Book 1 Chapter 122

122.

[After 5000 years? And reincarnation?]

"Yes."

Seeing Elsie's confused expression, Leo nodded.

[Wait, just a moment. Let me organize my thoughts. So, 5000 years have passed since my time, and Erebus has been subjugated? And you are the reincarnation of Kyle, 'the surviving hero'?]

"Yes."

[Then how did I cross 5000 years of time to get here?]

"In this era, there's something called the Hero Record."

[Hero Record?]

"It's an item where the records of those who achieved feats worthy of recognition by the gods are written."

Leo explained the Hero Record to Elsie.

[Then is the world now full of spirits and phantom beasts from the past?]

"Not really. As far as I know, a spirit from the Hero Record like you has never come into reality before."

After hearing the explanation, Elsie looked out the window again.

The ominous red moon was nowhere to be seen.

A world full only of the white moon and beautiful starlight she had only heard about in stories.

It was clearly the night sky she had dreamed of.

[Having seen this sight, I can't help but believe your words.]

Elsie, her black eyes full of the night sky's starlight, looked back at Leo.

[Then this must be an era of peace.]

"Yes. But it can't be called an era of complete peace."

[Why not?]

"It's true that I subjugated Erebus, but he hasn't completely disappeared. And Tartarus is still well and strong."

[I see.]

"So I'm going to defeat them."

[In that case, I will help too.]

Elsie said, as if making a pledge.

[If this is reality, then I must be destined to be with you.]

Elsie also knew that she was bound to Leo.

[I cannot allow such a terrible era to return. I will do my best to help you.]

"Yes."

[Then, please take care of me again. Kyle, no. Leo Plov.]

"Yes. Please take care of me, Elsie."

***

From the day he returned from Azonia, Leo took a leisurely rest.

Chelsea maintained a good relationship not only with Leo but also with Reina.

Chelsea, who had become much closer to Reina, was listening with interest to Reina's school days stories.

"Ah, so Lady Reina was the Empress of Bastera?"

A ball game often played even now in combat studies class.

Chelsea was surprised to hear about Reina's activities in Bastera.

"Yes."

"Wow!"

Breakfast time.

Seeing the two happily chatting, Deid smiled.

"Your mother is getting along well with your friend."

"Indeed."

Chelsea had recently monopolized Reina's affection.

"By the way, Leo. Wasn't today the day for your homeroom professor's home visit?"

"Yes."

"Don't you need to prepare something like a welcome party?"

Deid asked with a worried expression.

A professor from Lumerne received the best treatment in any country.

Moreover, Professor Halind was famous, known to everyone.

With such a person visiting and nothing prepared, Deid couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"Professor Halind would rather dislike it if we prepare something."

"That's right, Deid. Professor Halind dislikes such ostentation."

"Even when he visited our house, we only served him tea."

Reina agreed with Leo's words, and Chelsea also chimed in.

At that, Deid looked slightly relieved.

And so, breakfast ended.

Leo, Deid, and Reina awaited Halind's visit.

When the attendant announced Halind's arrival, Deid's expression became slightly nervous.

A moment later, the door to the Plov family mansion opened, and Halind and Associate Professor Sena entered.

Deid stepped forward.

"Welcome, Professor Halind. We welcome you to our home."

"Thank you for the welcome, Marquis Plov."

Halind greeted him politely.

As they met as a parent and a teacher of their child, the interaction between them was very serious.

"This is my wife."

Halind turned his head at Deid's introduction.

And he found Reina, waving her hand with a bright face, and made a peculiar expression.

"Long time no see, Professor Halind. You've gotten a lot more wrinkles, haven't you?"

"Why are you here, Reina Zerdinger?"

"I'm Reina Plov now, you know?"

Seeing Reina's bright smile, Halind let out a deep sigh.

For some reason, he had a strong premonition that this would be a tiring home visit.

"Why is Chelsea Lewelyn here again?"

"Yes, sir! I came to visit Leo Oppa's house during the holidays."

Chelsea answered with proper etiquette.

Chelsea was one of the students who got scolded less by Halind in class, but even so, her fear of Professor Halind remained unchanged.

In fact, Leo was the only first-year student who remained calm in front of Halind.

No, he was the only one in the entire year.

And so, the home visit began in the living room.

Halind, seated in front of Leo, Reina, and Deid, spoke to Sena, who stood beside him.

"The documents."

"Here they are."

Halind handed documents about Leo to Deid and Reina and spoke.

"I'll be direct. Your son's qualifications are excellent."

Halind continued, with his characteristic emotionless face.

"Knighthood studies, magic studies, summoning studies. He maintains top-tier grades in all three departments for his year. His relationships with those around him are also amicable. No, rather, his leadership is exceptionally outstanding."

"Oh."

Reina admired him, gently stroking her son's hair.

Even as she did so, she carefully read the evaluation materials about Leo that Halind had prepared.

"I can't find any clear weaknesses. However, as a teacher, there are three areas of concern. First, the amount of aura, magic power, and spirit power he possesses. He can certainly unleash explosive offensive power, and he has grown compared to the beginning of the semester, but the fact that Leo is relatively weak in long-term battles still holds true."

"Hmm."

Deid nodded.

"Second. The matter of his departments. Currently, he is showing overwhelming skill in all aspects, but it is questionable how long that will continue. Of course, if he continues to show excellent performance in all areas, nothing could be better… but in preparation for the opposite case, I recommend choosing a primary class as his main focus."

Halind glanced at Reina.

"Reina, as his mother, will handle that well, I suppose."

Reina smiled faintly.

"Third. This is just my personal opinion, but."

Halind let out a slight sigh.

"Leo is too unhesitant when facing crises."

"What do you mean by that?"

In response to Deid's question, Halind spoke seriously.

"Exactly what I said. All of Leo Plov's achievements during the first semester have been astonishing. He's not called unprecedented simply because he's an 'all-class' student. It's likely that throughout Lumerne's history, few students have shown such overwhelming skill from their first year as Leo has. A fifteen-year-old boy is continuously achieving feats comparable to heroes."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Deid wore a puzzled expression.

It was Reina who answered Deid.

"You can't just see it as good, Deid."

Reina looked at Leo with serious eyes.

"Achieving feats. That means risking one's life."

Subjugation of Chubarn.

Subjugation of the Skeleton King.

Subjugation of Gigantes.

Astonishing feats, unbelievable for a first-year student.

Outwardly brilliant, but it also meant that Leo risked his life at every moment.

"I hadn't said anything, but it's true that I'm very worried."

Deid wore a serious expression, and Reina looked at Leo with stern eyes.

"In Lumerne, there's a saying: 'Do not recklessly confront trials.'"

To become a hero, trials are an essential stage one must go through.

However, trials always accompany death.

The Hero Academy is a place to raise heroes, but it doesn't blindly throw students before trials.

Reina, having graduated from Lumerne, knew all too well how dangerous the path Leo had taken was.

"Leo. May I ask why you pushed yourself so hard?"

"I'm sorry for causing you worry. But I didn't push myself to overdo it. I just couldn't avoid it."

Leo said calmly.

"It's true that one shouldn't recklessly confront trials… but it's also true that as long as one aims to be a hero, trials are unavoidable."

At those words, Reina let out a deep sigh and covered her face.

She, too, had once dreamed of being a hero.

That's why she couldn't bring herself to refute Leo's words.

Halind also looked at Leo and let out a deep sigh.

In reality, Leo rarely acted recklessly.

Except for the school trip, most of the incidents were situations where he had no choice but to confront trials.

'Leo is definitely different from other students.'

All children of Lumerne admire heroes.

That's why they enrolled in the Hero Academy.

But in Halind's view, Leo didn't admire heroes.

'He just has a goal he wants to achieve.'

He recalled Leo's words at the beginning of the semester.

'My goal is the complete annihilation of Erebus.'

At that time, he merely thought it was a grand ambition.

However…

'Perhaps he truly is aiming for that.'

Feeling a chill, Halind opened his mouth.

"At Lumerne, we will do our best to help students achieve what they desire. Although there are aspects that concern me, Leo is undoubtedly the best student I have ever taught. Therefore, in the second semester, I will do my utmost to guide him so that you both can worry a little less."

Halind bowed his head solemnly.

Sena, who was beside him, also bowed her head.

If a student dreams of becoming a hero, they cannot be stopped.

That would be contrary to the purpose of the Hero Academy.

However, they spared no effort in supporting students so they wouldn't die.

"We entrust him to you."

"Me too, Professor Halind."

Deid and Reina also bowed respectfully.

They had already prepared themselves for the possibility that their son would do dangerous things the moment he aimed for Lumerne.

They couldn't stop it now.

After the home visit ended, Reina spoke.

"By the way, Associate Professor Sena. Is it manageable working under Professor Halind?"

"Yes. He's scary, but he treats me well."

"Hahaha. Shall I teach you one of Professor Halind's weaknesses?"

"Huh?"

"Well, when Professor Halind became my first homeroom teacher…"

"Reina Zerdinger. You'd better be quiet unless you want to stand in the hallway with your hands up."

"I'm not a student anymore, you know? And how old am I to receive such punishment!"

Seeing Reina flare up, Halind made a chilling expression.

Seeing such a Reina, Leo shook his head, and Sena's mouth dropped open.

It was the first time she had seen someone argue with Halind like that.

Chelsea, who had been watching the scene from outside the living room, exclaimed in admiration.

"Awesome. If I tell the kids this story, no one will believe it, right?"

Chelsea was delighted, saying she had seen an interesting sight.

***

After the home visit ended, the vacation passed.

Leo opened a letter that had arrived from the northern regions.

It was a letter from Lunia and Eiran, students of Seyrun.

'Hey, you heartless guy! Not even a single letter from you? Anyway! How have you been? You're not neglecting your studies, are you?'

'Sir Leo, how have you been? I'm studying hard every day to go to Lumerne as an exchange student.'

"Looks like they're doing well."

Leo, who had replied to the two with a smile, looked out the window.

Now, only one week of vacation remained.

'The day after tomorrow, I'll be going back to Lumeria City.'

Looking forward to the second semester, Leo smiled faintly.