Book 1 Chapter 333
“An exchange student?”
Mel asked, her eyes widening.
“Yeah.”
After class.
Leo, who had visited the professor’s office, told Mel about the exchange student program.
“Seyrun, you say… Even if you go, I don't think it will be of much help to you, Leo-nim.”
Mel tilted her head while drinking tea.
“Besides, even if you go to Seyrun now, it’s clear that the majority of Seyrun’s students will be hostile towards you, Leo-nim.”
The vice-principals of each Hero Academy are all appointed by Mel, the Dragon Lord.
Because of this, Mel was well-aware of the trends in all Hero Academies.
Leo chuckled at Mel’s words.
“I’ve wanted to visit Seyrun at least once ever since I heard about the exchange student program.”
“But… surely some elves will be disrespectful to Leo-nim?”
The expression vanished from Mel’s face.
As Mel knew that Leo was Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, she could not tolerate elf supremacists being disrespectful to Leo.
The great hero who saved the world.
If not for Leo, the current world would not exist.
“Just thinking about someone committing such sacrilege against Leo-nim… I can never forgive them.”
Gogogogogo-!
An unusual aura emanated from Mel.
Fiora and Kirian, who had been comfortably looking around Mel’s office, flinched and hid behind a bookshelf.
Arty, who had her eyes closed, opened one eye and looked at Mel, while Elcie was impressed.
Mel was usually gentle, but her current appearance exuded a dignity befitting her title as Dragon Lord.
Leo reached out his hand towards Mel, whose eyes had already transformed into those of a dragon.
“Haa-ung!”
When Leo pinched her nose, Mel, flustered, grabbed her nose with both hands.
“Why are you getting so worked up over something that hasn’t happened yet?”
“B-but still.”
Mel replied in a nasal voice.
“It’s simply unacceptable.”
Leo rested his chin on his hand at Mel’s reply.
“I’m used to the arrogant attitude of elves anyway.”
Even in the early days of the Age of Calamity, the elves’ sense of authority was still strong.
Leo had met countless elves who couldn’t easily get along with other races and created discord.
“Besides, in my time, High Elves still existed, so it was even worse than now, certainly not less, you know?”
“Sometimes, when I talk with Leo-nim, I realize something.”
“What is it?”
“The fact that Leo-nim is a very old man… Ha-wook!”
Mel, whose nose was pinched again, flailed her arms around, struggling.
Watching her, Arty muttered.
“I want to be humiliated by the Dragon Lord. And then I want to be humiliated by my master who can easily subdue such a Dragon Lord.”
Elcie sighed deeply.
-Please maintain your dignity as a Pegasus.
Of course, Arty didn’t listen.
Leo, having scolded Mel, said.
“Going to Seyrun isn't just because of Kirian’s wings.”
“Then why?”
“I’m going to see what hero candidates are in Seyrun. The only Seyrun hero candidates I know well are Loo-nia and Eiran.”
There's a different weight to someone else going to see hero candidates and Leo saying he’s going to see hero candidates.
Because the hero candidates Leo speaks of are those who will one day bear the burden of the era.
The battle against Tartarus.
Furthermore, individuals capable of fighting Erebus.
‘Because the hero chosen by Leo-nim, the true owner of Hero Record and the Great Hero, will be different.’
Mel nodded.
“Moreover, if Seyrun is festering internally to that extent, there’s a need to treat that festering to some degree.”
Leo knew all too well the process from the beginning of the Age of Calamity until the world was on the verge of destruction.
The world rapidly approached destruction not only due to the terrifying power of Erebus—a monster that even gods couldn’t handle—but also because many factions self-destructed due to internal problems without being able to properly fight back.
In particular, the elves collapsed too easily compared to their strong influence.
Tina, worried that Seyrun would be left behind, hoped that Leo would cause a great stir in Seyrun and proposed the exchange student program.
But Leo, who had seen how the once brilliant and powerful elf faction collapsed in the distant past, was worried about the elf race itself.
Leo believed Seyrun needed to change to avoid repeating the past.
Mel wore a worried expression at Leo’s words.
“I hope that’s the case… but an exchange student program usually lasts for about a month at most. Can you change much within that period?”
“Loo-nia and Eiran are already there. I just need to create the catalyst.”
Leo chuckled.
“Because for those who will become true heroes, a catalyst will be enough.”
It was then, as Mel nodded at Leo’s words.
Knock-knock-
Someone urgently knocked on the door of Mel’s professor’s office.
“It’s open.”
With Mel’s words, the office door opened and Anna entered.
“Associate Professor Anna, what brings you here…?”
“Student Leo! Professor Ren has just heard about the exchange student program from Professor Tina…!”
At those words, Leo and Mel looked at each other and then rose from their seats.
***
“So, Professor Ren is saying that Professor Tina, the visiting professor, should be kicked out immediately?”
Principal Lina asked with a deep sigh.
“Yes, Principal! That wicked elf must be expelled immediately… Ugh, ugh!”
Lina covered Ren’s mouth as he shouted convulsively.
Despite Ren’s reaction, Tina calmly sipped her refreshments.
Ren, who had an outburst as soon as he heard about the exchange student program, caused a commotion.
Anna quickly requested help from Leo and Mel, barely managing to subdue Ren, but Ren’s rampage continued.
Afterward, other professors who heard the news rushed over, and eventually, they ended up in the principal's office.
Lina wore a wry expression.
“I don’t know how Lord Kalyaan managed to be a principal so well for decades. These professors cause a ruckus almost every day; I swear.”
“Lord Kalyaan passed all these matters to Professor Halrind.”
“Hmm. That’s tempting.”
At Anna’s words, Lina stroked her chin with a serious expression.
Ignoring Ren, who was having a fit regardless, Lina spoke.
“Professor Tina. I'm curious why you recommended Leo as an exchange student 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 let the students of Seyrun know that there are excellent students like Student Leo. I also believe it will be an opportunity for Student Leo to broaden his horizons in Seyrun.”
Tina spoke in a very textbook-like manner.
“The authority to apply for an exchange student is sufficient with a request to the family.”
Although Tina had to live hiding the fact that she was a direct descendant within her family, her knowledge of magic was considered among the best even in Tingel, the foremost elf family.
Using her magical theory abilities, she had even succeeded in deciphering several of Seyrun Tingel’s magic spells that had remained uninterpreted for thousands of years.
Thanks to this, she may not have made a name for herself outside, but within the family, she held influence.
“Although I am not from Seyrun and have lived a life unrelated to heroes, I believe Student Leo’s going to Seyrun will be of great help to both Student Leo and Seyrun.”
“Hmm.”
“Principal! You must not be deceived! This is a cunning scheme to lure Student Leo to Seyrun…”
“Yes, yes. Please calm down, Professor Ren.”
“Be quiet.”
Mel smiled brightly and calmed Ren, while Anna covered Ren’s mouth.
“What are Student Leo’s thoughts?”
Lina, who had been contemplating, looked at Leo and asked.
“I want to go.”
“It’s a good opportunity, and if he wants to go himself.”
Lina said nonchalantly.
“It seems not bad if this opportunity allows for mutual help as exchange students. I’ll have to discuss it with Sedjen. Professor Tina. Since you proposed the exchange student program, I’d like you to handle the Seyrun procedures.”
“Understood.”
Lina herself had been quite interested in the exchange student program since it was brought up last year.
‘Now is the time to strengthen cooperation between the Hero Academies. Although those Seyrun guys won't be pleased with Leo.’
Lina also predicted how Seyrun would react if Leo went as an exchange student.
Lina glanced at Leo and said.
‘For now, outwardly, it would be ideal for this to develop into inter-school exchange following the Luce War.’
If they also sent exchange students, there would be no downside for Lumern.
Tina nodded and returned to her professor’s office.
It was when Ren was frustrated that the discussion was proceeding differently from his intentions.
“Professor Ren.”
Leo spoke to Ren.
“Associate Professor Anna’s [Introduction to Star Magic] to be presented at this Magic Society conference has me listed as a co-author, so I will help Associate Professor Anna and present it together during the exchange student period.”
“Alright, since you’re going anyway, help Associate Professor Anna a bit.”
Lina nodded.
After Leo left, Lina sighed and tried to appease Ren.
“Professor Ren. First, calm down. Just because Student Leo goes as an exchange student doesn’t mean he’ll become a Seyrun student…”
“Hoo-hoo-hoo.”
Ren laughed softly.
‘What’s wrong with him now?’
“I’ve had a good idea.”
“What now?”
Anna asked with an anxious expression.
“Student Leo can go to Seyrun as an exchange student and be hated by those pointy-eared bastards! Hohohoho! Those pointy-eared bastards hate [Introduction to Star Magic].”
Ren covered his face, his expression filled with madness.
“I just needed to prepare a stimulating conference presentation that the elf bastards would hate and present it with Student Leo! Associate Professor Anna! This conference! I’ll attend!”
“…”
Anna’s face turned cold.
“…This is the conference I prepared, isn’t it?”
Preparing for the Magic Society conference was a huge stress for Anna.
However, preparing for a conference where the world’s most renowned mages gathered was an honor even more than a tremendous burden.
For a mage, presenting a paper at the Magic Society conference itself was a great honor.
Therefore, despite suffering from immense stress and pressure, Anna diligently prepared for the conference.
But suddenly, Ren was stepping forward, saying he would take over the conference entirely.
Moreover, from his words, it was clear he intended to change the content of Anna’s prepared presentation as well.
“Associate Professor Anna! Don’t worry! I’ll lead this conference.”
“Shut up!”
Anna, her thread of reason paralyzed, reacted harshly.
Watching her, Lina said.
“Professor Ren. I’m sorry, but you can’t go to Seyrun.”
“Why not?!”
“Who else but you can handle the complex schedule you’ve set up for the second-year Magic Department? You got all the signatures yesterday.”
Ren had set up a class schedule that only he could conduct and had gotten approval for it yesterday.
In other words, if Ren were absent, the second-year Magic Department schedule would completely fall apart.
“Principal, I will reorganize the class schedule. So that Associate Professor Anna can teach sufficiently.”
“Fine, if you want to go that badly.”
Lina said coldly.
“Submit your resignation and go instead.”
“Th-that…”
Ren wore a frustrated expression.
***
Clack-clack-clack-
The sound of chalk rubbing against the blackboard echoed emptily in the classroom.
In the spacious classroom were two elves.
And in the middle of the classroom.
A female student from Seyrun, sitting at a single desk, looked at the words filling the blackboard with her red eyes.
“Student Loo-nia, do you understand well? The purpose for which the Comet Mage created our Seyrun.”
At the strict-looking Seyrun teacher’s words, Loo-nia smiled faintly.
“Yes, I understand well now.”
“That’s good! It seems you are returning to your former self, Student Loo-nia. This must be proof that the re-education classes are progressing well!”
The Seyrun teacher, smiling brightly, checked his watch.
“This concludes today’s supplementary lesson.”
Dinner time had already passed.
“You’ve worked hard, Student Loo-nia. Let’s meet here again tomorrow.”
“Yes, Teacher Orlen.”
Orlen, looking satisfied at Loo-nia who greeted him gracefully, left the classroom.
Loo-nia’s expression changed drastically once she was left alone in the classroom.
“Re-education, my ass. Does that garbage even make it into my ears?”
The blackboard was filled with nothing but the mindset an elf should have.
Loo-nia, who had instantly turned into a delinquent, vigorously kicked the classroom wall!
“I’m already annoyed because I’m hungry! How can I study while starving myself?!”
After throwing a tantrum with an enraged face, Loo-nia slumped onto a luxurious desk and chair, crossed her legs, and propped her chin.
Outside, it was snowing.
Loo-nia, looking at the white snow that reminded her of someone, muttered.
“Should I really quit school?”