Book 1 Chapter 698

698.

The central hall of the Lumern clock tower dormitory.

It had now become a meeting place where the entire student body gathered.

Students who had become familiar with the clock tower dormitory now exchanged information or bartered goods here.

Thus, the Lumern students were starting their vibrant day.

Juien and Betty, with textbooks tucked under their arms, were heading towards the cafeteria, chatting.

"I never want to go to a place like a mine again."

"Yeah. Truly, this contract to be a smith's exclusive apprentice was awful."

Karl inserted himself between the two, who were conversing.

"Was it that bad?"

"Of course! Stuck in the mine, hacking away with a pickaxe and shovel! Ugh! Wizards are supposed to use their brains, so why do we have to do manual labor?!"

"Hmm. So? Did you find a decent smith?"

"Naturally! With one of the students you recommended, Senior Karl…"

Juien stopped walking and her eyes widened.

Betty also showed a surprised expression, and then both girls simultaneously turned their heads sharply.

"Senior Karl! When did you get back?"

"This morning."

Karl patted his shoulder and let out a deep sigh.

Originally, he had gone to Demian to guide the second-year students in their exclusive smith contracts, but Karl had been conscripted to clear a hero's dungeon and joined Leo's party.

Because of this, he returned to Lumern a few days later than the second-year students.

"Did you clear the hero's dungeon well?"

"Yeah. I was so busy writing reports after seeing it in Demian."

Karl shook his head.

Even after clearing a hero's dungeon, there was a lot of aftermath.

This was because tasks like writing reports and various paperwork remained.

Especially since the world Leo's party had cleared was Dwenno's.

More precisely, it was a world of a Legion whose existence had recently been confirmed.

'And on top of that, the subjugation of the Giant King Gias.'

With such a major event, writing the report was even more difficult than usual.

It had not yet been officially announced.

The Lumern students only knew that Leo's party had officially been dispatched to Demian for exploration, and their mission was changed to clearing a hero's dungeon.

"Whose hero's dungeon was it?"

Juien asked, her eyes sparkling, and Karl shrugged.

"It's classified. Right, Leo?"

"Ah! Senior Leo."

"Hello."

Juien and Betty hastily greeted him.

"Whoa! It's the Student Council President!"

"The Acting Student Council President is here too."

Other students also noticed Leo and Karl and their eyes widened.

Seeing the other party members as well, second-year students from all departments rushed forward.

"Senior Duran! You worked hard!"

"You worked hard!"

Second-year students from the Knight Department bowed respectfully to Duran.

"Wow, it's like an army. Are you catching your juniors?"

Chelsea squinted, but Iliana shook her head.

"Not at all. The kids just naturally respect us. See?"

Iliana, who had crossed her arms with a triumphant expression, waved to the second-year Knight Department students.

"Hey everyone. Hello."

"Ah. Hello, Senior Iliana."

"Did you have a good trip?"

The second-year Knight Department students looked at Iliana with happy expressions.

Although she was friendly, it didn't feel like…

It didn't feel like they were looking up to her.

"There's a difference in temperature with Duran, isn't there?"

"Ugh! It's because Duran is unnecessarily serious all the time! I, Iliana, am a friendly senior! It's not just me! Shiah and Celia aren't treated with the same reverence as Duran!"

"Ah! Senior Celia! Senior Shiah!"

"Did you sleep well!"

Second-year students spotted Celia and Shiah and greeted them with military precision.

"…"

Iliana fell silent.

"Senior Eliza, I'll carry your luggage."

"Hmph. No need."

"Shall I massage your shoulders?"

"I said I don't need it."

Eliza scowled at the excessive kindness of the second-year students.

"Senior Chelsea!"

"A new cookie flavor just came out, so I bought some. Please try them!"

"Wow, Senior. Look how dry your skin is."

Second-year students from the Magic Department also gathered around Chelsea, making a fuss.

"…"

Chelsea stared intently at Iliana, and Iliana, with a tearful face, complained to Leo.

"Banzang! I want to be respected by my juniors too!"

"You're so endlessly frivolous that you're far from being respected. Like Karl."

"Don't put me in the same category as Karl!"

Iliana retorted at Leo's words, and Karl burst into laughter.

Iliana, looking at Karl with a glum face, said,

"Hmph! But the class president isn't approached by juniors either! So aren't we in a similar situation?"

"No, that's a bit different."

Karl shook his head.

The department heads of the third-year students were popular among their juniors due to their overwhelming skill and charisma.

As such, the second-year students always treated the third-year department heads with utmost respect, but they didn't do the same for Leo.

The reason was simple.

'He's incredibly intimidating.'

Leo's presence was too overwhelming to approach rashly.

Because of that, they felt intimidated in front of Leo.

Therefore, almost no juniors approached Leo first.

Even Iliana knew that.

"I don't know, I don't know. I can't hear you. Banzang is on my side."

She just needed someone on her side.

Karl shook his head, watching Iliana like that.

Leo, seeing this, said,

"Alright, everyone worked hard. You won't have any attendance issues even if you don't attend class until today, so don't push yourselves and rest."

"There's nothing more special than legally resting when everyone else is attending class," Karl chuckled.

Leo chuckled at Karl and said,

"Alright, then dismissed."

As Leo's words ended, the party members dispersed.

Celina and Chen Shiah approached Leo, who was left alone.

"Leo. How was the mission?"

"It was tough."

Leo replied to Celina's question with a sigh.

"Wow, if even Lord Leo says it was tough, it must have been really tough. Ah. Give me your bag."

"No."

"Oh, come on."

Chen Shiah, smiling brightly, took Leo's bag.

"Celina, you go ahead and eat this morning. I'll help Lord Leo with his luggage."

"Okay, I understand."

Celina, accustomed to Chen Shiah taking care of Leo in various ways, nodded and headed to the cafeteria first.

As Leo walked down the corridor of the clock tower dormitory, he confirmed it was deserted and opened a random door.

It naturally led to the top floor of the clock tower.

"The president's privilege is indeed convenient."

Chen Shiah followed Leo into the room, smiling.

"Thanks for coming in. I feel a bit sorry."

"I'm doing it because I want to."

Chen Shiah shook her head at Leo's words and placed Leo's bag in a corner of the room.

Leo, sitting on the sofa in the center of the room, loosened his school tie slightly.

Then he tilted his head back and leaned deeply into the sofa.

Watching Leo like that, Chen Shiah approached a cabinet in a corner of the room.

A moment later, a fragrant tea aroma filled the air.

Click- Pouring sound-

Chen Shiah, placing a teacup in front of Leo, asked cautiously,

"Did you meet one of the great heroes?"

"You're quick-witted."

Leo said with a smile, and Chen Shiah said,

"Your atmosphere is different from usual. You look very tired."

Chen Shiah had seen Leo exude this kind of atmosphere before.

It was when he met Arion and Luna, and Leo's disciples Berkia and Bihar.

For others, it would have been an overwhelming honor, but it wasn't for Leo.

"I met Dwenno."

Chen Shiah, who knew Leo's true identity, looked slightly worried.

Leo lifted his teacup in response to her reaction and said,

"It's not enough for a little brat like you to worry so much."

"I'm not a brat, I'm a full-fledged lady."

"The fact that you say such things is proof that you're still a child. The aroma is nice. Thank you."

"How about you rest for the whole day today?"

"I plan to."

"Would you like to wash up first? Or eat? Or…?"

Leo put down his teacup and tapped the space next to him with his palm.

Chen Shiah went to sit next to Leo.

Leo reached out his hand towards Chen Shiah.

"Lord Leo, it hurts."

"I'm doing it because it hurts."

Leo pinched and shook Chen Shiah's cheek and clicked his tongue.

Rubbing her reddened cheek, Chen Shiah grumbled softly,

"You stuffy old man."

*Squeeze-*

"I was wrong."

This time, Chen Shiah, with both cheeks held, said with an expressionless face.

Leo released Chen Shiah and asked,

"So? Was there anything going on among the students while I was gone?"

"It's the adaptation period, so there weren't any major incidents."

"How about the first-years?"

"They're doing great. There are no major problems with their adaptation."

"What about the atmosphere between the dormitories?"

Chen Shiah smiled slyly at Leo's question.

"It's fierce."

"Fierce?"

"Yes."

Chen Shiah nodded.

"You said nothing special happened among the students?"

"Yes. Nothing special happened among the students."

"The professors?"

"That's right. They've become very competitive."

"Well, the school has broadly pitted departments against each other."

For professors who had strong pride in their departments, it could be a matter of honor.

Moreover, most professors were from Lumern.

As such, there were many who were strongly united by their pride in their departments even after graduation.

It seemed that the competitiveness of such professors was spreading to the students.

Leo's lips curled upwards upon hearing Chen Shiah's words.

Chen Shiah squinted at Leo's words.

"What are you thinking?"

"Something interesting."

Chen Shiah sighed softly at the unsettling remark.

***

Shortly after Chen Shiah left for class.

Melina visited Leo's room.

"Lord Leo. Thank you for your hard work in clearing the Legion's world."

"What's in your hand?"

"Ah, this?"

Melina held up a small box in her hand and smiled brightly before placing it in front of Leo and opening the lid.

"A crown?"

"Your coronation is being prepared, Lord Leo. A crown befitting your status as the king of a nation is essential. Of course, no crown can perfectly suit you, but I did my best…"

"Can't you just make it roughly? Or not wear it."

"No. No matter what anyone says, you are ascending as the King of the World, just like Lord Lisinas, the King of Wisdom. It's an event that will make history."

"Who said that?"

"Lian."

Leo thought of a certain god who acted like a cult follower despite being a god and clicked his tongue.

After a brief chat,

He told Melina about what happened in Dwenno's world.

"This time, all of Arhi's party members obtained divine artifacts."

"That's right. Ar and Duran received restored divine artifacts from Dwenno as gifts, but…"

The weapons used by Arion.

The greatsword, imbued with the power of Bravery and Thunder, was an existing item but had fully regained its original form.

"And for Dryana to inherit Dwenno's flames as a conquest reward… that's huge."

"It is."

In addition, for a short time, he learned smithing techniques and how to use flames from Dwenno.

"If there's a medium, it might be possible to restore the manifested divine artifacts."

Leo glanced at the obsidian cloak hanging in a corner of the room.

The greatsword, like Duran's, was an item that came from the obsidian cloak.

It would be impossible for Dryana to create an artifact-level item from nothing at this point, but an item from the obsidian cloak could be restored.

'Well, I can't take it out just because I want to.'

Although the exact principle was unknown, the obsidian cloak seemed to produce weapons befitting a hero or a hero candidate.

Melina was surprised to hear the next piece of news while discussing the conquest rewards.

"The spirit of Lord Lisinas?"

"Yes. 100%."

Leo narrowed his eyes.

According to Karl, Dwenno had briefly appeared by borrowing Artian's body when he went berserk.

"Ah. Lord Lisinas."

Melina had an expression of not knowing where to put herself, and Leo chuckled.

"That damned lizard. Is he trying to scam me into marriage? I won't let him off if I meet him as a spirit."

"That seems to be Lord Leo's mistake…"

"What?"

"It's nothing."

Melina, who was about to defend Lisinas, shook her head.

"The subjugation of the Giant King Gias. This is truly significant."

"It is."

"The world will surely be turned upside down."

"Prepare thoroughly and inform them."

Leo, having roughly finished talking about the mission, leaned back on the sofa and said,

"Ah, and about our school's midterms."

"Yes."

"I can set the departmental exams for each dormitory, right?"

"Yes."

Although he was a student, Leo's authority this semester was comparable to that of a professor.

Especially the dormitory management authority was given to the Student Council President.

"Do you have something in mind?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

Leo smiled at Melina's question.

"Departmental War."