Book 1 Chapter 990

990.

By the time the meeting of the noble families concluded.

Within Lumeria, rumors about the newly founded Hero Alliance had already spread widely.

The leader, chosen by the families with the most distinguished heroic bloodlines.

News that Leo had ascended to a position that could shake the world's hegemony caused various commotions across the globe.

Journalists, who needed to deliver the news faster than anyone else, flocked to Lumeria City.

"It would be amazing if I could interview Leo Plov myself."

"That's not going to be easy. Even interviewing students close to Leo Plov would be a huge achievement."

Thinking this, the reporters stopped students who came out to Lumeria City on the weekend and requested interviews.

"What do you think about Leo Plov, the King of Beginnings, taking the position of leader of the Hero Alliance?"

"Oh, that's just natural, isn't it?"

"What? Aren't you surprised?"

"Why?"

"What?"

"He's the student council president, so what's there to be surprised about?"

"……?"

A 5th-year student, a senior at Lumeria, looked bewildered at the reporter's question.

This wasn't just limited to the 5th-years.

All students at Lumeria accepted the fact that Leo Plov, the student council president of Lumeria, had become the unprecedented leader of the Hero Alliance, as if it were perfectly natural.

Even though it was a monumental event shaking the world, the Lumeria students all showed only lukewarm reactions.

"No. But putting aside their reactions, I can't even get a long interview out of them."

A reporter looked flustered, observing the Lumeria students who weren't responding well to interviews.

They could converse, but no one spoke for long.

"Ahem."

Just then, someone cleared their throat.

When the reporter turned their head, there was a female student who appeared to be a 3rd-year from Lumeria.

"Who…?"

"Have you perhaps heard of 'Light-speed Swift Sword'?"

"Are you referring to Iliana Laden, the student from Lumeria?"

"Yes. That would be me."

"Ah!"

"The best friend and right-hand woman of Lumeria's student council president, who's been with him through thick and thin since freshman year! And!"

"And?!"

"A beautiful girl!"

"……"

The reporter remained silent, looking at Iliana's triumphant expression.

'No, she is beautiful… but does one usually say that about themselves?'

Such a thought crossed their mind, but they decided to set it aside for now.

It remained true that Iliana Laden was one of the top students among Lumeria's 3rd-years, known as the Golden Generation.

'Well, it's already a well-known fact that she has a personality that loves self-praise.'

And it was also true that she was a close friend of Leo Plov.

"What do you think about Leo Plov, the King of Beginnings, taking the position of leader of the Hero Alliance?"

"Hmm! Well! As the class president… no, the student council president, I suppose it's only natural, wouldn't you say?"

Unlike her initial boisterous self-introduction, Iliana's interview was quite serious.

'She's the most satisfying student I've interviewed today.'

"Lastly, you mentioned you're the right-hand of Leo Plov, the King of Beginnings. Does that mean the King of Beginnings relies on you, Iliana?"

"Yes. The president and I are like soulmates, I suppose?"

"Huh! Could it be that you and the Hero of Beginnings are in a romantic relationship…?"

"Hehe! No comment… Ow, ow, ow!"

"What 'no comment' are you talking about?"

"It's not good to lie."

Chloe and Chen Sia appeared from behind Iliana, each pulling one of Iliana's ears.

"L-lie! I only spoke the truth…! Ow, ow!"

"Isn't 'no comment' a vague phrase that's just perfect for causing misunderstandings?"

Chen Sia smiled sweetly and dragged Iliana away.

"Huh! Chloe Muller, student of the Northern Magic Tower, and… Chen Sia of Shan?!"

The reporter's eyes widened.

An interview with Chloe, considered a candidate for Archmage due to her high reputation in the magic world, and Chen Sia, the next Empress of Shan, would be a scoop.

Besides, aren't both of them close to Leo Plov?

"Student Chloe! What do you think about this Hero Alliance? And Lady Chen Sia, as the next Empress of Shan, will you have influence over this alliance…!"

"I'm afraid I can't give a detailed interview on that matter, as the academy instructed us not to respond to interviews concerning it."

At Chloe's words, the reporter understood why the students hadn't been actively responding to interviews.

'Was it lucky that I could interview Iliana Laden?'

It seemed unlikely he could get any stories from Chloe and Chen Sia.

"Student Iliana! Just one more word!"

"What kind of… Mmph!"

"The professors will scold you, Iliana."

Chen Sia covered Iliana's mouth, and Chloe stood in front of the reporter, giving a slight smile.

At that moment, the reporter flinched and backed away from Chloe's ice-cold smile.

A moment later.

When they reached a secluded spot, Chloe folded her arms and sighed.

"The professors specifically warned you, didn't they?"

"I just wanted to let the world know more about the class president!"

Iliana protested, as if wronged.

"The class president is someone who is more serious about defeating Tartaros than anyone else, so why should he be criticized by people driven by selfish desires?!"

Seeing Iliana genuinely angry because of Leo, Chloe sighed softly.

"I'm angry about that part too, but."

"It's okay. I've remembered all those family names."

When Chen Sia said this with a broad smile, Chloe glared, and Iliana looked flustered.

"Sia."

"D-don't do that."

"It's a joke."

She was smiling sweetly, but it didn't sound like a joke.

"Anyway. I interviewed because I wanted the class president's image to improve, even just a little."

"And introducing yourself as Leo's right-hand?"

"A little bit of personal gain?"

Chen Sia stroked Iliana's head as she stuck out her tongue and winked with one eye.

"Since it's out of affection for Young Master Leo, I won't say anything more."

"Mm."

"Still, it's a demerit."

Chloe calmly took out a notebook from her pocket and made a check.

Iliana made a tearful face and clung to Chloe, but there were no exceptions to the school rules.

***

With the meeting of the noble families concluded, Lumeria's suspended classes resumed.

It was still noisy with issues regarding the noble family meeting and the Hero Alliance, but there was no time to pay attention to such things.

Because the final exam period was suddenly approaching again.

The second semester was nearing its end.

"In my 1st and 2nd years, the end of the semester was hectic, but 3rd year is relaxed."

At Teid's mumble, Karl, who was sitting next to him, let out an unusual laugh.

"Relaxed? Do I look relaxed?"

Karl stared at Teid with hollow eyes and dark circles.

Seeing Karl like that, Teid shrugged.

"Ordinary students are relaxed."

"Huhu. You spoke well. Then why don't you help out with student council work?"

"Go away."

Teid pushed Karl away, his expression serious.

The student council was busy.

All 5th-year students had now stepped down from active roles.

As such, key students took over the work they had been doing.

Added to that were preparations for graduation and the Luce Games, and other overlapping tasks, leading to a hectic daily life.

Because of this, Karl, a key figure in the student council, was overwhelmed with work.

"Good morning."

Amidst this, Leo sat down in front of Karl and Teid.

Teid spoke, watching Leo sip his coffee.

"Leo, you seem relaxed?"

"Thanks to Chloe and Karl working hard."

"So Chloe ended up as the vice president. Lil Sunbae must be very disappointed?"

"Lil Sunbae became the acting student council president."

"Acting? Then Karl?"

"I'm the acting vice president… Of course, my duties haven't changed."

It was strange for Lil, being the highest grade and practically the strongest in Lumeria apart from Leo, to do nothing in the student council.

Leo chuckled, remembering Lil, who was delighted to become the acting student council president.

"Anyway, how to put it… To think I'll be a 4th-year soon. Time really flies."

Teid exclaimed.

It felt like only yesterday they were fledgling freshmen, but now the 4th year was just around the corner.

"By the way, have you finalized the schedule for the Luce Games, no, the Cultural Exchange Festival?"

"Yes. We just need to prepare for the festival."

At Seirun's suggestion, this year's Luce Games had been changed to a Cultural Festival.

"Karl, just a little more effort. Once the final exams are over, we can take it easy after that."

"Yeah. I really need to get some good rest during winter break."

Karl blinked his hollow eyes and stood up.

"Shouldn't you study for the exams a bit? If you have to take supplementary classes again, your rest will be gone."

Teid giggled, and Karl made a tearful face.

"Thank you for your concern, it really brings tears to my eyes."

***

Whoooooosh-

Northern continent, the homeland of the elves.

There was only one reason why elves could live in this land known as the land of extreme cold.

It was because elves were called the race of magic.

And even in the western part of the northern continent, known as the land of extreme cold.

In the dead of winter, the weather is so extreme that even the sea freezes.

Students in Seirun uniforms were walking on the frozen sea.

"Is it true that a human was found here?"

Rea Tingel, a 2nd-year student from Seirun, asked with a puzzled expression.

Eiran, who was leading this mission and had come here with the 2nd-year students, nodded.

"That's why we're here, to confirm it."

If a human is found in this land of extreme cold, it's one of two things.

First.

If they illegally set foot on elven land.

Recently, elven society was filled with curiosity and goodwill towards human society.

Elves originally looked down on human culture, but with Luna and Seirun appearing in the present world, the entire race's perspective on humans changed.

A short-term change.

Perhaps if it were another race, even the words of a great hero and a hero of creation wouldn't have been enough to change the race's entire value system so quickly.

But for elves, who have an extreme and blind disposition, the words of that great hero were nothing short of a divine revelation.

In particular, Luna's confession to Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, was enough to cause significant change among the elves.

As a result, elves developed great curiosity about the human race.

And naturally, they quickly adopted human culture.

Some human cultures were a great stimulus to elven society, which had pursued tranquility.

However, even so, the treaty that humans should not arbitrarily set foot on elven land for a long time had not disappeared.

For a human to set foot deep within elven land was clearly illegal.

And for them to come to this place, where even elves rarely venture, meant there was a high probability they were criminals.

The second was…

'The rampage of a hero dungeon.'

Whatever it was, it was Seirun's task to resolve it, which is why Eiran had come with the students as the party leader.

But after several hours of looking around, not even an elf, let alone a human, was visible.

The Seirun students, having come out of the frozen sea and returned to the snow-covered sandy beach, lit a fire with magic.

Eiran was lost in thought in front of the bonfire.

'Should I expand the search area?'

Eiran, who had been contemplating, suddenly perked her ears.

And glanced—at the forest in the distance, bordering the sandy beach.

'Was that a gaze just now?'

"Eiran Senior?"

As Rea looked puzzled, Eiran stood up.

"There was a suspicious presence. I'll go check it out for a moment."

"Let's go together."

"You must be tired, so rest."

Eiran was considerate of her exhausted juniors.

Acting alone could lead to danger, but Eiran ordered her tired juniors to rest.

Even the juniors who insisted on coming along eventually had no choice but to stay behind.

'From what my super-senses are telling me, there doesn't seem to be much danger.'

Eiran tracked the presence.

A moment later.

A faint figure was visible in the distance.

By the silhouette, it was a woman with hair as white as snow.

"Ah! Excuse me?!"

Eiran called out hastily.

Suddenly.

The woman turned around.

A strong snowstorm was blowing, so her face couldn't be clearly seen.

But through the swirling snowflakes, vivid red eyes were visible.

The moment their eyes met.

Whoosh-!

The girl instantly disappeared into the blizzard.

"Ah…"

Eiran's expression turned serious, instinctively realizing she had lost her.

'By the presence, it was definitely a human.'

***

Rea spoke, looking at the 2nd-year Seirun students who remained after Eiran left.

"Since it's Senior Eiran, nothing serious should happen, but let's be ready to move immediately in case something does."

As the Seirun students prepared for any eventuality.

Crack-

"Huh?"

Suddenly, the frozen sea, where no waves stirred, began to crack.

As the Seirun students took a combat stance at the sudden situation.

Crack! Crunch-!

A huge block of ice burst through the frozen ground.

Rea, who had been looking tense, realized someone was inside the human-sized block of ice and cautiously approached.

Inside the ice were two elves.

An elven girl, appearing to be Rea's age, was cradled protectively in the arms of another elf, so her face was not visible.

But upon seeing the beautiful elven woman holding and protecting that elf…

"Oh?"

Rea couldn't help but be shocked.

"Ancestor?"

Trapped in the ice was Seirun Tingel, the Comet Mage.