Book 1 Chapter 333

"Exchange student?" Mel asked, her eyes widening.

"Yeah."

After class.

Leo visited Mel's professor's office and told her about the exchange student.

"Seirun… even if you go, I don't think it will be of much help to you, Leo-nim?" Mel tilted her head as they got into the car.

"Besides, even if you go to Seirun now, it's clear that most of Seirun's students will be hostile to you, Leo-nim."

Mel, the Dragon Lord, appointed the vice-principals of all Hero Academies. Therefore, Mel was well aware of the trends in all Hero Academies.

Leo chuckled at Mel's words.

"I've wanted to visit Seirun at least once since I heard about the exchange student program."

"But… surely some elves will be rude to you, Leo-nim?" Mel's expression vanished from her face.

Knowing that Leo was Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, Mel could not tolerate the elves' racism towards Leo.

The great hero who saved the world.

Without Leo, the current world would not exist.

"Just the thought of them disrespecting Leo-nim… I can never forgive that."

GOGOGOGO-!

An unusual aura emanated from Mel. Fiora and Kirian, who were comfortably looking around Mel's office, flinched and hid behind the bookshelves. Ati, who had been closing her eyes, opened one eye and looked at Mel, while Elsie admired her. Mel, who was usually gentle, now exuded a dignity befitting the title of Dragon Lord.

Leo, watching Mel, whose pupils had turned into dragon eyes, reached out his hand.

"Haung!"

When Leo pinched Mel's nose, the flustered Mel grabbed her nose with both hands.

"Why are you so worked up about something that hasn't happened yet?"

"B-but…" Mel replied with a nasal voice.

"I can't forgive it."

Leo rested his chin on his hand at Mel's answer.

"I'm used to the arrogant attitude of the elves anyway."

Even in the early days of the Cataclysm, the elves still had a strong sense of authority. Leo had met countless elves who did not easily associate with other races and uttered discord.

"Besides, when I was around, High Elves still existed, so it wouldn't have been any less so than it is now."

"Sometimes, when I talk to you, Leo-nim, I realize something."

"What is it?"

"That you're a really old man… Hauk!"

Mel, her nose pinched again, flailed her arms and struggled. Watching her, Ati muttered,

"I want to be scolded by the Dragon Lord. And then I want to be scolded by the Master who easily subdues that Dragon Lord."

Elsie let out a deep sigh.

-Please maintain your dignity as a Pegasus.

Of course, Ati didn't listen.

Leo, after scolding Mel, said, "Going to Seirun isn't just for Kirian's wings."

"Then why?"

"I'm going to see what kind of hero candidates are in Seirun. The hero candidates I know well in Seirun are only Lunia and Eiran."

The weight of someone else going to see hero candidates is different from Leo going to see hero candidates. This is because when Leo talks about hero candidates, he means those who can carry the era in the future. Candidates who can fight Tartarus and even Erebus.

'The hero chosen by Leo-nim, the true owner of the Hero Record and the great hero, must be different.'

Mel nodded.

"Moreover, if Seirun is so rotten internally, it needs to be treated to some extent."

Leo knew the process of the world rapidly declining to the brink of destruction all too well. The world rapidly approached destruction not only because of the power of Erebus—a terrifying monster that even gods couldn't handle—but also because many factions self-destructed due to internal problems instead of fighting properly. In particular, the elves collapsed too easily compared to their strong power.

Tina, worried that Seirun would become obsolete, wanted Leo to cause a great stir in Seirun and offered the exchange student program. However, Leo, who had seen how the glorious and powerful elven forces of the distant past collapsed, was concerned about the elven race itself. Leo believed that Seirun needed to change to avoid the same fate as the past.

Mel looked worried at Leo's words.

"I hope so… but the exchange student program will be at most a month long, so can you change a lot in that period?"

"Lunia and Eiran are already there. I just need to create an opportunity."

Leo chuckled.

"If they are truly destined to be heroes, an opportunity will be enough."

As Mel nodded at Leo's words, there was a knock.

"Knock-knock-"

Someone urgently knocked on the door of Mel's office.

"It's open."

As Mel spoke, the office door opened, and Anna entered.

"Vice-Principal Anna, what brings you here…?"

"Student Leo! Professor Ren heard about the exchange student program from Professor Tina…!"

At that, Leo and Mel looked at each other and stood up.

***

"So, Professor Ren's point is that Professor Tina, the visiting professor, should be kicked out immediately?" Principal Riina asked with a deep sigh.

"Yes, Principal! We must expel that wicked elf immediately… *gulp*!" Riina covered Ren's mouth as he shouted as if having a seizure.

Despite Ren's reaction, Tina calmly sipped her tea. Ren, who had a seizure as soon as he heard about the exchange student program, caused a disturbance. Anna quickly requested help from Leo and Mel, and they barely managed to subdue Ren, but his rampage continued. Later, other professors who heard the news rushed in, and they ended up in the Principal's office.

Riina made a reluctant face.

"I don't know how Lord Kalian managed the principal position for decades. These professors are causing trouble every other day."

"Lord Kalian delegated all these matters to Professor Halind."

"Hmm. That sounds appealing."

At Anna's words, Riina stroked her chin with a serious expression. Regardless, Riina ignored Ren, who was having a seizure, and said,

"Professor Tina, I'm curious why you recommended Leo for the exchange student program and by what authority you can send Leo as an exchange student?"

"The reason I recommended student Leo as an exchange student is that I wanted to inform the students of Seirun that there are excellent students like student Leo. I also believe it will be an opportunity for student Leo to broaden his horizons in Seirun."

Tina spoke in a very textbook manner.

"The authority to apply for an exchange student program can be obtained by requesting it from the family."

Although Tina had to hide her status as a direct descendant within the family, her knowledge of magic was second to none even in Tingle, the most prominent elven family. Using her magical theory skills, she succeeded in deciphering some of Seirun Tingle's magic that had remained uninterpreted for thousands of years. As a result, although she did not gain external recognition, she had influence within the family.

"Although I am not from Seirun and lived a life unrelated to heroes, I believe that student Leo's going to Seirun will be of great help to both student Leo and Seirun."

"Hmm."

"Principal! Don't be fooled! It's a wicked scheme to get student Leo out of Seirun…"

"Yes, yes. Please calm down, Professor Ren."

"Be quiet." Mel said with a smile, calming Ren, and Anna covered Ren's mouth.

"What are student Leo's thoughts?" Riina asked Leo after contemplating.

"I want to go."

"It's a good opportunity, and if you want to go, then…" Riina said indifferently.

"It seems like it wouldn't be bad for both sides to benefit from this exchange student opportunity. I'll have to discuss it with Sedjen. Professor Tina, since you proposed the exchange student program, I would like you to handle the Seirun procedures."

"Understood."

Riina was also very interested in the exchange student program that had been discussed since last year.

'Right now, it's a time to strengthen cooperation between hero academies. Those in Seirun will likely look down on Leo.'

Riina also predicted how Seirun would react if Leo went as an exchange student.

Glancing at Leo, Riina said,

'Ideally, it would be best to develop it as an exchange between schools following the Ruse battle.'

If they sent exchange students, it wouldn't be bad for Lumern either. Tina nodded and returned to her office. Ren was frustrated as the conversation proceeded differently than he intended.

"Professor Ren." Leo spoke to Ren.

"Vice-Principal Anna and I are co-authors on [Introduction to Star Magic] to be presented at the upcoming magic conference, so I will assist Vice-Principal Anna with the presentation during the exchange student period."

"Yes, since you're going, help Vice-Principal Anna." Riina nodded.

After Leo left, Riina sighed and tried to placate Ren.

"Professor Ren, please calm down. Student Leo going as an exchange student doesn't mean he'll become a Seirun student…"

"Heh heh- heh heh heh." Ren let out a low laugh.

'What's wrong with him now?'

"I've had a good idea."

"What now?" Anna asked with an anxious expression.

"Student Leo goes to Seirun as an exchange student and gets disliked by those pointy-eared bastards! Heh heh heh! Those pointy-eared bastards hate [Introduction to Star Magic]."

Ren covered his face with a look of madness.

"By preparing a sensational conference presentation that the elves would hate and presenting it with student Leo, that's it! Vice-Principal Anna! This conference! I will attend!"

"……." Anna's face turned cold.

"……This is the conference I prepared."

Preparing for the magic conference was a great source of stress for Anna. However, for a gathering of the world's leading mages, preparing for the conference was an honor beyond immense pressure. It was a great honor for a mage to present a paper at a magic conference. Therefore, despite suffering immense stress and pressure, Anna diligently prepared for the conference. And now, Ren was suddenly trying to take over the conference himself. Moreover, based on his words, it was clear he intended to change the presentation content Anna had prepared.

"Vice-Principal Anna! Don't worry! I will lead this conference."

"Shut up!" Anna, whose sanity had snapped, reacted aggressively.

Watching her, Riina said, "Professor Ren, I'm sorry, but you can't go to Seirun."

"Why not?!"

"Who else can handle the second-year magic department's schedule that you so complicatedly arranged? You got signatures yesterday."

Ren had created a class schedule that only he could manage and had it approved yesterday. In other words, if Ren were absent, the second-year magic department's schedule would be thrown into disarray.

"Principal, I will reschedule the classes. So that Vice-Principal Anna can fully teach the classes."

"Yes, if you want to go that badly," Riina said coldly.

"However, you'll have to resign."

"T-that's…" Ren looked frustrated.

***

Tap- Tap-tap-

The sound of chalk friction against the blackboard echoed hollowly in the classroom. In the vast classroom were two elves. And in the center of the classroom. The Seirun female student, sitting at a single desk, looked at the letters filling the blackboard.

"Student Lunia, do you understand now? The purpose for which the Wizard of the Comet created our Seirun."

At the words of the strict-looking Seirun teacher, Lunia smiled faintly.

"Yes, I understand now."

"That's a relief! It seems you're returning to your former self, student Lunia. It's proof that the re-education classes are progressing well!" The Seirun teacher, who had been smiling brightly, checked the clock.

"This concludes today's remedial class." It was already past dinner time.

"Good work, student Lunia. I'll see you here again tomorrow."

"Yes, Teacher Orlen." Orlen, with a satisfied expression watching Lunia bow gracefully, left the classroom.

Left alone in the classroom, Lunia's demeanor changed drastically.

"Re-education, my ass. How can I possibly pay attention to that disgusting content?" What filled the classroom blackboard was none other than the mindset an elf should have. The suddenly delinquent student Lunia kicked the classroom wall repeatedly.

"I'm already hungry and irritable! How can I study while starving myself!" After raging around with an angry face, Lunia sat down on a luxurious desk and chair, crossed her legs, and rested her chin on her hand. Outside, snow was falling. Looking at the white snow that reminded her of someone, Lunia muttered,

"Should I really quit school?"