Book 1 Chapter 65
“What is this! A fight?!”
Herdius pressed them, his face pale.
The two were currently outside the party hall, amidst the disarray.
Runia had turned her head away abruptly, while Leo calmly adjusted his clothes.
Halind, watching them, asked,
“What was the cause? Who was wrong first?”
Runia flinched at Halind’s cold voice.
There were no teachers of Halind’s type at Seirun.
Herdius frowned.
“Are you interrogating our student right now?”
“We need to know the problem to solve it.”
“What! Fine! Student Runia is the year representative for our school’s first-years! She wouldn’t commit a mistake!”
Herdius stated proudly and then turned to Leo.
“Student Leo Flov. What was the cause of the fight?”
Seeing Herdius ask as if the fault was clearly his, Leo calmly replied,
“It seems I made a small mistake.”
“Aha! I knew it! Student Runia wouldn’t make a mistake…!”
“Teacher Herdius. Don’t you think it’s unfair to push this one-sidedly?”
“What are you talking about! Student Leo Flov hasn’t admitted his mistake…!”
“If Student Runia El Lundia is the first-year representative of Seirun, then Leo Flov is also the first-year representative of our Lumen.”
Herdius was surprised at Halind’s blunt statement.
He hadn’t expected Leo to be the first-year representative.
Seirun generally wasn’t very interested in the affairs of other schools.
“Crucially.”
Herdius flinched as Halind’s chilling gaze fell upon him.
“Just as you trust your student, I trust mine.”
At those words, Leo unconsciously smiled.
Despite being a figure of fear among students, Halind’s affection for them was genuine.
‘He must be harsh for their own good.’
Hearing Halind’s words, Herdius coughed,
“Well, fine! Student Runia, what did you hear from student Leo Flov?”
‘I can’t tell this to anyone else!’
As the heir of the Lundia family, having her Phoenix taken away was a source of immense shame.
If this fact became known at Seirun, she would undoubtedly be ridiculed.
Seeing Runia falter, unable to speak, Leo said,
“I made a contract…”
“Ahahaha! It was just a trivial misunderstanding.”
Runia quickly covered Leo’s mouth.
Then, with narrowed eyes, she glared at Leo.
It was as if she was saying, ‘If you say one more word, I won’t let you off!’
Leo shrugged and nodded, and Runia, removing her hand, bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, Teacher Herdius, Professor Halind. For causing a commotion at the place of harmony, and…”
Runia bowed with a forced smile.
“I’m sorry, Leo Flov. I apologize for my rude behavior.”
Seeing Runia’s lips tremble, Leo looked amused.
Herdius, seeing this, clutched his head, exclaiming, ‘Ah, how could this be.’
“Since the misunderstanding seems resolved, let’s continue the party. Let’s not talk about this any further.”
Halind’s words made Herdius nod, glancing around.
“Professor Halind and Student Leo, please go ahead. I will give Student Runia some separate instruction.”
At that, Halind and Leo entered the party hall.
Left alone outside, Runia bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, Teacher.”
“It’s alright. It’s already happened, so there’s nothing that can be done. Was the fight with Student Tirien earlier today also with this student?”
“Yes.”
“Leo Flov. I see. I remember. He was the student who was the representative upon entering Lumen’s first year.”
Herdius nodded and crossed his arms.
“Never make the same mistake again, Student Runia. You are Seirun’s first-year representative, an excellent talent who will lead our school in the future.”
“Understood.”
“And starting tomorrow, during the joint classes, you must absolutely not fall behind Student Leo Flov! Seirun has been ahead of Lumen for a long time!”
Herdius clenched his fist, revealing his competitive spirit.
“We must continue to prove it! That Seirun is superior to Lumen! No! That it is the most outstanding school among all hero schools!”
“I’ll never lose to that guy! I’ll absolutely crush him, so don’t worry! On Seirun’s honor!”
“Student Runiaaa! How many times have I told you to fix your foul language!”
Ignoring Herdius, who was pleading while clutching his head, Runia glared at the party hall with burning eyes.
‘You’re in for it! Leo Flov!’
***
The party ended.
However, the atmosphere between the two schools was incredibly awkward.
It was unavoidable.
There had been a quarrel between the year representatives of each school.
A different kind of awkwardness lingered between the two schools compared to before.
Back at the dormitory, Leo changed into comfortable casual wear.
Sitting on a chair at the dormitory table, Leo crossed his arms and waited for someone.
Whoosh-!
A shadow flashed by the window.
The snowstorm had disappeared.
Looking out the window, Runia was there.
When their eyes met, Runia cast a small spell.
Click-!
The window opened, and Runia entered.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Judging by your personality, I thought you’d come in the middle of the night.”
“Then explain yourself! How did you end up stealing my contractor!”
“I think the word ‘stealing’ is inaccurate. I only contracted with Fiora at Pirina-nim’s suggestion.”
“Nonsense! I was chosen as Fiora’s contractor by Pirina-nim since I was five years old! How much I cherished Fiora since I was little! Always together when we went out to play! We bathed together every day! I even dressed her!”
“Fiora hatched only three months ago?”
“I can take good care of them even when they’re an egg!”
“Find another contractor. Pirina-nim is also looking for another phoenix for you because she feels sorry for you.”
For ordinary people, phoenixes are rare mythical beasts only found in legends, but with the Lundia family’s influence, they could easily find a phoenix to contract with.
“I don’t want anyone else but that one!”
Seeing Runia, who was shouting with tears welling up, Leo sighed.
‘I do feel a bit sorry.’
It was a grave discourtesy to snatch a contracted beast whose contractor was already decided.
In severe cases, it could even lead to death.
Pirina arranged the contract between Leo and Fiora because she expected the contract to be impossible.
It was understandable.
No matter how talented someone is, how could someone who hasn’t learned summoning magic contract with a phoenix?
However, Leo succeeded in contracting with Fiora, leading to this situation.
It was a situation where technically no one was at fault, but Runia had undeniably lost her contractor.
‘And phoenixes only have one contractor.’
Pirina’s offer to Leo was an exception because he was the son of a benefactor.
The noble phoenix was famous for not having two contractors.
“How carefully I took care of Fiora! Sob! We were always together! Waaaah! But now she’s not my contractor anymore! Fiooooraaa! Waaaaah!”
Seeing Runia sobbing sadly on the floor, Leo asked,
“What can I do for you?”
Runia stopped crying.
Then, she glanced at Leo.
“Then will you grant me one request?”
“If it’s something I can do.”
“Duel me.”
“What?”
“I will prove it! That I am a more suitable contractor for the phoenix than you!”
Seeing the fiery red eyes, Leo smirked.
“Shall we go?”
***
Leo and Runia left the dormitory and headed towards a wide, deserted clearing.
They left footprints in the white snowfield, then took their positions far apart.
“I’m warning you.”
“Huh?”
“If it seems impossible, surrender quickly. Don’t get hurt out of stubbornness.”
At Runia’s words, Leo smirked.
“Are you worried about me?”
“Worried, my foot.”
Snorting, Runia crossed her arms.
“I’m only telling you this because you’re the son of Lord Rayna, my father’s benefactor!”
Saying this, Runia took out a coin from her pocket.
“The moment this coin drops, the duel begins.”
“Alright.”
“Then.”
Ding-! Whoosh-!
The gold coin, tossed high in the air, glinted in the moonlight as it fell.
Thump-!
Roar-!
Roar-!
Flame aura and flame magic flickered simultaneously.
Seeing Leo’s flames, Runia narrowed her eyes.
‘Schrodinger’s Flames. A family blessed by the phoenix, like my own.’
As a family that wields the power of the phoenix, one of the few in the world, Runia felt a sense of rivalry.
‘I absolutely won’t lose!’
“I summon you, in the name of my contractor.”
Five summoning circles appeared around Runia.
Along with them, Salamanders, intermediate fire-elemental mythical beasts, appeared.
Salamanders, bipedal beasts, could breathe fire and freely use their hands.
“Five intermediate mythical beasts?”
Leo exclaimed, but it wasn’t over.
As Runia chanted, flame swords and shields materialized in the Salamanders’ hands.
Watching Runia rapidly strengthen the Salamanders using magic, Leo laughed.
“As expected of Seirun’s year representative.”
“You’re so relaxed? But I haven’t even started yet? Everyone, please!”
Leaving the front to the Salamanders, Runia put some distance between herself and Leo and began chanting spells.
Facing the five Salamanders pressing in on him, Leo muttered,
“Entrusting the battle to mythical beasts and casting powerful spells yourself… how cliché.”
“It’s the traditional elven combat method! Luna-nim also fought like this!”
By modern standards, Luna was considered a traditional mage who overturned the battlefield with powerful spells.
“Indeed, by modern standards, Luna is known as a traditional mage.”
Leo smirked.
“But you’re wrong.”
“What?”
“By modern standards, Luna is a battle mage.”
A mage who moved across the battlefield endlessly, casting spells without rest.
The battlefields that Kyle and his companions traversed were places where stopping to cast a spell meant instant death.
When Luna stopped moving to cast a spell, it was only in battles with some leeway.
Yet, the reason Luna is known as traditional in this era is simple.
‘Even while moving frantically, each of those blows was powerful enough to overturn the battlefield.’
The flawless mage.
That was Luna, the progenitor of the nebulae.
“Hmm~ Humans think so, do they? But wouldn’t elven records be closer to the truth regarding the progenitor than human records?”
She blinked lazily.
While they were talking, Leo had already dispelled the five Salamanders.
If Runia had supported the Salamanders further, she wouldn’t have been able to defeat them so quickly.
But now, Runia was completely focused on her magic.
‘Now, if I just defeat Runia.’
Leo quickly closed the distance to Runia.
Then, as soon as their eyes met with Runia’s sly smile, he hastily widened the distance.
“You have good instincts?”
Runia grinned and spread her right hand wide.
A sphere of flame the size of a house was created.
Roar-!
The intense heat melted all the surrounding snow.
“Scorching Heat. It is the ultimate magic of my family.”
It was a magic that used the power of the phoenix, like the Schrodinger family’s Phoenix Breath.
However, no fool would face such a powerful magic head-on.
‘Of course, with magic of this magnitude, even the fragments would have considerable power…’
“Are you alright? Magic that uses the power of the phoenix will have its power halved against me.”
That’s right.
Leo’s flames and Runia’s flames were fundamentally the same attribute of power.
Therefore, Runia’s magic could not inflict full damage on Leo.
“That’s true. But I will defeat you with this magic.”
“Why?”
“This is not a simple duel. It’s a fight to prove that I am a more suitable contractor for Fiora. So, simply winning is not enough.”
Runia’s expression turned serious.
“This is a matter of pride as a phoenix contractor.”
“Really? Then I accept that challenge.”
“What?”
For a moment, Runia paused, not understanding the meaning of Leo’s words.
But without thinking deeply, she sent the magic towards Leo.
“Prepare yourself!”
A flame, like a small sun, engulfed Leo.
Roar-!
Flames flickered from Leo’s body.
Taking a deep breath, Leo swung his sword towards Scorching Heat.
Rumble-!
Runia’s eyes widened in shock at the sight.
“Are you insane! You’ll die if you’re not careful!”
“You want to prove that you are a suitable contractor for Fiora? Then I will prove it too!”
Runia, who had desperately tried to cancel the magic, hesitated.
“Why Fiora chose me!”
Runia’s jaw dropped.
‘Really? Then I accept that challenge.’
‘This was the meaning? This guy is completely insane!’
If she attacked Leo now, she could easily win.
But the duel was no longer a simple test of skill.
It had become a battle of pride, summoner versus summoner.
And as wielders of the phoenix’s power.
Clang-! Clang-!
Blocking the Scorching Heat, Leo continued to retreat.
But even so, Leo’s flames continued to erode Runia’s flames.
‘Stronger! Fiercer!’
Roar-! Crash-!
Leo’s flames greedily consumed the flame fragments that broke off from Runia’s magic.
‘He’s increasing the firepower beyond what’s allowed, even by injuring himself?’
This was not a normal method.
A method that was utterly unimaginable.
To unleash more firepower than allowed, even at the cost of injury!
Nevertheless, Leo incessantly devoured Runia’s flames.
And then, eventually…
Roar-!
Leo’s flames completely consumed the massive Scorching Heat.
Thud-
Runia, too surprised, lost strength in her legs and collapsed without realizing it.
Stomp- Stomp-
Leo, tearing off his burnt, useless top half, walked towards Runia.
Runia blankly looked up at Leo.
“If you want a proper duel, I’ll fight you that way. What do you say?”
“Haha! Ahahahahahahahaha!”
Runia burst into laughter without realizing it.
“No. I lost.”
How could she continue to be angry at someone who directly absorbed her rage like this?
Heave- Runia got up and said with a bitter smile,
“I’m sorry for speaking presumptuously. I truly apologize.”
“It’s alright. I would have been angry too.”
‘…To think there’s such a difference between us, both first-year year representatives. How embarrassing.’
She felt ashamed by his broad-mindedness.
“Even though I acknowledge you, I haven’t given up.”
Runia said, crossing her arms.
“I will also prove that I am a suitable contractor for Fiora! So that Fiora can choose me later!”
Fiora pointed her hand at Leo Flov.
“So Leo Flov! From now on, you are my rival!”
“Think what you want.”
“I’ll be looking forward to the joint classes tomorrow.”
Watching Runia spin around with a flourish, her red hair cascading, Leo smirked.
“I will meet your expectations.”
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