Book 1 Chapter 341

341

"Currently, all first-year students are busy preparing for their midterm exams. Since adapting to school life under the care of our teachers and seniors since admission, we will achieve grades that meet those expectations. Thank you."

A clear voice echoed.

The first-year representative's speech concluded, and applause resounded.

The young girl, stepping down from the podium, bowed elegantly, then straightened her posture and descended.

Watching her, Lunia muttered.

"She's the real deal."

At Lunia's muttering, Eiran, who was with her, widened her eyes and tilted her head.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what it says."

Lunia rested her chin on her hand.

"She's genuinely the honor student that Seirun wants."

The place where Lunia and Eiran currently were was the Hall of Comets.

It was located at the center of Seirun, where Seirun's Hero Records were stored.

In addition to the Hero Records, it was also a place where many things left by the Comet Mage slumbered.

It was literally the history of Seirun itself.

And this was also where the student representatives' meeting was held.

A gathering where representatives from each grade were convened, led by the student council president.

It was literally a place where Seirun's top students gathered to discuss their studies.

This meeting concluded with the speech by Rhea, the first-year class president.

"Lunia, aren't you an honor student too?"

"No, I'm a delinquent student, aren't I?"

Lunia chuckled.

"Lunia, Eiran. Focus on the meeting."

At that moment, a male student, the third-place student in the second year, pointed out.

"I am focused enough."

"Don't speak lightly. We are here as representatives of the second year."

When the male student, Teveson, spoke strongly, Eiran smiled awkwardly.

"Teveson. The class representatives' meeting isn't such a stiff occasion. It's a place to build friendships between seniors and juniors, so you don't have to be that nervous."

Eiran was right.

While there was a grand reason of discussing academics, that was only a superficial reason.

In reality, it was a social gathering.

It wasn't a place to be overly formal.

But despite Eiran's words, Teveson did not relax his rigid posture.

'He's desperate to be the class representative. Well, it's not like he got it purely based on skill.'

Among the advanced first-class students in the second year, there were many as skilled as Teveson in terms of grades.

In fact, since becoming a second-year student, Lunia's cohort's class representatives had been replaced countless times.

Lunia's and Eiran's ranks remained unchanged.

Only third place.

Luca's position kept changing.

Most of their skills were comparable.

As a result, it naturally happened that students who pleased the teachers took the positions of class representatives.

After Rhea's presentation, during the social gathering.

Teveson approached the class representatives of the third, fourth, and fifth years, actively introducing himself as a class representative.

The third, fourth, and fifth graders showed a lukewarm response to Teveson.

Unlike Teveson, who was trying to build friendships in any way, the upper-class representatives seemed disinclined to talk deeply with him.

The reason for their reaction was simple.

'He's not qualified. Seeing things like this, even our seniors are quite eccentric for elves.'

She didn't know it in her first year, but she learned something in her second year.

People who were class representatives tended to have strange quirks somewhere.

Even Lienia, last year's graduate and former student council president, was a pervert with a slightly sadistic tendency.

'I want to bully our first-year students every time I see them? Come quickly and hug this big sister!'

Recalling Lienia, who would rush over and hug her, Lunia let out a hollow laugh.

'And Senior Hardin.'

Lunia looked at Hardin, the top student of the fourth year and the current student council president.

Originally, Lunia didn't particularly like Hardin.

As a typical honor student of Seirun, he would point out Lunia's flaws at every turn.

But last year, in the second semester of her first year.

While conquering Luna's world together, she came to understand his true feelings and they became friends.

He believed Lunia was the elf fit to be the next student council president and had told her that he would hand over the position to Lunia when he became a fifth-year student next year.

'Senior Marven was absent again this time.'

Lunia clicked her tongue at the absence of Marven, the top student of the fifth year.

Marven was one of the students who openly expressed dissatisfaction with Seirun's current system.

Being the top student of the fifth year meant being the strongest student.

Lienia had also tried to hand over the student council president position to him.

But Marven refused.

The reason was simple.

Marven was a student who didn't fit the current system that emphasized star magic.

In other words, he was a student whose achievement in star magic was low.

While he might be the strongest in the school, there were countless students more capable than him as a star mage.

However, his external reputation was such that it would be strange if he weren't the student council president.

In particular, Marven succeeded in retrieving Seirun's Hero Record during this Hero Dungeon raid.

Seirun's Hero Records were almost nonexistent.

It was, literally, a tremendous achievement.

Even the extremist Pureblood Society, who now controlled Seirun, had no choice but to entrust him with the student council president position, but Marven himself refused.

'The Purebloods are chattering about it being Marven's consideration for future generations.'

It was unavoidable that outsiders cast questioning glances.

In addition, most of the class representatives had complaints about the current system.

'First-year students are important. From the Purebloods' perspective, we might already be "tainted" students, but they are blank slates.'

She turned her gaze to the first-year students, who were fidgeting awkwardly, as if this was their first class representatives' meeting.

Since it was still early in the semester, it was easy for them to be influenced.

'Especially Rhea Tingel, was it? The Purebloods will probably be marking her closely…'

Rhea's symbolism was great.

She was a descendant of Seirun, and she had recently even succeeded in communicating with the Fairy King.

'If I show rebellious behavior, they'll probably try to explicitly make her a symbol of Seirun, won't they? They might even talk about her being the first-year student council president, conscious of Leo.'

Lunia clicked her tongue inwardly.

Meanwhile, the class representatives' meeting ended.

Lunia and Eiran were about to return to their second-year classroom.

In the hallway, Rhea blocked Lunia and Eiran's path.

Lunia tilted her head, looking at Rhea, who gazed back at her, not a single strand out of place.

"Do you have something to tell us?"

"Yes."

"What is it, Rhea?"

As Eiran asked with a warm smile, Rhea asked with a serious expression.

"What do you think about Seirun right now?"

At the sudden question, Lunia narrowed her eyes, and Eiran looked flustered.

'What do I think about Seirun right now? I obviously think it's a mess.'

But in this situation.

With Rhea, who was receiving attention from the Pureblood Society, asking such a question, Lunia naturally couldn't help but think otherwise.

'Is she testing me?'

Eiran seemed to think the same, glancing between Lunia and Rhea.

"My opinion isn't particularly important, is it? Let's go, Eiran."

Lunia swept back her hair, then turned around abruptly.

*Grab!*

But Rhea grabbed the hem of Lunia's school uniform skirt.

"Please tell me! It's homework!"

"Hey, let go of this?!"

Lunia, with a flushed face, raised her voice at Rhea, who was frantically pulling her uniform skirt like she was whining.

"Senior Floff gave it to me as homework!"

"What?"

Lunia and Eiran paused.

And looked at each other's faces.

"Leo gave you homework? What are you talking about?"

"Senior Floff is in Seirun right now."

Rhea cleared her throat and puffed out her chest.

"And I'm going to be Senior Floff's apprentice."

She had only said that he taught her magic, but Rhea was already referring to herself as Leo's apprentice.

"…Why is Leo in Seirun? Where is he now?"

"Ah! That's a secret between Senior Floff and me! I can't tell you!"

It was then that Lunia made an incredulous expression.

"Um… Is Leo here as an exchange student, by any chance?"

At those words, Rhea flinched, and Lunia crossed her arms and nodded.

"Aha, so that's what it was."

Lunia, narrowing her eyes, smiled faintly.

"Then Leo must be in the first-year dorm now."

"Why would Leo go to the first year as an exchange student?"

"Given the state of our school now, it's obvious, isn't it?"

At Lunia's chilling words, Rhea said.

"Uh, anyway! Please hurry and tell me what you think about Seirun right now."

To Rhea's words, Lunia replied.

"I don't think it's normal."

"What? Why?"

Rhea made a bewildered expression.

Seeing Rhea like that, Eiran also smiled bitterly.

"It's been getting strange lately. Discrimination among students has become too severe."

"Right, compared to last year, Seirun is a complete dumpster school now."

"A-a dumpster?!"

"Lunia."

Eiran chastised her, but Lunia shrugged.

"I'm just stating the facts."

"Even so, that word is a bit…"

"Then what should I say?"

"Hmm… Hmm…"

Eiran pondered, then cautiously said.

"A failed school?"

"In some ways, you sound even worse."

At the shocking words of her two seniors, Rhea muttered with a serious face.

"Maybe I should have enrolled in Lumerne instead?"

Lunia made a dumbfounded expression upon hearing that.

She never in her wildest dreams expected such a remark to come from a direct descendant of the Tingel family.

"First, I'll have to meet Leo."

"What? But it won't be easy to meet him, will it?"

"We'll have to meet secretly."

Lunia said with a faint smile.

"How secretly?"

"Go to Leo's room at night."

"A-at night…"

Eiran's face immediately turned bright red.

"…You're thinking strange things again, aren't you?"

"N-no, I'm not?!"

Eiran flared up.

Seeing that, Rhea said.

"Seniors, I want to go too."

"…And why you?"

"I'm curious about Senior Floff's pajamas."

Lunia sighed, looking at Rhea, who answered with a serious face.

'She looks like she'll come even if I tell her not to.'

Seeing the persistence in Rhea's eyes, Lunia told her the time they would meet at dawn, then sent Rhea back.

"She's a lively junior."

Eiran smiled brightly.

"This confirms it."

Lunia said, crossing her arms.

"All of Seirun's class representatives are strange people?"

"What? I'm not strange."

"I know your hobby is reading racy novels, you know? What was the title of the book you're reading now? My Younger Boyfriend Who Holds My Leash… *muffled*?"

Eiran made a tearful face and covered Lunia's mouth.

After a brief commotion, as they returned to the classroom, Eiran made a worried expression.

"By the way, we'll have to break school rules."

"Is this the first time or second time we've broken school rules?"

At Lunia's shrug, Eiran thought for a moment, then smiled brightly.

"You're right."

Eiran was, unknowingly and steadily, becoming a delinquent.

***

The topmost floor of the Hall of Comets.

It was the highest point in Seirun.

There was the Plaza of Stars, used only when important meetings or conferences of Seirun were held.

There, Seirun's acting principal,

Rhagen was talking to someone.

"It's a joyful occasion. Not long after the progenitor of the nebula descended upon this land, Lord Seirun's Hero Record has returned."

Rhagen said in a voice filled with emotion.

At Rhagen's words, Tion, who had just arrived in Seirun, let out a deep sigh.

"Lord Rhagen. That Hero Record… Are you sure it belongs to Lord Seirun?"

"Yes, Lord Tion."

"…Did you call me because you need an object that could be the 'key' to the Hero Record?"

The Tingel family was the family of Seirun, the Comet Mage.

As such, it was clear that they would have an artifact among their family treasures that could open Seirun's Hero Record.

"Yes. Lord Seirun's Hero Records are almost non-existent. The remaining Hero Records are also kept in Dragonia. But now, Lord Seirun's Hero Record has officially returned to our Seirun. This means our students can inherit Lord Seirun's power."

Rhagen smiled faintly.

"This is an opportunity. Elven heroes can truly be called the most superior heroes…"

"Lord Rhagen. Heroes are never superior beings."

Tion stated flatly.

"Heroes are beings who advance with those around them. They are just a little special."

"…I have always thought that Lord Tion's view of heroes did not align with mine. Discussing that part would only lead to hurt feelings."

Rhagen replied curtly, his smile unwavering.

"What's important now is the fact that the Comet Mage's Hero Record has returned to our Seirun."

Tion nodded.

"Then, the key that can open Lord Seirun's hero world…"

"Before that, Lord Rhagen. Do you know why Lord Seirun's Hero Records are almost non-existent?"

"…I only know that they were lost during the process of distributing the Hero Records 3,000 years ago."

"Since then, we have successfully recovered numerous Hero Records of Lord Seirun. And not just Lord Seirun's Hero Records. The Hero Records of other Heroes of Creation are also the same."

Rhagen's eyes widened.

This was a fact even he didn't know.

"Then why are there none left? Did those greedy dragons retrieve them?"

Seeing Rhagen expressing his anger, Tion said.

"This is Lord Seirun's last letter left for the school."

Tion took out an old envelope from his pocket.

"Ohh… A letter left by Lord Seirun at the very end…!"

Rhagen's face was tinged with emotion.

Afterward, Rhagen respectfully received the envelope and, with a trembling heart, checked the letter.

And his eyes widened at the written content.

[To the elves of future generations. Upon discovering my Hero Record, please destroy it without leaving a trace. Seirun.]

"This… What in the world…"

"According to this will, all Hero Records of the Heroes of Creation, including Lord Seirun, were destroyed immediately upon discovery. That is why there are no Hero Records of the Heroes of Creation left."