Book 1 Chapter 372
372
The elderly middle-aged man sitting on the throne spoke in a subdued voice.
“So, students have entered the country even in Lumerne?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“How utterly rude!”
CRASH-!
Bihir III, King of Elehem, slammed his hand down on the armrest of his throne and shouted.
“On what grounds do you dare to doubt me and arbitrarily investigate my land!”
Seeing Bihir III showing his rage, the ministers did not dare to meet his eyes and bowed their heads.
Everyone swallowed dryly.
Elehem.
It was a country infamous for being the poorest nation, where all sorts of things illegal elsewhere were legal.
A king despised by other countries because of the finger-pointing that countless citizens in his own country were dying out and starving to death, a living hell.
However, in Elehem, he was a ruler with absolute power.
The wealth and power he acquired by pushing the entire nation into distress.
And the nobles attracted by that wealth and power.
In Elehem, the king's word was law and truth.
However, the power of the King of Elehem did not extend to Lumerne.
Unlike the King of Elehem, who was not even treated as a proper nation internationally, Lumerne was a pan-national organization.
It was a place that nurtured hero candidates who would lead the world, and its students were called the future of each nation.
Talented students from countless countries gathered there.
Among them were many children from families with the power to erase Elehem from the map.
Bihir III felt a tremendous irritation simply by the fact that hundreds of people whose power did not apply to him were on his land.
One of the nobles, watching his expression, cautiously spoke.
“Today, students from Lumerne visited the royal palace to speak with the royal wizards….”
WHOOSH! CLANG!
“Agh! Not only have those utterly rude beings trespassed on my land, but now they have invaded my castle with their filthy feet!”
Throwing down the golden goblet containing wine, Bihir III erupted with even greater fury.
“What in the world are you doing?! You nobles of this country! You, my vassals, let those insolent, wet-behind-the-ears youngsters do as they please!”
At Bihir III's outburst, the nobles merely bowed their heads.
They wanted to stop them, but couldn't.
The reason Lumerne dispatched students this time was solely for ‘Hero Dungeon exploration’.
Hero Records belonged to the hero academies.
And neglecting hero dungeons was an act that could threaten the world, and an act of protecting world peace.
Hero academies never used the hero dungeons they recovered for private purposes.
Therefore, no country had the authority to stop Lumerne from exploring hero dungeons.
This was not some unwritten rule.
3000 years ago.
It was the ‘Law of the World’ established by Rodia, who was called the Dragon of Creation, after gathering all the heroes and kings of the world.
But no noble here could utter those words.
Because speaking might cost them their heads.
It was at that moment, as all the nobles were watching each other's reactions.
“Calm down, Your Majesty.”
“Ahem! Duke Eberne.”
At the young man's words, who had entered the conference room, Bihir III's anger subsided.
At his appearance, the nobles' faces brightened.
Delean Eberne.
A man who settled in Elehem five years ago and quickly rose to the position of Bihir III's closest confidant.
And Delean was also the only person Bihir III, who was arrogant and self-centered, respected in this country.
Delean was a Lumerne graduate from ten years ago.
Elehem, which had not produced even a single entrant, let alone a graduate, from Lumerne for hundreds of years, was now able to embrace a talent who was a Lumerne graduate.
Delean's existence was not publicly known.
However, it was a fact known to everyone gathered here that he was deeply involved in Elehem's state affairs.
The appearance of the only person who could calm Bihir III was welcomed by the nobles as well.
“I, as a Lumerne graduate, know Lumerne’s rudeness very well.”
Delean shook his head as if in exasperation and continued.
“But there’s no way to stop Lumerne. They are people who believe they are the law.”
At Delean's words, Bihir III's clenched fist trembled.
“However, do not worry, Your Majesty.”
Delean bowed respectfully.
“They are merely first and second-year brats. They will never reach Your Majesty’s treasure.”
At those words, Bihir III's face relaxed.
It was none other than Delean who was leading the assault on the hero dungeon hidden by Elehem.
Even if hundreds of people had come to Alehem to investigate, they were merely first and second-year students.
And the one who hid the hero dungeon was a Lumerne graduate.
The difference in skill was clear to anyone.
“But among Lumerne’s second-year students, isn't there the student council president, Leo Flov?”
A look of discomfort once again clouded Bihir III’s face.
“Leo Flov, I have certainly heard he is a monstrous junior.”
Delean smiled faintly.
“But he is still only a second-year student lacking experience. No matter how great he is.”
“Hmm. Delean, I will trust only you.”
Delean smiled faintly as he watched Bihir III, a look of relief on his face.
“I will restore Elehem’s past glory.”
***
After leaving the pleasure district, Leo immediately headed to his lodging.
Laruel had been operating as the owner of the Castle of Pleasure, a pillar of this country's underworld, while concealing her identity as the Great Spirit of Light.
‘I’ve never been interested in hero dungeons. But I do know that this country has shown suspicious movements for at least five years now.’
As the owner of the Castle of Pleasure, she naturally couldn't ignore the rumors that reached her ears.
Just then, Leo arrived on Main Street.
“Brother Leo. Where did you find a place to stay, Brother Leo? I haven’t found a place yet.”
Chelsea asked, her eyes shining.
Seeing Chelsea, Iliana exclaimed, “Ah!”
“Chelsea! You’re partnering with the class rep to get this assignment done easily, aren’t you?! Don’t try to jump the gun! I’m going to party with the class rep!”
“Am I you?”
“So you were planning something like that?”
At Iliana's shout, Chelsea looked dumbfounded, and Chloe squinted her eyes.
Iliana gasped, covering her mouth.
“The students in Class 5 are very dependent on Leo.”
Chloe crossed her arms and smiled faintly.
“Not our Class 1.”
Class 1 and Class 5, rivals in their first year, often competed.
Since Cedjen, the Class 1 homeroom teacher, always advocated for overthrowing Halinde, Class 1 naturally tried not to lose to Class 5.
Class 5 initially didn't mind, but eventually, the competition intensified.
It was largely due to Chelsea badgering her friends, saying she couldn't lose because Celia was in Class 1.
Even now, as the competition became between dorms, a subtle sense of rivalry remained between former Class 1 and Class 5 students.
At Chloe’s words, Chelsea snorted.
“Could you please not treat me the same as that idiot?”
“Right. Not all of us are like Iliana.”
“Hey! Kyle! You shouldn’t say that! Aren’t you also trying to partner with the class rep and ride on his coattails?”
Iliana flared up at Kyle's words.
But this time, Kyle was righteous.
“Oh~ no no. Would I ever do something so despicable?”
He shook his head, looking smug.
“What's the most important thing in this mission practice? It's information gathering, isn't it? That's my specialty.”
Kyle supported his chin with his finger and grinned.
“I received a lot of cooperation requests during mission practice. So I've already teamed up with Chloe. Unlike certain people.”
“Ugh!”
Iliana made an indignant expression at the irrefutable statement.
“Then, since we’re already gathered, why don’t we share information?”
“Did you get information from the pleasure district?”
“Yes. It will be very useful.”
“Alright, then let’s gather at Leo’s lodging and have a meeting.”
Chelsea said at Kyle's words.
“I’ll send a familiar to tell you Brother Leo’s lodging. Everyone bring your mentees.”
Chelsea sent familiars to Kyle and Chloe through magic.
Just as they were about to disperse.
“Hehehehe, Miss Chelsea.”
Iliana stood in front of Chelsea, rubbing her palms together.
“You didn’t give me a familiar, though?”
Chelsea looked at Iliana, who was smiling cutely with a servile grin, and said.
“You’re useless.”
“We were in the same Class 5, weren’t we? You can’t even show that much recognition to a best friend?”
“No.”
“Class President! Everyone’s leaving me out!”
At Chelsea's cold attitude, Iliana grabbed Leo and complained.
Seeing this, Chelsea sighed and handed a familiar to Iliana as well.
***
“Senior Leo! Welcome! Senior Chelsea also came with you.”
Luke, who was waiting at the lodging, greeted Leo and Chelsea warmly.
Chelsea looked at Luke with a hesitant expression.
“You chose a lodging in a place like this?”
At Chelsea's reaction, Luke made a serious face.
“Is a lodging with a private shower in every room really too luxurious?”
Luke had chosen a clean and comfortable hotel as their lodging.
And that was the extent of its advantages.
In a street full of all sorts of luxurious accommodations, this lodging seemed almost overly humble.
But for Luke, who came from the countryside, this alone was an excessive luxury.
“Here, drinks are free as a service!”
Luke poured drinks for the two of them and handed them over.
It was then that Chelsea looked at Luke with a slightly pitiful gaze.
“Luke, you wait in the lounge, and when Chloe, Kyle, and Iliana arrive, come to my room with them. Chelsea, you go wash up too.”
“Okay.”
“Yes.”
After saying that, Leo went up to his room.
And he entered the bathroom, took a shower, and said.
“Laruel, what does it mean that there have been suspicious movements in this country for five years?”
-It means exactly that. The royal palace has been secretly exploring specific areas.
“Where?”
-The underground of Uargela here, and the Forest of Monsters. The hero dungeon is probably in the Forest of Monsters.
Shwaaaaaa-!
At Laruel’s words, Leo washed his hair and asked, sounding curious.
“How can you be sure the hero dungeon is in the Forest of Monsters?”
-I know what’s underground in Uargela.
“What is it?”
-Rodia’s treasure vault exists there.
At that, Leo paused.
Leo, stepping out of the shower, dried himself with a towel, put on his bottom clothes, and donned a robe.
“Rodia’s treasure vault?”
-Yes. It’s the treasure vault Rodia left for whoever would become my pact holder.
“Hmm.”
Leo was stroking his chin.
Knock knock-
“Brother Leo, I’m out.”
Chelsea’s voice was heard.
“Come in.”
SLAM-!
“Brother Leo, I don’t really like this hotel’s bathroom. Hot water isn’t coming out, so I had to bother with magic….”
Chelsea, grumbling as she entered the room and closed the door, stopped short.
The inside of the room was dimly lit by faint moonlight.
Leo, with the moonlight behind him, was drying his hair with a towel.
His firm chest muscles were visible through the opening of his robe.
Though he appeared as a delicate-looking pretty boy, Leo’s body, honed by practice and training, exuded masculinity.
“He’s definitely different from my brother.”
Chelsea let out an exclamation of admiration.
As siblings, Chelsea often saw Abard’s relaxed side, which others couldn't.
The aura Leo exuded was distinctly different from Abard’s.
Seeing Chelsea making sounds of admiration, Leo chuckled.
“What’s so amazing?”
“No, I always forget it because we study magic together, but at times like this, I can feel that Brother Leo has trained tremendously as a knight.”
Chelsea approached Leo and said.
“Can I touch your muscles?”
At the purely curious question, Leo let out a wry laugh but nodded.
Poke poke-
“Wow, it’s firm yet elastic. So this is what a man feels like.”
Chelsea, exclaiming as she touched Leo’s arm this way and that, then shifted her gaze to Leo’s chest.
For some unknown reason, she was swept by a strong desire to touch it.
‘He said I could touch his muscles, so it should be okay if I touch it just a little, right?’
She swallowed dryly and placed her hand on Leo's chest muscle.
Chelsea, who was fascinated by the sensation, which was different from his arm, suddenly thought that this situation would be quite awkward if someone else saw it.
‘If I show it, it'll just make the atmosphere weird.’
Chelsea was about to withdraw her hand from Leo, trying to hide her reddening face and act nonchalant.
“Leo! I’m here!”
SLAM-!
Kyle, who suddenly opened the door and entered, froze at the sight inside the room.
The atmosphere in the room was strange.
His friend, wearing a robe with wet hair.
And another friend touching the arm and chest of that friend.
At the sight beyond his imagination, Kyle bowed his head.
“I apologize for interrupting.”
Creak-!
Just as Kyle was about to close the door.
WHOOSH-!
A gust of wind blew.
Kyle, who was about to leave, was forcibly pulled back into the room by Chelsea’s magic.
“It’s not like that.”
“I apologize. I didn't see anything. Please continue what you were doing….”
“I said it’s not like that. I just touched it out of curiosity.”
Chelsea maintained her composure and explained the situation to clear up the misunderstanding.
“You don’t have to make excuses. I’ll keep the secret. I will never tell anyone that we were together in a dark room, even if I die.”
“That’s why you misunderstood.”
“I saw you fondling Leo’s wet body with my own two eyes, so what’s the misunderstanding? I’m starting to feel a little hurt. The three of us are best friends, aren’t we? There's no need to keep it a secret from me.”
“Do you know how many times Leo and I have seen each other sweaty?”
“Huh! When did you two even….”
“I mean during training! Don’t think dirty thoughts!”
Chelsea, who had been struggling to maintain her composure, finally exploded.
“Kids these days are precocious,” Leo muttered as he finished drying his hair, and Chelsea sighed.
-Leo is just too defenseless.