Book 1 Chapter 305
305
The Lumern students, all splendidly dressed, entered the banquet hall.
In the banquet hall, the Damian second-year students were already waiting, neatly dressed in their uniforms, just like when they first met.
“Is that him?”
“Didn't they say he received Sir Dweno's alchemical book as a raid reward?”
The Damian students' eyes gleamed as they stared at Karl.
Karl made a disgusted expression in response.
“They wouldn’t suddenly attack, would they?”
To Karl’s mumble, Chloe, who was walking with him, said with a serious face.
“Maybe they’ll catch him and try to dissect him.”
“Chloe. You make jokes like that too?”
Karl let out a hollow laugh, watching Chloe speak with serious deliberation.
Chloe blinked as she looked at Karl.
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“What?”
“You wouldn't know, since you were in the infirmary.”
Chloe looked at the Damian students with somber eyes.
“I thought they would be more than capable of doing something like that.”
Karl swallowed dry.
Chen Sia smiled faintly, looking at Karl.
“Don’t be too scared, Karl.”
“R-Right? No matter what, there’s no way they’d do something like dissection…”
“There will be a technician among the Damian students who can neatly cut open your stomach, just check what’s inside, and then stitch it up beautifully. Among torture techniques, there are also methods of dissection without ending a life…”
“Arghhhhhh!”
At Chen Sia’s words, Karl covered his ears and screamed.
“Unlike Chloe, I was joking to try and lighten the mood, but you're really scared.”
“When you say it, it doesn’t sound like a joke.”
Chloe shook her head repeatedly, looking at Chen Sia shrugging her shoulders.
A short while after the Lumern students arrived at the banquet hall, the Azonia students came this time.
The fierce gazes of the Azonia students turned towards Leo.
Chelsea furrowed her brows, looking at them.
“Why are they all looking at big brother Leo like that again?”
“During this exclusive Smith contract period, they wanted to fight Leo, but he was in the infirmary, so they couldn’t properly, right? Maybe that’s why?”
“Hmph, they’ll only come to their senses after experiencing something rough.”
Chelsea snorted.
Amidst the strange atmosphere flowing through the banquet hall, Leo, seated, was lost in thought, looking down at his hands.
‘Dweno’s Legacy.’
Through this raid reward, Leo obtained ownership of Dweno's artifacts that still remained in this era.
Now, he could summon them simply by recalling their forms.
Leo let out a hollow laugh, recalling Melina, who had said she would bring back Dweno's legacy from the Damian principal.
‘From the Damian principal’s perspective, it would be like extortion.’
Shaking his head as he recalled Melina, who smiled brightly, Leo looked at Driana among the Damian students.
‘I’ll have to repair them if I want to use them.’
All Leo could do was temporarily restore them to their past forms.
It remained true that most of the artifacts were broken.
No matter how much Dweno’s artifacts they were, if used without proper maintenance, they would clearly break down soon.
‘It will be possible if Driana hones her skills.’
It was a talent recognized by Dweno.
Leo trusted his friend's discerning eye.
‘And Dweno’s Flame.’
Leo received two raid rewards this time.
One of them was Dweno’s Flame.
Previously, after raiding Luna’s world, he obtained a small ember through the divine power left by Fibia.
If that was closer to a tiny lingering flame on the verge of extinguishing, what he obtained through this raid reward was a roaring flame, itself.
‘Unlike my previous life, this life’s body is more suitable for the flame.’
Dweno’s Flame could be said to be the strongest shield against Erebus’s attacks.
And during the decisive battle with Erebus.
Kyle could not fully control Dweno’s Flame.
‘That’s why he couldn’t finish it.’
His friends, one by one.
Entrusted their power to Kyle each time they passed away first.
Arion’s Aura.
Dweno’s Flame.
Luna’s Magic.
Licinas’s Dragon Heart.
He wove those powers into one and pushed Erebus to the brink of annihilation.
But what ultimately prevented him from finishing Erebus off.
It was because Kyle’s body could not withstand Erebus’s Flame.
If Leo had been able to control Dweno’s Flame a little better then.
Erebus would have completely disappeared.
‘This time, I can withstand it.’
Leo clenched his fist, looking down at his hands.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Celia, wearing a beautiful red dress, asked with a puzzled expression.
“Just reminiscing for a moment.”
“Your way of speaking sounds like an old man.”
Celia, wearing white gloves, rested her chin on her hand.
At her beautiful appearance, male students from the same dormitory as Celia approached.
“Celia, will you dance with me later?”
“No, with me!”
Celia corrected her posture and smiled faintly, as if accustomed to such reactions.
“Sorry, I’m not planning to dance today.”
Disappointed, the male students dispersed.
Just then.
The banquet hall doors opened, and the Seirun students appeared.
Although they were only half in number, Seirun, led by Herdium, attended the banquet on the last day.
The Seirun students who attended the banquet happily chatted with students from other schools whom they knew.
While Leo's party was raiding Dweno’s world.
There had been a massive attack by the Gigantes, affiliated with Geas’s legion.
Celia explained that many had become close friends by joining forces against that attack.
“Well, there were also many parties that self-destructed and fell into crisis.”
Just as Celia let out a small sigh.
Beast-kin students approached Leo.
Celia’s eyes narrowed.
“What is it, Dion?”
“I came because I wanted to ask Leo Flobe something, Celia.”
Celia was in the same party as Dion during this incident.
Dion, who had been answering in a serious voice, blushed slightly and cleared his throat upon seeing Celia.
“You’re beautiful, Celia.”
“Thank you.”
Celia smiled faintly and replied.
“What do you want to ask me?”
The Azonia students who came to find Leo were the leaders of the second-year faction, including Dion.
In other words, they were among the top five of Azonia’s second-year students.
All of them were also students who wanted to face off against Leo.
“Leo Flobe.”
Dion contorted his face.
“What kind of person was Sir Arion, exactly?”
“You could just ask Ar that.”
“That silly cat, he only talks about Sir Arion’s exploits.”
Luwen, a fox beast-kin, replied, gently furrowing her beautiful brow.
“We all know Sir Arion is great. What we’re curious about is what his personality was truly like. What he liked. How he spent his daily life!”
Though she had a sly side, Luwen, a beast-kin whose respect for Arion was genuine, continued to speak as if her teeth were chattering in frustration.
“But that silly cat… he acts all grand, like a cat putting on dog airs, saying ‘You’re not ready yet.’ He just spouts nonsense. And it’s even worse when he puts on such airs while drinking milk from a wine glass, so I came to ask you.”
Leo looked at the Azonia side.
People were crowded around Ar.
Leo rested his chin on his hand, watching the scene.
“Arion, huh.”
Leo let out a snicker.
“I did stick with Ar for quite a long time.”
“Ugh! That Ar! I’m jealous!”
Borman clenched his fist tightly.
Others also sent envious gazes towards Ar.
“Did Sir Arion truly treat Ar like a disciple?”
At Luwen’s question, Leo shook his head.
“No.”
“Hmph, I knew it was just bluster.”
‘He treated him like a younger brother.’
Basically, Arion liked young children.
His dream was a world where children could smile peacefully, after all.
“Arion was too afraid of Ar to treat him as a disciple.”
“Don’t lie. Why would Sir Arion be afraid of Ar?”
“Ar’s right. You’re not ready.”
Leo let out a chuckle.
The Azonia students later asked Leo more about Arion, but Leo never revealed that his friend was a coward.
‘It’s a pity to break the children’s illusions. And they wouldn’t believe it anyway.’
For a similar reason, he also protected Dweno’s honor.
‘You have really good friends.’
Leo let out a laugh, thinking of his friends.
The banquet was in full swing.
Students from all schools laughed, chatted, sang, and danced without inhibition.
Comrades who had overcome difficult moments and joined forces had a good time.
For most students, it was a somewhat awkward time.
But Leo felt a familiar longing.
‘I entrust the future to you.’
Leo smiled, recalling Dweno’s words.
‘Don’t worry.’
***
“We’re back!”
“Whoa! Home is the best after all!”
“Strictly speaking, it’s not home.”
“Oh, come on. It’s practically home.”
The students who returned to Lumern let out joyful screams.
Sena, the dormitory warden professor, greeted her assigned students with a smile.
“Did everyone have a good trip? I heard there was a big incident, but it’s a relief that everyone is safe!”
“Professor Sena! Have you been well?”
“I bought you a present here!”
The students greeted Sena, their warden, warmly.
“Oh, thank you.”
Sena said, smiling faintly as she received the students’ gifts.
“I have some good news and some bad news for you all who have just returned.”
At her words, the students’ faces hardened.
Good news and bad news?
They didn't have high expectations for the good news.
But the bad news was enough to make the students feel immense anxiety.
“What’s going on?”
Illiana swallowed dry, and Sena smiled.
“Which story do you want to hear first?”
At her words, everyone looked at Leo, Chloe, and Chen Sia, who were the dormitory leaders.
“Please tell us the bad news first.”
At Leo’s words, Sena nodded.
“Yes, alright. The bad news is that the dormitory’s magical plumbing system is currently broken. You’ll have to use the first-year dormitory if you want to wash.”
At that, sighs of relief broke out here and there.
‘What, is that all the bad news?’
‘It’s a bit inconvenient, but if that’s all it is, then fine.’
Everyone’s mood lightened.
“Then what’s the good news?”
Illiana asked in a light voice, and Sena smiled faintly.
“The midterm exam schedule has been set.”
At that, the faces of all the students hardened with a crunch.
“Is that good news?”
Illiana asked with a tearful face, and Sena nodded.
“Of course, it’s good news! The midterm exam schedule was set earlier than usual. Doesn’t that mean you have more time to prepare for the final exam?”
Sena said with a positive smile.
“It means you have more time to prepare for the final exam!”
This semester, neither first-year nor second-year students would face a recommendation for withdrawal until the end of the semester.
And the biggest factor influencing whether they stay in school or leave is the final exam.
Therefore, the longer the preparation period for the final exam, the better.
Sena was overly positive, but from the students' perspective, exams were not a good thing, so everyone couldn't help but make a tearful face.
***
“Ughhhhhh! Midterm exams!”
Illiana scratched her head wildly.
Looking at Illiana, Leo said.
“Since we have to take it anyway, it’s better to get it over with quickly.”
“There it is! The composure of an honor student!”
Illiana pouted her lips.
“Are exams really such a painful thing?”
“Yes! A textbook honor student like Chloe doesn’t have much to worry about, right?”
“By the way, I wonder what the midterm practical exam will be about.”
Just as Chen Sia was tilting her head.
“Ah! It’s Senior Leo!”
“Where? Where?”
The first-year students reacted with surprise.
Leo was currently on his way to the first-year dormitory to wash.
“The class president is popular with the juniors too.”
Just as Illiana was poking Leo’s side and smiling slyly.
The first-year students swarmed around him, surrounding him.
“Senior! Is it true that you raided Dweno’s Hero’s World this time?”
“I heard you met Sir Arion too, not just Sir Dweno!”
“How was it?!”
“Please tell us!”
The excited first-year students, eager to hear about the raid on the Hero’s World, showed an enthusiastic reaction around Leo.
Leo scratched his head, showing a troubled reaction.
“Move.”
A chilling voice was heard.
“Dammit! Get in line!”
The male student at the very back turned his head with a rough reaction.
And upon confirming the other person’s face, his face turned pale.
“Vi-vi-vi-vi-vi-vice! Vice Student Council President!”
“Move.”
At Hark’s chilling voice, the first-year students split apart.
Leo wore a welcoming expression as he looked at Hark.
“Long time no see, Senior Hark.”
“…Long time no see?”
“Hey, Leo. Hold on. Did you just say ‘long time no see’?”
Chloe and Illiana’s faces turned pale.
Hark walked towards Leo with a fierce smile.
“‘Long time no see, Senior Hark’? Do you really think those words should come out of your mouth right now?”
Hark, with veins bulging on his forehead, said.
“Do you think it makes sense for the student council president to dump all the work on the vice president and not show his face at the student council at all?!”
At Hark’s furious shout, Leo said.
“Anyway, I don’t have anything to do even if I go to the student council.”
“Gasp?”
Hark, clutching the back of his neck, had bloodshot eyes.
“Hey, let’s fight.”
Hark said with wide, glaring eyes.
“After I beat you down, I’ll take the student council president position! And…!”
Hark, with a fierce smile, said as if chewing and spitting out his words.
“I’ll make you the vice student council president, so you can suffer the same torment as me!”
Everyone swallowed dry at the menacing aura emanating from Hark’s body.
The strongest fifth-year.
That meant he was at the pinnacle among Lumern students.
“Didn’t I say if you have a complaint against me, you just have to fight and win?”
Hark’s eyes glinted.
“I have a lot of complaints about you. So, let’s fight.”
Hark's aura, as he gritted his teeth, was extremely menacing.
Everyone was looking at the student council president and vice president with tense expressions.
“I never said I would always fight you, though.”
Hark’s eyes widened as he saw Leo speak with a smile.
“I’ll refuse the duel request.”
Hark bowed his head deeply, watching Leo simply end the situation.
A moment later.
“Arghhhhhhh!”
As the enraged Hark tried to cause a commotion, the second-year students, startled, clung to Hark’s arms and legs.
“S-Senior! Control yourself!”
“If you rampage here, the first-year students will get hurt!”