Book 1 Chapter 416

416.

Lumen Central.

Tower of Heroes.

A magnificent party was currently being held in the vast square in front of it.

As it was an event to welcome external guests who had visited Lumen, students were required to participate without exception.

Of course, since renowned heroes and world-moving powers were gathered, most students attended without much complaint.

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

Among them, as expected, the second-year students, known as Lumen's golden generation, garnered the most attention.

"Hoho, you must be Ms. Chloe Muller. Your thesis is currently attracting a lot of attention in the magic world."

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

"Are you Warreden? Indeed, you have the makings to contract with a Great Spirit."

Chelsea, watching the scene, smiled faintly.

"Everyone's popular, huh~"

"And you guys aren't popular?"

Kal, who was enjoying the feast with a plate full of buffet food, teased. Chelsea replied,

"We're from the Rodren Empire."

"Indeed. No matter how promising, they wouldn't try to recruit someone from the Rodren Empire. By the way, seniors, why aren't you fighting today?"

Kal tilted his head, looking at Niel and Matchel.

Among the second-year students, the relationship between Celia and Chelsea was well-known.

However, there was an even more intense relationship than that of those two: Niel and Matchel, the heirs of the retainer families of two prominent families.

Despite being a year apart as senior and junior, the two created immense chemical reactions every time they met.

Yet today, they were unusually quiet.

"Celia and Chelsea are also quiet today."

At Kal's words, Celia swept her hair back.

"Do you think I bicker with Chelsea regardless of time and place?"

"Yes."

At Kal's unhesitating answer, Celia's expression vanished.

"Anyway, is there a reason?"

Kal, sensing danger, quickly changed the subject and asked. Chelsea replied,

"To keep the gnats away."

"Gnats? Ah."

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

Then his gaze shifted to Leo, who was sitting there with a relaxed expression.

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

Leo's main family was the Flov family, and his affiliation was with the Delad Kingdom.

Although recognized as a direct descendant of Zerdinger, he was still from his maternal side.

As such, there were countless places targeting Leo.

The youngest student council president of Lumen Academy.

Furthermore, an All-Class like the Hero of Origin.

He had even achieved incredible feats at a young age.

Influential figures would inevitably covet Leo.

Even now, many were stealthily glancing at Leo, wanting to approach him.

However, because Celia and Chelsea were glaring, they couldn't approach him carelessly.

Even if they were former students, no one would dare to make advances on Leo in front of the direct descendants of Zerdinger and Ruwalin.

'They're on dedicated guard.'

Kal understood and enjoyed the feast.

'It's convenient, which is nice.'

Leo chuckled and left the two to their own devices.

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

'Now, my position in this era is also no longer low.'

Being in Lumen, he had become desensitized to the eyes of outsiders.

But through this event, he had clearly realized it.

Leo's existence had already been deeply engraved in the world.

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

Thinking that far, Leo recalled someone.

'Necromancer King Hell Kaiser.'

The supreme commander of Tartarus.

And a great demon with the power and charisma befitting that title.

'His most frightening aspect is his insight.'

In the early days of the Age of Calamity.

It was only possible to defeat the countless powerful nations and heroes that existed at the time and greatly expand Tartarus's territory because of the Necromancer King's leadership.

'Even after we gained the power to defeat legion commanders, he drove us into crisis multiple times.'

That's how fearsome the Necromancer King Hell Kaiser was.

The Age of Calamity ended.

And even as people rebuilt the world and the Age of Heroes began, the fact that Tartarus was not ultimately destroyed was likely due to the Necromancer King.

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

Since Leo entered Lumen, countless incidents had occurred.

Each and every one of them had shocked the world.

From the Necromancer King's perspective, it must have been puzzling.

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

The Necromancer King had experienced a similar situation 5,000 years ago.

'The emergence of Rishinas, myself, Luna, Aron, and Dwenno.'

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

While they were a miracle-like hope for the world, it must have been like a calamity for the Necromancer King.

'With his insight…'

Leo narrowed his eyes.

'He might have vaguely realized something about me.'

Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.

'From now on, it's best to act under the assumption that he knows my identity.'

Leo's eyes narrowed.

'A 5,000-year-old grudge. It's time to put an end to it.'

***

"Senior Flov!"

Leah, who had been squealing with her hands clasped together, rushed towards Leo.

Luna covered her head and grabbed Leah by the nape of her neck.

"Leah, you're the top student of Seirun's first-year class, right? You're the face of the school. A place where countless heroes and influential figures from around the world have gathered. Shouldn't you refrain from embarrassing behavior that tarnishes the school's honor?"

At Luna's words, Leah squinted her eyes.

"Doesn't it prick your conscience a bit for Senior Luna to talk to me about Seirun's honor?"

Luna had already shed all pretense and thrown it to the sky.

Even so, she didn't lose her temper at every moment.

"I still choose my time and place."

"Oh really?"

Faced with the outright disbelief of her junior, Luna unhesitatingly choked Leah.

*Squeeze-*!

"Yes, I'll choose regardless of time and place, just as you wish."

"Cough! H, I surrender! I surrender!"

"Your words are too brief?"

"H, I surrender!"

Leah struggled and patted Luna's arm repeatedly.

"Hehehe! He's got a junior just like himself!"

Just then, a voice with a hint of smugness was heard.

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

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

Driana, wearing a Demian uniform, also spotted the two and greeted them warmly.

Seeing them, Leah's eyes widened.

Earlier this year.

Three people who were evaluated as hero candidates who would lead the next generation, having conquered the world of Dwenno.

'Their presence is quite intimidating.'

Shedding the lighthearted atmosphere, Leah also looked at the three with tense eyes.

Amidst this, Driana opened her mouth.

"Your strange way of speaking is still the same?"

As Luna spoke with her arms crossed, Driana burst into laughter.

"I'm always trying to act like the respected Dwenno!"

"You don't resemble him at all."

Ar said coldly, but Driana didn't listen.

"Anyway, since we've met, do me a favor."

Seeing Driana speaking with a serious expression, Leah's face became slightly tense.

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

'What is it, is it about needing materials to create a powerful artifact? Or has a major problem arisen within Demian?'

Leah's eyes darted around nervously.

"If you're going to ask me to be a nude model again, I refuse. You perverted dwarf."

Ar said pointedly.

Leah couldn't believe her ears.

"For art's sake."

"Dwenno told you to quit art."

This time, Luna said coldly.

"The important thing is not giving up. Dwenno surely said so too."

"Dwenno would probably tell you to quit art, though."

"If Dwenno were here, he'd tell you to give up."

Despite Ar and Luna's merciless words, Driana didn't flinch.

Then, spotting Leah, he said,

"Hooh, a beautiful young girl. Would you be interested in being a nude model?"

"No."

Leah replied with a dispirited voice and then asked Luna seriously,

"Am I not understanding because the conversation is too high-level?"

"It's because his words are too vulgar that you can't understand."

Luna sighed.

While the three students, evaluated as the future of each race, were having such a pathetic conversation.

"Hello, everyone."

Someone spoke.

The four turned their heads and were surprised.

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

"M, it is an honor to meet you, great Lord."

Luna hastily bowed, and Melina put her hand under her veil and chuckled lowly.

"There's no need to be so flustered."

Melina smiled faintly and looked at Leah.

"Leah Tingel."

"Y-yes!"

"How about talking with the first-year students of Lumen? I'm sure it will be of great help to you."

"Yes!"

Leah replied with military precision and stepped back.

She wanted to talk more, but she couldn't dare to argue with the Dragon Lord's words.

'Still, would it be okay to eavesdrop from a distance?'

Driven by strong curiosity, Leah glanced at the four.

And then, she let out a surprised gasp of bewilderment.

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

'What?'

She looked around, bewildered.

Despite their very conspicuous combination, they were nowhere to be seen.

'Come to think of it, people were quiet even though the Dragon Lord appeared.'

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

However, the atmosphere of the party remained the same.

'Could it be an illusion magic? Wow, amazing. That I couldn't even sense it.'

Leah couldn't help but exclaim in admiration at the incredibly precise and stealthy magic.

***

Standing before Melina, the three were in a tense, at-attention posture.

Seeing them, Melina burst into laughter.

"Don't be so tense. I just wanted to talk with you all."

"It, it's an honor."

Luna replied with a trembling voice.

"But why with us…"

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

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

At those words, Driana's eyes widened.

"Did the Lord choose us?"

Dragons had always chosen heroes to shoulder an era.

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

Therefore, the words 'hero candidates chosen by this era' mentioned by Melina were enough to surprise the three.

Seeing their reactions, Melina smiled faintly.

"Rather than me choosing you… it's him who chose."

"Him?"

The three looked astonished at Melina's honorific.

The Dragon Lord.

The head of Dragonia and the king of all dragons.

In a sense, she could be considered the highest being in the world.

Someone she addressed with such honorific?

'Who on earth is it?'

While everyone was surprised.

Melina glanced at Leo, referring to 'him'.

And then, for a moment, she paused.

'What is that?'

Melina felt a foreign power emanating from Leo.

A very faint power.

'I've felt this power somewhere before.'

Tilting her head slightly, Mel then realized the nature of the power Leo was emitting.

'It resembles the power of the Hero Record.'