Book 1 Chapter 106
**[106] 105.**
“I didn’t know you had the talent to reach an all-class level.”
“I found out when I went to school too, Father.”
Leo said calmly while talking with his father, Deid, during dinner.
“He’s my son, but how on earth did such a powerful child come to be?”
Reina also shook her head in amazement.
Even Reina, who had perceived the qualities of a brilliant knight in her son, never dreamed that Leo was an all-class talent.
When she heard the story, she couldn't believe her ears.
Enjoying dinner with his parents after a long time, Leo told them about what had happened at school.
“Many names I miss.”
Reina smiled brightly, recalling her school days.
“Ain, is he still as gruff?”
“You know Professor Ain?”
“Yes. He’s my peer, you know?”
Leo admired Reina, who spoke so casually.
“Now that I think about it, you two are the same age.”
“Yeah. Anyway, Ain, huh… Hehe.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“Oh. I just thought it would be fun to meet him at the parent-teacher observation event in the second semester. No! Professor Halind said he’s coming during this vacation, didn’t he? I should tease him!”
Reina, having returned to her school days, wore a girlish expression and enjoyed herself.
“Professor Halind? Even his old students are intimidated and can’t move a muscle, so can you really tease him carelessly?”
“Huh? Why would you be intimidated? Professor Halind is so kind.”
“……”
Leo made a strange expression at the word ‘kind,’ which didn’t suit Halind at all, who was known as the Wailing Wall of Rumerne.
Leo wasn’t intimidated by Halind, but all other first-year students, except Leo, trembled in front of Halind.
No, even other upperclassmen and professors trembled.
‘Well, they’ll handle the aftermath themselves, I guess.’
Leo shrugged his shoulders and enjoyed the home-cooked meal after a long time.
Deid watched him with a pleased look.
“Oh, come to think of it, I also met Ms. Pirina.”
“Huh? Pirina?”
Reina was surprised.
“Why is Pirina in Rumerne?”
“She said it was due to personal reasons.”
“Really?”
“And I made a contract with Ms. Pirina’s daughter.”
Reina’s mouth dropped open.
“What? You made a contract with a Phoenix?”
Since it was a fact unknown to the public, Reina and Deid were greatly surprised.
Seeing their reaction, Leo invoked spiritual power and drew a summoning circle.
A moment later, Piora, in her true form, emerged from the summoning circle.
*Peep?*
“Oh my? What a cute baby bird. Come here?”
Reina exclaimed and beckoned.
Piora tilted her head but approached Reina without much suspicion.
Then, she pecked at the steak in front of Reina.
Reina, watching her as if she were cute, asked Leo.
“So, where is the Phoenix you contracted with?”
*Peep! Peep!*
Pirina chirped, spreading her wings wide as if protesting.
Seeing that, Leo said nonchalantly.
“She’s the Phoenix.”
At his words, Piora elegantly folded her wings and lifted her chin.
“……She’s a chick, isn’t she?”
*Peep!*
And she protested indignantly.
“She is a Phoenix. Her name is Piora.”
“I see.”
When Reina accepted Leo’s explanation, Piora bowed her head in an elegant gesture as if greeting.
“But wasn’t Pirina’s daughter supposed to contract with Ellen’s daughter?”
“I ended up making a contract. I also met with Lundia’s successor and already finished talking with them.”
“Ellen’s daughter? Ah, right! You must have met her during the school trip?”
The surprised Reina nodded.
Then she let out a hollow laugh.
“Really. You’ve really had a hectic semester.”
“Isn’t Rumerne always like this?”
“No matter how tough Rumerne is, it’s not easy to have a semester as spectacular as yours, you know?”
Reina, a Rumerne alumna, shook her head.
“Anyway, you must have had a tough semester, so rest well during the vacation.”
After dinner and enjoying dessert, Reina, who had a long conversation with her son after a long time, hummed a tune and returned to her room.
Deid, who had finished showering and preparing for bed and came to the room, saw Reina taking something out from her desk and looking at it, and made a curious expression.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
“My school days album.”
Deid smiled softly and sat next to Reina.
“Have you finally decided to look at it?”
“Yes. Hearing Leo’s story suddenly made me miss those days.”
Reina had lost her flames in an unexpected accident.
She was smiling calmly, but her time as a Zerdinger, including her time at Rumerne, was a painful wound for Reina.
Because of that, she had tried her best to refrain from anything that reminded her of that time.
Deid also knew that fact, so he didn’t ask Reina any questions that would bring back memories of the past.
“How is it? My teenage self?”
“Beautiful.”
“More than now?”
“No, as much as now.”
“You dodged that well, didn’t you?”
Reina chuckled and turned the album page.
Deid made a curious expression, looking at the other races in the album.
“Are these students from other hero academies?”
“Yes. This elf here is Ellen, and this beastkin is Berga. The dwarf is Jack.”
Hearing those names, Deid shook his head in amazement.
All of them were heroes whose names were listed in the Hero Record, or highly renowned individuals comparable to them.
“I heard that Azonia, the beastkin hero academy, holds its entrance ceremony in the summer, unlike other schools?”
“That’s right. They hold their entrance ceremony when it’s hottest.”
“Is there a reason for that?”
“Yes. Azonia is famous for having the toughest entrance ceremony.”
The beastkin hero academy, Azonia’s entrance ceremony was very unique.
It was none other than a desert crossing marathon.
“Well, it’s called an entrance ceremony, but it’s actually the final entrance exam.”
“The final entrance exam?”
“Yes. Azonia offers free lectures during the season when other schools hold their entrance ceremonies.”
“Free lectures?”
“Yes. Anyone aged fifteen can attend the lectures. Other races are welcome too. As long as they wish, they can attend. So surprisingly, there are human and dwarf students among Azonia’s students.”
“Elves?”
“Elves absolutely loathe Azonia’s school culture, so they’d never go.”
Reina rested her chin on her hand.
“Anyway, they study like that and take tests periodically. And only those who pass can continue taking classes. Students who ultimately survive until summer are given the opportunity to participate in the entrance ceremony. And if they complete the marathon, they officially become an Azonia student. That’s why the entrance ceremony is also called the final entrance exam.”
“Unique.”
“It’s distinctive, right? Well, it’s a test to select talents suitable for their school.”
“Does everyone have to take the free lectures fairly?”
“No. Students from prestigious hero families or those with letters of recommendation can skip the free lectures and enter through recommendation. Of course, even with a recommendation, if they fail the entrance ceremony, admission is impossible.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, if chosen by recommendation, they are prospective Azonia students, so they can participate in the entrance ceremony…”
*Flip—!*
Reina, who was turning the album pages, paused.
Instead of a photo, a letter envelope was tucked into the turned page.
Reina, with a puzzled face, took out the envelope and looked at its back.
And after checking the wax seal stamped on the sealing area, she shrieked, “Ah!”
“What’s wrong?”
Reina scratched her cheek.
“I completely forgot I received an admission recommendation letter for Azonia back then.”
“What?”
Deid was surprised.
“I once helped Azonia Academy clear a dungeon. At that time, I was asked if I had any intention of enrolling my child if I ever had one. I refused, but they forcefully handed it to me, and I unintentionally accepted it.”
Beastkin were a race that worshipped strength.
As such, there was a strong tendency to actively accept warriors with outstanding martial prowess into the academy.
At that time, Azonia, having seen Reina’s strength, paid homage to her power and handed her a letter of recommendation.
“Well, that was about 20 years ago.”
“Then it doesn’t matter, does it? They must have forgotten they gave you the recommendation letter.”
“Hmm~ I guess so, right?”
Reina casually tucked the recommendation letter back into the album.
“Anyway, let’s go to bed for tonight, Reina.”
“Okay.”
Deid and Reina lay in bed.
Covered by the blanket, Reina, staring at the ceiling, suddenly remembered something.
‘Now that I think about it, at that banquet, when I got drunk and happy, and received the recommendation letter from Berga, I think I made a contract similar to one with a spirit.’
And she remembered dropping blood when writing the contract.
Reina, feeling a vague unease, chuckled.
‘Ah, Leo is already a Rumerne student, anyway. What could possibly happen?’
***
After returning home, Leo enjoyed a leisurely vacation.
Of course, he didn’t forget to consistently do his homework.
In Leo’s case, one for each academic department.
Since he had a whopping three homework assignments, his workload was immense compared to other students.
But he completed his homework without any problems.
Meanwhile, letters from surrounding noble families kept coming, inviting Leo to parties.
Among them, some even came to his mansion specifically to meet Leo.
‘They didn’t care when I attended Delan Royal School. Such treacherous people.’
Tsk-tsk- Leo clicked his tongue and declined the invitations.
It was obvious that only troublesome things would arise if he went to such places.
But letters weren’t only coming from nobles.
“Son! Son!”
“What is it?”
“Who are these children named Chloe, Chen Sia, Nella, and Iliana! Their names sound like girls, don’t they?”
Reina, who had received the letters addressed to Leo at the breakfast table, made a fuss.
Letters coming to Delard had no direct mail service, so they passed through Lodren first.
Thus, letters from friends in other regions had all arrived at once.
Reina was delighted, exclaiming, ‘My son is so popular!’
There were also letters from male students he was close with, including Kal and Teid, but Reina showed little interest in them.
“Aren’t you going to ask about the boys?”
“I have no interest in boys’ stories.”
It was then, as Leo sighed, looking at his mother who was only interested in her son’s romantic life.
“Madam.”
“What is it?”
A maid hurried over.
“Guests have arrived for you and the young master.”
“Guests? If they’re noble guests, tell them I’m busy and refuse.”
“Well.”
The maid stammered and then spoke cautiously.
“They say they are from Azonia Academy.”
“Azonia?”
Leo made a puzzled expression.
Reina let out a groan, “Ugh—!”
“Let them in for now.”
“Yes.”
Seeing Reina sigh deeply, Leo asked.
“Why is Azonia looking for you and me?”
“I think something troublesome is about to happen.”
It was then that Leo furrowed his brows at her words.
The door opened and someone entered.
It was a person with a deeply pulled-down robe on this hot summer day.
Seeing that, Leo made a curious expression.
‘A spirit?’
[You are Lady Reina Zerdinger, aren’t you?]
“I’m not a Zerdinger anymore, but I am Reina, yes.”
[Hello, I am a messenger spirit from Azonia.]
The spirit bowed respectfully and handed over a parchment scroll.
Reina unfolded it, scratched her head, and then handed it to Leo.
Leo’s face changed strangely as he checked the parchment.
[Congratulations, Lady Reina Zerdinger. Your child has been selected as a recommended admission candidate for Azonia.]
The content of the parchment was simple.
It instructed them to attend Azonia’s entrance ceremony, to be held two days later in the large coastal city of Azrek in the southern region.