Book 1 Chapter 123
123.
The morning of the day they were to leave for Lumeria City.
Guests visited the Flob family.
“Yaaawn. Good morning, big brother Leo.”
“What? Chelsea, why are you here?”
“Huh?”
Chelsea, who had been yawning languidly, suddenly widened her eyes as if she had woken up.
Then, spotting Celia talking to Leo, she crossed her arms.
“Of course, I came to big brother Leo’s house to play!”
“Leo, how long has she been here?”
“About a month?”
“She’s been staying for a whole month? How audacious!”
“What’s it to you? Pfft-!”
“You!”
Seeing the two girls bickering the moment they met, Leo clicked his tongue.
“When are you two going to grow up?”
The two girls often spent time together because of Leo, but they were still sworn enemies.
“Oh, Celia, you’re here.”
“Ah! Aunt!”
Celia ran to Reina and bowed her head.
“Hello? How have you been?”
“Yes. What brings you here so early in the morning?”
“I’m going to Lumeria City with Leo.”
“Really? Have you had breakfast yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Then let’s eat first.”
“Yes!”
Breakfast time.
Celia, who was talking with Reina for the first time in a while, narrowed her eyes as she watched Chelsea participate in the conversation so familiarly.
Then she poked Leo in the side.
“What.”
“It seems like Aunt and Chelsea are very close?”
“Chelsea is naturally sociable. She’s also very kind to adults. Perhaps because my mother has wanted a daughter for a long time, she dotes on Chelsea a lot.”
“Hmph. That sly one.”
Celia glared at Chelsea.
“You said you’d visit during the vacation, but you never came once?”
“I was a bit busy with family matters. It’s something related to you too, so I’ll tell you in detail later.”
“Alright.”
After breakfast, Leo picked up his luggage and came out to the entrance.
He then greeted Reina and Dayde, who had come to see him off.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Yes, have a safe trip.”
“Stay healthy, okay? And study hard.”
“Yes.”
After Leo finished his greetings, Chelsea bowed her head politely.
“Marquis Flob, Lady Reina. Thank you for your hospitality for the past month. It was truly enjoyable!”
“Hohoho. We enjoyed it too. Please come visit again next time.”
“Yes! I’ll definitely come visit during winter break!”
“Aunt. I’ll also definitely come during vacation.”
“Yes. Give my regards to your brother and Jis. And tell Lis to finish his graduation well.”
“Yes.”
After their greetings, the three people who left the mansion got into the same carriage.
On the way to Delan’s Warp Gate, Celia asked.
“By the way, Leo, have you finished all your vacation homework?”
“Of course.”
“You had to do not only Knight studies but also Magic studies and Summoning studies, so it must have been really hard?”
“It wasn’t hard.”
“Well, I guess it wouldn’t be a problem for you.”
“Did you finish yours?”
“Of course. Well, I did have a hard time with the extracurricular activity homework, though.”
“That one was tricky for me too.”
Chelsea grumbled.
Extracurricular activity homework.
It was literally an assignment to have some special experience during the vacation period and write a report based on that experience.
“Big brother Leo won’t have to worry.”
“Really? What did you do during vacation?”
“He said he attended Azonia’s entrance ceremony.”
“What?!”
Celia made a stunned expression.
“At this Azonia entrance ceremony, Arion’s page was captured, and it caused a huge commotion, right? You saw that firsthand?”
He not only saw it firsthand but even captured it, but since that fact couldn't be revealed, he just nodded.
“How did you attend the entrance ceremony?”
“My mother had an Azonia entrance recommendation letter because of something from the past. Thanks to that, I was able to attend. I got caught by Professor Ain and Professor Yura midway, so I couldn't finish everything and had to come back.”
“Sounds fun?”
Celia looked envious.
All Azonia students are excellent warriors.
So Leo, who had competed with Azonia's entrance candidates, was envied.
“As expected, there were many outstanding kids, right?”
“Yes. Among them, Ar was a bit special.”
“Ar Tune. You mean the top student of this Azonia entrance, right?”
Celia’s eyes sparkled.
“I’d like to face him once.”
Watching Celia, whose red eyes gleamed with competitive spirit, Leo rested his chin on his hand 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 when they saw the three.
“Wait, isn’t that Lumerin uniform?”
“The male student looks like Leo Flob, but who are the female students?”
“Gasp? Wait. Isn’t that Celia Zerdinger and Chelsea Rwalyn?”
Many people remembered Celia and Chelsea's faces because their entrance ceremony had been held in Delan half a year ago.
After completing the gate usage procedures, they approached a crew member, who looked extremely nervous.
A Lumerin year representative and daughters of prestigious hero families.
Having world-renowned hero candidates in front of him made him naturally tense.
“I will confirm your names. Are you Mr. Leo Flob, Ms. Celia Zerdinger, and Ms. Chelsea Rwalyn?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. Please board the Warp Gate. We will activate the gate.”
The three boarded the Warp Gate heading for Lumeria City.
Flash-!
With a bright light, the scenery before their eyes changed instantly.
Leo, who arrived at the bustling Warp Gate, exited the gate building.
Outside, the vast Lumeria Lake shore stretched out.
“It’s only been two months, but it feels like a really long time.”
Celia swept back her hair in the blowing wind and chuckled.
“Lady Chelsea.”
Just then, a young man in a mage’s robe approached Chelsea.
“Sir Lewin.”
“Did you enjoy your vacation?”
“Of course.”
Lewin, a mage of the Rwalyn family, politely greeted Chelsea, then bowed to Leo and Celia as well.
“My name is Lewin Pramt.”
“Long time no see, Sir Pramt.”
“Long time no see, Lady Celia.”
Lewin Pramt was a renowned figure even in the Empire, so Celia was acquainted with him.
“I received an order from the Vice-Patriarch to bring the Lady.”
“Alright. I think I should head to the accommodation first.”
“Okay. See you before then if possible. Otherwise, we’ll see each other on the first day of school.”
“Got it! I’m going first!”
“Go on, 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 by the day.”
“She’s cute though.”
“I’m not cute at all!”
Celia, glaring, headed towards Kuraju Street in Lumeria City and said.
“Let’s go to the accommodation first. Uncle Jis will be here tonight. He has something to tell you.”
“Something to tell me?”
“Yes. There was a lot of talk about your status within the family during summer vacation.”
Leo was Reina's son and had mastered Phoenix Breath, but his name was not registered in the Zerdinger family's registry.
However, it was said that the atmosphere within the family had changed significantly after Leo's outstanding performance in the first semester of his first year.
“Most of the family members agreed to officially announce that you are my cousin.”
During the first semester, Leo had sufficiently proven his worth.
As various countries and factions were closely watching Leo, the Zerdingers also needed to act quickly.
No matter how prestigious the Zerdingers were as a hero family, losing a talent like Leo would be a loss.
“But one issue is still being discussed.”
“What issue?”
“Your succession rights issue.”
Celia said seriously, and Leo was surprised.
“Succession rights?”
“Yes.”
Currently, the first successor of the Zerdinger family was, without a doubt, Lis.
The second successor with succession rights was Celia.
Beyond them, there were no official successors.
But the rumor was that Leo was being considered as the third successor.
This did not simply mean being recognized as a blood relative of the Zerdinger family.
It literally meant gaining power within the Zerdinger family.
“Well, there’s a lot of strong opposition, so we don’t know what will happen.”
Celia shrugged her shoulders.
Then she looked at Leo and smiled mischievously.
“Why? Are you excited because you might get succession rights?”
“How could that happen easily? And even if I got succession rights, there’s Brother Lis and you, so what?”
“Even if you don't become the head, it would be good to have significant authority within the Zerdinger family, right?”
“Not interested.”
Celia let out a hollow laugh, seeing Leo’s indifferent expression.
At the beginning of this year, if he had heard such words, he would have looked at them with a dumbfounded expression.
But since it was Leo saying them, it made sense.
‘I can’t tell if this guy has a big heart or no ambition at all.’
Shaking her head, Celia said.
“For now, let’s rest at the accommodation until Uncle Jis arrives. We can prepare for the second semester starting tomorrow.”
Even though there were still a few days left until school started, the reason they came to Lumeria City early was to buy the necessary supplies for the second semester.
“There are far more supplies needed than in the first semester. It’s like, now Lumerin life is really starting in earnest.”
Celia, muttering as she looked at the list of supplies, said to Leo.
“You’ll be busy preparing for magic and summoning as well.”
“It’s not that busy.”
Leo replied as he checked the supply list.
The two arrived at the accommodation and immediately unpacked their luggage.
As Leo lay down on the bed, Elsie appeared.
[Leo! What is this wonderful city?]
“Lumeria City. It’s one of the largest cities in the world.”
[Wow! Oh! It’s amazing!]
Elsie, clinging to the window, admired the street view and burst out with exclamations.
“Want to look around?”
[Um… shouldn't we rest?]
“We moved by warp gate, so there’s no need to rest.”
Leo chuckled and got up.
He told Celia he was going to look around outside and then went out into the street.
Elsie, sitting on Leo's shoulder, enjoyed the vibrant city scenery, completely different from the 5000-year era.
Leo, smiling at her, also strolled leisurely through Lumeria City.
“What did you say? We are Lumerin students!”
“That’s right! Hero candidates! So why aren’t you letting us in?!”
A commotion arose on one side of the street.
There were people in Lumerin uniforms standing there.
It was a cafe called ‘Hero’s Rest’.
It looked ordinary on the outside, but only ‘Lumerin’ students and faculty could enter.
In other words, it was a Lumerin-exclusive resting place within Lumeria City.
“Therefore, please submit your student ID.”
“I left it behind! I won’t be long! Just let me in for a moment! It’s not like you don’t know my face!”
Leo carefully watched the flustered group of students and clicked his tongue.
‘Those are the kids who were advised to withdraw during final exams.’
They were Lumerin students until a few months ago, but no longer.
So there was no way they could enter the Hero's Rest.
People nearby sighed, as if accustomed to it.
“It looks like they came to beg the professors for a chance to get back in.”
“This kind of thing isn’t new.”
“But there have never been any students who reenrolled, have there?”
The people nearby whispered.
It was then, hearing that, that Leo shook his head.
“If you don’t move, even by force!”
A boy, who seemed to be their representative, unleashed an aura.
It was then that the people around them looked surprised.
“Noisy.”
A somewhat listless voice was heard.
Leo turned his head to that direction and looked surprised.
It was a man with black hair and black eyes.
“Lumerin does not give a second chance to those who have been expelled. Give up and walk your own path. Becoming a hero doesn't necessarily mean attending Lumerin.”
“Who are you?”
“We haven’t been expelled yet!”
The withdrawn students made defiant expressions.
The man saw that and raised his hand.
Wiggle-!
“Gasp!”
Instantly, the withdrawn students were sucked into the ground.
More precisely, they were sucked into shadows.
With everyone's eyes wide open, the man grumbled in a listless voice.
“Annoying. They say this year’s first-year students are amazing, but seeing these shameless withdrawn students running wild, it doesn’t seem that way… Why on earth did Kallian call me?”
Leo narrowed his eyes as he watched the man muttering in a lazy voice.
Leo could easily discern the man’s identity.
‘A Dragon.’