Book 1 Chapter 416

416.

Central Lumern.

Hero's Tower.

In the huge plaza in front of it, a magnificent party was currently being held.

As it was an event to welcome external guests visiting Lumern, students had to participate without exception.

Of course, as renowned heroes and powerful figures who moved the world gathered, most students attended without much complaint.

Influential figures from various regions showed deep interest in promising students within Lumern.

Among them, what naturally attracted attention were the second-year students, known as Lumern's Golden Generation.

"Oh, you must be Miss Chloe Müller. Miss Müller's thesis is currently receiving a lot of attention in the magic world."

"Prince Duran. The central kingdoms of the continent have high hopes for you!"

"Are you Wareden? Indeed, you are worthy of forming a contract with a Great Spirit."

Chelsea smiled faintly, watching them.

"Everyone's so popular~"

"Are you two not popular?"

Chelsea replied when Kyle, who had filled his plate with buffet food and was enjoying the banquet, spoke teasingly.

"Because we're from the Rodlen Empire."

"True. No matter how promising they are, they wouldn't try to recruit someone affiliated with the Rodlen Empire. But seniors, you're not fighting today."

Kyle tilted his head, looking at Niel and Marcel.

The rivalry between Celia and Chelsea was well-known among the second-year students.

But there was a more intense relationship than those two: Niel and Marcel, the successors of the two families' vassal families.

Despite being one academic year apart, they caused tremendous chemical reactions whenever they met.

For some reason, those two were quiet today.

"Chelsea and Celia are quiet today too."

At Kyle's words, Celia brushed her hair back.

"Do you think I growl regardless of time and place whenever I meet Chelsea?"

"Yes."

At Kyle's unhesitating answer, the expression vanished from Celia's face.

"Anyway, is there a reason?"

Kyle, feeling a sense of crisis, quickly changed the subject, and Chelsea answered.

"To keep the gnats from swarming."

"Gnawts? Ah."

Kyle, who had been tilting his head at Chelsea's words, nodded as if he understood.

Then his gaze turned to Leo, who was sitting alone with a relaxed expression.

"Leo isn't from the Rodlen Empire, is he?"

Leo's main family was the Flobe family, and his affiliation was the Kingdom of Dellard.

He was recognized as a direct descendant of Zerdinger, but was primarily from his maternal side.

As such, there were countless places targeting Leo.

The youngest student council president of Lumern Academy.

On top of that, an All-Class like the Hero of Beginnings.

He had even already achieved great feats at a young age.

For influential figures, a being like Leo was bound to be highly coveted.

Even now, many people frequently glanced at Leo, wanting to approach him.

But Celia and Chelsea were glaring at them, so they couldn't approach rashly.

No matter if they were students, no one would dare to try anything with Leo in front of the direct descendants of Zerdinger and Rwalin.

'A dedicated guard, I see.'

Kyle accepted this and enjoyed the banquet.

'It's good to be comfortable.'

Leo chuckled and left the two of them alone.

He had actually expected to be tired at this party, but that worry was gone.

'My position in this era is certainly no longer low.'

Being in Lumern, he had become insensitive to outsiders' gazes.

But through this event, he truly realized it.

Leo's existence was already deeply ingrained in the world.

Everyone knew about Leo and praised the feats he had accomplished.

Thinking that far, Leo recalled someone.

'The Necromancer King Hel Kaiser.'

The supreme commander leading Tartarus.

And a Great Demon with power and charisma befitting that title.

'His most terrifying trait is his insight.'

In the early days of the Age of Calamity.

It was only possible to defeat countless powerful nations and heroes that existed then, and to vastly expand the territory of Tartarus, because of the Necromancer King's direct command.

'Even after we gained enough power to subjugate a Legion Commander, he put us in danger many times.'

To that extent, the Necromancer King Hel Kaiser was a fearsome being.

Even after the Age of Calamity ended.

As people rebuilt the world once again and the Age of Heroes began, Tartarus ultimately did not perish.

All of that was possible because of the Necromancer King.

'What does the current Necromancer King think of me?'

After Leo enrolled in Lumern, countless incidents occurred.

Each one was something that astonished the world.

The Necromancer King must be puzzled.

A young human, who suddenly appeared, was making the impossible possible as if it were natural.

The Necromancer King had experienced a similar situation 5000 years ago.

'The appearance of Lisina and I, and Luna, Arion, and Dweno.'

The great heroes who prevented the world's destruction, which had already become a foregone conclusion, and ultimately saved the world.

From the world's perspective, it was a miraculous hope, but from the Necromancer King's perspective, it must have been a calamity.

'If it's his insight.'

Leo narrowed his eyes.

'Perhaps he might have vaguely recognized me.'

Leo clenched and unclenched his hand.

'From now on, it would be best to act on the assumption that he knows my true identity.'

Leo's eyes narrowed.

'A 5000-year-long ill-fated connection. It's time to put an end to it.'

***

"Senior Flobe!"

Rea, clutching her hands together and letting out a *Kya!* scream, tried to charge at Leo.

Runia grabbed the back of Rea's neck, clutching her own head.

"Rea, you're the top student of Sayrun first year, aren't you? You're the face of the school. This is a gathering of countless heroes and influential figures from all over the world. Shouldn't you refrain from acting disgracefully and bringing shame to the school?"

At Runia's words, Rea squinted her eyes.

"Senior Runia, don't you feel a little guilty talking to me about Sayrun's honor?"

Runia had already thrown away any pretense she might have had.

That didn't mean she lost her temper all the time, though.

"I still know when and where to act."

"Is that so?"

In response to her junior's blatant disbelief, Runia unhesitatingly choked Rea.

*Squeeze-!*

"Yes, I won't care about time or place, just as you wish."

"Gah! H-Help! Surrender!"

"Short on words?"

"H-Help, please!"

Rea struggled and tapped Runia's arm *tap-tap-tap-*.

"Hehehe! She's got a junior just like herself!"

Just then, a somewhat smug voice was heard.

There stood Ar, neatly dressed in an Azonia uniform, with his arms crossed.

"Ohh! Runia! Ar! How have you been!"

Dryana, wearing a Demian uniform, also spotted them and greeted them warmly.

Rea's eyes widened as she looked at them.

Earlier this year.

The three people, who were rated as hero candidates who would lead the next generation after conquering Dweno's world, were all gathered.

'Their intimidation factor is no joke.'

Shedding her lighthearted mood, Rea also looked at the three with tense eyes.

Meanwhile, Dryana opened her mouth.

"That strange way of speaking is still the same, isn't it?"

Runia said, crossing her arms, and Dryana burst out laughing.

"I'm always trying to act like the Dweno I respect so much."

"You're not like him at all."

Ar said coldly, but Dryana didn't listen.

"Anyway, since we've met like this, it's a special occasion, so I have a favor to ask."

Looking at Dryana speaking with a serious expression, Rea showed a slightly tense expression.

A favor from a hero candidate who would lead the next generation?

'What is it, is it about needing materials to create some amazing armaments? Or has a big problem arisen within Demian?'

It was when Rea was rolling her eyes around nervously.

"If you ask me to be a nude model again this time, I refuse. You perverted dwarf."

Ar said sharply.

At those words, Rea couldn't believe her ears.

"It's for art."

"Lord Dweno told you to quit art."

This time, Runia said coldly.

"What's important is an unyielding spirit. Lord Dweno definitely said so."

"Even Lord Dweno would tell you to please give up on art."

"If Lord Dweno were here, he would have told you it's okay to give up."

Despite Ar and Runia's merciless words, Dryana didn't bat an eyelid.

Then she spotted Rea and said.

"Hoo, a beautiful maiden. Young lady. Have you ever thought of being a nude model?"

"No."

Rea, who had replied with a displeased voice, seriously asked Runia.

"Is the conversation too high-level for me to understand?"

"Her words are just too low-class for you to understand."

Runia sighed.

It was then, while the three students, considered the future of their respective races, were having such a pathetic conversation.

"Hello, everyone."

Someone spoke.

The four of them turned their heads and were surprised.

Standing there was none other than the Dragon Lord, Melina.

"I-It's an honor to meet you. Great Lord."

As Runia hastily bowed, Melina chuckled softly, reaching a hand under her veil.

"There's no need to make such a fuss."

Melina smiled faintly and looked at Rea, saying.

"Miss Rea Tingel."

"Yes, yes sir!"

"How about talking with the first-year children of Lumern? It will surely be of great help to you."

"Yes sir!"

Rea replied crisply and stepped back.

She wanted to talk more, but she dared not argue with the Dragon Lord.

'Still, wouldn't it be okay to eavesdrop on their conversation from a distance?'

With strong curiosity, Rea glanced at the four people.

And then, "Huh?" she exclaimed in bewildered surprise.

The four people who had been there just a moment ago were gone.

'What is it?'

She looked around, flustered.

Despite being a very noticeable group, they were nowhere to be seen.

'Now that I think about it, even though the Dragon Lord appeared, people were quiet.'

Normally, the mere appearance of the Dragon Lord in the middle of a party should have caused a huge commotion.

But the atmosphere of the party remained unchanged.

'Could it be a perception-inhibiting spell? Wow, incredible. To the extent that I didn't notice it at all.'

Rea couldn't help but exclaim in admiration at the magic, which was so precise and subtle.

***

The three people standing before Melina stood at attention with tense faces.

Melina laughed as she looked at them.

"Don't be too nervous. I just came because I wanted to talk with you all."

"I-It's an honor."

Runia replied with a trembling voice.

"But why are you talking to us…?"

When Ar asked with a slightly puzzled expression, Melina smiled faintly.

"Because you are the hero candidates chosen by the era."

At those words, Dryana's eyes widened.

"Has the Lord chosen us?"

Dragons had historically chosen heroes to bear the burden of an era.

Among them, the heroes chosen by the Dragon Lord were special.

Therefore, Melina's words "heroes chosen by the era" were enough to surprise the three of them.

Melina smiled faintly at the three people's reactions.

"Rather than me choosing you… that person chose you."

"That person?"

At Melina's honorific, the three showed expressions of astonishment.

The Dragon Lord.

The leader of Dragonia and the king of all dragons.

In a sense, she could be said to be the highest person in the world.

For her to use an honorific for someone…

'Who could it possibly be?'

While everyone was surprised.

Melina, referring to 'that person,' glanced at Leo.

And then she paused for a moment.

'What is that?'

Melina felt an unfamiliar power emanating from Leo.

A very faint power.

'It's a power I've felt somewhere before.'

Mel, who had slightly tilted her head, soon realized the true nature of the power Leo was emitting.

'It resembles the power of the Hero Record.'