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“There’s one thing I’m sure of.”
Kal said with a meaningful smile.
“What’s that?”
When Chelsea looked at Kal with a puzzled expression, Kal raised his thumb.
“The desserts sold in Seirun aren’t as tasty as those from Lumeran.”
At this, the students of Class 5 nodded in agreement.
“That’s true.”
“They’re not bad, but compared to our school, they’re not as good.”
Nods followed.
Ilana nodded and Nella wore her characteristic lazy smile.
It had been a week since the start of the Ruse Tournament.
The students of Lumeran had become somewhat accustomed to the harsh cold of Seirun.
But one thing they hadn’t gotten used to was the desserts served at Seirun.
And desserts were a major concern, especially for the female students.
“What could be the reason for such a noticeable quality difference?”
Kal said as Chelsea nibbled on a cookie with a tilted head.
“Don’t the cafes and patisseries in Lumeran start competing from the day they open?”
“That’s right.”
“And even after opening, they have to keep competing, naturally focusing more on new menu items and taste. Seirun may have top chefs too, but since they don’t need to compete, the difference is inevitable.”
When Kal explained this market logic, the female students said in amazement, “Hoooh!” and nodded.
“Thanks to this, the desserts we’ve prepared sell a lot, not just to Seirun students but also to the Elf audience.”
Kal jingled his money pouch happily.
“The students of Lumeran must envy you for getting to eat such delicious treats every day.”
Ailan, who had come to meet Leo, ate the cookie happily, her ears wiggling like wings.
“I’ve thought so before, but I have to admit it.”
Lunia covered her cheek and nodded.
“So, what brings you here?”
When Chelsea asked with a curious face, Lunia responded:
“Isn’t the Chess Master representing Lumeran this time a first-year?”
This time’s event was Battle Chess.
As all spectators looked on:
Clang-clang-clang!
A small tower started to rise above the stadium.
On the top of the tower were a desk, chairs, and a chessboard.
The Ruse Tournament was a place to measure both the strength and wisdom of the two schools.
Chess could be said to be a game that determines the best in cerebral sports.
With a first-year participating, Lunia couldn’t help but be curious.
“Is her name Chloe Mueller?”
Kal nodded when Lunia asked.
“Right.”
“How well does she play to have beaten Toluah Yan, who’s in the fifth year? Chess has been an evenly contested field, but for a first-year to appear is surprising. Or is it a strategic generational change for the future?”
Lunia displayed her curiosity, and Kal responded,
“Leo supposedly says that she plays really well.”
“Leo? Does Leo play chess well?”
“During the representative selection for chess, Leo beat Seirun’s senior Toluah.”
Lunia’s eyes widened.
“And Chloe beat that Leo.”
“Wow.”
Lunia was speechless.
“Just how well does she play?”
“Leo says she plays as well as someone he personally knows.”
“Who?”
“Didn’t say.”
Kal shook his head.
“By the way, where’s Leo?”
When Lunia asked this in confusion, Kal shook his head.
“Don’t know. He said he’d be watching from the very last seat in the spectator area?”
“Why would he go there when there are better spots?”
Lunia showed an expression of not understanding.
“Please take care.”
“A first-year? I was looking forward to Toluah Yan, so this will be boring.”
At the bowed Chloe, Markia, the fifth-year representative of Seirun, sighed and sat down.
Chloe sat opposite her.
Soon, with a bright light, the chess pieces emerged from the chessboard.
Woooh-!
At the same moment, the stadium below the tower began to shine.
A large square appeared, and a checkered chessboard began to form.
“Ooooh.”
“Finally, it’s starting.”
The battlefield was twice as big as a regular chessboard and had various kinds of pieces.
Chloe began to layout the white pieces familiarly.
“You seem to be familiar with the Elven chess style.”
“I’m from the North.”
“Hoo?”
Chess rules differ slightly by race.
Elven chess is famously the most complex among them.
But, coming from the North, considered the domain of Elves, Chloe was bound to be familiar with Elven chess as well.
“Then you might be more interesting than expected.”
As Marquise smiled contentedly, there was the sound of footsteps.
The students of Rumeran and Seirun walked onto the center of the stadium.
These were the representatives wearing helmets and weapons symbolizing the chess pieces, heading to their respective positions.
This was Seirun’s Battle Chess.
Besides, a unique feature of Elven chess was that it had various terrains.
The dynamics between the pieces changed depending on the terrain.
Additionally, some pieces didn’t d*e from a single attack.
It was literally a game filled with various strategic elements that couldn’t compare to ordinary chess.
The students from both schools, assigned to the chess pieces, took their positions.
After exchanging greetings, they moved to their respective positions on the vast chessboard, commencing the match.
Tuck – Taok!-
Chloe, holding the black pieces, made the first move.
Following this, the Lumeran student began to move in the giant chessboard.
“It seems interesting just watching them clash and fight.”
Leo, sitting at the highest point of the audience area, chuckled while watching the giant chessboard.
Undoubtedly, this kind of chess match would be a thrilling spectacle.
However, Leo wasn’t focused on the chess game.
” Why hasn’t Luna’s world reacted to me?”
This was because the event from a few days ago continued to linger in his mind.
Even though the back row was quiet with the audience gathered for the Ruse Tournament, Leo could immerse himself in quiet thoughts alone.
Leo glanced sideways at the bracelet on his arm.
“Could that page of Luna’s also be broken? But according to Seirun’s principal, it was definitely a hero’s realm that was conquered recently, wasn’t it?”
“Are you not watching the game, Leo Flove?”
Someone addressed him.
Turning his head, Leo saw Riven sitting next to him with a surprised expression.
“Why are you not in the VIP seat?”
“I want to talk with you.”
Looking at Lumeran’s students differently from Leo, Riven continued.
“Nerzia called for you, I heard.”
“Yes, she asked me to transfer to Seirun.”
“Of course.”
Riven chuckled.
“So? What was your answer?”
“I said no.”
“Why? Nerzia is a greedy person. She would’ve promised you the best support?”
“There was no need to go.”
“Hmm, you remain the peculiar one.”
Riven shook his head with soft laughter.
“As Nerzia said, the last few years have seen Lumeren lagging behind Seirun because of my negligence.”
Riven exhaled deeply.
“I told you before, didn’t I? That I was disappointed in the students.”
Riven was disheartened by students who didn’t dream of anything beyond being heroes.
“And through meeting you, I realized something. My disappointment was unwarranted.”
Unlike before, Riven now looked at Lumeran students with a warm gaze.
Seeing this, Leo grinned.
“You look quite different today.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Just now, you resembled the King of Wisdom.”
Lishinas used to look at children the same way Riven did.
“Before asking, Leo Flove.”
“Yes.”
“Are you truly an ordinary boy?”
At Riven’s question, Leo was about to smile when…
Pajjjic!
Suddenly, a gray spark leapt from Leo’s body.
“……!”
“……?”
Both Leo and Riven looked startled.
[Hero Record Open.]
A familiar message floated above Leo’s eyes.
“What?”
Leo’s face showed shock as he saw it.
[The World of Luna. Chapter: Mid-Match – The Zeqdial Battle.]
Whoosh-!
“……!”
Leo’s figure disappeared instantly, making Riven’s eyes widen.
“What…!?”
The crowd’s roar drowned Riven’s exclamation.
Standing up, Riven looked around frantically.
‘Teleportation? No, there was no magic fluctuation. That light… It was similar to the light when one enters a hero’s world!’
Confusion filled Riven’s face.
‘But the Hero Record shouldn’t exist here…’
Clang-clang-clang!
The dragon’s sensitive perception felt the ground shake.
Riven’s expression tensed.
‘What is it?’
The audience hadn’t noticed yet.
But heroes and professors assigned to guard the Ruse Tournament around the stadium, and some students, realized something was amiss.
Tap- tututut!
At that moment, a stream of water fell from the sky.
Tudutuduk-! Shiiiiiiing-!
The sudden downpour made everyone hesitate.
Riven’s shocked expression turned into disbelief.
“Rain…?”
This was the northern tip of the continent—a place where rain never fell.
Yet, it was pouring heavily.
As everyone was surprised,
Kwaaang!
Lightning struck above.
And black clouds began to gather.
Ooooh!
The faces of those who saw the enormous, crimson-red patterns forming in the sky went pale.
Every hero candidate knew what these symbols represented.
Demon Queen Silatuna.
The terrifying beast was about to appear right here.
*
“The Hell Kaiser is a sight to behold.”
Silatuna, appearing amidst the black clouds, brushed her hair back.
“Making a big fuss as if he were going himself.”
Though her appearance was beautiful, her nature was cruel and terrifying—leader of Tartarus’s legions and one of the fearsome Great Demons since the Era of Catastrophes.
“When the plans are messed up, don’t blame me!”
Annoyed, Silatuna spoke, and the man beside her replied,
“Your majesty, why not ignore the impolite words of the Demon King?”
“That would be reasonable, but…”
Silatuna glanced down at Seirun while licking her lips,
“I feel a stronger urge to crush these insignificant bugs.”
The aggressive Silatuna had long desired to attack the Hero Academy but had refrained due to the Demon King and the Giant King’s restraints.
However, this time the Demon King did nothing to stop her.
With no reason left to hold back,
“To my legions, it’s time to show these arrogant bugs what real despair looks like.”
Silatuna grinned cruelly.
“What genuine despair truly is.”
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
