Book 1 Chapter 350

350

The highest point in Seirun.

Elves were talking in worried voices at the Star Plaza, overlooking the panorama of Seirun.

"How are we going to take responsibility for this?"

Leved, in charge of the second-year students, cast a cold gaze at the teachers responsible for the first-year advanced classes.

Geras, the homeroom teacher of the leading Advanced Class 1, lowered his head, his face ashen.

"How can the advanced classes all be defeated by the lower classes! How did you teach the students to get such a result!"

Geras spoke with difficulty at Leved's furious roar.

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

"Are you making excuses now! Didn't you teach Advanced Class 2 before that!"

Seeing Leved's veins bulging, Geras turned even paler.

"At a time like this, when there are so many foolish people who don't understand our grand ambitions and doubt us! To show such a pathetic display!"

"Teacher Leved, please calm down first."

Orlen adjusted his glasses.

"It is true that we need to determine responsibility for this incident. Our Pure Blood Society's prestige has been tarnished. But before that."

Orlen looked at the teachers in charge of the first-year students with a cold gaze and said,

"The first priority is to investigate what happened in the lower classes."

All eyes turned to Orlen.

"Isn't it strange? Students in the lower classes, who had no talent for star magic, suddenly gained such skill. There must be an unfair method. Leo Flov of Lumern was in the first-year lower classes."

Upon hearing that, Leved stroked his chin.

"Indeed, that wicked fellow might have used some cowardly trick. But we cannot easily interrogate him, Teacher Orlen. After all, he is the student council president of Lumern."

Seeing Leved's displeased expression, Orlen smirked.

"We can't interrogate Leo Flov. But we can certainly interrogate Teacher Laura, who was in charge of the lower classes."

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

As Leved spoke in a cold voice, Orlen smiled.

Tap- tap-

The acting principal, Rehagen, appeared in the Star Plaza.

The teachers who were seated stood up.

"Lord Rehagen. We were discussing future countermeasures for this incident. The agenda includes…"

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

"What?"

The teachers looked bewildered by Rehagen's sudden remark.

"Did you not hear me?"

But at the cold voice, they all left the Star Plaza, not understanding the reason.

Left alone in the Star Plaza, Rehagen let out a deep sigh.

Then, he turned and gazed into the empty air, saying,

"Can you explain to me what happened?"

As he spoke, a dark crimson light flashed in the air.

The ominous light soon formed a square and then took the shape of a man.

[I don't know what you're talking about. My dear Rehagen.]

"Don't play dumb. Do you think I don't know your wicked schemes?"

Rehagen yelled at the man beyond the magic, Hel Kaiser, with eyes full of fury.

"Were you planning to bring darkness to Seirun again!"

[You are mistaken.]

Hel Kaiser burst into laughter.

[It is true that I lent you magic to make Seirun's precious young sprouts shine, Rehagen. However, my power sometimes loses control when it goes beyond my will. The summoning of the Skeleton King was just such an instance, not my intention.]

"I cannot believe you."

[Whether you believe it or not is your choice, Rehagen. But with just a Skeleton King, how can you possibly do anything to Seirun?]

"That is true."

Rehagen said, not shedding his displeasure.

Hel Kaiser, who had been smiling at Rehagen, lost his expression.

[Before that, I want to talk about our deal.]

"Ahem."

Rehagen cleared his throat at Hel Kaiser's words.

[Rehagen. I clearly gave you clues that could summon the Fairy King.]

Hel Kaiser's eyes narrowed.

[The Comet Mage was a sworn ally of the Fairy King, although not known to the public. I also told you that the key to achieving the elves' long-cherished oath with the Fairy King was the Comet Mage's legacy, Cometes, and his bloodline.]

"So Leia Tinggel didn't summon the Fairy King!"

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

"Ha! It's not my fault that she couldn't summon it despite my support! What can I do if the summoner's qualifications are insufficient!"

Hel Kaiser said, watching Rehagen's rage.

[I have infinite time, Rehagen. You are the one who lacks time.]

Hel Kaiser smirked.

"Tch."

[5000 years ago, the Fairy King, who conquered Erebus with the Progenitor of the Nebula, would surely know the whereabouts of the Erebus fragment. Find the fragment and conquer it. In return, I will give you the remains of the Comet Mage. Do not forget this deal.]

Rehagen glared at Hel Kaiser.

"It is certainly true that you have the remains of Seirun, aren't you?"

[Yes. I was the one who collected the bodies of the heroes who died in the battle against Erebus. With your necromancy, you might be able to bring Seirun back to the present world.]

"If even a shred of Seirun's remains has been damaged, I will not let you go, Necromancer King."

[There is no need to worry about that, my dear Rehagen.]

Hel Kaiser burst into laughter.

[Then I will look forward to even better news.]

Before the conversation ended.

Rehagen taunted Hel Kaiser.

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

[I am a demon. While it may be a noble mission for elves for you to inherit the will of the Progenitor of the Nebula and the Comet Mage and lead the elves as their true successor… for demons, following a master who was long ago defeated is utterly foolish. Your taunts only sound like praise to me.]

Hel Kaiser, who had burst into laughter, soon disappeared.

Watching him disappear, Rehagen snorted.

'If I become a great hero, I will surely defeat you.'

***

"Even in an era where gods do not exist, fanaticism blinds people."

Hel Kaiser said, leaning back against the throne of corpses, at the words of the Grand Duke of Lamentations, Artkhan.

"That is not fanaticism."

Hel Kaiser said with a blank expression.

"How can those who don't know gods understand fanaticism? That is merely being blinded by stubbornness and desire."

"Regardless, isn't it a blessing for us?"

Hel Kaiser leaned on his chin, lost in thought, at his subordinate's words.

"What are you thinking so deeply about?"

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

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

"Those eyes."

Recalling Leo, Hel Kaiser scowled.

"They resemble them."

Recalling those who had defeated the gods, Hel Kaiser became angry.

Moreover, Leo Flov is an all-class like the Hero of the Beginning.

And he possesses an unusual power at a young age.

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

Hel Kaiser smirked, and Artkhan bowed his head.

"I will follow your orders."

***

The students in the lower classes were looking at each other cautiously.

Seeing the cautious lower-class students, Leo said,

"Why are you all being so cautious? It was the best test, you should all enjoy it."

Currently, a congratulatory party was being held in the lower-class classroom.

Although it would normally have been a boisterous atmosphere, everyone was watching Leo's reaction.

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

Angr, unsure of what to say, cowered, and seeing that, Leo clicked his tongue.

"I'm just the student council president of another school, why are you all being so watchful?"

"B-but, even if it's another school, you are still a senior… and the student council president."

"Did we perhaps behave rudely or something?"

As the lower-class students spoke, Leo let out a hollow laugh.

Creak-!

The door to the lower class opened.

"Hi everyone!"

Eclair, who was invited to the congratulatory party, smiled brightly.

Then, seeing the lower-class students watching Leo, she looked flustered.

"What are you doing out here? Aren't you going in?"

Leia followed behind her and entered.

"Leia Tinggel? What are you doing here?"

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

Leia smiled.

Seeing Leia, Angr smiled.

"Thank you."

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

"What?"

"What is this? Why is the atmosphere so gloomy? Today is the protagonists' day of the test!"

"Aren't you all enjoying yourselves?"

The Ttina siblings appeared behind Leia.

"Seniors Ttina?"

The lower-class students looked surprised.

Not only the Ttina siblings.

As famous second-year seniors entered the lower classes, everyone's eyes widened.

"Even Seniors Lunia and Eiran?!"

The lower-class students looked bewildered.

Finally, Herdium and Laura appeared.

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

Herdium bowed his head.

"I knew you were being discriminated against, but I could do nothing. To achieve such a feat in such a difficult environment… your performance will bring about great change in Seirun. I am truly… truly proud of you."

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

"N-no. It's thanks to Teacher Laura and here… Student Council President of Lumern."

"If you're going to keep calling him Student Council President so formally, just call him Senior."

As Leo said with a sigh, Angr blushed slightly and said,

"T-then I'll call you Senior…"

Seeing that, Herdium said,

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

"What did I do? It's all because the children did well."

Leo smiled.

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

"That's right! Everyone, enjoy!"

Garin and Aris said with bright smiles.

They had heard about the situation of the first-year lower classes from Lunia and Eiran.

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

The tense atmosphere was relieved by the seniors' congratulations.

Second-year students of Seirun gathered around Leo.

"It's a shame. Since you came as an exchange student, I wish we could have studied together."

Garin licked his lips.

"By the way, how can you, a human, wield star magic so well? Do you have a secret method?"

"It's thanks to studying hard."

As Leo sipped his drink, Aris clicked his tongue.

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

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

'Luna wasn't a great teacher.'

Leo recalled the time he was learning star magic.

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

Recalling that moment, Leo let out a hollow laugh.

"How long are you staying in Seirun?"

Lunia asked with a puzzled look.

"I'll be here until the academic conference presentation."

***

In the basement of the Hall of the Comet, the recovered Hero Records of Seirun were kept under top secret.

Whoosh-

Black flames flickered for a moment.

As if trying to break free.

The struggling black flames were soon sucked in and disappeared into the Hero Records.