Book 1 Chapter 987
987.
Elena, sitting cross-legged in the meeting hall, propped her chin on her hand, her elbow resting on the armrest of her chair.
And she yawned in boredom.
Meanwhile, the Zeltian family claimed to be the spokesperson for several prestigious families, raising their voices.
Their argument was consistent.
They demanded an explanation for why Karl received special treatment.
It was true that Karl received special treatment.
Strictly speaking, Karl did not meet the requirements for promotion to the third year last year.
It was an exceptional case where the board of directors convened, and after a long meeting, his promotion was decided as a special privilege.
In Lumern's 3000-year history, Karl was the only student to receive such special treatment.
‘But he received it because he deserved it.’
Lumern is a hero academy.
The educational goal of hero academies is to provide education to raise heroes.
In that sense, it was no exaggeration to say that Karl had already met the graduation requirements.
The achievement of becoming a hero while still a student.
While it's true that many heroes have been produced from Lumern recently, that doesn't make Karl any less special.
From the start, among the heroes whose names were recorded in the Hero Records, Karl was a new type with a disposition unlike any in the past.
From Lumern's perspective, they needed to research the potential of a new hero.
That alone was a sufficient reason for Karl to remain at Lumern.
However, such reasons were not important to the prestigious families.
They could not tolerate the fact that Karl, a commoner with the lowest existing grades, received special treatment.
Perhaps if someone from a prestigious family had received special treatment, this controversy wouldn't have even existed.
‘That's why they're outdated, I suppose.’
Elena glanced boredly at the head of the Zeltian family and the families who sympathized with him.
A narrow-minded way of thinking that considered the position of a hero to be the exclusive property of prestigious families.
In reality, most of them couldn't even get into Lumern.
They were merely individuals with nothing but the lingering prestige left by their ancestors.
This was the reality of many families referred to as prestigious families.
The reason the Zeltian family was the head was because they had occupied a position among the hero nobility until relatively recently.
Though now, their family's reputation has declined, and they are no longer called a hero noble family.
“Elena Zeroun! Are you listening to me properly?!”
At that, the head of the Zeltian family raised his voice, looking at Elena, who was twirling her hair as if uninterested.
Elena smiled faintly in response.
“Huh? What did you say?”
“E-e-e-ek?! Why are you operating Lumern so partially?!”
“Ah, that? If that's the main point, you could have said it briefly. Why drag out useless explanations so long?”
Elena wore an annoyed expression.
“Wha- what?!”
Zeltian, his eyes wide with fury, exploded in anger, but Elena didn't even glance at him.
Elena, sinking deeper into her chair, spoke indifferently.
“The reason for operating Lumern partially?”
“Yes! Explain why Karl Thomas was given special treatment!”
The head of the Zeltian family shouted.
He probably wouldn't listen even if told that Karl was qualified to be a hero.
Because there is no group as unreasonable as the vested interests who believe only they are special.
Having vested interests means having power, and so they often mistakenly believe that they are the law.
Because even if they make unreasonable demands, everything can be solved by suppressing it with force.
But there's something they genuinely forget.
That the logic of power also applies to them.
“That's the Zeroun family's discretion, isn't it?”
“What?”
“What are you to Lumern?”
“…….”
At Elena's question, the head of the Zeltian family fell silent.
“Who are you to chatter about Lumern's operations? I'm telling you this because I think you're mistaken, but Lumern Academy belongs to the Zeroun family.”
“But……! Lumern is everyone's!”
“Everyone's? That's strange, isn't it? The founder of the academy, Sir Lumern, the Knight of Twilight, bequeathed it as an asset to our family's ancestors.”
“…….”
“And for the past 3000 years, the Zeroun family has operated Lumern Academy for the world.”
The Zeroun family had done their best to operate the school, upholding Lumern's legacy.
And throughout those 3000 years, they had maintained the status of a hero noble family.
There was no reason for such a Zeroun family to listen to outsiders regarding school operations.
“H-but it harms fairness…….”
“If that's your complaint, then become a hero while still a student, like Karl Thomas. We'll grant you early graduation, not just promotion. Then you won't have any complaints, will you?”
Elena's smiling face held undisguised mockery.
At this, the head of the Zeltian family, his face flushed, gritted his teeth and looked at the other hero noble families.
At his gaze, pleading for help, no hero noble family sided with the head of the Zeltian family and the other noble families.
‘Argh! Are they all in cahoots?!’
Having arbitrarily reached that conclusion, the head of the Zeltian family said nothing more about Karl.
He glared at Karl, who was sitting in the representative seat of the Herguin family, looking around cautiously.
‘That seat was originally my son's!’
Zeltian, once a hero noble family of the southern continent, had maintained a close relationship with Herguin for a long time.
Once, Zeltian possessed a reputation comparable to Herguin, but their family began to decline 100 years ago.
Thirty years ago, they even stepped down from their position as a hero noble family.
But even amidst that, they maintained their relationship with the Herguin family.
That's why the head of the Zeltian family had been working for a political marriage with the Herguin family since his son was born.
There was no guarantee that his son would have married Eliza even if Karl hadn't been there.
But he blamed Karl for the failure of the political marriage.
‘A lowly commoner like that!’
Gritting his teeth-! The head of the Zeltian family said.
“Let's return to the original agenda! It concerns the Kingdom of Arhi!”
The head of the Zeltian family's eyes widened.
“The Kingdom of Arhi has recently been indiscriminately accepting refugees! Regarding this, several noble families attending this meeting, including Zeltian, are concerned that Arhi might threaten the peace of the continent!”
“Did you say it threatens peace?”
“Yes! Head of Zerdinger!”
As Seld furrowed his brows, Zeltian raised his voice.
“I believe the founding of the Kingdom of Arhi is something to be celebrated! No matter what anyone says, the King of Arhi was recognized by the King of Wisdom, Rishinas, as the King of the World who will lead this era.”
He wanted to deny that he was the King of the World.
But he couldn't.
Refusing the will of the King of Wisdom is not tolerated.
Depending on the degree, it could be considered an act of rebellion against the world, and the family itself could disappear into the annals of history.
“But the King of Arhi, though perhaps strong, is still young and immature mentally!”
At that moment, Elena's eye twitched.
Karl barely managed to suppress his laughter.
“It's true he carries the fate of the world, but I fear he might gain too much power and wield it excessively.”
Currently, Arhi is considered a land of opportunity on the continent.
Not only humans but countless other races are gathering there, and rumors are circulating that it is under the protection of Dragonia.
Rumors widely spread that it is a peaceful land where one is treated according to one's abilities and is not plagued by monster and demon problems.
As such, immigrants are increasing in search of new opportunities.
A continuously growing national population signifies an increase in human resources who will be responsible for the future.
The emergence of a new great power.
Moreover, the king of the country is recognized by the gods as the King of the World.
In addition, as the Kingdom of Arhi grows stronger, nations experiencing population outflow will weaken their national power.
This was not a welcome situation for the existing kingdoms.
Therefore, their intention was to check Arhi by using Leo's youth as an excuse.
It was a transparent and shallow ploy, but with the interests of several nations at stake, they couldn't easily bring up the topic.
‘If I speak carelessly, it could lead to conflict, which is a headache.’
Karl clicked his tongue inwardly.
Just then, Hark, who was sitting next to the Herguin family's seat, representing the Ligaard family, and sleeping with his face buried in the table, startled—his shoulders shaking—and suddenly lifted his head.
“Are you saying we should stop immigration to Arhi?!”
“Th-that's right. It's useless to object…….”
“Agreed! Strongly agreed!”
Hark raised his voice, his eyes bloodshot.
“Fewer immigrants mean fewer jobs! Which means more time to sleep……. *Muffled sounds!*”
“Hark, senior, calm down.”
Karl hurriedly clapped his hand over Hark's mouth.
It was something unimaginable in the past, but Karl, anticipating what would follow, had no choice but to desperately stop him.
“I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't be rude to the acting head of the Ligaard family.”
The head of the Zeltian family curled his lips in a sneer and said to Karl.
He thought Hark agreed with their opinion.
‘No, if you don't shut this person's mouth, it won't be good for you!’
As Karl sighed, Hark, having shaken off Karl's arm, spoke to Karl with veins popping on his forehead.
“Oh? Karl Thomas. You've grown a lot, haven't you? Does becoming a hero mean your senior isn't like a senior anymore?”
At Hark's words, Karl sighed deeply.
“Acting head of Ligaard. Please ignore that rude fellow and continue what you were saying.”
When the head of the Zeltian family spoke with a kind smile, Hark said.
“The way to stop immigration is simple.”
“That's right. If we impose sanctions on the Kingdom of Arhi…….”
“Countries with high immigration rates just need to govern properly.”
“…….”
“Stopping immigration is forbidden by international law, isn't it? So, if the higher-ups who run the country so terribly would just come to their senses and manage the country properly……. *Muffled sounds!*”
Lis, who was attending the meeting with the head of the Zerdinger family, couldn't take it anymore and clamped his hand over Hark's mouth.
Amidst the commotion, Chade, the head of the Rwalyn family who was presiding over the meeting, declared.
“We will temporarily stop the meeting and go on a break.”
At his words, the people of the noble alliance, led by the head of the Zeltian family, stood up with flushed faces and left the meeting hall.
Until then, Hark was struggling in Lis's arms.
Eventually…….
*Crack!*
“Gulp?!”
Lis gently twisted his junior's neck.
Lis clucked his tongue, looking at the limp Hark.
“Elena seems to have matured recently, but this one seems to be even wilder than when he was a student.”
“He probably hasn't been getting much sleep in the Kingdom of Arhi lately.”
Karl sighed.
Meanwhile, Elena stared intently at the departing noble alliance.
Elena, twirling her hair with her finger, wore a twisted expression.
“Lady Elena. They say sweets are good when you're in a bad mood.”
Just then, Leo, in disguise, placed cake and tea in front of Elena.
Elena looked at the servant who abruptly offered her cake and tea with a puzzled expression.
“Elena, senior.”
Then Karl approached and whispered softly into Elena's ear.
“He's Leo.”
At that, Elena's eyes widened.
And then, with a lightened expression, she began to eat the cake with a fork.
“Lis, senior.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Can I borrow this butler for this meeting?”
Lis let out a wry laugh, looking at Elena, who was speaking with a bright smile.
“If you lend him to me, I'll behave quietly and won't cause any trouble.”
“…….”
Lis looked at Leo.
When Leo nodded, Lis smiled.
“Alright.”
“Servant? This lady would like more cake, could you bring some?”
“My lady.”
“Huh?”
“If you eat like that, you'll get fat.”
“…….”
Elena glared at Leo, and Leo smiled faintly as he went to get the cake.
Meanwhile.
Karl scratched his head and looked outside the meeting hall.
He saw the head of the Zeltian family leading the noble alliance.
‘As expected, that man is the most likely one.’
Karl sighed softly, looking at the head of the family who would most wish to eliminate him.