Book 1 Chapter 342
342
Seirun's first-year lower division.
They all agreed without hesitation to study [Introduction to Star Magic].
Normally, no one would have wanted to take this dangerous class, which is considered a banned book by the school and could result in the worst possible outcome of expulsion.
However, the lower division students' longing for academic improvement was so desperate that they were willing to take such dangerous measures to hone their skills.
Leo was a little surprised, as he hadn't expected everyone to agree to study [Introduction to Star Magic] at the risk of danger.
'Well. Seirun used negative methods to move up even when they were in a normal state.'
Leo sighed softly as he recalled the school trip around this time last year.
Lauta Algra.
Last year, Seirun's second-year, upper-grade, second class.
He was originally from the lower division but his skills improved rapidly, allowing him to enter the upper division.
However, the source of his improved skills was the power of a demon weapon given by the Necromancer King, and he was eventually defeated by Lunia.
It was an incident where the desire to be a hero turned into a twisted desire.
Leo heard that there was an internal investigation at Seirun afterward, but he had no way of knowing the detailed internal circumstances.
The important thing is that students stray from the right path due to greed for grades.
This is not a problem unique to Seirun.
Whether it's Lumern, Azonia, or Demian.
It can easily happen at any hero academy.
'Especially Hel Kaiser, he's good at exploiting those aspects.'
Leo clicked his tongue as he thought of the legion commander who was still alive after thousands of years.
Fomenting decay from within was the Necromancer King's specialty.
'It's possible that the increased influence of the racialists in Seirun this time is also his doing.'
Leo narrowed his eyes as he thought of the Necromancer King.
'In any case, the start is going smoothly.'
Laura did not spare her admiration for [Introduction to Star Magic] that Leo had given her.
Laura's words that this book should be actively taught at Seirun were sincere.
'The person who would be happier than anyone else after reading this paper would have been Luna.'
Luna wanted the star magic she had created to be passed down to future generations.
'Isn't that obvious? The fact that my magic continues to be learned and practiced means that I will continue to be remembered. Hmph, it means that people will praise this Luna forever.'
Leo smiled bitterly as he recalled Luna painstakingly reinterpreting her magic formations so that people could learn them.
'At the time, I thought she was just a conceited person… but now that I think about it, she had no doubt that we would save the world.'
Luna was steadily preparing what she would leave behind for future generations.
'Now she has become a true great hero who cannot be forgotten.'
However, Luna didn't have enough time, and the reinterpretation of the magic formations so that many people could learn star magic was postponed to future generations.
Later, after 2000 years, Seirun accomplished it, and after another 3000 years, Ren and Anna accomplished it.
'Professor Ren and Associate Professor Anna's paper was merely pursuing possibilities.'
From Leo's perspective, it was a moment when his friend's wish came true.
And as a result of teaching based on the paper, the lower division students were amazed.
The students, who were initially hesitant, quickly recognized the value of the paper.
'After all, being admitted to Seirun means having extraordinary talent.'
In Seirun's standards, it's just that their mastery of star magic is low, but
Everyone has potential.
Especially for first-years, it's nonsensical to judge them based solely on their performance at the beginning of the semester.
'Those elf racialists mistake the mastery of star magic as a matter of talent… but star magic is not a matter of talent. It's just a matter of whether it matches one's magic affinity.'
It was a mistake born from treating star magic as something too special.
'As expected, there were students who showed their brilliance from the first day of class.'
The most representative was Angre.
He was a promising magic knight, excelling in spear techniques and aura skills.
In addition, his general magic skills were also outstanding.
'Well, since his main focus is spear techniques, it's not as good as his aura skills.'
In any case, Angre showed a dramatic change in just one day.
He himself seemed surprised by his achievement.
'If the lower division students show their skills in the midterm exams, they will naturally investigate what happened in the lower division.'
Then, they will naturally learn about [Introduction to Star Magic], which was designated as a banned book.
'It will cause a stir in Seirun's identity. Well, if the racialists have too much influence, they might all be expelled.'
Leo wore a bored expression.
'If that happens, I can have Mel transfer them to Lumern.'
It was something that was nearly impossible, but Leo could do it.
'Mel wouldn't dare to complain if I told her to do it.'
She would probably transfer them by any means necessary.
Mel had even ripped off the treasure vault of Dweino in Demian.
'She's also a bit of a delinquent, isn't she?'
It was when Leo chuckled.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
There was a knocking sound on the window.
Leo, with a puzzled expression, got up and opened the window curtain.
And he burst into laughter as he saw three girls crouching in front of the window.
"Hey! Open the door! I'm freezing to death!"
Lunia, with her arms crossed, shivered and said.
"Leo-nim, please open the door. It's too cold."
Eiran said pitifully, and Lea, seeing Leo's attire, said, "Pajamas!" and was delighted.
When Leo opened the door, the three girls rushed in-! into Leo's room.
"Oof! It's cold!"
Lunia shook off the snow that had piled up on her body.
Eiran shivered.
Rea raised her hand and said clearly.
"Senior Flov! I have completed the homework you gave me!"
"Oh really? And what was your conclusion?"
"Seirun is a ruined dump school! I think we should seriously consider transferring to Lumern!"
"……"
Leo narrowed his eyes as he looked at Lunia and Eiran.
"What did you teach this kid? Don't you have any loyalty to the school?"
"We're just telling the truth about Seirun? She interpreted it on her own and came to that conclusion! Hey! And you're a direct descendant of the Tingel family! How can you evaluate a school founded by Seirun like that!"
"Hoo?!"
Lunia glared at Lea and put her arm around her neck in a headlock.
Lea hurriedly pushed Lunia's arm wrapped around her neck and shouted.
"I, I surrender. I surrender!"
Leo, watching the affectionate physical interaction between the top students of the first and second years, gestured with his chin.
"At least warm yourselves up."
Lunia and Eiran looked at the bed Leo pointed to and were taken aback.
"What? On, on Leo-nim's bed?"
"Yes. Aren't you cold?"
"Senior Flov's bed!"
Lea dived into Leo's bed without hesitation.
Eiran hesitated but then blushed and crawled under the covers, muttering, "Leo-nim's scent."
"I'm fine."
"Why?"
"My father told me not to lie in a man's bed without permission."
"That's not something you would say, considering you're the most unrestrained among the three."
"What did you say?"
"And we were lying in the same bed, all cuddled up around this time last year…"
"Are you trying to die?! It was unavoidable! I told you I'd kill you if you told anyone about that story!"
Lunia, her face red, grabbed Leo by the collar and shouted.
Of course, Leo didn't bat an eye.
"Senior Eiran."
"Yes, Lea-yang."
"Is Senior Lunia always this violent?"
"Yes."
"You two are really…!"
*CRACKLE-*
"Hah, I surrender! I surrender!"
"Lunia-yang, you're suffocating me."
She ran onto the bed and wrapped her arms around Lea and Eiran's necks, choking them.
Lea struggled as if in pain, but Eiran, who was physically much stronger than Lunia, was unfazed.
"Huff! Huff!"
"Pant- Pant-"
After another commotion, Lunia and Lea collapsed on the bed, panting heavily.
And seeing Eiran neatly rolled up in a blanket, Leo muttered to himself.
'It won't be boring watching them.'
"Lea."
"Yes, Senior Flov."
"You don't seem to have much affection for this school, do you?"
At Leo's question, Lea smiled.
"It's not that I don't have affection. I truly respect my ancestor. It's just that I've wanted to enroll in Lumern since last year."
"You want to enroll in Lumern. That's quite unusual."
"It is."
Although Lunia and Eiran told Lea that Seirun was a ruined dump school, they had deep affection for Seirun.
"Whether I'm at Seirun or Lumern, I'm still me, right? I'm confident I can be the best anywhere. So wouldn't it be better to become a junior of someone I personally respect? Believe in yourself. As my ancestor said, I just need to believe in the path I'm taking."
Smiling, Lea revealed her firm conviction.
Leo nodded at that.
"By the way, why did you come to find me in the middle of the night?"
Leo asked, looking at Lunia.
"You're up to something at Seirun, aren't you?"
Lunia asked, with her arms crossed, and Leo nodded.
"Yes."
"What are you planning to do?"
"I plan to significantly improve the grades of the lower division students in the midterm exams."
"What?"
"And then I intend to show that Seirun's methods are wrong."
At Leo's words, Lunia pondered.
She twitched her ears a few times, thinking, and then nodded.
"Certainly, if the lower division students' grades improve significantly, the influence of the Pure Blood Association will decrease. But do you have a way?"
"Introduction to Star Magic."
"Ah."
Lunia exclaimed.
Eiran also clapped her hands.
"So there was the Introduction to Star Magic written by a Lumern professor!"
Lunia and Eiran had also seen the paper when they were learning magic from Leo during their previous exclusive smith contract.
While it wouldn't have a skill-enhancing effect on students like Lunia and Eiran, who already possessed overwhelming star magic abilities, it would undoubtedly have a definite effect on the lower division students.
"Okay, we'll help too. We just need to teach the lower division students, right?"
Lunia smiled with her arms crossed.
There would be no justification for Seirun to stop them from helping their juniors.
"No, if you help, the effect will be halved."
"What?"
"The improvement in the lower division's grades has value only if it's achieved solely through the strength of the lower division students."
Leo smiled at Lunia.
"Even though you're a delinquent student, you're the top student in Seirun in terms of grades, aren't you?"
"Well, yes… but calling me a delinquent student makes me feel a bit bad? I'd be an honor student at another school."
Lunia squinted her eyes, and Leo cut her off.
"Even at another school, you'd still be a well-studied gangster."
Lunia, feeling provoked, threw a punch at Leo, but it was impossible to hit.
Leo, who artfully dodged the punch, said.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but for now, please just watch the juniors put in their effort."
"I guess I have no choice."
Lunia sighed softly and smiled.
Eiran also clasped her hands and cheered for Leo.
"I should get going now."
Lunia checked her watch and opened the window to leave.
However, Eiran and Lea seemed to want to stay longer and ignored Lunia.
Lunia was about to leave the room, grabbing her friends and juniors by the back of their necks.
"Lea. You stay for a moment."
"Yes!"
"What are you going to do with her?"
Lunia asked with a slightly flustered expression, and Leo replied as if it were nothing.
"I have something to do for a moment."
"Got it."
Lunia nodded and slipped out the window.
Eiran, who came out with her, covered her flushed cheeks.
"Late at night… a senior and junior alone in a small dormitory room… How…"
"Eiran, if you're like that, you're seriously ill. Leo is a surprisingly old-fashioned guy, so he's not interested in kids."
"Isn't being old-fashioned a sign of being an adult, which is even more dangerous?"
"……"
Seeing Eiran say something that was strangely accurate, Lunia paused.
Then, she looked at Leo's door for a moment and said.
"Correction. He's a surprisingly grandfather-like guy."
*
Lea looked at Leo with strangely nervous eyes.
'Late at night, dormitory room. A man and a woman who shouldn't be together.'
She didn't necessarily think anything would go wrong, but it was still a situation where it was strange not to be nervous.
In the meantime, Leo took something out of his pocket and crouched on the floor.
And he asked.
"Why do you like Kyle?"
Seeing Leo ask in a casual tone, Lea said.
"In the Tingel family, a manuscript of Seirun is passed down."
"Seirun's manuscript?"
"Yes. Only direct descendants of Tingel can see it… It's a manuscript of Seirun that is forbidden to be revealed to the world. Seirun left a message not to reveal it."
"Is it okay to tell me something like that?"
"I figured you, Senior Flov, wouldn't tell anyone where. And people probably wouldn't believe the contents of the manuscript anyway."
Lea laughed.
'…Is it related to Erebo?'
Leo's face slightly stiffened.
Leo, who knew well the final actions of the heroes of the genesis, became curious about the content related to Erebo.
"What is the content?"
"It's a love story."
"……"
For a moment, Leo's face changed strangely.
"Love?"
"Yes."
Lea said excitedly, her eyes sparkling.
"It's a tragic and heart-wrenching love story between the Hero of the Beginning and the Founder of the Constellation! It's accurate because it's a record written by Seirun himself as the basis for conquering the world of heroes."
"Did Luna like Kyle?"
"No! Kyle loved Luna passionately!"
Leo felt his consciousness becoming distant.
And something flashed through his mind.
There are students among Leo's female classmates at Lumern who like to write.
It's a kind of novel where they imagine stories about the heroes they like.
Normally, no one would dare to imagine that a hero of the genesis would write something like that, but
From Leo's perspective, he was someone who had witnessed all sorts of ridiculous and unsightly behavior from the great heroes right in front of his eyes.
It was natural to imagine that Seirun wrote such a thing out of her own liking.
'What the hell is wrong with this damned elf? That I liked Luna? Luna liked me?'
Leo gnashed his teeth at Seirun, who left behind such a rumor for her descendants.
"It seems you couldn't complete the manuscript… but on the last page, it says Kyle is an idiot who is bad at love. It's the only harsh expression in the manuscript, so Seirun must have found Kyle frustrating."
"……"
Leo's face contorted at the scathing evaluation of his distant junior, whom he had never met.
"No one would believe it, right?"
Leo smiled wryly as he looked at Lea, who was smiling brightly.
"By the way, why did you ask me to stay?"
Leo said, looking at Lea, who asked with a slightly nervous expression.
"You said you failed to summon the voice of the Fairy King Silod?"
"Yes."
At Lea's answer, Leo grinned.
"Would you like to try summoning again?"
What Leo drew on the floor was none other than the summoning circle required for the summoning ritual.