Book 1 Chapter 226

Zis, who was in overall charge of Gerdinger's trainees, was pleased to receive good news after a long time.

"Excellent. All five passed Lumern."

As Gerdinger was a prestigious family, many trainees applied for the Lumern exam.

However, even if they were Gerdinger trainees, not everyone could be admitted to the Hero Academy.

They practiced diligently every day to become excellent knights, but Lumern's threshold was high.

In that sense, it was truly encouraging that five Gerdinger trainees passed this year.

"It's all thanks to Master Leo."

Zis chuckled at Martina's words.

"You are the ones who endured that training. This is your achievement, so be proud of it."

"Yes."

"You are Leo's knights, and now you belong to Lumern. However, you must not forget that you are still Gerdinger knight trainees."

"Yes, sir!"

"Alright. Gerdinger will handle the entrance preparations, so you focus on your training."

"Understood!"

Zis nodded with satisfaction as he watched the Slayer Knights respond with discipline.

The five people who left the training hall building looked at each other and then let out a cheer.

"Hooray!"

"We were admitted to Lumern!"

"We're going to be Hero Academy students!"

Martina and Karin held hands and spun around, while Austin, Julian, and Valerie linked arms and ran.

It felt like a dream.

"Haa…! I'm so glad I became Master Leo's knight! It feels like a dream!"

As Karin said with a relaxed expression, Julian burst into laughter.

"Who would have thought? That we would become Lumern students!"

Just as the five people were getting excited.

"You were admitted to Lumern?"

Startled by the voice from behind, they snapped to attention.

"Lady Celia. Hello!"

Martina bowed on behalf of the group.

"Congratulations, you'll be my juniors from now on?"

Seeing Celia smiling faintly, the five of them had flushed faces.

Although they had now become Leo's knight squad, they had looked up to Celia with great admiration, having trained together since they were young.

Celia also smiled with satisfaction upon hearing that the five people who had trained swordsmanship with her had become Lumern students.

"That's great. Come with me somewhere from now on."

"Yes. Where are we going?"

In response to Martina's question, Celia brushed her hair back and replied curtly.

"The Imperial Magic Library."

***

The Imperial Magic Library of Rodren.

It was the heart of Rodren's magic engineering.

The magic books and magical research materials possessed by the Imperial Magic Library were comparable to the Magic Library of the Magic Tower, making it the best place for mages.

As such, the innermost core was inaccessible to anyone other than mages affiliated with the Imperial Palace, but areas where major documents were not stored were open to Rodren mages and external guests at all times.

And there, people were drawing attention.

"Abad and Chelsea. Are you doing your vacation homework? But who is that child? A school friend?"

"Hoo, you should at least know the faces of the empire's key figures! It's Leo Flov! Leo Flov."

"What? Leo Flov?"

The mages were surprised to see Leo with the Lewalin siblings.

In the Rodren Empire, Leo Flov was already famous.

However, it was unusual for Rodren mages to see him at the Imperial Magic Library.

This was because Leo's maternal family was Gerdinger.

Leo was a mage before he was a knight, but it was still remarkable to see someone from Gerdinger, a prestigious family of knights, studying at the Imperial Magic Library.

Swish- Swish-

Chelsea, who was doing her homework, put down her pen and stretched with a groan!

"Finished!"

Chelsea smiled brightly after finishing her homework.

Abad also closed his book with his characteristic gentle smile.

"It's over sooner than I thought."

"It's efficient because the three of us work together."

Chelsea, smiling broadly, looked at Leo.

'Meanwhile, Leo oppa must have homework for magic, knight, and summoning courses.'

She was marveling at his abilities when.

"Abad-nim!"

A group of girls who looked to be around their age approached cautiously with magic books.

They were wearing what appeared to be school uniforms.

'Apprentice mages of the Imperial Magic Library.'

The Imperial Magic Library was overseen by the Rodren family.

And the Imperial Magic Library was an institution that nurtured promising mages of the empire.

Abad and Chelsea also studied there before entering Lumern.

The apprentice mages of the Imperial Magic Library were in a similar position to the Gerdinger trainees.

The girls who gathered around Abad blushed and presented magic formations.

"I don't understand this, can you teach me?"

As if waiting for Abad's homework to finish, many apprentice mages gathered around.

'They probably have other intentions besides magic.'

Chelsea rested her chin on her hand.

Having been inseparable from Abad since childhood, Chelsea knew there were many women around Abad.

It couldn't be helped.

Even as his sister, she found him handsome, and he had a kind personality and the status of the Lewalin heir.

'My brother is indeed a top prospect!'

Hmm! Hmm! Chelsea, with her arms crossed, stood up from her seat.

"Brother, Leo oppa. Would you like some drinks?"

There were always drinks and tea available here for mages studying or researching individually, to help them focus.

"Lady Chelsea. I'll get it for you."

One of the apprentice mages who had been asking Abad a question said in a flustered voice, and Chelsea smiled faintly.

"It's fine. You ask your questions to brother."

Chelsea hummed a tune nonchalantly and went to get drinks.

'Since homework is done, should I go play at the academy? I stayed at the Flov family during the summer vacation, so this time it would be nice for me to guide them.'

As far as Chelsea could tell, Leo had finished his busy schedule at Gerdinger and his entrance exams.

Now all that remained was to enjoy the rest of his vacation at leisure.

'Things will be unusual from next year.'

Chelsea sighed softly.

Even though she was young, as a hero candidate, she understood the political situation of the continent.

She anticipated that her second-year studies would not be easy.

'Speaking of which, why is the Azonia class representative still in Rodren even though the entrance exam is over?'

As she thought of Arl, Chelsea's expression turned sullen.

"You are Leo Flov-nim, correct?"

"Yes, and?"

"I heard you have an excellent grasp of magic theory. I would like to discuss magic theory with you, Leo-nim."

A girl who appeared to be an apprentice mage at the Imperial Magic Library spoke to Leo with a delicate smile.

'She was the one who was hitting on my brother until last year. She had a bad reputation for being so forward, and now she's going to hit on Leo oppa?'

Chelsea's eyes narrowed.

Grind-!

An ominous sound came from the tray Chelsea was holding.

"Why is my cute niece angry again?"

With a voice as gentle as a spring breeze, Chelsea's eyes widened, and she looked behind her.

"Aunt."

Chelsea's eyes widened as she turned around.

There stood the overall head of the Imperial Magic Library.

Cerna Lewalin.

Cerna smiled and placed her hands on Chelsea's shoulders, saying,

"Is that child Leo Flov?"

"Yes."

"Hmm?"

Cerna, letting out a nasal sound, gazed intently at Leo.

"He certainly resembles Reina a lot."

"Do you know Reina too, Aunt?"

"Of course, I do. Reina was famous."

Cerna shrugged and walked towards Leo.

The apprentice mages were startled by her appearance and stepped back, bowing their heads.

"Aunt."

"Yes. Abad. It's been a while."

Cerna smiled brightly and waved at her nephew.

Then she stood in front of Leo.

"Welcome to the Imperial Magic Library, Leo Flov. My name is Cerna Lewalin. I am the head of this place."

"I am Leo Flov."

Seeing Leo bow respectfully, Cerna, with her hand on her cheek, smiled brightly like a spring breeze.

"Oh my, how polite. Child, I'm truly glad to see you. Do you know how many times I told your uncle, Gerdinger's vice-chief, that I wanted to meet you, but that sly fox refused me? Ho ho ho."

As expected of the Lewalin bloodline, Cerna openly criticized Zis, Gerdinger's vice-chief.

'Leo. Listen carefully. If you see that wicked witch at the Imperial Palace, don't even talk to her.'

Of course, before coming to the Imperial Palace, Zis had a similar reaction to Cerna.

Before being the head of the Imperial Magic Library, she was also the current vice-chief of Lewalin.

Cerna, who had been smiling sweetly, narrowed her eyes.

"But seeing you, I should have met you sooner. I should have officially invited you without worrying about the relationship between Lewalin and Gerdinger."

"It's an honor to be looked upon so favorably."

Leo smiled faintly.

"Well then, since we're here, shall we have a chat?"

Chelsea stood next to Leo at those words.

Cerna smiled as she looked at Chelsea.

"Chelsea, I want to speak with Leo separately this time."

"What?"

Chelsea, her eyes wide, looked around and then nodded.

"Understood."

'Why did Aunt want to see Leo oppa separately?'

Feeling a sense of bewilderment, she watched Leo's retreating back as he left with Cerna.

Leo walked behind Cerna, narrowing his eyes.

'Is she someone from the shadows?'

Cerna Lewalin.

The vice-chief of the Lewalin family and the head of the Imperial Magic Library.

At first glance, she seemed like a woman who lived in the spotlight.

But Leo could feel it.

The strong scent of blood that Cerna exuded.

She was not someone who operated in the light.

During the Great Hero era.

She was similar to Kyle, who hunted down and buried traitors.

"Just as a precaution."

Cerna said in a soft tone.

"I hope you won't mention anything related to me to Chelsea. Although she will eventually find out… not now."

"About what?"

"Don't play dumb."

Cerna said without losing her sweet smile.

"Instead, I won't say anything about you appearing to be someone similar to me."

Cerna stopped walking in the shadowed corridor and turned back.

Her pale blue eyes, like Abad and Chelsea's, emitted a chilling gleam.

"Even at just fifteen years old."

Cerna, an excellent hunter, saw a darkness within Leo similar to her own.

Something only those who have stepped into this world can understand.

'It seems deeper than mine, though.'

Feeling a chill from Leo, Cerna smiled.

"The reason I wanted to see you separately is because the guest who came to the empire this time is also related to you."

At those words, Leo looked puzzled.

Arriving at the office, Cerna opened the door and entered.

And she looked surprised at the people sitting there.

"Welcome, Black Rabbit."

Arl greeted Leo with a snort.

Next to her was a large beastman with his arms crossed.

He also seemed to be a student from Azonia.

He opened his closed eyes and looked at Leo.

He was a wolf beastman and said in a serious voice,

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lumern's Student Council President."

Swish-

He stood up.

He was two heads taller than Leo, so Leo had to tilt his head back to look up at him.

"My name is Dorberman Kaless. I have become the Student Council President of Azonia. We will be seeing each other often."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, I am Leo Flov."

"Hmph."

Dorberman looked down at Leo and exhaled with displeasure.

"What a meager physique. Like Hark, why are Lumern's warriors all so scrawny?"

Dorberman lamented, looking up at the sky.

"Leo, if you came to Azonia, you could have a stronger body…"

"Yes, yes. Let's discuss tempting students from other schools elsewhere."

Cerna smiled faintly.

"Shall we get to the point?"

Thump- Thump-

Cerna placed a magically sealed box on the desk.

"Recently, Rodren had a battle with a hero hunter. And they obtained a trophy there."

Screeech-

The magical seal was released.

Inside was a broken piece of iron.

Leo's eyes widened.

"Is this broken piece of iron all that Rodren Empire brought us here for?"

Dorberman looked puzzled.

"I heard it was related to Lord Arion… What is this piece of iron?"

"Brave."

"……!"

Dorberman and Arl turned their heads to look at Leo.

Cerna narrowed her eyes.

"You recognized it at a glance? It's just a piece of a sword."

Cerna nodded.

"As you said, Leo. This is a fragment of the Sword of the Brave, Brave."