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 center.”
Cal tugged at his collar, shaking it to ward off the heat, and shielded his eyes with his other palm, looking up at the sky.
The scorching, intense sunlight made the summer distinctly palpable.
“It would be great if Chloe were here at a time like this.”
Thinking of the ice mage, Cal clicked his tongue regretfully and looked around.
In Cal’s hometown, the Moira Kingdom or Rumeria City, one could easily buy cool drinks or ice cream from street vendors on such sweltering days.
‘Is it because it’s a rural kingdom? There’s nothing like that here.’
The Moira Kingdom, located in the central continent, was small but a strategic hub with countless people and goods passing through, and Rumeria City was, as its name suggested, a city so developed it was called the center of the world.
As such, the city’s infrastructure was also well-developed, but here, in the western frontier kingdom of Delrad, there was nothing of the sort.
‘If I started a business here, it would be a huge hit. Since it’s the capital, they must have some money, right?’
Cal pondered, looking at the streets of Delan.
How much could he earn if he made money here throughout the summer vacation?
He imagined it but soon sighed softly.
‘It’s a shame I don’t have much time to stay here.’
As Cal clicked his tongue and began to walk,
A group of students dressed in what looked like school uniforms were riding horses down the street.
They were walking as if escorting a carriage.
Cal checked the flag on the carriage and moved out of the way.
The symbol of the Delrad royal family was embroidered on it.
‘It’s a carriage carrying royalty.’
Just as Cal mumbled to himself and was about to move on,
“Hey, orange hair.”
Someone from the carriage called out to Cal.
He turned his head with a puzzled expression, and there, a boy about Cal’s age, dressed in a school uniform, was riding a horse toward him.
“What’s wrong?”
“How dare you block the way when royalty is passing by?”
Cal scratched his head at the boy’s words.
Cal had moved out of the way so as not to obstruct the carriage.
Yet, seeing these words come out, it seemed he had gotten entangled in something troublesome.
“I’m from the central continent. I’m here as a tourist, so I’m unfamiliar with the laws of this country. Could you tell me what to do when royalty passes by?”
“It is polite to stay as far away as possible when a royal carriage passes.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Each kingdom had different etiquette.
Cal chose to let it pass rather than get involved in something bothersome.
Seeing Cal, the boy, Gullivern, curled up the corners of his mouth.
“Hmph. No matter how common you are, if you’re a tourist in another country, you should at least understand that country’s etiquette before coming. Consider it an honor that I, the top student of Delan Royal Academy, personally gave you etiquette guidance as a memento of your visit to Delrad.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
Cal smiled faintly.
No matter where you go, there are always nobles of this type.
‘It’s a relief I didn’t come with the prince.’
Cal thought of Duran, the crown prince of his birth kingdom, his academy classmate, and his roommate in the same dormitory.
The day after the summer vacation began, in the morning.
An invitation had flown into Cal’s room.
The sender was none other than the Dragon Lord.
Just as he was about to exclaim and have breakfast in the kitchen.
‘Cal Thomas, did you also receive an invitation?’
Cal, who had just taken a bite of toast for breakfast, nearly choked when he saw Duran suddenly barge into the kitchen.
Thinking of his parents, who had been thrown into a commotion by the sudden visit of royalty, especially the crown prince, early in the morning, Cal sighed deeply to himself.
Talking about the family’s glory and whatnot, Cal was kicked out of his seat, and Duran shamelessly received lavish treatment for breakfast at Cal’s house.
‘Mom, what about my breakfast?’
‘You can eat after His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has finished.’
Cal grumbled to himself, recalling Duran, who had boldly intruded into someone else’s house, shamelessly eaten someone else’s food, and even granted permission to eat.
‘If it’s the Flobe family’s territory, does that mean Leo Flobe’s territory?’
‘Probably? Anyway, why barge in early in the morning when you can just talk to your friends via magic communication?’
‘Hmph, only a very small number received invitations. I’ve already confirmed with several people.’
It seemed he had sent magic communications to his Rumerun classmates early in the morning to confirm.
After roughly checking the information, Duran left.
He had almost accompanied him, but Cal was planning to go to Leo’s house earlier than other students to hang out with Leo.
‘It would have been a mess if we had come together.’
Just as Cal was mumbling to himself,
Suddenly, the carriage door opened.
All the Delan Royal Academy students escorting the carriage were startled and dismounted their horses, kneeling.
The Delan Royal Academy student who had been showing off to Cal also hurriedly knelt, glancing up at Cal and signaling with his eyes.
“It’s His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Delrad Kingdom. Quickly…”
“Isn’t that Cal Thomas, a student of Rumerun Academy? Sir Leo’s friend.”
“Your Royal Highness. Have you been well?”
Cal bowed respectfully.
It was Prince Deven, the Crown Prince of the Delrad Kingdom, whom he had met through Leo during the last summit.
At the mention of Rumerun, Gullivern, the Delan Royal Academy student who had been showing off to Cal, widened his eyes.
“It seems you’ll be spending your vacation here in Delrad.”
“Yes, I was invited by Leo.”
Cal smiled faintly.
Though a commoner, he was cunning, and being part of Noble, an organization of students from prestigious families, he had become accustomed to etiquette.
Prince Deven, who had been watching Cal and then nodded, glanced at Gullivern and showed an apologetic expression.
“I wonder if our royal academy student has committed an indiscretion.”
“I believe it’s understandable if one is unaware.”
Cal replied slyly.
At that, Gullivern, who had been bowing his head, turned pale.
“Since we’ve met like this, it’s fate. I’ll take you to the Flobe family mansion.”
“You don’t have to go to that trouble.”
“Don’t decline. In fact, there’s something I’d like to consult you about.”
“Consult me?”
“Yes, it’s about Hero Records.”
At the mention of Hero Records, Cal momentarily wore a puzzled expression.
“Recently, many items suspected of being fragments of Hero Records have been discovered within our kingdom. In fact, today we were transporting selected items among them to the royal palace. As a Rumerun Academy student, you must have encountered many Hero Records, haven’t you?”
Prince Deven smiled faintly.
“Please take a look at those items for me.”
Hero Records are powerful artifacts whose discovery alone can change the fate of a nation.
As such, countless fakes are rampant.
‘But I can’t refuse a request from a crown prince of a nation either.’
Cal scratched his cheek and said,
“As I am still a student, I hope you won’t put too much trust in my judgment.”
“Don’t worry about that part.”
Cal boarded Prince Deven’s carriage.
Inside the carriage, Cal found a luxurious chest in the center.
As Prince Deven’s hand touched the magically sealed chest, a magic circle appeared.
Click-!
With the sound of a lock opening, the chest opened.
Inside were numerous paper fragments imbued with mana.
‘As expected, these are the kinds of items.’
Fragments of ancient magic books or summoning scrolls imbued with magical power or spiritual power are often suspected of being Hero Records.
‘Luna, the progenitor of the nebula? Wow, even the King of Wisdom.’
Cal let out a hollow laugh to himself upon finding paper fragments with the names of great heroes written on them.
‘Well, since there are hardly any records of great heroes left, it’s difficult to determine authenticity, so among the forged Hero Records, those related to great heroes are indeed the most numerous. There are an awful lot related to the Hero of Beginnings.’
Cal examined the records, classifying those that were clearly fakes.
“In my opinion, there’s a very high probability that these records are forgeries.”
“I see. But why didn’t you exclude this one?”
Prince Deven held up a paper fragment that was almost burnt away.
It was a small piece of paper faintly inscribed with ‘Arion’.
“Usually, records related to great heroes often consist of such small fragments. Well, actually, it would be better to commission experts rather than me.”
Prince Deven nodded at Cal’s words.
By now, the carriage had arrived in front of the Flobe family mansion.
“If you have a chance, please visit the royal palace with Sir Leo.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
Cal bowed to the departing prince’s carriage.
“Why are you getting out of our country’s crown prince’s carriage?”
“Oh! Leo! Are you having a good vacation?”
Cal greeted cheerfully at the voice from behind him.
“I ran into him by chance on the way.”
Leo chuckled, looking at Cal, who shrugged his shoulders, and opened the main gate.
“Are you having a good vacation?”
“So-so.”
“Homework? Can’t you at least show me what you’ve done?”
“Do as you please.”
“Wow~ There’s really no one like you! My friend!”
Cal thanked Leo and walked on.
Looking at Cal’s retreating back, Leo mumbled to himself.
‘You probably won’t have time for homework, Cal.’
***
“It’s the first time Leo has had a school friend over since Chelsea.”
That evening.
Cal was welcomed by Leo’s father, Dayde, and Reina.
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
Cal greeted Dayde.
“Oh, Cal. Does Leo not have any friends from the knight department? It’s a shame only children from the magic department come to visit.”
Reina cupped her cheeks with a regretful expression, and Cal said,
“There are Chen Sia and Iliana. But does Leo not talk much about his school life?”
“No. Our son doesn’t talk much about his friends.”
Reina, who was clicking her tongue, asked,
“Do you really not have a girlfriend? As student council president, you must be very popular.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend. But he’s the most popular male student in the second year. He receives letters several times a day.”
“Oh ho. Oh ho.”
Reina’s eyes sparkled.
Cal talked about Leo’s school life.
Leo merely smiled, listening to Cal’s story.
Watching him, Reina grumbled,
“He looks so much like an old man when I just watch him.”
“Please say ‘mature’.”
“There’s a limit to being mature.”
Reina shook her head at Leo’s words.
“Isn’t your nickname at school ‘old man’ or something like that? Hey, Cal. What’s Leo’s nickname at school?”
Reina looked a little excited, hearing about her son’s school life.
To that, Cal calmly said,
“Demon King.”
“Demon King?”
“Yes, because of the aura he showed during the midterms, the kids call him Demon King Leo.”
“Why is your nickname so far from being a hero?”
Reina clicked her tongue and said,
“Anyway, you guys are suffering. It’s vacation, but you can’t play, and it’s a training camp.”
Reina, who already knew about the training camp, said,
“Well, it’s good because we can also foster camaraderie. It’s not in a dangerous area; it’s in the Flobe family territory. There will be clean beds and meals, you know.”
‘He doesn’t seem to know yet.’
As the mistress of the Flobe family, Reina had visited the training camp location selected by the Dragon Lord.
And she had seen the banner.
“Hey, Cal.”
“Yes?”
“Eat more.”
“Ah, I’m full.”
“No. Eat as much delicious food as you can.”
Cal felt a sense of unease seeing Reina look at him with pity and spoke to Leo next to him.
“Hey, Leo.”
“What?”
“Do you have any idea what kind of training camp it is? It’s being held in your territory.”
The Dragon Lord choosing the Flobe family territory out of so many places must be largely due to the influence of Leo, who was the student council president and an all-class student.
As such, Cal expected Leo to know something.
In response to Cal’s question, Leo silently scooped the main dish from his plate onto Cal’s plate.
Seeing that, Cal gave a mournful smile.
‘We’re dead.’