Book 1 Chapter 832

"It's vacation!"

"Finally, freedom!"

After the closing ceremony for vacation.

Students returning to the dormitory let out cheers.

Among them were students so caught up in the mood that they threw their textbooks high into the air.

It was at that moment, as a few first and second-year students, carried away by the atmosphere, were throwing their textbooks.

"You don't throw books."

*Crack-skreeeeech-*

At someone's chilling voice, the atmosphere froze for an instant.

As everyone slowly turned their heads, Chloe stood there, as always, with a book clutched to her chest.

A gentle smile graced her lips, but the aura around her was as cold as a north wind.

"Pick them up."

"Yes, yes!"

"Hey! That's mine!"

The first and second-year students scrambled to pick up their respective books in a panic.

Celia, who had been watching them from the side, said,

"Chloe. You should definitely join the disciplinary committee in the second semester."

"I'll consider it."

"By the way, how did you even think of going to Rumeria City during class hours?"

"Um… that's…"

"Well, they're like that, but…"

"What do you mean 'they'! What do you mean 'they'!"

Chelsea, who had been listening nearby, widened her eyes, and Karl shrugged.

Chloe subtly averted her gaze from Celia's words.

She couldn't possibly tell them that she had followed the student council president and vice president, who, as soon as vacation began, said they were going to an uninhabited island, to find out where it was.

'In the end, I didn't even find out where they were going.'

Chloe let out a small sigh.

"Celia, do you happen to know where Leo is going for vacation?"

"He said he's going to an uninhabited island in the territorial waters of the Archi Kingdom for the first week? He didn't tell me exactly which uninhabited island, though."

"What? Leo-oppa told you that?"

Chelsea, who had been listening, asked urgently.

"Yeah. Why?"

Chelsea and Chloe wore expressions of dismay.

The trio who had followed Leo were caught by Halind and forced to endure the torture of school cleanup duty and writing self-reflection essays.

"What were we even doing?"

It was at that moment when Karl gave a bitter smile.

*Click-clack-*

"Pathetic. Getting dragged into the detention room right before vacation."

"Oh! It's been a week. So nice to see you!"

Karl smiled as he saw Eliza approaching him.

"Hmph, seeing you for just a week."

Eliza turned her head sharply and scoffed, and Karl said,

"Well, I missed seeing you."

"Hmm?"

Eliza squinted her eyes, glanced at Karl, and asked,

"Why?"

"After being bothered by Professor Halind every day, I guess I missed your prickly nature?"

"Ho?"

"Just kidding. Please spare me."

As Eliza grabbed his collar, Karl raised both hands.

Seeing Karl like that, Eliza scoffed and let go of him.

Karl reached into his pocket and said,

"I got a good item and wanted to offer it to you as the first priority."

"A good item?"

"A saddle made of dragon hide."

"How did you get it?"

Eliza's eyes widened.

Items related to dragons were extremely rare.

As such, they were not easy to obtain even with money.

"I'm quite resourceful, you know?"

Karl shrugged.

"While I was in the detention room, Professor Yura found me and urged me to sell it to her."

Yura tried to persuade him, offering to get him out of detention if he sold it to her with her professorial authority.

Of course, the threat that she would keep him locked up until the start of the second semester if he didn't sell it was a bonus.

'In the end, I got caught by Professor Halind and was dragged out.'

Karl recalled Yura's pale face, shouting that it was a misunderstanding, and looked at Eliza with a somewhat sympathetic gaze.

"What's with that look?"

"No. I just felt sorry for you, Professor Yura, since Professor Len is your supervising professor."

At that, Eliza scowled.

"What about you? Professor Ren is your supervising professor."

"I have nothing to say."

It wasn't only Yura who had visited Karl while he was in the detention room.

Karl shook his head, recalling Professor Ren's hysterical reaction, saying they had lost a bet because of him and that he shouldn't think about getting out of detention.

Naturally, Len was also dragged away by Halind.

'Is this school okay like this?'

Karl, worrying about the school, said,

"Anyway, I wanted to sell it to you. What do you think? Interested?"

"I'll have to see the item before I can think about it."

"Uh, the item is at the shop now, want to stop by?"

As Karl said this, scratching his cheek, Eliza let out a light scoff.

"Unlike you, who has nothing to do, I, the heir of the Hergin family, have a packed schedule."

"I suppose so."

Indeed, as the heir of a great hero family like the Hergin family, one would be busy from vacation.

"Then I'll keep it safe until the end of vacation."

Karl said with a smile, and Eliza made a displeased expression.

Then, she clicked her tongue!

"Why?"

Eliza opened a spatial pocket, took out paper and a pen, and quickly wrote something. She then slid the paper between her index and middle fingers and handed it to Karl.

"I'll be at the main mansion the day after tomorrow, so bring it then."

"Oh? Is it an invitation?"

Karl smiled brightly and took the paper.

"Invitation, my foot."

Saying that, Eliza folded her arms and said,

"And you, who did you agree to go with to Leo Flob's coronation?"

"Huh? I didn't really agree to go with anyone in particular. I might go ahead."

"Then, with me…"

"Karl Thomas."

At that moment, Duran stood behind Karl.

"Escort my sister to Leo Flob's coronation."

"I'm a commoner."

"What does that matter? You are a hero belonging to our kingdom. You are fully qualified to escort royalty."

"What is this? Duran Moira. I'm talking to Karl."

Eliza asked in a fierce voice, and Duran replied with his characteristic cold smile,

"Wasn't the conversation over? This is a matter of our kingdom. Do not interfere with internal affairs."

"Huh?"

A vein bulged on Eliza's forehead.

Seeing that, Karl smiled and glanced around.

'Save me.'

Though the urgent plea could be felt, everyone ignored it.

Eliza and Duran.

No student wanted to get involved in a fight between two people now famous for their tempers within the school.

"To think that Eliza and Duran are fighting over Karl like that. I couldn't have imagined this even in my first year."

Iriana, who was watching the fight with an intrigued expression from afar, said to Leo.

"By the way, Class President. I heard that Emio guy came by. What happened?"

"He's still the same. He was rude to Chloe, got cursed out by Karl, and suffered greatly from Senior Elena."

"He must have come to see you, Class President. Did you talk?"

"I dislike ill-mannered people."

"Heehee! What a fool! He came to impress the Class President and ended up being disliked! Well, the temper of that country's Crown Prince is famous."

"What you're saying is true, but it's a bit strange for you to call someone else a fool."

"Class President, you're too mean!"

Iriana pouted and grabbed Leo, shaking him vigorously.

Meanwhile, Eliza and Duran had already summoned their familiars and aura.

"That Karl, he's quite popular."

Leo said with a laugh, and Chen Shiya, standing behind Leo, smiled.

"Indeed. Though, of course, he's nowhere near as popular as you, Young Master Leo."

At that, Leo let out a hollow laugh.

"Class President."

"Yes?"

"I'm an understanding woman. So, have fun."

"……?"

Leo looked at Iriana with a puzzled expression, and Iriana gave him a thumbs-up.

*Thwack-!*

"Gah!?"

At that moment, Chen Shiya's fist struck Iriana's side.

Iriana collapsed to the floor.

Seeing that, Leo laughed and picked up his luggage.

"Then I'll be going first. See you all at the coronation."

***

The warp gate shimmered.

The warp gate in Retin, located halfway up the mountain, offered a panoramic view of the city as soon as one emerged.

"Wow, what a magnificent city!"

Elena exclaimed, approaching the observation deck in front of the warp gate to admire the scenery.

"You'll soon be the official king of this country. How do you feel?"

"Well, I don't really feel anything."

"Does that mean you, the king of the world, aren't satisfied with just one country?"

"Leo, welcome."

A familiar voice came from behind.

Turning his head, he saw his mother and father, Reina and Deid, standing there.

"Welcome home, Father. Mother."

"Yes. As always, a rather unaffectionate greeting."

"I'm almost grown up now."

"You've been like this since you were little. I hope my future grandchild doesn't take after their father."

Reina, who sighed with worry, cupping her cheek, looked at Elena with sparkling eyes.

"In that sense, can I consider this pretty young lady a candidate for my daughter-in-law?"

"As you well know, she's just a delinquent from school,"

Leo said listlessly, but Elena didn't seem to mind and stepped forward, lifting the hem of her skirt.

"It's nice to see you after a long time, Marquis Deid Flob, Duchess Elena Flob. I'm Elena Zeron, Leo-kun's senior at school."

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Miss Zeron. It's an honor to meet the heir of the Zeron family."

Deid said with a smile, and Elena shook her head.

"Marquis Deid, please speak comfortably. I'm Leo's close senior at school. It's burdensome for me if you treat me so formally."

Seeing Elena squirming uncomfortably, Deid chuckled awkwardly.

"Then shall we do that? Welcome, Miss Elena."

"Yes!"

Seeing Elena smiling brightly, Deid carefully asked Reina,

"Reina, that appearance…"

"Yes, that's right. She's putting on an act."

Reina replied with a bright smile, without hesitation. Seeing his wife's response, Deid let out a wry laugh.

In fact, most people would have been flustered or burdened by such a display, but Deid didn't mind.

Reina was also no less.

"By the way."

Reina looked alternately at Leo and Elena with a smile.

"What's really going on between you two?"

"Mother, I'll make sure to have a very affectionate child who doesn't take after Leo."

"Really? Then I'll have no regrets. Hohoho! Besides, Lord Cis is having a lot of trouble with the succession issue."

Reina laughed heartily, seeing Elena playing along with the joke she had just made.

Hearing their conversation, Deid said,

"Leo."

"Yes, Father."

"Reina and Miss Elena are getting along very well."

"They're both from Lumene. Don't view it from a normal perspective."

'What kind of place is Lumene?'

Deid thought seriously at his son's reply.

A place where brilliant talents, called the future of humanity, gather.

Originally, it was a place with little connection to a country lord like Deid.

He knew his wife was from Lumene, but he had never asked her about it due to her condition.

Therefore, it was a place he could only imagine.

However, after Leo entered the academy, he realized it was very different from his imagination.

'Let's not think too deeply.'

"So? When are you getting married?"

Elena asked with sparkling eyes, and Leo said,

"You always said you'd marry me to Chelsea."

"Chelsea is lovely too. It's bothersome to have too many candidates for daughter-in-law."

Reina folded her arms and fell into deep thought.

Seeing that, Leo let out a small sigh.

"I need to make a good impression on Reina-nim."

Elena said with a sweet smile.

"Whether you make a good impression or not."

Leo responded with a rather indifferent reaction.

Meanwhile, a carriage arrived.

Four people boarded the carriage.

"Looking at the school uniform reminds me of my school days."

Reina said with a smile that was somehow like a young girl's, and Leo let out a "Ugh!" sound.

Reina playfully tugged Leo's ear with a smiling face, but Leo didn't even flinch.

"Anyway, you're so uncharming. Those were good times."

"Did you have a first love too?"

Elena asked with a smile, and Reina smiled and linked arms with Deid beside her.

"This handsome husband here is my first love."

"You're lying, aren't you?"

At Elena's words, Reina burst into laughter.

Reina, who had been chatting happily for a while, glinted at Leo.

"Tsk. Someone completely unrelated to that student's romance. You don't have a first love, do you?"

At that, Leo, who had been indifferently looking out the window, tilted his head.

"Hmm. I think I might have."

"What?"

At Leo's answer, Reina's face contorted in surprise.

Elena laughed mischievously.

"Which one of the two?"

"Oh my, Elena-chan, do you perhaps know?"

Reina's eyes sparkled.

Seeing that, Leo calmly said,

"It was long before I met those two."

"What?"

At that answer, Elena was genuinely flustered.

"Who? Who is it? Tell only this mother!"

Reina chuckled and sat next to Leo, pestering him.

"It's a secret."

"Mom, this is unfair. Huh? Huh?"

Reina playfully poked Leo's side and pestered him, but Leo just smiled.

"Just tell me when you met her."

After a moment of thought, Leo opened his mouth.

"At 17."

"This year?"

Reina's eyes widened.

Leo looked out the window.

'Yes. Come to think of it, it was when I was 17, just like now.'

Recalling those days, the early days of the Age of Cataclysm.

Leo chuckled to himself.