Book 1 Chapter 1000

1000.

Whoosh! Bang-! Bang-!

The sound of fireworks echoed high in the sky.

Along with that, Seirun's giant main gate opened, and countless elf visitors came to Seirun.

And they were surprised to see Seirun's changed appearance.

In elf society, Seirun had until now been like a symbol of authority.

To be from Seirun was always an object of awe in elf society.

For that reason, Seirun students were far from approachable to other ordinary elves.

However, that trend changed last year, after Luna appeared in the present world.

"How to put it. Don't the expressions of the people looking at us seem quite different from before?"

When Lea, Seirun's second-year top student, spoke as if amazed, Elrick, the second-ranked student, adjusted his glasses and said.

"They're treating us amiably, so it's only natural."

"Seeing this, it seems like a lot has really changed. And I like this more."

At Lea's words, Elrick nodded as if in agreement.

"Here, please take a guide pamphlet."

"Ohh… thank you!"

A seemingly naive elf boy received a pamphlet from Lea and cautiously asked.

"Um… I heard that there's an admissions briefing held within Seirun."

During this Rusé War, Seirun was holding a large-scale admissions briefing.

But the elf boy was clearly not a mage at first glance.

Lea glanced at the hand of the elf boy holding the pamphlet.

His hands were full of calluses.

"An aspiring knight?"

"Ah, yes! I heard that since last year, you can enter Seirun even without learning magic."

As he said, Seirun's most dramatic change was none other than this:

The admission requirement that one must learn 'magic,' which was an essential element for admission, had disappeared.

Even though this news had been widely known since last year, the admission rate for pure knight and summoner students was not high.

This was largely because people thought that even if it disappeared from the admission requirements, Seirun's long-standing trend of thousands of years would not easily change.

However, among the students admitted this year, those who had not learned magic performed remarkably.

Thanks to that, aspiring knights like the boy in front of them came to Seirun filled with anticipation.

Lea smiled faintly at the nervous prospective student and unfolded the pamphlet.

"The Milky Way Plaza you see here. The admissions briefing is being held there. They'll explain in detail what kind of education aspiring knights receive and kindly guide you on what you need for admission, so it will be very helpful."

"Ah! Th-thank you. But how did you know I was an aspiring knight?"

"I can tell just by looking."

Seeing Lea's bright smile, the elf boy was impressed.

'Wow, Seirun students are truly extraordinary.'

The boy bowed his head deeply and headed towards his friends, who appeared to be his companions.

"Guys! She said we should go here. Huh? Why are you all so frozen?"

"You… don't you know who that person is?"

"That kind person? Who is she?"

"Read the newspaper! It's Lea Tingel! Seirun's second-year top student!"

"Gasp!"

The boy who had asked Lea for directions reacted with shock.

The fact that the successor of the Tingel family, the most prestigious elf noble family, was greeting visitors and distributing guide pamphlets was unimaginable in the Seirun of old.

Lea chuckled as she watched them.

"I like this kind of thing."

The rigid elf society was changing.

Lea found it very enjoyable to watch such changes.

***

Chloe asked her elf friend next to her with a wry face.

"Hey, Lunia."

"Why are you calling?"

"Why is that elf who came with you earlier staring at me with such scary eyes?"

This was the Milky Way Plaza, where Seirun's admissions briefing would be held.

Lunia, who was in charge of the presentation as student council president, looked in the direction Chloe was pointing with eyes that somehow looked exhausted.

Since it was before the admissions briefing, the Milky Way Plaza was empty.

The only elf occupying a seat was none other than Seirun.

She was glaring at Lunia and Chloe with wide eyes.

Lunia scratched her head and avoided her gaze.

"She's happy to see a promising mage."

"She looks like she's about to pounce at any moment?"

"Her emotional expressions are just a little rough."

Lunia tried to make it sound as plausible as possible to protect Seirun's honor.

The truth was, Chloe had earned Seirun's dislike because she was the mage who had previously received a unique magic as a gift from Luna.

Just then.

"Oh? It's Leo."

Chloe spotted Leo entering the Milky Way Plaza.

Leo approached Seirun, smacked her on the head, and then dragged her out.

A moment later.

Prospective students hoping to enter Seirun began to enter the Milky Way Plaza.

Guided by Seirun students, they gradually took seats from the front.

Of course, not only prospective students but also admitted students were present.

Once everyone was seated, Lunia spoke into a microphone enchanted with amplification magic.

[Hello. Prospective students and current students. I am Lunia El Rundia, Seirun's student council president. It's nice to meet you all.]

Ooooh-!

Exclamations erupted among the prospective students.

Lunia El Rundia, the one who chases nebulae.

The one who, as the founder of nebulae and Luna's successor, had already risen to the position of a hero.

Though still a student, it was clear she would become a hero leading the elves after graduation.

For students hoping to enter Seirun, she was naturally an object of admiration.

[We will now begin Seirun's admissions briefing.]

With that, Lunia began explaining Seirun's educational curriculum.

From magic to aura studies and summoning studies.

She announced that they would strive to provide classes on par with magic, and also mentioned that they were researching teaching methods from other hero academies for that purpose.

Chloe was also impressed listening to Lunia's presentation.

'Seirun is truly trying to change.'

It felt like it was no longer just a school for star magic, but truly transforming into a school for elves.

[Of course, Seirun has only emphasized star magic for a long time. Therefore, there will be many deficiencies in supporting students aspiring to be knights and summoners.]

Lunia honestly spoke about Seirun's shortcomings.

[To compensate for that as much as possible, we plan to extensively implement a student exchange program with Lumerin starting next year. To explain the new student exchange program with Lumerin starting next year, we have invited Ms. Chloe Müller, Lumerin's vice student council president, to this stage.]

At Lunia's words, Chloe went up to the stage.

"It's Chloe Müller."

"Wow, she's beautiful…"

Chloe, from the Northern Mage Tower, was quite famous even among elves.

No matter what anyone said, as a race called the "race of magic," Chloe, who was currently attracting attention in the magical academic world, naturally became known in elf society.

Chloe cleared her throat, seeing the Seirun prospective and current students welcoming her.

[Hello, I am Chloe Müller.]

Chloe explained in detail the classes they would receive if they came to Lumerin as exchange students.

Not only the prospective students but also the current students were busy taking notes with sparkling eyes.

Seeing their passionate expressions, Chloe smiled gently.

'Should I talk to Leo and suggest that Lumerin also hold an admissions briefing?'

[This concludes the explanation. Do you have any questions?]

At Chloe's question, Seirun students began to raise their hands.

Chloe pointed to one female student among them.

"Hello! My name is Zehina, a first-year student. I have a question for Lumerin's Vice Student Council President!"

[Yes.]

"I heard that the male and female dorms are integrated at Lumerin… Is that true?"

[Yes. Currently, all Lumerin students live in the same dorm. However, male and female spaces are separated…]

Before Chloe could even finish her sentence, the Seirun students began to murmur.

"Wow, can couples really share a room at Lumerin if they're in a relationship?!"

"Typical Lumerin!"

"The rumors were true."

'No! There's no way men and women can share the same room! And what do you mean "typical Lumerin"! What kind of rumors are going around?!'

Chloe was horrified internally.

[W-wait a minute! Male and female spaces are clearly separated. Entering a room of the opposite sex will result in punishment for violating school rules.]

At her words, the Seirun students seemed flustered and began to murmur.

"Is that how it was?"

"Didn't they say you could date freely at Lumerin?"

"Our seniors said that they don't find public displays of affection strange there."

'Seriously, what kind of rumors are spreading about our school?! The 2nd to 5th years came to our school last year, didn't they?'

Chloe felt a headache coming on from the rampant rumors in Seirun.

Just then, a male student who appeared to be a fourth-year cautiously asked.

"Um… if I go as an exchange student, can I date a Lumerin student?"

[…Are you referring to friends? Or lovers?]

"Um… both?"

[Well, if you get along, it's possible.]

At her words, the atmosphere among the Seirun students heated up again.

"I want to try dating someone at Lumerin! After meeting a few, elves weren't fun. I definitely need to apply for the exchange student program next year."

"There are many cool people at Lumerin…"

"If you start dating during the Rusé War period, couldn't you have a long-term relationship?"

Seeing the conversation take a strange turn, Chloe turned to Lunia with a dumbfounded expression.

Lunia had her face covered with her hands.

"Lunia. Can you explain this situation?"

"How to put it… Seirun… No. In elf society, because of Lady Luna and Lord Kyle, love with humans has become an enormous romance."

"I know that. But weren't elves quite conservative?"

Looking at the current situation, Seirun students seemed desperate for relationships.

"Elves are the same as humans. It's just that, how should I put it, a common belief in elf society… they considered suppressing such impulses due to custom as an aesthetic. But when those common beliefs and customs suddenly disappeared…"

"Suppressed impulses burst forth all at once?"

"…"

Lunia couldn't bring herself to answer, and Chloe could only wear a dumbfounded expression.

"Lumerin Vice Student Council President! Have you ever dated a boyfriend?"

Just then, a second-year female student asked with sparkling eyes, and Chloe sighed.

"No."

"What? But you're human?"

'What on earth do elves think of humans?'

Chloe felt her head spinning.

She felt that if she didn't correct the wrong prejudices entrenched among Seirun students, a big problem would arise later.

'This Rusé War… won't be smooth sailing.'

***

Luna perked up her ears and was watching the festival alone.

'This world is much richer than the age of gods.'

Luna, who had been strolling around the Seirun campus with an excited face, stopped in front of a souvenir shop.

What the shop was selling were masks of great heroes.

Luna blinked, looking at five types of masks.

One was herself, and another was Kyle.

And…

'These people… are my future comrades…'

Among them, what caught Luna's gaze was Lysina's mask.

Luna reached out for Lysina's mask.

At that moment.

There was a small hand that simultaneously grabbed one of the masks.

Luna turned her head and tilted it.

It was an elf girl her age with white hair and red eyes.

'This kid… isn't an elf. Moreover…'

Although she was disguised as an elf with surprisingly intricate magic, Luna's senses, loved by magic, told her that the other person was not an elf.

And another strange sensation was felt.

'She doesn't seem to be from this era, like me?'

The surrounding sensation enveloping the girl was telling her so.

Just then, Lena muttered.

"Grandm… ma'am?"

*Swish-*

Luna lifted Lysina's mask.

*CRACK-*

"Argh!"

And with that, she struck Lena's head.

Seeing Lena clutching her head and rolling on the floor, Luna smiled coldly.

"Who are you calling an old hag, you damn brat."