Book 1 Chapter 259

259

After the weekend.

All the second-year students gathered in front of the warp gate.

"Everyone seems excited."

"Of course they are. It's a long-awaited event."

Chen Xia smiled and said in response to Leo's words.

Unless it's a special case, weapons are inevitably consumables.

No matter how carefully they are managed, they will eventually break.

Even the longsword Leo received as a gift from the Seirun principal last year became unusable in the battle of Silatuna.

Of course, the problem wasn't the sword's performance, but that the opponent was too strong.

"Well, young master Leo might not be very interested since he'll receive one of the Zerdinger family's heirlooms. Still, all of Damian's students are excellent artisans, so having a dedicated smith would be a great help. Damian's students will also be very interested in young master Leo."

Lumern's students have become somewhat accustomed to Leo, the unprecedented All-Class student.

While he's still fascinating, it's no longer surprising.

But it's not the same for other hero academies.

Especially in Damian's case, they are artisans who create weapons even before being hero candidates.

They will inevitably be even more interested in an All-Class student.

"Speaking of which, young master Leo. What about the weapon you'll receive from Zerdinger?"

"I decided to choose slowly."

"They say knights get excited when they see fine weapons, but you don't feel that way? Of course, you're not a pure knight. But if it were me, I'd be incredibly happy and choose a weapon right away."

If it was a Zerdinger heirloom, it was undoubtedly an extraordinary item.

Anyone else would have been excited and chosen quickly, but Leo was in no hurry.

It wasn't that Leo had no desire for weapons.

'It's just that I'm so used to the weapons Dweyno made.'

During the past expeditions, Leo had naturally used Dweyno's weapons.

'He was an eccentric pervert who boasted of being an artist, but neither I nor anyone else disagreed that he was the greatest blacksmith in history.'

Because his standards were set by Dweyno's armaments, he didn't feel a strong desire to possess even great items.

"You seem quite excited?"

Chloe nodded at Leo's question.

"Of course! The performance of a magic staff made by a dwarf artisan is incredible!"

Chloe's eyes sparkled.

Beside her, instead of her usual grimoire, a bundle of papers was neatly arranged.

'Are those the magic formulas to engrave on the staff?'

Of course, she wouldn't be able to put all of them in.

Because even magic staffs have 'capacity'.

If a dwarf is creating a magic staff, their knowledge of magic must also be immense, so they need to choose the magic formulas through discussion.

Creating one's own magic staff in this way was a very exciting prospect for a mage.

Chen Xia covered her mouth and chuckled, watching Chloe clasping her hands and her eyes sparkling.

"Chloe, do you know how cute you are right now?"

It was then, as the students were brimming with their own expectations and excitement.

"Gentlemen! What an elegant morning!"

"Hello! Good morning! Professor Sedgen!"

"Hmm! Yes!"

Sedgen, with his arms crossed, nodded at the bright greetings of the students.

Behind Sedgen stood the professors responsible for escorting them on this external schedule.

Starting with the officers in charge of each dormitory, to the second-year departmental heads.

To the second-year students, they were all familiar faces.

Except for one professor.

"Huh, oh?"

"Professor Ren is…?"

Confused voices erupted among the magic department students.

Students from other departments also looked with questioning eyes at the professor standing between Ain and Yura.

The professor standing there was Mel, who was in charge of special Heroics classes for all grades.

It was when everyone was feeling doubtful.

"I cannot accept this!"

Ren's voice echoed.

"Principal! Please reconsider! How can I be excluded from this important departmental schedule!"

The students were dumbfounded by the sight before their eyes.

Principal Liina was walking over, and Ren was being dragged along, clutching her pant leg.

Liina, who had become a spectacle for the students because of the bizarre sight, pressed her temples and said.

"Professor Ren. I'm sorry, but this was a decision made by the board, so I can't change it on my own."

"I understand that! But can't you add me to the list with your authority as principal!"

"Then who will conduct the first-year magic theory class for two weeks?"

"You can have Associate Professor Anna do it!"

Ren pointed to Anna, who had followed him, and said.

"These are the students I've taught for a year! I understand the second-year students better than anyone! My advice will be crucial for the smith contracts!"

"Principal. Professor Ren certainly has a very good understanding of the second-year magic students."

"Associate Professor Anna!"

Ren's face brightened at Anna's words.

"However, I also have a good understanding of the second-year students, so I can give the same advice Professor Ren would."

"Associate Professor Anna! Are you betraying me!"

Anna, Ren's associate professor, was attending this departmental schedule.

Anna didn't bat an eye at Ren's anger.

In the end, Liina, unable to bear it any longer, said.

"What are you staring at? Quickly, drag this limpet away!"

At her words, Ain and Yura grabbed Ren and dragged him away.

Ren's desperate screams could be heard, but they soon faded.

"Serves him right."

As Anna mumbled softly, Mel scratched his cheek.

"It's a pity for Professor Ren."

"Since it's a board decision, Professor Mel, you don't need to worry about it."

In truth, no professor understood why Mel, a first-year magic professor, had suddenly replaced Ren.

But as it was a board decision, they had no choice but to follow it.

With the commotion settled, Liina stood before the second-year students.

"Did you all sleep well? You second-year whelps."

The students' expressions tensed at Liina's words.

Having revealed herself to be from the shadows, the new principal was a burden for the second-year students.

Then Duran raised his hand.

"What do you want to know, Duran Moira?"

"Are you the head of this escort mission, Principal?"

"Professor Sedgen is the head of the escort. There's a Hero Academy Principals' meeting in Damian, you see. I'm just going to attend that."

"So the Principals' meeting is being held in Damian."

"All the principals of the Hero Academies gathering. That's unusual."

The students murmured.

Liina looked at the students and said.

"It's not just the principals who are gathering."

"Huh?"

"Damian sent an official document asking us not to announce it until before departure, so I'm only saying it now."

Liina crossed her arms.

"Lumern isn't the only one going to Damian this time."

At her words, the second-year students looked surprised, as if thinking 'no way'.

"Seirun and Azonia will also be heading to Damian."

"Why?"

"Don't they usually adjust the exclusive smith contract periods between schools so they don't overlap?"

"Normally, yes."

Damian students have been creating weapons for Lumern, Seirun, and Azonia students for a long time.

In some ways, it might seem like a form of service.

But from Damian's perspective, it was never a loss.

Damian's students are artisans first, before being hero candidates.

For dwarf artisans, the greatest honor is for the weapons they create to adorn a page of history.

To achieve that, someone destined to become the greatest hero needed to use their creations.

Establishing exclusive smith contracts with candidates from other hero academies is also for that reason.

In that sense, exclusive smith contracts were certainly not a disadvantage for Damian.

It was an opportunity to connect with future heroes.

Therefore, contracts are formed in an equal relationship.

As such, it was customary to meet with Lumern, Seirun, and Azonia students separately.

The relationship between Damian and other hero academies was, after all, an equal one.

It was never a place for artisans to evaluate hero candidates from other schools.

But that custom had been broken.

The second-year students' faces hardened.

It was unlikely they would feel good about being openly compared to students from other hero academies.

"Well, it's annoying, but I can understand why Damian had that idea."

Liina clicked her tongue.

"Why do you understand?"

Emio of Noble Dormitory openly expressed his displeasure.

"Our class is clearly rated as being ahead of the second-year students from other hero academies. Surely, as our principal, you are aware of that fact?"

'Wow, that rude kid.'

'Is he openly disrespecting her because she's from the shadows or what?

'How can he speak to the principal like that?'

'If Professor Hallind were here, he wouldn't have let it slide.'

The second-year students inwardly clicked their tongues.

But on the other hand, they empathized with his words.

"Of course, you are evaluated as being ahead of the second-year students from other schools."

Liina curled up the corners of her mouth at Emio's words.

"But the only reason you're rated as being ahead is because of that extraordinary monster over there, you see?"

As Liina pointed at Leo and spoke, the Lumern students' expressions changed drastically.

"Gentlemen, you are indeed considered an elegant golden generation, one of the few in Lumern's history."

Sedgen stepped forward.

"However, it's not just you who are elegant. Coincidentally, the second-year students from other schools are also being called a golden generation."

"Take Seirun, for example. Wasn't it evenly matched during the Lumern-Seirun battle last year? Especially Seirun's top second-year student is already being mentioned as a candidate for student council president in that strict Seirun. The second-ranked is a rival to that top student. The third-ranked is also formidable."

Liina said in a strong tone.

"The five warriors led by Ar Thune of Azonia are also absolutely not to be underestimated. As for Damian, well, they're kids who are so cooped up in their workshops that there are no metrics to evaluate them, but it's not a place that makes empty boasts. The moment they arrogantly said they would evaluate three schools, it means they are confident."

Liina said bluntly.

"Certainly, Seirun and Azonia probably think Lumern has the most outstanding second-year students among the hero academies right now. But that's entirely because of Leo Flov. If Leo Flov weren't there, they'd probably think they're superior to you, wouldn't they?"

The second-year students' faces contorted.

"Of course, I…"

Liina smiled faintly.

"…think you are the best."

The students focused on Liina.

"Isn't that presumptuous? Who are they to think we're corpses if Leo Flov is excluded?"

Veins bulged on Liina's forehead.

"This is our chance to firmly engrave in the minds of those long-ears, beasts, and dwarves who the best is! Understand?!"

"Yes, Principal!"

The second-year students answered in unison.

Watching the scene, Yura muttered.

"Wow, her skill at commanding the students is incredible."

"Because she's someone regarded as a legend in the shadows."

In the shadow world, Liina was considered equal to the Emperor of the Shan Empire, known as the King of Shadows.

"It's not for nothing that Professor Hallind and Professor Sedgen recommended her for principal."

"Alright! Then! Let's depart for Damian!"

"Yep!"

***

The extreme cold of the continent's northernmost region is not affected by seasons.

Despite it being spring, Seirun's weather was nothing but cold.

Amidst the swirling snow, the student who gathered the second-year students in front of the warp gate spoke coldly.

"Hear ye, descendants of the Progenitor."

His chilling voice, incomparable to Seirun's harsh cold, was filled with elven sense of authority.

"Other races foolishly discuss who is the best, leaving out our Seirun. It's a very regrettable reality, but since they are ignorant, it cannot be helped."

More than half of the second-year students of Seirun nodded at his speech.

Herdeum, seeing this, let out a deep sigh.

'To think that Sir Rhagen became the acting principal in place of Sir Benit.'

A few months ago.

After Seirun suffered a massive invasion by the Monster Queen.

There were many personnel changes within Seirun.

The biggest was Principal Benit stepping down from the front lines.

Benit, who was already old, overexerted himself during the Monster Queen's invasion, leading to a decline in his health.

He then nominated Rune Ersar as his successor.

However, since last year, there had been significant changes in elven society.

'I never thought the Progenitor's advent would bring about such changes.'

Herdeum wore a worried expression.

"However. There is one thing that cannot be tolerated."

Rhagen's eyes flashed.

"That is the existence of foolish individuals who boast that Leo Flov is the Progenitor's successor."

It was already a well-known story in the magical community that Leo had restored the magic Luna ultimately sought.

[The Magic of Blooming Flowers.] was a famous story in the magical community.

Regarding this, the academic community was jokingly saying that Leo was indeed Luna's true successor.

Of course, these were words circulating among humans, beast-folk, and dwarves, not elves.

For elves with strong speciesist tendencies, these words were absolutely intolerable.

Furthermore, Lumern recently announced basic magic formulas for Star Magic that other races could learn, to the academic community.

Thanks to that, some elven mages were enraged.

"Star Magic is the Progenitor's legacy. And the Progenitor's legacy is, in turn, the elves' legacy. It is not a domain that other races dare to trespass upon."

"That's right!"

"So go and prove it. Prove that other races cannot trespass upon our great legacy!"

"Yes!"

Airaan was at a loss, watching her classmates shout with determination.

'Lord Leo.'

Airaan wore a worried expression and thought of the boy she admired.

Meanwhile, Lunia let out a deep sigh.

'I just hope we don't end up being humiliated for nothing.'

***

In the middle of a scorching desert.

A tiger beastman wagged his tail.

"Leo Flov, you know. He's incredibly famous, right? Yes, I admit it. He's an unprecedented All-Class and the first-year student council president. He must be really strong. But."

Azonia's principal, Zephia, her eyes flashed.

"Have we ever lost to students from other schools in a simple fight?!"

"No, sir!"

"But people are saying he fights better than us! Do you find this acceptable!?"

"No, sir!"

"I don't know what an All-Class is, but! When it comes to pure hand-to-hand combat, we beastmen are the best! Go and prove it!!"

"Whoaaaaa!"

Azonia's second-year students roared.

Normally, their goal would be to sign a contract with an excellent smith, but the incredibly straightforward Azonia students had a different goal this time.

That was to defeat Leo Flov through martial arts duels!

Normally, Ar would have shouted along, but this time was different.

Ar knew very well what a monstrous human Leo was.

Ar's white tail swayed.

'A lot of people are going to end up in the hospital this time.'