffins.

'Walden, Eliza... they're sure to take the lead in this summoning class.'

Professor Yura's eyes sparkled as she observed them.

"We have some excellent tamers here. Stop loafing around and gather up!" Professor Yura called out with a satisfied grin, and the students gasped.

Addressing the assembled students, Professor Yura announced with a smile, "Today, we'll be having a practical exam!"

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