Book 1 Chapter 488

Chloe, reputed to be the top honors student in the Department of Magic, and Kal, who has eccentric and creative ideas about alchemy.

And Chen Xia, who has been consistently educated in handling poisons since childhood as a shadow.

The combination of the three was optimized for the commission requested by the Northern Magic Tower.

Thanks to this, they were able to complete the commission earlier than other students.

After completing the commission, Chloe and Kal, who were in the Department of Magic, decided to stay at the Northern Magic Tower for a few more days.

After all, classes at Lumen would not be held during the remaining commission period.

For students who finished the commission early, it meant they were given free time.

Therefore, Chloe and Kal decided to stay at the Northern Magic Tower and conduct various magic experiments.

Unlike the two, Chen Xia returned to Lumen immediately.

As a student of the Department of Knights, she had no business at the magic tower, but what was decisive was hearing about Leo from the shadows.

"To think that such a big event happened and I couldn't help Lord Leo."

Blaming herself, Chen Xia decided she should go and help Leo, who would be alone in the dormitory.

Of course, there was also a somewhat selfish thought involved.

"It's also an opportunity to be alone with him."

Lumen itself is a communal living environment, so there were few opportunities to be alone with Leo.

Of course, she wasn't complaining.

In fact, school life was very enjoyable.

"It's all thanks to Lord Leo."

Until her first year, Chen Xia couldn't fully enjoy her life at Lumen.

At that time, Chen Xia wanted to be a hero but thought she didn't deserve to be one, so it was understandable that she felt burdened.

Now that she has received positive affirmation from Leo and has shed that burden, simply socializing with friends was enjoyable.

It was like spending enjoyable time with children her own age for the first time in her life.

However, on the other hand, she also strongly desired to spend more intimate time with Leo.

Chen Xia, who arrived at Lumen in the early morning, tidied her uniform in front of the dormitory and went inside.

Thinking Leo would be asleep, she naturally suppressed her presence.

"Huh?"

Then she felt a presence towards the lounge and headed there.

And the moment she opened the door.

She froze upon seeing an elf girl embracing Leo, who was lying on the sofa.

"What is this?"

"S-sorry! Huh?!"

The elf girl, Eiran, who was trying to get up in a panic, ended up sitting on Leo, who was lying down.

Watching this, Chen Xia fell into thought to assess the situation.

"Why is Miss Eiran at Lumen?"

It was already a question why Eiran, the second-highest-ranking student of Seirun's second year, was in Lumen's second-year dormitory.

Chen Xia casually turned her head and looked at the lounge table.

Empty liquor bottles and the stimulating smell of alcohol.

On top of that, Eiran sitting on Leo.

"Yeah, I have no idea what's going on."

In the end, Chen Xia failed to grasp the situation.

"I'm sorry! Lord Leo! I'm sorry!"

Seeing Eiran apologizing in a panic, Leo raised his upper body.

"Hah?!"

Eiran gasped as their faces became so close that she could feel their breaths mingling.

Leo put his hands under Eiran's armpits, who was on top of him.

And he lightly lifted Eiran and set her down on the floor.

Leo, who got up, asked Chen Xia, "You're back early? Where are Chloe and Kal?"

"The two of them decided to stay at the Northern Magic Tower a little longer. By the way, why is Miss Eiran here? And… what exactly were you doing?"

As Chen Xia spoke with a hint of suspicion, Eiran hastily made an excuse.

"Ah, I've decided to study at Lumen as an exchange student for a while."

"Exchange student?"

"Yes."

"Then what was that situation just now?"

"Ah! That's because I kept bothering Lord Leo all night, and I was trying to cover him with a blanket."

"What? Bother him all night?"

Chen Xia's eyes wavered for a moment.

Watching Eiran further complicate the situation, Leo sighed and said, "Don't get the wrong idea. I just told him some stories about ancient heroes all night."

"Ah."

"What on earth were you imagining?"

"Your postures were so scandalous that I thought… well, I just hoped."

Eiran, whose ears turned red at Chen Xia's words, lowered her head.

Seeing Eiran like that, Chen Xia, who covered her mouth and laughed, said, "Welcome to Lumen, Miss Eiran."

***

"Did Miss Lunia not come as an exchange student?"

That morning.

The three, who decided to have breakfast in front of the restaurant in the center of the Hero's Tower, arrived at the cafe.

While waiting for their ordered food, Chen Xia asked with a puzzled expression, "Yes, Miss Lunia became the student council president this time. She's very busy with the handover."

"Miss Lunia is diligent. Lord Leo, on the other hand, delegated all the practical work to his seniors."

"It would be strange for me, a second-year student, to run the school when there are capable seniors," Leo said nonchalantly.

"By the way, I think I'm lucky. I was able to come to Lumen as an exchange student to coincide with the Twilight Festival," Eiran said with a bright smile.

"Come to think of it, it's the Twilight Festival soon, isn't it?" Leo said listlessly, resting his chin on his hand.

The Twilight Festival.

It was a festival held once every five years in Lumaria City to commemorate the Twilight Knight, Lumen.

The reason for the five-year cycle of the festival was that it took five years to complete Lumaria City and the Lumen Academy.

During this festival, the rule that students could only go out on weekends, unless it was for a special reason, was lifted, allowing students to freely travel to and from Lumaria City.

Therefore, it was one of the festivals that Lumen students eagerly awaited.

Some students even made arrangements to stay in Lumaria City and commute to and from school with the sole intention of having fun.

After all, classes were still held during the festival period.

"There are many students who cause trouble. That's why the professors are said to have headaches during the festival period. Many students actually get caught and disciplined."

This was when Chen Xia and Eiran were talking about the Twilight Festival.

"Oh my, student Leo, student Chen Xia. And… student Eiran, isn't it?"

Someone called out to the three of them with a gentle smile.

When Leo turned his head, Mel was standing there.

"Hello, Teacher Mel."

"Ah, hello!"

Chen Xia stood up and bowed her head in greeting, and Eiran also stood up and hurriedly bowed her head.

Mel, who waved her hand lightly at the two of them, said to Leo, "Before your meal, student Leo. May I speak with you for a moment?"

"Yes."

Leo nodded and stood up.

"I'll be back in a moment."

And so, Leo followed Mel to a secluded place.

***

Eiran and Chen Xia.

When the two of them were left, an awkward silence fell.

The two knew each other by sight, but they were not close friends.

Chen Xia rested her chin on her hand, waiting for her food and Leo.

Eiran kept glancing at Chen Xia from the corner of her eye.

Chen Xia, noticing this, asked with a puzzled look, "Is there something on my face?"

"Yes?! Ah, no! It's not that…"

Eiran became flustered, then smiled shyly and said, "Because you, Miss Chen Xia, are as beautiful as a doll. You're like the princess doll I received as a gift when I was little. Of course, Miss Chen Xia, you are a real princess."

"Thank you. But you, Miss Eiran, are more like a doll than I am," Chen Xia replied, bursting into laughter.

Eiran cautiously said, "Miss Chen Xia, will you be my friend?"

"I'd be happy to."

"Wow!"

Eiran smiled brightly and rejoiced.

At her innocent appearance, Chen Xia couldn't help but smile.

"By the way, Miss Eiran, you seem to dote on Lord Leo quite a bit?"

"Yes. From the moment I first saw him, I was captivated. Lord Leo was like a hero from a fairy tale."

Eiran smiled as she recalled her first meeting with Leo.

"It's the same with me."

"As expected, Miss Chen Xia, you also like Lord Leo a lot, don't you?"

"Yes. I like him a lot."

"As expected, Miss Chen Xia, you are a lot like me," Eiran said with pure joy.

"Like?"

Chen Xia, who thought they were quite different types of people, felt puzzled by Eiran's words.

"Yes, like how you like Lord Leo. And also, all of our ancestors were disciples of the Hero of Beginnings, Kyle!"

"…You never told me that my ancestor was a disciple of Kyle."

Chen Xia tilted her head.

Eiran then looked slightly flustered and hastily said, "L-Lord Leo told me. He said he saw the story of Biharu in the Book of Shadows! He said that Biharu, like Berchia, was also a disciple of Kyle!"

"Ah, I see."

Chen Xia nodded with a smile.

'Indeed, Miss Eiran and I have a deep connection.'

Chen Xia nodded.

It was no ordinary connection.

After 5,000 years, they were descendants of those connected to the only Great Heroes left in this world.

But…

'Lord Leo is not the type to carelessly share personal matters with others.'

The Leo Chen Xia knew would not tell anyone his personal matters to others without asking Chen Xia for any reason.

Even if they had a special connection or were deeply close.

After contemplating, Chen Xia soon reached a conclusion.

'Miss Eiran knows more about Lord Leo than I do.'

Chen Xia shrewdly inferred the relationship between Leo and Eiran.

'It seems she knows some important secret of Lord Leo that I am unaware of.'

***

"Why? Did something happen?"

"No, it's not that anything serious has happened. However."

Mel hesitated for a moment and then carefully said, "Some strange things are happening in the eastern part of the continent."

"Strange things?"

Leo wore a puzzled expression.

"Yes. There have been sudden extreme weather events. In some places, despite it being late autumn, an intense cold has brought heavy snowfall."

At those words, Leo frowned.

"And there are reports that all the trees and grass in the forest have withered."

"Is it the Necromancer King?"

"They say it's not. The characteristic aura of death emitted by the Necromancer King and his subordinates has not been detected at all. They just withered as if they suddenly lost their life force."

Mel said with a grave expression.

"Lastly… there are places where the entire forest has bloomed like spring."

"Flowers?"

At the word "flowers," Leo looked bewildered.

'Flowers? Did someone cast a spell that makes flowers bloom?'

Leo had restored the spell system that Luna created to make flowers bloom.

'But there shouldn't be anyone who can use that magic properly right now?'

Leo, who had a puzzled expression, suddenly asked, "The East?"

"Yes."

"Do you happen to have a world map with you now?"

In response to Leo's question, Mel took out a world map from her subspace and unfolded it.

"Which area is the forest where those flowers bloomed?"

"It's here."

Mel pointed to the center of the eastern continent with her finger.

That was a territory of the Shan Empire.

It was a complete wilderness with no cities nearby.

Leo looked intently at that area.

'…It's roughly here.'

5,000 years ago.

Before the Great Heroes embarked on their final expedition to defeat Erebus.

A map was not needed.

In a world on the verge of ruin, a black pillar of fire that pierced the sky had risen.

The pillar of fire, which began to be visible from anywhere in the world, was literally a symbol of destruction.

The Great Heroes set off on their final journey towards that pillar of fire.

Therefore, Leo did not know where the graves of his companions were.

He only knew the approximate location by predicting the route and time.

'After 5,000 years, it's impossible for their graves to remain.'

Even for Leo, it was impossible to find graves from 5,000 years ago with only an approximate location.

However, the location where the abnormal situation occurred, and the fact that one of them was "flowers," caught his attention.

The place where the abnormal situation is occurring in the east now.

'Luna died in this vicinity.'