Book 1 Chapter 914

914.

Leo, having finished his short schedule in Seirun, returned directly to Lumern.

"How was the meeting between the student council presidents?"

Celia, who had just come to the student council president's office to submit the disciplinary committee log, asked with a curious expression.

Instead of answering Celia's question, Leo glanced sideways.

Elena, with her arms crossed, asked with a puzzled look.

"What is Chelsea doing?"

"Oh, this one?"

Celia let out a small sigh.

"When I said she might become my sister-in-law, so I should treat her well, she immediately pounced, you know?"

"Agh! Agh!"

Chelsea was biting Celia's right hand.

"Chelsea. Are you an animal? Maintain your dignity as a Rodren noble."

At Celia's remark, Chelsea spoke up.

And she glared at Celia with a very sulky face.

Celia was using her aura to protect herself.

It was obvious that if she rashly used magic against it, she would be scolded by Abard, so biting was the most Chelsea could do as an attack.

"Who's your sister-in-law?!"

"Don't worry, if Abard can't defeat me, that will never happen."

"My brother can beat you!"

"Then I'll become your sister-in-law."

"That won't happen!"

Celia, seeing Chelsea resisting no matter what, said to Leo.

"Leo. Her manners have gotten bad because you always indulge her whenever she throws a tantrum."

At those words, Leo let out a small laugh.

"So? What kind of test did you decide to take?"

As Celia asked with a curious face, Leo hung his uniform jacket on a hanger, loosened his tie, and spoke.

"It hasn't been precisely decided yet. Can you call Sia for me?"

At those words, Celia, who had submitted the report, nodded.

"Let's go, Chelsea. I, your sister-in-law, will buy you something delicious."

"I'm telling you, who's your sister-in-law?!"

Celia and Chelsea squabbled as they went outside.

Elena, sitting on the sofa in the student council president's office and watching them, asked.

"Is Celia really planning to marry Abard?"

"It seems she's been thinking seriously about it since she developed feelings for Abard."

"As expected, the nobles of the Rodren Empire are conservative."

At Elena's words, Leo let out a chuckle.

Indeed, the nobles of the Rodren Empire pay a lot of attention to what others think.

This is because they tend to value noble dignity and honor greatly.

As such, they never take romantic relationships lightly.

Of course, not all imperial nobles are like that.

However, as both Celia and Abard were from families representing the empire, they placed great importance on such values.

Just then, Lil entered with a light knock.

"Excuse me."

Lil, who had entered the student council president's office, placed numerous documents floating in the air using spirits onto Leo's desk.

"This is a compilation of the first-year students' weaknesses prior to their practical evaluations."

"Lil. I asked Karl to do this, did you do it all?"

"No, Senior Elena. I was asked by Karl to deliver it to the student council president instead."

Lil answered with precision.

It was a military-like attitude towards a superior, somehow.

Although her speech and demeanor were usually stiff, she had never drawn such a clear line before, so Leo tilted his head in confusion.

"Then, President. I'll take my leave."

As Lil, having bowed her head, was about to leave the student council president's office, Leo spoke.

"Come here for a moment."

At the call, Lil turned with precision and stood before Leo with an expressionless face.

"Are you still sulking?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you still sulking because I said the nickname 'Monster Lady' suits you?"

Lil glared at Leo with an expressionless face.

"It suits you perfectly, though."

"Brother. If you keep teasing me like that, I'll really become rebellious."

Lil said with rebellious eyes.

At Lil's not-quite-a-threat, Leo furrowed his brow.

Then he soon curved his lips into a smile.

"How are you going to become rebellious?"

"Alright, alright. Both of you stop!"

Just then, Elena intervened between the two.

"Lil, you're generous, so understand. This old man has a rotten side, and if you react that way, he finds it fun and teases you more."

Despite Elena's words, Lil was serious.

"Don't stop me, Senior Elena. I will truly become rebellious! I'll become a delinquent student who rebels against professors and bullies juniors!"

"How will you rebel against the professors?"

"I won't do my homework."

"……"

Watching Lil answer with a serious face, Leo momentarily wondered if she was teasing him.

Elena, seemingly thinking similarly, looked at Lil with an incredulous expression.

But Lil's face was utterly serious.

The level of rebellion that the upright Lil envisioned was very low.

"How will you bully the kids?"

At that question, Lil smiled coldly.

"I'll make them run errands."

"Sometimes, she's really cute, I tell you."

"Cu- cute?!"

At Leo's words, Lil was flustered.

Her slightly flushed face seemed both pleased and embarrassed that her rebellion wasn't working.

'If Berkia or Bihar had been like this, they would've been cuter.'

Berkia was too arrogant, and Bihar was excessively mature.

Leo, recalling his disciples, chuckled.

"When you said you'd become rebellious, I thought you'd fight with professors and extort money from kids."

"No! How could you even think of such a malicious idea that only Senior Elena would come up with…!"

Lil was horrified.

Elena laughed, looking at Lil.

"Lil, aren't you really picking fights with me all the time these days?"

"Me? I am?"

Lil tilted her head.

"This grand monster girl."

"…! Brother! Senior Elena called me a grand monster!"

"It's true, a grand monster."

"Brother! Scold her!"

Watching Lil complain with a tearful face, Leo let out a small sigh.

"Are you two kids?"

It was then that Leo shook his head at the childish bickering between Elena and Lil, who could be called Lumern's top students.

Knock-knock-

As the knock was heard, Elena and Lil straightened their postures as if they hadn't been bickering moments ago.

The door flung open-

"Young Master Leo, did you call?"

"You've come at a good time. The two of you can leave now."

Lil bowed her head and left the room, and Elena yawned with a bored expression as she walked out.

Just before closing the door, Elena winked at Leo and blew a kiss.

"What's the matter?"

As Chen Sia, who had come before Leo, asked with a puzzled face, Leo said.

"There's something I want to discuss with Emperor Shau regarding the Book of Shadows."

"The Book of Shadows?"

"Yes. An idea came up to use the Book of Shadows for the first-year students' practical training."

"If it's about that, Young Master Leo can do as you wish anytime. The Book of Shadows will soon be yours."

"Still, it's the Shaan Empire that's keeping it, so I should talk to Emperor Shau."

"In that case, I will relay Young Master Leo's words to His Majesty."

"Please do."

That night.

Leo, who had been sleeping in his room, opened his eyes.

A long shadow cast by the moonlight created gloom in the room.

Leo sat up, yawned, and scratched his head vigorously.

-Leo, what should we do?

Elsie asked with a puzzled expression.

Currently, the only summoned creature by Leo's side was Elsie.

Other great spirits and phantom beasts were helping with Kirian's coronation preparations in Fairyland.

This was because a grand preparation was needed for the birth of a Fairy King after thousands of years, so the fairies had requested their help.

At Elsie's question, Leo got out of bed and said.

"He's a guest, I can't just kick him out."

At those words, Elsie cast a quick glance at the terrace door.

With a *click*, the lock disengaged, and the terrace door slowly slid open.

Along with that, a handsome middle-aged man entered the room.

"It's been a long time, King of Beginnings."

Emperor Shau chuckled and said.

Then he looked around the room and said.

"It's quite a bleak room."

"I dislike anything too flashy, you see."

Leo, speaking nonchalantly, pointed to a sofa in one corner of the room.

"Sit."

"Then, if you'll excuse me."

It was a sight that others would have found somewhat strange.

No matter that Leo was a hero and the King of Arhi Kingdom, Shau was the Emperor of Shaan and the head of all shadows.

The apex of shadows, reigning above the shadow lords.

A position where it would not be an exaggeration to say he dominated the darkness of the world.

For someone like him to be spoken down to so naturally was certainly unusual.

However, Shau had not come to find Leo, the King of Beginnings, but the Primordial Shadow.

Since the God of Shadows before him was the teacher of Shaan's progenitor, it was perfectly natural for him to speak down to him.

"It would be embarrassing to come empty-handed, so I brought my wine."

Shau smiled and placed the bottle on the sofa table.

*Rustle*- Elsie, who appeared, showed curiosity.

Elsie opened the lid, sniffed the contents, and furrowed her brow.

-Ugh! Alcohol smell!

"Ohh. It seems you are a shadow spirit. It's a pleasure to meet you."

-It's nice to meet you, Emperor of Shaan.

Seeing Shau greet kindly, Elsie also smiled brightly and greeted him.

Shau smiled gently, held up the wine bottle, and said.

"May I offer you a drink?"

"There's no need to be so formal."

"Haha. As the Emperor of Shaan, I cannot do that."

Shau, answering with a good-natured laugh, took out a glass and poured for Leo.

Leo also poured wine for Shau.

The two drank the wine.

"Kuh- This wine, brewed personally by the former emperor 1000 years ago, tastes truly good."

"That's expensive wine."

"Naturally, shouldn't I bring something good?"

Watching Shau burst into laughter, Leo asked.

"But how did you manage to get all the way here?"

The Shaan Empire and Lumern are very far apart.

Of course, it's quick if you use a warp gate.

But even so, one has to pass through Lake Lumeria.

Lumern is protected by all sorts of magic to prevent external invasions.

Even if one reaches Lumern, getting to the Clock Tower Dormitory is not easy, and reaching this top floor is even more difficult.

Because he had to penetrate all sorts of magical spaces to get here.

Moreover, Shau is not a magician.

At Leo's question, Shau smiled faintly.

"Do you think I lead the shadows of the current era for nothing?"

Shau, having answered that way, pulled something out from his person.

[Hero Record - Book of Shadows]

"I heard from Sia. This is yours, so you may use it as you wish."

"You didn't have to deliver it yourself."

"It's the Book of Shadows, of all things, that I'm giving to you. To be granted an audience with you, it would not be disrespectful if one were me, a Shadow Lord, or an heir."

Shau wore a serious expression.

"Of course, before that, there's something I must ask of you."

"What is it?"

At Leo's question, Shau fell silent.

A moment later.

He opened his mouth heavily.

"Primordial Shadow."

Shau looked into Leo's eyes.

"Please, I beg of you… I hope you will allow me to challenge your world."