Book 1 Chapter 230

"This is troublesome."

Chloe, her Grimoire always tucked under her arm, scratched her cheek.

"I've suddenly taken on too big a task."

"I know, right?"

Leo clicked his tongue in the empty dormitory lounge.

Leo and Chloe had arrived at the dormitory where they would be living first.

The dormitory building was empty except for basic furniture.

'Do they want us to decorate it to our taste from now on?'

"Chloe, what kind of students do you want to primarily accept?"

Dormitory presidents had the authority to recruit students.

They would be living together in the dormitory for the next year.

Furthermore, it was said that the dormitories would compete against each other.

No matter how you looked at it, it would inevitably affect 'grades.'

"Hmm."

Chloe tilted her head slightly, her eyes darting around as she spoke.

"To be honest, I want to create a dormitory mainly for students from the Magic Department."

Chloe was a top student in the Magic Department.

She was proficient in magic theory and was the fastest to adopt new magic techniques and theories.

If Leo, Abad, and Chelsea were practical mages, Chloe was an academic.

She was, in essence, the legitimate successor of mages.

'Luna would have liked this if she saw it.'

"Leo, what do you think?"

"I understand your idea of wanting to recruit primarily students from the Magic Department."

It wasn't just because she was a mage.

Chloe had a good reputation within the Magic Department.

She always kindly taught her classmates anything they didn't know.

Because of this, many students unknowingly followed her.

As she had good relationships with her peers, she had a good grasp of the tendencies of most students in the Magic Department.

As the dormitory president who had to lead the dormitory to harmony, she needed to exclude students who might cause trouble as much as possible.

"What about you, Leo?"

"I don't care which department is prioritized."

"Well, you're taking all classes."

Leo was taking classes from all departments.

"However, it's difficult to decide right now. Chen Siya isn't here."

"Speaking of which, why didn't Siya come?"

"It must be family circumstances. In any case, it would be good to balance the departments when selecting dormitory members."

Chloe nodded at Leo's words.

If she had wanted to run the dormitory department-wise, it would have been easier to select dormitory presidents department-wise and have them band together.

Although there were students who weren't like that, most students recognized the top performers of each department as leaders of their respective departments.

The school had mixed top students from various departments into each dormitory.

'Our dormitory doesn't have any Summoners, but… Leo is the contractor of the Phoenix.'

He could be considered the representative of the Summoning Department.

The implication of this was simple.

In the future, it would be advantageous for departmental life to cooperate across departments.

In any case, the basic framework of departmental life at Rumeln was competition among students.

Students who couldn't survive had to leave the school.

"We only have a week. Let's narrow down the candidates first. We can't hear Siya's opinion, but that can't be helped."

"Okay."

Chloe nodded at Leo's words.

As she took out paper and a pen from her subspace and started organizing, Chloe paused.

'Come to think of it, it's just the two of us right now.'

There were only Leo and Chloe in the spacious dormitory.

All the other students were waiting in the existing dormitory building.

Feeling her heart pound, Chloe cleared her throat.

"Still, that's fortunate, Leo. You probably know the general tendencies of the Knight Department students, don't you?"

"That's right."

"Still, I'd prefer to recruit primarily Magic Department students."

"That would be good. Who do you think would be good?"

"Hmm. For starters, I'd like Kal."

"Kal? I thought it would be good to have Kal in the same dormitory, but it's surprising that you picked Kal first."

Kal was not only at the bottom of the academic rankings in the Magic Department but also in combat skills across all years.

Yet, Chloe picked Kal first.

"Kal's information network will be crucial for departmental life in the future."

Kal was always the first to find out about exams or events within the department.

He had excellent relationships with all the faculty and was friendly with seniors regardless of department or year.

"Indeed, Kal's ability in that regard is excellent."

Leo was the student council president, but he had delegated the practical tasks to his seniors.

Moreover, even with the student council's power, it wasn't easy to find out about departmental schedules.

Ultimately, Kal's information network would clearly be a very necessary asset for second-year departmental life.

"Furthermore, his alchemy skills are outstanding."

Although it tended to be overlooked because Rumeln's grading favored combat-focused subjects, Kal's alchemy skills were definitely top-tier.

"As he aims to be a supporter, he gets along well with anyone in a team. I think he's a very necessary talent for team building."

'She's grown.'

Leo chuckled.

In his first year, Chloe was still somewhat rigid.

However, over the past year, Chloe's way of thinking had become much more flexible.

Afterward, Leo and Chloe continued to discuss dormitory members.

They talked until past midnight.

"Ugh-!"

Chloe stretched.

"Does this mean the general direction of our dormitory has been decided?"

Leo and Chloe had worked together to create a dormitory composition that could produce the best synergy.

"Isn't it too much of my opinion?"

Leo chuckled at Chloe's question.

"I thought that composition was good too."

"…You're not trying to pawn off the dormitory president duty on me because it's bothersome, are you?"

"That's part of it."

Chloe threw a sofa cushion at Leo.

Leo caught the cushion with his face and stood up.

"It's late. Let's go."

Leo and Chloe left the dormitory and headed towards the existing second-year dormitory building.

Since the male and female dormitories were separate, they went their separate ways.

-You're trying to pawn off departmental work on me again, like you did with student council work, aren't you?

-That's right! His intentions are too obvious.

-Peep!

Led by Elsi, Kirran and Fiora appeared.

-Master is a great hero! He has many busy tasks besides departmental life!

Arti, in the form of a little girl, prostrated herself before Leo.

"…Why are you blocking my path?"

-Please step on me!

"Your demands are becoming increasingly bizarre."

Leo said coldly and walked away, and Arti clutched her heart on the ground.

-Haaak! Those eyes! And the cold attitude of discarding me without hesitation! It's so cool…!

-Are you sure you're a Pegasus?

-Of course!

In response to Kirran's question, Arti, who had sprung up, followed Leo with a beaming smile.

Due to the Ruse Battle incident, Leo's summons had learned that Leo was the great hero Kyle.

'I'm a little worried that Fiora and Kirran might blab, but… at least Arti is keeping them in check for now.'

Although his actions were those of a pervert, Arti, as an experienced mythical beast, was effectively managing the young Fiora and Kirran.

Upon returning to the dormitory late at night, the male students waiting on the first floor said,

"You're the last ones."

"Well, it seems like your dormitory is the one that will have the best chemistry."

Jureden, who was third in the Summoning Department, said with a wry smile, and Leo asked,

"What about the others?"

"Warreden came back immediately 30 minutes after going to the meeting. Then Duran came. And a bit later, Abad returned. It seems like the talks didn't go well for everyone except you."

Jureden shrugged.

Leo, who had gone to his temporary room, lay on his bed and fell into thought.

'Indeed, it's hectic after returning to school.'

He stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

'During the entrance exam… that was definitely Erebus.'

The end of the entrance exam.

He recalled the eyes of Erebus he had met in the hero's world.

'But it wasn't a fragment of Erebus that was sealed in the Hero Record.'

Leo's eyes narrowed.

'It's probably residual lingering thoughts drifting around that place.'

The entrance exam location coincidentally happened to be the site of Kyle and Erebus's final battle.

If so, it wouldn't be strange for strong residual lingering thoughts to remain there.

After all, it was a place that had become a monster's land due to Erebus's influence.

'If I get the chance, I should go there once, and…'

Leo looked at his right wrist.

There was Polium, the staff that could be said to be Luna's symbol.

It was now merely a fake, retaining only its appearance.

'I've used up all the divine power Pivea gave me.'

Leo let out a deep sigh.

The Hero Record was created by the gods.

He didn't know if using divine power could create miracles like the Ruse Battle again.

'It's essentially the same concept as Zerdia crossing over.'

In Zerdia's case, he crossed over to the mortal world due to Erebus.

But now, the gods had disappeared from the earth.

'While strengthening myself by conquering past heroes might be one method…'

Ultimately, to conquer worlds related to gods, the world of great heroes was the only answer.

'Besides, Luna's world, where I met Pivea, is already heavily damaged.'

Even if the hero's world were realized, it was uncertain if he could meet Pivea like he did then.

'For now, I should visit Seirune again to confirm.'

Thinking about his future schedule, Leo looked out the window.

'For now, dormitory member selection will be the priority.'

Tartarus was also quiet for now.

'Should I go to sleep?'

Closing his eyes, Leo fell into a deep sleep.

***

The next morning.

Leo and Chloe headed to the dining hall together.

From the morning, second-year students flocked around Leo and Chloe.

"Leo, Chloe! Pick me!"

"Me, rather than this guy…!"

"No! Me! Me!"

Chloe flustered and calmed her 동기생들 (classmates).

"F-First, calm down. We've decided on the general members, so you can't be picked just by shouting like this."

"Am I included?"

"Then announce it now!"

Seeing her classmates becoming even more rowdy without calming down, Chloe sighed softly.

Then she opened her mouth.

"Everyone, be quiet."

*Shhh-.*

With her icy cold voice, everyone froze.

"We'll talk about the dormitory after breakfast."

"Y-Yes!"

"Understood."

The students scattered, looking cautious.

Watching them, Chloe relaxed her gaze and blushed as she saw Leo looking at her.

"W-What? What's with that look?"

"No, they called you 'Ice Princess,' and I wondered why, but this is why they called you that."

"Don't tease me with a nickname the kids made up on their own."

"As you command, Ice Princess."

"You really!"

Chloe swung her Grimoire at Leo, who was teasing her.

"Good morning! Looking good in the morning! You came back late yesterday, didn't you? Keu~ You must have had a fun time alone in the dead of night…"

Watching them, Chloe's Grimoire immediately changed its target and struck Kal's temple.

Leo, shaking his shoulders with a blushing face, and Kal wriggling on the floor, Leo shook his head and said,

"Kal, have you decided which dormitory you're going to?"

"Hmph. It doesn't matter where I go!"

Kal stood up abruptly, striking a pose.

"You're bleeding from your head."

"Ugh?"

Kal, startled, took out a potion from his pocket and applied it.

Kal, who had barely stopped the bleeding, said,

"It doesn't matter which dormitory I go to, but I think it would be better to be in the same dormitory as you, Leo."

Kal pointed to one side.

There, Celia and Chelsea were growling at each other, while Warreden was eating with no interest.

"That place is too fierce."

He then pointed to the other side.

There, Duran and Eliza were staring at each other coldly.

"That place is too cold."

Seeing Kal express an opinion not much different from other students, Chloe smiled.

"Then that's great. Come to our dormitory."

"Oh! Really?"

Just as Kal's face lit up.

"I'm sorry, but…"

Someone interrupted the conversation.

Abad, with a gentle smile, reached out and placed his hand on Kal's shoulder.

"Kal, you're in our dormitory."

"Huh?"

Kal looked surprised.

Chloe also furrowed her brow.

"Yesterday evening, I went to see Professor Sedzen and registered you in our dormitory."

"Without my consent?"

Kal asked, flustered, and Abad nodded.

"Professor Sedzen said that designated students have no right of refusal."

Chloe's eyes widened, and Leo narrowed his.

'As expected, they're planning to create a competition among the dormitory presidents.'

Of course, they couldn't just arbitrarily place anyone.

Forcing a student into a dormitory without their consent could break the dormitory's teamwork if mishandled.

After all, they had to live together in the dormitory for a year.

Even with the authority, using it carelessly wasn't a wise choice.

However, Kal was different.

He had a flexible mind and was sociable, so it didn't matter which dormitory he joined.

That's why Abad didn't hesitate to register Kal as a dormitory member.

'I was a step too late.'

Leo clicked his tongue inwardly.

"Wait! Wait! I appreciate you valuing me, but is it okay to do this unilaterally? I don't want to be targeted by those two?!"

Kal screamed.

He knew that Duran and Eliza, who had the strongest elitist tendencies among the first-years, would not favor Kal, who was at the bottom of the year.

Abad smiled faintly at Kal's cry.

"Don't worry about that. They both agreed to accept you."

"What?"

"In our dormitory, even if the dormitory presidents don't get along, we share the same goal."

"What is that goal?"

To Kal's question, Abad smiled and looked at Leo.

"Defeat Leo Flaub."