Book 1 Chapter 845

845.

The last day of summer vacation.

Leo invited his classmates from Lumen, who had helped him during the coronation, to the Plov family estate.

"It's a valley!"

With a shout that was closer to a cheer, Illiana ran and dived straight into the valley water.

Splash-!

Thanks to diving from a considerable height, a huge wave rose, centered on where Illiana had plunged into the water.

"Illiana! What do you think you're doing!"

Chelsea, who had been swimming leisurely, was furious.

"Water went up my nose."

Nella, who was swimming with Chelsea, also wore a troubled expression.

"Phew! Huh? What did you say?"

Illiana, poking her face out of the water, tilted her head.

"What do you think you're doing! You made me get drenched!"

"You were already all wet anyway. It's fine. It's fine."

"Who said it was fine! I'm the one who got soaked!"

Chelsea charged at Illiana.

But Illiana calmly pushed Chelsea away.

"Heheheh! No matter how much of a battle mage you are, you're no match for me, a magic swordsman, in pure physical ability! My arms are longer too!"

It was then that Illiana wore a relaxed expression.

"Oh dear. Miss Illiana."

"Eek?"

Chen Xia appeared from behind Illiana.

Chen Xia had also been playing in the water and had just been swept away by the current thanks to Illiana's sudden leap.

Grab-

As Chen Xia restrained Illiana from behind, Chelsea swung her fists wildly in the air.

"Hold her tight. I'm going to punch her in the solar plexus."

"S-save me! Kal! Help! Help!"

Illiana, struggling with a pale face, pleaded for help from Kal, who was passing by on a boat tube.

Kal, without hesitation, aimed his toy water gun at Illiana.

Splash-!

"Okay! Direct hit!"

Kal cheered, watching the stream of water accurately hit Illiana's face.

"You're dead later!"

Illiana's eyes flared with anger.

Celia, watching the scene from outside the water, clicked her tongue.

"When will they ever grow up? They think they're still first or second years. Pathetic."

"Tell me about it."

Chloe replied leisurely, reading a book beside Celia.

Hearing that, Chen Xia whispered something into Chelsea's ear.

A moment later, Chen Xia and Chelsea submerged and secretly approached the rock where Celia and Chloe were sunbathing.

Then they grabbed both their ankles and pulled them straight into the water.

"Chelsea!"

"Chen Xia! You!"

Chloe and Celia glared, eyes wide, and pursued the two who had calmly disappeared into the water.

"Hmph. Pathetic."

Eliza snorted and watched the scene.

Then she glanced at Illiana and Kal, who were laughing heartily.

And after bouncing her hips a few times, she abruptly turned her head.

"If you want to play, you can just play."

Avad, who was reading a book nearby, said with a laugh, and Eliza snorted.

"Who said I want to play so childishly?"

"It looks like you want to play."

"Yes. Eliza Hergin. Everyone knows you like childish things, so don't try to save face."

"Who's trying to save face? Duran Moira. You're the one who plays childishly."

As Eliza smiled coldly, Avad grinned.

"Still getting along well."

"You still have bad eyesight, Avad Rewalin."

"What are you talking about, Avad."

Eliza and Duran glared at Avad simultaneously.

It was then that Avad burst out laughing at their reaction.

Grab-!

"Huh?"

Celia, emerging from the water like a water ghost, dragged Avad straight in.

"Hey! Celia Gerdinger! Why are you taking your anger out on our brother!"

"Ah ha ha ha ha!"

Avad's laughter echoed.

"Avad plays childishly too. That's unexpected."

It was then that Eliza, with crossed legs, propped her chin.

"Oh! Eliza. Not playing?"

Kal, who had approached on a boat tube, asked, and Eliza replied while grooming her nails.

"It's childish, so I don't like it."

"Aw. Don't be like that."

Kal pointed behind the boat tube.

"It's quite fun."

"Hmm."

Eliza, narrowing her eyes, pretended to be unwilling and got on behind Kal.

"You have good balance."

"Hmph. Did you forget I'm a summoner?"

It was then that Duran, left alone, crossed his arms.

Splash-!

Wareden appeared from the water.

"You're playing surprisingly well."

"Because we need this kind of time too."

At Duran's words, Wareden said calmly.

Then he glanced- at the middle of the valley.

There, Leo was seen comfortably closing his eyes and sleeping on a tube.

On the day of the coronation.

Leo had eliminated the demons and Hero Hunters hidden throughout Letin.

And after that incident, all Hero Hunters hidden in the Letin royal palace were removed.

It was something that happened in an instant while they were off guard.

"But what was the reason you told us such a thing without hesitation?"

Duran narrowed his eyes.

In a sense, it could be a disgrace to the Arhi Kingdom.

They had asked for help without reservation in important national affairs and also told them the inside story.

"While you're questioning that, why did you agree to Leo Plov's help without hesitation?"

At Wareden's words, Duran fell silent.

Wareden chuckled, looking at Duran.

"Because he's a comrade and a friend, I suppose."

"I've never thought of it that way. Leo Plov and I… No. Was there ever an occasion for such trust and bond to form between us?"

Duran had disliked Leo since enrollment.

He couldn't accept Leo being the class representative.

He also disliked that Leo was walking ahead of him from a certain point.

The one who first made him feel the humiliation of someone being above him.

Duran saw Leo as a rival to be defeated, never as a friend or comrade.

"Wasn't that the same for you, Wareden?"

"It was."

Even now, that feeling remains unchanged.

"Duran Moira. Do you still dislike Leo Plov?"

"…"

Duran remained silent at Wareden's question.

"Whatever the reason, from the moment that man became a goal, the feeling of dislike must have disappeared."

"Hmph."

"I haven't exactly become Leo Plov's subordinate. But he's a sufficient opponent to make a goal of."

When it comes to pure strength, he is an ideal opponent.

"Duran. Why do you want to become a hero?"

"Well…"

"Because I can. Because a hero is proof of strength. I've always thought that way and wanted to become a hero."

Duran is not much different.

"But looking at Leo Plov, such things feel meaningless."

"…"

"More precisely, being a hero wasn't such a big goal. It was just a passing gateway."

Wareden stood up.

"In whatever form, Leo Plov is trying to transform the world. To make it a better world than it is now."

"…"

"You and I both implicitly acknowledged the path Leo Plov wants to take. That's why we helped that man without hesitation, as comrades."

Duran glanced at Wareden.

"Because we have that much trust and bond between us, Leo Plov asked us for help. And we responded to that request."

"You've changed quite a lot, Wareden Tiden."

"You too, Duran Moira."

Duran closed his eyes and snorted.

'Comrades.'

Perhaps everyone here was a comrade with the same purpose.

'…That's not so bad…'

Splash-!

At that moment, a huge wave surged, engulfing Duran and Wareden.

Drip- Drip-

Water dripped from Duran's hair.

"Hoo."

Duran stood up.

"Who was that?"

"Kal did it."

"Hey! Chloe! You!"

"Come here, Kal Thomas."

"Eliza! Save me!"

Wareden shook his head, watching Duran's back as he snarled fiercely and plunged into the valley.

"He's still a child too."

"Mr. Wareden, you're still a child too."

Chen Xia, who had come out of the water, pointed out with a dumbfounded look.

Leo, whose eyes had opened at some point, clicked his tongue watching the scene.

"You're all children."

Just then, a wind spirit flew to Leo's shoulder.

The small wind spirit sent by Melina whispered something into Leo's ear.

"What?"

Leo looked at the spirit with a slightly bewildered expression.

***

"Well, it was a summer vacation with a lot of different things happening."

The next day.

Chelsea, standing on the Lumenia City pier, said with a grin.

In Lumenia City, where all grades had gathered, students were cheerfully talking about what had happened during summer vacation.

Just then.

"Ahem. Ah. Mic test. Mic test. Everyone. Gather around."

Lil, the 4th-year representative standing at the front of the pier, held a megaphone and gathered the students.

The students looked puzzled at the sight.

"We will now check attendance by grade."

"Huh? Wasn't the student council president supposed to lead us?"

"That's what the school notice said."

Students looked puzzled seeing Lil, not Leo, leading them.

Currently, all students except the graduating 5th-year class were gathered.

Since Lil was the most popular and influential person there, students followed Lil's lead without much hesitation.

"Now that the attendance check is complete, please board the ship…"

"Oh dear? What do you think you're doing? Our cute Lil?"

Just then, a somewhat cold voice was heard.

Elena, resting her chin firmly on Lil's shoulder, was smiling sweetly and poking Lil's cheek.

Everyone flinched at her chilling presence.

But Lil answered without batting an eye.

"I heard that my brother would be late for school today due to an urgent matter. I was leading the students in his stead."

"Hm. Yes. That's why I, the vice student council president, am here."

"I couldn't trouble Senior Elena. I can do it instead."

"By what authority?"

"As a candidate for vice student council president."

Lil pushed Elena away, faced her, and puffed out her chest.

Elena grinned, looking at her confident posture, then poked Lil's chest and said,

"Leo never said he would make you vice student council president, did he? And even if you're a candidate, you're not vice student council president yet, are you?"

"That's why I'm making my appeal. Senior Elena, you're graduating soon, aren't you? Leave it to me and spend your final years comfortably."

Illiana widened her eyes, listening to their conversation.

"Wow… The war of nerves is quite fierce, isn't it?"

At that, Kal looked dejected.

"If Senior Lil becomes vice student council president, it'll be bad…"

"Why?"

"Senior Lil is a general who commands on the front lines, not a bureaucrat type who looks at documents. My school life next year will only be smooth if it's that type!"

"Then just drop out."

"Professor Harlind would kill me if I did that!"

Kal clutched his head at Illiana's playful remark.

"Anyway, Senior Lil. She's really become much more assertive."

Eliza said, tidying her nails next to Kal.

"Right. Until last year, she was like a mouse in front of a cat."

Kal tilted his head, remembering Lil, who always seemed intimidated in front of Elena.

Elena poked Lil's chest.

"Our Lil has grown up a lot, hasn't she?"

"I was originally taller. And stop poking my chest. How long are you going to treat it like a toy?"

"Huh? Why. It feels nice, so I want to keep poking it?"

"…"

Elena poked Lil's chest again, as if teasing her.

Lil, who had been staring at the provocatively smiling Elena, grinned.

"Well, for Senior Elena, something so lacking would indeed be novel."

These words were not conveyed through the megaphone.

But Elena heard them clearly.

For a moment, Elena's face went blank.

"Lil. Is your eyesight bad? What part of me is lacking?"

"You're more lacking than I am."

Elena's eyes twitched, looking at Lil, who had defiantly crossed her arms.

Watching the scene from afar, Kal said.

"I don't know what those two are talking about."

Everyone looked at Kal.

"Leo has to come. Otherwise, we'll all die like this."

***

Whoosh-

The wind blew.

Leo looked at the dense forest before him and spoke to Melina beside him.

"You were right. The way to Fairy Land is closed."

"Yes."

Worry filled Melina's eyes.

Leo closed his eyes.

It wasn't difficult to tell.

That something serious had happened to an old comrade and friend.

"Sir Leo… you can open the gate, can't you?"

"…"

"Sir Leo?"

Melina looked up at Leo.

Leo silently narrowed his eyes, staring at the entrance to Fairy Land.

"All fairies are excellent mages."

"Yes."

"To rephrase that, it means Shilod is a mage who has lived for 5000 years."

"…!"

"…Even for me, it's not easy. Opening the entrance to Fairy Land right now."