Book 1 Chapter 971

971.

Due to the end of midterms, Lumeria City was full of students.

Normally, Lumen, which is strict about going out and staying overnight except for holidays without classes, allowed going out and staying overnight during the week after the exam period to relieve academic stress.

However, this did not mean that indulgence was permitted, so wearing casual clothes was prohibited.

The student council's disciplinary committee and professors patrolled for enforcement.

Dusk fell.

Karl, who had gone to the pier to meet them, smiled broadly and saw his friends off.

"See you tomorrow, then."

After saying that, Karl left the Lumeria Lake pier.

"Class president. I think I should cancel Karl's overnight stay using my authority as student council president."

"Why are you being mean to Karl?"

"Unwholesome heterosexual relationships are a violation of school rules!"

"There's no proof Karl is going to have an unwholesome heterosexual relationship."

"You saw Karl grinning slyly just now! And a date at night! It's not desirable! He's clearly going to do something outrageous!"

"With Eliza?"

At Leo's question, Iliana waggled her finger and clicked her tongue, "Tsk tsk."

"The class president is still young, isn't he?"

Chelsea, Nella, and Thad, who were listening to the conversation nearby, whispered.

"That idiot is spouting nonsense again."

"It's really something when the most childish person says things like that…"

"I've felt this since freshman year, but he seems creative only when he says strange things."

Despite her friends' sharp remarks, Iliana did not get upset.

They had been together for too long to suddenly get upset over such words.

Iliana, without batting an eye, began to explain.

"Eliza officially announced her relationship with Karl."

"That's right."

Iliana crossed her arms with a serious expression.

"For a young lady from a prestigious family, every single dating experience is a huge scandal. Rumors spread like wildfire. Especially Karl, he's not just a Lumen student; he's also a hero whose name is on the Hero Record. I bet there's no one in the whole world right now who doesn't know about their relationship."

"Now that you mention it, there was an article in the world newspaper recently, wasn't there? Calling them the couple of the century."

"Right. Among us, the most publicly popular is probably Karl."

If you were to pick one of the most popular heroes among commoners right now, it would undoubtedly be Karl.

Although Karl's family is a family of alchemists, they are just ordinary alchemists you can find anywhere.

His admission to Lumen was solely due to Karl's own abilities.

Of course, Leo was the first to become a hero.

But Leo's achievements were unrealistic things that would only appear in legends.

Moreover, thanks to his title as the successor of the Hero of Beginnings, he was a difficult person to empathize with.

In contrast to Leo, Karl was familiar to the public.

Thanks to that, Karl's popularity was soaring day by day.

"When you think about it, isn't it amazing?"

"Because he just makes people laugh whenever he meets them, he's completely unaware."

Karl, who started from the bottom and rose to the position of a hero.

And Eliza, the successor to the Hergin family, the most prestigious family in the north, who wields immense influence, and also a hero.

As both of them garnered such high interest, the news of their relationship being revealed in newspapers was literally instantaneous.

For those who loved gossip, there was no better subject than this.

"There's no way Eliza wouldn't have anticipated this kind of ripple effect. The fact that she still went public means she absolutely doesn't see Karl as someone to date casually."

Iliana crossed her arms.

"Well, even if there was a scandal, it wouldn't be a huge problem for someone like the successor of the Hergin family. But considering Eliza's personality, the moment she revealed it herself, it was as good as declaring she would take Karl as her partner. I bet only a truly brazen woman would dare to flirt with Karl."

Chelsea, who had been listening to Iliana, asked.

"But what does that have to do with an unwholesome heterosexual relationship?"

"Ehey! This is why kids are like this!"

*Squeeze-!*

"Gasp? Ha, surrender! Surrender! Chelsea. No… Gasp! Chelsea unnie! Lady Chelsea! It was a slip of the tongue. Gaaasp! Pl-please forgive me… Gaaah!"

Iliana, caught and choked by Chelsea, said urgently.

"So?"

At Leo's question, Chelsea released Iliana.

Iliana, catching her breath, continued.

"To put it simply, they're going to get married anyway! They'll see each other's good and bad sides in the future, so what can't they do?"

"That's just your opinion. And even if Karl had some sneaky intentions, Eliza wouldn't even snort."

Thad also chimed in with Chelsea's words.

"On the contrary, if Karl tried anything, her personality is such that she'd half-kill him and still have energy left."

"Given Eliza's personality, she'd certainly do that."

Iliana said during their conversation.

"Surprisingly, girls who are usually fierce like Eliza become incredibly soft towards someone they've decided is 'theirs'. Just look at how Eliza treats the summoned beasts she contracted."

Eliza, who was usually cold and cynical about everything, had shown warm eyes only towards summoned beasts since her first year.

"Those are summoned beasts, though."

At Nella's remark, Iliana made a frustrated expression.

"I'm telling you, that applies to people too! You guys don't know how Eliza treats Karl these days, do you?"

"She seemed the same as usual?"

"Yesterday, she was dragged away with a whip wrapped around her neck, wasn't she?"

"That's true! But I saw with my own two eyes that Eliza later apologized to Karl and personally applied ointment to his wounds!"

"That's because they're a couple."

"She must have been sorry for treating him so harshly."

Despite Iliana's assertions, her friends' reactions were indifferent.

"I'm telling you, honey was practically dripping from Eliza's eyes then!"

"Yes, yes, Iliana."

Nella smiled gently and appeased Iliana.

At the three people's reactions, Iliana made a tearful face and grabbed Leo, shaking him.

"Class president! The kids don't believe me! Karl and Eliza must be planning an unwholesome heterosexual relationship!"

"You shouldn't doubt and slander your friends."

"Hmph."

"And if they were thinking that, they would have met secretly."

"They're clearly putting up a smokescreen, pretending to be bold."

Seeing Iliana trying to obstruct Karl until the end, Nella sighed softly.

"Iliana. Be honest. You're actually jealous of Karl, aren't you?"

"Yeah. I'm jealous of them dating, and it's an eyesore."

Having said that, Iliana spoke to Leo.

"Class president! Do you want to go on a date with me tomorrow night?"

"Don't try to pull a sneaky trick."

When Chelsea stopped her, Iliana clicked her tongue, "Tch!"

A short while later, a ship bound for Lumeria arrived at the pier.

As he boarded the ship, Leo glanced at Lumeria City.

'Well, Karl will handle it himself.'

***

Karl hummed a tune as he walked through the night streets.

Recalling the supplementary class with Harland next week made him gloomy, but the thought of the letter in his pocket dispelled his gloom.

Karl, taking the letter from his inner uniform pocket, swallowed hard.

The sender of the letter was none other than Eliza.

[Tonight at 8 PM. See you at your house in Lumeria City. - Eliza.]

It was a short letter, but his heart pounded.

'A date at home, alone, at night!'

For Karl, at his vigorous age, the mere thought of being with his girlfriend in a private space was a considerable stimulus.

Of course, he had no intention or plan to do anything illicit, but as a man in his prime, he couldn't help but have various imaginations.

"Whew. Calm down, Karl Thomas. Don't get carried away, heart."

Karl calmed his heart.

Karl took a deep breath and checked the time.

Seeing that there was still time left, Karl headed to the night market.

"Oh~ it's Karl!"

"Look at the goods! They're cheap!"

Merchants who had set up stalls in the night market recognized Karl and greeted him warmly…

Karl, having become a celebrity, had built friendly relationships with the merchants of Lumeria City.

"Haha. I just came to look around today."

Karl returned the merchants' greetings.

Ordinarily, Karl would have looked for good items at the night market, but today the market goods didn't catch his eye.

Instead, Karl bought a bouquet of flowers and a brooch for Eliza.

After finishing his brief shopping, Karl headed to his house in Lumeria City when the appointed time arrived.

'Wow, why am I trembling so much?'

With his heart pounding as if he were about to confess to Eliza, Karl arrived at his house.

And upon discovering someone waiting in front of his house, he couldn't help but stop dead in his tracks.

"Huh? Perena?"

The person in front of Karl's house was none other than Perena.

Thad, who had returned to the Summoning Department dormitory, was greeted by classmates playing cards in the lounge.

"Thad. You're back?"

"Did you buy what I asked for?"

Thad handed over the sundry goods he had bought from Lumeria City to the welcoming third-year students of the Summoning Department.

Then he noticed Wareden playing chess with someone in a corner of the lounge.

"Huh? Eliza?"

The person sitting opposite Wareden was none other than Eliza.

Eliza's eyes, glaring at the chessboard with a formidable gaze, were burning with competitive spirit.

"What? Eliza. Why are you here?"

As Thad asked with a bewildered expression, Eliza, who was picking up a chess piece, glanced and turned her head.

"Is it really that strange for me to be in the Summoning Department dormitory lounge?"

"Stop wasting time and make your move, Eliza Hergin."

At Wareden's words, Eliza flared her eyes and nervously moved a chess piece.

The current game situation seemed unfavorable for Eliza.

Of course, the outcome wasn't completely decided, so a comeback seemed possible.

"Don't bother me."

Eliza took her eyes off Thad and focused on the chessboard.

*Click-*

As Wareden's turn ended and Eliza picked up her piece again.

"Didn't you have a date with Karl?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I heard Karl is staying overnight in Lumeria City tonight and has a date?"

*Crack-!*

"What did you say?!"

A demonic aura instantly enveloped Eliza's eyes.

The chess piece in her hand was brutally shattered into pieces.

Wareden, watching the scene, said.

"Eliza Hergin. You broke a piece, so you lose."

'No. That's not what's important right now.'

As Thad mumbled to himself, Eliza, who had stood up, looked at Thad.

"Would you like to say that again? Who is staying overnight and who is having a date?"

Thad involuntarily stepped backward.

Not only Thad but also the students in the lounge subtly took notice of her menacing aura and distanced themselves from Eliza.

"Eliza Hergin. Hurry and concede defeat."

Amidst all that, Wareden persistently urged her to concede defeat.

Just then.

"Why is the atmosphere like this? Eliza, is something wrong?"

Just then, Lil entered the lounge.

The Summoning Department students brightened at Lil's appearance, hoping he would resolve the situation.

One of the Summoning Department students explained the situation.

Lil, upon hearing the story, widened his eyes and made the situation even more serious.

"Huh? Is Karl perhaps cheating?"

Thad mumbled to himself.

'Should I call Leo?'

***

"Perena, why are you here?"

As Karl asked with a bewildered expression, Perena said.

"Because I'm the one who wrote the letter."

"But the handwriting on the letter was clearly Eliza's?"

"Imitating my sister's handwriting is nothing to me."

"Hmm… What's the reason you wanted to see me in Eliza's name?"

Karl asked, feeling awkward.

Perena shrugged in response.

"You'll know if you go inside."

At those words, Karl, feeling confused, entered the house.

Perena followed Karl.

Upon entering the house, a man was sitting in the living room.

Karl, upon confirming the man's face, chuckled awkwardly.

"I apologize. Something urgent just came to mind…"

"Karl Thomas."

The silver-haired middle-aged man called Karl in a cold voice.

"Come here and sit down."

At those words, Karl, making a tearful face, knelt before the man.

"…"

At the sight, the middle-aged man let out a small sigh.

"Sit on the chair."

Karl, hesitantly sitting on the chair, bowed his head and furtively observed the man.

He was none other than the head of the Hergin family.

Elcan Hergin, Eliza's father.