Book 1 Chapter 350

350

The highest place in Seirun.

In Star Square, where the entire view of Seirun could be seen at a glance, elves were talking in worried voices.

"How exactly are you going to take responsibility for this?"

Revet, who was in charge of overseeing the second-year students, directed a cold gaze at the teachers in charge of the first-year advanced class.

Geras, the homeroom teacher of Advanced Class 1, who stood at the forefront, bowed his head, his face pale.

"The entire advanced class lost to the lower class! How on earth did you teach the students to get such a result?!"

At Revet's furious shout, Geras said with difficulty.

"I, I started teaching the students of Advanced Class 1 midway through…"

"Is that what you call an excuse now! Weren't you in charge of Advanced Class 2 until then!"

Geras turned pale, looking at Revet, whose veins were bulging in his neck.

"Especially now, when there are so many foolish people who don't understand our grand intentions and are suspicious! To show such a disgrace!"

"Professor Revet, please calm down first."

Orlen adjusted his glasses.

"It is certainly true that we must ascertain who is responsible for this incident. Our Pureblood Council's prestige has been damaged. But before that."

Orlen looked at the teachers in charge of the first-year students with cold eyes and said.

"Investigating what happened in the lower class is the top priority."

Everyone's gaze turned to Orlen.

"Isn't it strange? Students from the lower class, who had no talent for Star Magic, suddenly acquired such skills. There must clearly be an illicit method involved. Because Leo Flobe from Lumern was in the first-year lower class."

Hearing that, Revet stroked his chin.

"Indeed, that cunning fellow might have used some cowardly trick. But we cannot easily interrogate him, Professor Orlen. He is, after all, the student council president of Lumern."

Orlen curled the corner of his mouth, looking at Revet, who wore a displeased expression.

"We cannot interrogate Leo Flobe. But we can certainly interrogate Professor Laura, who was in charge of the lower class."

"We'll have to prepare for Professor Laura's hearing."

It was then that Orlen smiled subtly at Revet's cold voice.

Thump- thump-

In Star Square, the acting principal, Rihagen, appeared.

The teachers who were sitting rose to their feet.

"Lord Rihagen. We were in the middle of a meeting to discuss future countermeasures regarding this incident. The agenda items were…"

"The report has been received, so everyone may withdraw."

"Yes?"

At Rihagen's sudden words, the teachers looked bewildered.

"Did you not hear me?"

But soon, despite their confusion at the cold voice, everyone left Star Square.

Left alone in Star Square, Rihagen let out a deep sigh.

Then he turned his head, gazed into the air, and said.

"Would you care to explain what happened?"

With those words, a dark crimson light flickered in the air.

The ominous light soon formed a rectangle, then took the shape of a man.

[I'm not sure what you mean, my dear Rihagen.]

"Don't play innocent. Do you think I don't know your cunning schemes?"

Rihagen shouted at the man beyond the magic, Hell Kaiser, with angry eyes.

"Wasn't this your plan to once again bring darkness to Seirun!"

[You are mistaken.]

Hell Kaiser burst out laughing.

[It is true that I lent you magic to make the young sprouts of Seirun, which you cherish, stand out, Rihagen. But my power, when it deviates from my will, sometimes loses control. The summoning of the Skeleton King was merely such a case, not my will.]

"I can't believe you."

[Believing or not is your freedom, Rihagen. But surely, a mere Skeleton King couldn't possibly affect Seirun, could it?]

"That's true."

Rihagen said, not letting go of his displeasure.

Looking at Rihagen, Hell Kaiser, who had been smiling, lost his expression.

[Before that, I'd like to discuss our deal.]

"Ahem."

At Hell Kaiser's words, Rihagen cleared his throat.

[Rihagen. I clearly passed on to you the clue to summon the Fairy King.]

Hell Kaiser's eyes narrowed.

[The Comet Mage, though unknown to the public, was the Fairy King's convenant, and I also told you that the key to achieving the elves' long-cherished wish, the covenant with the Fairy King, lies in the Comet Mage's legacy, Cometes, and his bloodline.]

"So Lea Tingel didn't summon the Fairy King!"

[That cannot be called a summoning, my dear Rihagen.]

"Ha! It's not my fault she couldn't summon him despite my support! What do you expect me to do about the summoner's lack of qualifications!"

Hell Kaiser said, watching Rihagen display his anger.

[I have infinite time, Rihagen. It is you who lacks time.]

Hell Kaiser curled the corner of his mouth.

"Tsk."

[The Fairy King, who, 5000 years ago, together with the progenitor of the Nebula, subjugated Erebus, would surely know the whereabouts of the Erebus fragment. Find the whereabouts of that fragment and subjugate it. In return, I will hand over to you the Comet Mage's remains that I possess. Do not forget this deal.]

Rihagen glared at Hell Kaiser.

"It must be true that you possess the remains of Seirun-nim, correct?"

[Yes. For it was I who collected the bodies of the heroes of creation who lost their lives in the battle with Erebus. With your necromancy, it might even be possible to bring Seirun into the present world.]

"If Seirun-nim's remains are even slightly damaged, I will not let you off lightly, Necromancer King."

[You have no need to worry about that, my dear Rihagen.]

Hell Kaiser burst out laughing.

[Then I will look forward to better news.]

Before the conversation ended.

Rihagen mocked Hell Kaiser.

"To betray and try to kill your own master to become the true master of Tartarus. The loyalty of demons is pathetic every time I see it."

[I am a demon. For you to inherit the will of the progenitor of the Nebula and the Comet Mage, become their true successor, and lead the elves, may be a noble mission for an elf… but for a demon, following a master who was subjugated long ago is an utterly foolish act. Your mockery sounds only like a compliment to me.]

Hell Kaiser, who had burst out laughing, then disappeared.

Rihagen, who had been watching him, snorted.

'When I become a great hero, I will surely subjugate you.'

***

"Even in an age when gods do not exist, fanaticism blinds people's eyes."

At the words of Duke of Funerals, Artkhan, Hell Kaiser leaned back in his throne of corpses and said.

"That is not fanaticism."

Hell Kaiser said with an expressionless face.

"How would those who do not even know God understand fanaticism? That is merely being blinded by stubbornness and desire."

"In any case, isn't it a blessing for us?"

At his subordinate's words, Hell Kaiser rested his chin in his hand, lost in thought.

"What are you thinking so deeply about?"

"While there are those who lead the world to ruin with stubbornness and desire, there are also those who defy the will of the great gods out of foolishness."

At Hell Kaiser's annoyed words, Artkhan's face hardened.

"Those eyes."

Hell Kaiser frowned, recalling Leo.

"They resemble those bastards."

Hell Kaiser raged, recalling those who had subjugated the gods.

Moreover, Leo Flobe is an All-Class, like the Hero of Beginnings.

And he possessed unusual power at a young age.

"It's right to cut off promising sprouts before they grow."

Hell Kaiser curled the corner of his mouth, and Artkhan bowed his head.

"I will obey your command."

***

The lower-class students were looking at each other nervously.

Seeing the lower-class students, Leo said.

"Why are you all so nervous? It was the best exam, everyone should be enjoying it."

A celebration party was currently being held in the lower-class classroom.

It would have originally been a boisterous party, but everyone was observing Leo.

"Um… not that Rail! I mean, the Student Council President of Lumern. Thank you for leading us. So… um…"

Angr shrunk back, unsure what to say, and seeing that, Leo clicked his tongue.

"He's just the student council president of another school, why are you all so nervous?"

"W-well, even if it's another school, he's clearly a senior… and he's also the student council president."

"We didn't do anything rude, did we?"

It was when Leo let out a hollow laugh at the lower-class students' words.

Creeak-!

The lower-class door opened.

"Hello everyone!"

Eclair, invited to the celebration party, flashed a bright smile.

Then she became quite flustered seeing the lower-class students observing Leo.

"What are you doing at the front? Aren't you coming in?"

Lea followed behind her.

"Lea Tingel? What brings you here?"

"I heard there was a celebration party. I came to congratulate you too."

Lea smiled subtly.

Seeing Lea, Angr smiled.

"Thank you."

"I'm not the only one who came to congratulate you."

"What?"

"What? Why is the atmosphere so gloomy? You're the stars of today's exam!"

"Aren't you all enjoying yourselves?"

The Tina siblings appeared behind Lea.

"Tina seniors?"

The lower-class students looked surprised.

It wasn't just the Tina siblings.

As famous second-year seniors followed them into the lower class, everyone's eyes widened.

"Even Lunia-senpai and Eiran-senpai?!"

The lower-class students looked bewildered.

The last to appear were Herdium and Laura.

"First-year students, as a teacher of Seirun, I sincerely apologize to you."

Herdium bowed his head.

"I knew you were being discriminated against, but I couldn't do anything. To achieve such a splendid feat even in such difficult circumstances… Your efforts will bring great change to Seirun. Truly… I am truly proud of you."

Seeing Herdium, a famous teacher of Seirun, Angr said urgently.

"Oh, no. It's thanks to Professor Laura and… the Student Council President of Lumern here."

"If you're going to keep calling me 'Student Council President-nim' so formally, just call me 'senpai'."

Leo said with a sigh, and Angr's face flushed slightly as she said.

"Th-then I'll call you senpai…"

Seeing that, Herdium said.

"Student Leo, we owe Student Leo a great debt. How to repay this debt…"

"What did I do? The kids just did well."

Leo smiled subtly.

"Alright, alright! Let's save the thank-yous for later."

"That's right! Everyone, enjoy yourselves!"

Garin and Aris said with bright smiles.

Lunia and Eiran had heard about the situation in the first-year lower class.

As siblings who had been in the lower class during their first semester of first year, they were proud of their juniors who had achieved excellent results in the exam despite the difficult circumstances.

The stiff atmosphere also loosened up with the seniors' congratulations.

The second-year students of Seirun gathered around Leo.

"Too bad, since you came as an exchange student, it would have been great if we could have studied together."

Garin clicked his tongue.

"By the way, you're human, but how do you handle Star Magic so well? Do you have a secret?"

"Thanks to studying hard."

As Leo sipped his drink and spoke, Aris clicked her tongue.

"There it is, the honor student's trademark. 'Studying hard'."

"But you must have had a great teacher, right?"

'Luna isn't a great teacher.'

Leo recalled when he learned Star Magic in the past.

'No, why can't you do this?'

Recalling that time, Leo let out a hollow laugh.

"How long will you be in Seirun?"

Lunia asked with a curious expression.

"I plan to stay until the academic conference presentation."

***

In the basement of the Hall of Comets, Seirun's recovered Hero Records were kept in strict secrecy.

Swoosh-

For an instant, black flames flickered.

As if trying to burst out.

The struggling black flames soon disappeared into the Hero Records as if sucked in.