Book 1 Chapter 845

845.

The last day of summer vacation.

Leo invited his Lumern classmates, who had helped him during the coronation, to the Flov family's estate.

"A valley!"

With a cry that was almost a cheer, Iliana ran and dove straight into the valley water.

Splash-!

Since she dove from a considerable height, a giant wave formed centered on where Iliana fell into the water.

"Iliana! What are you doing!"

Chelsea, who had been swimming leisurely, narrowed her eyes.

"Water got in my nose."

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

"Puh! Huh? What did you say?"

Iliana, emerging from the water, tilted her head.

"What are you doing! You splashed me!"

"We were already wet anyway. It's fine. It's fine."

"Who said it's fine! I'm the one who got hurt!"

Chelsea lunged at Iliana.

But Iliana calmly pushed Chelsea away.

"Heh! Even if you're a Battle Mage, you're no match for me, a Sword Master, in pure physical strength! My arms are longer too!"

This was when Iliana was wearing a confident expression.

"Oh my. Iliana-yang."

"Eek?"

Chen Xia appeared from behind Iliana.

Chen Xia had also been swept up by the sudden dive of Iliana while playing in the water.

Grab-

As Chen Xia subdued Iliana from behind, Chelsea swung her fists through the air.

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

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

Iliana, her face pale, struggled and called out to Kal, who was passing by on a boat tube.

Without hesitation, Kal aimed his toy water gun at Iliana.

*Swoosh-!*

"Okay! Hit!"

Kal cheered as he saw the stream of water accurately hit Iliana's face.

"You're dead later!"

Iliana narrowed her eyes.

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

"When will they ever grow up? They act like they're still first or second graders. Pathetic."

"I agree."

Chloe, reading a book with a relaxed expression, replied next to Celia.

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

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

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

"Chelsea!"

"Chen Xia! You!"

Chloe and Celia glared and pursued the two who had disappeared into the water.

"Hmph. Pathetic."

Eliza watched them with a sneer.

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

After fidgeting a few times, she abruptly turned her head away.

"You can play too if you want to."

Abad, who was reading a book nearby, said with a smile, but Eliza sneered.

"Who wants to play in such a childish way?"

"You look like you want to play."

"Yes. Eliza Hergin. Everyone knows you like childish things, so don't worry about your image."

"Who's worried about my image? Duran Moira. You play childishly."

As Eliza smiled coldly, Abad grinned.

"You two still get along well."

"You're still blind, Abad Lewalin."

"What are you talking about, Abad?"

Eliza and Duran glared at Abad simultaneously.

At their reactions, Abad burst into laughter.

*Thump-!*

"Huh?"

Celia, appearing from the water like a water ghost, pulled Abad in.

"Hey! Celia Zerdinger! Why are you taking your anger out on my older brother!"

"Ahahahahaha!"

Abad's laughter echoed.

"Abad is also playing childishly. How unexpected."

This was when Eliza, with her legs crossed, rested her chin on her hand.

"Ooh! Eliza. Aren't you playing?"

Kal, who had come up to the front on a boat tube, asked, and Eliza replied while filing her nails.

"I dislike it because it's childish."

"Aw, come on."

Kal pointed to the back of the boat tube.

"It's quite fun."

"Hmm."

Eliza narrowed her eyes and, as if unable to refuse, got on behind Kal.

"You have good balance."

"Hmph. Did you forget I'm a beast tamer?"

Duran, left alone, crossed his arms.

*Swoosh-!*

Warden appeared from the water.

"You're playing well for someone who doesn't usually."

"We need time like this too."

Warden said calmly to Duran's words.

Then he glanced at the center of the valley.

There, Leo could be seen sleeping comfortably on a tube with his eyes closed.

On the day of the coronation.

Leo had eliminated the demons and hero hunters hidden throughout Retin.

And after that event, all the hero hunters hidden in the Retin royal palace were also eliminated.

It all happened in an instant while they were off guard.

"But why did you tell us about that so readily?"

Duran narrowed his eyes.

In a sense, it could be considered a stain on the Archy Kingdom.

They had readily asked for help in important national matters and also revealed their inner workings.

"While questioning that, why did you readily accept Leo Flov's help without hesitation?"

Warden's words silenced Duran.

Seeing Duran's silence, Warden chuckled.

"Because you're comrades and friends, I presume."

"I've never thought of it that way. Me and Leo Flov… No. Has there ever been trust and bonds formed between us like that?"

Duran had disliked Leo since they entered school.

He couldn't accept Leo being the class representative.

He hated that Leo was always one step ahead of him.

He was the first person who made him feel the humiliation of someone being above him.

Duran saw Leo as an opponent to be defeated, not as a friend or comrade.

"Wasn't it the same for you? Warden."

"It was."

That feeling hasn't changed even now.

"Duran Moira, do you still hate Leo Flov?"

"……."

Duran remained silent at Warden's question.

"Regardless of the reason, the moment that man became your target, your dislike must have disappeared."

"Hmph."

"I'm not exactly Leo Flov's subordinate. But he's a sufficient opponent to aim for."

In terms of pure strength, he's an ideal opponent.

"Duran, why do you want to become a hero?"

"Well…"

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

Duran wasn't much different.

"But seeing Leo Flov, those things feel futile."

"……."

"To be precise, being a hero wasn't that big of a goal. It was just a stepping stone."

Warden stood up.

"In one form or another, Leo Flov is trying to transform the world. So that it can become a better world than it is now."

"……."

"You and I have unconsciously acknowledged the path Leo Flov is taking. That's why we helped him as comrades without hesitation."

Duran glanced at Warden.

"We have that much trust and bond between us, that's why Leo Flov asked us for help. And we responded to that request."

"You've changed quite a lot, Warden Tyden."

"You too, Duran Moira."

Duran closed his eyes and sneered.

'Comrades.'

Perhaps everyone here was a comrade with the same intent.

'…That wouldn't be so bad…'

*Swoosh-!*

At that moment, a huge wave surged and engulfed Duran and Warden.

Drip- Drip-

Water dripped from Duran's hair.

"Hoo."

Duran got up.

"Who is it?"

"Kal did it."

"Hey! Chloe! You!"

"Come here, Kal Thomas."

"Eliza! Save me!"

Warden shook his head, watching Duran's retreating figure as he fiercely growled and entered the valley.

"He's still a child too."

"Warden-gun is also still a child."

Chen Xia, who had emerged from the water, pointed out with an incredulous expression.

Leo, who had woken up at some point, clicked his tongue as he watched.

"You're all children."

At that moment, 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.

***

"You know, it was quite an eventful summer vacation."

The next day.

Chelsea smiled faintly, standing at the pier in Lumeria City.

In Lumeria City, where the entire student body had gathered, students were happily discussing their summer vacation experiences.

Then.

"Ahem. Ah. Mic test. Mic test. Everyone, gather around."

Lily, the fourth-year representative standing at the front of the pier, gathered the students with a megaphone.

The students looked surprised at her.

"We will now conduct a roll call by grade."

"Huh? Isn't the student council president in charge of the escort?"

"That's what the notice said."

The students looked puzzled seeing Lily, not Leo, leading the students.

All students, except for the graduating fifth-year students, were present.

Lily, being the most popular and influential person there, the students followed her lead without much hesitation.

"Now that the roll call is complete, we will board the ship…"

"Oh my? What is this, my dear Lily?"

At that moment, a chilling voice was heard from somewhere.

Elena, with her chin resting on Lily's shoulder, was playfully poking Lily's cheek with a sweet smile.

Everyone flinched at her icy demeanor.

However, Lily replied without batting an eye.

"I heard that my brother had an urgent matter today and would be entering the school a little late. I was escorting the students in his stead."

"Yes. That's why I came, Vice President."

"We can't bother Senior Elena. I can do it myself."

"On what authority?"

"As a candidate for Vice President."

Lily shook off Elena and faced her, puffing out her chest.

Seeing her confident posture, Elena grinned and poked Lily's chest, saying, "Leo-kun never said he'd make you Vice President? And even as a candidate, you're not the Vice President yet, are you?"

"That's why I'm appealing. Senior Elena, you're graduating soon, aren't you? Leave it to me and enjoy your remaining time."

Listening to their conversation, Iliana clicked her tongue.

"Wow… The tension is intense, isn't it?"

At her words, Kal pouted.

"If Senior Lily becomes Vice President, I can't…"

"Why?"

"Senior Lily is a general who leads from the front, not a bureaucrat who deals with paperwork. If she were that type, my school life next year would be smooth!"

"You can just drop out."

"Then Professor Halind will kill me!"

Kal clutched his head at Iliana's playful remark.

"By the way, Senior Lily has become a lot stronger."

Eliza said while filing her nails next to Kal.

"I know. Last year, she was like a mouse in front of a cat."

Kal tilted his head, recalling Lily, who was always intimidated by Elena.

Elena poked Lily's chest.

"My Lily has grown a lot?"

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

"Huh? Why, the texture is nice so I want to keep poking it?"

"……."

Elena playfully poked Lily's chest again.

Lily, looking at Elena's provocative smile, grinned.

"Well, it must be fascinating to you, Elena-senpai, since you lack it."

The current words were not transmitted through the megaphone.

However, Elena could clearly hear them.

For a moment, Elena's expression vanished.

"Lily, are your eyes bad? What do I lack?"

"You lack it more than I do."

Seeing Lily cross her arms as if to show off, Elena's eyes twitched.

Watching them from afar, Kal said.

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

Everyone looked at Kal.

"Leo needs to come. Otherwise, we're all going to die."

***

Whoosh-

The wind blows.

Leo looked at the dense forest before him and said to Melina next to him.

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

"Yes."

Worry flickered in Melina's eyes.

Leo closed his eyes.

He could tell without difficulty.

That a former comrade and friend was in great peril.

"If it's Leo-nim… you can open the door, right?"

"……."

"Leo-nim?"

Melina looked up at Leo.

Leo silently stared at the entrance to Fairy Land, narrowing his eyes.

"Fairies are all excellent mages."

"Yes."

"In other words, Silod is a mage who has lived for 5000 years."

"……!"

"……Even for me, it won't be easy. Opening the entrance to Fairy Land now."