Book 1 Chapter 260
260
5000 years ago.
After the Age of Calamity ended, many races scattered to find new homes.
Elves headed north, and beastmen headed south.
And humans settled in various parts of the world.
Finally, the dwarves.
They established their home in the rugged Drakin Mountains in the east.
And they founded the world's largest mining kingdom.
Riding the warp gate to the heart of the Drakin Mountains.
We arrived in Dweroenia, considered the capital of the dwarves.
The history of this city, named after Dweno, praised as the divine blacksmith, is 5000 years.
It was the oldest city in the world.
The Lumen students who arrived at the warp gate opened their eyes wide in wonder.
The appearance of the warp gate itself was dazzling.
The walls were all covered in gold, and beautiful jewels adorned various parts of the walls.
“It’s incredible.”
“This is the wealthiest city in the world…”
Sounds of admiration could be heard from everywhere.
Even to the eyes of Lumen students, many of whom came from prestigious families, the splendor of Dweroenia's warp gate was astonishing, unlike anything they had seen before.
“Wow, how much is all that?”
Kal muttered with his mouth agape.
“Look at the ceiling.”
“Aren’t those the great heroes?”
“It’s a complete work of art.”
On the ceiling, the figures of great heroes were depicted in mosaic using colorful, sparkling jewels.
Of course, only the four heroes.
Kyle’s portrait, whose existence was recently revealed, was not engraved.
We exited the warp gate and went out into the plaza.
Sedjen, who came out to the plaza, spoke to the students.
“You can only enter Demian in the evening.”
Sedjen pointed with his hand to a huge mountain located next to Dweroenia.
It was a mine with a giant hole.
And a huge castle was visible in that hole.
It was Demian, the Dwarven Hero Academy.
“Until then, it’s free time, so feel free to tour the city.”
“Wow!”
The students cheered.
After the roll call and announcements were finished, only the students remained.
Then, students began to gather with their close friends.
“First, how about we gather with close friends and tour around?”
“Let’s do it! Let’s do it!”
“Chloe! Let’s get the girls from Class 1 together for old times’ sake!”
Four female students from 1st year, Class 1, approached Chloe.
Class 1, along with Class 5, was a class where not a single student had chosen to drop out, so the students' bonds were very strong.
At the encouragement of her classmates from first year, Chloe smiled and nodded.
“Shall we? But let’s not get too carried away. We’re not here just to play. First, let’s set a meeting time…”
“As expected of the class president.”
“Indeed! That’s our class president’s charm.”
The female students giggled.
“Shall we call Celia too?”
“Shall we? I’ll go and get her.”
Just as one of the female students was about to go fetch Celia, smiling.
“You guys, you’re from Lumen.”
A group blocked their path.
The Class 1 female students opened their eyes wide.
“Azenia?”
It was true.
Ten students in Azenia uniforms stood before the female students.
Leading them was a male student who looked to be about 190cm tall.
The bear beastman, clearly armored with solid muscles all over his body, had wild brown hair and eyes.
The female students slightly recoiled at his somewhat belligerent impression.
Chloe stepped forward.
“What business do Azenia students have with us?”
At Chloe’s question, the wolf beastman opened his mouth.
“My name is Wern Damun.”
“Wern Damun?”
“He was ranked 8th among Azenia’s second-year students, wasn’t he?”
The female students nodded.
Wern Damun.
Ranked 8th among Azenia’s second-year students.
In other words, he was the 8th best-performing student among Azenia’s second-year students.
He was the biggest and strongest student among Azenia students.
Just as the female students were showing surprised expressions at the sudden appearance of a big shot from the rival school.
“My name is Chloe Muller.”
“A name I’ve never heard before.”
At Wern’s words, the female students bristled.
“What? How can you not know Chloe?!”
“Exactly! She’s an honors student who competes for 1st and 2nd place in our school’s Department of Magic!”
Chloe is a globally renowned hero candidate.
But when a student from another hero academy spoke dismissively, the female students couldn't tolerate it.
Despite their reaction, Wern merely snorted.
“I have no interest in mages or summoners.”
“Oh my! Oh my! How can he say something like that?”
“Hmph! If you’re not interested in mages and summoners, why did you talk to us?!”
“Exactly! Go away! There isn’t a single student from the Knight Department among us?!”
At first, the female students were intimidated by Wern’s size, but they soon wore fierce expressions.
They had experienced all sorts of hardships for a year at Lumen.
They were never discouraged just because someone was a bit bigger or there were more of them.
Moreover, since he made remarks that seemed to disrespect their department, their reaction couldn't help but be even sharper.
However, Wern didn’t bat an eye at the female students’ reactions.
“Is there anyone among you who is close to Leo Flobe?”
At that question, Chloe spoke.
“Leo is my friend.”
“That’s good. Come with me.”
Wern reached out to grab Chloe’s wrist.
Crack-!
Instantly, a wall of ice shot up in front of Wern.
Wern flinched and backed away, and the other beastmen also wore wary expressions.
“What are you doing?”
Chloe’s voice turned as cold as ice.
Wern narrowed his eyes, looking at Chloe whose demeanor had completely changed.
‘It seems the talk about her competing for 1st and 2nd place in the Department of Magic isn't a lie.’
Beastmen are a race that worships strength.
But that strength was limited to ‘physical’ strength.
5000 years ago.
Arion the Brave, whom all beastmen revered, was a man who achieved a formidable level of power using only the strength of his body.
That is why Azenia trained students with the goal of becoming the strongest martial artist.
In a way, it was similar to Seirun’s tendency.
Just as those who hadn't mastered star magic couldn't enter Seirun.
In Azenia, those weak as martial artists could not enroll.
Given the circumstances, most Azenia students became indifferent to the honors students of Lumen’s Departments of Magic and Summoning.
Chloe also knew that Azenia students had such a tendency.
That’s why she wasn’t particularly offended when he said he didn’t know her.
However…
‘To try and just take me without preamble.’
Wern’s actions felt extremely bad.
At Chloe’s question, Wern said.
“There’s no ill intention.”
“Suddenly trying to take me away?”
“You just need to be bait to lure Leo Flobe.”
“Bait?”
Chloe narrowed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Wern curled up the corners of his mouth.
“I’m well aware of Leo Flobe’s reputation. I know he’s Lumen’s strongest warrior.”
“So?”
“But I cannot tolerate that he is a martial artist who surpasses even our Azenia students!”
“So? You’re going to set a trap to defeat Leo?”
“Hmph! Do you think I would use such a despicable method?”
Wern snorted.
“I intend to challenge him to the Rite of the Great Warrior!”
The Rite of the Great Warrior.
Other Lumen students didn't know what it was, but the knowledgeable Chloe knew it well.
‘A traditional Azenian ritual of pure martial arts combat.’
It was a duel to determine the strongest using pure physical strength, without borrowing the power of aura.
And the one who lost in the Rite of the Great Warrior had to obey the victor's words.
“What good will doing that do? Leo isn’t even an Azenia student.”
“Hmph. I merely want to defeat Leo Flobe and prove that truly strong martial artists are in Azenia.”
At Wern’s words, Chloe crossed her arms.
‘So that’s why he called me bait.’
It made sense.
And…
‘How annoying.’
Chloe’s face turned as cold as ice.
‘So, he thinks of me as just bait to lure Leo?’
She didn't like the method, but she disliked the intention even more.
By this point, even knowing Azenia's tendency to not pay much attention to mages and summoners, she felt bad.
‘He's completely ignoring me, isn’t he?’
Chloe let out a faint laugh.
It was a smile that would have made Celia or Duran flinch if they had seen it.
“Alright. I’ll go with you.”
“Ch-Chloe.”
“It doesn’t seem like they intend to harm me. If I don’t go, there might be a commotion. And a commotion on the first day would be a big problem for the school’s prestige.”
“B-but…”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“Yes. She will be treated politely as bait.”
‘Treating me as bait until the very end, huh?’
Chloe smiled brightly.
If the other female students had seen that expression, they would have turned pale and tried to stop Chloe.
But unfortunately, all they saw was Chloe’s back.
Rumble-!
The Azenia students surrounded Chloe.
“Let’s go. With this, I’ve gotten the first chance to defeat Leo Flobe. The reward will also be mine.”
Wern left with a satisfied expression.
Chloe walked behind Wern, thinking.
‘I’ll freeze them all and escape.’
Chloe, always the calm honors student.
However, the moment her lid was blown, she transformed into the most reckless character among the second-year students.
The faces of the other female students, unaware of Chloe’s state, turned pale.
And they ran to ask other students for help.
“Ce-Celia! Something terrible happened! Terrible!”
Then, discovering Celia and Duran, they urgently cried out.
“What’s wrong?”
As Celia asked with wide eyes, the female students shouted.
“Chloe has been kidnapped by Azenia students!”
“What?”
Celia’s face hardened.
“Who was kidnapped?”
And a chilling voice was heard from behind.
The female students who turned around wore bright expressions.
There stood Duran and Howl, who were also from 1st year, Class 1.
Howl’s face was fiercely contorted, and Duran had his usual unique poker face.
However, his eyebrows were twitching as if he was displeased.
“Tell me in detail.”
At Celia’s words, the female students explained the situation.
Celia, having heard the story, spoke with a hardened expression.
“I’ll go tell the professors right away.”
“Hmph, soft. Celia Zerdinger.”
“What?”
“The intentions of those Azenia guys are clear.”
Duran cracked his finger joints.
“They kidnapped Chloe Muller under the pretext of luring Leo Flobe? This is a clear challenge to us.”
“So?”
“Solving the problem by telling the professors would be tantamount to avoiding their challenge.”
“So? Are you going to start a conflict between schools?”
“That’s also a good idea.”
“Chloe quietly went along to avoid escalating things. We should try to prevent the incident from getting bigger.”
“I’m disappointed, Celia Zerdinger.”
“What?”
“It’s not just a matter of school pride. They messed with Chloe Muller, whom you and I recognized as our class president.”
Duran looked at Celia with an expressionless face.
“If we tell the professors, we won’t be able to beat them up.”
At Duran’s words, the female students whispered amongst themselves.
“Hmm, so, to interpret it… ‘How dare they mess with my friend! Unforgivable!’ Is that it?”
“It seems so.”
“Now that I think about it, Duran was prickly but secretly took care of us.”
“Shut up.”
At the female students’ whispers, Duran said with an expressionless face.
Meanwhile, Celia, who had been pondering Duran’s words, crossed her arms.
And nodded.
“You’re right. Your words are correct.”
“Now you finally understand.”
Just as Duran was about to put on a satisfied expression.
“Let me join too.”
Just then, someone jumped down from the rooftop.
It was Chen Xia.
“This is Class 1’s business, Chen Xia.”
“But Miss Chloe is my friend too, isn’t she? Moreover, she’s currently our dormitory head. I think I’m involved too, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Hmph. In that case, I won’t stop you.”
Duran crossed his arms.
Howl, seeing that, asked.
“What’s the plan?”
“First, we find an Azenia student.”
Duran replied.
“And then?”
“After giving them a good beating, we should ask where this guy named Wern is.”
Chen Xia said with a faint smile.
“What if they say they don’t know?”
“Then we find the next Azenia student and repeat the process.”
Watching Celia reply while sweeping her hair back, Howl thought to himself.
‘To be targeted by those three all at once, of all people. That Wern guy is pitiful.’