Chapter 132

132.

“Hmph, has the time finally come to make my name known to the entire world?”

“He’s still playing around.”

“What good will knowing your name do?”

That evening, the entire dormitory cafeteria was in an uproar over talk about the mission practice.

“Everyone’s all fired up about the mission practice.”

Chelsea opened her mouth wide and ate the pudding that was served as dessert.

“Wooong~”

With her cheeks cupped, Chelsea was radiating happiness when Kal asked her.

“What’s up? Is the pudding good?”

“You’re dreaming if you think I’ll share my limited edition pudding today.”

Seeing Chelsea’s strong protective stance, Kal said indifferently.

“I wouldn’t eat it anyway. It seems stingy.”

“Yeah. Don’t eat it. Would you like to try a bite, Brother Leo?”

“What is this sudden temperature difference?”

Kal complained while making an unhappy face.

Ignoring him, Chelsea looked at Leo while scooping up a spoonful of pudding.

“I’m fine.”

“This is so delicious! Brother Leo, you’ve never tasted the limited edition pudding, right?”

“Yeah. Leo, it’s really good. The kids aren’t making a fuss for nothing.”

Kal, who had tasted the limited edition pudding before, nodded his head in agreement with Chelsea’s statement.

“Maybe I’ll take a bite, then.”

“Sure.”

As Chelsea was about to feed Leo a spoonful, suddenly—

Chomp!

“Ah~ Indeed, the limited edition pudding is delicious.”

Someone had jumped in and eaten the pudding.

Chelsea, her eyes widened, tried to stir the spoon that had gone into Celia’s mouth.

However, Celia bit down on the spoon hard and instead tore it out of Chelsea’s grasp.

“What is this!”

“Hmph.”

Celia, brushing her hair aside, gave a scornful laugh.

Chelsea, who was trying to retrieve the spoon, glared at Celia and Kal and threatened.

“If you touch my pudding, I’ll k*ll you!”

“I’ll make sure you can’t eat it.”

As Leo burst out laughing, an assured Chelsea dashed off—only to grab the spoon.

“Leo, haven’t you decided where you’re going for the mission practice yet?”

“I’ve decided. What’s up?”

“With whom? Surely not with the kids from Class 5?”

Celia wore an unpleasant expression because if he went with classmates, it was obvious Chelsea would be included.

Given that Celia intended to organize the mission practice with Leo, she was less than thrilled.

“No. By myself.”

“What? Then that’s great. Let’s go together…”

“Who’s this?”

Just then, someone covered Leo’s eyes.

Leo calmly swatted the hand away and said.

“What’s up, Chen Sia.”

“Ugh, boring.”

Showing an expression of disappointment atLeo’s nonchalant reaction, Chen Sia pulled her hand back from Leo’s.

Celia looked curious.

“Are you guys teasing around?”

“We’re trying to tease Lord Leo, but he’s always so calm, it’s no fun.”

Muttering Chen Sia poked Leo’s cheek.

Watching this, Kal turned his head.

There, Chelsea, who was bringing a spoon, had frozen.

“Good day, Miss Chelsea.”

Chen Sia smiled and waved.

“Uh, yeah. Hello.”

Chelsea answered flustered and then sat in front of Leo.

She alternated her gaze between Leo and Chen Sia.

“Did you come here because of the mission practice?”

“Yes. I thought teaming up with Lord Leo would be a good idea. Celia, if you’re also planning to form a team with Lord Leo, could you let me in too?”

“Hmm. First, second, and third rankers from the department of knights for a mission practice… Not bad. It’s a completely luxurious team, isn’t it?”

Celia’s response was given by Kal.

“I don’t like our country’s prince, but still second rank in the department of knights is Duran, right? And why is Leo associated with the department of knights?”

“Yeah! Yeah!”

In response to Kal’s words, Chelsea waved her spoon in protest.

Seeing this, Celia said indifferently.

“What? Once it’s announced that Leo is my cousin, he’ll definitely be confirmed for the department of knights.”

“Huh? That was something official?”

“Yeah, it’ll be soon.”

Kal was surprised as Celia casually nodded her head.

“So, Lord Leo and Lady Celia really are relatives.”

“Did you figure it out?”

“Yes, because the flames used by the two of you are similar. The students with good eyesight have all figured it out to some extent.”

Chen Sia shrugged her shoulders.

“Anyway! Leo, join us for the mission practice!”

“That’s right. It’s better to do it with people from the same department, isn’t it?”

Celia’s words were echoed by Chen Sia.

“I haven’t even chosen my department yet, and besides, I’ve already decided on my mission practice.”

“Then, let’s go together. The place you’ve chosen must be high level, right?”

“Brother Leo said he’s heading out to eliminate a group of bandits.”

“Bandits? Is there a major bandit group active right now?”

“I haven’t heard of such news?”

Watching the two female students show confused reactions, Leo wore an indifferent expression.

“I’m going to eliminate a group of bandits in a rural backwater area.”

“What? Why?”

“Such a mission practice won’t help with the grades at all.”

At her words, Chelsea, with a spoon full of pudding in her mouth, said.

“I’ve told you several times, but you wouldn’t listen.”

“Leo must have his own thoughts.”

As Kal leaned on the backrest and talked, Chelsea stuck out her mouth.

“No matter what, there’s no way. With Brother Leo’s abilities, he could easily handle a better commission.”

Afterward, however many times Celia tried to persuade Leo, he wouldn’t listen.

And so, as they finished their meal and Leo left the dormitory cafeteria, there it was.

Hum-hum!

There was a commotion in front of the dormitory.

“What’s going on?”

At Kal’s question, a summoning student excitedly retorted.

“The upperclassmen from the dungeon exploration party have arrived!”

“What?”

“They’re recruiting first-year students to join them for this mission practice.”

The dungeon exploration party.

A party made up of students who achieved excellent results in their subjects.

They are officially approved by the school to tackle hero dungeon missions.

They were, literally, the best students of Lumeran.

As they approached the dormitory entrance, sure enough, people who appeared to be from the third and fourth years came into view.

The fifth-year students were retiring this year, so they weren’t involved in recruitment.

“Ah! Celia!”

Just then, someone approached Celia.

A boy with black hair and red eyes.

He was Celia’s relative and second-year Lumeran student, Barden Zerdinger.

“Nice! I’ve been waiting for you!”

“Why?”

Celia, folding her arms, asked and Barden smiled.

“What for? Of course to suggest that you join our party.”

For students, getting into an exploration party is an incredible honor.

Dungeon explorers are, literally, the best students, and joining the party means you can build friendships with them.

Therefore, everyone strives to somehow get into the exploration party.

However, exceptions exist everywhere.

Promising students.

Particularly students like Celia are ones that exploration parties scramble to recruit.

Since they naturally gain the skills to become dungeon explorers once they reach higher grades.

Thus, students with excellent grades are naturally approached for membership by the party.

“Haven’t you decided on an exploration party yet? Brother Ris’ party, Red Wing, is composed of fifth-year seniors who will disband this year, right?”

The dungeon exploration party that Ris Zerdinger belonged to, Red Wing, was an exploration party personally created by Ris.

With formidable contemporaries like Toluah and Jamua leading the charge, they’ve been active since their third year.

Many of the current third and fourth years wanted to join Red Wing but, adhering to the principle of only taking in students from the same grade, the party was set to disband this year.

“I belong to Elena Zeruon’s exploration party, Blue Moon! I swear, there’s no other exploration party in Lumeran with as much influence as Blue Moon and Red Wing.”

Looking at the confident Barden, Chelsea, standing behind, sneered.

“Yeah. That suits you, then, Celia.”

“Chelsea LeWalyn? Could you give me a spot?”

“No need. Also, who are you to just call me by my name?”

“Seriously? Don’t you know me? I’m Barden Zerdinger!”

“Why would I remember the name of someone who isn’t even from the main branch just because they’re a Zerdinger?”

“What did you say?”

Frustrated, Barden turned to Chelsea’s words.

But as Chelsea rightly said, no matter how great the Zerdingers are, Chelsea of the LeWalyn main line had no reason to remember the name of a junior branch of the Zerdinger family.

“Anyway! We’re planning to go on a hero dungeon exploration this time! It’s mission practice period, right? If you join us, it will be incredibly helpful for you? It’ll also be easy to manage your grades!”

At that statement, Celia said.

“I don’t plan to join an exploration party right now.”

“What?”

“C’mon, Leo.”

As Celia walked away, Leo followed her.

‘That guy!’

Barden glared at Leo’s retreating back.

He, being a Zerdinger as well, knew that Leo might become the heir this time.

‘Who does this guy think he is?! Without even bearing the Zerdinger name!’

Though bloodlines alone put Leo closer to the main branch, Barden could not recognize Leo.

Thus, as Leo, Celia, Chelsea, Chen Sia, and Kal walked away, explorers from various parties swarmed toward them.

Because Leo, Celia, Chelsea, and Chen Sia were first-year students who were absolutely essential recruits.

Also, students who had performed admirably in capturing the Gigantes during the Interdepartmental Competition were all being cornered by their seniors.

“Popular kids are enviable.”

Kal, a step behind everyone, muttered.

“Indeed. Young Leo is very popular.”

“Wha? Hu-hyuck!”

Turning his head at the bright voice from the side, Kal gasped in surprise.

Not only Kal but also the people around were shocked to see her.

The person there was an enormous big shot.

‘The one and only, Elena Zeruon!’

The first-years currently didn’t dare to look directly at her. She was as unreachable as the sky.

Even the other upperclassmen who came for recruitment were shocked by her presence.

Called the queen of the school, Elena was a student that even other upperclassmen rarely saw.

Elena smiled softly at Kal.

Her breath-taking looks made Kal’s face turn red involuntarily.

Realizing that Elena Zeruon was present, the Blue Moon party urgently gathered around.

However, there was no one standing by her side or speaking to her.

The recruiters who came for promotion were only affiliated with the party but didn’t directly participate in the exploration.

Thus, there was no one who could casually talk to Elena, even the official members wouldn’t.

As Elena moved, the crowd parted.

Elena walked through the parted crowd as if it were an everyday occurrence.

She stopped not too far from Leo.

“Hello, Leo.”

“Hello, Senior Elena.”

While Leo greeted her calmly despite her dazzling smile that could charm anyone, Elena greeted him with a bright smile.

Watching this interesting exchange with amusement, Elena spoke.

“I’ve decided to lead an exploration of the hero dungeon this time.”

“Yes?”

“Join our party. I’ll enroll you as an official exploration party member.”

Everyone gasped at this bold proposal.

It was astonishing that the leader of the exploration party was directly asking him to join but even more surprising since he was only a first-year.

“I will make you the best, Mr. Leo Flove.”

Elena extended her hand with a confident smile, looking both beautiful and strong, wielding considerable power.

Who in this world would refuse such an offer…

“I don’t want to.”

‘What did he say just now?’

‘Declined?’

Every single person present failed to comprehend Leo’s words instantly.

Even Elena furrowed her exquisite eyebrows.

“Why?”

“I’ve already said it before, but I’m expensive.”