Chapter 120

120

“Still haven’t found a way to disable the Hero’s World?”

“Uh, there’s nothing we can do! Since it’s the Hero Dungeon, there’s no way to control it!”

“Guh!”

Berga’s eyes brimmed with agitation as he lost his composure.

It had already been an hour since the world of Aron was opened.

The fact that the Hero’s World itself was not lifting was both proof that Leo and Arga were holding on and also a source of deep unease.

‘Ar! Kyle!’

“Hurry and find a way to control it!”

“Aaaah! P-Pendant Master Berga!”

Everyone was startled when Berga grabbed the collar of the associate professor.

“Calm down, Berga.”

A cold voice called out.

Turning his head, Berga released the associate professor upon noticing the human man who approached him.

“Ain.”

Ain was followed by Yura who also entered with a serious expression.

“What are the professors from Lumeran doing here?”

Ain calmly replied to Berga’s question.

“It’s related to the Hero’s World, so it would be good to share experiences. There have been several regrettable incidents during our first semester as well.”

Yura poked Ain in the ribs, looking astonished.

The incident of the Hero Dungeon during the midterms.

The Interdepartmental Competition at the end of the semester.

These two events were resolved well enough, but from the outside, they were still considered blemishes on Lumeran’s record.

Since Ain had brought this up casually to an outsider, Yura was bound to be flustered.

“Azonia is different from Lumeran. This is a simple accident!”

“Even so, it wouldn’t hurt to work together. My juniors and I have experiences that you and the instructors of Azonia may not. We won’t be an obstruction.”

Upon hearing those words, Berga lowered his eyes and took a deep breath.

Listening to Ain’s calm voice calmed him down, even in such a serious situation.

“I apologize. I was wrong to speak out of turn.”

“It’s fine.”

Yura waved her hand dismissively.

“Still, it must have been several years since a new chapter of the Great Hero opened, right?”

“Didn’t I hear that one opened in Lumeran at the beginning of the year?”

“Sure, but ours only opened briefly.”

“What happened when it did open?”

“It was a sudden rampage. We couldn’t figure out the cause.”

As Berga’s face grew serious, the page of Aron suddenly began to shine.

Seeing this, everyone stiffened.

The page of the Hero reacted in one of two scenarios: either the Hero’s World was completed, or the adventurer had perished, and the page closed.

Tension ran high as Ar and Leo suddenly emerged from the page.

“Ar!”

“Father!”

Ar grinned, seeing Berga rush to her and embrace her, tears streaming down his face.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes! Father! I have conquered the world of Aron!”

“That doesn’t matter! Ar, my daughter! Do you know how worried I was!”

Berga held his daughter tightly, truly delighted.

It was true that he had subjected her to rigorous training when she was young to make her a hero, but it was done to ensure she grew strong enough to survive trials and not meet an untimely end.

Ar understood this, so she never hated or resented her father, Berga.

On the other hand, Leo looked bewildered.

‘Hey! What are you doing here! Why are you here?’

Leo was startled by the presence of ELSI emanating from the Precious Gem.

When he glanced at the list of conquest rewards, he could barely believe it.

How could a spirit from the past, such as ELSI, be a conquest reward?

Moreover, the contract he’d just made with ELSI was valid.

It was as if someone who was once dead had come back to life.

‘ELSI?’

[…….]

Despite Leo’s call, ELSI remained silent, as if deep in sleep.

With a troubled look, Leo began scratching his head when Ar piped up.

“Father! If it weren’t for the Black Rabbit, we wouldn’t have been able to conquer!”

“…”

Berga’s gaze shifted to Leo.

Caught under that look, Leo scratched his cheek, as Berga, now back to his usual authoritative demeanor, stood solemnly before Leo.

“Oh Kyle.”

The title Berga had previously used to call Leo—‘Reina’s son’—had changed to his name, signifying his recognition of him.

“Truly impressive. To have conquered the Aron chapter.”

“It wasn’t my doing alone.”

“Hm, modesty?”

Chuckling, Berga raised his fist.

“Regardless of the reason, you and Ar have managed to conquer the Aron chapter! This is definitive proof that you are truly worthy students of the Hero Academy, Azonia! I am proud.”

With a commanding voice, Berga declared:

“I, Berga, will do all I can to teach you the way of the Overlord!”

At the Hero Academy Azonia, students choose their homeroom teachers. Typically, the famous teachers draw in the most students.

And Berga was among those highly regarded mentors that anyone would want to learn under.

By personally declaring his intent to take Leo as a disciple, he was offering an extraordinary honor and a secure school life.

“Black Rabbit! Let’s work hard together!”

Just as Ar was happily welcoming Leo, someone suddenly grabbed Leo’s rabbit ears.

“Pardon the interruption while you’re speaking.”

Yura smiled brightly but asked for Berga’s pardon, then turned her attention to Leo.

“Class Representative? What exactly are you doing here?”

“Who are you?”

Leo brazenly answered.

Though Yura’s presence had instantly alerted him that this might complicate things.

“Who… who? How could you not recognize the professor who worked hard all semester teaching you? Are you trying to fool us professors with just some magic tricks, huh?!”

Her eyes narrowed angrily, and she tightened her grip harder.

“What’s with you? What exactly are you trying to pull? Are you just looking to see how far you can push things between Lumeran and Azonia? Do you want to d*e? Do you?”

Yura’s knuckles stood out prominently as she effortlessly lifted Leo by his grabbed ears.

As if a helpless rabbit caught by his ears, Leo dangled awkwardly.

“Exactly what is this all about?”

Berga asked, bewildered, causing Ain to sigh.

“It seems one of our students has caused an impolite scene. Though it’s unclear how he participated in Azonia’s entrance ceremony, allow me to introduce him.”

With that said, Leo judged there was no point in hiding further and released the Polymorph spell.

A faint glow came off Leo’s body.

The rabbit ears disappeared. His hair turned white.

Seeing the human form of Leo, Berga and Ar gawked in stunned silence.

“Meet Leo Flove. Year 1 class representative at Lumeran.”

“Hello, my name is Leo Flove.”

*

After Leo’s identity was revealed, chaos broke loose.

‘Even if you’re Lumeran’s class representative, it makes no difference! Azonia’s doors are open! Kyle! Leo Flove! Just enroll in Azonia!’

‘No matter what, the entrance of Azonia is for their students only!’

‘Why a knight? Summoning student!’

A debate ensued between Ain and Yura as Azonia’s Berga raised his voice.

Ar wore a slightly shocked expression.

There was no time for Leo to apologize amidst the commotion.

‘Leo-san, please! Exercise some restraint! This is too much strain on us!’

Carlo, the associate professor, pleaded with Leo with tears in his eyes.

The professor’s disputes regarding Leo’s departmental affiliation were already escalating.

With the involvement of rival schools, it would be the assistant professors and teaching assistants who would burn out.

Leo explained how he had attended the Azonia enrollment ceremony, without any illicit activity, making it a mere amusing event.

However, staff and faculty members from Azonia eyed Leo somewhat bitterly.

Having a freshman conquer the Aron’s World before entrance was unprecedented.

Ar conquered it as well, but it would have been ideal if both conquering individuals entered together.

“You’re the first Lumeran student to cause a mishap during break, if history is any indication!”

Yura hit Leo’s head with a knuckle.

“There’s no big issue here, so it’s fine.”

Ain remained calm and apparently approved of the year representative going to check on rival hero academies.

“Well, despite not being able to participate in the enrollment ceremony.”

Leo missed out on the Desert Crossing Marathon.

“Of course! You, had you attended the enrollment ceremony, you could’ve been forcibly enrolled in Azonia as well!”

“That’s probably true.”

Leo laughed.

“Regardless, it’s a shame I didn’t get the conquest reward.”

It was revealed that Ar’s conquest reward was the Breathing Technique of Aron; the famed water-handling abilities of Aron, only seen in ancient texts.

Predictably, knowing about the conquest reward would cause huge repercussions, so a gag order was enacted.

Given the likelihood of it hindering Ar’s normal school life, this measure was taken.

Only the select few present in that room and the conquerors knew the extent of the reward.

“You can’t use those rewards anyway, since you’re human.”

“You should be satisfied with having conquered the world of Aron.”

“Even that fact shouldn’t get out, right?”

Yura opened her tired eyes.

Even though it might be brushed off as a misunderstanding, it was better not to let it spread.

It might seem like nothing was gained at first glance.

But Leo had received something no one else could even imagine from the conquest reward.

“What happened to ELI?”

Summoning-related rewards typically involve summoning catalysts or contract eligibility.

There was no precedent of the summon familiar being directly given as a conquest reward.

‘I’ll think about this when I get home… Ar looked like she’s having trouble controlling Aron’s Breathing Technique.’

Recalling how Ar struggled to control the power and handle it properly, Leo clicked his tongue.

After all, it’s not easy to master such potent abilities overnight.

‘If only I could be around to help her.’

“In any case, don’t cause any more trouble during the break.”

Yura warned him as they reached the Warp Gate.

Both Ain and Yura, fearing Leo, the unpredictable student council president, might not return home obediently, decided to escort him personally.

‘I don’t plan on causing more trouble, though.’

Despite thinking this, exposing his previous mischief made it clear his words wouldn’t carry any weight.

“See you next semester, professors.”

“Alright! We’ll see you at the end of the break!”

“Have a good rest, Leo Flove.”

With his farewell to the professors, Leo boarded the Warp Gate.

A flash of light engulfed him, and Leo disappeared, returning to Azrek.

“Why does this guy, who lives his school life peacefully, always end up causing these major accidents?”

Yura sighed, clearly drained.

“Nevertheless, Azonia managed to let it slide, so there won’t be anymore issues, right?”

“Do you not see the formal invitations for permanent professor roles I keep receiving from them?”

Yura’s expression turned grave.

“What, no matter what, if you’re still attending our school, you wouldn’t change schools, right?”

“It’s unpredictable. For now, Azonia is, like us, a proper Hero Academy.”

Ain sighed again deeply.

“According to Professor Halind, even Seirun considered a transfer offer.”

“…”

Yura’s expression grew even more serious.

The two seniors and juniors looked at each other thoughtfully.

‘This…’

‘It may not be the time for us to fight amongst ourselves.’

In a never-before-seen situation where external forces were getting involved in student poaching, there was nothing the professors could do but sigh deeply.