Book 1 Chapter 334

The coldest place in the northern part of the cold continent. There lay the territory of the elves.

Among those elven territories, a city considered most important.

Langen.

In the distant past.

It is the hometown where Seirun Tingel, the Comet Mage who inherited the will of the Nebula Progenitor, was born.

The Nebula Progenitor, the Fairy Knight, the Comet Mage.

Among the three great elves, Luna and Berukia were figures from 5000 years ago, so their hometowns are unknown.

However, as the Comet Mage's hometown is distinct.

Langen was treated as a 'holy land' among the elves.

As one of the heroes who was called the reincarnation of the Progenitor and saved the world from another crisis, Seirun's hometown was well-deserving of being called a holy land.

A huge castle in the center of such Langen.

In the highest room of that castle, an elf gazing at the panoramic view of Langen in its harsh weather turned their eyes to a letter in their hand.

'Write a letter of recommendation for Leo Flobe so he can go to Seirun as an exchange student.'

Tion Tingel, the current head of the Tingel family, folded the letter his sibling had given him and wore a perplexed expression.

'He said he was going to Lumerun as a visiting professor… why is he making such a request?'

Tion placed the letter on the table, then walked to his office chair, sat down, and took out a quill pen.

The Tingel family has long been regarded as the most prestigious elf family, but they have refrained from political activities.

The Hero Academy established by the Comet Mage.

As the power structure of the elves was reorganized around Seirun.

The Tingel family was well-qualified to reign as the king of the elves.

Considering that elves are the most cohesive race among all races.

The Tingel family could have reigned as the sole king of the elves.

However, due to the single statement left by Seirun, the Tingels could not become royalty.

'Elves do not need a king.'

It is unknown why Seirun left this message.

But in accordance with this statement left by the great Comet Mage, the Tingels naturally distanced themselves from the Elf Council.

Even so, their influence was still formidable.

Seirun does not have an exchange student system.

But if it was the will of the Tingel family head, creating a non-existent system to accept exchange students was entirely possible.

Even if it was 'Leo Flobe,' who has recently become a hot topic in elven society.

Tion, who had written the letter to Seirun's acting principal, sent the letter to Seirun Academy using a spirit beast.

Tion reached for the newspaper in his office.

'An all-class like the Hero of Beginnings.'

Reading about the recent achievements in the newspaper, Tion's lips curled into a smile.

'I wonder what kind of performance he will show at Seirun.'

***

"Exchange student?!"

A week after the exchange student commotion, that morning.

Leo, having received Seirun's confirmation from Tina, informed Celia of the fact.

Celia, who was eating with him, asked in surprise.

The attention of the noisy Lumerun second-year cafeteria instantly focused on the two of them.

"Is it that surprising?"

As Leo, stirring his soup with a spoon, asked with a faint smile, Celia downed her milk in one gulp.

And wiping her mouth, she said.

"Of course I'm surprised you're suddenly going as an exchange student! Why didn't you tell me?"

"It wasn't definitively decided whether I'd go or not. It was decided this morning."

"You, seriously…!"

It was then that Celia made a bewildered expression.

"Exchange student? What's that mean?"

Illiana, who was eating, rushed over with sparkling eyes and sat next to Leo.

In addition, several close acquaintances gathered around Leo.

To his friends' reactions, Leo said as if it was nothing.

"Professor Tina suggested I try going to Seirun as an exchange student."

Leo continued speaking while tearing off pieces of bread.

"I thought it might be good to go once, so I decided to go."

Hearing that story, Chelsea tilted her head.

"Is only Leo oppa going?"

"Yes."

"Are students coming from Seirun too?"

"It seems Seirun has no plans to send students."

"Aw, what. How boring."

Chelsea pouted her lips and grumbled.

Cal asked, crossing his arms.

"When are you going and when are you coming back?"

"I'm going today and will be back in a month."

"A month?"

Cal made an astonished expression.

Other students also showed surprised expressions at the unexpectedly long schedule.

"Oh ho! So the class president is going to conquer Seirun too?!"

Illiana shouted, her eyes sparkling.

"I'm just going to see how they study at Seirun and what kind of students are there."

Leo said with a faint smile.

'There's no way Leo would just quietly study and come back.'

'He's definitely going to get involved in another incident.'

'If it's Leo oppa, he'll surely do something amazing and come back.'

Even while receiving his friends' confident gazes that it couldn't be true, Leo calmly continued eating.

***

That evening.

Leo packed his bags to go to Seirun.

And before leaving, he took some time to head to the training ground in the backyard of the first-year boys' dormitory.

Luke was staggering around the training ground.

Luke, Leo's mentee, had a simple routine.

He woke up earlier than anyone else in his first year and did physical training at the training ground.

And after classes, he would train physically until the latest.

He always wore artifacts on his wrists and ankles that added burden to his body.

"Ugh!"

Luke, who was staggering while running, covered his mouth.

His stamina had long been depleted.

It was his perseverance and mental strength that kept his body moving.

Luke, barely avoiding a terrible state, squeezed out his remaining strength and ran.

Soon, as if he had achieved his goal, he stopped running and collapsed spread-eagle on the spot.

*Footsteps*

"You don't have to push yourself that hard."

Leo said, approaching the collapsed Luke.

"Le- Leo sunbae-nim."

Luke hastily got up.

Seeing Luke, Leo smiled faintly.

"Even with just the training I set for you, you're pushing your body plenty hard."

Training to acquire a strong physique.

On top of that, magic power awakening training to use magic, and studying.

For Luke, it was a schedule that was brutally difficult.

Yet, Luke was still pushing himself harshly.

Gritting his teeth, Luke, with his head bowed, said.

"…What if Leo sunbae-nim gets expelled because of me?"

The harsh penalty that a first-year student's mentor would also be expelled if the first-year was dismissed from school during the first semester's final exams was enough to pressure Luke.

Indeed, the voices heard from other first-year students were enough to make Luke anxious.

His mentor, Leo, was an all-class like Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, and an unprecedented first-year student council president.

And he was a student who was rumored to become the strongest in Lumerun's history.

Luke, the mentee of such a Leo, was suffering from ridicule as the worst failing student in Lumerun's history.

"Even if that happens, it's not specifically because of you."

Leo chuckled.

"It's a matter of my choice. You don't need to feel burdened. It's my responsibility."

Leo continued speaking, looking down at Luke.

"And I trust my judgment."

Luke was reflected in Leo's red eyes.

"You can become a hero."

What a hero needs is neither talent nor great achievements.

Nor did they need the praise of people or the recognition of gods.

'It was a bit simpler in the old days when there was no Hero Record, you know.'

Leo chuckled, recalling his friend's words.

'A hero, you see.'

Lisinas said with a faint smile.

'It means someone who doesn't give up.'

Recalling his friend's words, Leo said.

"I think you need to have a bit more confidence."

"Confidence?"

"Yes. If you can't believe in yourself, believe in me who chose you."

Luke's eyes widened.

Luke took a deep breath and got up.

"I'll run a bit more."

"Okay."

"Oh, right! You said you're going to Seirun as an exchange student, didn't you? I'll work hard while you're gone!"

Seeing Luke, whose eyes sparkled with renewed motivation, Leo nodded.

Leaving Luke, who had started running again, behind, Leo headed for the warp gate.

The mentor-mentee relationship between Leo and Luke was unusual.

Other second-years provided their mentees with departmental know-how or exam information.

Or guided them on battle methods, etc.

But Leo offered none of that.

He merely set a training schedule and conveyed it to Luke.

'Everything a hero needs can be learned at Lumerun.'

A learning environment optimized for raising heroes.

That was the Hero Academy.

Leo was merely creating a vessel that could contain it.

In that process, he didn't reach out his hand or offer help.

He merely watched.

When Luke seemed about to fall, he held him to prevent him from falling, then pushed his back again.

'Because strength is only valuable when achieved by one's own hand.'

Leo glanced at Luke.

Only Luke himself could change the perception of those around him.

And Luke was putting in several times more effort than others.

"I'm looking forward to the final exams."

***

"I cannot accept this!"

Seirun's second-year conference room.

There, Leber, who was in charge of the second-years overall, showed a reaction close to a fit.

"Leo Flobe! To accept that arrogant and insolent delinquent student from Lumerun as an exchange student!"

*Bang-!*

Leber slammed the table roughly.

Deep anger filled his eyes.

Leo Flobe.

During the last Smith exclusive contract, Leber felt he had been humiliated by Leo.

In the meeting where he was admonishing Runia, who had awakened as a delinquent, Leo had embarrassed Leber.

The image of Leo, still vividly clear in his mind, mockingly waving the Pollium obtained as a reward for Luna's world conquest right before his eyes.

Leber, with veins throbbing in his forehead, said.

"Furthermore! Student Runia has recently been reformed again and is being reborn as a proper honors student of Seirun!"

At Leber's shout, Herdium sighed deeply.

"Teacher Leber. I have one question… that reformation class… is it really effective?"

Herdium, who had been in charge of Runia since her first year, knew Runia's personality better than anyone.

From Herdium's perspective, Runia didn't need reformation classes or correction.

'Of course, she tends to use aggressive language and behavior… but Student Runia is perfectly capable of controlling herself and also has leadership, looking out for other students.'

There is no such thing as a perfect honors student that adults desire in this world.

Furthermore, Herdium, who had guided many students, knew well that the image of an honors student desired by adults wasn't always positive.

And also that the honors student Leber was talking about meant an honors student tailored to the standards of elf racial supremacists.

'Moreover, the content of those classes conducted under the guise of supplementary lessons.'

Herdium sighed deeply to himself.

'What kind of utter nonsense is this?'

Runia's voice echoed in Herdium's ears like a hallucination.

"It is effective. Student Runia is returning to her previous self."

Orlen, who was in charge of Runia's supplementary classes, said with a faint smile.

Seeing Orlen, Herdium's face changed strangely.

'She hasn't changed at all, neither in the past nor now.'

If anything had changed, it was merely the difference of whether she was putting on an act or not.

Both Leber and Orlen.

Even considering that they were teachers who had suddenly been appointed to Seirun this year.

Their abilities as educators were far too lacking.

But Herdium didn't say that.

Because he knew that speaking up would only make things harder for the students.

'This is a rare good opportunity. Student Leo will definitely influence Seirun students in some way.'

Herdium also thought that the current Seirun needed to change.

Although he had only seen him a few times, Leo, as perceived by Herdium, was a student with the capacity to bring about change, whether for better or worse.

'It's already the worst now, so it can't get any worse than this.'

It was then that Herdium made a grim expression.

"Teacher Leber, I have a good idea."

Orlen, who elegantly raised his teacup, took a sip of tea and then wore a meaningful smile.

"Isn't it enough to just prevent Leo Flobe from having a bad influence on Student Runia?"