Chapter 230

230

“That’s troublesome.”

As always, Chloe, with a magic book tucked under her arm, scratched her cheek.

“Suddenly, we’ve been tasked with something too big.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

In the empty dormitory lounge, Leo clicked his tongue.

Leo and Chloe had arrived early at the dormitory where they would be staying.

The dormitory building had only the basic furniture; nothing else.

‘Should we decorate it according to our tastes from now on?’

“Chloe, what kind of students would you like to receive?”

Dormitory admissions are handled by the dormitory presidents.

They would have to live together in the dorm for the next year.

Furthermore, it was said that the competition would also be between dormitories.

No matter how you looked at it, it was bound to affect “grades.”

“Hmm,” Chloe tilted her head slightly and glanced around before speaking.

“To be honest, I want to create a dormitory centered around students from the Department of Magic.”

Chloe was one of the top students in the Department of Magic.

She was proficient in magic theory and was also among the first to adopt the latest magic techniques and theories.

Whereas Leo, Abad, and Chelsea were practical wizards, Chloe belonged to the scholarly faction.

She was, in essence, the rightful heir of a wizard.

‘Luna would’ve appreciated her.’

“Leo, what do you think?”

“Your idea to select dormitory members centered on students from the Department of Magic makes sense.”

It wasn’t simply because she was a wizard.

Chloe had a good reputation within the Department of Magic.

Whenever a peer would ask her about something they didn’t know, she would always kindly teach them.

Thus, consciously or not, many students looked up to her.

Given her good standing among peers, she also had a strong grasp on the tendencies of most students within the department of magic.

As someone who had to lead the dormitory towards harmony, it was essential to exclude students who might cause trouble.

“Leo, how about you?”

“It doesn’t matter much to me which department is the focus.”

“Of course, you’re an all-class student.”

Leo attended all departmental classes.

“However, it’s hard to decide right now since Chen Sia isn’t here.”

“Speaking of which, why isn’t Sia here?”

“Probably for family reasons. Anyway, it’s probably best to balance the departments when selecting dormitory members.”

Leo’s words were met with a nod from Chloe.

If they were to operate the dormitory based solely on one department, it would have been easier to gather presidents based on departmental preferences.

While some students didn’t align strictly with their departments, most recognized the top students within each department as their natural leaders.

The school had mixed top students from various departments into each dormitory.

‘Even though there are no summoners in our dormitory… but since Leo is the Contractor of the Phoenix.’

He, in a way, could represent the Department of Summoning.

What this meant was simple:

It would be advantageous to combine forces between departments to benefit from their coexistence.

After all, the crux of the academic year at Lumeran revolved around inter-student competition.

Students who couldn’t keep up would have to leave the school.

“We only have a week. Let’s try to narrow down the list of candidates. Even though we can’t consult Sia’s opinions, that’s something we can’t help.”

“Yeah.”

Chloe nodded at Leo’s words.

As she fished out paper and pen from space, Chloe suddenly paused.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s just the two of us right now.’

The expansive dormitory currently held only Leo and Chloe.

All the other students were waiting in the existing dormitory buildings.

Feeling her heart race slightly, Chloe cleared her throat.

“At least we’re lucky, Leo. Don’t you know something about the disposition of the students from the Department of Knights?”

“Yes.”

“Still, I want to prioritize the selection of students from the Department of Magic.”

“That seems reasonable. Who do you think would be the best?”

“Um, to start with, I think Kal would be great.”

“Kal? I thought the same, but it’s surprising to see you pick him first.”

Among the students of the Department of Magic and across all departments, Kal ranked low in both academics and combat skills.

Despite this, Chloe picked him first.

“We will desperately need Kal’s information-gathering abilities in our academic life ahead.”

In any test or departmental issues, Kal was always the first to have the details.

Kal maintained a good relationship with the entire faculty, and also shared camaraderie with seniors irrespective of departments or academic years.

“Indeed, Kal’s skills in that area are remarkable.”

Though Leo was the Student Council President, most of the practical work had been delegated to his seniors.

Even utilizing the Student Council’s influence, it wasn’t easy to ascertain departmental schedules.

Therefore, Kal’s ability to gather information was bound to be a critical asset in their second-year academic life.

“Additionally, his alchemy skills are top-notch.”

Though buried under the focus on combat-related subjects at Lumeran, Kal’s alchemy skills were undoubtedly elite.

“Being a support-oriented wizard, he can work well with anyone. I think he is essential for forming a strong organizational structure.”

‘She’s grown.’

Leo smiled faintly.

Until the first year, Chloe had somewhat rigid tendencies, but during the past year, her thinking had become much more flexible.

Afterward, Leo and Chloe continued discussing about the composition of their academic team.

They conversed until late into the night.

“Uh…!”

Chloe stretched.

“Is this enough to define the general character of our dormitory?”

Through their collaboration, Leo and Chloe managed to create a dormitory membership list that could optimize synergy.

“Did I end up giving too much of my opinion?”

To Chloe’s question, Leo smiled faintly.

“I think the lineup is good too.”

“… Are you just trying to pass on the dorm president duties to me because you’re lazy?”

“Yeah, sort of.”

Leo’s words made Chloe throw a sofa cushion at him.

With a cushion to his face, Leo got up from his seat.

“It’s late. Let’s go.”

As Leo and Chloe left the dormitory and headed towards the old second-year dormitory building, they split ways due to the separate accommodations for male and female students.

– Again, you’re offloading school work onto others like you do with the student council duties?

– Yep! Your ulterior motives are clear as day.

– Piyak!

Led by Elsi, Kiran and Fiora also appeared.

– Master is a Great Hero! You have many things to handle besides department activities!

Dressed as a small girl, Arti threw herself onto the ground in front of Leo.

“…Why are you blocking my way?”

– Please stomp on me as you go!

“You’re becoming more and more extreme in your requests.”

As Leo coldly spoke and swept past, Arti dramatically clutched her chest on the ground.

– Ahh! That gaze! And that cold attitude, leaving without mercy! It’s magnificent…!

– Are you really a Pegasus?

– Of course!

Responding to Kiran’s question, Arti got up with a grin and followed Leo.

After the Ruse Tournament incident, Leo’s summons had discovered that he was the Great Hero Kyle.

‘While I’m a little worried about what Fiora and Kiran might say if they gossip somewhere… Arti is doing a good job keeping them in check for now.’

Despite her questionable behavior, Arti, being an experienced familiar, was effectively managing the younger Fiora and Kiran.

As they returned to the dormitory late at night, the male students waiting in the first-floor foyer spoke up.

“You’re the last to arrive.”

“Haha. Well, I guess your dormitory group might have the best compatibility.”

Gyuredden, who ranked third in the Department of Summoning, grinned wryly as Leo asked,

“What about the others?”

“Wardan returned thirty minutes after the meeting began. Then Duran arrived. Abad came back a bit later. Seems like everyone but you struggled with the discussions.”

Gyuredden shrugged casually.

After heading to the temporary room, Leo laid in bed, lost in thought.

‘This school is busier than ever now that I’m back.’

Leo stared at the ceiling, lost in reminiscences.

‘During the entrance exam… that was definitely Erebus.’

Recalling Erebus’ eyes he had met during the last moment of the Hero’s World exam.

‘However, the fragment of Erebus that was sealed in the Hero Record wasn’t there.’

Leo narrowed his eyes.

‘It was probably the residual thoughts floating around that place.’

The entrance exam location was, coincidentally, the site of Kyle and Erebus’ final battle.

Considering this, it wasn’t surprising that a strong residual presence remained there.

It was also a place that had become a land of monsters due to Erebus’ influence.

‘If I get the chance, I should visit that place again. And…’

Leo looked at his right wrist.

There lay the staff, Pollium, a symbol of Luna’s presence—now just a fake relic.

‘Pibua’s granted power has been exhausted.’

Leo sighed deeply.

The Hero Record was created by the gods.

It was uncertain whether using divine power could once again create miracles like the Ruse Tournament.

‘Besides, Zerdiaq’s crossing mirrors the same concept.’

In Zerdiaq’s case, he crossed over into the current world due to Erebus.

But right now, the gods have disappeared from Earth.

‘Perhaps increasing one’s strength by tackling the past heroes could be a way…’

But to approach the worlds connected to the gods, there is no other way but through the realms of the Great Heroes.

‘Moreover, the world of Luna where Pibua was met has already been badly damaged.’

Even if the Hero’s World manifests again, whether it will resemble the past and if Pibua will be there remains uncertain.

‘First, I should revisit Seirun to confirm.’

With future plans on his mind, Leo glanced out of the window.

‘First things first, the selection of dormitory members has the priority right now.’

Tartarus is currently quiet.

‘Let me get some sleep now.’

Closing his eyes, Leo fell into a deep sleep.

*

The next morning,

Leo and Chloe headed to the cafeteria together.

Soon as they arrived, second-year students swarmed around Leo and Chloe.

“Leo, Chloe! Please choose me!”

“I’m better than him!”

“No, me! Me!”

Chloe tried to calm down her batchmates, looking flustered.

“Um, calm down first. We’ve roughly sorted out the members. You can’t just expect to get picked by making a fuss.”

“Am I included?”

“Can you announce it now?”

Ignoring the chaos around her, Chloe took a small sigh.

Then she spoke.

“Everybody, quiet down.”

Ssh-

Faced with Chloe’s icy-cold voice, everyone froze.

“We’ll talk about dormitory issues after breakfast.”

“Y-Yeah!”

“Alright.”

The students dispersed cautiously, watching each other.

Seeing this, Chloe relaxed her eyes as she noticed Leo observing her and blushed.

“What? What’s that look for?”

“Just curious. They call you Princess of Ice, and now I see why.”

“Stop teasing me with a nickname they made up.”

“I’ll follow your orders, Princess Ice,” Leo teased with a smirk.

“Leo!”

Chloe swung her magic book at him in retaliation.

“Good morning! Seeing the two of you already this morning is pleasing! Heard you came back late last night? Hah~ enjoying the night privately with just the two of you…”

As he watched, Kal greeted cheerfully with a mischievous tone.

Chloe instantly redirected her magic book to smack Kal’s temple.

Blushing and huffing, Chloe watched as Kal flailed on the ground while Leo shook his head and sighed before speaking.

“Kal, have you decided which dorm you’ll join?”

“Hoh! It doesn’t matter where I go!”

Kal sprang up and strutted confidently.

“You have bl**d on your head.”

“Eh?!”

Kal panicked, extracting a potion from his pocket and applied it, barely stopping the bleeding.

“Wherever it goes, any dorm would be okay, but I’d prefer staying with you, Leo.”

Kal then pointed towards a group of students.

There, Celia and Chelsea were exchanging heated words while Wardan was eating his breakfast, showing absolutely no interest.

“Over there is too dangerous.”

Then, pointing the other way,

“There, Duran and Eliza are glaring at each other. It’s too cold over there.”

Kal expressed opinions not much different from other students.

“Sounds good, then. Join our dorm,” Chloe said, smiling.

“Really? Great!”

Just as Kal cheered,

“Sorry.”

Someone interjected their conversation.

Abad, with a gentle smile, extended his hand and touched Kal’s shoulder.

“Kal, you’re in my dorm.”

“Huh?”

Kal looked shocked.

Chloe too, raised an eyebrow.

“Yesterday evening, I visited Professor Sedgen and registered you for my dorm.”

“Without my consent?”

Kal looked confused as Abad nodded.

“Professor Sedgen said designated students don’t have the right to object,” Abad explained.

Chloe widened her eyes, and Leo narrowed his.

‘Indeed, the dorm presidents are ready to snatch members.’

Of course, just because you could, adding members without their opinion isn’t unrestricted.

Forcing a student into a dorm without their consent could disrupt dorm harmony and team dynamics.

As they would be living together for an entire year, even if they had the authority, they shouldn’t ab*se it carelessly.

But in Kal’s case, this didn’t apply.

Being flexible and having a good relationship with everyone, he fit into any dorm.

Hence, without hesitation, Abad had included Kal in his dorm list.

‘I was a step too slow.’

Just as Leo mentally clicked his tongue,

“Hold on! Hold on! Thank you for seeing me in high regard, but can you just decide without my consent? I don’t want to upset those two,” Kal almost screamed.

Being well-aware of the fact that Duran and Eliza, who had the strongest elitist tendencies among the first years, definitely wouldn’t like someone as mediocre as Kal in their group.

Kal’s protest made Abad smile.

“Don’t worry about that. Both of them have agreed to accept you.”

“What?”

“Our dorm may not align harmoniously at first, but our goal is the same.”

“What goal?”

Kal questioned, to which Abad grinned as he glanced at Leo.

“To defeat Leo Flove.”