Book 1 Chapter 427

The Ploeb family's territory was a peaceful countryside estate.

The estate had vast vineyards where high-quality grapes were cultivated.

The wine produced from these grapes was quite popular within the kingdom.

"Wow. The wine cellar is magnificent!"

Karl exclaimed as he looked at the wine cellar of the Ploeb main house.

"I know, right? I was getting bored waiting, so it's fortunate there's good wine," a voice replied from within the wine cellar, causing Karl to turn his head.

Upon seeing the mage there, his eyes widened.

"Senior Torua?"

"Hello, Karl Thomas. Juen said she owes you a great debt?"

Torua, belonging to the Southern Mage Tower, showed a favorable reaction to Karl, who was Juen's mentor.

"As a mentor, I just did what I had to do."

"Why are you so excited?"

"Hey, Leo. It's Senior Torua. Senior Torua," Karl said excitedly in response to Leo.

"The beauty who vied for first and second place in popularity in the Magic Department with Senior Elena last year!"

"So what?"

"Senior Elena was scary, so no one could approach her, but Senior Torua was kind to many juniors. Still, it was hard to even say a word to her in my first year, and to meet her like this after graduation."

Torua held a position that prevented first-year students from daring to speak to her, being the vice president of the student council and one of the top five strongest students at Lumine.

Especially for Karl, who was consistently last among his peers.

Seeing Karl's moved expression, Leo shook his head.

Smiling at Karl, Torua put down her wine glass and approached him.

"You're a good junior who respects your seniors. Look, Leo. Learn from your friend. What's with that indifferent attitude towards your senior?"

"I'm not in the Magic Department."

"Well, you must be busy with your student council duties. Anyway, I'm glad the current student council president is from the Magic Department."

Leo decided to just go with it. He already knew Torua was someone he couldn't reason with.

"Karl Thomas. I want to repay Juen for her debt."

Torua extended both hands, clasped Karl's, and smiled.

Karl blushed shyly at Torua, who exuded a mature aura.

"You don't have to."

"No, I want to repay you. Since you're skilled in alchemy, how about we conduct some potion experiments together?"

"It would be an honor if Senior Torua were to help!"

"Yes, Karl. What do you think is the most basic qualification of a mage?"

"Inquiry?"

"Excellent, very excellent. Then, what action do you take to conduct that inquiry?"

"…Experiment?"

"Amazing, amazing." Torua applauded, impressed.

Karl chuckled, scratching his head at Torua's reaction. Despite being older, Torua, looking at him with a somewhat flushed face, felt like a child.

"Then, what's the most important thing in that experiment?"

"Research."

"No, the test subject."

The moment he heard that, Karl instinctively knew something was wrong.

"Karl, you inherited Master Deweno's alchemy book, didn't you? Were there any potions in it that were dangerous or had questionable effects, needing a test subject?"

"No, there weren't."

"Yes, that's a lie." Torua smiled brightly at Karl, her answer already decided.

Karl didn't hesitate and ran away.

But he was immediately caught by Torua.

"L-Leo! Save me!"

"Heeheehee! You can't go."

Torua, holding onto the pale-faced Karl, let out a witch-like laugh.

Leo looked at his friend with pity and said, "You won't die."

"Leo's right. Would I kill my junior? You might suffer enough to want to die, though."

"I don't want that either!"

Leaving Karl screaming in terror, Leo exited the wine cellar. He knew that if it wasn't him, Torua would latch onto him. Leo knew all too well that a mage who has awakened to inquiry could be the most troublesome existence.

'Kyle, let's do magic experiments together.'

Leo shook his head, recalling Luna, who always approached with a bright smile and various experimental tools in her hands.

A moment later.

Karl, having barely escaped Torua, emerged from the wine cellar and asked, "Why on earth is Senior Torua here?"

"I heard she was invited as a training instructor this time."

"Senior Torua?"

"Yes. In addition, Brother Rhys, and Seniors Ultah and Jamua will also be coming."

Karl clicked his tongue at the news that last year's graduates would be instructors.

"Are graduates from other Hero Academies coming too?"

"Wouldn't they be?"

"This is going to be insane." Karl shook his head. Last year's graduates from Lumine, as well as Seyrun, Azonia, and Demian, were all promising candidates who had achieved great success after graduation. And now they were all coming.

"I wonder if this is going to turn into a competition between schools again."

Leo, who had planned this training camp through Melina, chuckled inwardly.

'No, that's exactly why I invited them.'

***

That evening.

A second guest arrived at the mansion in the Ploeb family's estate.

"Hmph, it's completely a countryside estate." Eliza, standing at the mansion's gate, scoffed lightly and knocked.

A moment later, the door opened, and Reina appeared.

"Oh my? Who is this beautiful young lady?"

"Hello, my name is Eliza Hergin." Eliza politely greeted Reina, who welcomed her warmly. Eliza's etiquette was very refined, as she knew Reina was a senior who had graduated from Lumine a long time ago.

"Ah, I remember now. You're a student from the Summoning Department, right? Come in." Reina, who greeted Eliza warmly, led her into the mansion. As they passed through the main gate and headed towards the living room, Leo and Karl were there.

"Oh, Eliza."

"Hmph, you're already here. Karl Thomas." Karl greeted her warmly, but Eliza scoffed.

"You came early. The gathering isn't until tomorrow morning?"

"I hate crowds. Well, I don't particularly enjoy being with you either… but I thought Karl Thomas would be here early." Eliza, speaking in her characteristic sharp voice, greeted Reina.

"Thank you for guiding me, Lady Reina Ploeb."

"You must be tired from your journey, so please rest comfortably."

Since there were no warp gates in the Ploeb family's territory, one had to travel long distances from neighboring territories.

"Thank you for your consideration." Eliza bowed gracefully, befitting the successor of a prominent hero family representing the northern region of the continent. She then approached the sofa in the living room and sat next to Karl. Seeing this, Reina covered her mouth and chuckled. Eliza, tidying her nails, said, "Tea." When Karl looked at her blankly, Eliza said, "I purchased a temporary errand service from you for next semester, didn't I?"

"Ah, that's not valid during the vacation season."

"Hmph." Eliza reached into her pocket and pulled out a white piece of paper held between her index and middle fingers. "I will serve you with all my heart. Young lady." Karl, quickly taking the check, ran off.

"Leo Ploeb, since the training camp is being held in your territory, I assume you've already discussed things with the Dragon Lord?" Eliza said as she manicured her nails.

"What's the plan for the training camp?"

"The goal is to get a little closer to the ideal each person is aiming for during this training camp. For someone like you, Eliza, the goal is to contract with a Pegasus, right?"

"Hmph, you say it like it's easy just because you contracted with a Pegasus."

"Aren't the preparations for the contract complete?" Leo smiled faintly.

"The medium and the contract subject are already prepared, aren't they?" The Hergin family had a tradition of contracting with the three great mythical beasts. Among them, Eliza had the aptitude to be the Pegasus's contractor. As soon as she became the successor, the Pegasus and the medium for the contract were already prepared.

"Isn't it just up to you to be ready?"

"You." Just as Eliza's expression turned indignant at Leo's provocative words.

"No, Young Master Leo. Eliza is simple-minded; if you provoke her like that, she'll immediately do something reckless."

"Kyaaaaaaaaaak?!" At the voice from the side, Eliza shrieked in alarm. Chen Xia was already sitting next to Eliza, smiling sweetly.

"Xia! How many times have I told you not to startle me by appearing out of nowhere!" Eliza shouted in a high-pitched voice, glaring. Chen Xia, covering her cheek, said, "But Eliza looks cute when she's surprised."

"Please don't find me cute." Eliza looked slightly unnerved by Chen Xia's gaze, which seemed to have a hint of sadism.

"What's going on?" Reina came into the living room, having heard Eliza's scream. Chen Xia stood up and offered a traditional Eastern greeting by clasping her left fist with her right hand. "Hello, Lady Reina. My name is Chen Xia. We met before, do you remember?"

"Of course, I remember. I've heard a lot about you since then."

"Did Young Master Leo talk about me a lot?" Chen Xia asked, widening her eyes, but Reina shook her head.

"No, Karl told me." Karl, who had brought tea and snacks, made a V-sign towards Chen Xia. As Karl handed the tea tray to Eliza, Reina asked, "So, Xia, what's your relationship with my son?"

"I serve Young Master Leo with my body and soul."

"Pfft. Cough! Cough!" Eliza, who was sipping tea, sputtered it out involuntarily.

"What! A student!" Eliza sputtered, her face flushed. Karl, standing next to her, chuckled sinisterly and said, "Because Sia owes Leo a debt. What are you imagining… Huk!" Eliza punched Karl in the side. Hearing Chen Xia's words, Reina covered her cheek with her right hand, looking slightly troubled. "Son, you had Celia work as a maid before, and now an older woman says she serves you with her body and soul. Mom is a little worried about your taste."

"What do you mean, maid?" Karl, clutching his side and groaning, widened his eyes. At Reina's words, Leo sighed.

"Celia, she offered to be my maid because she lost a bet, and Sia is doing this even though I told her not to. What does it have to do with my taste?"

"What about Celia?"

"What is Celia Zeidinger?" Chen Xia and Eliza asked in unison at Leo's words.

"Last year, Celia was Leo's maid for a while. She was so cute. I even took pictures, want to see?"

"Yes! She must be so cute." Chen Xia said with a bright smile as Reina went to find the photos. Eliza also seemed interested and glanced towards Reina. Seeing this, Leo said, "Our classmates really get along well."

"What do you mean?"

"They always try to find weaknesses to tease each other."

"Is that what you call getting along well?" Karl, still holding his side, looked bewildered.

"Yes, it is."

'Tomorrow will be chaos.' Karl shook his head, picturing Celia yelling with fire in her eyes.