Book 1 Chapter 550

The world's attention turned to Lumen as a being claiming to be a god, Rian, appeared.

"Wow… it's completely chaotic."

Early in the morning.

Leo looked at Iliana, who was sitting in the dormitory lounge reading a newspaper, with a puzzled expression.

"What's with you reading a newspaper?"

At his words, Iliana narrowed her eyes and said.

"What's with me! What's with me! How can you say something so rude?"

Iliana folded the newspaper, straightened her back, and said seriously.

"We're going to be third-years soon, aren't we? New juniors will be coming in below us."

"And so?"

"We have to show them what it's like to be a senior."

As Iliana, imitating a lady, gracefully swept her hair aside, some male students passing by the lounge secretly made gagging gestures.

"How is it? Do I look like a noble lady?"

"You're trying something that doesn't suit you."

Iliana didn't care about Leo's words.

She simply turned a page of the newspaper with an elegant gesture.

Seeing that, Leo placed one of the mugs he was holding down in front of Iliana.

"Here's the coffee you asked for."

"Thank you. I was always curious about the taste of the coffee the president made whenever the vice president read the newspaper."

Iliana leisurely reached for the cup, muttered "Mmm~ the aroma is good," and took a sip of coffee.

"Gack?! Ptooey! Ptooey! What is this? Why is it so bitter?!"

"You asked for the same thing as me?"

"Ugh! Why are you drinking this tasteless stuff?!"

"I had a friend who enjoyed drinking it."

Leo answered as he sipped his coffee.

5000 years ago.

There was a brief period of peace in Gardesron.

On such peaceful mornings, Lissinas often ate this bitter coffee.

"Iliana, I brought you some cocoa, do you want to drink it?"

"Cocoa!"

Iliana quickly accepted the cup Chloe handed her.

"As expected! Cocoa is the best on a cool autumn day!"

"She says that, but she's acting like a noble lady."

"She's completely childish."

From all around, there were sounds of people tutting.

Of course, Iliana completely ignored them and elegantly spread open the newspaper.

"Even though they say that, why don't you say anything?"

"Chloe, adults don't pay attention to what children say."

Iliana said with a relaxed expression, letting out a "Hmph-"

"Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning!"

Chen Xia and Eiran entered the lounge.

Chen Xia, who had just finished her morning training, sat in the empty seat next to Iliana.

Then she poured some tea from the teapot on the table and took a sip.

"I always feel like your every move has a sense of grace, like a princess. Ah, of course, you are a real princess. Hahahaha."

Eiran covered her mouth and chuckled.

"Cough."

Iliana cleared her throat lightly.

"Eiran, don't you feel something from me?"

"Yes? What?"

"Like grace, or like a princess."

"Yes?"

As Eiran looked at them with a look of bewilderment, bursts of laughter erupted from around.

"You guys! I've been patient, but now!"

"You said adults don't care about children's reactions!"

"Do you think adults have to endure everything!"

Iliana shrieked and chased after those who had laughed at her.

"It's noisy in the morning, Lumen as expected."

"Miss Lunia, are you all ready to go back to Seirun?"

"Yes."

Unlike Eiran, who was in Lumen as an exchange student, Lunia was scheduled to return to Seirun today.

Leo opened the newspaper Iliana had left behind.

Lunia, who leaned against the back of the sofa where Leo was sitting, said while looking at the newspaper.

"It's all about god since yesterday."

"It's the first appearance of a god in 5000 years."

"Hmm, and there are also many articles about the heroes of the Great Opening."

The newspaper featured extensive articles about the heroes of the Great Opening.

As Lunia carefully examined the contents, she narrowed her eyes.

"But there's no article related to you?"

"It didn't come out today either?"

Eiran approached Lunia and looked at the newspaper contents from behind Leo.

There were countless articles about gods and the heroes of the Great Opening, but no articles about Leo.

"Leo-nim is the hero who will confront Erebus, officially recognized by the gods, so why isn't there any mention of him?"

"The interests of human society are much more complexly intertwined than you think, Eiran."

Chen Xia said, putting down her teacup.

"God revealed the truth about the age of disaster that we didn't know. That the Hero of the Beginning was the only one who could defeat Erebus, and…"

Chen Xia glanced at Leo.

"That, following the Hero of the Beginning, only Leo-doryeong can defeat Erebus."

"If that's the case, shouldn't you give Leo-nim more support? It means Leo-nim is the only savior of this world."

"Being a unique and special existence naturally means that the public will follow Leo. That also means immense power. That's what's called power, so to speak."

Lunia sighed and said.

"We've already seen it, haven't we? Those who distort the will of their predecessors for their own benefit."

"Ugh! Pureblood Association…"

Chloe shrugged at Eiran, who muttered softly.

"It's the same wherever people live."

As Leo listened to his friends' conversation and flipped through the newspaper, his gaze fell on an article.

It was an article titled "[Rodren Empire Eastern Rebellion]."

"Hmm."

As the Gerdinger family, a renowned hero family in the Rodren Empire, was his maternal lineage, it was an article that naturally caught his eye.

'It doesn't seem like a major issue for now.'

After checking the contents of the article, Leo closed the newspaper.

'I'll have to ask the kids from the Rodren Empire about it later.'

***

"A god has reappeared in the world! And because of that, we have re-realized what we must do! Student Cal! Announce what that is!"

Professor Sedjen said passionately.

Cal, who was called upon by Professor Sedjen's words, replied with a serious expression.

"Even if the world undergoes a drastic change, the student cannot escape the tragic fate of having to study in the classroom."

Laughter erupted from all around at his answer.

"Hmm, hmm! Indeed, that's a typical answer from student Cal! Student Celia!"

"I'll leave the rest to you."

Cal winked at Celia next to him, giving her a thumbs-up.

At his cheeky demeanor, Chelsea, who was listening to the lecture with her chin propped in her hand right behind Cal, clicked her tongue.

"You idiot, Professor Sedjen called on Celia Gerdinger to punish you."

"Huh? Gak!"

Celia's fist dug into Cal's side.

Celia snorted as she watched Cal writhe pathetically on the floor, clutching his side.

"Indeed, student Cal. You're the kind of student who narrowly avoids failing. Shall student Teide from the Summoning Department, who was next to you, answer instead of student Cal?"

Teide, casting a sympathetic glance at his friend writhing on the floor, replied.

"To subjugate the flames of disaster."

"That's right."

Sedjen nodded with a serious expression.

"For us, the complete subjugation of the flames of disaster has been a long-cherished wish. A wish that even those great heroes could not accomplish. But on the other hand, most of you probably thought it wasn't your responsibility."

The students could not refute Sedjen's words.

Because his words were accurate.

"Most people are well aware that the demons of Tartarus are dangerous."

Sedjen said in a solemn voice.

Although Sedjen's demeanor was usually lighthearted, when he was serious, his charisma was immense, befitting a professor who was second only to Halind in Lumen.

"And you also know that Erebus will eventually revive and disaster will strike. But not many people think of it as a crisis directly in front of them. Does anyone know why?"

The students remained silent at his words.

They too knew the things Sedjen mentioned.

But no one could pinpoint why they were a crisis.

They had never thought deeply about it before.

"5000 years have passed since the Age of Disaster ended. The second coming of disaster was also 2000 years ago."

Sedjen continued immediately, as he wasn't expecting an answer.

"We all know what the devastation was like through countless records and Hero Records. But unfortunately, humans are creatures of adaptation. No matter how dangerous something is, and no matter how much they know that disaster will strike again someday, if they can't see it right in front of them, they become desensitized, even if it's a desperate future."

Sedjen looked around at the students.

"And that fact will not change even if it becomes known to the world that a god has reappeared and the heroes of the Great Opening are fighting a desperate battle. Because people become desensitized unless it's right in front of them."

The students fell silent at his cold words.

"That's why your role is so important at times like these."

Sedjen said seriously.

"You all enrolled in Lumen for your own reasons. You must have all dreamed of becoming heroes."

Sedjen took out a pocket watch, checked the time, and said.

"But from today onwards, as hero candidates, think again about the essence of a hero. Today's class ends here."

As soon as he finished speaking, the bell signaling the end of class rang perfectly on time.

Sedjen lightly tidied his lecture materials and left the room.

The students got up from their seats and started talking.

"I don't know, but today's class makes me think about a lot of things."

"Hmm… I only thought about becoming the best knight hero in our kingdom and restoring my family to its former glory. The essence of a hero, though."

"Isn't a hero generally someone who transforms an era and leads people?"

The students talked seriously.

Watching them, Cal asked Leo.

"Leo, what do you think a hero is?"

"The person who suffers the most."

At that, Cal chuckled.

"Shall we go for lunch?"

"No, I have to go to a student council meeting today."

"Really?"

"So, Cal."

"Yeah?"

"Can you find out if there are any second-year students involved in club activities who are interested in student council work, besides those already in the student council?"

"It's not a difficult task. Leave it to me."

Cal said, giving a thumbs-up, and Leo patted him on the shoulder and smiled.

"Please."

With those words, Leo left the classroom.

"Cal! Let's go eat! Brother Leo went to the student council, right? Let's eat together today."

At that moment, Chelsea approached with Eiran.

Cal looked at Chelsea with a sympathetic gaze.

"What? What's with that look?"

"No, it seems like Leo is planning for next year's student council members."

"Really? Well, the fifth-year seniors will be graduating soon."

Chelsea nodded.

Cal looked at Chelsea as if he felt sorry for her.

"What is it? That look."

"No, it's just that your school life might get a little complicated from now on."

Chelsea's face contorted, and she looked at Cal as if asking what nonsense he was talking about.

'All the top students are probably candidates for slavery.'

Cal shook his head.