Book 1 Chapter 576

The opening ceremony ended, and the spectators who watched the Hero's Festival were in an uproar of excitement.

"To think there would come a day I could see a Phoenix in my lifetime!"

"It was amazing… but it was also incredibly terrifying."

"Hmph! At that level, I even thought it might be a malevolent spirit!"

"Hush! You fool! Calling a sacred mythical beast a malevolent spirit! You'll be cursed by the gods!"

The spectators, who had come from outside, chattered excitedly.

Among them, the most eye-catching sight was none other than a large group of boys and girls.

"The way it blew away the Lava Golem in one strike was amazing, even watching it now!"

"If we enroll next year, will we be their juniors?"

"They look small and cute, but to possess such power… Sigh~"

Leading the group of boys and girls, numbering around a thousand, were the first-year professors of Lumern's Summoning Department, Artien, and his assistant professors.

"Everyone, please don't bunch up and form a line as you move~"

"I heard Luke Elda came from a commoner background. He's amazing."

"Lady Ayna could probably do that too."

"Lord Haviden too. He just stepped forward first."

Artien pleaded with the children in a timid voice, as if begging.

However, those who appeared to be nobles were too busy talking amongst themselves to listen.

"What does it matter if someone is a noble or a commoner in Lumern? Skill is all that matters!"

At that moment, a girl bristled and stepped forward.

"What? A commoner. Are you talking back to me, a noble?"

"Hmph. The fact that you're resorting to authority right off the bat tells me you're from the West. That's why people from the Lorden Empire's sphere of influence are no good."

"Ha? Are you, a commoner, belittling the Lorden Empire right now? You know that the student council president of Lumern is Leo, a direct descendant of the Zerdinger family, right?"

"That's hilarious. So what? Are you Leo Flov himself?"

"Cough!"

"Hey, hey, calm down."

"That guy. He's the heir of the Lolla merchant group."

"What?"

The Lolla merchant group.

It was a massive merchant group based in the southern continent.

Not only did they control all the trade routes frequented by humans in the southern continent, but they also wielded immense influence throughout the continent based on their power.

Although it was a commoner family, their influence was so enormous that even the royalty of small countries bowed to them.

The intimidated noble boy from Lorden bristled again.

"Even so, you're just a rich commoner! Who are the well-known students in Lumern who are commoners!"

"There's the first-year representative Luke Elda! And the acting student council president Carl Thomas too!"

This time, another commoner boy retorted and shouted.

"Hmph, isn't Carl Thomas a parachute? His grades are terrible…! Cough!"

WHAM!

The sneering noble student from Lorden was kicked in the side and sent flying.

"You brats… Did you stuff your ears with nails? You don't listen when I speak nicely, do you!"

With Artien's chilling voice, the children felt goosebumps all over their bodies.

"Wh-what…"

"Listen when I speak! You insolent chicks!"

"Kyaaaaaaak!"

"S-save me… Cough!"

Artien's rage poured down on those who did not obey and chattered on their own.

"Who are they, getting hit by Professor Artien?"

Ilia, who was watching from the window in the classroom building, tilted her head, and Carl explained.

"They're prospective students."

"Prospective students? What prospective students?"

"While preparing for the Hero's Festival, we also prepared for next year's entrance exams. These are the final candidates who passed up to the third round."

"Why didn't I know at all? Did you know?"

"I didn't know either?"

"While preparing for the Hero's Festival, you were also preparing for the entrance exams for new students?"

The second-year students showed surprised expressions.

"It's understandable that you wouldn't know. You were all busy preparing for the Hero's Festival, right? Leo, I, Senior Elena, and the professors prepared the entrance exams together."

'Of course, the dragons helped too.'

Carl thought of the Wisdom students Leo had brought.

Carl knew Leo's identity.

Therefore, he wasn't surprised by whatever Leo did.

However, Elena remained unfazed, seeing Leo bring the Wisdom students as labor.

'Wow~ Preparing for the Hero's Festival was incredibly tough, but now I can finally breathe a little. Please take good care of us, dragons.'

She was simply happy to have new labor.

'Hmph. Are you Elena Zerone? Nice to meet you. My name is Riden. If you have any difficulties, just say the word. I will help you as a guide.'

The dragon named Riden said with a slightly arrogant expression.

And then…

'Carl! Tell that witch! To stop making more work! How can working more lead to more work!'

Before long, Riden and the Wisdom dragons were clinging to Carl's pants and begging.

Of course, Carl himself felt like crying.

Elena's true terrifying nature wasn't that she forced people to work, nor that she squeezed them dry.

It was her proactive nature to start things as soon as there was room.

Remembering Elena, who smiled upon seeing the Wisdom students and said, 'Now we can hold the entrance exams along with the Hero's Festival,' Carl shivered.

"Senior Elena is truly amazing. I really want to emulate that aspect."

"No."

"Listen carefully, Nella."

Carl placed his hands on Nella's shoulders and leaned his face close.

"That woman is a witch. You should never emulate her."

The students fell silent, seeing Carl speak with a voice full of fear.

"Leo! You say something too."

"Well, I found her rather cute," said Leo, sitting by the window with a smile. The second-year students around him clucked their tongues.

"Wow, Leo is Leo."

"How can you find Senior Elena cute?"

"President, are you treating Senior Elena like a child too?"

Leo shrugged at the surrounding reactions.

In fact, compared to Lisinas, who was much more wicked than Elena, Elena was quite cute to Leo.

"Anyway! That witch should never be emulated…"

Carl, who was speaking with a serious expression, realized that all his friends were looking behind him and fell silent.

Cold sweat ran down his back.

"…Is she behind me?"

When Nelha nodded in response, a small, pretty hand rested on Carl's shoulder.

"Carl, what were you talking about so enthusiastically? Were you gossiping about me?"

Despite the gentle touch and the beautiful voice that pleased the ears, Carl involuntarily sank to the ground upon hearing those words.

Then, with trembling eyes, he turned around and saw the Queen of Lumern looking down at him with her pink eyes.

"F-forgive me…"

"It's okay, you can gossip about your seniors too."

Elena said with a smile, patting Carl's head.

"Instead, the promise that I would let you rest after the Hero's Festival is canceled."

"N-no!"

Carl's face turned pale with despair.

Elena smiled and walked towards the classroom entrance, leaving Carl behind.

Seeing that, Leo stood up.

"Then everyone, prepare well."

He left the classroom, leaving those words behind.

Elena, who was waiting at the classroom door, followed Leo.

"Seeing them like that, Senior Elena looks like a secretary."

"They're the student council president and vice president. They're usually in a similar relationship."

"Somehow, looking at Leo lately, he doesn't seem like he's in the same year as us. He exudes an aura of experience."

The students murmured, watching them.

"I feel like our president has gone far away," Ilia muttered, her shoulders drooping.

The second-year students, along with others, felt a growing distance from Leo.

Not only the other second-year students, but also the department heads felt anxious about the widening gap between them and Leo.

Chloe tightened her grip on the magic book she was reading, and Celia gripped the sword at her waist.

Duran clicked his tongue, and Worren, who had been with his arms crossed and eyes closed, let out a small sigh, uncharacteristic of him.

Watching them, Chen Xia muttered to herself.

'Everyone feels a distance from Master Leo.'

It couldn't be helped.

Leo and they were fundamentally different.

They had lived different lifespans and experienced different things.

They couldn't be placed on the same level in the first place.

However, while Chen Xia knew this fact, others did not.

Chelsea, who knew Leo's identity, said in confusion.

"Why is everyone so dejected?"

"I don't want to show weakness, but Chelsea, when I look at Leo, honestly… I feel despair."

Abad said with a wry smile and patted his sister's head.

"Brother, why are you like this too! Hey! Celia! Stop making that wet campfire face!"

"…That's a funny metaphor."

Celia scowled and glared slightly at Chelsea, but the usual fiery reaction didn't occur.

Seeing that, Chelsea stomped her feet.

Chelsea knew.

Leo wanted comrades who wouldn't give up and would stand with him on the final battlefield.

And they were the candidates.

That's why Leo had unconsciously encouraged the growth of those around him.

But they couldn't rely on Leo's help forever.

'What should I do?'

Chelsea bit her lip tightly.

'I promised Arion.'

To be of help to Leo.

To support Leo.

She couldn't do it alone.

Seeing Chelsea's helplessness, Eliza sneered.

"It's strange, Chelsea Lewalin. Why are you so anxious?"

"Who is it that trains with Leo at dawn because they're anxious?"

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaak?!"

Eliza shrieked upon seeing Carl, who had crept up behind her and whispered.

Then, grinding her teeth, she choked Carl's neck with her whip and said in a small voice.

"Didn't I tell you not to blab about that?"

"Th-that's why I'm speaking quietly… Cough! S-save me…"

Eliza released Carl and huffed, her face flushed.

"Miss Eliza, even if you startled him, this is a bit too much. Look, there's a mark."

Chen Xia said as if admonishing her. Eliza stopped, hissed 'Tsk,' and took out a small tube from her pocket, throwing it at Carl.

"I was too harsh. This is a good ointment for wounds."

"…"

"…"

Chen Xia and Carl stared blankly at Eliza.

"What is it?"

"Miss Eliza admitting she was too harsh and giving a good medicine for wounds?"

"Are you perhaps dying?"

Eliza's hand trembled, and she furiously whipped Carl.

"Why only me?!"

"Because Chen Xia won't get hit anyway!"

After a commotion, Carl applied ointment to his body and said.

"Why are you guys not acting like yourselves? It's not like Leo feeling like a wall is new."

"Hmph. Easy for you to say when it's not your problem."

Eliza sneered coldly.

"As a failing student who barely survives every time, you can comfortably flirt with Leo Flov. Do you even understand how we feel?"

Eliza, who spoke more sharply than usual due to a momentary surge of emotion, made a look of regret.

Seeing Eliza like that, Carl smiled.

"That's right, it's not my problem."

Carl shrugged and said.

"Anyway, I'm a candidate for expulsion, so it wouldn't be strange if I fell out of this race at any time."

"No, what I mean is…"

"Well, I'll never be a hero."

Carl shrugged.

"Still, I'm not not trying. I've been struggling to survive somehow. And on the other hand, seeing you guys challenge Leo without giving up gives me courage."

"…"

Eliza involuntarily closed her mouth.

"The others are probably similar to me. Just as you're chasing Leo, others are chasing behind you. As long as you don't give up chasing Leo, others won't give up either."

Just as Leo leads them.

They, too, have been leading those around them.

"So don't show weakness. I'll continue to cheer for you consistently."

With those words, Carl clenched his fist and left the classroom.

"Where are you going?"

To Chelsea's question, Carl shrugged his shoulders more exaggeratedly than usual.

"The restroom."

Creak- Click-!

After Carl left the classroom, everyone looked at Eliza.

"I, I mean…"

"That was harsh, Miss Eliza."

Chen Xia said as if admonishing her, and Eliza bit her lip and left the classroom.

Watching her go, Chelsea tilted her head.

"Where is she going?"

"She's probably going to apologize to Carl."

"That proud person?"

"She has pride, but Miss Eliza is kind. It's just a little regrettable that she's not honest… but then again, that's cute too."

"Xia, your definition of kind seems a bit broad."

"Of course~ I say you're kind too, Chelsea."

"What does that mean!"

"You're kind~ Kind~"

"Stop treating me like a child!"

Seeing Chelsea bristling, Chen Xia giggled.

***

Splash- Splash-! Creak-

Carl, who had washed his face at the sink, turned off the water and chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"What's wrong, Carl? Just let it go like usual."

Carl, who spoke to himself in the mirror, took a deep breath.

"You're still holding onto regrets. You, you're already amazing. You shouldn't have been able to finish second year if you failed the first-year midterms. Be realistic. Right? Don't be foolishly sentimental."

As Carl shook his hands, telling himself this, a voice came from behind him without any presence.

"Amazing."

"Cough?!"

Carl yelped in surprise at the voice from behind him without any presence.

"Y-Your Majesty?!"

"It's truly strange."

Rian, holding a bag of snacks bought on the street, looked up at Carl while crunching on the snacks inside and said.

"You're the first student in Lumern Academy's history who doesn't resemble Lumern at all, Carl Thomas."

"Haha."

Carl smiled awkwardly.

Seeing Carl like that, Rian licked the snack crumbs off his palm with his tongue and said.

"But strangely enough."

Rian grinned.

Seeing his eyes, Carl felt a chill run down his spine.

It was the gaze of an absolute being looking down from an unfathomably distant place.

"You possess what Lumern doesn't have."

"What?"

"And two things at that."