Book 1 Chapter 270

270

Last turn.

At Leo's words, which were like a bombshell declaration, a chilling silence fell over the grand auditorium.

The Damian students stared intently at Leo, and students from other schools gaped.

Rumern, Seirun, Azonia.

Students from the three schools were fundamentally dissatisfied with Damian's request this time.

No one likes to be evaluated, after all.

But in a way, they also understood Damian's request.

Damian was not just a hero academy, but also the largest forge in the world.

There were many forges that produced weapons in the world.

But among them, dwarf forges were special, and Damian was even more special.

Being able to use the weapons produced by Damian's aspiring artisans was a privilege for fellow hero candidates.

Therefore, they did not express their dissatisfaction.

Instead, they aimed to win the competition against other hero academies and be chosen by Damian's excellent second-year students.

In such a situation, Leo, on the contrary, declared that he would evaluate Damian's students.

So, they couldn't help but be speechless.

'He caused trouble again!'

Celia tilted her head back and put the back of her hand to her face.

She knew her cousin sometimes acted impulsively.

But she never expected him to do such things even at another school.

'This is completely provoking Damian!'

Celia screamed inwardly.

Just then, a female student from Damian raised her hand.

"Leo Frov. I heard you're an All-Class."

"That's right."

"What exactly does it mean that you're confident in perfectly handling any weapon? Does it mean you can perfectly handle weapons of any class? Or…"

The female student paused, then narrowed her eyes.

"Does it really mean you can perfectly handle all kinds of weapons that exist in this world?"

Logically, it's impossible to perfectly handle all kinds of weapons that exist in the world.

Just looking at a wizard's magic staff, even a long staff is divided into various types depending on its attribute.

At the Damian female student's question, Leo smiled broadly.

"It means I can perfectly handle all kinds of weapons that exist in the world."

"Don't lie! That's impossible! If you're going to joke, at least look at the situation! Or what? Does that mean the youngest student council president of Rumern isn't satisfied with the weapons we make for him?"

The Damian female student flared up.

It wasn't just that female student.

All of Damian's second-year students glared at Leo.

They thought Leo was treating them like fools.

"Calm down."

Just then, Depetto, who had been observing the situation, stepped in to mediate.

Depetto, who had climbed onto the platform, calmed his students and then glanced at Leo.

'Yes, at his age, overconfidence can be forgiven.'

Depetto gazed at Leo and subtly smiled.

Leo's previous remark was one that, even if condemned as arrogant, left no room for argument.

Common sense dictated that no matter how unprecedented an All-Class he was or the youngest student council president, perfectly handling all weapons in the world was in the realm of impossibility.

However, Depetto wasn't entirely displeased with Leo's actions.

He himself was a graduate of Damian, having crafted weapons for hero candidates and heroes.

Some had forged connections during their hero candidate days and risen to the status of heroes.

That's why Depetto knew well.

'It's not just artisans who have pride.'

Those who use weapons also have pride.

And in Depetto's eyes, Leo was a person fully qualified to do so.

It was true that it sounded like excessive bravado, but considering Leo's age, there was nothing strange about it.

'It will be a good stimulus for those guys too.'

Damian's students go out for practical training to make weapons starting from their first year.

They are dispatched for practical training to various regions in the East, where they make weapons and receive payment.

Even if they are first-year apprentice smiths, as Damian students, the quality of the items they make is excellent.

'That's why Damian's second-year students are used to being praised.'

"As expected of Damian."

"They are future artisans."

"They are indeed descendants of the divine blacksmith."

They had heard such compliments ad nauseam.

'Absolutely! An artisan cannot grow on praise alone.'

Sometimes, criticism helps a smith grow.

"You may come down now."

"Yes."

At Depetto's words, Leo replied politely and descended from the platform.

Watching Leo, Depetto said,

"Don't worry that Damian students might not make weapons for you."

Depetto smiled broadly.

"Those children are also proper smiths. And they acknowledge your skill. They will probably try to convince you with their best work, even if it's just to take you down a peg. They are descendants of Dweno, after all."

Depetto raised his hand, as large as a pot lid, and patted Leo's waist with a thump.

"I'm glad you'll be a stimulus for our students. You should also genuinely evaluate the weapons those children bring you."

"If I'm genuine, they might become beyond recovery."

"Hmm? That's an interesting thing to say."

Hahahahaha-! Watching Depetto laugh heartily, Leo muttered to himself.

'I'm serious.'

***

"Seriously, sometimes I can't tell if he's humble, bold, or just arrogant."

After the announcement.

As students left the grand auditorium for lunch, Lunia muttered, looking bewildered at Leo who was talking with Rumern students.

In Lunia's eyes, Leo was a very mature boy for his age.

Despite possessing overwhelming skill beyond his years, he didn't boast or show off.

But sometimes, he definitely used his strength to his advantage.

'Well, for Leo, that might just be natural.'

Lunia let out a small laugh and looked to her side.

There, Eiran was looking at Leo with an anxious expression.

'Eiran must be frustrated too.'

Lunia sighed inwardly.

Recently, the atmosphere at Seirun had been unsettling.

Especially since the acting principal took office, there had been a rapid increase in students showing elf supremacist tendencies.

And currently.

The biggest thorn in Seirun's side was Leo Frov.

The reason was simple.

It was because of the [Primer on Star Magic], on which Leo was listed as a co-author.

'I want to see it sometime.'

Lunia was curious about the content of the thesis.

As someone who had mastered the magic of the Progenitor, it was natural for her to be interested if new magic theories related to star magic emerged.

However, Seirun was completely rejecting that novelty.

By now, it was treated as completely forbidden within Seirun, so there was no way to obtain it.

'Should I ask Dad to secretly bring it in?'

Of course, if she were caught, it would clearly become a headache.

Still, Lunia wanted to read the magic theory that Leo had co-authored.

The same was true for Eiran.

She couldn't help it; she was a friend who rejoiced as if it were her own success whenever news of Leo's activities reached Seirun.

'She's a fan of Leo's, after all.'

When they heard that all the second-year students from every hero academy would gather in one place this time.

Both Lunia and Eiran thought they would be able to talk with Leo and discuss magic theory.

Eiran, in particular, was overjoyed and excited, unable to contain herself.

But the day before departure.

'Students of Seirun. It is strictly forbidden to associate with students from hero academies other than Damian at this Damian event.'

'What's the reason?'

'Because it lowers our prestige. Especially.'

Leber said, looking at the students with arrogant eyes.

'Leo Frov, who defiled the name of the Progenitor. Associating with him will never be tolerated.'

Thanks to that absurd announcement, Lunia and Eiran were unable to speak to Leo.

'That bastard! To even remove Luca from this academic schedule!'

Luca, a half-elf, was excluded from this schedule despite being a proud third-place student in the second year.

Several teachers, including Herdium, strongly protested, but to no avail.

Grr-

It was when an unsettling sound escaped Lunia's lips.

"Lunia, Eiran. How have you been?"

Leo smiled and approached the two.

Lunia, who had been gritting her teeth, put on a gentle smile as if nothing had happened.

Eiran's face brightened.

If Leo greeted them first, they couldn't ignore him.

"It's been a while, Leo Frov…"

"Wait. Who are you talking to right now?"

Lunia, who was about to respond to Leo's greeting with her public persona, paused, seeing a student blocking her path.

'Intermediate Class.'

It was none other than a second-year intermediate class student from Seirun.

Leo paused at his appearance, then pointed a finger at Lunia and Eiran.

"Is it a problem to talk to my friends?"

"Friends? Who are you calling friends right now?"

The male student from the intermediate class made a displeased expression.

"Miss Lunia here is a candidate for Seirun's youngest student council president. You are not in a position to speak to her so casually."

'Hey! You bastard! Leo is already Rumern's student council president, so if anything, I'm the one who can't speak casually!'

Lunia screamed inwardly.

Indeed, some Rumern students heard that and looked bewildered.

Some even barely suppressed their chuckles.

That's how absurd the Seirun student's words were.

'This bastard is spouting nonsense, so why am I the one who feels embarrassed?!'

"Furthermore, do you really think it's appropriate for Lady Lunia, who will inherit the Progenitor's magic, to speak casually to a trickster like you who arbitrarily defiles the Progenitor's name?"

"Inherit the Progenitor's magic?"

Leo made a puzzled expression.

"Yes. Miss Lunia, as a candidate for the next student council president, has decided to inherit the Progenitor's magic passed down in Seirun."

The Progenitor's magic passed down in Seirun.

Magic infinitely close to the original used by Luna, the Progenitor of the Nebula. The founder of Seirun, said to have explored Luna's world the most.

It was a grimoire left by the Comet Mage.

It was a magic that only students of Seirun's student council president level could learn, and mastering it earned one the veneration of being the elf closest to the Progenitor.

In elf society, it was an honor beyond anything else.

Leo also knew that fact.

"Congratulations."

Leo smiled broadly.

At those words, Lunia gave a bitter smile.

"Ugh… Ugh…"

Eiran whimpered, giving Leo an apologetic look.

"You're going through a lot of trouble too."

'I'm going to die, really.'

Lunia replied inwardly to Leo's words.

"Sorry for the trouble."

'You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. It's Seirun that's being strange right now.'

It was when Lunia replied inwardly, watching Leo's back as he apologized and turned to leave.

"Miss Lunia, Miss Eiran. Were you not startled by such a rude person speaking to you?"

'You were more rude, and actually, I was more startled because of you!'

Lunia wanted to say this and punch the other person in the face.

But there were too many eyes watching now.

Moreover, only the students from Class 1 of the advanced course knew Lunia's true nature.

Among other second-year students, Lunia was known as the epitome of a beautiful, pure, and gentle Seirun honor student.

It was when Lunia smiled broadly without answering.

"He is an arrogant person. That rudeness he committed against the Damian students earlier, and furthermore, to carelessly touch the great Progenitor's magic and even create strange magic like 'Flower Magic' or whatever."

During the first-year field trip.

The Progenitor's legacy that Leo restored and passed on to Seirun.

The magic that had shaken the elven magic community until last year.

But by now, the value of that magic was fading.

Last year, as Lunia explored Luna's world, it became known that Luna's ultimate goal was 'Flower Blooming Magic'.

Yet, Seirun ignored the flower-blooming magic.

The reason was simple.

'Because it was magic restored by Leo.'

In a sense, Leo was a benefactor to the elves.

After all, Leo had revealed the ultimate magic that the Progenitor sought.

But because of their petty pride and tradition, they were even ignoring the Progenitor's magic, which they praised endlessly.

And in just a few months, elves appeared who even denied the Progenitor's magic.

'Is this really right?'

Lunia's eyes darkened.

And she looked down at her hands.

Lunia had an eccentric personality.

Yet, she perfectly played the role of a beautiful, pure, and gentle honor student of Seirun.

The reason she could perfectly perform such a role, which wouldn't be strange to call a double personality, was simple.

'Because she admired Lady Luna.'

The image of Luna known among elves was exactly the ideal honor student Seirun desired.

She admired Luna so much that Lunia could act like the Luna in stories.

But… the Luna Lunia knew now?

'…She was beautiful.'

But not pure.

The Luna Lunia had seen directly was different from the Luna she knew.

She was somewhat lively and boisterous, yet also eccentric.

She was the kind of person who could complete 'Flower Blooming Magic' using complex magic spell arrays that would make one's head shatter just by looking at them.

Such an image of Luna was shocking, yet somehow conveyed warmth.

She recalled the idol who had laughed brightly while putting an arm around her shoulder.

'Seirun is denying Lady Luna now.'

Rather, it was acting exactly like the elven society of that time, which had oppressed Luna.

'There's absolutely no reason to follow the methods of a school that denies Lady Luna.'

Lunia's eyes blazed.

"Indeed, as I felt yesterday, Seirun is unlucky."

"Arrogant."

"Let's not get involved with them."

The jeers of Rumern and Azonia students could be heard.

"Hmph, we have no intention of getting involved with you either! Miss Lunia! Miss Eiran! Ignore those rude individuals and hurry to where the Seirun students are…"

"Hey. Right now, you're the rudest one here, you know?"

"Huh? Cough?!"

Thud-!

Lunia grabbed the intermediate student by the collar and slammed her forehead into his.

Then she punched the stumbling intermediate student in the face.

Thwack-!

"Kyah!"

The intermediate student screamed and tumbled to the ground.

"Lu-Lunia!"

Eiran called out to Lunia urgently, her face pale.

Students from other schools also gaped at Lunia.

Lunia put her hands on her hips with a look of relief.

"Ugh! This truly dog-like school! I feel so refreshed!"

Leo looked bewildered at Lunia, who raised her head and shouted.

"Are you giving up that fake Luna act?"

"Huh? You knew?"

Lunia made a skewed face, then chuckled.

"Well, you met Lady Luna with me back then, didn't you? Yeah, I decided to quit. I really put up with it until my first year! I can't stand it anymore!"

Lunia, looking fed up, walked up to Leo.

And she smiled broadly.

"How have you been?"

"I've been well. But won't you get expelled if you go wild like that?"

Seirun was famous for ruthlessly expelling students who tarnished the school's dignity.

"Hmph! Let them try! I have no intention of attending such a school anymore anyway! Well, if I get expelled…"

Lunia smiled broadly.

"I can enroll in Rumern."

"Going wild is exactly like Luna."

"Thanks for the compliment."

'It's an insult.'

Leo replied inwardly, watching Lunia smile brightly.

Because if he said it was an insult, she would clearly pounce on him for insulting Luna.

Watching Lunia giggle, Leo said,

"Congratulations on graduating as an honor student and becoming a delinquent."