Book 1 Chapter 912

The special lecture hall at Seirun was packed with elves, nearly the entire student body, from the morning.

Teacher Herdium, who taught the third-year Star Magic class, felt his chest swell with emotion as he looked at them.

He was a teacher who valued the prestige and dignity of elves.

But before that, he also highly valued the essence of being a mage.

'To think that our Seirun students would be so eager to learn!'

After the progenitor of the nebula reappeared and Lunia was recognized as his successor, Seirun changed.

The atmosphere of rejecting and distancing anything outside of Seirun disappeared.

They now possessed the attitude of purely researching and accepting external magic as mages.

Pride was evident in Herdium's eyes as he looked at his students.

"Headmaster! Our Seirun will only get better from now on!"

Lun Ersar, who had become the headmaster of Seirun, said to Herdium in a warm voice.

"Yes. This old man should step down from the front lines now."

"What are you saying! Headmaster, you should lead the reform of Seirun!"

Lun was the oldest elder in elven society, yet also the most open-minded elf.

He was so flexible in his thinking that he was suitable for harmony with various races.

He also knew elves well.

"No, Teacher Herdium. Young people are more suited for a new era."

Lun said, patting Herdium's shoulder with a smile.

In fact, Herdium was a strong candidate to be the next headmaster of Seirun.

"The new Seirun depends on what you do. So, during my tenure, let us maintain tradition."

"Ah. As expected, Headmaster. You want to teach the students that not only new things but also the culture we have preserved are important!"

"That's right. The culture we have preserved was not necessarily wrong. It was just the people who practiced it who were wrong."

"As expected, Headmaster! You are giving me, who is lacking, great enlightenment!"

Teacher Herdium was genuinely moved.

Seeing the moved Herdium, Lun thought.

'I don't want to go through all sorts of trial and error in my old age.'

Seirun definitely needs to change.

It is necessary to correct the ingrained bad customs and laws that have been twisted in the name of tradition, and also to coordinate them so that they do not deviate too radically.

However, Lun, who knew elves well, was well aware of how arduous that process would be.

Given the extreme tendencies of elves, they would clearly struggle more to maintain tradition.

Lun did not want to undertake such reforms himself.

'I want to live a long, long life. I want to see my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.'

Lun's honest feelings were that he didn't want to get a stress-induced illness in his old age.

'I should pass it on before they notice.'

While Lun was contemplating the timing to hand over the headmaster position.

Leo entered the lecture hall.

The Seirun students' eyes sparkled as they looked at Leo.

The eyes of the first and second-year students were particularly intense.

Leo, who had ascended the stage, said,

"My name is Leo Floob. I will now begin my lecture on the interpretation of flower-blooming magic."

At those words, the Seirun students' eyes lit up, and they focused on Leo.

Currently, Leo was the only mage in this world who could use flower-blooming magic.

A lecture on magic, which could be said to be the foundation of Star Magic, was enough to make the Seirun students excited.

Lunia, sitting in the front row of the lecture hall, opened her notebook with a puzzled expression.

'By the way, where on earth did Eiran go?'

Attendance at this special lecture was not mandatory.

However, it was unthinkable that Eiran would not attend Leo's lecture.

'Is she sick?'

Just as worry clouded Lunia's face.

"Lunia."

"Hm?"

"Could you help me for a moment?"

Leo, who was lecturing at the front, called out to Lunia.

"I need an elf who can explain the interpretation of magic circuits from the perspective of a Seirun student."

"Got it."

Lunia nodded and stood up from her seat.

"Do you have the Seirun magic class textbook too?"

"Yes."

Lunia picked up her bag and went to the front of the lecture hall.

The faces of the Seirun students who saw this expression became even more admiring.

"To hear a lecture with the two of them, who are called the successors of the Progenitor and the Hero of the Beginning…"

"Will those two also become lovers like Lunia and Kyle after graduation?"

The murmurs of the first-year students reached Lunia's ears.

'What are they talking about!'

Although it was a quiet conversation, it was loud enough for Lunia to hear.

'Leo must be able to hear it too.'

Feeling inexplicably embarrassed, Lunia cleared her throat.

And she tried to act nonchalant.

However, in her panic, she stumbled on the stairs leading to the stage.

"Ack?!"

A flustered voice escaped Lunia's lips.

As she tried to regain her balance, she dropped her bag.

Thump! Ssssssh!

The textbooks from her bag scattered onto the stage.

Fortunately, Lunia did not fall.

Leo reached out and prevented Lunia from falling.

In the process, Lunia ended up in Leo's arms, her ears turning bright red.

A chorus of strange cheers mixed with screams echoed throughout the lecture hall.

"Wh-what!"

"Did you know you're surprisingly clumsy?"

Leo said, laughing as he helped Lunia regain her balance.

Lunia scowled and picked up the scattered textbooks from the floor.

Leo also stopped as he picked up a textbook and accidentally read its contents.

Lunia organized her writing utensils and notebook, putting them in her bag.

Then, she noticed the book Leo was reading and her face stiffened.

It was the mysterious novel that had been confiscated from Rea and shoved into her bag.

She had started reading it but couldn't finish it because the content was too scandalous.

The characters in it somehow resembled Leo.

Leo's red eyes turned towards Lunia.

Lunia's expression became serious.

"…No."

"…"

"It's not mine."

The students looked puzzled at Lunia's sudden remark.

Leo smiled and returned the book.

"Well then, let's resume the lecture."

"I told you it's not mine."

"Yes, I understand."

Leo nodded.

And he whispered in a voice that only Lunia could hear.

"I respect your taste."

"I told you it's not! You jerk!"

With her face bright red, Lunia grabbed Leo by the collar and went ballistic.

"Lunia student!"

Teacher Herdium, his face pale, rushed to the lecture hall to mediate.

***

The dormitory building where Seirun students resided.

Eiran walked around, looking cautiously at her surroundings.

'I want to listen to Leo-nim's lecture but…'

Eiran, who looked suspiciously cautious, arrived at a certain door.

'I need to get that book back quickly.'

Swallowing dryly, Eiran turned the doorknob to Lunia's room.

Click!

As expected, it was locked.

All doors in Seirun dormitories are protected by magic.

Therefore, she couldn't force it open with magic rashly.

Of course, Eiran had an idea.

Eiran pulled out two hairpins from her hair.

She straightened the hairpins and inserted them into the keyhole, then began to twist them around.

Elves, being a magical race, have a high dependency on magic.

As a result, the security of the locks was somewhat weak.

Of course, it was also because they never expected a Seirun student to pick a lock.

Putting her ear to the lock and concentrating as much as possible, Eiran twisted the hairpins, and her eyes sparkled.

Click! Creak!

The door opened.

Smiling smugly, Eiran was about to retrieve her hairpins when.

"Does Seirun teach things like this?"

"Gasp?!"

Startled by the voice from behind, Eiran leaped forward and fell.

"D-Driana!"

Calling out the name of the person whose voice it was, Eiran turned around and was horrified.

"…and Ar?"

"Does Seirun teach thievery too?"

Ar asked, tilting her head. Eiran shook her head vigorously.

"Of course not! I… I just read a book and learned it through self-study!"

"A book?"

"Yes!"

Eiran got up.

"Why would you learn something like this from a book?"

"Th-that! I read a novel with a phantom thief as the protagonist, and it looked… cool… so I tried it out of curiosity… and it worked?"

Driana looked incredulous at Eiran's words.

"Eiran, you seem to have a natural talent for crime."

Eiran pouted and shook her head at the remark.

At that moment, Ar pointed to the room and asked,

"By the way, whose room is this that you picked the lock on?"

"Um… My room."

"…Are you expecting me to believe that?"

Ar narrowed her eyes.

"That's right! Eiran! No matter how foolish Ar is, do you think such a ridiculous excuse would work?"

"Who are you calling foolish? Kid."

Ar sneered and leaned on Driana's head, her arm draped over it.

"…Who taught you this annoying behavior?"

Driana asked in a slightly irritated voice. Ar grinned.

"Elena Zerona!"

"I knew it. I thought it was a provocation that would be hard for you to come up with on your own, but it was Elena Zerona?"

"What?! What's wrong with my head?"

"It's not good!"

"Bring it on!"

"Do you think I can't?"

"Shh! Shh!"

Eiran put her finger to her lips, signaling for silence.

"So? Whose room is this?"

"Sniff sniff- it smells like Lunia's room?"

Ar, with her excellent sense of smell, twitched her nose and said.

"Um… I came to retrieve something I lent to Lunia. I was in a hurry, so I had no choice but to forcibly… Hahaha. Haha."

Seeing Eiran desperately making excuses with an awkward laugh, Ar and Driana looked at her with some pity.

Whatever it was, it seemed best to pretend they didn't know.

"Whatever it is, look for it well."

"We're going to eat."

After Ar and Driana left, Eiran let out a sigh of relief and entered Lunia's room.

And she began to search the room for the book.

She tried not to touch things that might be Lunia's private belongings, but there was no book to be found anywhere.

'Why isn't it here?'

As Eiran pouted, her ears suddenly perked up.

'Huh? Why?'

She heard students' voices from afar.

The lecture wasn't over yet, so why were the students coming?

Sensing students outside the door, Eiran's expression turned panicked.

If she went out rashly now, she would be caught trespassing in Lunia's room.

As Eiran was stamping her feet, not knowing what to do.

Thump- Thump- Thump-

Eiran's sensitive hearing picked up the sound of someone's angry footsteps.

'Gasp! It's Lunia!'

Eiran was terrified and didn't know what to do.

Then, she quickly crawled under the bed.

A moment later.

The sound of the door opening and closing was heard.

"Aaaaaaaaagh!"

Lunia screamed and ran to the bed, burying her face in it as if to collapse.

'Seriously, why did I put that in my bag by mistake! How embarrassing! Leo must think I'm the kind of girl who reads this!'

Writhing in shame, Lunia suddenly stood up.

'Seriously, I should just get rid of Rea!'

Fwapp! Thwack!

It seemed Lunia threw the book, as Eiran saw it fall to the floor in front of her.

Just then, Lunia reached out and picked up the book.

The moment Eiran saw Lunia's hand touch the floor, her heart sank.

'I should really burn it… Wait a minute?'

Lunia, who was huffing and puffing, stopped.

'…This handwriting… somewhere…?'

'Gasp!'

Eiran's eyes snapped open.

'Ah, I don't know. Who among the people I know would write something like this?'

Shaking her head, Lunia got up from the bed.

"Ah! Seriously! The special lecture was postponed because of me… I need to clear up the misunderstanding with Leo too!"

Lunia sighed deeply and left the room.

A moment later.

Eiran, who had left the room, hurriedly grabbed the book.

Realizing that the students outside had left, Eiran quickly left Lunia's room.

'I absolutely cannot be found out! Absolutely!'