Book 1 Chapter 561
561
“Wow…”
“Amazing!”
Chelsea and Ar were walking down the street, their eyes sparkling.
They passed the entrance to Dragonia and walked along the main road that stretched out straight ahead.
Along the road were temples.
These were buildings that honored ancient gods 5000 years ago, now empty, and no dragons lived there.
The dragons' residence was their main domain, visible far in the distance.
And the main domain of Dragonia, the city of dragons, gave off a more mysterious feeling than the architecture of any other race.
The world had undergone countless transformations over 5000 years.
In that process, various cultures blossomed and developed, leading to the present day.
All races have different dispositions.
Humans who pursue change.
Elves who value harmony.
Beast-folk who pursue tradition.
Dwarves who pursue efficiency.
Because of this, the cultures of the four races had developed in different directions.
However, even so, many similarities could be found among the different cultures of the four races.
The reason why various commonalities could be found in the cultures of the four races, despite their different dispositions and characteristics, was simple.
‘Gadstron.’
All four races' cultures were rooted in Gadstron.
The current world is one that was rebuilt after being reduced to ashes during the Age of Calamity.
Therefore, most of the cultures of each race that existed in the past were destroyed.
Eventually, various races gathered in the last city, and their cultures mixed.
When the Age of Calamity ended, the authenticity of each race faded, and they developed their mixed cultures in their own ways.
But there was one race that deviated from such cultures: the dragons.
“I heard that dragons maintain their culture from the Age of Gods, and seeing this, I definitely understand why.”
Chelsea exclaimed, "Ooh! Ooh!" in admiration.
Since the very foundation of their culture was different, their architectural style was also completely distinct.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh-!
Three dragons flew across the street.
A strong wind blew, making their hair flutter.
“Leo oppa! Look at that! It’s dragons!”
“Oooh! Black Rabbit! Look at that! Isn’t it cool?!”
Chelsea and Ar shook Leo excitedly from both sides.
The two girls were utterly thrilled by the dragons’ formation flight.
“Hoo?”
Even Dorbeman, a fifth-year student from Azonia, seemed intrigued by the sight, his eyes gleaming.
“They look strong.”
And perhaps spurred by a competitive spirit, he asked Leo.
“Leo. I hear you’ve had various experiences. Have you ever fought a dragon?”
‘Fought? I’ve fought many times. And with the strongest dragon in history, at that.’
He had fought for training, and there were several times he had fought because the opponent was enraged.
But he couldn’t say that outright.
In this era, fighting a dragon is rare, after all.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Indeed.”
Dorbeman clenched and unclenched his fists, then looked up at the sky and mumbled.
“Dragons must be strong, right? Surely they’re worthy opponents to fight.”
At his mumbling, Chelsea and Ar, who had been exclaiming “Wow! Wow!” stopped abruptly.
“Dorbeman sunbae. I’m just asking, just in case. You’re not thinking of fighting a dragon just because we’ve come to Dragonia, are you? You’re not thinking that, right?”
“I am, though?”
“Stop thinking that! You fighting dog whose head is only filled with fighting, aaaaagh!”
Ar grabbed Dorbeman by the collar and shook him violently.
It wasn't the kind of behavior a junior student would show a senior, but Dorbeman didn't care at all.
“Hmm. Your wrists always look so frail and delicate.”
Instead, he looked at Ar’s arm with great disapproval.
“Ar. You are to succeed me as the proud student council president of Azonia. I’ve told you repeatedly, with such a frail physique, you cannot lead the wild beast-folk of Azonia.”
“I think those simple muscle-brains who think muscles are omnipotent have already been taught a sufficient lesson.”
Chelsea, overhearing the conversation, tilted her head.
“Ar. Are you Azonia’s next student council president?”
“Hmph, that’s right, kid.”
At Ar’s words, Chelsea got upset.
Whether she knew she was provoking Chelsea or not, the smug Ar continued to boast about herself.
“Prestige doesn’t come from size, to begin with! Look at this slender, elegant figure! At first glance, it might look delicate, but a fierce wildness slumbers within! It’s by no means frail, I tell you!”
Ar placed her hands on her hips and proudly puffed out her chest.
Chelsea stared intently at Ar.
“You? What are you looking at?”
When Ar narrowed her eyes and asked, Chelsea let out a small laugh, “Heh.”
“You look completely frail, like a child.”
“You insolent kid!”
“Who are you calling a kid? You’re frailer than that kid.”
The upset Ar tried to grab Chelsea, but Chelsea stuck out her tongue and quickly ran away.
As Ar rolled her eyes, trying to chase Chelsea.
Thump-!
“Ughyaaaak?!”
Leo pulled Ar’s tail.
“I told you! Don’t! Pull! My tail, aaaagh!”
Ar, with a flushed face, pulled at her tail, which was caught in Leo’s hand, trying to get it free.
“If you’re going to be the student council president now, shouldn’t you show a little more maturity?”
“Ugh.”
At Leo’s words, Ar made a flinching expression, then nodded.
“Alright, Black Rabbit.”
“Indeed, quite impressive presence. Seeing Ar obey so readily.”
Dorbeman pulled something from his pocket and popped it into his mouth.
Seeing that, Chelsea asked.
“What are you eating?”
“It’s meat that helps build muscle. Want some?”
Chelsea sniffed the chunk of meat Dorbeman offered, then shook her head.
“I’ll decline.”
“Hmph. If you’re a picky eater, you won’t grow tall.”
‘Is it Azonia’s specialty to tease people without malice?’
It was when Chelsea was seriously pondering this.
“Anyway, when did you become Azonia’s next student council president?”
“I won the Festival of Strife recently!”
Ar snorted, “Hmph-!”
The Festival of Strife.
It was a ritual held once a year to determine Azonia’s strongest.
It was Azonia’s tradition to find the last survivor in a survival free-for-all.
The student who won this Festival of Strife took the position of the next Azonia student council president.
“Anyone can participate in the Festival of Strife! The chance to be the strongest in school is open to everyone! Of course, it’s extremely rare for a student council president to come from outside the fifth year!”
“That’s amazing!”
When Leo exclaimed, Ar’s ears perked up and her tail wagged.
But soon, she shook her head vigorously.
“No! Not yet!”
Ar said with a resolute face.
“I can’t be satisfied with just this much! I have to stand on the stage where Arion-nim stood! I have to keep working hard so Arion-nim can rest assured.”
At those words, Leo looked at the sword hanging at Ar’s hip.
The broken Braver that Arion had left for Ar when he descended to the present world.
‘It remained as a conquest reward.’
He hadn’t conquered Arion’s world.
But at that time, Arion had wanted to pass on this sword to Ar.
The sword that Dweno had gifted him, which always gave him courage.
Even if it was just scrap metal now, its symbolic meaning could not be exchanged for any treasure.
‘That sword is the symbol of Arion’s courage.’
Although it had only been a few months since he last saw her, Ar had grown stronger.
“Arion would surely be happy to see you now.”
“I’m still lacking,”
Ar snorted and turned her head sharply, but the corners of her mouth kept twitching.
Being prone to boasting, Leo’s compliment had made her incredibly happy.
“Well, of course! I earned the student council president position with my own strength! I’m not like that parachute-thug from Seirun!”
Ar, with a triumphant expression, folded her arms and raised her head.
“Black Rabbit, you must think so too….”
Thwack-
“Who are you calling a parachute-thug, you stupid cat?”
A foot shot out from behind, mercilessly shoving Ar in the back.
Lunia was glaring at Ar with a crooked expression.
“You’re here?”
“Yeah.”
Lunia nodded at Leo’s words and swept her hair back.
“Lunia, this is a place with countless dragons. As Seirun’s student council president, you should behave properly.”
Hardin, Seirun’s vice student council president, who was standing behind Lunia, adjusted his glasses and spoke.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Lunia’s reply was perfunctory, but she straightened her back and offered a gentle smile.
Chelsea marveled at Lunia, who instantly transformed into a diligent honor student elf.
“Seirun’s student council president seems to be getting better at acting, doesn’t she?”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Lunia, smiling sweetly, tilted her head.
“Is Damian the only one left to arrive?”
At that, Leo looked down.
“Damian is already here.”
“Huh?”
With that, the ground quaked, and something peeked its face out.
Suddenly, someone's face emerged from underground, making Lunia, Ar, and Chelsea shriek and recoil.
It was none other than a dwarf woman wearing goggles.
“Whoa. Dorbeman, Hardin… and Leo? Right? And even Seirun’s student council president, Lunia. Good to see you all after a long time.”
Thump-Thump-
The dwarf woman, who had completely dug herself out of the ground, propped the pickaxe in her hand on her shoulder.
“Whoa.”
“Damian’s student council president! What were you doing?”
Ar, after calming her startled heart, asked with a dumbfounded expression, and Marigold, Damian’s student council president, replied with a serious face.
“As a miner, understanding the geological characteristics of a new place is fundamental, isn’t it?”
“It seems you still haven’t corrected that habit, Marigold.”
At Dorbeman’s words, Marigold proudly pulled out a fist-sized raw gemstone from her pocket.
“But look. I found a rare ore, didn’t I?”
“I heard that Damian’s student council president was a bit eccentric, but I didn’t expect her to be like this.”
Lunia sighed at Chelsea’s mumbling.
“Damian has a real eccentric besides her. Has Dryana not arrived?”
“Dryana is over there. I brought her since she’s also a candidate for the next student council president.”
Marigold pointed her finger to the other side of the road.
Far in the distance, a dwarf girl was sketching the architectural style of the dragons.
Leo approached Dryana.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh! Leo! Long time no see!”
Dryana smiled brightly and stood up from her spot.
“Actually, I arrived here at dawn. But seeing the dragons’ architectural style in person gave me a great inspiration! I was sketching!”
Currently, this is the road connecting Dragonia’s entrance to its main domain.
Temples are built everywhere, but they are not in use.
To actually see the dragons, one must go to the main domain, and this is in the middle of the path leading there.
These two students, who came as representatives of Damian, arrived at dawn and, instead of going to the main domain, dug tunnels and drew pictures.
“She’s really unique, as expected.”
“Tell me about it.”
Lunia and Ar shook their heads.
“I don’t want to hear that from an elf thug and a stupid cat.”
“Huh? Did you just call me a thug?”
“Me, stupid? You perverted dwarf!”
Lunia and Ar growled.
Chelsea, who had been staring intently at the three who started bickering as soon as they met, asked the older students from other schools.
“Aren’t you uneasy entrusting the student council to those three?”
At that question, the three student council presidents could only remain silent.
Indeed, they were clearly some of the best talents in the history of the Hero Academy.
Thus, they were three people whom one could present anywhere without shame.