Chapter 106

【106】105.

“I didn’t know you had talent for all classes.”

“I found out after starting school, Father.”

During the evening meal, I calmly conversed with Father, Deid.

“My son, but how did such an over-the-top child like you come about?”

Reina also clicked her tongue.

Even Reina, who had foreseen a genius knight’s qualities in her son, could never have dreamed that Leo would be an all-rounder.

She had doubted her ears upon hearing the story.

While enjoying a rare dinner with his parents, Leo told them about the incidents at school.

“There are many familiar names.”

Reina grinned brightly, recalling her own school days.

“Ain, is he still as stoic as ever?”

“Do you know Ain Professor?”

“Yeah, he was in my year, right?”

Reina casually spoke, leaving Leo in awe.

“Come to think of it, you two are the same age.”

“Yeah… but anyway, Ain… hehe.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“It’s not that… meeting him at the parents’ visit day in the second semester will be fun. No! Professor Halind said he would be coming during this break, we must tease him!”

Going back to her school days, Reina beamed with youthful delight.

“Isn’t Professor Halind the one even former students shrink from and can’t move a muscle in front of? Is it okay to tease him so freely?”

“Hm? Why would they shrink? Professor Halind is incredibly kind, isn’t he?”

“…”

Leo gave a strange look at the word “kind,” which didn’t match the sobriquet “Wall of Lamentations” of Halind in Lumeran.

Although Leo was unaffected, every other first-year student was trembling before Halind.

Actually, other seniors and professors also shuddered.

‘Well, you’ll probably clean up after yourself.’

Shrugging, Leo enjoyed a family meal he hadn’t had in a while.

Deid watched his son fondly.

“Oh, by the way, I also met Miss Pirina.”

“Hm? Pirina?”

Reina was startled.

“What is Pirina doing in Lumeran?”

“It’s for personal reasons.”

“Is that so?”

“And I also made a contract with Pirina’s daughter.”

Reina’s jaw dropped.

“What? You contracted a Phoenix?”

Since it was not widely known, both Reina and Deid were startled.

Seeing their reaction, Leo summoned a circle of spiritual energy.

Soon afterward, the fully-formed figure of Fiora emerged from the summoning circle.

Piiyo?

“Ah! What a cute baby bird. Come here.”

Reina’s exclamation prompted her to beckon to the bird.

Despite tilting her head in confusion, Fiora approached Reina fearlessly and began pecking at the steak in front of her.

Looking at it adoringly, Reina then asked Leo,

“So, where’s the phoenix you contracted with?”

Piiyo! Piiyo!

Fiora, as if protesting, fully spread her wings and chirped.

Seeing this, Leo nonchalantly remarked,

“That’s the phoenix.”

At this statement, Fiora gracefully folded her wings, raising her chin haughtily.

“But… isn’t that a chick?”

SPLAT!

She indignantly protested,

“I am a phoenix! My name is Fiora.”

“I see.”

When Leo explained, Reina nodded, and Fiora nodded her head in greeting with a graceful motion.

“But wasn’t Pirina’s daughter supposed to contract with Ellen’s daughter?”

“It just happened. I also met the heir of Runya and already wrapped things up.”

“The heir of Runya? Ah! So you met her during the school trip?”

Reina nodded in astonishment and chuckled.

“Well, you surely had a busy term.”

“Isn’t this what normally happens at Lumeran?”

“As harsh as Lumeran is, it’s not easy for anyone to have such a sensational first term.”

Reina, a former student of Lumeran, shook her head and said,

“Anyway, since you worked hard during the semester, rest well during the vacation.”

After the meal, enjoying some more snacks, Reina had a long conversation with her son she hasn’t had in a while. Then, humming a tune, she returned to her room.

After finishing his bath and preparations, Deid entered the room to find Reina looking at something by the table and seemed puzzled.

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“My school album.”

Deid smiled warmly and sat beside Reina.

“Finally decided to check it?”

“Yes, hearing Leo’s story made me suddenly miss it.”

Reina, who had lost the ability to manipulate flames due to a sudden accident, treated her past, including her time in Lumeran and her days of prominence as an elite in Zerdinger, as a painful memory.

Hence, they both tried to live while avoiding things that might make her recall those days.

Deid was fully aware of this and never asked anything about it.

“What do you think? My teenage years?”

“She’s beautiful.”

“More than now?”

“Not more, but at least as much.”

“You’re dodging the question?”

Reina chuckled as she flipped through the album.

Deid became curious when he saw other races in the album.

“Are these students from other Hero Academies?”

“Yes. That elf is Allen, that beastman is Berga, and that dwarf is Jack.”

At hearing their names, Deid whistled. They were all heroes whose names were inscribed in the Hero Record, or famous figures of great prowess.

“Heard that the Water Hero Academy Azonia held its opening ceremony in the summer, unlike other schools.”

“That’s right. They hold their opening ceremony during the hottest season.”

“Is there a reason?”

“Yes, Azonia is famous for holding its hardest tests during the opening ceremony.”

The entrance exam of Azonia Hero Academy was unique.

The test was, in fact, a marathon across a desert.

“Well, people just call it an entrance ceremony, but it’s essentially the final entrance exam.”

“Final Entrance Exam?”

“Yes. During the periods when other schools hold their entrance ceremonies, Azonia offers elective lectures.”

“Elective Lectures?”

“Yes. Anyone who turns fifteen can attend, regardless of race. So, it’s common for even humans and dwarves to attend Azonia.”

“How about elves?”

“Elves disdain the Azonia’s educational culture, so they would probably never attend.”

Reina rested her chin on her hand.

“Anyway, students study and pass periodic exams intermittently. Only those who pass can continue the lectures. Ultimately, the students who survive until summer are invited to the opening ceremony. Then, those who complete the marathon officially become Azonia students, which is why it’s also called the final entrance exam.”

“That’s unique.”

“Isn’t it? It’s a test to pick talents suited for Azonia.”

“Do all students have to listen to the optional lectures?”

“No. Students from renowned hero families or those with recommendation letters can skip them and attend the opening ceremony directly. But even with a recommendation, failing the opening ceremony means disqualification.”

“I see.”

“Anyway, if selected through a recommendation, they become probationary Azonia students who can participate in the opening ceremony…”

Flutter-flutter!

Reina paused as she turned the pages of the album.

In the page she turned to, instead of a picture, there was an envelope inserted.

Curious, Reina pulled out the envelope and looked at the back.

When she confirmed the wax seal on the envelope, she gasped, “Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

Reina scratched her cheek.

“I forgot that I once received a recommendation letter from Azonia.”

“What?”

Deid was shocked.

“It was because I helped with the dungeon raid at Azonia Academy. At that time, they encouraged me to think about enrolling my future children, should I ever have them. I declined, but they sort of shoved it onto me, so I ended up accepting it awkwardly.”

Beastmen valued strength highly.

Hence, their tendency was to actively admit warriors of significant martial prowess into their academy.

After seeing Reina’s strength during that time, Azonia expressed admiration and offered the recommendation letter.

“Well, it was around twenty years ago.”

“They probably forgot giving it by now, so it shouldn’t matter.”

“Hmm~ you’re right.”

With calmness, Reina tucked the recommendation letter back in the album.

“Anyway, let’s call it a day, Reina.”

“Alright.”

Deid and Reina laid down on the bed.

Covered with a blanket and gazing at the ceiling, Reina suddenly recalled something.

‘Now that I think about it, during that banquet when I drank and got merry, I think I made a contract-like thing with a spirit after receiving a recommendation letter from Berga.’

She also remembered letting a drop of bl**d fall on the contract.

Feeling a vague discomfort, Reina chuckled softly.

‘Ah well, Leo’s already at Lumeran Academy, so what could go wrong?’

*

After returning home, Leo enjoyed a peaceful winter break.

Of course, he didn’t forget to consistently work on his assignments.

In Leo’s case, there was one assignment from each discipline, making a total of three—significantly more homework than other students.

But he steadily finished all the homework without much trouble.

Meanwhile, continued invitation letters for parties from neighboring noble families kept reaching him.

Some even visited the estate personally to meet Leo.

‘Back when I was at Delan Royal Academy, they never showed any interest. Such fickle humans.’

Clicking his tongue, Leo turned down the invitations.

He knew those gatherings would only bring annoying complications.

However, it wasn’t just the nobles sending letters.

“Son! Son!”

“What is it?”

“Who are these kids named Chloe, Chen Sia, Nella, and Iliana? Judging from the names, these seem to be girls?”

At breakfast, after receiving a letter on Leo’s behalf, Reina was making a fuss.

Since direct mails weren’t available in Delrad, the letters passed through Lorden, thus several of his friends’ letters arrived at the same time.

Reina, finding it delightful, exclaimed, “Our son is so popular!”

There were also letters from male friends like Kal and Teid, but she paid no attention to them.

“Won’t you tell me about the boys?”

“Not interested in boys.”

Seeing his mother focused solely on his romantic life, Leo sighed.

“Mistress!”

“What is it?”

One of the maids rushed over hastily.

“Visitors for the mistress and young master.”

“Are they noble guests? Tell them I’m too busy.”

“It’s…”

The maid hesitated before cautiously saying,

“They said they’re from Azonia Academy.”

“Azonnia?”

Leo wore a puzzled expression.

“Ugh… this could be annoying,” Reina groaned.

“Just let them in.”

“Yes.”

Watching Reina deeply sigh, Leo asked,

“Why would Azonia come looking for you and me?”

“It’s probably going to be a bit of trouble.”

Just at that moment, the door opened, and someone entered.

It was a person with their robe tightly pulled over them despite the sweltering summer heat.

Seeing this, Leo thought,

‘A spirit?’

[Are you Reina Zerdinger?]

“I’m technically not a Zerdinger anymore, but it’s me alright.”

[Greetings, I am a messenger spirit from Azonia.]

The spirit gave a respectful bow and handed over a rolled parchment.

After unfolding it and running a hand through her hair, Reina passed it to Leo.

Upon reading it, Leo’s face turned strange.

[Congratulations, Reina Zerdinger. Your child has been selected as a nominated candidate for the Azonia entrance.]

The contents of the parchment were straightforward.

They were invited to the Azonia entrance ceremony being held in two days at the great maritime city of Azrek in the southern region.

——————