Book 1 Chapter 233

233

Rumerun Dock.

There, Leo was waiting for the new students.

Last year, when Leo enrolled, Professor Artian was in charge of leading them.

However, welcoming new students in Rumerun was originally one of the Student Council President's duties.

If the Student Council President is absent, the Vice Student Council President takes on this task.

'Due to the positions of Student Council President and Vice Student Council President often requiring external dispatches, professors often take on the role.'

Last year, it was Lis and Torua.

Both were on a mission to clear a Hero Dungeon, so Artian came instead.

Shwaaaaaa-!

The ferry was seen in the distance across the lake.

'What is it? It's too quiet?'

Last year's new students cheered and rejoiced as soon as they saw Rumerun.

And for good reason, they had been tormented by aquatic monsters from the very first day of admission.

New students undergoing an initiation ceremony before attending the entrance ceremony was a kind of Rumerun tradition.

But this time, there were no such signs, only silence.

Soon, the ship stopped in front of the dock.

But unlike last year's boisterous atmosphere, the ship was completely devoid of human presence.

Leo immediately jumped and boarded the ship's deck.

And a hollow laugh escaped him at the sight that unfolded.

The deck was a mess.

There were clear signs that the new students had fought amongst themselves.

Hwaak-!

Just then, a sharp sword strike was swung at Leo.

Tak-!

"…!"

Leo blocked the sword with his finger.

It was clearly a sharp force, but there wasn't much power in the sword itself.

Aina, whose exhaustion was evident, saw Leo's face and widened her eyes slightly.

Then she withdrew her sword.

"Ugh…"

"H-Help us…"

Groans leaked from here and there.

Among them, the more skilled students barely managed to sit on their knees without collapsing.

But Aina was the only one standing.

'Did they fight each other?'

"What happened?"

Just as Aina was about to open her mouth to Leo's question.

"I'll explain."

Step-step-

Among the fallen students, a beautiful silver-haired woman in a neat suit appeared, smiling.

"We held a competition to determine the new student representative based on skill. And the student who now stands, Aina Beidna, claimed the position of new student representative."

Leo widened his eyes when he saw the Rumerun professor who had appeared.

"Hello. I'm Mel, and I'll be teaching the first-year class in Rumerun's Magic Department."

Mel smiled sweetly and snapped her fingers.

Hwaak-!

A bright light spread across the entire deck.

The new students, who had fallen to the floor and were groaning in pain, showed surprised expressions as their pain vanished instantly.

Many of the new students had sustained considerable injuries.

But Mel had simply healed hundreds of injuries in an instant.

This was a difficult task even for a magician specialized in healing magic.

'As expected of a Rumerun professor…!'

'Amazing!'

'To be able to learn magic from someone like that…!'

Magic students, who well understood how incredible the magic was just now, looked at Mel with eyes full of admiration.

"Everyone, line up."

At Leo's words, the students flinched and began to scramble into formation.

There wasn't a single student here who didn't know about Leo.

The unprecedented All-Class, the youngest Student Council President in Rumerun's history.

Leo Flove!

Leo's achievements last year were already world-famous.

"I couldn't see him in person during the entrance exam…!"

"Awesome! He's handsome!"

"Haa… I wonder if I can get guidance from Senior Leo too?"

The female students squealed and whispered.

"What should I say, even though there's not much age difference, his charisma is immense."

"Is this what they call the greatest genius in Rumerun's history…?"

"Well, he is the second All-Class after the Hero of Beginnings, after all…"

The male students looked at Leo's back with tense eyes.

Amidst the students lining up.

A boy with silver hair and silver eyes showed a surprised expression.

"The Hero of Beginnings is real? Kyle isn't a fictional hero?"

At the boy, Luke's, question, the surrounding students looked at him with mocking expressions.

"Wow, how did a kid like this get into Rumerun?"

"How can a hero candidate be so insensitive to the latest hero studies news?"

Luke flinched his shoulders at his classmates' jeers.

"Hmph. You guys aren't in a position to mock others, are you?"

"What did you say?"

The students who were mocking Luke turned their heads indignantly.

And they flinched when they found Juen standing there.

"You guys are the ones who got in through the additional exam, right? This kid passed the main exam right away, unlike you? And he even fought that Student Council President directly with me. Right?"

Juen smiled sweetly and put his arm around Luke's shoulder.

As one of the top new student big shots stepped up to defend Luke, the students who had been mocking Luke frowned and walked away.

"Hmph. Pathetic."

"Thank you for your help."

"It's fine~ What if you're a little insensitive to hero studies? You'll learn everything at school anyway."

"By the way, it's really surprising that Kyle wasn't a fairy tale character."

"Yeah. Last year, Rumerun and Seirun even made a joint announcement… And during the Ruse War incident, the Progenitor of the Nebula and the Hero of Beginnings appeared in the present world and defeated the Monster Queen, completely revealing his existence."

"The Great Hero appeared in the present world? And the Monster Queen was defeated?!"

Seeing Luke's surprise, Juen looked flabbergasted.

"Did you really come from some remote place where newspapers don't even get delivered?"

"Yes. In my village, we only get newspapers from a few months ago, occasionally."

"Wow, what a total backwater."

Luke scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

Furthermore, he had returned to his hometown right after the entrance exam, so he had no chance to hear rumors about the Ruse War.

Juen, who had been shaking her head, smiled sweetly.

"Anyway, let me formally introduce myself. My name is Juen Torbina. I'm 15 and from the Southern Magic Tower~!"

"I'm Luke Elda. I'm 14 and from Shirne Village in the East."

"Alright, Luke. Nice to meet you. Hehehe- You were persistent during the entrance exam, weren't you? As a magician, I really need a meat shield… I mean, a companion to take charge of the front."

At those words, Luke smiled brightly.

"I'm very lacking. There will be many other excellent people who can be your companion, Miss Juen."

"Why are you refusing? Being a companion to me, a promising talent from the Southern Magic Tower, would be a huge help to you too, you know?"

"But you just called me a meat shield!"

Luke turned pale and tried to run away from Juen.

But Juen grabbed Luke and laughed wickedly.

"Uh-huh-huh-huh, you're not going anywhere."

"S-Save me!"

"Quiet down and get in line."

Just then, a calm voice was heard.

Juen smiled broadly.

"Aina Beidna."

Juen licked her lips.

"I lost the grade representative position this time, but you know that it was advantageous for you because of the characteristics of a magician and a knight, right? Next time, I'll take that position from you."

"…As you wish."

Aina stood at the front as if uninterested.

Before going to the front, her eyes met Luke's.

Luke smiled awkwardly, but Aina simply turned away.

"What! Am I not even worth considering? She acts so proud, like she's the successor to the Sword Saint! Hmph! I'll make her come crashing down!"

While Juen burned with competitive spirit, the new students disembarked the ship.

And following Leo, their leader, they headed to the Erek Training Ground.

Walking through the school, they continuously expressed their awe.

"Oh my, how fresh. Like children, everyone is passionate and full of energy. Hehehe. I already feel the sensation of youth."

Mel chuckled, glancing at the sight.

"I'm only a year or two older than them, you know?"

When Leo spoke indifferently, Mel laughed.

"Even if your appearance is that of a boy, your heart is that of an old man."

They spoke so the new students couldn't hear their conversation.

"By the way, how do you feel? Now everyone in the world believes in Lord Kyle's existence, don't they?"

"Is there anything to feel? It was naturally true from the start."

Leo replied nonchalantly and looked at Mel.

"By the way, why a professor all of a sudden?"

"…It's the age we live in. I felt that many new heroes were needed."

"Do the other dragons know?"

"No. My main body is still in Dragonia. This is an avatar I created."

Mel's true identity was none other than the Dragon Lord, Melina.

Looking at her smiling sweetly, Leo said.

"That works out well."

"Is there something you would like me to do?"

Hearing Leo's words, Mel asked politely.

If others had heard, they would have looked at her strangely, but the new students could not hear the two of them conversing.

"Could you find out a bit about Chen Xia for me?"

"Understood."

She didn't ask why.

The boy before her was the great hero.

Everyone in this world had been saved by him.

She was the only one in this world who knew that fact.

Mel believed that she should obey any command, even to repay the great hero's achievements.

***

Following Leo, the new students appeared at Erek.

The new students lined up with tense expressions.

Leo went and sat in the second-year section.

"We will now begin the entrance ceremony. First, we will hear a speech from the principal."

At those words, the current students began to murmur.

The principal, who hadn't appeared even at the opening ceremony, was finally making an appearance.

The principal's rumored appearance was enough to attract not only the interest of the new students but also that of the existing students.

Thump-thump-

Amidst this, a woman appeared on the podium.

While all the students looked surprised to see a principal younger than they expected.

Riina opened her mouth.

"Nice to meet you, Rumerun students. My name is Riina Flix. I am the newly appointed principal of Rumerun."

"Riina?"

"Have you heard of her?"

"No."

All the students looked surprised.

"Usually, a highly renowned hero becomes the Rumerun principal… Who exactly is she?"

Chloe wore a perplexed expression.

All previous Rumerun principals had been the greatest heroes of their time.

But no one knew anything about Riina.

"It's not strange that you don't know about me."

Riina's golden eyes gleamed.

"I have lived my entire life in the shadows. It wouldn't be strange for you not to know."

The students' expressions changed.

Shadows.

This referred to those who ferreted out traitors who betrayed their own kind and went over to Tartaros's forces.

They, too, were one pillar protecting world peace.

But they had to live thoroughly in the shadows.

A hero is not simply a guardian of the age.

It means a great person who leads the transformation of the world and guides people.

But shadows are not.

They were strictly tasked with ferreting out and eliminating traitors and related forces.

The problem was that their methods were excessively harsh.

"Didn't the Shadows accidentally kill heroes several times in the past?"

"Many kingdoms were destroyed in history because of them."

"Such a Shadow is the principal?"

The students showed perplexed reactions.

Seeing the students, Riina curled up the corners of her lips.

"I look forward to working with you, hero candidates."

Riina, who had surveyed not only the new students but also the current students, returned to her seat.

Amidst the confusion.

"We will now have a speech from the new student representative. New student representative, Aina Beidna."

At the announcer's words, the students fell silent.

And they watched Aina ascend the podium.

Just one year ago, the successor to the Sword Saint, who had been comforting students from that very spot.

"Respected professors, and seniors. Thank you for welcoming us new students in this manner. From now on, we new students will be proud members of Rumerun…"

Aina, who had ascended the podium, read through her speech.

"New student representative, Aina Beidna."

Clap, clap, clap, clap-

A shower of applause erupted.

"Welcome! Aina Beidna!"

"You will surely become an excellent hero candidate!"

Unusually, voices of support and encouragement also burst forth from among the upperclassmen.

If it hadn't been for Kallian last year, many people here would have died.

Moreover, having served as Rumerun's principal for decades, the upperclassmen had known Kallian for years.

The existence of the Sword Saint's successor was bound to be exceptionally significant to Rumerun students.

Amidst such fervent welcome, the officiating professor said.

"Student Aina. Lastly, as the new student representative, please give us one final word."

At those words, Aina pondered for a moment, then opened her mouth.

"Senior Leo."

Instantly, everyone's gaze fixed on Leo.

"I will definitely earn your recognition."

At her declaration, everyone exclaimed, "Ohh!"

"What! Leo! What's your relationship with her?"

"Did you meet separately after the entrance exam?"

"What kind of relationship is it that she mentions you in such a public setting?"

The surrounding classmates reacted with excitement.

If last year Leo's new student representative greeting was excessively unconventional, this year's new student representative greeting was unconventional in a different sense.

"What happened with her?"

When Chloe asked with a puzzled face, Leo said indifferently.

"Well, she kept being obsessed with me even during the entrance ceremony."

Leo mumbled, looking at Aina.

"I guess I'll have to talk to her sometime soon."