Book 1 Chapter 123

123.

The morning of the departure for Lumelia City.

A guest visited the Plov family.

"Haaaawn. Leo oppa, good morning."

"What? Chelsea, why are you here?"

"Huh?"

Chelsea, who had been yawning languidly, woke up startled and her eyes widened.

She then spotted Celia talking with Leo and crossed her arms.

"Of course, I came to hang out at Leo oppa's house!"

"Leo, how long has she been here?"

"About a month?"

"You've been staying for a month? How shameless!"

"What business is it of yours? Ba-!"

"This!"

Leo clicked his tongue as he watched the two girls bickering as soon as they met.

"When will you two ever grow up?"

The two girls often interacted because of Leo, but they were still rivals.

"Oh my, Celia, you're here."

"Ah! Auntie!"

Celia ran to Reina and bowed her head.

"Hello? Have you been well?"

"Yes. What brings you here so early in the morning?"

"I'm going to Lumelia City with Leo."

"Is that so? Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet."

"Then let's have breakfast first."

"Yes!"

Breakfast time.

As Celia talked with Reina after a long time, she squinted her eyes as she saw Chelsea participating in the conversation familiarly.

She then poked Leo in the side.

"Why."

"You seem very close with Auntie and Chelsea?"

"Chelsea is naturally very sociable. She's also affectionate towards adults. Perhaps because my mother always wanted a daughter, she dotes on Chelsea a lot."

"Hmph. That sly thing."

Celia glared at Chelsea.

"You said you'd come visit during the vacation, but you never did?"

"I was a bit busy with family matters. It's something related to you, so I'll tell you more about it later."

"Okay."

After breakfast, Leo picked up his luggage and came out to the entrance.

He greeted Reina and Dayd, who had come to see him off.

"I'm leaving."

"Yes, have a good trip."

"Stay healthy. Study hard."

"Yes."

After Leo finished his greetings, Chelsea bowed her head.

"Duke Plov, Lady Reina. Thank you for hosting me for a month. I had a really great time!"

"Ho ho ho. We enjoyed it too. Please visit again next time."

"Yes! I'll definitely visit during the winter break!"

"Auntie. I'll definitely visit during the break too."

"Yes. Please send my regards to your brother and Jis, and tell Lis to finish his graduation well."

"Yes."

The three people who left the mansion after exchanging greetings got into the same carriage.

On the way to the Delan warp gate, Celia asked.

"By the way, Leo, did you finish your vacation homework?"

"Of course."

"You have to do not only Knight Studies but also Magic Studies and Summoning Studies, so it must have been very difficult."

"It wasn't difficult."

"Indeed. It wouldn't be a problem for you."

"Did you finish yours?"

"Of course. Well, I did struggle a bit with the extracurricular activities homework."

"That was tricky for me too," Chelsea grumbled.

Extracurricular activity homework.

It was homework that literally required experiencing something special during the vacation and writing a report based on that experience.

"You must have no worries, Leo oppa."

"Oh really? What did you do during the vacation?"

"I attended the entrance ceremony at Azonia."

"What?"

Celia's expression turned shocked.

"The entrance ceremony at Azonia this year caused a stir because Arion's page was conquered. You saw that directly?"

I saw it directly, and even conquered it, but I couldn't say that, so I just nodded.

"How did you attend the entrance ceremony?"

"My mother had an invitation to Azonia due to an old connection. I was able to attend thanks to that. Although I had to leave before finishing because Professor Ain and Professor Yura caught me."

"It must have been fun!"

Celia said with an envious expression.

All students at Azonia are outstanding warriors.

So Celia was envious of Leo, who had competed with Azonia's prospective students.

"There were indeed many talented people, right?"

"Yes. Among them, Ar was a bit special."

"Ar Tune. You mean the top student of Azonia this year?"

Celia's eyes sparkled.

"I want to spar with him once."

As he watched Celia, who was burning with fighting spirit with her red eyes sparkling, Leo rested his chin and thought of Ar.

'I wonder if he's doing well.'

While they were talking, the carriage carrying the three arrived at the warp gate.

The people working at the warp gate were surprised to see the three.

"Wait, isn't that a Rumern uniform?"

"The male student looks like Leo Plov, but who are the female students?"

"Gasp? Wait. Aren't those Celia Zerdinger and Chelsea Lewalin?"

Since the entrance ceremony was held in Delan half a year ago, quite a few people remembered Celia and Chelsea's faces.

After completing the gate usage procedures, as they approached the attendant, he looked extremely tense.

The representative of Rumern Academy and the daughters of heroic families.

In front of them were the renowned hero candidates who had stirred up the world.

"I will confirm your names. Leo Plov. Celia Zerdinger. Chelsea Lewalin, is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. Then please board the warp gate. We will activate the gate."

The three boarded the warp gate bound for Lumelia City.

Flash-!

With a bright light, the scenery before their eyes changed in an instant.

Leo, who arrived at the warp gate where many people were coming and going, exited the gate building.

Outside, the vast Lumelia Lake spread out before them.

"It feels like a long time, even though it's only been two months."

Celia smiled faintly, brushing her hair back as the wind blew.

"Miss Chelsea."

At that moment, a young man wearing a wizard's robe approached Chelsea.

"Lord Lewin."

"Did you have a good vacation?"

"Of course."

Lewin, a wizard of the Lewalin family, bowed politely to Chelsea and then bowed to Leo and Celia.

"My name is Lewin Framt."

"It's been a while. Lord Framt."

"It's been a while, Miss Celia."

Lewin Framt was a renowned expert even in the empire, so he was acquainted with Celia.

"I have received orders from the Vice-Minister to escort you, Miss."

"Understood. I think I should head to the accommodation first."

"Yes. See me before then if you can. If not, see you on the first day of school."

"Got it! I'm going first!"

"Hurry up and go, shoo, shoo."

"Hmph!"

As Celia waved her hand and spoke, Chelsea stuck out her tongue and left with Lewin.

"She seems to get more annoying every day."

"She's cute though."

"I'm not cute at all?"

Celia, glaring, said as she headed towards Curage Street in Lumelia City.

"Let's go to our accommodation too. Uncle Jis will be here in the evening. He has something to tell you."

"Something to say?"

"Yes. There was a lot of talk within the family about your status during the summer break."

Although Leo was the son of Reina and had mastered the Phoenix Breath, he had not been registered in the Zerdinger family registry.

However, as Leo showed outstanding performance in the first semester of his first year, the atmosphere within the family changed considerably.

"Most of the family members have agreed to officially announce that you are my cousin."

Throughout the first semester, Leo had proven his worth sufficiently.

As many countries and factions were closely watching Leo, the Zerdingers also needed to act quickly.

Even if the Zerdingers are a renowned heroic family, missing out on talent like Leo would be a loss.

"However, there is still one issue under discussion."

"What issue?"

"Your succession rights."

Celia spoke seriously, and Leo was surprised.

"Succession rights?"

"Yes."

Currently, there is no doubt that Lis is the first successor of the Zerdinger family.

Celia is the second successor, who has the next succession rights.

Besides them, there are no official successors.

However, Leo is being mentioned as the third successor.

This does not simply mean being recognized as a blood relative of the Zerdinger family.

It literally means gaining power within the Zerdinger family.

"Well, there's a lot of opposition, so it's hard to say what will happen," Celia shrugged.

Then she smiled mischievously at Leo.

"Why? Are you excited because you might get succession rights?"

"Do you think that's easy? And even if I did get succession rights, with Brother Lis and you here…"

"Even if you don't become the head of the family, wouldn't it be nice to have significant authority within the Zerdinger family?"

"I'm not interested."

Seeing Leo with a indifferent expression, Celia let out a hollow laugh.

If she had heard this at the beginning of the year, she would have looked at him with disbelief.

However, since Leo was the one saying it, it made sense.

'I can't tell if this kid has a big heart or no ambition.'

Celia shook her head slowly and said.

"Let's rest at the accommodation until Uncle Jis arrives. We can start preparing for the second semester tomorrow."

Although there were still a few days left until the start of school, they came to Lumelia City early to buy supplies needed for the second semester.

"The supplies have increased significantly compared to the first semester. It feels like the Lumern life is really starting in earnest now."

Celia muttered as she looked at the list of supplies and said to Leo.

"You'll be busy preparing for magic and summoning too."

"It's not that busy."

Leo replied as he checked the list of supplies.

Upon arriving at the accommodation, the two immediately unpacked.

As Leo lay down on the bed, Elcy appeared.

[Leo! What is this magnificent city?]

"Lumelia City. It's one of the largest cities in the world."

[Wow! Wow! Amazing!]

Elcy, pressed against the window, exclaimed with admiration as she looked at the street view.

"Do you want to see it?"

[Uh… shouldn't you be resting?]

"We traveled by warp gate, so there's no need to rest."

Leo chuckled, got up from his seat, and left for the streets, telling Celia he was going to explore outside.

Elcy, sitting on Leo's shoulder, was delighted to see the vibrant cityscape, completely different from the 5000s era.

Leo, smiling at her, also leisurely wandered around Lumelia City.

"What do you mean? We are students of Lumern!"

"That's right! Hero candidates! Then why won't you let us in?"

A commotion arose on one side of the street.

There stood individuals wearing Lumern uniforms.

It was a cafe called 'Hero's Haven'.

Although it looked ordinary from the outside, only 'Lumern' students and faculty were allowed entry.

In other words, it was a Lumern-exclusive lounge within Lumelia City.

"So, please present your student IDs."

"I left them behind! We won't be long! Just let us in for a moment! You know our faces, right!"

Leo, observing the group of students who were getting agitated, clicked his tongue.

'These are the ones who were advised to withdraw during the final exams.'

They were Lumern students a few months ago, but not anymore.

Therefore, they had no way of entering the Hero's Haven.

The surrounding people sighed as if accustomed to it.

"They seem to have come to beg the professors for another chance."

"This sort of thing happens every day."

"But no students have ever been readmitted, have they?"

The surrounding people murmured.

Leo shook his head as he heard them.

"If you don't move, I'll use force!"

The boy who appeared to be the representative unleashed his aura.

As the surrounding people looked surprised,

"It's noisy."

A voice that sounded somewhat unmotivated was heard.

Leo turned his head in that direction and looked surprised.

It was a man with black hair and black eyes.

"Lumern does not give a second chance to those who have been expelled. Give up and walk your own path. Becoming a hero is not the only way through Lumern."

"Who are you?"

"We haven't been expelled yet!"

The students who had withdrawn retaliated with indignant expressions.

Seeing that, the man raised his hand.

Creak-!

"Gasp!"

In an instant, the students who had withdrawn were sucked into the ground.

More precisely, they were sucked into the shadows.

As everyone's eyes widened, the man grumbled in an unmotivated voice.

"Annoying. They said this year's first-years are amazing, but seeing these shameless students running wild, it doesn't seem like it… Why did Kalian call me here?"

As Leo gazed at the man muttering in a languid voice, he narrowed his eyes.

Leo could easily identify the man's identity.

'Dragon.'