Book 1 Chapter 744

744.

Flash—

A bright light burst from the warp gate.

And from within it, students from the Lumern Academy revealed themselves.

Stomp- stomp-

The gazes of those in front of the warp gate were fixed on the Lumern students.

"White hair and red eyes… that must be Leo Flob, the student council president of Lumern."

"The youngest student council president and a hero…"

"They say he even got his hands on the throne of the Kingdom of Duncan?"

"He's smaller than I expected."

"Since he's small, I don't feel much dignity from him?"

As the murmurs of the people reached Leo's ears.

The gazes that had been directed at Leo now turned to Elena, who was by his side.

"Is that woman Elena Zerone…?"

"Astonishing! She's beautiful…!"

"They say she's called the Queen of Lumern?"

"She looks like a noble woman at first glance!"

Unlike Leo, who was met with suspicion, Elena was showered with praise.

In addition to Elena, Celia, Abad, Juen, and Sasha also received rave reviews.

Leo muttered with a bored expression at the reaction of the nobles who appeared to be from Devian.

"Why are those guys judging others like that?"

At his muttering, Lil said.

"Nobles of a country tend to have that kind of tendency. Brother."

Lil shrugged as if used to it.

"There are surprisingly many royals and high-ranking officials who don't care about their public reputation. Of course, they can't freely slander Lumern students and heroes… but among Lumern students, they tend to highly value those from more distinguished families. It's the same with heroes."

At Lil's explanation, Leo clicked his tongue.

"And because of Kal's recent achievements, the nobles who used to care about such things have become even more obsessed with family lineage."

Kal's Hero Record entry.

It was an event that caused a shockwave comparable to when Leo had his name inscribed in the Hero Record.

After all, Leo had been famous since his enrollment.

Even among the strong contenders in the entrance class, he had proudly taken first place.

Not only that, but as an unprecedented "All Class," he had captured people's attention.

Afterward, he continued to make groundbreaking moves and eventually succeeded in becoming the first-year student council president in Lumern's history.

Later, he revealed the existence of the great hero Kyle and was designated as his successor.

However, Kal was different from Leo.

Unlike Leo, who had been exceptional from the start, Kal was a student who barely survived, lingering at the bottom.

A completely unknown student.

While he made a name for himself conquering the world of Dweno, it was largely perceived that he had just ridden the coattails of those with overwhelming skill.

But one day, he suddenly rose to the rank of hero.

And it was someone who was merely a commoner, not a noble.

Kal became an object of admiration among the commoners, but a thorn in the side of the nobles who disdained them.

Moreover, unlike Leo, who was called the "Nameless Hero," Kal's epithet was "The One Preparing for the Beginning."

This epithet, which seemed deeply connected to Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, drew even more attention to Kal, and his reputation among the commoners grew day by day.

In fact, Kal was one of the most popular heroes among the commoners recently.

Given the circumstances, the nobles who prioritized status further reinforced such criteria.

At Lil's explanation, Leo clicked his tongue.

"So that's what happened during the winter break."

He hadn't had time to sense such a mood.

After all, during the winter break, Leo had been busy shuttling between the Zerdinger family and the Resentong region.

Furthermore, the nobles he met were all nobles from the Rodren Empire.

Even though it was his maternal lineage, there were no nobles within the Rodren Empire who would dare to treat someone recognized as a direct descendant of Zerdinger with disdain.

But this place was a faraway foreign country, far from the Rodren Empire.

Moreover, even if he was recognized as a direct descendant of Zerdinger, Leo's surname was still Flob.

The nobles of Devian inwardly looked down on Leo, seeing him as someone from an unknown small kingdom on the western frontier.

They judged him to be still young, even if he was the student council president and a hero of Lumern.

This was a common behavior among nobles who were uninterested in world affairs and only flaunted their authority in their own domains.

It was at this moment that Leo made a look of pity.

"Princess Treniconi of Devian has arrived!"

A noble in splendid attire shouted with resounding clarity.

Along with that, the nobles parted to the side.

Musicians, who appeared to be an orchestra, began to play music, and a red carpet was laid out between the parted nobles.

And through it, a woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties walked with confidence.

Behind her, adorned in a magnificent outfit, were individuals who appeared to be her retinue.

Despite the country being embroiled in civil war, they were displaying an excessive degree of ceremonial pomp.

Amidst the music of the orchestra, Princess Treniconi, who arrived imposingly before Leo, said.

"It is an honor to meet you. I am Treniconi, the First Princess of Devian."

Treniconi greeted him elegantly.

As Leo was about to speak upon seeing the elegant Treniconi.

"I am Elena Zerone, the Vice President of Lumern."

"Ah, the renowned Queen of Lumern."

Elena, who was next to Leo, smiled faintly.

Regardless of her grade level, in external perception, Elena, the vice president, held a lower rank than Leo.

Yet, Elena stepped forward first on behalf of Leo, the representative.

It wasn't as if Princess Treniconi was offended by this.

No, rather, she seemed welcoming.

"The princess seems to be the same."

Leo clicked his tongue inwardly.

He hadn't come here for special treatment.

He only wanted to quickly resolve the civil war and defeat the source of the abnormal climate in Devian.

His sole desire was to vanquish the fragments of Erebus.

At that moment, Princess Treniconi said.

"It's a shame. I wish some of the students from Devian attending Lumern had come along."

As the nation with the largest territory in the east, excluding Shan, Devian had many students attending Lumern.

Elena smiled faintly as she saw Treniconi express her regret.

"Lumern is always neutral. Originally, we should not have intervened in this civil war… but since Seirun intervened first. We had no choice but to intervene for the sake of balance."

At those words, Princess Treniconi wore a displeased expression.

"But my homeland is in danger. It's a pity that Louisse Ciuan hasn't come."

Louisse Ciuan.

A fifth-year student of magic.

He was the heir to the Ciuan family, a renowned heroic family of Devian.

"Louisse really shouldn't come."

Elena wore a look of pity.

The Ciuan family holds great symbolic significance in Devian.

Ciuan is also a heroic family.

A heroic family refers to a family that has produced heroes for generations.

And in this era, the status of a hero is no less than that of a king.

Therefore, families that have produced many heroes naturally possess a status comparable to royalty.

As a result, some who rose to the rank of hero even founded their own nations and earned the title of Hero King.

Besides them, families that enjoy noble status are broadly divided into three categories.

The case of being loyal to the imperial family and serving as an absolute ally, like Zerdinger and Rualyn of Rodren.

The case of becoming semi-independent as a duchy and acquiring the title of Duke-King.

And finally, those who, while outwardly loyal to the royal family, do not obey the king's commands and focus on independently defending the country.

The Ciuan family fell into the latter category.

Therefore, they maintained an absolute neutral stance in foreign politics.

To express regret that such a Louisse had not come.

"Louisse was greatly praised as an excellent person by the former Crown Prince."

Although she had never met him, Elena was well aware of the rumors about the former Crown Prince of Devian who died on the battlefield against Tartaros.

And to think that the one who would ascend the throne is like this.

The second prince wasn't much of a prospect either.

She didn't know how Seirun got involved, but the moment Seirun intervened in Devian's civil war, it was as obvious as day that Lumern would intervene for mediation.

Lumern and Seirun.

Both are external forces from Devian's perspective, but Lumern is human, and Seirun is elves.

Lumern's influence over neighboring countries was overwhelmingly stronger than Seirun's.

In such a situation, to involve Seirun.

"He must be an idiot."

Elena clicked her tongue.

"Has this country's fate run its course?"

Elena clicked her tongue, feeling pity for her classmate with whom she had taken the same classes for five years.

"Come, come! We can't just stand here! Lumern has come all this way to help our Devian! We must hold a grand party immediately!"

A minister behind Princess Treniconi exclaimed.

At those words, Elena smiled faintly.

"We appreciate the sentiment, but we must be leaving to meet Seirun immediately."

"What? You've come a long way, you should rest and recover from your journey."

"We came by warp gate, you know."

At Elena's words, Princess Treniconi and her retinue exchanged glances.

They seemed intent on inviting the Lumern party to their party somehow.

These people were not fools.

They knew better than anyone that gaining Lumern's support would give them an immediate advantage in this civil war.

Having made that judgment, Princess Treniconi thought.

"They said the real power in Lumern was Princess Zerone… that was certainly true."

It was evident to everyone that Elena was leading the conversation.

In fact, all the real power in Lumern was handled by Elena.

Even though he had achieved the rank of hero, Leo, still in his third year, was undoubtedly inexperienced in matters outside of combat.

Therefore, the nobles of Devian believed that the immense power of the Lumern student council president resided with Elena.

"But even so, the student council president is Leo Flob."

Therefore, they reasoned that if Leo attended, the Lumern students would have no choice but to participate in the party.

Princess Treniconi said with a smile all over her face.

"Great hero, Leo Flob. It is an honor to have the chance to speak with you. Please share your glorious story with the people of our Devian…"

"Hm? What is this?"

Elena let out a strange nasal sound, interrupting Princess Treniconi's words.

At those words, Princess Treniconi's bewildered gaze turned to Elena.

"Yes?"

"Who do you think you are, speaking so boldly without permission? I thought you understood your place, but it seems that was my mistake."

A beautiful smile adorned Elena's face.

But her eyes shone with a chilling intensity.

At the overwhelming aura, the faces of Princess Treniconi and the other nobles turned pale.

The knights, mages, and summoners escorting them held their breath, overwhelmed by Elena's presence.

"I'll ask again. Who do you think you are, speaking so boldly without permission?"

Elena, now expressionless, asked coldly.

"Th-that's absurd…"

Throughout the conversation, Princess Treniconi hadn't even looked at Leo.

She hadn't exchanged greetings with Leo, but she didn't seem bothered.

The same was true for the other high-ranking nobles, excluding Princess Treniconi.

They inwardly looked down on Leo, who was from a frontier kingdom.

"Does the position of Lumern's student council president seem so trivial? That a mere princess, not even a king or crown prince, could speak so casually?"

However, Elena didn't necessarily interpret this as an act of disrespect towards Leo.

Rather, she thought they understood their place well.

As she said, the position of Lumern's student council president was one that not even the emperor of the empire could easily disregard.

And Leo's external standing was already soaring.

For a mere princess to speak to such a Leo without his permission.

Elena absolutely could not tolerate it.

"Th-this is outrageous! Do you think you can get away with treating a princess of Devian like this!"

At that moment, one of the retinue bravely shouted.

But his courage had properly offended the Queen of Lumern.

"And if I can't get away with it?"

Elena tilted her head slightly.

"What do you think you are?"

"W-we are from Devian…!"

"What can you do, you who have achieved nothing more in life than being born into a good family? And."

Elena furrowed her delicate brow, looking incredulous.

"What is Devian?"

At those words, the faces of the Devian nobles, including the princess, turned pale.

Leo, watching them from behind, said to Lil.

"Shouldn't I stop that delinquent?"

"I don't think that's wrong either?"

Lil tilted his head.

At that, Leo clicked his tongue inwardly.

"They've been together so long, they've ended up resembling each other."