Book 1 Chapter 56
【56】55.
A week passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the school trip dawned.
The first-year students were gathered in front of the Rumern Teleport Gate, class by class.
“It’s quite hot today.”
“To go to a cold region in this heat, isn’t this a summer retreat in a way?”
It was the summer school uniform season starting today, so all students were wearing their summer uniforms.
Even though they had taken off their spring\/autumn uniforms and put on their summer ones, the weather was exceptionally hot. Nella fanned herself and muttered, and Illiana said cheerfully.
As Class 5 was chattering, Celia approached from the direction of Class 1.
“Leo. Why is your class going to Elsalvekia? It’s the coldest country.”
A white short-sleeved blouse.
Celia, wearing a red ribbon tie, a red and black checkered uniform, and socks that reached below her knees, was impeccably dressed despite the hot weather.
Rumern was the kind of place where it didn't really matter how students dressed up, as long as they met the elements of the prescribed uniform.
As teenagers who loved to express themselves, they often customized their uniforms to show off their individuality.
For instance, there was a male student with jewels dangling all over his uniform, or a student who modified his uniform to store weapons here and there.
Or a student who wore his uniform as neatly as a military uniform.
There was even a student who reformed it to look like a wizard's robe.
Thanks to this, students who wore their uniforms as primly as Celia were surprisingly rare.
As a prestigious heroic family, neatness was Celia's motto.
“Your class is going to the warmest place you can go to.”
“Of course. I absolutely hate the cold.”
Celia retorted sharply to Leo’s question.
“Well. It would have been different if I could have gone to Seiyrun.”
Looking at Celia, who was laughing happily, Karl asked.
“But Celia. You look really happy?”
“That Duran guy said he wanted to go somewhere cold. So I competed with that bastard over where we would go.”
Celia proudly brushed her hair back.
“As you can see, the result was my victory.”
“A duel between the 1st and 2nd place in the Knight Department… What a huge match! Why didn’t I know? What was the event?”
“Rock-paper-scissors.”
“……”
“The look on that bastard’s face when he threw a fist! Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho!”
“Celia. Deciding the class trip destination with rock-paper-scissors isn’t something to be proud of, is it? Could you please be quiet?”
Chloe, with an embarrassed look, tried to dissuade her.
“If it’s a warm place, you’ll likely encounter more humans. Be careful.”
“I’d rather meet those guys, though?”
Celia grinned at Leo’s words.
Humans cannot enter elf territory.
Most humans in elf territory have illegally crossed the border.
Most humans who actually encroached on elf territory were bandits.
“I need to teach a lesson to those who disgrace their race by doing bad things.”
“Monsters and humans are different.”
“I know. Do I look like someone who would let my guard down?”
When Celia smiled, Leo shook his head.
“That’s not what I mean. I’m saying don’t underestimate human malice.”
Celia’s eyes widened.
“Your big brother is saying this because he’s worried about you.”
“W-worry isn’t needed, you know? And why are you the big brother! I’m the big sister!”
Celia, who had been flustered, pouted.
“You be careful too! Fairy Forest is a monster-infested area!”
Leo, who nodded at Celia’s words, spoke to Chloe.
“Chloe, you be careful too.”
“Okay. See you in ten days, Leo. Karl.”
Chloe waved her hand.
After parting with the two, Chen Sia came to say hello this time.
“Young Master Leo. See you in ten days.”
“You too, have a safe trip.”
“Yes.”
While they were having a brief chat, the homeroom teachers appeared.
“Leo, Nella. Do a headcount.”
“Everyone gather.”
At Halrind's words, Leo took charge of Class 5.
As Halrind was the homeroom professor, all Class 5 students quickly aligned themselves left and right.
“Everyone is present.”
“Good.”
Halrind, standing in front of Class 5, spoke in his characteristic cool voice.
“The school trip is also part of the class. I hope no one goes with a light heart.”
“Yes!”
Halrind nodded, watching Class 5 answer with precision.
Then, Class 1 and the subsequent classes boarded the warp gate one by one.
“Connecting gate to destination, Elsalvekia.”
“Magic will activate in 5 seconds.”
“5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Teleport.”
Whoosh-!
With a bright light, the view changed.
Whoosh-!
What appeared simultaneously with the changed view was a blizzard.
“Aaaargh!”
“What is thisss!”
“It’s so cooooold!”
The students of Class 5 screamed and hurriedly began to take out and put on their winter coats.
“I thought it would at least be indoors!”
Karl said, startled.
The teleport gate where Class 5 arrived was outdoors.
“Why are you all making such a fuss?”
Chelsea sniffled and asked, looking at Leo, who stood unfazed, facing the blizzard head-on.
“Leo oppa, aren’t you cold?”
“I am cold.”
“Then why are you standing there as if nothing’s wrong?”
“It’s embarrassing to make a fuss.”
“Wow, power.”
Chelsea exclaimed.
“Sometimes I feel it, but the class president has a very pretty boy appearance, but he has a manly side.”
“Right! Especially when his eyes sharpen, he’s really scary.”
“But isn’t that when he looks dangerous but also the coolest?”
The female students whispered among themselves.
“Should we have tried to act dignified like Leo?”
“Even if we did, the answer we’d get would be the same.”
“Yeah, they’d say we’re just showing off.”
The male students looked depressed.
“If you're done chattering, line up.”
At Halrind’s words, Class 5 lined up.
Leo also slowly put on his winter coat.
“As I announced, the place we’ve arrived at is Berkia, the capital of Elsalvekia. Now, is there anyone who can talk about the history of Berkia?”
A few students raised their hands at the opportune question.
Halrind gestured with his chin to Chelsea, who had raised her hand first.
“Berkia is a city named after one of Luna’s disciples, the progenitor of the nebula! Fairy Knight Berkia Ersar! And the Ersar family, descendants of Berkia, lead the Elsalvekian council!”
“Well done. I’ll give you 5 points.”
Chelsea clenched her fist tightly.
“It is as Chelsea Lewellyn explained. Unlike us, elf nations are republics without a monarch. And the families that make up that republic are all prestigious families.”
Leo thought as he listened to Halrind's brief lesson.
‘That arrogant, deceptive brat is now called by the grand name of Fairy Knight.’
Before the Age of Calamity, the elves were ruled by a single king.
Fairy Knights were the guardian knights who assisted such an elf king from his closest side.
They have now disappeared into history.
And the last Fairy Knight in history was Berkia.
Berkia.
He was one of the great figures who led the revival of the elves after the great heroes ended the Age of Calamity.
Although he is widely known only as Luna's disciple, he was actually a joint disciple of Luna, Arion, and Kyle.
‘He acted so demurely to Luna and Arion, but he was always impudent with me.’
It was when he was recalling his not-at-all-cute disciple.
Thump- thump-
Footsteps were heard beyond the blizzard.
“I’ve been waiting, Professor Halrind.”
And what appeared was an elf with light silver hair.
“Who on earth is that person? He’s incredibly handsome.”
Illiana muttered in a girlish voice, and Tade, who was next to her, made a retching gesture.
Of course, he then got punched in the side by Illiana and rolled on the ground.
Watching that, Leo said.
“Age doesn’t matter? He looks at least 70 years old.”
Illiana let out a short laugh.
“Oh? Is the class president getting jealous? How can that face be 70 years old?”
Other students also made sympathetic expressions.
“Why would I be jealous? And you know elves live long and don’t age much, right?”
The childhood of elves is similar to humans, but their youth and middle age are very long.
Their overall lifespan is shorter than the human average lifespan by 50 years at least, and longer by 100 years or more, and no matter how old they get, they tend to maintain the appearance of middle age.
Therefore, it was not strange for that man to be over 70.
However, humans usually find it difficult to guess an elf's age by their appearance.
“Refrain from rudeness! Do you know who this person is, to speak so carelessly?!”
The elves who came with him shouted angrily towards Leo's direction.
Hearing that, the silver-haired elf smiled.
“They are lively students. The students Professor Halrind brings are always disciplined, though.”
“They are still first-year students and lack maturity.”
“Hee hee hee. It’s nice to see first-year students being lively wherever they go. You too, don’t be rude to our guests.”
“We apologize!”
The elves apologized in unison.
Halrind presented the silver-haired elf to the students.
“This person’s name is Rune Ersar. He is the chairman of the Elsalvekian council.”
“Gasp!”
“Th-the chairman?”
The students of Class 5 were surprised by the appearance of the highest-ranking person in Elsalvekia.
“Everyone, attention.”
At Nella’s words, the students quickly stood at attention.
“Greetings to Chairman Rune.”
“Hello! Chairman.”
“They are polite children. It’s a pleasure. Seeing heroic candidates like you makes me happy too. So. Do you have any questions?”
Illiana hesitated and raised her hand, watching Rune laugh heartily.
“Yes. That student over there.”
“Um… by any chance… your age…?”
“I am 97 years old this year.”
Crack!
“That face is 97 years old? He must have managed himself well.”
Leo admired.
But Illiana was in a daze, having experienced a cultural shock.
At that moment, Halrind’s cool gaze fell upon them.
Leo gently poked Illiana’s foot with his toe, and Illiana, startled, quickly snapped to attention.
Rune, who had been smiling at the sight, said.
“I will guide you to the accommodation where you will stay starting today. Everyone, follow me.”
Rune led the way.
After walking for a while, the blizzard stopped and the city landscape became visible.
Seeing that, the students of Class 5 burst into exclamations of awe.
Passing elf pedestrians also looked at Class 5 with curiosity.
“Professor Halrind. What’s the schedule for the first day?”
“We plan to give them free time.”
“Huh. Free time? You?”
Rune looked surprised.
“It seems you’re letting your cute first-year students relax a bit.”
Halrind shook his head, looking at Rune, who spoke as if understanding.
“Not exactly. It’s just that this student here planned this schedule.”
Halrind glanced back at Leo.
Rune, following Halrind’s gaze and looking at Leo, showed a puzzled expression.
“Hmm. Indeed. You’ve always respected the students’ wishes. It must be a relief for the other students that this student planned the schedule.”
“Well.”
Halrind made a strange expression.
“I can’t help but think they might have been happier if I had planned the schedule instead.”
Halrind shook his head at the schedule Leo had prepared over the past week.
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