Book 1 Chapter 723

723.

The Tower of Heroes stands tall in the center of Lumern.

The Lumern Student Council office is located in this place, which can be called the heart of the Hero Academy, Lumern.

And in the student council office, the Student Council President's office is situated in the spot with the best view.

Leo, sitting in the Student Council President's seat, was looking at documents.

Knock- Click-

Just then, with a knock, the door opened and a girl entered.

A dragon girl with brilliant golden hair and eyes.

It was Enkinias, Melina's successor and the next Dragon Lord.

Holding a tray, she came to Leo's side and placed a steaming mug on his desk.

Thud-

"Thank you."

Leo expressed his thanks and took a sip of the coffee in the mug.

"As expected, coffee enjoyed leisurely after skipping class is the best."

As Leo mumbled playfully, Enkinias burst out laughing.

Currently, Leo was the only student in the student council office.

Even if the student council was important, a student's main duty was ultimately studying.

Student council members also went to attend classes in the morning, unless there was a special event.

Because of this, Leo was the only student who could come to the student council office at this time.

"A student's main duty is studying, you know."

"I'm not exactly a proper student, am I?"

"Why? You're an excellent honor student."

"Honor student. Inside, I'm on my second life, so whatever."

"Besides, you're not even slacking off in the first place."

Leo chuckled at Enkinias's words.

"It's delicious."

"Thank you."

"It's a taste Lysinas would like."

"Really?"

Enkinias looked pleased.

'Well, it was hard to get anything decent to drink back then.'

Compared to that time, everything tastes good now.

Of course, even when the food was in such poor condition, Lysinas had a mysterious ability to make bad things even worse.

'Unexpectedly, he liked to eat. He'd be happy if he came to this era.'

Lost in thought, Leo felt a gaze and tilted his head.

"Why?"

"I was thinking that if the student council members knew how hard you work, Lord Leo, they might feel less unfairly treated."

Leo was notorious in the student council for creating work.

And he would conveniently absent himself, watching the student council suffer.

But in truth, Leo was working very hard.

'Well, it's not Lumern's business, though.'

The documents Leo was currently reviewing were reports to Melina, the Dragon Lord.

Reports submitted by dragons from various regions, observing the world's political situation.

And even secret information sent by the shadows.

With Tartaros moving covertly now.

Dragonia and the shadows were moving in unseen places to detect suspicious movements occurring around the world.

"It's tiring, as I'm not used to this kind of work."

"But you handle tasks incredibly quickly and perfectly, don't you?"

"Because I did similar work to the point of exhaustion in my past life."

During the Age of Calamity, Tartaros was not the only opponent Leo fought.

He had to grasp the movements of traitors who moved stealthily, ready to stab him in the back at any moment.

Leo was using his experiences from that time to understand the world's political situation.

"Well, even then, I didn't do it entirely on my own."

"Then who?"

"There was someone who worked with me."

"Who was that?"

"Who else? The King of Wisdom."

"Ah…"

"It's tough. Trying to do the work we did together all by myself."

Creak-

Leo turned his chair to look out the window and sipped his coffee.

Watching him, Enkinias cautiously asked.

"What kind of work did Lord Lysinas do when there wasn't any combat?"

"He did work befitting the title of 'King.' He took charge of running Gadesron."

"Ah."

"It must have been tough. In terms of administrative work, Dwenno was the only one among us who could help Lysinas."

Gadesron, now buried beneath the earth, was as massive in scale as its moniker, 'The World's Last Fortress,' suggested.

A city as grand as Gadesron would be hard to find even after 5000 years.

It would have been difficult to find even before the Age of Calamity, known as the Age of Gods.

"So, the two of you handled internal affairs?"

"No way. Even if Lysinas was a monster, it would be impossible. There were still administrators handling the city's public affairs back then."

Not only dragons but also talented individuals who survived up to that era.

If heroes, led by the great heroes, fought against the world's destruction.

The administrators of that time strived to maintain the world's order, which could collapse at any moment.

"In that case, wasn't Dwenno the only one who could help with internal affairs?"

"From a practical standpoint, yes. But every decision was Lysinas's responsibility."

"Ah…"

Enkinias understood that remark at once.

It meant that the world's fate hung on Lysinas's single choice.

And in that situation, Dwenno was the only one he could seek advice from and ponder with.

'If even one thing had gone wrong back then, this world wouldn't exist now.'

In combat as well as in internal affairs, Lysinas was the leader of Gadesron.

The decision-maker who could sway the world's destiny.

He carried the world's fate on his shoulders, walking a tightrope.

Yet, he always showed an unwavering presence, giving people hope.

It wasn't for nothing that the gods called Lysinas the King of the World.

"That Lord Dwenno was the only one who could help Lord Lysinas with internal affairs. That's surprising. What about Lord Leo and Lord Arion…?"

"Arion and I were only good at fighting."

"What about Lady Luna? I feel like Lady Luna would have been a great help."

"Didn't you see her when she came as a spirit? Luna's nickname is the King of Destruction."

He or Arion would be better.

Among the five great heroes, Luna was the furthest from internal affairs.

"I'm realizing anew just how amazing Lord Lysinas was."

"Amazing? This world was practically saved by him alone."

"What? Lord Kyle was the one who saved the world as the last remaining person, wasn't he?"

It might have been unknown if records had been lost before.

Now that the actions of the Hero of Beginnings have been revealed by Leo.

It is an established fact that the Hero of Beginnings saved the world.

But Leo, the person in question, said that Lysinas alone saved the world, so Enkinias couldn't help but be a little flustered.

"It was Lysinas who offered me his hand."

"Ah…"

"Before I took that hand. Lysinas was the only one who truly believed he could save the world and formulated a plan."

Leo looked at Enkinias.

"His insight, his wisdom, led us."

He was the best leader, beyond any doubt.

"And the dragons, who inherited his will, have become the 'leaders of heroes' in this era, haven't they?"

"…"

"Now I lead everyone. But even this is merely an imitation of him."

Leo fixed his gaze back on the documents.

"I can't do everything alone forever. If you claim to be the next Dragon Lord… Lysinas's successor. Make sure you know what Lysinas did. And what you must do."

"If I truly succeed Lord Lysinas… do I also have to lead Lord Leo?"

"Hoo? You've got guts, don't you? You'd lead me?"

"Ah, no. That's not what I meant. How could I possibly…"

Enkinias waved her hands frantically as Leo raised his head again.

"Unfortunately, I don't follow anyone's guidance."

Leo chuckled.

"Because I've already decided which path to take."

If there was anyone who could show him a new path, it would only be one person.

In the past, present, and future.

That fact would never change.

"By the way, you said you would summon Lord Lysinas's spirit, didn't you? Do you have anything you'd like to do if you meet Lord Lysinas?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

Enkinias asked, her eyes sparkling.

'The two of them were married, weren't they?'

A bond formed according to traditional dragon rituals.

The love between a great hero and a great hero.

And after 5000 years, they were about to have a miraculous reunion.

How romantic was that?

"I'm going to confront that swindler lizard and then tell him I want a divorce."

'I shouldn't have asked.'

It was the moment Enkinias, who had asked a rash question, regretted it inwardly.

Leo, who had sipped his coffee, checked the clock.

"Is it almost time for the mock battle?"

"If you're curious, why don't you go watch?"

"I already know their skills, so it's nothing new."

"Still, they're at an age where they grow day by day."

These were students chosen by Leo himself to be his future comrades, not just anyone.

As Enkinias said, they grew at an astonishing pace.

Though Leo didn't show it, he was sometimes surprised by the growth rate of his classmates.

It wasn't a master-disciple relationship like with Belkia or Bihal.

But.

As a senior who had gone down this path first, Leo felt a quiet pride when he saw his juniors following him.

That's why, at some point, he unconsciously began to anticipate.

'Was this how Lysinas felt?'

Recalling Lysinas, Leo put down his coffee.

"I can't coddle them forever."

Just his presence changed the atmosphere among his classmates.

That wasn't a bad thing.

But…

"They also need to learn how to advance on their own, without external stimulus."

"That's true, I suppose."

Enkinias nodded in agreement.

Leo stared intently at Enkinias.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because in my eyes, they and you are just the same."

At that, Enkinias blushed and bowed her head deeply.

Thinking about it, she wasn't in a position to agree with Leo's words.

Leo, who laughed as if amused by the embarrassed Enkinias, flipped through the documents.

And fixed his gaze on the next report.

"Heavy snowfall due to abnormal temperatures? Is this the Debian Kingdom?"

"Yes. A civil war recently broke out there, but… it has been a place with an unusual internal atmosphere for a long time."

"Hmm."

Leo stroked his chin.

'Heavy snowfall, huh…'

***

On the opposite side of the vast training ground, the top-performing students from the Knightry Department and the Magic Department faced each other.

A mock battle.

Literally a practice combat, but the pride of their departments was at stake.

As the representatives from each department finished their preparations in front of the large training ground.

Rumble-!

The training ground moved.

The training ground, where plants began to grow at an incredible speed, quickly became a small, dense forest.

It was the battlefield environment randomly provided during mock battles.

"The stage is Forest."

A screen showing the internal situation, created by magic, appeared above the training ground.

The representatives entered the forest.

'Just right.'

Lysinas mumbled inwardly.

Lysinas easily deciphered the magic spell embedded in the training ground and exerted his influence.

Outside, a fake screen created by Lysinas would be broadcast.

It was done so secretly and instantly that even Ren, who had dedicated his entire life to magic, wouldn't notice.

The Magic Department students set up a defensive formation.

If the enemy was the Knightry Department, rushing out recklessly was dangerous.

Lysinas observed the movements of the Magic Department students.

'Excellent.'

Indeed, they were well-trained.

Lysinas, who had been looking at the Magic Department students with a proud expression, suddenly raised his head.

As he briefly gazed into the bushes, Lysinas summoned Chloe's staff.

The Magic Department students looked bewildered as Lysinas suddenly sprang into action.

Wham-!

Lysinas struck the staff on the ground.

Crack, crack, crack, crack-!

Ice magic swept over the surrounding area.

Hiss-!

In an instant, the forest dropped to sub-zero temperatures.

Someone who had dodged Lysinas's freezing magic landed on the ground.

"You scared me. When did you get so fast at incantations? More importantly, how did you know?"

Chen Xia's eyes were wide, and she looked genuinely surprised.

"…"

Lysinas stared intently at Chen Xia.

Her appearance was different.

Her aura was also different.

But… Lysinas easily saw someone's reflection in Chen Xia.

'Is this child perhaps Bihal's descendant?'