Book 1 Chapter 592

592.

The flame of disaster that appeared during the Festival of Heroes.

A massive incident that occurred while the eyes of everyone in the world were focused on it.

But the disaster soon turned into a miracle.

The appearance of Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.

The world soon went wild at the sight of Kyle, who defeated the flame of disaster and then disappeared.

After the chaos was resolved, the Festival of Heroes also resumed.

There was a crisis, but there were no casualties.

"Phew~ I really thought it was going to be the end of us for a moment."

Kal, who was preparing his stall, chuckled with a playful remark.

"You seem to be in a good mood."

"Of course! I worked my fingers to the bone preparing for the Festival of Heroes! I would have been furious if it had been canceled immediately!"

After the incident was resolved, there was talk about whether to continue the Festival of Heroes.

However, due to the wishes of countless people who had been waiting for the Festival of Heroes, it was decided to continue until the end.

"Rather, thanks to that incident, interest has grown even more. It's all thanks to the Hero of Beginnings appearing at the right time."

Three days have already passed since the Festival of Heroes began.

Currently, the four hero academies were all maintaining similar scores and engaging in fierce competition.

The enthusiasm of the spectators watching the hero cadets' activities was also gradually growing.

Before they knew it, it had become a festival that everyone enjoyed, just as Leo had wished.

"By the way, what are you preparing?"

When Leo asked with a puzzled expression, Kal grinned.

"It's my last big score in Lumerin."

Kal, looking triumphant, gave a thumbs-up.

"Shouldn't the grand finale be spectacular?"

"What are you going to do?"

In response to Leo's question, Kal showed him a signboard.

"Lottery?"

"Yeah, when it comes to festivals, isn't it all about lotteries? I decided to open a shop in cooperation with Dryana."

"Why Dryana?"

"She's going to run another shop next to mine."

Kal hummed a tune.

Watching Kal, Leo said,

"What about advancing to third year?"

"It would be great if I could. But there's no hope, is there?"

Kal shrugged.

"That doesn't mean I'm going back home or giving up."

"Then?"

"I bought a small building in Lumeria City this time."

"When? With what money?"

"A while ago. I've been diligently doing business ever since I enrolled, you know?"

Kal made a circle with his index finger and thumb and grinned.

"Our noble customers are very generous, you see. I saved up a pretty penny. I bought a building with that money."

Kal said while preparing the stall.

"Starting next year, I plan to make Lumeria City my base and expand my business with what I learned in Lumerin."

"Business?"

"Not only items necessary for combat, but also information, and I plan to build a system that can immediately check and report incidents and accidents happening around the world to Lumerin. I also want to build my own warp gate using the connections I've made in Lumerin."

Kal looked at Leo.

"From now on, you all have to be active all over the world. Before you graduate, I need to be thoroughly prepared to support you."

"Are you satisfied with that?"

"I was aiming to be a supporter from the start. So, all I have to do is support you to the best of my ability, right?"

Kal cleared his throat with an "Ahem!"

"And honestly. Even if I could advance to third year, I'd be scared to."

Kal clutched his head with both hands and trembled.

"That witch… how much more thoroughly will she work me next year? No… I hate it!"

Leo shook his head, watching Kal shudder.

'It was indeed excessive.'

Elina isn't one to finish a task when it's going well; she creates more work.

Moreover, what's more malicious is that she only assigns tasks that can be done exactly up to the limit.

"So, I'll go out first, get thoroughly prepared, and wait."

***

Lumerin's principal, Raina, was in her office discussing the Festival of Heroes schedule with the vice student council president, Elena, and Professor Sedjen.

"How's the public security in Lumeria City?"

"It's good. Due to the incident on the first day, people are rather maintaining a sense of tension, so it feels like the crime rate has decreased."

"So, that rotten incident actually helped us?"

Raina scratched her head.

Indeed, if it weren't for the appearance of Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, there would have been tremendous casualties.

"What about finding the mastermind behind the incident?"

"The Dragon Lord is personally tracking them down."

"They'll be caught soon, then."

"Yes."

It makes no sense that this incident happened suddenly.

A fragment of Lumerin's Hero Record suddenly ran wild in the middle of Erek training ground.

That means an outsider brought the Hero Record inside.

"Just as there's the Pureblood Society in Seirun. There are plenty of traitors within us as well."

Raina's eyes grew cold.

Even if she had retreated from the front lines, she was still a shadow.

It was her principle that traitors must be pursued and annihilated.

"First, we need to properly finish the Festival of Heroes."

Sedjen said to Raina.

It was then that Raina nodded.

Knock-knock-

The door opened with a knock, and Harlind entered.

Harlind, holding documents in his hand, approached Raina and handed her the documents.

"These are the documents you asked for."

"You've prepared everything. Amazing, even with your busy schedule."

Raina exclaimed in admiration, taking the documents and checking them.

Seeing this, Elena showed a puzzled expression.

"What kind of documents are those?"

"Documents concerning Kal Thomas's promotion."

Elena's eyes widened at Harlind's blunt words.

Harlind's nickname was Lumerin's Wailing Wall.

Among the upperclassmen, he was a source of terror himself.

This was because Harlind was known for mercilessly expelling students who did not meet the standards.

Last year and this year.

While his tendency had decreased since he was in charge of the first-year students, that was merely because the first-years became the evaluation targets.

Elena had seen countless seniors pack their bags because of Harlind.

It was surprising that such a Harlind was preparing documents for a student's promotion, not expulsion.

Moreover, Kal didn't even have the grades to be promoted.

"That's unexpected. For Professor Harlind to prepare documents to promote a student who doesn't even meet the grades to the next year."

"I merely thought that Lumerin's current evaluation method couldn't fully assess Kal Thomas's potential."

Harlind said calmly.

"The fellow attended Lumerin aspiring to be a supporter from admission. He actually showed strength in assisting others from behind rather than stepping forward."

Elena nodded at his words.

"I thought that was as far as it went. But observing him, he was a little different."

Harlind, who had been in charge of Kal in his first year and observed him carefully, was able to understand Kal's abilities.

"Drawing out the potential of others and combining strengths to exert greater power. I came to believe that was Kal Thomas's true ability."

Harlind said, looking at the report on Kal Thomas in Raina's hand.

"That was a new ability we hadn't known until now. I thought such an aspect also held the potential of a hero. So, I merely prepared the documents."

Elena nodded at his words.

"The intention is good. But convincing the board won't be easy."

Sedjen, who had been listening, clicked his tongue.

He also agreed with Harlind's opinion.

But special cases were not easily created.

Even if Harlind and Sedjen had served as professors at Lumerin for many years and held great influence, the authority to create exceptions ultimately lay with the board.

And the conservative board was more likely to not recognize Kal's existence.

"I am simply doing my best for the student."

Elena nodded at Harlind's blunt words.

"You truly are the best professor at the academy."

"What nonsense! The best professor at Lumerin is me! Sedjen!"

Sedjen shrieked with a fit.

"Yes. Yes. Professor Sedjen is also the best professor."

Elena smiled brightly, gazing at the documents in Raina's hand, her eyes sparkling.

***

A few more days passed.

As the Festival of Heroes drew to a close.

"…What is this?"

Eliza stared at the long queue stretched out before her with a bewildered look.

In her hand was the championship medal from the Phantom Beast Race.

After winning the race, she had some free time and remembered Kal was doing business with the audience, so she came to visit, only to find a fearsome crowd lined up in front of Kal's stall.

"Alright! This isn't an opportunity that comes every day! Knights! Mages! Summoners! Here! An opportunity to win weapons crafted by Demian's Dryana, the exclusive smith of that Leo Plov! Don't miss out!"

Kal was on stage, holding a megaphone and soliciting customers.

Around Kal, knights, mages, and summoners were gathered like clouds, each trying to obtain weapons, magic staves, and summoning catalysts.

Then, someone who appeared to be a knight ascended the stage with a tense expression.

"Everyone! A knight from the Del Kingdom in the southern continent is challenging the 10-consecutive draw!"

As Kal enthusiastically shouted into the megaphone, the audience roared, "Oooooh-!"

Dazzling magic lights illuminated the stage, shining on a giant glass cylinder on the stage ceiling.

Inside the glass cylinder, fist-sized, colorful balls glowed like jewels.

Chaarrrr-!

The balls inside began to mix wildly, then the opening of the glass cylinder opened, and ten balls dropped.

Seeing a crystal-shaped ball among them, the knight from the Del Kingdom roared.

"D-i-a-m-o-n-d!"

He knelt down, clutching the crystal ball with both hands and raising it aloft, and gasps erupted from all around.

"Aaaargh! Diamond grade! I was aiming for that!"

The knight opened the crystal ball with trembling hands, and upon seeing the small note inside, he despaired.

"Aaaargh! A magic staff!"

"Yes! You've drawn a Diamond grade magic staff! Congratulations!"

The knight, who had drawn something incredibly good but couldn't use it himself, screamed in anguish.

Then the mages rushed towards the stage.

"Sell that to me!"

"No! To me…!"

"I will!"

Eliza's jaw dropped at the chaotic scene, which even felt like madness.

"What on earth is this?"

"They call it 'Highly Toxic Gacha'."

"Leo Plov?"

Eliza looked at Leo with surprised eyes.

"I'm currently deliberating. Whether or not the student council should impose sanctions."

The prizes Kal prepared were, quite literally, lottery tickets.

They were subtly expensive, but not an exorbitant amount compared to the price of the prizes given out.

The problem was the extremely low probability.

With flashy productions, he completely captivated people and kept selling lottery tickets.

People were madly opening their wallets, thinking they could get weapons made by Dryana if they were just lucky.

Of course, even if they were lucky enough to draw what they wanted, it didn't end there.

"It's done!"

A beastman mage cheered, holding up the magic staff he had just drawn with both hands.

And he headed towards the gacha stall, his eyes bloodshot.

Dryana stood there, holding a hammer.

"I've come for enhancement."

"This is your third attempt. I recommend you just take it and go."

"Hmph. I am a beastman."

The mage laughed scornfully.

"The heart of a beast beats in my chest."

"Such splendid courage, following in the footsteps of Lord Arion."

"Hmph."

Dryana received the magic staff handed by the mage.

She placed it on the anvil and began hammering.

Clang- clang- clang-!

Not only the beastman mages but everyone around them swallowed dryly, watching the scene.

As they watched with bated breath.

Crackle-!

"Oh dear. My hand slipped."

Dryana's click of the tongue was heard.

"NooooOOOOOO!"

The beastman mage who attempted the enhancement clutched his head and screamed in despair.

"Try again next time."

Dryana patted the beastman mage's shoulder.

"…"

"It seems if you break through the low probability and succeed in enhancement, it's exchanged for a more powerful weapon."

Of course, the enhancement isn't done on the spot; it's just a performance using fakes that can withstand the hammering with a certain probability.

But for some reason, the effect was more intense than necessary for people, creating mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.

Driven by this, people clung to enhancement even more.

"I don't know how he comes up with such ideas."

Leo was looking at Kal, who was soliciting customers, with a curious expression.

"Leo Oppaah!"

From afar, Chelsea came running at an incredible speed, calling Leo.

"Hah-! Hah-!"

Leo gave a puzzled expression, looking at Chelsea, who was gasping for breath, hands on her knees.

"What's wrong?"

"Kaal! Where's Kal?"

Leo pointed to the stage with his hand, watching Chelsea ask with ragged breaths.

"Kal!"

Chelsea called Kal.

Thanks to her voice, greatly amplified by wind magic, everyone's attention instantly focused on Chelsea.

"Chelsea? What's going on?"

When Kal asked with a bewildered voice, Chelsea said in a confused tone.

"It was just confirmed! Your name has been put on the Hero Record!"

"Huh?"

"What?"

Murmuring-murmuring-murmuring-

At Chelsea's shout, Kal's face went blank, and Eliza's eyes widened.

Everyone around them also started murmuring.

"Ohh?"

Leo's eyes sparkled as he stroked his chin.

Chelsea stomped her foot impatiently, looking at Kal, who still had a blank expression, unable to grasp the situation.

"I mean! You've become a hero!"

"Eeeeh?!"

Kal let out a scream of disbelief.

Just then, Elena appeared behind Chelsea.

"Oh my, you've already come to deliver the news? How fast."

Elena smiled brightly, looking at Kal, and said.

"Kal. The board of directors has been convened. They're holding an emergency meeting regarding your advancement to third year… judging by the atmosphere, it seems you'll become a third-year."

At Elena's bright smile, Chelsea's face lit up.

Eliza, uncharacteristically surprised, couldn't hide her joy either.

"Oooooh!"

The audience, though not fully understanding the situation, began to cheer at the mention of a new hero's birth.

The only one frozen in place, sputtering, was Kal himself.

Elena smiled at Kal and said.

"So, I look forward to working with you again next year. Acting Student Council President."

Kal clutched his head at the eerie smile that only he could see.

"NooooOOOOOO!"

Leo muttered, watching Kal scream in despair.

"He succeeded in the promotion enhancement."