Book 1 Chapter 1000

1000.

Whoooosh! Bang-! Bang-!

The sound of fireworks echoed high in the sky.

Along with it, the grand gates of Seirun opened, and countless elf visitors arrived at Seirun.

And they were amazed by the changed appearance of Seirun.

In elf society, Seirun had always been a symbol of authority.

Being from Seirun always earned one reverence among elves.

That's why Seirun students were far from approachable to other ordinary elves.

However, this trend began to change last year, after Luna appeared in the mortal realm.

"What do you think? Doesn't it seem like people's expressions when they look at us are different from before?"

Leia, the top second-year student of Seirun, said with a sense of wonder. Elik, the second-ranked student, adjusted his glasses and replied,

"Well, it's bound to be, since they're treating us kindly."

"Looking at this, it really seems like a lot has changed. And I like it better this way."

Leia nodded in agreement to Elik's words.

"Here, please take a brochure."

"Ohh… Thank you!"

A seemingly naive elf boy received a brochure from Leia and cautiously asked,

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

This time, for the Ruse Festival, Seirun was holding a large-scale admissions briefing session.

But judging by his appearance, the elf boy was not a mage.

Leia glanced at the elf boy's hand holding the brochure.

His hand was covered in calluses.

"Aspiring knight?"

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

Indeed, the most dramatic change in Seirun was none other than this: the requirement to learn 'magic,' which was essential for admission, had been abolished.

Despite this news being widely spread since last year, the admission ratio of pure knights and summoner students was not high.

This was largely due to the prevalent thought that Seirun's centuries-old traditions wouldn't easily change, even if the admission requirements were removed.

However, this year, students who hadn't learned magic showed remarkable performance after admission.

Thanks to that, aspiring knights like the boy in front of them were visiting Seirun with high expectations.

Leia smiled at the nervous examinee and unfolded the brochure.

"The Milky Way Plaza you see here. That's where the admissions briefing is being held. They'll explain in detail the kind of education aspiring knights receive and what's needed 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 by looking."

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

'Wow, Seirun students are truly extraordinary.'

The boy bowed his head deeply and headed towards where his friends, who seemed to be with him, were.

"Hey guys! They said we should go this way. Huh? Why are you all frozen like that?"

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

"That kind person? Who is it?"

"Read the newspaper! It's Leia Tingel! The top second-year student of Seirun!"

"Gasp!"

The boy who had asked Leia for directions showed a shocked reaction.

The fact that the heir of the Tingel family, the most prestigious family in the elf world, was greeting visitors and handing out brochures was unimaginable in the past Seirun.

Watching the scene, Leia chuckled.

"This is good. I like this."

The rigid elf society was changing.

Leia found it very enjoyable to witness such changes.

***

Chloe asked her elf friend next to her with a reluctant expression.

"Excuse me, Lunia."

"Why are you calling me?"

"Why is that elf over there, who came with you earlier, glaring at me with those terrifying eyes?"

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

Lunia, who was in charge of the presentation as student council president, looked in the direction Chloe pointed with somewhat tired eyes.

Since the admissions briefing hadn't started yet, 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-open eyes.

Lunia scratched her head and avoided Seirun's gaze.

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

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

"She just expresses her emotions a bit roughly."

Lunia tried her best to put a plausible spin on it to protect Seirun's honor.

In reality, Chloe had received a unique magic from Luna recently, which had earned her Seirun's displeasure.

Just then.

"Oh? It's Leo."

Chloe spotted Leo entering the Milky Way Plaza.

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

A moment later.

Examinees hoping to enter Seirun began to enter the Milky Way Plaza.

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

Of course, not only examinees but also enrolled students were present.

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

[Hello, examinees and current students. I am Lunia El Lundia, the student council president of Seirun. It's a pleasure to meet you.]

Oooooooh-!

Gasps of admiration erupted from among the examinees.

Lunia El Lundia, the one who chases nebulae.

As the successor to Luna, the progenitor of nebulae, she had already ascended to the ranks of heroes.

Although still a student, she was clearly destined to be the hero who would lead the elves after graduation, making her an object of admiration for students hoping to attend Seirun.

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

Thus, Lunia began her explanation of Seirun's curriculum.

From magic to aura studies and summoning studies.

She announced their efforts to provide classes of equal standing to magic and mentioned that they were researching the teaching methods of other hero schools for this purpose.

Chloe listened to Lunia's presentation with admiration.

'Seirun is truly trying to change.'

She felt it was transforming from a school solely for star magic to a school truly for the elves.

[Of course, Seirun has prioritized star magic for many years. Therefore, there will likely be many shortcomings in supporting students aspiring to be knights and summoners.]

Lunia honestly acknowledged Seirun's weaknesses.

[To compensate for this, starting next year, we plan to implement a large-scale exchange student program in cooperation with Rumern. To explain the exchange student program with Rumern, which will be newly established next year, we have invited Ms. Chloe Müller, the vice president of Rumern, to this stage.]

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

"I am Chloe Müller."

"Wow, she's beautiful…"

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

As the so-called 'race of magic,' Chloe, who was currently gaining attention in the academic magic community, naturally became known in elf society.

Seeing the Seirun examinees and current students welcoming her, Chloe cleared her throat.

[Hello, I am Chloe Müller.]

Chloe spoke in detail about the classes students would receive if they came to Rumern as exchange students.

Not only the examinees but also the current students were eagerly taking notes, their eyes shining.

Seeing their passionate attitudes, Chloe smiled gently.

'Should I suggest to Leo that Rumern also hold an admissions briefing?'

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

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

Chloe pointed to one of the female students.

"Hello! I'm Jehina, a first-year student. I have a question for Vice President Chloe Müller of Rumern!"

[Yes.]

"I heard that the male and female dormitories at Rumern are currently integrated… Is that true?"

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

Before Chloe could finish her sentence, the Seirun students started murmuring.

"Wow, does that mean Rumern really allows boyfriends and girlfriends to share a room?!"

"That's so Rumern!"

"The rumors were true."

'No! There's no way they allow boyfriends and girlfriends to share a room! And what do you mean 'that's so Rumern'! What kind of rumors are circulating!'

Chloe was inwardly horrified.

[Wait, just a moment! The male and female spaces are strictly separated. Entering another gender's room is a violation of school rules and will be punished.]

At this, the Seirun students seemed taken aback and began to murmur.

"Was that it?"

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

"The seniors said they don't find public displays of affection strange."

'No, what kind of rumors are circulating about our school! After all, students from the second to fifth years came to our school last year.'

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

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

"Um… If I go as an exchange student, can I date a Rumern student?"

[…Are you talking about a friend? Or a lover?]

"Well… Both?"

[Well, if your hearts align, it's possible.]

At that, the atmosphere among the Seirun students heated up again.

"I want to date someone from Rumern! I've met a few people, and elves are boring. I must apply for the exchange student program next year."

"There are so many cool people at Rumern…"

"If we start dating during the Ruse Festival, couldn't it become a long-term relationship?"

Seeing the conversation taking a strange turn, Chloe looked at Lunia with a bewildered expression.

Lunia had her face covered with her hands.

"Lunia. Can you explain this situation?"

"Well… In Seirun… No. In elf society, due to Luna and Kyle, love with humans has become a huge romance."

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

Judging by the current situation, the Seirun students seemed desperate to date.

"Elves are the same as humans. It's just that in elf society, there's a concept… a custom that considers suppressing such urges as aesthetic. But that concept and custom suddenly disappeared…"

"The suppressed urges exploded all at once?"

"…"

Lunia couldn't bring herself to answer, and Chloe could only wear a look of disbelief.

"Vice President Chloe Müller of Rumern! Have you ever had a boyfriend?"

At that moment, a second-year female student asked with sparkling eyes, and Chloe sighed.

"No."

"What? But you're human!"

'What do elves think of humans?'

Chloe felt a dizzying sensation.

She felt that if she didn't correct the misconceptions held by the Seirun students, major problems would arise later.

'This Ruse Festival… it's not going to be smooth sailing.'

***

Luna was pricking up her ears, enjoying the festival alone.

'This world is so much more abundant than the age of gods.'

Luna, wandering around the Seirun campus with an intrigued expression, stopped in front of a shop selling souvenirs.

What they were selling were masks of great heroes.

Luna blinked and looked at the five types of masks.

One was herself, and another was Kyle.

And…

'These people are my future comrades…'

Among them, the mask of Lisinas caught Luna's eye.

Luna reached out for the Lisinas mask.

At that moment.

There was a small hand reaching for a mask at the same time.

Luna turned her head and tilted it in confusion.

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

'This… she's not an elf. And moreover…'

Although disguised as an elf with incredibly elaborate magic, Luna's senses, blessed by magic, told her that the other party was not an elf.

And she felt another strange sensation.

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

The surrounding aura enveloping the girl conveyed that.

Just then, Leia mumbled.

"Grandma…?"

Swish-

Luna picked up the Lisinas mask.

CRACK-!

"Ouch!"

And with it, she hit Leia on the head.

Watching Leia writhing on the ground, clutching her head, Luna smiled coldly.

"Who are you calling grandma, you damn brat."