Book 1 Chapter 57

The place Class 5 booked as lodging was an entire inn within Berkia.

Upon arrival at the inn, the majority of the students in the class reacted with great bewilderment.

"Are we really supposed to sleep here?"

"There aren't going to be any rats or anything, are there?"

"What about laundry? And cleaning?"

"Are we expected to prepare our own meals too?"

All students from noble families reacted with bewilderment.

In contrast, commoner students like Carl were very nonchalant.

Carl even teased his friends.

"Pfft. Don't you guys look like incredibly childish noble ladies right now?"

"What did you say?"

"How dare you, a commoner, be so insolent!"

Chelsea and Iliana reacted with indignation.

Carl screamed as the two of them beat him.

However, the aristocratic students' negative reactions did not subside easily.

Until now, Lumeron, even while subjecting students to strenuous training and classes, had always provided them with necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter without any shortage.

In fact, the Lumeron dormitory had servants to help with laundry and cleaning, creating an environment where students could focus solely on their studies.

But it was different now.

They had eagerly anticipated the school trip, only to end up in lodging fit for commoners.

What's more, they had to handle everything themselves.

"Couldn't they have booked a better place for lodging?"

Even Nell, the eldest and most mature student in the class, reacted with difficulty.

"Seeing your reaction, I think it was a good decision to book this place as our lodging."

"Huh?"

"Look! Everyone, don't be dissatisfied. This is also a good experience. Comfortable beds, laundry done by others, meals prepared by others. These conveniences aren't always available. As hero candidates, you must be able to cope with any situation."

Leo's words were met with jeers from various places.

"He's a lackey! A lackey of the professor!"

"Being a top student is one thing, but this is too much!"

"We know Professor Halind gave you the authority to decide the lodging!"

"Let's pool our money and move to a different inn."

Leo, listening to the complaints, said.

"Originally, Professor Halind intended for us to sleep in tents outside."

At that, everyone froze.

Even Nell, the vice-class president, looked surprised, as this was something she had never heard before.

"I was barely able to persuade him to let us stay here."

The faces of the entire class turned pale.

To think that they were intended to sleep outdoors in tents in this blizzard-ridden area!

'As expected, Lumeron's most wicked professor!'

"If you dislike it here, I'll tell him we can't stay and go back."

"Hey! Catch him! Stop him!"

"Aaaah! Stop! Class president!"

Terrified, Tayde and Iliana clung to Leo's arms.

In the end, the students obediently agreed to stay at the inn for ten days.

"And one more thing. Professors Halind and Sena will not be staying here. They have left it entirely to our discretion. However, they did tell us to stick to the rules."

Leo smiled.

"They warned that if we were caught engaging in any acts that violated school rules, such as men and women sharing a room, we would face dire consequences."

"Tch! How boring."

Iliana grumbled.

"Until tomorrow morning, you have free time. Feel free to explore the city."

At Leo's words, everyone went to their respective rooms.

Initially, they were dissatisfied, but gradually, the atmosphere became excited with the thought that they were on their own.

"Let's tidy up our rooms, change into our winter clothes, and go shopping!"

"It looks like there's a hot spring, so I'm going there first."

"I'm going to the weapon shop!"

Watching his friends return to their lively, teenage spirits, Leo muttered.

"Kids adapt quickly."

"Leo, do you know you sometimes sound like an old man?"

"I know. I'm going to report to Professor Halind."

"Should I go with you?"

"No, you stay here and check for any irregularities."

"Okay."

Halind and Sena were staying at the Ersar family's mansion, located not far from here.

As Leo left the inn, he spotted a luxurious hotel across the street.

A generally busy movement could be felt there.

He saw what appeared to be the hotel owner shaking his head at elves trying to use the hotel.

'They must be taking in group guests there too.'

Leo soon lost interest and headed towards the Ersar family mansion.

Upon arriving at the mansion, Leo reported the situation to Halind, who was staying in a guest room.

"Everyone has been assigned their rooms and is currently enjoying their free time."

"They must have been unhappy with the lodging."

"They all quieted down when I told them Professor Halind said he would make them sleep in tents."

Halind let out a deep sigh.

"Leo Flov."

"Yes, Professor."

"I know you are an excellent class president."

"Thank you."

"But why are you shifting your plans onto me?"

"Isn't it better for a scary person to play the villain?"

At Leo's confident words, Halind let out a hollow laugh.

He had worked at Lumeron for a long time, but he had never encountered a student like Leo.

To think that he was being used in such a way, even by students in their 4th and 5th years who trembled before him.

'Is he fearless, or is he audacious?'

"Alright. You should get some rest too. It would be ridiculous if you, who devised the schedule, couldn't keep up and collapsed."

"Yes."

Leo bowed his head.

As Leo left the room, an elf approached him.

"Leo Flov-nim."

"Yes?"

An elf woman in a neat suit bowed respectfully.

"The head of the family wishes to see Leo Flov-nim."

"Are you referring to Rune Ersar, the head of the family?"

"Yes."

Leo, though puzzled, followed the elf woman.

A moment later, upon arriving at the central office of the mansion, the elf woman knocked politely.

"Come in."

With those words, the elf woman opened the door and bowed.

As Leo entered the room, he saw Rune working.

"Welcome, Leo-kun. I apologize for summoning you, but I'm busy with work, so could you wait a moment? If you're bored, you can look around the study."

Seeing Rune speaking while diligently writing with a quill, Leo nodded.

"It's fine. I'll look around, so please take your time with your work."

With that said, Leo began to examine the spacious study.

The Ersar family was one of the most ancient families among elves.

As such, numerous treasures were displayed on the walls.

Elven artisans.

Or items made by dwarven artisans.

As Leo slowly admired them, his gaze stopped at a worn-out dagger.

It was a dagger of strange design.

The length of the blade was such that it could be called a dagger, but the hilt was as long as a longsword.

The structure was such that the ratio of blade to hilt was close to 1:1.

"Erquinte?"

Rune, who had been busy with his work, also looked up.

"How do you know Erquinte? Its history is only passed down to the heads of the Ersar family."

"I once read a book in Lumeron's Great Library about lost weapons that appear in legends and texts. I saw it there… I never dreamed it was a real item."

Leo hastily made excuses.

Erquinte was a famous sword made by Dwarven using Seonggwangseok, a rare ore containing the power of starlight.

It was originally given to Luna as a self-defense weapon for close combat, but Luna gave the sword to her disciple, Berkia.

And just before Kyle and his companions embarked on their final expedition.

It was lost in the final battle against Tartaros.

It is undoubtedly a legendary sword, but usually, it's something whose existence is not even known.

'It's not the real one.'

The faint starlight mana he felt was different from the genuine article.

It felt somewhat like an empty shell.

"Is there such a book? Well, Lumeron is a hero academy. It was a reward obtained by our ancestor, who conquered Berkia's world of heroes long ago. As it was an item used by Berkia, we keep it carefully preserved."

'So that's why it felt like an empty shell.'

Weapons obtained through the world of heroes can only be used by the conqueror.

While Leo nodded, Rune, who had finished his work, approached and offered him a seat on the guest sofa.

As Leo sat down, Rune personally made tea and said.

"I heard about you from Halind. All-Class?"

"Yes."

"And the top student in Lumeron's first year?"

"That is correct."

"Hmm."

Rune nodded.

Then, he adopted a serious expression.

"I know it's rude to ask this on our first meeting, but…"

"What kind of request?"

"Would you meet my granddaughter?"

Leo's eyes widened at the sudden remark.

"What do you mean?"

"Give my granddaughter some stimulation."

Rune sighed deeply.

"My granddaughter is a first-year student at Seilun. It might sound like boasting, but… she's a talented child and entered Seilun with excellent grades."

Leo nodded.

"However, she hit a wall as soon as she enrolled."

"A wall?"

"Yes. She knew she was a talented child. She was always the best among her peers."

Most of Lumeron's new students are like that.

"But the world is vast. Upon entering Seilun, she had to meet students whose performance was superior to hers."

"Ah."

Leo immediately understood what he meant.

"She has a somewhat gloomy side, but she's a diligent child, so her grades quickly improved. However, there was one person she couldn't surpass. After that, she completely lost her motivation to study at Seilun."

"I understand your story. But how can I meet my granddaughter who is at Seilun?"

"If she were at Seilun, I wouldn't have asked you."

Rune covered his face.

"She's returned home even though it's mid-semester and is holed up in her room."

Leo looked incredulous.

"No matter how much I talk to her, she keeps refusing to go to school."

"……"

"So, I'm asking you, as the representative of Lumeron's first-year students. Can you give her some stimulation?"

***

Seilun Academy classifies students by grade according to their academic performance.

The classes are broadly divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower.

In the first year, with a large number of students, there are multiple classes per grade.

Naturally, even within the same upper-level classes, there are differences in skill.

The place where only the top first-year students were gathered was Upper Class 1.

The homeroom teacher of Upper Class 1, sitting in front of the students, said.

"Today, we have an announcement."

The students stood straight and looked at the teacher.

"Starting today, the upper classes will be going out for mission practice."

At those words, the students of Upper Class 1 stirred.

Mission practice?

Mission practice was scheduled for the second semester at the earliest.

"Don't be nervous. Isn't it a sign that the school administration recognizes the excellence of the upper classes?"

At the elf teacher's smiling words, the students of Class 1 looked proud.

Being here was the glory of their families.

Meanwhile.

Lunia, the class president of Class 1, who should have been excited, was staring at the ceiling with a vacant expression.

His mind was filled with the name of one person.

'Leo Flov? What kind of person is he? What kind of thief stole my contractor! I can't forgive him… I can't forgive him.'

*Whoosh!*

Lunia's eyes began to burn fiercely.

"So, where our Upper Class 1 will be going is…"

The elf teacher began to write the destination on the blackboard.

"It is Berkia in Elsavalkia."

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