Book 1 Chapter 977

977.

Leo ate his breakfast with Kal and looked around.

Everyone was buzzing about the Noble Family Conference.

One could not simply join the ranks of noble families just by producing a hero.

A family is called a noble family only if heroes, or those who have achieved comparable feats, consistently appear in their genealogy.

Among them, families with a high frequency of hero appearances were called Hero Noble Families.

In that sense, even if there weren't many noble families, there weren't many families that could be called Hero Noble Families within Rumern.

"Among our year, prominent families include Zerdinger, Lewalyn, and Hergin."

At Kal's words, Leo rested his chin on his hand.

"Fewer than I thought?"

"Our year is exceptionally large. Being called a Hero Noble Family is by no means easy. Even within the entire school, those from Hero Noble Families can be counted on one hand."

There were no students from Hero Noble Families in the first, second, and fourth years, and only Elena in the fifth year.

Hearing Kal's explanation, Leo was impressed.

"The more I get to know my maternal family, the more amazing they seem."

"You say things so casually that Celia would grab the back of her neck and have a seizure. More importantly, it's just surprising that you didn't know anything like that. Or rather, is it natural in a way?"

From the beginning, Kal had paid attention to the relationships between students from influential families and their families, as well as the relationships between the families of students, to build friendships.

It was one of Kal's survival strategies in the early days, and he had benefited greatly from it.

However, when he thought about it, from Leo's perspective, there was no particular reason to pay attention to other students' families, or even his own.

'He said he didn't even know he was a member of the Zerdinger family from birth, so he probably wasn't very interested in his maternal family.'

If Kal and others had known that his maternal family was a Hero Noble Family on par with the Zerdingers, they would have been unable to contain their excitement.

But from Leo's perspective as a hero of the beginning, it wouldn't have mattered even if Zerdinger's grandfather had come.

"Well, anyway, there are quite a few people from noble families, so there will be quite a few participating this time."

The Noble Family Conference is held for a week.

Since they had to leave school for a rather long time, applications were currently being accepted.

"Ahem!"

Just then, Iliana approached with her lunch tray and sat next to Leo.

Seeing Iliana clear her throat and lift her chin, Leo said,

"Good morning."

"Good morning! Class president!"

"Weren't you in a bad mood until yesterday? You seem good today?"

"Yes! Our family received a gold thread invitation this time! Last time it was silver!"

"Oh. Congratulations."

"Heh heh."

Iliana gracefully swept her hair back.

Naturally, even among noble families, there are ranks.

Depending on the family's status and importance, invitations with gold, silver, or bronze threads, as well as regular invitations, are sent.

Gold thread invitations are, literally, given to families of Hero Noble Family caliber.

Families that receive silver thread invitations are also well-known across the continent, and bronze thread invitations signify the top families in a region.

Regular invitations were sent to families that had become somewhat nominal.

"Good morning."

"Kal. Supplemental classes start today, right? What are we going to do?"

"Be quiet."

Nella and Tate also joined them with their lunch trays.

"What were you talking about?"

"The Noble Family Conference. The Raden family received a gold thread invitation this time."

At Kal's words, Tate exclaimed.

"Really? Congratulations. I got bronze."

"Hmph!"

Iliana put on a smug expression.

"My family got silver."

As Nella said with a slight smile, Iliana became even more smug.

Listening to their conversation, Kal marveled.

"I realize anew that all my closest friends are extraordinary."

"I won't abandon you just because we're graduating."

"Oh, thank you."

Kal responded to Nella's joke with a playful tone.

"By the way, I'm jealous."

Tate licked his lips while looking at Iliana.

"I have to attend this Noble Family Conference."

"Huh? Tate, you're not the successor, are you? Isn't your sister taking over the family?"

At Kal's question, Tate scratched his head vigorously.

"Yes."

As a summoner, Tate's skills were superior to his sister's.

However, his sister had been trained as the successor since childhood.

Tate himself had no particular complaints about it.

It was because his sister was more capable of leading the family.

"They asked me to be a figurehead since I'm a Rumern student."

Attending the Noble Family Conference inevitably involves some rivalry between families.

Therefore, a Rumern student, especially Tate of the golden generation, was invited.

"They asked me to come too. I'm jealous, Iliana."

Nella also sighed softly.

"Heh heh!"

Iliana crossed her arms and puffed out her chest even more.

Then, she looked at Kal with a smirk.

"Why are you looking at me with such an unpleasant expression?"

"No. Next week, I can legally skip supplemental classes, but you can't, Kal."

Until yesterday, Iliana had been grumbling about why the sun rises.

That's because starting today, she would have to endure supplemental classes, meaning after-school sessions with Halind.

However, this morning, she received word that her family had received a gold thread invitation.

Iliana was the successor of the Raden family.

She had gained a perfect opportunity to skip supplemental classes with the legitimate excuse of needing to attend the Noble Family Conference.

That's why she was in a good mood.

At Iliana's words, Nella and Tate wore strange expressions.

"Iliana. Did your father specifically tell you to attend the Noble Family Conference?"

"No. He just said we received a gold thread invitation?"

"If he didn't specifically say to attend, can't you not attend?"

"……."

At those words, Iliana faltered.

"A family with a gold thread invitation has such high prestige that it's widely recognized, so there's no need to send a successor who has enrolled in Rumern."

Hearing Nella's words, Iliana's face turned pale.

Now that she thought about it, she had only received notice about the gold thread invitation, but she hadn't been told to clear her schedule specifically.

"I, I'll go contact my dad for a moment."

Iliana hurriedly tidied her lunch tray and left the cafeteria.

She hurried to make a magical communication.

***

"Class presidentttt! Sob sob sob!"

That afternoon,

While eating a sandwich on a park bench within the school grounds, Iliana found Leo and clung to him, lamenting.

"My dad told me not to attend the Noble Family Conference and to take supplemental classes instead! Sob sob sob!"

Watching Iliana cry pitifully, Chelsea, who was with Leo, shook her head.

Seeing their reactions, Chen Xia had a look of disbelief.

"Is that something to cry about?"

"My dad and mom treated me terribly!"

"How did they treat you?"

"When I cried and begged them to take me… they yelled at me, saying, 'What Noble Family Conference when you get grades like this?'… And that made me sad, so I complained to my mom… she told me to stop crying… that she didn't want to hear it… so coldly… hic! Sob sob sob!"

"…I can't understand. Chelsea, do you understand what Iliana is saying?"

"Hmm… I shouldn't say this, but… watching from the side, it was funny."

As Chen Xia wore a bewildered expression, Chelsea, who had accidentally overheard their conversation, shrugged.

"When Iliana was crying and saying she didn't want to take supplemental classes, Iliana's mother yelled, 'Stop crying! What are you crying about, acting so proud!'… It was both scary and funny."

"It's not really something to cry about."

"Right?"

As Chelsea and Chen Xia didn't empathize, Iliana detached herself from Leo.

Then she buried her face in Chelsea's chest.

"I won't comfort you like Leo oppa."

"Kuhaha!"

"Aack! What are you doing!"

"Sniffle. I should have snuggled into Xia's embrace. Xia feels secure, but this place is so poor, it's not good at all."

"I'll kill youuuuuuu!"

As Chelsea lunged at him with fire spewing from her mouth, Chen Xia grabbed Chelsea from behind and lifted her up.

"Whoa. Whoa. Calm down. Calm down."

Chelsea's face contorted even more at the presence felt behind her.

"Anyway, I hate Mom and Dad."

Iliana muttered, pouting her lips.

Seeing Iliana like that, Chen Xia tilted her head.

"Are supplemental classes that important?"

"They are important."

"Right."

As Leo and Chelsea agreed, Chen Xia let out a hollow laugh.

Just then, Iliana declared.

"I'm leaving home."

"What nonsense is that now?"

"I'm not going to be the successor of the Raden family anymore."

Chelsea looked at her as if she was dumbfounded.

"Then what will you do?"

"Iliana Flov."

"What?"

"Class president. Live with me."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Yeah. Let's do that. It's unfair if only I leave my family, so let's all leave our families. Chelsea can be Chelsea Flov and Xia can be Xia Flov. Anyway, the class president's house is a big castle now!"

"Snap out of it."

Seeing Iliana's rampage, Leo sighed softly.

Just then, Kal approached with Chloe.

"Judging by the atmosphere, Iliana can't go to the Noble Family Conference in the end, can she?"

At Kal's words, Chloe smiled faintly.

"I'll help you study."

The Mueller family was not a noble family, so they did not attend the Noble Family Conference.

"Kal! My comrade!"

Just then, Iliana's eyes sparkled as she looked at Kal, and she jumped up.

"Let's study supplemental classes hard together!"

Of the five classes taught by Halind, only Kal and Iliana received failing grades.

Isn't it said that two people endure the punishment better together?

At Iliana's words, Kal gave a sympathetic smile.

"I'm sorry, but…"

"Huh?"

"I'm participating in the Noble Family Conference this time."

"……."

At those words, everyone except Leo's eyes widened.

"Are you following the class president? Class president! Take me as an attendant too!"

"Leo-dorym is also not attending the Noble Family Conference."

Although Leo is a direct descendant of Zerdinger, he is also the king of the Archy Kingdom.

Royalty is not eligible to participate in the Noble Family Conference.

As everyone was bewildered, Kal smirked.

"Don't be surprised. I'm participating as a representative of the Hergin family!"

"Does that mean…?"

"You're getting married to Eliza…?"

Chloe and Chelsea asked in surprise.

"Something like that."

At that, Chen Xia asked mischievously.

"Did you decide to have seven children?"

"Hey."

"Heh heh."

Just then.

Iliana stood in front of Kal.

"Kal."

"Why?"

"Don't you need a lady-in-waiting?"

"Do you know that participating like that would be a disgrace to your family?"

"What does that matter? I can skip supplemental classes."

"……."

Kal wore an expression of disbelief.

"My dad too! Why did you work so hard and get a gold thread invitation!"

Iliana, who was complaining with grievances that no one would sympathize with, drooped her shoulders.

"Class president, Chloe, Xia. Teach me how to study."

At those words, Leo said,

"Sorry. I'm also planning to attend the Noble Family Conference this time."

"Isn't that officially impossible?"

Chloe asked with a curious expression, and Leo smiled faintly.

"It's possible unofficially."

Seeing that smile, the others thought to themselves.

'He's smiling like a demon king again.'