Book 1 Chapter 220

220

"W-What is it!"

"Just now, there was an enormous sound…!"

The students of Rumern, who were resting in their respective rooms, were startled and came down to the first floor.

"Didn't they just say Leo?"

When Carl asked with an incredulous look, Eiran, who had been covering her ears, carefully lowered her hands and said,

"I-I heard that too."

Celia, with a furrowed brow, opened the door and went out.

And in the distance.

She tilted her head after spotting a girl standing defiantly at the entrance of the dormitory.

"Beastman?"

The one who seemed to have shouted was none other than the Beastman girl.

Her appearance alone was very striking.

It wasn't simply because she was a Beastman.

Her attire was too eye-catching.

The winter in the West is not as cold as in the North, but it is still very cold.

Yet, the Beastman girl's clothing was very thin.

So thin that it was even a short-sleeved shirt.

Cat ears, poking out from her white hair, twitched nervously, and her tail, located between her back and buttocks, swished irritably.

Crucially, her sapphire-like blue eyes held a very fierce aura.

She was like a cat ready to puff up its fur and hiss at any moment.

"She looks very angry, doesn't she?"

Chloe, peeking out her face after Celia, tilted her head.

"But why is she acting like that, looking for Leo?"

"Wait. Those clothes… aren't those Azonia's uniform?"

"What?"

Hearing Chloe's words, Celia looked closely at the girl's attire with a surprised expression.

Indeed, as Chloe said, it was an Azonia uniform.

"Why is an Azonia student causing a ruckus looking for Leo?"

Celia, with a bewildered expression, stepped out the door.

Seeing Celia, the Azonia student, Ar, raised her eyes.

Stomp- Stomp-

Celia, who approached Ar, said,

"You're an Azonia student, aren't you? My name is Celia Zerdinger."

"Celia?"

Ar squinted her eyes.

Celia was a highly famous Rumern student even in Azonia.

Ar also knew her name from hearing it multiple times.

Swish- Swish- Ar, who was scrutinizing Celia up and down, crossed her arms and lifted her chin.

"My name is Ar Tune."

"Ar Tune?"

'Azonia first-year representative? Why is such an important person looking for Leo here?'

A surprised Celia recalled something.

'Ah, come to think of it, she said she conquered Arion-nim's world together during summer vacation, right?'

It was a well-known fact that Arion's world had suddenly opened during this year's Azonia entrance exam.

And Leo had taken the entrance exam with Ar.

In that case, Leo would be a comrade to Ar, someone who had risked their life and fought through the brink of death together.

However, Celia sensed no such sentiment from Ar.

While Celia wore a questioning expression, Ar spoke.

"So? Where is Leo Flobe?"

"Leo isn't here right now."

"If he's not here, where is he?"

"He hasn't arrived yet due to family matters."

At that, Ar frowned.

"If you don't mind, could you tell me why you're looking for Leo? It doesn't seem like it's for a good reason."

"I came to challenge Leo Flobe to a duel."

'…What did he do wrong again?'

Leo isn't exactly the type to deliberately incur grudges, but he doesn't have a good personality either.

"If you don't mind, could you tell me why you need to duel Leo, inside?"

"Alright."

Ar nodded and followed Celia inside.

'She doesn't seem like a bad kid.'

As Ar entered, the Rumern students' gazes all fixed on her.

Thanks to the loud shout just now, all the students had rushed down to the first floor.

Many students might have flinched at being seen by so many, but Ar didn't bat an eye.

"An Azonia student?"

"Is that her, the one who just shouted for Leo to come out?"

"Who is she?"

"They say she's Ar Tune?"

"What? Azonia's year representative?"

"Wow… why is such an important person here… No! More importantly, aren't those the Seirun year representatives?"

"What? What in the world is going on?"

Students who hadn't known about the Seirun year representatives' arrival belatedly grasped the situation and started murmuring.

Hearing the whispers, Ar twitched her ears and looked towards where the Seirun students were.

Three elves were visible.

Among them, Ar immediately recognized the girl with vibrant red hair and red eyes and narrowed her eyes.

'Lunia El Rundar. Seirun first-year top student.'

Meanwhile, Lunia also recognized Ar and tilted her head.

'Ar Tune… Azonia's first-year representative.'

An unexpected meeting of the top students from Seirun and Azonia.

As they each scrutinized the other, a subtle tension began to flow.

"Esteemed guests have arrived, it seems."

Just then, Duran pushed through the crowd and stepped forward.

And not just Duran.

Chloe took a seat in a corner of the lounge.

Abad and Chelsea also sat not far away, observing the situation.

Eliza was nonchalantly filing her nails as usual, but she was sending an intrigued gaze.

Seeing that, the Rumern students swallowed dryly.

Leo, Chen Shia, and Woredun were absent due to their respective family circumstances.

Even so, hero candidates, who could be called the strongest of their generation, were gathered in one place.

The tension itself was different from usual.

"So, why do you want to challenge Leo to a duel?"

If he had incurred the grudge of someone like Azonia's year representative, it would clearly be a headache, not just for the school but also for his family.

Especially since the Tune family was one of the foremost hero noble families among the Beastkin.

If it were a serious problem, it could even escalate into a diplomatic issue.

At Celia's question, the Rumern students wore puzzled expressions.

Not many students knew that Leo had participated in Azonia's entrance exam during the vacation.

So when Azonia's first-year representative suddenly appeared and challenged Leo to a duel, they couldn't help but feel suspicious.

"Isn't it some kind of 'dojo busting'? 'I'll defeat Leo Flobe, the most famous person nowadays!' Something like that?"

"Ah. Right. They said Azonia students have a combat-crazed disposition, didn't they?"

"If it's that, it'd be interesting."

As various speculations circulated, Ar clenched her fist tight.

Her normally relaxed cat tail stiffened as if in anger.

"Leo Flobe… that guy…"

Ar, who had been muttering, then shouted.

"He harassed me and messed with me terribly!"

"Pfft! Cough! Choke! Cough!"

Lunia, who had been sipping warm tea, spewed out her tea as if she had choked, coughing frantically.

"And then he abandoned me and left!"

Thud-! Whump-!

Chloe dropped her grimoire, which she always carried.

"Ugh!"

Carl, who was unlucky enough to be nearby and got his foot stomped on, clutched his foot and rolled on the floor.

But Chloe, who was in shock, merely wore a blank expression.

"I cannot forgive someone who toyed with a girl's pure heart!"

"H-How could… Leo-nim… Leo-nim…"

Eiran mumbled blankly, as if in shock.

"Wait! Wait!"

Chelsea, who jumped up from her seat, ran over with a flushed face.

"Big brother Leo would never do such a vulgar thing! What kind of trickery is this!"

"Trickery?! I was wronged by Leo Flobe!"

Ar also stood up defiantly and shouted.

The interior of the hotel was already a cauldron of chaos itself.

"Hmm. So that was the reason. Indeed. Leo Flobe certainly has a shady side."

"Hmph. Disappointing, Leo Flobe."

Eliza spoke mercilessly, and Duran folded his arms and scoffed.

Celia tried to maintain her composure.

But her head was throbbing due to the incredibly unexpected reason.

'Azonia's year representative doesn't seem to be lying… What on earth did he do there!'

It was when Celia was shouting internally.

"What? Why is everyone downstairs?"

A puzzled voice was heard.

The gazes of everyone on the first floor simultaneously focused on the owner of the voice.

White hair and red eyes.

The man in question, Leo Flobe, was standing there.

"Leo Flobe!"

"Huh?"

Ar got up from her seat with a fierce expression.

"Be prepared!"

Seeing Ar rush at him, eyes wide and even claws out, Leo raised his fist.

Whump-!

"Ow!"

"What are you doing?"

When Leo asked in an unconcerned voice, Ar, who was crouching while clutching her head, looked up.

"Leo Flobe! Have you forgotten what you did to me?"

"Ah? That. I am sorry, but what can I do since things turned out that way?"

"Hey! Leo! Did you really mess with her?"

Celia, who was watching the situation, urgently asked.

"Yeah. But it's not like I can enter Azonia, is it?"

"What?"

Celia paused.

"I tricked her and attended the Azonia entrance ceremony. But I got caught by Professor Ain and Professor Yura halfway through and had to come back without properly explaining the situation."

"I wanted to make our Azonia the best hero academy with you! I had such a grand dream! But it turns out you were just messing with me! I can't forgive you!"

Leo pushed away Ar's face, who was rushing at him and hissing, and asked.

"What can I do to make you feel better?"

"Transfer to Azonia right now!"

"Do you think that makes sense?"

"Why doesn't it make sense?! Is it okay for a Rumern student to take our school's entrance exam? Transfer! Transfer, I said!"

Carl muttered, watching Ar whine and throw a tantrum like a kitten.

"I always feel this, but he's really popular, isn't he?"

At his words, Iliana said,

"As I always say, I'd rather decline that kind of popularity."

All the Rumern students nearby nodded in agreement.

***

Outside Lorend, there is a massive parade ground.

It is a place where tens of thousands of people can gather without issue, as it is where the Empire's military parade is held.

And now, numerous spectators had gathered here.

Finally, the long-awaited day of Rumern's integrated examination had dawned.

Usually, during the Rumern entrance exam, the spectators' interest was directed towards the test-takers.

But now it was different.

Most of the attention was directed towards the second-year students who had been drafted.

"Look over there! Those are the Rumern second-year students, called the Golden Generation."

"Isn't that Chloe Mueller? The genius born of the Magic Tower!"

"Duran of the Knight Kingdom Moira is there too."

Among them, the top-ranking students immediately captured everyone's attention.

The entire second year showed a proud expression at the considerable interest from the crowd.

Of course, even amidst this, there was someone diligently doing their own thing.

"This is a hit! A huge hit!"

"What new business idea have you come up with now?"

Chloe, who had been encouraging her juniors from the Northern Magic Tower, laughed and looked at Carl, who was approaching, with a puzzled expression.

"Passing charms!"

"Passing charms?"

"Yeah! Didn't I just barely get in and just barely survive until my second year?"

Carl chuckled.

"So I'm promoting and selling them to the test-takers!"

"…Isn't that a scam?"

"Scam, my foot! I'm not profiteering, and I'm even giving out fatigue recovery potions as a service, you know?"

Chloe shook her head at her friend's business acumen.

Meanwhile, Leo was giving advice to his knights.

"Do your best."

"Yes, sir!"

"No matter what the test assignment is, never give up."

"Of course!"

"Senior Leo!"

It was when Leo was encouraging his knights.

Someone approached Leo with a bright voice.

The Slayer Knights, upon seeing the owner of the voice, gasped and paid their respects.

The one who called Leo was none other than the Empire's princess, Sasha.

The likely next Empress of Lodren, she stood before Leo accompanied by numerous retainers.

"I've been looking forward to this day."

Sasha smiled brightly.

"The day I become Senior Leo's junior and receive your guidance!"

"Oh, yeah. Good luck."

Leo said with an unconcerned expression.

At Leo's tone, the escort knights who had accompanied Sasha glared at Leo with wide eyes.

But Leo didn't bat an eye.

Sasha also didn't mind and wore a confident expression.

"Since I'm Senior Leo's direct junior, I'll aim for the year representative!"

"Alright. Work hard."

"Hehe! Please look forward to it!"

Martina looked at Leo, who was seeing off the brightly smiling princess, and asked in surprise.

"Young Master Leo. Is it alright to speak casually to the princess?"

"What's the big deal? She's my junior. And to be precise, I'm not even from this country."

For starters, Leo's nationality was the Kingdom of Dellard.

It was when the second-year students were cheering on their first-year friends.

"Attention, everyone."

A low voice echoed throughout the entire examination hall.

"My name is Halind Edmon. I am the person in charge of overseeing this year's Rumern Integrated Examination."

At Halind's appearance, gasps erupted here and there.

It was inevitable, as one of Rumern's most renowned professors had made an appearance.

The test-takers wore tense expressions.

Amidst this, Halind spoke.

"I will now reveal the entrance examination assignment."

True to Halind's style, he got straight to the point without any unnecessary chatter.

"This year's Rumern entrance examination assignment is 'Survival'."

At that, the test-takers began to murmur.

"Survival?"

"Do we just have to survive?"

"We will test your adaptability in extreme situations. Only those who survive for a limited time or demonstrate excellent adaptability will pass."

Hearing Halind's words, sighs of relief emerged here and there.

"What? We just have to survive?"

"Is it a lenient integrated exam?"

"If it's just surviving, that's easy!"

"I got nervous for nothing."

The test-takers spoke happily.

Halind, seeing their expressions, said with an emotionless face.

"Lenient? Easy?"

At his cold voice that overwhelmed the audience, all the test-takers froze.

"It seems you all take the Rumern entrance exam as a joke. You have no idea who you will be surviving against."

Halind curled the corners of his lips.

"Those who will hunt you are none other than your seniors. That is, the Rumern second-year students gathered here."

At his words, not only the test-takers but also the second-year students looked dumbfounded.

"To say you must survive within the time limit also means that if you fail to survive within that time, you are all 'disqualified'."

Halind's eyes glinted.

"In other words, it wouldn't be strange if this year's number of admitted students was zero."

The test-takers' faces gradually stiffened.

'Wait! I don't want a second year without juniors!'

The second-year students also screamed inwardly.

"Second-year students. If any of you go easy because you don't want a school life without juniors, I will expel you first."

Everyone froze at Halind's words, which left no room for doubt.

"U-Unreasonable!"

"That's right! Opponents are second-year students!"

As some protested, Halind curled the corners of his lips.

"Exceed your limits. That is Rumern's motto. This is Rumern's way."