Book 1 Chapter 559

559.

The Ruse War.

A war of contention between Lumern and Seirun, boasting a long history and tradition.

Although the Ruse War was an annual event, held alternately by Lumern and Seirun each year, it was always a matter of paramount interest.

It was, in a way, natural for many people to pay attention, as it was a stage for the talents who would lead the future of two races, humans and elves, to showcase their abilities.

Moreover, the intensity of a year for a hero academy student was different from that of others.

There were often cases where students who were invisible just a year ago would perform exceptionally well in the Ruse War.

Therefore, the Ruse War was also a chance to show off the achievements of the past year.

People always cheered for the emergence of new heroes.

As such, the appearance of an unexpected dark horse was one of the factors that made the public look forward to the Ruse War every year.

Knowing they were being watched, both Lumern and Seirun poured all their efforts into preparing for the Ruse War every year.

A lot of budget and personnel were allocated, and invitation lists were drawn up.

"And with so little time left, Azonia and Demian are suddenly coming too! You're going to gather four schools in one place! My cousin, but he's not in his right mind!"

One morning, a week after the inauguration ceremony.

Celia screamed in the student council room.

In fact, for Seirun, it was not a big problem.

Since Seirun was a guest this year, all they had to do was come to Lumern.

The only difference was that the opponent in the war of contention had increased from just Lumern to three: Azonia and Demian.

However, conversely, it was hell for the Lumern student council, who were preparing to welcome them.

Student council members ran around the Hero Tower like crazy.

The history of the Hero Academy was already 3,000 years old.

Over the long years, the four hero schools had built cooperative relationships, but in history, they had never all gathered in one place to compete for supremacy.

It was literally an unprecedented plan.

"But is it really possible to gather four hero schools in one place?"

Niel, a fourth-year knight major who was helping Celia with paperwork, asked with a puzzled expression.

Niel was from Roda, a vassal family of the Zerdiniger family, and was Celia's knight, a direct descendant of Zerdiniger.

Martina, a first-year knight major and also from the Zerdiniger family, nodded in agreement with Niel's words.

"Isn't it difficult to even contact Azonia and Demian?"

Celia wrung her hands at their words.

"That Leo guy, if he decides to do something, he'll do it. He'll push it through somehow?"

"No matter how much, it's impossible. Shouldn't we persuade young master Leo?"

It was when Niel had a serious expression.

"Hmph, does a Zerdiniger vassal refuse their lord's command simply because it's troublesome?"

"What?"

Veins bulged on Niel's forehead.

It was Matchel Ruzia, a fifth-year magic major, who had spoken.

As the heir of Ruzia, a vassal family of the Rewalin family, he was famously at odds with Niel, who was one year his junior.

Invisible sparks flew between the two.

*Clang-*

"Ugh? N-Niel-senpai?"

Niel, who had handed the documents he was holding to Martina, approached Matchel.

Martina flustered as the pile of documents, already high, completely blocked her view.

Niel, with his arms crossed in front of Matchel, said,

"Who said it was troublesome? I'm saying we should persuade him because it seems impossible from the start."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"So, do Rewalin vassals blindly say 'yes' to their lord's command without any objection? How convenient that must be."

As the two growled at each other, Celia looked flustered.

"Excuse me, this is a message from Elena-senpai."

Kal intervened between the two with a soulless face.

"She says to stop your love quarrel outside, as it's disruptive."

"Who's saying love quarrel!"

"I would never associate with a Zerdiniger!"

"Celia and Chelsea get along just fine, though."

As Niel and Matchel both bristled, Kal scratched his head and replied.

"Who is associating with whom."

"Please bear with it for now. The situation will only get worse."

Kal replied with a sigh.

It was then.

"Hey."

A chilling voice was heard.

Everyone flinched and looked in the direction of the voice.

There stood Hark, showing no sign of life.

"Are you guys resting?"

"Hark-senpai, this isn't resting…"

"Are you resting?"

Hark leaned his face close to Niel and asked fiercely,

"I'm working like this too. Because of those damned underclassmen, I'm working like this even though I'm a graduating student. So why are you guys resting?"

"H-Hark-senpai? Please calm down."

"Hey, hey, Hark. Calm down. What's with the stern face over a brief conversation?"

Niel and Matchel, who were about to fight, were subdued by Hark's intensity and quickly tried to calm him down.

However, Hark's rampage did not stop.

"Brief? Brief? You have it easy?"

He glared and pointed at other students who were taking a short break.

"Don't eat, don't drink! Don't sleep! Don't blink, don't breathe, just work!"

"Hark-senpai? You'll die if you don't breathe?"

"Die. Work until you die… Ugh?!"

"Yes, yes, that's enough. Have some candy and calm down."

Elena, who had appeared out of nowhere, smiled sweetly and stuffed a candy into Hark's mouth.

Just as Hark was about to explode in anger.

"Leo-kun said to go rest for today and come to the student council in two days."

"Really?"

Hark glared at Elena with disbelief.

"Yes. Leo-kun said that Hark-senpai has worked too hard and really needs to rest."

At those words, Hark's face lit up.

Although Hark, who always seemed sleepy and irritable, was a delicate, handsome youth in appearance.

When such a Hark smiled brightly, it felt as if life flowed around him.

Rolling the candy in his mouth, Hark left the student council room, humming a tune.

The student council members watched his retreating figure with pity.

Even though Hark had been causing all sorts of trouble in the student council for a week, the members felt pity for him.

This was because they knew too well that Leo had worked him to the bone, depriving him of sleep.

'He seems so happy.'

'They say when people are exploited, they feel immense joy from their basic rights.'

All the student council members looked at him with pity.

"Why are you looking at me like that, as if I'm pitiful?"

"No matter how bad your relationship is usually, don't you feel even a little bit sorry for him seeing him like that?"

Niel said reproachfully, and Elena smiled brightly.

"No. Not at all."

At that answer, the student council members shook their heads, saying, "As expected, the witch of Lumern."

"That's going to be our future. We're going to be treated the same way, so why pity him?"

"……"

At those words, the faces of all the student council members stiffened.

"Leo-kun is better at making people work than I thought. It's like he knows exactly how to exploit people to their limits."

Elena said as if it were interesting and reached out her hand.

Kal, who had been cautiously distancing himself from Elena, was caught by the back of his neck.

"Where do you think you're going? Since Hark-senpai has gone to rest, you and I have to share the work he was doing."

"S-Save me!"

"Don't worry, you won't die."

Elena smiled brightly and dragged Kal away.

Watching that scene, Celia looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

"When will this hell end?"

***

It wasn't just the student council that was busy.

The entire student body was mobilized for the preparations for the Ruse War, or rather, what should now be called the Hero Academy War of Contention.

During free periods in the morning and afternoon.

It continued late into the evening after school.

*CRACK-!*

"I didn't enroll in Lumern to dig dirt like this!"

El Jain, a first-year knight major, screamed as she slammed her pickaxe into the ground.

As a shadow candidate, she was a student from the Shan Empire who followed Chen Xia.

"And why is there no end to the work?!"

*CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-!*

As El Jain dug with a nervous pickaxe, Luke next to her laughed.

"They expect tens of thousands of spectators this time. This is the first time Lumern has had so many visitors in its history. We have to build accommodations for them all."

"Luke, you just agree with anything Leo-nim says, don't you?"

El Jain narrowed her eyes.

Seeing El Jain like that, Luke said,

"Jain, you'll get tired digging like that."

"Huh?"

"Relax your lower back a little…"

Luke adjusted El Jain's posture.

"You know a lot?"

"I helped with farm work in the countryside."

"Ah, right. You must be used to tools. I've only practiced stabbing people."

Luke gave an awkward laugh at El Jain's chilling words.

"Luke, how's my posture?"

Aina approached Luke and asked.

"It would be good to put a little more power into your wrists."

"Okay."

Aina nodded at Luke's words.

"This could be new training too."

"You turn everything into training, don't you?"

El Jain shook her head at Aina's muttering.

The hero candidates, though young, were all elites with strong physical abilities and the ability to use their special powers freely.

When such individuals were deployed to various civil engineering and construction projects, such as building accommodations for visitors and constructing spectator stands and arenas, the work progressed at an incredible pace.

However, due to the sheer amount of work to be done, the tasks were endless.

"By the way, what's the level of first-years from other schools?"

"We were only wary of Seirun."

The first-years began to talk about topics of curiosity.

In any hero academy, there are bound to be geniuses who stand out globally from their first year.

However, there is relatively less information about other students.

By the second year, talented individuals begin to gain renown, but in their first year, they remain shrouded in mystery.

Therefore, it is difficult to compare their abilities with students from other hero academies.

"We will simply let the world know that we are the best, no matter who they are."

At Haviden's words, the first-years nodded.

"Yeah! Let's blow away Seirun, Azonia, and Demian!"

"Ooh!"

"Bring it on!"

The first-years shouted enthusiastically.

Aina, watching them with a blank expression, said calmly,

"First, let's finish this."

At those words, the fervent momentum of the first-years quieted down as if doused with cold water.

"To say that when we're all fired up…"

"Huh? What?"

Luke scratched his cheek and asked, while Aina tilted her head as if she didn't understand.

"No, it's nothing."

Luke shook his head with an awkward laugh.

And so, as the entire Lumern was busy preparing for the school war of contention.

An invitation arrived at Lumern.

The invitation, addressed to the student council president of Lumern, was from Dragonia.

Not only Lumern.

Invitations were also sent to Seirun, Azonia, and Demian.