Book 1 Chapter 977

977.

Leo looked around as he ate breakfast with Karl.

Everyone was abuzz with talk about the Council of Illustrious Families.

Simply producing a hero is not enough to join the ranks of illustrious families.

An illustrious family is called such only when its family tree consistently produces heroes, or those who have achieved comparable feats, on a regular basis.

Among these, families with a high frequency of hero appearances were called Heroic Illustrious Families.

In that sense, while there might be many illustrious families, there weren't many families within Rumerne that could be called Heroic Illustrious Families.

"Among our year, representative families include Zerdinger, Rwallyn, and Hergin."

Leo rested his chin on his hand at Karl's words.

"Fewer than I thought?"

"Our year just happens to have a lot. Being called a Heroic Illustrious Family is by no means easy. Even across the entire school, you can count the students from Heroic Illustrious Families on one hand."

There were no students from Heroic Illustrious Families in the 1st, 2nd, or 4th years, and Elena was the only one in the 5th year.

After hearing Karl's explanation, Leo was impressed.

"My mother's side of the family was an amazing family, the more I learn about them."

"You're saying things so casually that Celia would clutch her neck and have a seizure if she heard them. More than that, it's simply surprising that you knew nothing about such things. Or rather, in a way, is it natural?"

Karl had been careful since admission to build friendships and understand the relationships between students from influential families, both new and current.

It was one of Karl's early survival strategies, and he had reaped considerable benefits from it.

But thinking about it from Leo's perspective, there was no particular reason for him to care about other students' families, or even his own.

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

Perhaps if Karl and others had known that his maternal family was a Heroic Illustrious Family on par with the Zerdingers, they would have been unable to contain their excitement.

However, from Leo's perspective, as the Hero of Beginning, he wouldn't be impressed even if Zerdinger's grandfather showed up, let alone Zerdinger himself.

"Well, anyway, there are quite a few from illustrious families, so there should be a fair number of kids participating this time, right?"

The Council of Illustrious Families lasts for a week.

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

"Ahem!"

Just then, Illiana approached with her meal tray and sat next to Leo.

Leo spoke, looking at Illiana who cleared her throat and tilted her chin up.

"Good morning."

"Good morning! Class president!"

"Weren't you in a bad mood until yesterday? You look happy today?"

"Yes! This time, our family received a gold-thread invitation! Last time it was silver-thread!"

"Oh. Congratulations."

"Hee-hee."

Illiana elegantly swept her hair back.

It goes without saying that even among illustrious families, there are ranks.

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

A gold-thread invitation is, literally, an invitation given to families of Heroic Illustrious Family caliber.

Families who receive silver-thread invitations are known throughout the continent by name alone, and bronze-thread invitations signify the top families in their respective regions.

Regular invitations were sent to families whose fame had somewhat faded.

"Good morning."

"Karl. Supplementary classes start today, right? What are you going to do?"

"Quiet."

Nella and Teid also joined them, carrying their meal trays.

"What were you talking about?"

"The Council of Illustrious Families. The Raden family received a gold-thread invitation this time."

Teid exclaimed in admiration at Karl's words.

"Really? Congratulations. I got bronze-thread."

"Hmph!"

Illiana wore a proud expression.

"My family got silver-thread."

When Nella said this with a faint smile, Illiana looked even prouder.

Listening to their conversation, Karl admired them.

"I'm realizing it again, but all my best friends are amazing."

"We won't turn our backs on you just because we graduate."

"Oh, thank you very much."

Karl jested at Nella's joke.

"Anyway, I'm jealous."

Teid clicked his tongue, looking at Illiana.

"I have to attend this Council of Illustrious Families."

"Huh? Teid, weren't you not the successor? Your sister is taking over the family, right?"

Teid scratched his head vigorously at Karl's question.

"Yeah."

Teid's skills as a summoner were superior to his sister's.

However, it was Teid's sister who had been receiving successor training since childhood.

Teid wasn't particularly unhappy about it.

That's because his sister was better at leading the family.

"They told me to be a figurehead since I'm a Rumerne student."

Attending the Council of Illustrious Families inevitably involves a power struggle between families.

So, they called a Rumerne student… and a Golden Generation student like Teid at that.

"They told me to come too. I'm jealous, Illiana."

Nella also sighed softly.

"Hehe!"

Illiana crossed her arms and lifted her nose even higher.

Then she grinned, looking at Karl.

"Why are you looking at me with such a nasty expression?"

"No. Next week, I can legally skip remedial classes, but you can't, Karl."

Until yesterday, Illiana had been grumbling, "Why does the sun even rise?"

And rightly so, because remedial classes… that is, being tormented by Halind after school… were starting today.

But this morning, a message arrived from her family, saying they had received a gold-thread invitation.

Illiana was the successor of the Raden family.

This was a golden opportunity to skip remedial classes with the legitimate excuse of needing to attend the Council of Illustrious Families.

That's why she was in a good mood.

At Illiana's words, Nella and Teid exchanged strange looks.

"Illiana. Did your father specifically tell you to attend the Council of Illustrious Families?"

"No. He just said we received gold-thread, that's all?"

"If he didn't specifically say to attend, aren't you unable to attend?"

"…"

At that, Illiana paused.

"If it's a gold-thread family, their prestige is high enough that everyone would recognize them, so there's no need to specifically put forward a successor who just entered Rumerne, right?"

Upon hearing Nella's words, Illiana's face turned pale.

Come to think of it, she only received notification that they had received a gold-thread invitation; she hadn't been told to specifically clear her schedule.

"I, I'm going to quickly contact my dad and come back."

Illiana hastily tidied her meal tray and left the dining hall.

She had rushed off to make a magic call.

***

"Class president! Waaah!"

That lunchtime.

Illiana, who came to find Leo while he was eating a sandwich on a park bench within the school, grabbed him and complained.

"Dad told me not to attend the Council of Illustrious Families and just take remedial classes! Waaah!"

Chelsea, who was with Leo, shook her head, watching Illiana cry miserably.

Chen Xia made an incredulous expression watching her.

"Is that something to cry about?"

"Dad and Mom treated me so harshly!"

"How did they treat you?"

"When I cried! And begged them to take me… they shouted, 'With grades like this, what Council of Illustrious Families?!' And that was so upsetting that I complained to Mom afterward… and she told me to stop crying… that she didn't want to hear it! So coldly… hic! Waaah!"

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

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

As Chen Xia made a perplexed expression, Chelsea, who had accidentally overheard the conversation, shrugged her shoulders.

"Illiana was crying so hard, saying she didn't want to take remedial classes. Illiana's mom was shouting, 'Stop crying! What do you have to cry about?!' And… it was both scary and funny."

"It's not really something to cry about like this, is it?"

"Right?"

When Chelsea and Chen Xia didn't sympathize, Illiana pulled away from Leo.

Then she buried her face in Chelsea's chest.

"I'm not going to comfort you like Leo oppa."

"Keu-heung!"

"Aaack! What are you doing?!"

"Sniff. I should have hugged Xia. Xia feels stable, but this place is poor, so it's really bad."

"I'm gonna kill youuuu!"

As Chelsea was about to lunge forward, spitting fire, Chen Xia hugged her from behind and lifted her up.

"Woah. Woah. Calm down. Calm down."

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

"Anyway, I hate Mom and Dad."

Illiana pouted and grumbled.

Chen Xia tilted her head, looking at Illiana.

"Are remedial classes that important?"

"They are important, though."

"Yeah."

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

Then Illiana declared.

"I'm running away from home."

"What kind of nonsense is that now?"

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

Chelsea made an exasperated expression.

"Then what will you do?"

"Illiana Flov."

"What?"

"Class president. Take me in and live with me."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

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

"Get a grip."

Leo sighed softly, looking at the rampaging Illiana.

Just then, Karl approached with Chloe.

"Looking at the atmosphere, it seems Illiana ultimately can't go to the Council of Illustrious Families?"

Chloe smiled faintly at Karl's words.

"I'll help you study."

The Müller family was not an illustrious family, so they did not attend the Council of Illustrious Families.

"Karl! My comrade!"

Just then, Illiana's eyes sparkled as she looked at Karl and stood up abruptly.

"Let's work hard together in remedial classes!"

Among Halind's Class 5, only Karl and Illiana had failed.

Didn't they say it's better to face punishment together?

Karl offered a sympathetic smile at Illiana's words.

"What do I do? I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

"I'm participating in this Council of Illustrious Families."

"…"

At that, everyone except Leo widened their eyes.

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

"Young Master Leo isn't attending the Council of Illustrious Families either."

Leo was a direct descendant of Zerdinger, but also the king of the Archi Kingdom.

Royalty is not eligible to participate in the Council of Illustrious Families.

While everyone was flustered, Karl grinned.

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

"Does that mean…?"

"You're… marrying Eliza?"

Chloe and Chelsea asked in surprise.

"Something like that, I guess."

At that, Chen Xia mischievously asked.

"Did you agree to have seven children?"

"Hey."

"Hee-hee."

Just then.

Illiana stood in front of Karl.

"Karl."

"Why?"

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

"You know that if you participate like that, it'll be a disgrace to your family, right?"

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

"…"

Karl wore an incredulous expression.

"Dad too! Why did he work so hard for nothing to get a gold-thread invitation!"

Illiana, who was expressing resentment that no one would sympathize with, slumped her shoulders.

"Class president, Chloe, Xia. Please teach me to study."

At that, Leo said.

"Sorry. I'm also planning to attend the Council of Illustrious Families this time."

"Isn't that officially impossible?"

Chloe asked with a puzzled face, and Leo smiled faintly.

"It's possible unofficially, isn't it?"

Those who saw that smile thought to themselves.

'He's smiling like a Demon King again.'