Book 1 Chapter 341

341

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

A clear voice echoed.

The speech, given by the first-year representative, ended, and applause erupted.

The young girl who stepped down from the podium bowed gracefully and then walked away with her back straight.

Watching her, Runia muttered.

"She's the real deal."

At Runia's murmur, Airan, who was with her, widened her eyes and tilted her head.

"What do you mean?"

"Literally."

Runia rested her chin on her hand.

"It means she's a true outstanding student that Seirun desires."

Currently, Runia and Airan are in the Hall of Comets.

It is a place in the center of Seirun where Seirun's Hero Records are kept.

In addition to Hero Records, countless other things left by the Comet Mage are also slumbering here.

It is, quite literally, the history of Seirun itself.

And this is also where the student representative meetings are held.

A gathering where representatives from each year are summoned, centered around the student council president.

It is, literally, a place where Seirun's top students gather to discuss academics.

And this meeting concluded with the speech of Rea, the first-year valedictorian.

"Miss Runia, you're an outstanding student too, aren't you?"

"No, I'm a delinquent student."

Runia chuckled.

"Runia, Airan. Focus on the meeting."

At that moment, a male student, ranked third in the second year, pointed them out.

"We are fully focused."

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

As the male student, Teveson, spoke firmly, Airan gave an awkward smile.

"Teveson. The year representative meeting isn't such a stiff occasion. It's a place to build friendships between seniors and juniors, so you don't need to be so tense."

It was as Airan said.

Although there was the grand reason of discussing academics, that was merely the superficial reason.

In reality, it was a social gathering.

It wasn't a place that maintained excessive formality.

However, despite Airan's words, Teveson remained stiff.

'He's really desperate to be the year representative. Well, it's not like he got it through skill.'

Among the second-year advanced class 1, there are many students as skilled as Teveson in terms of grades.

In fact, since becoming second-years, the year representatives of Runia's cohort have been replaced countless times.

Runia and Airan's rankings have remained unchanged.

Only third place.

Luca's position has continued to change.

Their skills are mostly equal.

As a result, it naturally happened that students who pleased the teachers took the position of year representative.

After Rea's presentation, it was time for the social gathering.

Teveson approached the year representatives of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years and actively introduced himself as the second-year representative.

The representatives of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years showed indifferent reactions to Teveson.

Unlike Teveson, who was trying to build friendships, the senior year representatives seemed unwilling to engage in deep conversation with him.

The reason for their reaction was simple.

'He lacks the qualifications. Seeing him like that, our seniors are quite eccentric for elves.'

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

People who reach the level of year representatives have a quirky side to them.

Even Rienia, the graduate from last year and former student council president, was a pervert with slightly sadistic tendencies.

'Looking at our first-years, I want to tease them all the time! Come here and be embraced by this big sister!'

Remembering Rienia, who had rushed over and hugged her, Runia let out a hollow laugh.

'And Senior Hardin.'

Runia looked at Hardin, the fourth-year valedictorian and current student council president.

Originally, Runia didn't particularly like Hardin.

As a typical Seirun outstanding student, he had pointed out Runia's mistakes on every occasion.

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

After conquering Luna's world together, she learned his true feelings and they became friends.

He believed that Runia was the elf most suited to be the next student council president, and had said that he would hand over the student council presidency to Runia when she became a fifth-year next year.

'Senior Marben is absent again this time.'

Runia clicked her tongue at the absence of Marben, the fifth-year valedictorian.

Marben was one of the students who openly expressed dissatisfaction with the current system of Seirun.

Being the fifth-year valedictorian meant being the strongest student.

Rienia had also tried to hand over the student council presidency to him.

However, Marben refused.

The reason was simple.

Marben was a student who did not fit the current system that emphasized the magic of stars.

In other words, he was a student with low achievement in the magic of stars.

Even if he was the strongest in school, there were countless students whose capabilities as star mages were superior to his.

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

In particular, Marben succeeded in recovering Seirun's Hero Record during the recent hero dungeon raid.

There were very few Seirun Hero Records remaining.

He had achieved an astonishing feat, quite literally.

Even the purists who currently controlled Seirun, the Pureblood Society, were in a situation where they had to appoint him student council president, but Marben himself refused.

'The Pureblood Society claims it's Marben's consideration for future generations,'

It was unavoidable that outsiders would cast questioning glances.

In addition, most of the year representatives harbored dissatisfaction with the current system.

'The first-years are important. From the Pureblood Society's perspective, we are already tainted, but they are blank slates.'

She turned her gaze to the first-year students, who were hesitating, perhaps feeling awkward at their first year representative meeting.

As it was still early in the semester, they were easily influenced.

'Especially Rea Tingel, I believe? She'll be exclusively marked by the Pureblood Society members…'

Rea's symbolism was significant.

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

'If I show defiance, they'll overtly try to make her the symbol of Seirun, won't they? Perhaps, considering Leo, they might even talk about her being the first-year student council president.'

Runia clicked her tongue inwardly.

Meanwhile, the year representative meeting ended.

As Runia and Airan were about to return to the second-year classroom, Rea blocked their path in the hallway.

Seeing Rea looking at them with unwavering composure, Runia tilted her head.

"Do you have something to say to us?"

"Yes."

"What is it, Miss Rea?"

Airan asked with a warm smile, and Rea replied with a serious expression.

"What do you think of Seirun right now?"

Runia narrowed her eyes at the sudden question, and Airan's expression turned bewildered.

'What do I think of Seirun now? Of course, I think it's a mess.'

But in this situation.

Since Rea, who was drawing the attention of the Pureblood Society, was asking such a question, Runia couldn't help but have other thoughts.

'Is she testing me?'

Airan, thinking the same, looked back and forth between Runia and Rea, gauging the situation.

"My opinion isn't really important, is it? Let's go, Airan."

Runia ran her hand through her hair and turned around abruptly.

Grab-!

But Rea grabbed the hem of Runia's school uniform skirt.

"Please tell me! It's homework!"

"Hey, let go of this!"

Runia raised her voice at Rea, who was pulling at her school uniform skirt with a whimper, her face flushed.

"It's homework given by Senior Flov!"

"What?"

Runia and Airan froze.

Then they looked at each other's faces.

"Homework from Leo? What do you mean?"

"Senior Flov is currently in Seirun."

Rea puffed out her chest with a proud "Ahem!"

"And I am going to become Senior Flov's disciple."

Although he had only said he would teach her about magic, Rea had already mentioned becoming Leo's disciple.

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

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

Just as Runia was looking bewildered.

"Um… is Leo-nim perhaps here as an exchange student?"

At that, Rea flinched, and Runia crossed her arms and nodded.

"Ah, so that's how it is."

Runia, with narrowed eyes, smiled faintly.

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

"Why did Leo-nim go to the first year as an exchange student?"

"Given the state of our school right now, it's obvious."

At Runia's cold remark, Rea said,

"U-uh, anyway! Please tell me what you think of Seirun right now."

At Rea's words, Runia replied.

"I don't think it's doing well."

"What? Why?"

Rea looked flustered.

Seeing Rea's expression, Airan also smiled bitterly.

"It has become strange lately. Discrimination among students has become too severe."

"Right, compared to last year, Seirun is completely a cesspool school."

"Cesspool again?!"

"Miss Runia."

Airan chided her, but Runia shrugged.

"I'm just telling the truth."

"Even so, such words are a bit…"

"Then what should I say?"

"Um… um…"

Airan pondered for a moment and said cautiously,

"A ruined school?"

"In a way, you seem more extreme."

Shocked by her two seniors' words, Rea muttered with a serious expression.

"Maybe I should have enrolled in Rumen instead?"

Hearing that, Runia looked dumbfounded.

She never dreamed that such a statement would come from a direct descendant of the Tingel family.

"First, I need to meet Leo."

"Yes? But it won't be easy to meet him."

"We'll meet secretly."

Runia said with a faint smile.

"Secretly? How?"

"We'll go to Leo's room at night."

"At… at night…"

Airan's face immediately turned bright red.

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

"N-no, it's not!"

Airan retorted.

Seeing her reaction, Rea said,

"Seniors, I'll go too."

"…Why you too?"

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

Seeing Rea answer with a serious expression, Runia sighed.

'Even if I tell her not to come, she'll come.'

Sensing Rea's persistence, Runia told her the time they would meet in the early morning and then sent Rea away.

"She's an energetic junior."

Airan smiled brightly.

"This confirms it."

Runia said, crossing her arms.

"Are all Seirun year representatives strange people?"

"Huh? I'm not a strange person!"

"I know it's your hobby to read embarrassing novels. What was the title of the book you're reading this time? The Younger Man Who Holds My Leash… Ugh?"

Airan covered Runia's mouth with a pained expression.

After a commotion, as they returned to the classroom, Airan wore a worried expression.

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

"Is this the first time we're breaking school rules?"

At Runia's shrugging shoulders, Airan thought for a moment and then smiled brightly.

"That's true."

Unbeknownst to themselves, Airan was steadily being influenced into becoming a delinquent student.

***

The uppermost floor of the Hall of Comets.

It is the highest place in Seirun.

There, the Star Plaza is used only for important meetings and conferences of Seirun.

There, the acting principal of Seirun,

Rehagen, was talking with someone.

"It is a joyous occasion. Not long after the founder of Nebula was reborn on this land, Seirun's Hero Record has returned."

Rehagen said with an emotional voice.

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

"Rehagen-nim. That Hero Record… is it truly Seirun's?"

"Yes, Tion-nim."

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

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

Therefore, it is certain that they possess a family heirloom that could open Seirun's Hero Record.

"Yes. There are almost no Seirun Hero Records left. The remaining Hero Records are also kept in Dragonia. However, finally, Seirun's Hero Record has officially returned to Seirun. This means our students will be able to inherit Seirun's power."

Rehagen smiled faintly.

"This is an opportunity. Elf heroes are called the most superior heroes…"

"Rehagen-nim. Heroes are never superior beings."

Tion said cuttingly.

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

"…I've always thought that Tion-nim's view of heroes didn't align with mine. If we discuss that, we'll only end up hurting each other's feelings."

Rehagen replied cuttingly, maintaining his smile.

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

Tion nodded.

"Then, the key to opening Seirun-nim's Heroic World…"

"Before that, Rehagen-nim, do you know why there are almost no Seirun-nim's Hero Records left?"

"…I only know that they were lost during the process of dividing Hero Records 3000 years ago."

"Since then, we have succeeded in recovering numerous Seirun Hero Records. Not only Seirun Hero Records, but also Hero Records of other Primordial Heroes."

Rehagen's eyes widened.

This was something even he did not know.

"Then why are they not remaining? Did those greedy dragons snatch them away?"

Seeing Rehagen express his anger, Tion said,

"This is the last letter left by Seirun-nim to the school."

Tion took out an old envelope from his pocket.

"Oh… the last letter left by Seirun-nim!"

Rehagen's face was filled with emotion.

Rehagen, who then received the envelope with a respectful attitude, checked the letter with trembling hands.

And his eyes widened at the written content.

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

"This… what on earth…"

"In accordance with this will, all Hero Records of Seirun-nim and other Primordial Heroes were destroyed immediately upon discovery. That is why there are no remaining Hero Records of the Primordial Heroes."