Book 1 Chapter 342
342
Seirun's first-year lower-grade class.
They all agreed without hesitation to learn [Introduction to Star Magic].
Normally, no one would have attempted to take this dangerous class, which is treated as a banned book by the school and could lead to the worst outcome of expulsion.
However, the lower-grade students' desperate desire for academic improvement was so strong that they wanted to improve their skills even if it meant resorting to such dangerous methods.
Leo was also a little surprised, as he hadn't expected everyone to agree to learn [Introduction to Star Magic] despite the risks.
'Indeed. Seirun used negative methods to climb higher even in normal circumstances.'
Leo sighed softly, recalling the school trip around this time last year.
Rauta Algara.
Last year, Seirun's second-year upper-grade class 2.
He was originally from a lower-grade class but had rapidly improved his skills and entered an upper-grade class.
However, the source of his improved skills was the power of the Demon God's instrument given by the Necromancer King, and he was ultimately subdued by Lunia.
It was an incident where the longing to be a hero twisted into a perverse desire.
Leo heard that there was an internal investigation at Seirun afterward, but he had no way of knowing the detailed internal circumstances.
What was important was that students were led astray by their greed for grades.
This was not a problem unique to Seirun.
Whether it was Lumerne, Azonia, or Demian.
It was a situation that could easily occur in any hero academy.
'Especially since Hell Kaiser is someone who exploits such weaknesses well.'
Leo clicked his tongue, thinking of the legion commander who was still going strong after thousands of years.
Fomenting internal corruption was the Necromancer King's specialty.
'It might be his doing that the racial supremacists' influence in Seirun has grown this time.'
Leo narrowed his eyes, recalling the Necromancer King.
'Anyway, the start is smooth.'
Laura read the [Introductory Book of Star Magic] that Leo had given her and couldn't help but admire it.
Laura's words that this book should be actively learned even at Seirun were sincere.
'Luna would have been the happiest person to read this thesis.'
Luna wanted the Star Magic she created to be passed down through generations for a long time.
'Isn't that obvious? For people to continuously learn and master my magic means that I will continue to be remembered. Hmph, it means people will praise this Luna-nim for a lifetime.'
Leo gave a bitter smile, recalling Luna, who painstakingly reinterpreted her magical formulas so that people could learn them.
'Back then, I just thought she was a self-conscious girl… but looking back now, she must have not doubted for a moment that we would save the world.'
Luna was diligently preparing what she would leave for future generations.
'Now, she has become a true great hero who cannot be forgotten even if one tried.'
But Luna was short on time, and reinterpreting the formulas so that many could learn Star Magic was postponed to later generations.
Then, 2000 years later, Seirun accomplished it, and another 3000 years later, Len and Anna did it.
'Professor Len and Associate Professor Anna's thesis was simply created by pursuing possibilities.'
From Leo's perspective, it was seeing his friend's wish come true.
And as a result of the classes based on the thesis, the lower-grade students were astonished.
The students, who were initially hesitant, quickly recognized the value of the thesis.
'After all, just being admitted to Seirun means you have extraordinary talent.'
According to Seirun's standards, their Star Magic achievement was merely low.
Possibility exists for everyone.
Especially for first-year students, judging them solely by their early semester results is absurd.
'Those Elf supremacists mistakenly believe that the success or failure of Star Magic is a matter of talent… but Star Magic isn't about talent. It's just a difference in whether it matches your magical aptitude or not.'
It was a misconception born from treating Star Magic as overly special.
'As expected, there were students who distinguished themselves from the first day of class.'
The most prominent example was Angre.
An aspiring magic knight excellent in spearmanship and Aura skills.
Additionally, his general magic skills were also outstanding.
'Well, since his main focus is spearmanship, it's not as good as his Aura skills.'
Nevertheless, Angre showed dramatic changes in just one day.
He himself reacted as if surprised by his own achievements.
'If the lower-grade kids show their skills in the midterms, they'll naturally investigate what happened in the lower-grade class.'
Then, they will naturally learn about [Introduction to Star Magic], which was designated as a banned book.
'There will be repercussions in Seirun's identity. Well, the racial supremacists' influence is strong, so they might all be expelled.'
Leo made a nonchalant expression.
'If that happens, I'll just have Mel transfer them to Lumerne.'
It was originally a near-impossible task, but it was possible for Leo.
'Mel wouldn't complain if I told her to do it.'
She would probably arrange the transfer by any means necessary.
Mel even had a record of tearing out Dwenno's entire treasury from Demian.
'She's quite a delinquent herself, isn't she?'
It was when Leo chuckled.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
There was a knocking sound from the window.
Leo, with a puzzled expression, got up from his seat and opened the window curtain.
And he burst into a wry laugh, seeing three girls crouching in front of the window.
"Hey! Open the door! We're freezing to death!"
Lunia, arms crossed, shivered and said.
"Lord Leo, please open the door. It's too cold."
Eiran said pitifully, and Leah, seeing Leo's attire, exclaimed, 'Pajamas!' and looked pleased.
As Leo opened the door, the three girls rushed in! into Leo's room.
"Achoo! It's cold!"
Lunia brushed off the snow accumulated on her body.
Eiran shivered.
Leah raised her hand decisively and said clearly.
"Senior Flov! I have completed the assignment you gave me!"
"Oh? So, what's your conclusion?"
"Seirun is a failed, crappy school! I think I should seriously consider transferring to Lumerne!"
"…"
Leo narrowed his eyes, looking at Lunia and Eiran.
"What did you teach this kid? Don't you have any affection for your school?"
"We were just being honest about Seirun, weren't we? 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 the school founded by Seirun-nim like that!"
"Hmph?!"
Lunia glared and put Leah in a headlock.
Leah urgently hit Lunia's arm wrapped around her neck and shouted.
"S-Surrender. Surrender!"
Leo, watching the affectionate physical conversation between the first-year top student and the second-year top student, gestured with his chin.
"First, warm yourselves up."
Seeing Leo point to the bed, Lunia and Eiran were flustered.
"Huh? L-Lord Leo's bed?"
"Yes. Aren't you cold?"
"Senior Flov's bed!"
Leah plunged into Leo's bed without hesitation.
Eiran hesitated, then her face flushed, and she crawled under the covers, muttering softly, 'Lord Leo's scent.'
"I'm fine."
"Why?"
"My father told me not to lie on a strange man's bed carelessly."
"That doesn't sound like something the least reserved of the three would say."
"What did you say?"
"And around this time last year, we were hugging in the same bed…"
"You want to die?! It was unavoidable! I told you I'd kill you if you told that story in front of anyone else!"
Lunia, with a flushed face, grabbed Leo by the collar and shouted.
Of course, Leo didn't even flinch.
"Senior Eiran."
"Yes, Leah."
"Is Senior Lunia normally so violent?"
"Yes."
"You brats, really!"
Squeeze-!
"S-Surrender! Surrender!"
"Miss Lunia, you're suffocating me."
She leaped onto the bed, wrapped her arms around Leah's and Eiran's necks, and squeezed.
Leah struggled as if in pain, but Eiran, whose physical strength was overwhelmingly superior to Lunia's, remained calm.
"Hah! Hah!"
"Pant- pant-"
After another commotion, Lunia and Leah lay sprawled on the bed, panting heavily.
And seeing Eiran quietly wrapped in the blanket, Leo murmured to himself.
'It certainly won't be boring watching them.'
"Leah."
"Yes, Senior Flov."
"You don't seem to have much affection for this school, do you?"
Leah smiled faintly at Leo's question.
"It's not that I have no affection. I sincerely respect my ancestor. But I've just wanted to enroll in Lumerne since last year."
"Wanting to enroll in Lumerne. That's quite unusual."
"Indeed."
Although Lunia and Eiran told Leah that Seirun was a failed, crappy school, they had deep affection for Seirun.
"Whether I'm in Seirun or Lumerne, I'm still me, aren't I? I'm confident I can be the best anywhere. So, wouldn't it be better to be a junior of someone I personally respect? Believe in yourself. Just as my ancestor said, I should trust the path I'm on."
Smiling faintly, Leah revealed her firm conviction.
Leo nodded at that.
"By the way, why did you secretly come to see me tonight?"
Leo asked, looking at Lunia.
"You're up to something at Seirun, aren't you?"
When Lunia asked with her arms crossed, Leo nodded.
"Yes."
"What are you planning to do?"
"I'm planning to significantly raise the lower-grade students' scores in the midterms."
"What?"
"So I'm planning to announce that Seirun's current method is wrong."
Lunia pondered Leo's words.
After thinking for a while, twitching her ears a few times, Lunia finally nodded.
"Certainly, if the lower-grade juniors' scores improve significantly, the Pureblood Society's influence will decrease. But do you have a method?"
"Introduction to Star Magic."
"Ah."
Lunia exclaimed.
Eiran also clapped her hands.
"There was an Introduction to Star Magic written by a Lumerne professor!"
Lunia and Eiran had also seen the thesis when they learned magic from Leo during their last exclusive smith contract.
It wouldn't have an effect on skill improvement for students like Lunia and Eiran, who already possessed overwhelming Star Magic abilities, but it would clearly have a definite effect on lower-grade students.
"Alright, we'll help too. We just need to teach the lower-grade kids, right?"
Lunia smiled faintly with her arms crossed.
Seirun would have no justification to stop them from helping their juniors.
"No, if you help, the effect will be halved."
"What?"
"The improvement in the lower-grade students' performance is only valuable if it's achieved solely by their own strength."
Leo smiled faintly, looking at Lunia.
"Even if you're a delinquent, you're Seirun's top student academically, aren't you?"
"Well, yes, but… it's subtly annoying to be called a delinquent, isn't it? I would've been an honor student at any other school."
As Lunia narrowed her eyes, Leo stated flatly.
"Even at another school, you'd probably be a smart thug."
Lunia, feeling a surge of anger, threw a punch at Leo, but there was no way it would hit.
Leo dodged the punch annoyingly and said.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but for now, just watch our juniors exert themselves."
"Can't be helped."
Lunia sighed softly and smiled faintly.
Eiran also clasped her hands tightly, cheering for Leo.
"I guess we should go now."
Lunia checked the clock and was about to open the window and leave.
But Eiran and Leah seemed to want to stay longer, ignoring Lunia.
It was when Lunia grabbed the scruff of her friend's and junior's necks and was about to leave the room.
"Leah. You stay for a moment."
"Yes!"
"What are you going to do with her?"
Lunia asked with a slightly flustered face, and Leo answered as if it were nothing.
"I have something to do for a moment."
"Alright."
Lunia nodded and slipped out the window.
Eiran, who came out with her, covered her cheeks with a flushed face.
"L-Late at night… in a small dorm room, a senior and a junior, just the two of them… Ahh…!"
"Eiran, you're severe at that point. Leo is subtly like an old man, so he's not interested in kids."
"If he's an old man, that means he's an adult, so isn't it more dangerous?"
"…"
Lunia paused, looking at Eiran, who was making a strangely accurate point.
Then she looked at Leo's door for a moment and said.
"I'll correct that. He's subtly like a grandfather."
*
Leah looked at Leo with subtly nervous eyes.
'Late at night, a dorm room. A man and a woman who shouldn't be together.'
She didn't really think any problems would arise, but it was still an odd situation not to be nervous.
Meanwhile, Leo took something out from his pocket and squatted on the floor.
And he asked.
"Why do you like Kyle?"
Leah said, looking at Leo who asked in a light tone.
"The Tingel family has one of Seirun-nim's handwritten journals passed down."
"Seirun's journal?"
"Yes. Only direct descendants of Tingel can see it… It's Seirun-nim's journal, forbidden to be revealed to the people of the world. Seirun-nim left instructions not to disclose it."
"Is it okay to tell me such a thing?"
"I don't think Senior Flov would tell anyone else. And people probably wouldn't believe the contents of the journal anyway."
Leah smiled.
'…Is it a story related to Erebus?'
Leo's face slightly hardened.
Leo, who knew well the final actions of the Heroes of Genesis, became curious about the content related to Erebus.
"What's it about?"
"A love story."
"…"
Suddenly, Leo's face changed strangely.
"Love?"
"Yes."
Leah's eyes sparkled as she spoke excitedly.
"A tragic and heartbreaking love story between the Hero of Beginnings and the Progenitor of the Nebula! It's an accurate record written by Seirun-nim herself, based on her direct conquest of the hero's world."
"Did Luna like Kyle or something?"
"No! It's that Lord Kyle passionately loved Lord Luna!"
Leo felt his mind going roughly blank.
And something flashed through his mind.
Among Lumerne's female classmates, there were also students who enjoyed writing.
A kind of novel, concocting stories of their favorite heroes from their imagination.
An ordinary person wouldn't dare imagine that someone like a Hero of Genesis would write such a thing.
But Leo was someone who had witnessed all sorts of disgraceful and unsightly behaviors of the great heroes firsthand.
It was easy for him to imagine Seirun enjoying it alone and writing such things.
'What is this damn elf going on about? That I liked Luna? Luna liked me, you know?'
It was when Leo gnashed his teeth at Seirun, who had left such a slanderous rumor to his descendants.
"It seems she didn't complete the journal… but on the last page, she wrote that Lord Kyle was an idiot clumsy in love. It's the only strong expression in the journal, so Seirun-nim must have been frustrated with Lord Kyle."
"…"
Leo's face twisted at the scathing assessment from a junior he had never even met.
"It's hard for anyone to believe, isn't it?"
Leo stood up, giving a wry smile as he looked at the brightly smiling Leah.
"By the way, why did you ask me to stay?"
Leo said, looking at Leah who asked with a slightly nervous face.
"You said you failed summoning the Fairy King Silohd just by hearing his voice, right?"
"Yes."
Leo grinned at Leah's answer.
"Why don't we try summoning one more time?"
What Leo drew on the floor was none other than the summoning circle necessary for a summoning ritual.