Book 1 Chapter 785

785.

The first floor of the inn run by Kal.

Kal served refreshments to his classmates whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

The restaurant on the first floor of Kal's inn served not only meals but also alcohol, and functioned like a high-end cafe.

After a year of attending Lumern and benchmarking the shops within Lumern, it became the most frequented shop by Lumern students in Lumeria City.

Besides Chelsea and Iliana, any Lumern student naturally used the shop.

On one side of the shop, there was a stall selling items necessary for school life and missions.

Leo silently observed a few familiar faces on the first floor.

Then, Chelsea said, sipping her tea, "Kal, are there any missions that are easy to get credits from?"

"Why? Are you failing classes again?"

In response to Kal's question, Chelsea, resting her chin on her hand, looked away and whistled.

"You have the skills and good grades, so why do you skip so much? You should learn from Iliana."

"K, Kal, what did I…"

"Iliana, you're truly a perfectly punctual honor student. Diligent and sincere in everything you do. You listen to the professors. You complete assignments on time."

Iliana blushed at Kal's words.

Drip, drip, drip-

"Um, you said your name was Leo, right? The water is overflowing."

Leo lifted the kettle he was filling at Chelsea's words.

"So clumsy."

Chelsea took out her staff and lightly swung it, causing the spilled water to float in the air and then scatter and disappear.

Watching Chelsea easily clean up, Kal clicked his tongue.

"Did you transfer the heat through the air and evaporate it?"

"Yeah. You've got a good eye."

"Your mana control sense is too much of a waste."

"Heh heh! What's there to waste? I'm the party leader of the 3rd year's second party! Isn't this impressive enough?"

"It is impressive. It's a position I can only dream of."

Kal sighed.

"But Chelsea, couldn't you definitely get into the first party?"

At those words, Chelsea's eyes widened.

Then she burst into giggles.

"If I forced myself to try, I might barely make it. But then I wouldn't be able to sleep and would have to put in a lot of effort. And crucially, I'd have to compete with my brother!"

Chelsea smiled sweetly.

"Helping my brother is enough for me. Rea also asked me to lead the second party."

Watching Chelsea puff out her chest with pride, Leo asked Iliana, "What's the first party and what's the second party?"

"Huh? Well, um…"

At Leo's question, Iliana's eyes widened, and she lowered her head.

'I'm not used to this.'

Leo looked at Iliana with a strange expression.

Iliana, who was always causing trouble due to her overflowing energy, was not only quiet but also incredibly observant of people.

Remembering Iliana's cheerful demeanor from when they first met, Leo furrowed his brow.

'Is Iliana in this world always timid? But Kal and Chelsea… and Arle, their personalities don't seem to have changed?'

It was just the difference between being born or not.

His friends' personalities hadn't changed much.

Leo looked at Chelsea, who was talking with Kal.

'Well, thanks to that, she doesn't seem to have found her own path in this world.'

Chelsea in Leo's world also didn't have her own path when they first met.

From a young age, Chelsea was satisfied with chasing after Abad, the ideal hero in her mind.

After meeting Leo during the entrance exam, she tried to chase after Leo, the hero she had only seen in fairy tales.

It wasn't a wrong path, nor was it bad.

However, Chelsea's talent was too great to just follow others.

That's why both Leo and Abad wanted Chelsea to find her own path, and as a result, she had found it.

She chose to stand beside Leo and Abad, not behind them.

But this Chelsea was different.

'She seems to be chasing after Lisinas… in my place, instead of Abad.'

Having spent a long time together, it wasn't difficult to understand.

'Since Kal left Lumern at Lisinas's suggestion… it might not be a strange situation.'

Leo's face grew grim.

He could easily guess what the first and second parties mentioned in Chelsea and Kal's conversation were, even without an explanation.

However, a detailed explanation was still needed.

"Um… well… the first and second parties are…"

As Iliana hesitantly tried to explain in a hushed voice, Leo said,

"Speak comfortably."

"Huh?"

"We're the same age as Kal and friends, anyway. It's a bit uncomfortable that you're being so careful with me when you're Kal's friend."

"Th-then… I'll speak casually?"

"Please do."

"U, um… I'll call you Leo?"

"Call me whatever you like. So, what are the first and second parties?"

"Yeah. The first party refers to the party selected from the best performers of each grade at Lumern Academy."

'As expected.'

"The members of the 3rd year's first party are… Sia, Chloe, Celia, Abad, Duran, Warden, and Eliza. You're Leo, right? You must have heard of their names."

"What about Rea?"

"Rea is on a different level!"

Chelsea suddenly interjected into their conversation.

*Clack!* Chelsea put her hands on her hips and made a proud expression.

"Rea, the student council president, is truly on a different level, so she can't be in the same party!"

"Why are you the one bragging?"

Kal chuckled.

Watching him, Leo asked, "Who are the members of the second party?"

"Me, Iliana here. And Nel, and Teyd and Jureden from the summoning department. Haul from the knight department, and Elleg from the magic department!"

They were all high-ranking students.

"Is there a need to divide them into first and second parties?"

"Yes! The first party is the symbol of each grade, meaning the aces. Well, the second party is also quite impressive. Shall we call us supporters and reserve members for the first party?"

According to Chelsea's explanation, it seemed that all of Lumern's strength was concentrated in the first party.

'This is different from the Lisinas I know.'

Unlike Lisinas, who wanted many to unfold their potential.

As he let out a small sigh inwardly, Chelsea said, "Anyway, Kal! Don't you have any missions where I can earn credits easily? Preferably an easy one."

"Do you think there is such a thing?"

Kal lightly clicked his tongue and got up to head to the counter.

Then he pulled out a few mission papers.

"These are requests I set aside because I don't think students should take them carelessly."

"I said an easy one."

"This is the only kind of mission that can quickly make up for your credits."

Kal clicked his tongue and looked at the mission papers.

"The minimum number of people is four."

Chelsea pouted, and Kal shrugged.

"Gathering party members is easy."

"If it were easy, would I have come to you? Everyone is busy preparing for exams. Iliana is the only one who can help."

Chelsea picked up one of the request forms.

"Death Land reconnaissance mission. This will be the fastest mission to complete in a short period."

Death Land.

It was the territory of a country destroyed by the Lich King Hel Kaiser 500 years ago.

Even now, it was a place within Tartarus's influence, where countless undead roamed.

The request stated that the movements in Death Land had recently been unusual.

"Can we hire mercenaries for the remaining party members?"

As Chelsea tilted her head, Leo said, "Shall I help?"

"Huh?"

At Leo's words, Chelsea's eyes widened.

"I'm free, so how about it? Kal, why don't you come along too?"

"Huh? Me too?"

Kal pointed at himself with his finger.

At those words, Chelsea's eyes sparkled.

"Great! Kal! You seem free too!"

"Hey, hey. I have to watch the shop."

"Didn't you say your shop employees are capable? Trust them and leave it to them!"

Chelsea smiled brightly.

Seeing Chelsea like that, Kal narrowed his eyes.

"You don't have pocket money, so you're trying to save money, aren't you?"

"Yes."

Seeing Chelsea nod shamelessly, Kal sighed.

"Leo, but is it okay? Death Land is a very dangerous place."

At Kal's words, Leo smiled faintly.

"I won't be a burden."

"If it seems dangerous, I'll protect you!"

Iliana said with a slightly firm voice.

"Thank you."

"I-it's nothing."

As Leo said with a smile, Iliana said with a bright smile,

"Okay! Then let's depart for Death Land right away!"

Iliana rolled up the request form and waved it like a baton.

"Now?!"

"Well, now."

Chelsea lightly tapped her shoulder with the rolled-up request form and left the room.

"I've already prepared everything, so just follow me."

Chelsea left the shop like a captain, followed by Iliana.

Watching them, Leo got up and looked at Kal.

Kal spoke to an employee about various things, then went into a room that looked like a storage room on the first floor, and after a while, he dragged a large bag and followed Chelsea out.

Leo silently followed behind them.

***

Crackling sound-

That evening.

The group, having arrived not far from Death Land, was preparing to camp.

Leo cooked stew in front of the campfire and distributed it to the students.

Upon seeing the stew, the faces of the three people changed subtly for a moment.

"Why?"

"No… this looks exactly like the stew Rea makes?"

Kal poked at the meat in the stew with his spoon as if suspicious.

Chelsea cautiously brought her nose close and sniffed, then furrowed her brow.

"It smells the same too?"

Iliana made a pained expression, groaning.

Seeing their reactions, which seemed to indicate trauma, Leo calmly ate the stew and said,

"Judging by this, your student council president must be terrible at cooking."

"Yes. It's the only flaw of Rea, who is perfect in everything."

Seeing Leo eat the stew calmly, Chelsea also opened her mouth and ate the stew.

Then her eyes widened, and she cupped her cheeks.

"It's incredibly delicious, contrary to its appearance!"

Watching Chelsea smile happily, Kal and Iliana also cautiously ate the food.

Then their eyes widened.

"Wow, the visual is not great, but the taste is amazing?"

As Kal exclaimed, Leo looked at the stew he had made.

It seemed visually excellent, but it didn't look good to them.

'Whether in her previous life or after reincarnation, that cursed cooking skill doesn't seem to have disappeared.'

She might have imitated the appearance of the food he made.

If the smell was also the same, it was certain.

However, due to her disastrous cooking skills, the taste must still have been terrible.

To the point of inflicting trauma.

Leo clicked his tongue and ate.

After the meal.

Iliana and Kal went out for reconnaissance.

Leo, sitting opposite each other by the campfire, added wood and said,

"Is Iliana's personality always like this?"

"Huh? What do you mean, her personality?"

"I feel like she used to be cheerful, but she seems very timid."

"Oh? How did you know Iliana was originally cheerful?"

Chelsea looked surprised.

Then she rested her chin on her hand and slightly squinted her eyes.

"When you think about it, it's strange, isn't it? It feels like you know us very well."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Chelsea smiled faintly and broke a twig rolling around nearby, throwing it into the campfire.

"Iliana was originally a very cheerful girl. She talked a lot and was always lively. And maybe a bit lazy."

Chelsea wore a bitter smile.

"Rea must have seen that very unfavorably."

"Saw it unfavorably?"

"Yes. She put her through extremely harsh training."

"…"

"Thanks to that, Iliana became incredibly strong. Strong enough to beat me if I wasn't careful. But because the training was so difficult, her personality also became a bit timid. It's sad to watch."

"…It must have been hard."

"Yes. But Rea did that for Iliana."

'…For Iliana.'

Leo narrowed his eyes and turned his head.

A moment later, Chelsea also widened her eyes and looked in the direction Leo was looking.

After a moment.

Flash! Boom, boom, boom!

Iliana's mana surged.

Chelsea jumped to her feet.

"Something's wrong!"

With a look of urgency, Chelsea rushed to where Kal and Iliana were.

Leo clicked his tongue at the clearly palpable energy.

'Hel Kaiser…'