Book 1 Chapter 226

226

Jis, who was in overall charge of Zeldinger's trainees, finally received some good news after a long time.

"Excellent. All five of you passed the Rumeln exam."

As Zeldinger was a prestigious noble family, there were many trainees who took the Rumeln exam.

However, even if they were Zeldinger trainees, not everyone could enter the Hero Academy.

They devoted themselves to training every day to become excellent knights, but the threshold of Rumeln was high.

In that sense, the fact that five Zeldinger trainees passed this year was truly encouraging.

"It's all thanks to Young Master Leo."

Jis 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 Rumeln. But you must not forget that you are also Zeldinger's knight trainees."

"Yes, sir!"

"Good. Zeldinger will handle your enrollment preparations, so you focus on your training."

"Understood!"

Jis nodded contentedly, watching the Slayer Knights answer crisply.

The five people who came out of the training hall building looked at each other's faces and then let out cheers.

"Hooray!"

"We got into Rumeln!"

"We're students at the Hero Academy!"

Martina and Carin held hands and spun around, while Austin, Julian, and Valerie put their arms around each other's shoulders and ran.

It felt like a dream.

"Hoo-ah…! It was really great to become Young Master Leo's knight! It feels like a dream!"

As Carin spoke with a relaxed face, Julian burst into laughter.

"Who would have known? That we would become Rumeln students!"

It was when the five of them were completely excited.

"You got into Rumeln?"

Startled by the voice from behind, they stood at attention.

"Lady Celia. Hello!"

Martina greeted her on behalf of the group.

"Congratulations, you're my juniors from now on, aren't you?"

Looking at Celia, who smiled brightly, the five had flushed expressions.

Although they were now Leo's knights, having lived as trainees with Celia since childhood, their admiration for Celia was also great.

Celia also smiled proudly upon hearing that the five people she had trained with in swordsmanship had become Rumeln students.

"That's good. Let's go somewhere together now, you and I."

"Yes. Where are we going?"

Celia brushed back her hair and answered Martina's question curtly.

"The Imperial Palace Archmage's Library."

***

The Imperial Palace Archmage's Library of Rodren.

It was like the heart of Rodren's magic engineering.

The magic books and magic research materials held in the Imperial Palace Archmage's Library were comparable to those in the Magic Tower Library, making it the best place for mages.

As such, the innermost core was inaccessible to anyone other than a mage belonging to the Imperial Palace, but areas where major documents were not stored were always open to mages belonging to Rodren and outside guests.

And there were people there who drew everyone's attention.

"It's Abad and Chelsea. Are they doing their vacation homework? But who is that child? A school friend?"

"Hmph, you should at least know the faces of the empire's key figures! That's Leo Flobe! Leo Flobe."

"What? Leo Flobe?"

The mages looked surprised when they saw Leo with the Ruwalin siblings.

Leo Flobe was already famous in the Rodren Empire.

However, his presence in the Imperial Palace Archmage's Library was unfamiliar to Rodren's mages.

This was unavoidable, as Leo's maternal family was Zeldinger.

Although Leo was also a mage before he was a knight, it was still a surprising thing for someone from Zeldinger, a renowned noble family of knight heroes, to be studying in the Imperial Palace Archmage's Library.

Shhh- Shhh-

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

"I'm all done!"

Chelsea, having finished her homework, smiled refreshingly.

Abad also closed his book with his characteristic gentle smile.

"Finished faster than I thought."

"It's efficient when the three of us work together like this."

Chelsea, smiling widely, looked at Leo.

'By the way, Brother Leo probably has not only magic department homework, but also knight department and summoning department homework.'

It was at that moment she was once again impressed by his abilities.

"Lord Abad!"

A group of girls who looked to be her age cautiously approached, holding magic books.

They were wearing what appeared to be school uniforms.

'Imperial Archmage's Library apprentice mages.'

The Rodren family oversaw the Imperial Archmage's Library.

And the Imperial Archmage's Library was also an institution that nurtured promising mages of the empire.

Abad and Chelsea also studied here before entering Rumeln.

The Imperial Archmage's Library apprentice mages were in a similar position to Zeldinger trainees.

The girls gathered around Abad, blushing, and pushed forward magic spells.

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

Many apprentice mages had gathered around, seemingly waiting for Abad to finish his homework.

'They probably have other intentions beyond magic.'

Chelsea rested her chin on her hand.

Having been close to Abad since she was young, Chelsea knew well that there were many girls around Abad.

It couldn't be helped.

Even she, his younger sister, found him handsome, and on top of that, he had a kind personality and the status of Ruwalin's successor.

'My brother is indeed a top prospective husband!'

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

"Brother, Brother Leo. Want a drink?"

This place always had drinks and teas that enhanced concentration available for mages studying or researching.

"Lady Chelsea. I'll get it."

One of the apprentice mages who had been asking Abad questions said, flustered, and Chelsea smiled faintly.

"It's fine. You can ask my brother what you want to ask."

Chelsea hummed a tune as if it were no big deal and went to get the drinks.

'Since my homework is all done, should we go sightseeing in the capital? I was taken care of by the Flobe family during the summer vacation, so I think it would be good for me to guide them this time.'

According to Chelsea's understanding, Leo had completed all his busy tasks within Zeldinger and his entrance exams.

Now, all that remained was to spend the rest of the vacation leisurely.

'Because next year won't be ordinary.'

Chelsea sighed softly.

No matter how young she was, as a hero candidate, she was well-versed in the continental situation.

It was also anticipated that her second year of academic life, starting next year, would not be easy.

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

It was when Chelsea made a sullen face, thinking of Ar.

"You are Leo Flobe, aren't you?"

"Yes, why?"

"I heard that you have an exceptionally profound understanding of magic theory. I'd like to talk to Lord Leo about magic theory."

A girl who looked like an Imperial Palace Archmage's Library apprentice mage was speaking to Leo with an innocent smile.

'Isn't she the one who was flirting with my brother until last year? She came on too strong and got a bad reputation, and now she's going to flirt with Brother Leo?'

Chelsea's eyes blazed.

Creaaak-!

It was when an unusual sound came from the tray Chelsea was holding.

"Why is our cute niece angry again?"

With a bright, spring breeze-like voice, Chelsea's eyes widened, and she looked back.

"Aunt."

Chelsea's eyes widened, and she looked back.

There stood the overall head of the Imperial Palace Archmage's Library.

Cerna Ruwalin.

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

"Is that Leo Flobe?"

"Yes."

"Hmm?"

Cerna, who was humming and staring at Leo, smiled brightly.

"He certainly resembles Reina a lot."

"Aunt, do you know Lady Reina too?"

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

Cerna shrugged her shoulders and walked click-clack, click-clack towards Leo.

At her appearance, the apprentice mages were startled, backed away, and bowed their heads.

"Aunt."

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

Cerna smiled brightly and waved to her nephew.

Then she stood in front of Leo.

"Welcome to the Imperial Palace Archmage's Library, Leo Flobe. My name is Cerna Ruwalin. I am the overall head here."

"I am Leo Flobe."

Cerna, resting her hand on her cheek, smiled brightly like a spring breeze at Leo, who politely bowed his head.

"Oh my, how well-mannered. Child. I'm really glad to see you. I told your uncle, Zeldinger's vice-family head, several times that I wanted to meet you, but do you know how many times that sly old fox hatefully refused? Hahahaha."

Indeed, true to the Ruwalin bloodline, Cerna was openly criticizing Jis, Zeldinger's vice-family head.

'Leo. Listen carefully. If you see that vicious witch in the Imperial Palace, don't even exchange words with her.'

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

Before being the general manager of the Imperial Palace Archmage's Library, she was also currently Ruwalin's vice-family head.

Cerna's eyes, which had been smiling sweetly, narrowed.

"But seeing you, it would have been better to see you sooner. I should have formally invited you without worrying about the relationship between Ruwalin and Zeldinger."

"It's an honor to be regarded so highly."

Leo smiled faintly.

"Alright. Since things have turned out this way, shall we have a chat?"

At her words, Chelsea stood next to Leo.

Seeing Chelsea, Cerna smiled.

"Chelsea. This time, I'd like to talk to Leo alone."

"Huh?"

Chelsea, whose eyes widened, rolled her eyes around and then nodded.

"Understood."

'Why did Aunt want to see Brother Leo alone?'

Feeling puzzled, she watched Leo's retreating figure as he left with Cerna.

Leo walked behind Cerna, narrowing his eyes.

'Is she someone from the shadows?'

Cerna Ruwalin.

The vice-family head of the Ruwalin family and the overall head of the Imperial Palace Archmage's Library.

At first glance, she was a woman who lived in the glamorous forefront.

But Leo could sense it.

The strong scent of blood Cerna exuded.

She was not someone who operated in the light.

During the era of the Great Heroes.

She was similar to Kyle, who had purged and buried traitors.

"Just a word of caution."

Cerna said in a gentle tone.

"I hope you don't talk to Chelsea about anything related to me. She'll find out someday… but not now."

"About what?"

"Playing innocent."

Cerna said without losing her cheerful smile.

"Instead, I won't tell anyone either. About you seeming like the same kind of person as me."

Cerna stopped walking in the shadowed corridor and looked back.

Her light blue eyes, like Abad's and Chelsea's, emitted an eerie glow.

"Even though you're only fifteen."

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

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

'Though it seems even deeper than mine.'

Feeling a shiver from Leo, Cerna smiled.

"The reason I wanted to see you alone is because a guest who has come to the Empire this time is also a guest related to you."

At her words, Leo made a puzzled expression.

Cerna arrived at an office, opened the door, and entered.

And seeing those seated inside, she made a puzzled expression.

"Welcome, Black Rabbit."

Ar snorted, 'Hmph!', welcoming Leo.

Beside her, a large beastman had his arms crossed.

He also seemed to be a student from Azonia.

He, who had his eyes closed, opened them and looked at Leo.

The wolf beastman said in a serious voice,

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

Swish-

He stood up.

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

"My name is Dolbeman Kales. I've become the student council president of Azonia this time. We'll be seeing a lot of each other from now on."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Leo Flobe."

"Hmph."

Dolbeman looked down at Leo and exhaled in displeasure.

"What a frail body. It's the same with Hark; why are Rumeln's warriors all so frail?"

Dolbeman said, lamenting as he looked up at the sky.

"Leo. If you had come to Azonia, you could have had a stronger body…"

"Yes, yes. Let's talk about poaching students from other schools somewhere else."

Cerna smiled faintly.

"Shall we get to the main point?"

Thump- Thump-

Cerna placed a magic-sealed box on the desk.

"Rodren had a battle with hero hunters recently. And we obtained a trophy from there."

Creak-

The magic seal was broken.

Inside, there was a broken piece of metal.

Leo's eyes widened.

"Did the Rodren Empire invite us just for this?"

Dolbeman made a puzzled expression.

"I heard it was related to Lord Arion… what on earth is this piece of metal?"

"Brave."

"…!"

Dolbeman and Ar turned their heads to look at Leo.

Cerna narrowed her eyes.

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

Cerna nodded.

"You're right, Leo. This is a fragment of the Hero's Sword, Brave."