Book 1 Chapter 304

"Wow, it's really chaotic. It's a mess."

In Damian's ward, Khal, dressed in a patient gown, read a newspaper and clicked his tongue.

"It's a natural reaction. The Giant King, who hasn't shown himself for thousands of years, has appeared. Yum-"

Lunia said, eating an apple beautifully cut into a rabbit shape on the table.

"You, unexpectedly, have good dexterity."

As Driana said, poking an apple with her fork, Ar glared at her.

"What's 'unexpected' again? What's 'unexpected'?"

"But it's really pretty."

It was when Eiran admired the rabbit-shaped apple as if it were too good to eat.

Thump-

The door opened and Leo entered.

"Did you get your treatment well?"

"They said I need a few more days of rest."

Leo answered Khal's question calmly and picked up an apple to eat, and Ar muttered with a dark face.

"Is it a tragedy of internecine strife?"

"What are you talking about?"

Leo looked at Ar once with a strange expression and plopped down next to Khal.

Khal folded the newspaper and muttered.

"Anyway… it was amazing."

"That's right."

They knew the Great Hero was amazing.

In fact, except for Driana, they had actually seen the Great Hero's exploits.

But it was the first time they had shared such a long time together and heard and learned so much from the Great Hero.

"Among the Conquerors who conquered the world of Great Heroes, none would have learned something from them like we did."

Ar also crossed his arms and nodded.

"Speaking of which, Leo, you didn't get to see Sir Kyle again, did you?"

"Kyle? What are you talking about?"

"We saw Sir Kyle just before completing the conquest of the Hero's World."

"Ptooey! Cough! Ack? Cough!"

At Driana's words, Leo choked and coughed.

Eiran, startled, patted Leo's back.

Leo, having barely calmed down, asked.

"You saw Kyle?"

"Yeah, Sir Kyle was amazing too. He easily dealt with Erebus's flame. Wow… seeing it up close, I couldn't help but be impressed."

Khal recalled the incident and muttered.

"It was also surprising that he used Pegasus as a phantom beast."

At Lunia's mutter, Ar crossed his arms.

"His swordsmanship was also flawless, without any unnecessary movements."

Driana nodded, "Hmm-hmm."

"And the magic he used for the final blow was beautiful as well."

Khal clicked his tongue in wonder.

"I thought, 'So this is what a truly perfect all-class is like.'"

Eiran smiled brightly.

"Yes! He was just like Sir Leo!"

'Of course. Because it's me.'

"Leo still has a long way to go to catch up to Sir Kyle."

"No matter how amazing the Black Rabbit is, Sir Kyle is a Great Hero, after all?"

"It's a shame you didn't see him; he would have been a good role model."

At Lunia, Ar, and Driana's words, Leo let out a hollow laugh inwardly.

'That's me, you guys.'

"Anyway, are we stuck in the ward during the exclusive Smith contract period?"

Khal leaned back deeply on the sofa, supporting his head with interlaced hands.

"We have to write a report on what happened in the Hero Record, as well as get a thorough check-up."

Lunia also let out a small sigh.

"Just thinking about seeing the faces of those annoying teachers already makes me irritated."

"You've clearly chosen the path of a delinquent student."

"Huh? Got a problem?"

"Not at all, milady."

When Lunia asked with a faint smile, Khal hastily shook his head.

It was because if he teased her for no reason, he might get hit.

"Speaking of the exclusive Smith contract."

Driana put on a serious expression.

"This incident made me think a lot. I said I respected Sir Dweno, but what have I actually done…? I realized I've done nothing. So I've reflected on a lot of things."

"Did you also reflect on claiming weird scrap metal as art?"

"Be quiet, you silly cat."

Driana glared at Ar and cleared her throat.

"This time, meeting Sir Dweno, I learned and felt a great deal."

Driana looked down at her small palms.

"I clearly understood what I can do with these hands, and what I must do."

Driana said, clenching her fists tightly.

"If you'll permit it, I wish to become your exclusive Smith."

"It would be an honor for me if someone as outstanding as Lady Driana became my exclusive Smith!"

"Even if she's a pervert, her skill is undeniable."

"Most importantly, it's a skill recognized by Sir Dweno."

Eiran, Ar, and Lunia nodded.

Driana smiled, looking at the three of them.

"Thank you. Then, let's write up the exclusive contract."

Driana took out contracts and pens from her pocket and distributed them to the five people.

"Alright, you just need to sign the last signature line."

Driana pointed to the signature line on the very last page, and Lunia, Ar, and Eiran were about to sign without any suspicion.

Seeing this, Khal was horrified and shouted.

"Hey, hey, hey! What are you guys doing?!"

"Huh? We're about to sign an exclusive Smith contract…"

"What if there's some strange clause because you signed it without reading it properly?"

"Huh? Lady Driana would never trick us, would she?"

"Noble young ladies are so innocent, I tell you."

Khal shook his head repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Lunia and Ar squinted their eyes and rustled through the contract.

Then, seeing a clause on the last page, they glared at Driana.

"What is this?"

"It's a clause regarding a model contract for my artistic activities."

"But why a nude model?"

"The form in which one is born! Isn't pure form the most beautiful? Especially Lunia! Since Sir Dweno himself scouted you as a nude model, I have a duty to express your naked body as art and show it to the world…!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?!"

Lunia, her face flushed red, tore up the contract to shreds.

Ar also ripped up the contract with a "tear!"

Eiran's face was beet red.

"You should thank me."

Khal also said, tearing his contract in half.

Watching them, Leo sighed deeply.

'Have these guys really grown?'

***

Leo and Khal only left the ward on the very last day of their exclusive Smith contract period.

On the way back to the dormitory, Khal let out a deep sigh.

"In the end, we completely missed the academic schedule. It feels like a miracle that we can attend the banquet on the last day. I thought I'd have to stay in Damian for a few more days."

Khal made a disgusted face.

"That's because there was so much to talk about regarding this conquest of the Hero's World."

It was, literally, an unprecedented situation.

During the Age of Calamity.

Directly experiencing the Battle of Gadslon, one of the largest battles, was truly astonishing.

Moreover, not only Dweno, the protagonist of the Hero Record, but also the Great Heroes Arion and Kyle.

Even Berkhia, one of the greatest figures of the elves, appeared in this Hero's World.

There had never been a Hero Record before where so many great figures from the greatest races appeared, so Leo's party's experience boasted immense academic value.

Sedgen, who overheard their conversation, said.

"You both worked hard. Especially student Khal. You suffered the most."

"Oh, Professor Sedgen helped me, you know."

In this investigation, the one who received the most attention was none other than Khal.

It couldn't be helped.

Khal's conquest reward was an alchemy book written by Dweno.

In other words, it was Dweno's knowledge itself.

Unlike the other party members who received items made by Dweno as conquest rewards, or Leo who announced he had no conquest reward himself to avoid trouble, Khal's reward was something that could be shared.

As a result, many, regardless of race, coveted Khal's conquest reward.

It was Sedgen who stepped forward in this situation.

'Rewards achieved in the Hero's World belong to the Conqueror themselves, and the right to decide what to do with them rests with the Conqueror. How can those who know this better than anyone now pressure a young student to share his conquest reward? And an alchemy book that student Khal himself hasn't even had a chance to examine! It's not elegant. You should be ashamed!'

At Sedgen's sincere and angry outburst, an investigator from Seyrun said.

'Knowledge only gains value when it's shared. Besides, isn't that student someone whose grades are so poor it wouldn't be strange if he were expelled from Lumern at any time? I think it's an excessive reward for such a student.'

'Student Khal has shown more outstanding skill in alchemy than anyone else among Lumern's second-year students. Moreover, in this conquest of the Hero's World, Sir Dweno himself acknowledged him and even personally taught him alchemy. Hero Record also grants conquest rewards that are deemed appropriate. Your statement appears to sufficiently disparage Sir Dweno's choice and the will of Hero Record, wouldn't you agree?'

Sedgen, who retorted with a cold expression, continued to fend off all pressure on Khal afterward.

"Honestly, I was touched."

"I merely did what was natural as a professor. That conquest reward is entirely yours. Unless it's by your own will to share that knowledge… Lumern will stand by you and protect you."

"Professor Sedgen!"

"Student Khal!"

Leo shook his head, looking at the beautiful teacher-student relationship between the professor who had recently cried out that the wicked minion of Halind was stealing his wallet with his evil tongue, and the student who had been pondering how to pick his pocket more.

"Anyway, it's a good thing that Halind or Riina weren't there instead of me."

"What would have happened if they were?"

"Halind would have cursed at anyone talking nonsense, and Riina would have immediately thrown a punch."

Sedgen shook his head.

"When you get older, you should act like an adult. How can they still be so immature?"

'Among the three, Professor Sedgen seems the most immature,' Khal muttered to himself, but didn't say it out loud.

He thought there was no need to spoil the warm atmosphere unnecessarily.

Following Sedgen's guidance, the two arrived at their assigned dormitory.

The door opened, and the gaze of the students gathered at the entrance for the banquet preparations all fell on the two of them.

"It's Leo and Khal!"

"What?"

"Brother Leo! Khal!"

"Class rep! Khaaall!"

Led by Chelsea, students from their first-year class swarmed towards them.

Other students they were friendly with also gathered around.

"I heard you were badly hurt; have your injuries all recovered?"

"Young master Leo, how are you feeling?"

When Chloe and Chen Xia asked worriedly, Leo let out a small laugh.

"I'm almost fully recovered."

"Brother Leo! You're really amazing! To conquer Sir Dweno's world this time! There's no one like you who's conquered multiple Great Heroes' worlds during their student days, is there?"

Chelsea jumped up and down, overjoyed as if it were her own accomplishment.

"How was it? Sir Dweno and Sir Arion."

Celia also asked, her eyes sparkling.

Everyone seemed eager to hear stories about the Great Heroes.

Arion, reputed to possess the strongest martial power.

And Dweno, who was a shield protecting his teammates before he was a great blacksmith.

For students of the Knight Department, their heroic tales were enough to make their hearts pound.

Meanwhile, Abard smiled and welcomed Khal to the dormitory side.

"Welcome, Khal."

"Only you, Abard, welcome me. I thought the other kids would also give me a warm welcome."

Khal muttered in a touched voice.

"Hmph. Did you think we'd give you special treatment just because you conquered Sir Dweno's world?"

Eliza snorted, sitting on her usual ornate chair and filing her nails.

Durand also spoke in his characteristic arrogant voice.

"Overconfidence, Khal Thomas. Don't you all agree?"

"Um… yes… right?"

"No, I was really waiting to hear the story…"

"Shh, shh. You'll get on their bad side if you do that."

The noble students whispered among themselves.

Abard chuckled, seeing their reactions.

"How was it? Sir Dweno and Sir Arion."

"How should I tell the story?"

Khal, with his arms crossed, glanced at his dormitory mates and grinned.

"Want to hear it? Gather around. I'll tell you what I saw."

At those words, Eiran and Durand's shoulders flinched.

"N-not really."

"We already know enough about those two through literature."

Eliza and Durand lifted their chins.

But the other students thought differently.

They stealthily looked at the two of them.

"If you want to hear it, don't mind me. It's just that I'm not really curious."

"Hmph. It's only natural to be curious about the Great Heroes' stories. But not me."

At their words, the noble students gathered around Khal.

"So!"

"Hey! Khal! Tell us the story!"

"Hmm~ Which story should I start with? Shall I tell you about Sir Arion blocking the Giant King's attack with a single sword swing?"

Durand's body trembled slightly.

Eliza scoffed, looking at Durand.

"Oh? You're pretending not to be interested, but you really want to hear it, don't you?"

"Who would care about such commoner's words…?"

"Or should I start with King Phoenix, Sir Risinas's contractor? Hey! Have any of you seen a white Phoenix?"

"I-I-Is the Flame Emperor's feather truly pure white?! H-huh?!"

Eliza, who had unconsciously asked back, covered her mouth.

Abard said, watching her.

"Don't put on unnecessary airs, just listen to the story with us."

"That's right~ Durand! As a Knight Department student, how can you not hear the stories of Sir Arion and Sir Dweno!"

"Eliza! Come quickly!"

The noble students called out to the two of them.

Eliza put on a prim expression and stood in front of Khal, and Durand stood next to Abard.

Sedgen smiled, watching the bustling second-year students of Lumern.

'Our students will gain a lot this time.'

"Let's hear the details at the banquet hall. Students Leo and Khal, please go upstairs and prepare for the banquet. You must show elegance as Lumern students to the students from other schools until the last day."

At Sedgen's words, the students reluctantly let Leo and Khal go.

The final schedule at Damian was coming to an end.