Book 1 Chapter 559
559.
The Ruse War.
A grand battle between Lumerne and Seirun, which boast a long history and tradition.
Although it was an annual event hosted by Lumerne and Seirun alternately each year, the Ruse War was always of unprecedented interest.
It was only natural that many people's attention was drawn to it, as it was a stage where talented individuals who would lead the future of two races, humans and elves, showcased their abilities.
Moreover, the density of a Hero Academy student's year was different from a year spent by others.
There were often cases where a student who was not noticeable just a year ago played a significant role in the Ruse War.
Therefore, the Ruse War was also a place to show the achievements of the past year.
People are always enthusiastic about the appearance of new heroes.
As such, the emergence of an unexpected dark horse was one of the factors that made the public look forward to the Ruse War every year.
Knowing that they were receiving attention, both Lumerne and Seirun put all their efforts into preparing for the Ruse War every year.
A large budget and manpower were allocated, and invitation lists were also drawn up.
“But with not much time left, suddenly Azonia and Damian too! To gather four schools in one place! She’s my cousin, but she’s out of her mind!”
It was a morning a week after the inauguration ceremony.
Celia screamed in the student council office.
Actually, from Seirun's perspective, there wasn't much of a problem.
Since Seirun was the guest this year, all they had to do was come to Lumerne and it would be over.
The only change was that the number of opponents in the battle had increased from just Lumerne to three, including Azonia and Damian.
However, on the contrary, for the Lumerne student council, who had to prepare to welcome them, it was a living hell.
Student council executives ran frantically inside the Tower of Heroes.
The history of the Hero Academy was already 3000 years old.
Though they were four hero schools that had established cooperative relationships over a long period, there had never been a time in history when all of them gathered in one place to compete.
It was literally an unprecedented plan.
“But is it really possible to gather four hero schools in one place?”
Niel, a fourth-year Knight Studies student who was helping Celia organize documents, made a puzzled expression.
Niel was a person from the Roda family, a vassal family of the Zerdinger family, and a knight to Celia, a direct descendant of the Zerdinger family.
At Niel's words, Martina, a first-year Knight Studies student also belonging to the Zerdinger family, likewise showed an expression of agreement.
“It’s not even easy to contact Azonia and Damian right now, is it?”
Celia tore at her hair at their words.
“That Leo guy is the type who does what he says. He’ll push it through somehow, won’t he?”
“No matter how much, it’s an unreasonable task. Shouldn't we try to persuade Young Master Leo?”
It was when Niel made a serious expression.
“Hmph, is a Zerdinger vassal going against his lord’s command just because he finds it bothersome?”
"What?"
A vein popped out on Niel's forehead.
The one who spoke was none other than Mazel Luzia, a fifth-year Magic Studies student.
As the successor of the Luzia family, a vassal family of the Ruwallyn family, he was famous for being rivals with Niel, who was one year his junior.
Invisible sparks flew between the two.
Thud-
“Ugh? N-Niel sunbaenim?”
Niel, who handed the documents he was holding to Martina, approached Mazel.
Martina was flustered as the already high stack of documents completely obscured her vision.
Niel, with his arms crossed in front of Mazel, said,
“Who said it was bothersome? I’m saying I’ll persuade him because it seems like an unreasonable task from the start.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Then are the Ruwallyn vassals saying that if it's their lord's command, they won't object and just say 'Yes' unconditionally? How comfortable and nice that must be.”
It was when Celia showed a troubled expression, watching the two snarling.
“Excuse me, this is a message from Elena sunbaenim.”
Kyle, with a soul-less face, interjected between the two.
“She said it’s distracting, so take your lovers’ quarrel outside.”
“Who’s having a lovers’ quarrel?!”
“As if I’d get along with a Zerdinger!”
“Celia and Chelsea get along just fine, though.”
As Niel and Mazel flared up simultaneously, Kyle scratched his head and replied.
“Who gets along with whom?”
“Just bear with it for now. Things are only going to get worse.”
Kyle sighed and replied.
It was then.
“Hey.”
A gloomy voice was heard.
Everyone flinched and looked towards where the voice came from.
Hark, who showed no sign of vitality, stood there.
“Are you guys resting?”
“Hark sunbae, this isn’t resting…”
“Are you resting?”
Hark aggressively asked, thrusting his face close to Niel’s.
“I’m working like this too, you know. Because of those damn juniors, I’m a senior but I’m working like this. So why are you guys resting?”
“H-Hark sunbae? Compose yourself.”
“Hey, hey, Hark. Calm down a bit. What’s with the serious face just because we had a short conversation in the middle?”
Niel and Mazel, who had seemed about to fight, were overwhelmed by Hark's intensity and hurriedly tried to calm him down.
But Hark's rampage did not stop.
“Short? Shoooort? You've got it good, don't you?”
With eyes wide open, he pointed fingers at other students who were taking a short break and yelled.
“Don't eat or drink! Don't sleep! Don't even blink, don't breathe, just work!”
“Hark sunbaenim? If you don’t breathe, you’ll die, you know?”
“Die. Just work until you die… Woop?!”
“Yes, yes, that’s enough. Eat something sweet and calm down.”
Elena, who had appeared unnoticed, smiled faintly and shoved candy into Hark’s mouth.
Just as an enraged Hark was about to explode.
“Leo said to go rest for today and come to the student council in two days.”
“Really?”
Hark glared at Elena with disbelief.
“Yes. Leo said that Hark sunbae has worked too much and definitely needs to rest.”
At those words, Hark’s face brightened.
Hark was always sleepy and reacted irritably, but his appearance itself was that of a delicate, handsome young man.
When such a Hark smiled brightly, it felt as if vitality was flowing around him.
Hark, rolling the candy in his mouth, left the student council office, humming a tune without realizing it.
The student council members looked at his retreating back with pity.
Even though Hark had caused all sorts of mischief in the student council for a week, the student council members sympathized with him.
Because they knew very well that Leo had made Hark unable to sleep.
‘Could he be that happy?’
‘They say that when people are exploited, they feel great joy in their natural rights.’
It was when all the student council members wore regretful expressions.
“Why are you looking at him with such pity?”
“No matter how bad your relationship usually is, you still don’t feel even a little bit sorry looking at him like that?”
As Niel spoke reprovingly, Elena smiled brightly.
“No. Not at all.”
At that answer, the student council members were exclaiming, 'Indeed, the witch of Lumerne,' when.
“Because that's going to be our future. We’re going to suffer the same, so what’s there to pity?”
“…….”
At her words, the faces of all student council members stiffened.
“Leo is better at exploiting people than I thought. It’s like he knows exactly how to push people to their limits.”
Elena said as if it were curious, and reached out her hand.
Kyle, who had been stealthily distancing himself from Elena, was caught by the scruff of his neck.
“Where are you running off to? Hark sunbae has gone to rest, so you and I have to split his work.”
“S-Save me!”
“Don’t worry, you won’t die.”
Elena smiled brightly and dragged Kyle away.
Watching them, Celia looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh.
“When will this hell ever end?”
***
It wasn't just the student council that was busy.
The entire student body was mobilized for the preparation of the Ruse War, or rather, what should now be called the Hero Academy Battle Royale.
In the mornings and afternoons, during breaks.
After school, it continued late into the night.
Thump-!
“I didn’t enroll in Lumerne just to dig dirt like this!”
First-year Knight Studies student. El Jane screamed, slamming her pickaxe onto the ground!
A shadow cadet, she was a student from the Shan Empire who followed Chen Xia.
“And why is there no end to the work?!”
Thump, thump, thump-!
As El Jane swung her pickaxe irritably, Luke, who was next to her, laughed.
“They say tens of thousands of spectators are expected this time. It's the first time Lumerne has received so many visitors in its history. So, we have to build accommodation for all those people.”
“Luke, are you saying everything Leo-nim tells you to do is unconditionally good?”
El Jane narrowed her eyes.
Luke looked at El Jane and said.
“Jane. You’ll get tired if you swing the pickaxe like that.”
"Huh?"
“Relax your lower back a bit…”
Luke corrected El Jane’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 Jane’s chilling words.
“Luke, how’s my posture?”
Aina approached Luke and asked.
“It would be good to put a little more force into your wrist.”
"Okay."
Aina nodded at Luke’s words.
“This could be a new training, too.”
“You attach everything to training, don’t you?”
El Jane shook her head at Aina’s mumble.
Hero cadets were all young, but they possessed strong physical abilities and were elites who could freely use their special powers.
When such individuals were deployed for various civil engineering and construction tasks, such as building accommodation for visitors, and constructing grandstands and arenas, the work progressed at an incredibly fast pace.
However, there was so much to do that the work seemed endless.
“By the way, what’s the level of the first-years at other schools?”
“We were only wary of Seirun.”
The first-years began talking about a curious topic.
In any Hero Academy, there are always geniuses who distinguish themselves globally from their first year.
However, information about other students is relatively scarce.
By the second year, skilled individuals who have made a name for themselves begin to emerge one by one, but in the first year, they are inevitably shrouded in mystery.
Because of this, it was difficult to compare skills with students from other Hero Academy schools.
“No matter who they are, we will only let the world know that we are the best.”
The first-years nodded at Habiden's words.
“Yeah! Let’s blow away Seirun, Azonia, and Damian!”
“Oh!”
“Bring it on!”
The first-years shouted enthusiastically.
Aina, who had been watching them with an expressionless face, said calmly.
“Finish this first.”
At those words, the momentum of the burning first-years quieted down as if cold water had been poured over them.
“Doing that when we’re in the middle of getting excited…”
"Huh? What?"
As Luke scratched his cheek and spoke, Aina tilted her head as if she didn't understand.
“No, nothing at all.”
Luke laughed awkwardly and shook his head.
Thus, while the entire Lumerne was busy preparing for the inter-school battle.
An invitation arrived in Lumerne.
The invitation, which flew to the president of the Lumerne student council, was none other than one sent from Dragonia.
It wasn't just Lumerne.
Invitations were also sent to Seirun, Azonia, and Damian.