REAPER SCANS

[The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student]

[Translator – Aine ]

[Proofreader – Ash ]

Chapter 12

Lumeria City.

Situated in the heart of the continent, it held the title of the world's center not only geographically, but symbolically.

One of the many Warp Gates in Lumeria City shimmered with sparkling lights.

"Attention all passengers, we've arrived in Lumeria City. Please ensure you have all your belongings as you disembark from the gate."

Leo stepped off the gate upon hearing the announcement.

Located in the highlands outside the city, the Warp Gate was Leo's point of entry to Lumeria City.

As Leo exited the gate, the breathtaking view of Lumeria City unfolded before him.

Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom!

Leo's white hair danced in the wind.

The cityscape revealed a bustling metropolis, with a vast lake visible in the distance, an unexpected sight.

The normally mist-covered lake appeared crystal clear, offering a view of Lumene Academy, a colossal castle situated at its far end.

‘In two days, I'll be right there.’

A month had passed since Leo's entrance exam.

As it did every year, the events of the exam had stirred up quite a buzz.

In particular, his performance in the Western Provincial Examination was hot news.

His life had become a little busier, too, since only forty applicants had passed that exam.

‘But none of that was my concern.’

Leo, instead, focused on preparing for his admission to Lumene Academy.

Today marked his arrival in Lumeria after a month of preparation.

He’d arrived all alone, without any family members accompanying him.

After all, Lumene’s entrance ceremony was a closed event.

‘Go, have fun, and learn a lot.’

‘My son, you won’t be disappointed if we don’t come with you, right?’

Leo laughed, remembering Dade and Reina’s parting words.

Although they were aristocrats, Leo's family believed in modesty over extravagance.

‘I’d prefer to invest in our estate's welfare rather than spend it all on frivolous expenses like Warp Gate travel.’

And Leo, of course, agreed with those opinions.

Leo, exiting the Warp Gate, stepped onto Kuraju Street, the bustling main street of downtown Lumeria.

‘She said she’d be waiting here.’

"Leo! Over here!"

Celia, with her waist-length black hair tied in a ponytail and dressed in a luxurious suit, greeted Leo energetically.

This drew quite a deal of attention from passersby.

"How have you been?"

"Nothing much. Congratulations on first place, by the way."

"I'm not thrilled about sharing the title with Abad, but first place is still first place. They’ll call me… us, “captain” at the Academy," Celia remarked, brushing aside her hair gracefully.

"Try looking at me with a bit more respect now."

"I can't respect someone who's been rolling in the dirt."

"Hey!"

Celia blushed bright red at Leo's comment.

"Oh, honestly! You never know when to quit!"

Celia sighed deeply, shooting a playful glare at Leo.

"And what about Uncle Zeis?"

"He said he'd join us later. Let's do some shopping on Kuraju Street until then."

Kuraju Street offered everything needed for Lumene Academy.

From school uniforms to textbooks and various other supplies: armament, canes, and summoning catalysts, if needed.

"You haven't bought your uniform or textbooks yet, have you?"

"No."

"Let's take care of that today. Follow me, I'll help you find everything you need."

* * *

Reaper Scans

[Translator – Aine]

[Proofreader – Ash]

Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics

* * *

Celia took Leo to a large clothing store on the main street.

There, Lumene's school uniforms were showcased in glass display cases.

She pointed out one particular brand.

Blessliger.

"It seems pricey."

"Definitely, they’ve had a thousand-year history making Lumene uniforms."

Lumene's dress code required three types of clothing.

Event wear for special events.

Uniforms to be worn during class.

And a training suit to be worn during practice.

All clothes had specific standards.

One of these standards included the use of ‘mana cloth’ having mana imbued in the fabric.

The quality of the different brands of uniforms was fully dependent on the quality of the mana cloth used.

"Blessliger is known for luxury goods, including uniforms."

With her explanation done, Celia entered the store.

Ding ding

"Welcome to Blessliger."

The employee greeted them warmly and ushered them in.

Inside, Lumene students and other customers browsed.

A middle-aged woman approached them.

"Miss Celia, a pleasure to see you again."

Curtsying, she carefully inquired, "But may I ask, why are you visiting us again? Were you unhappy with your uniform?"

"No, not at all. We're here for a boy's uniform."

Celia gestured towards Leo.

"We're starting school this year."

"I see. I thought you were the only of the Zerdingers to matriculate. Now I see there are more lads this year?"

The tailor greeted Leo politely. "I'm Nera, the tailor at Blessliger."

Leo could immediately smell her sorcery skills.

‘Well, I guess you have to have some affinity for magic to handle mana cloth. But for a sorcerer to have become a tailor… I guess the market is oversaturated.’

"Let's take your measurements, sir."

Nera produced a measuring tape and began measuring Leo.

"Knight studies, correct?"

"Yes."

"What Aura properties will you be using?"

The types of Aura are defined according to the characteristics of the mental method used to produce it.

The blending of the mana cloth used varied depending on the properties of the wearer’s Aura.

Thus, the cloth could enhance one’s defense against the user’s opposite properties.

Or enhance the power of that same attribute.

Of course, mana cloth alone could produce dramatic effects, but even small boosts were helpful in Lumene, which in itself was essentially an infinite competition.

"I'd like a shamanic mana cloth."

"What?"

Nera seemed embarrassed, while Celia watched closely.

Leo smiled and repeated himself, "Please, make it shamanic."

Shamanic manacloth.

It had no properties at all.

An uncommon choice, to say the least.

"I see."

But the customer was always right.

After getting his measurements and asking for any other clarifications, Nera went into the cutting room.

"Why shamanic? You’re going to learn our family's Aura techniques soon. Isn't it better to order a uniform with flame mana cloth?"

"Just, I have a little thought in mind."

‘The lack of speciality means that anything can be done.’

Of course, he would learn the Zerdinger's Aura technique.

But he didn’t intend to focus solely on that.

"By the way, I don't have any money."

"So you want me to cover your expenses, you miser? Lucky for you, the Zerdinger family decided to support all your school expenses."

Leo recalled Reina's reassurance.

According to his mother, she had left all her assets with the Zerdinger family, ensuring Leo's financial stability.

Even if she had left the family, she could claim ownership over a good chunk of money, since it was legally property that she built separately from the other members of the family.

‘My mother, with her personality, will make their lives hell if they ever go back on this.’

Besides, the family head’s support was evident, having understood the situation well.

Only moments later, Nera, like the first-rate tailor she is, had tailored a perfect school uniform.

And there was only one minor adjustment needed thereafter.

Within the hour, Nera had finished.

“We’ll deliver your uniform right to your dorm.”

With the staff’s patience assistance, Leo completed his purchase at Blessliger.

"Shall we get textbooks next?" Celia suggested, leading Leo to the bookstore.

They bought both the mandatory textbooks and those specific to their majors.

Though, Leo swept up the books for the sorcery and summoning majors, too.

"Are you already preparing for a duel or something? You’re so thoroughly prepared…"

Leo muttered to himself as he looked at Celia, who nodded in admiration.

'I want to learn.’

Of course, he didn't have to say it out loud.

Because even if he said it, she would see it as if he were a crazy person.

Finally, they bought all the necessary textbooks.

After that, they continued exploring Lumeria.

It was a big city, with a lot to see.

Leo found joy in exploring Lumeria's bustling streets and sampling street food.

He couldn’t help but tease Celia, giving off a wide grin while eating ice cream from a small shop they’d found along the way.

‘She really is just a kid.’

Celia, who has always been conscious of other people's eyes as a public figure of the Zerdinger family, showed a lot of childish mannerisms while with Leo, just another kid the same age.

After a long day of travel and lighthearted exploration, they returned to the hotel right before dinnertime.

"Who is it?" a booming voice echoed from within.

"Uncle!"

Zeis was there, waiting for them.

"How did it go?"

Zeis, who ruffled Celia's hair as she gave her father a hug, approached Leo.

"Leo, how have you been for the past month?"

“I’ve been well, uncle.”

“The family has made our decision.”

After the entrance exam, Zeis had pitched to the family for Leo to learn Phoenix Breath.

Since the tradition was that only those from within the family could learn the Aura technique, the question of whether Leo, an outsider, could learn it was a very sensitive topic.

The series of meetings to discuss that matter had lasted the entire month, the decision only being finalized today.

“We’ve decided that you shall learn Phoenix Breath.”

Celia celebrated Leo's success, smiling widely. “Congratulations, Leo!”

Celia, who trained and took that examination with Leo, thought Leo was the right person for the Zerdinger technique.

He knew, however, that the higher-ranking members of the family may have had different opinions.

He was nervous, but now, he’d finally been granted permission.

"Even though she’d left the family, you are my sister's son, and…"

Zeis laughed.

“The elders were quite impressed by your role in the Western Examination.”

The news that only forty had passed the Western Examination had spread throughout the world.

Zeis presented Leo with a red key.

A subspace key.

"Go ahead, open it."

Leo raised the key to the air and turned it.

The subspace promptly opened, and a book appeared.

He opened the book, but nothing was written on it.

'It's sealed.'

He understood the structure of the seal immediately.

"Try a drop of blood there."

Leo bit his finger so it bled, then allowed it to run along the page.

Then, letters appeared.

"From now on, the book is only for your eyes to see."

"I see."

"Matriculation is the day after tomorrow... Why don't you get used to it before that?"

"May I?"

"Of course. If you can awaken your Aura before you start, there'd be no better way to kick off the school year."

Zeis let out a booming laugh.

"Of course, it won't be easy."

* * *

Leo returned to his room after attaining Phoenix Breath.

"Why are you here?"

"You're starting Aura training now, right? If you need help, just ask."

"Really?"

"Of course if you’re going to ask, though, you should say, 'Help me, please, miss!’'"

"No way I can call someone who lost to me ‘miss.’”

"Hey!"

Celia tossed a cushion at her cousin, recalling their past squabbles.

Leo deftly dodged it with a grin.

Celia shot him a frustrated look as she sat and opened a book.

"Ugh! I won't help until you ask politely!"

Leo smirked and checked the contents of his own book.

"Let's see."

It resembled a hero's Aura.

A complex and powerful technique.

Celia snorted as Leo concentrated on Phoenix Breath’s mana guide.

‘This isn’t going to be easy.’

With Leo's preexisting skills, grasping the mindset to use Aura would probably be quite straightforward.

‘My aunt said Leo's mastered Mana resonance.’

Mastering mana resonance was the biggest hurdle for learning Aura techniques. 

Understand mana resonance, and you were already halfway there.

But Phoenix Breath required more.

Not only mana resonance, but also mana management.

The first step was mastering the creation of a ‘firework.’

Celia, also a genius, took a week to spark.

She could already see Leo's struggle with mana operation.

Celia grinned mischievously.

‘I'll make you call me 'miss’' for two days~’

It was time to settle the score for her last humiliation.

Ooooooosh, crackle.

Flames engulfed Leo's body.

The flames seemed to have formed wings behind his back before quickly dissipating.

"Just like I thought, it's really not easy."

The next step of Phoenix Breath was its Wings of Flame.

Celia took two weeks to reach that stage.

'But this guy... this guy...'

"Hey, lady, got any tips for this part?"

Celia snapped, seeing Leo's lack of respect, pointing to a line of a book she couldn’t even see.

"Hey, you! You should've tried harder! No one masters it with a quick glance!" she couldn't help but shout.

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