Book 1 Chapter 426

426.

It was the height of summer.

A warp gate flashed.

With it, a boy with orange hair emerged from the warp gate.

"The West is definitely hotter than the Central region."

Grabbing and fanning his collar to ward off the heat, Kal shaded his eyes with his other palm and looked up at the sky.

The intense sunlight, shining brightly, made him feel the summer acutely.

"It would be so nice to have Chloe around at times like this."

Kal, thinking of the ice mage and licking his lips regretfully, looked around.

In Kal's hometown, the Kingdom of Moira or Lumellia City, you could easily buy refreshing drinks or ice cream on the street on such sweltering days.

'Is it because it's a rural kingdom? There's nothing like that here.'

The Kingdom of Moira, located in the central part of the continent, is small but a vital hub with a huge population and bustling logistics, and Lumellia City is so developed that it's literally called the center of the world.

As such, the city's infrastructure is also advanced, but here, in Delard, a border kingdom in the west, there was nothing like that.

'If I started a business here, it would be a huge hit. It's the capital, so there must be money, right?'

Kal's mind raced as he looked out at the streets of Delan.

How much could he earn if he worked here for the entire summer break?

He imagined it, but then let out a small sigh.

'It's a shame I don't have much time to stay here.'

Licking his lips, Kal started walking.

A group of students, dressed in what looked like school uniforms, were riding horses down the street.

They walked as if escorting a carriage.

Kal checked the flag on the carriage and moved out of the way.

It was embroidered with the symbol of the Delard royal family.

'A carriage carrying royalty.'

As Kal muttered to himself and started to walk again.

"Hey, you with the orange hair."

Someone called him from the carriage.

Turning his head with a bewildered expression, he saw a boy around his age, also in a school uniform, riding a horse and approaching him.

"What's the matter?"

"How dare you block the path of royalty passing by?"

At the boy's words, Kal scratched his head.

He had moved out of the way so as not to obstruct the carriage's passage.

Still, hearing such words, it seemed he had stumbled into trouble.

"I'm from the Central region. I'm here as a tourist, so I'm not familiar with the laws of this country. Could you please tell me how to behave when royalty passes?"

"When a royal carriage passes, you should distance yourself as much as possible."

"Yes. I understand."

Customs differ from kingdom to kingdom.

Kal chose to go along with it rather than get into trouble.

Seeing Kal's reaction, the boy, Galliburn, smirked.

"Hmph. Even if you're a commoner, if you're touring another country, you should at least learn the local customs. Consider it an honor that I, the top student of Delan Royal Academy, am personally giving you etiquette lessons as a souvenir of your visit to Delard."

"That's very kind of you."

Kal smiled faintly.

No matter where you go, there are always such people among the nobles.

'I'm glad I didn't come with the prince.'

Kal thought of Duran, the crown prince of his home kingdom, his classmate at the academy, and his dorm mate.

The morning after the summer break began.

An invitation flew into Kal's room.

The sender was none other than the Dragon Lord.

Just as he was exclaiming and about to have breakfast in the kitchen.

'Kal Thomas, you got an invitation too?'

Kal, who had just taken a bite of the toast served for breakfast, almost choked when he saw Duran burst into the kitchen.

Recalling his parents, who were in a commotion at the sudden visit of royalty, the crown prince, especially in the morning, Kal sighed deeply.

With talk of bringing glory to the family, Kal was kicked out of his seat, and Duran shamelessly enjoyed a lavish breakfast at Kal's house.

'Mom, what about my breakfast?'

'You'll eat after His Highness the Crown Prince is done.'

Kal grumbled internally, recalling Duran who brazenly barged into someone else's house, ate their food shamelessly, and even dictated when he could eat.

'Does the territory of the Flove family refer to Leo Flove's territory?'

'I suppose so? By the way, why did you barge in so early in the morning when you could just talk to your friends via magical communication?'

'Hmph, only a select few received an invitation. I've already confirmed with several people.'

It seemed he had sent magical messages to his Lumern classmates from dawn to confirm.

After roughly checking the information, Duran left immediately.

Kal almost went with him, but he planned to go to Leo's house earlier than other students to hang out with Leo.

'If I had come with him, there would have been chaos.'

Kal muttered to himself.

Suddenly, the carriage door opened.

All the Delan Royal Academy students escorting the carriage were startled and dismounted, kneeling.

The Delan Royal Academy student who had been boasting to Kal also hurriedly knelt and glanced at Kal, giving him a look.

"It's the Crown Prince of the Delard Kingdom. Hurry…"

"Isn't that Kal Thomas from Lumern Academy? Leo's friend."

"So you're the Crown Prince. Have you been well?"

Kal paid his respects.

It was Prince Deben, the Crown Prince of the Delard Kingdom, whom he had met through Leo during the previous summit.

At the mention of Lumern, Galliburn, the Delan Royal Academy student who had been boasting to Kal, glared.

"It seems you plan to spend your vacation here in Delard."

"Yes, Leo invited me."

Kal smiled faintly.

Despite being a commoner, he had become accustomed to etiquette due to his cunning nature and his affiliation with the Nobles, a group of students from prominent families.

Prince Deben, watching Kal, nodded and then glanced at Galliburn with an apologetic expression.

"I hope our Royal Academy student didn't cause any offense."

"I believe it's understandable if one doesn't know."

Kal replied slyly.

Galliburn, who had been bowing his head, turned pale.

"Since we met like this, why don't I give you a ride to the Flove family's mansion?"

"You don't have to go to such trouble."

"Please don't refuse. In fact, I have something I'd like to ask your advice on."

"Advice?"

"Yes, it's about the Hero Records."

At the mention of Hero Records, Kal's expression turned momentarily bewildered.

"Lately, many items suspected to be fragments of Hero Records have been found in our kingdom. Today, we were moving selected items to the palace. As a student of Lumern Academy, you must have encountered many Hero Records, right?"

Prince Deben smiled faintly.

"Please take a look at those items."

Hero Records are powerful items whose mere discovery can change the balance of a nation.

As such, countless fakes are produced.

'Still, I can't refuse a request from a country's crown prince.'

Kal scratched his cheek and said,

"As I am still a student, I hope you won't rely too much on my judgment."

"Don't worry about that."

Kal got into Prince Deben's carriage.

Inside the carriage, Kal noticed an ornate chest in the center.

As Prince Deben's hand touched the magic-sealed chest, a magic circle appeared.

*Click-*

With the sound of a lock opening, the chest opened.

Inside were many pieces of paper imbued with mana.

'So it's these kinds of items.'

Fragments of old magic books or summoning scrolls that possess magical or spiritual power are often suspected of being Hero Records.

'Luna, the Ancestor of the Nebula? Wow, even the King of Wisdom.'

Kal let out a hollow laugh internally upon finding pieces of paper bearing the names of great heroes.

'Well, since records of great heroes are scarce and difficult to verify, most forged Hero Records are related to great heroes. There are an enormous number related to the Hero of Beginning.'

Kal examined the records and classified those that were clearly fakes.

"In my opinion, these records are highly likely to be forged."

"Is that so? Then why didn't you exclude this one?"

Prince Deben held up a piece of paper that was almost burned away.

It was a small piece of paper with 'Arion' faintly written on it.

"Usually, records related to great heroes are in many small fragments. Of course, it would be better to consult experts rather than me."

Prince Deben nodded at Kal's words.

By then, the carriage had arrived in front of the Flove family's mansion.

"If you have the chance, please visit the palace with Leo."

"Thank you for your hospitality."

Kal waved goodbye to the departing royal carriage.

"Why are you getting off our country's royal carriage?"

"Oh! Leo! How's your vacation going?"

Kal greeted warmly at the voice from behind.

"We ran into each other by chance."

Leo chuckled, watching Kal shrug, and opened the main gate.

"How's your vacation going?"

"So-so."

"Homework? Can you at least show me what you've done?"

"Do as you please."

"Kuh~ You're the best, friend!"

Kal thanked Leo and walked away.

Watching Kal's receding figure, Leo muttered to himself.

'You probably won't have time to do your homework, Kal.'

***

"This is the first time since Chelsea that a friend of Leo's has come to visit."

That evening.

Kal was warmly welcomed by Leo's father, Dayd, and Reyna.

"Thank you for the welcome."

Kal greeted Dayd.

"Hey, Kal, does Leo have any friends in the Knight Department? It's a shame only magic students come to visit."

Reyna cupped her cheeks and looked disappointed, so Kal said,

"There's a girl named Chen Xia and another named Iliana. Does Leo not talk much about his school life?"

"He doesn't talk much about his friends."

Reyna, licking her lips, asked,

"Do you really not have a girlfriend? You're the student council president, so you must be popular."

"I don't have a girlfriend. But I'm the most popular male student in the second year. I receive letters several times a day."

"Oho. Oho."

Reyna's eyes sparkled.

Kal told her about Leo's school life.

Leo simply smiled as he listened to Kal's stories.

Watching him, Reyna grumbled,

"He really acts like an old man when you look at him."

"Say he's mature."

"There's a limit to being mature."

Reyna shook her head at Leo's words.

"Isn't your nickname at school something like 'Old Man' or something? Hey, Kal, what's Leo's nickname at school?"

Reyna, having heard about her son's school life, looked a little excited.

Kal replied calmly,

"Demon King."

"Demon King?"

"Yes, they call him Leo the Demon King because of the aura he showed during the midterm exams."

"Why are your nicknames so far from being heroic?"

Reyna said, clicking her tongue.

"Anyway, you guys have it tough too. A training camp during your vacation."

Reyna, who already knew about the training camp, spoke.

"Well, it's good for team building. It's not in a dangerous area, but it's in the Flove family's territory. There will be clean beds and meals, so it's fine."

'He doesn't know yet, does he?'

As the lady of the Flove family, Reyna had gone to the training camp location selected by the Dragon Lord.

And she had seen the banner.

"Hey, Kal."

"Yes?"

"Eat more."

"Ah, I'm full."

"No. Eat as much delicious food as you can."

Feeling a sense of unease at Reyna's pitying gaze, Kal turned to Leo next to him.

"Hey, Leo."

"What?"

"Do you have any idea what the training camp is like? It's being held in your territory."

The Dragon Lord chose the Flove family's territory out of many places, likely due to Leo, the student council president and an all-rounder.

Therefore, Kal expected Leo to know something.

At Kal's question, Leo silently transferred the main dish from his plate to Kal's.

Seeing that, Kal smiled a mournful smile.

'We're doomed.'