Chapter 233

Lumeran Dock.

There, Leo was waiting for the freshmen.

Last year, when Leo enrolled, Professor Artian had been in charge of welcoming the new students.

However, it was originally the Student Council President’s duty to greet the newcomers at Lumeran.

If the Student Council President was unavailable, the Vice President would take on this task.

“Due to the frequent external assignments of both the Student Council President and Vice President, professors often take on this responsibility.”

In last year’s case, it was Ris and Toluah.

Both had been on a mission to explore the Hero Dungeon, which was why Artian had come instead.

Swoosh—!

On the other side of the lake, the sight of a passenger ship appeared.

“What’s going on? It’s too quiet.”

Last year’s freshmen had cheered with joy as soon as they saw Lumeran.

That was understandable, as they had been tormented by aquatic monsters right from their first day of school.

It was a tradition at Lumeran for freshmen to undergo a kind of initiation before attending the entrance ceremony.

However, this time, there was no such sign, only silence.

Soon, the ship arrived at the dock.

But unlike the noisy scenes of last year, the ship showed no signs of life.

Leo jumped up onto the deck of the ship.

And upon seeing the scene before him, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

The deck was a mess.

It was evident that the freshmen had fought amongst themselves.

Swoosh—!

At that moment, a sharp sword strike was swung towards Leo.

Ching—!

“……!”

Leo blocked the sword with his finger.

It was a sharp force, but there wasn’t much strength behind the sword.

Aina, who looked exhausted, gazed at Leo’s face and widened her eyes slightly.

Then she sheathed her sword.

“Ugh….”

“P-please help me….”

Sounds of groaning came from all around.

Among them, the more capable students were kneeling, barely managing to stay upright.

But Aina was the only one standing.

“Did they fight each other?”

“What happened?”

Just as Leo asked, Aina was about to speak.

“I will explain.”

Thud—thud—

A beautiful woman with silver hair, dressed in a neat suit, appeared with a smile among the fallen students.

“We were determining the hierarchy of skill to elect a Freshman Representative. And the one who has claimed the position of Freshman Representative is none other than Aina Veidna, who is standing here now.”

Upon seeing the revealed Lumeran professor, Leo’s eyes widened.

“Hello, I’m Mel, and I’ve been assigned to teach the first-year class in the Department of Magic at Lumeran.”

With a bright smile, Mel snapped her fingers.

Swoosh—!

A bright light spread across the entire deck.

The freshmen, who had been lying on the ground moaning in pain, suddenly opened their eyes wide in shock as the pain vanished in an instant.

Many of the freshmen had sustained significant injuries.

Yet Mel had easily healed hundreds of wounds in mere moments.

That was no easy feat, even for a wizard specialized in healing magic.

“Indeed, a Lumeran professor…!”

“Amazing!”

“To think I can learn magic from someone like her…!”

Students from the Department of Magic, who understood just how incredible magic was, gazed at Mel with admiration.

“Everyone, line up.”

At Leo’s command, the students flinched and hurriedly began to line up.

There was no student here who didn’t know about Leo.

The unprecedented all-class student council president in Lumeran’s history.

Leo Flove!

Last year’s actions of Leo had already become famous worldwide.

“I couldn’t see him in person during the entrance exam…!”

“Wow! He’s handsome!”

“Ah… I wonder if I can receive guidance from Senior Leo?”

The female students gushed and whispered among themselves.

“What can I say, even though the age difference isn’t much, he’s impressively charismatic.”

“Is this the greatest genius in Lumeran’s history….”

“Indeed, he’s the second all-class after the Hero of Beginning….”

The male students gazed at Leo’s back with eyes full of tension.

Amidst the lining up of students.

A boy with silver hair and silver eyes showed a surprised expression.

“The Hero of Beginning really exists? I thought Kyle was a fictional hero?”

The boy, Luke’s question, was met with scoffs from his surrounding classmates.

“Wow, how did someone like him get into Lumeran?”

“How insensible can a Hero Candidate be to not know the latest in Hero studies?”

As his classmates laughed at him, Luke shrank back.

“Hmph. It’s not like you’re in a position to mock others.”

“What did you say?”

The students who had mocked Luke turned around angrily.

And upon discovering Juen standing there, they flinched.

“You’re the ones who entered through the additional exam, right? Unlike you guys, she passed the main exam right away. And she even fought with that student council president directly. Right?”

With a bright smile, Juen put her arm around Luke’s shoulder.

As one of the top freshmen defended Luke, those who had mocked him grimaced and walked away.

“Hmph. Pathetic.”

“Thank you for helping me.”

“It’s fine~ What’s wrong with being a little insensitive to hero studies? You’ll learn everything in school anyway.”

“By the way, it’s truly surprising that Kyle isn’t a character from a fairy tale.”

“Yeah. Last year, he even did a joint presentation with Lumeran and Seirun… During the Ruse Tournament incident, the ancestors of Star Cloud and the Hero of Beginning revealed themselves in the present, and it was completely revealed that they defeated the Demon Queen.”

“Are you saying the Great Hero appeared in the present? And the Demon Queen was defeated?!”

Seeing Luke look astonished, Juen expressed incredulity.

“Did you really live in a place where newspapers couldn’t deliver?”

“Yes. Our village only receives old newspapers every few months.”

“Wow, sounds like an absolute backwater.”

Luke scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.

Moreover, after the entrance exam ended, he returned straight to his hometown, so he had no chance to hear the rumors about the Ruse Tournament.

As Juen shook her head in disbelief, she smiled.

“Anyway, let me officially introduce myself. My name is Juen Torvina. I’m 15 years old and from the Southern Magic Tower!”

“I’m Luke Eldar. I’m 14 years old and from East Sirne Village.”

“Okay, Luke. Nice to meet you. Hehe— You were persistent during the entrance exam, right? I’m a wizard, so I need someone to take care of the front lines… I mean, a companion is necessary.”

Upon hearing that, Luke smiled brightly.

“I’m lacking quite a bit. There are plenty of other outstanding people who will be your companion, Miss Juen.”

“Why are you refusing? Having me, a promising candidate from the Southern Magic Tower, as your companion will be a huge benefit to you!”

“But you just called me a meat shield!”

As Luke turned pale, trying to escape from Juen.

However, Juen caught him and smiled wickedly.

“Ehehehe, not going anywhere.”

“P-please save me!”

“Shut up and line up.”

At that moment, a calm voice was heard.

Juen chuckled.

“Aina Veidna.”

Juen licked her lips.

“Though you were stripped of the class representative position this time, you know you had advantages due to being a wizard and knight, right? Next time, I’ll take that position away from you.”

“……Do as you wish.”

Aina stood at the forefront, showing disinterest.

Before moving to the front, she locked eyes with Luke.

Luke smiled awkwardly, but Aina proceeded without a second glance.

“What! Am I not even worth considering? Acting all proud as if you’re a scion of a sword master! Hmph! I’ll show you!”

While Juen’s competitive spirit flared up, the freshmen disembarked from the ship.

And they headed toward the Erek Training Ground, led by Leo.

Walking through the school, they expressed constant admiration.

“Oh my, how fresh! The kids are all so passionate and energetic. Hehe. I already feel the youthfulness.”

Seeing that, Mel chuckled.

“I’m only a year or two older than them, though?”

When Leo spoke nonchalantly, Mel laughed.

“Even if you look like a boy on the outside, you’re an old man on the inside.”

They spoke in a low voice, ensuring the freshmen couldn’t eavesdrop.

“By the way, how do you feel? Everyone in the world now believes in Kyle’s existence, right?”

“Feelings? It was always something obvious.”

Responding indifferently, Leo looked at Mel.

“By the way, what’s with the sudden appearance of a professor?”

“……Times have changed. I felt that a lot of new heroes are needed.”

“Do the other dragons know?”

“No. My real body is still in Dragonia. This is an avatar I created.”

Mel’s true identity was none other than the Dragon Lord Melina.

Seeing her smiling, Leo said.

“It’s quite the coincidence.”

“Do you have any instructions for me?”

Hearing Leo, Mel politely inquired.

It would have seemed strange to others, but the freshmen couldn’t hear their conversation.

“Could you learn a bit about Chen Sia?”

“Understood.”

She didn’t ask for a reason.

The boy before her was the Great Hero.

Everyone in this world had been saved by him.

Only she knew this fact.

To repay the achievements of the Great Hero, Mel thought that she must follow any order.

*

Following Leo, the freshmen arrived at Erek.

The newcomers lined up with tense expressions.

Leo went to sit at the second-year position.

“Now, I will begin the entrance ceremony. First, we will have a few words from the Principal.”

At those words, the current students began to murmur.

The principal, who had not made an appearance during the opening ceremony, was finally going to show themselves.

The long-rumored appearance of the principal attracted not only the interest of the newcomers but also the existing students.

Thud—thud—

Amidst this, a woman appeared on the podium.

All students looked surprised at the unexpectedly young principal.

Rina opened her mouth.

“Nice to meet you, Lumeran students. My name is Rina Flix. I’m the one taking on the role of the principal of Lumeran this time.”

“Rina?”

“Have you heard of her?”

“No.”

Every student wore a shocked expression.

“It’s typical for a famous hero to take on the Lumeran principal role… Who on earth is she?”

Chloe made a puzzled face.

Throughout history, all Lumeran principals had been the greatest heroes of their time.

Yet no one here knew anything about Rina.

“It’s not strange that you don’t know me.”

Rina’s golden eyes glinted.

“I have lived my entire life in the shadows. It’s no wonder you don’t know.”

The students’ expressions changed drastically.

The Shadow.

Those who track down and expose the traitors who betrayed their kind and joined the forces of Tartarus.

They were also part of the foundation to maintain world peace.

But they had to live entirely in the shadows.

A hero is not merely a guardian of the times.

It signifies a person who leads and transforms the world.

However, they are not shadows.

Their mission was to track down and eradicate traitors and those associated with them.

The problem was that their means often veered too far.

“The shadows have accidentally killed heroes several times in the past, right?”

“There are many kingdoms that perished in history.”

“Are the shadows really the principal?”

Students showed confused reactions.

Seeing the students like that, Rina curled her lips into a smile.

“I look forward to working with you all. Hero Candidates.”

After scanning the freshmen and existing students, Rina returned to her seat.

In the midst of such confusion,

“We will now have a speech from the Freshman Representative. Freshman Representative, Aina Veidna.”

At the announcer’s words, the students fell silent.

And they focused on Aina, who was stepping onto the podium.

Merely a year ago, she had been the one comforting students from that very spot as the heir of the Swordmaster.

“Esteemed professors and seniors. Thank you for welcoming us freshmen like this. From now on, we freshmen will… as proud citizens of Lumeran.”

Standing on the podium, Aina began to read the speech.

“Freshman Representative, Aina Veidna.”

Clap clap clap clap—

Applause erupted.

“Welcome! Aina Veidna!”

“You’ll surely become an excellent Hero Candidate!”

Unusually, cheers and encouragement erupted among the older students.

If it weren’t for Kalyan last year, many of those present would have perished.

Moreover, having served as principal for decades, the upperclassmen had seen Kalyan over the years.

The presence of the Swordmaster’s heir was undoubtedly special to the students of Lumeran.

Receiving such enthusiastic applause, the presiding professor spoke.

“Aina, would you like to say a final word as the Freshman Representative?”

At those words, Aina hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Senior Leo.”

In an instant, everyone’s gaze fixated on Leo.

“I will definitely gain your acknowledgment.”

At that declaration, gasps of amazement filled the room.

“What the! Leo! What’s your relationship with her?”

“Did you meet separately after the entrance exam?”

“What kind of relationship allows her to mention you in such a public setting?”

The surrounding classmates displayed excited reactions.

If last year’s introduction by Leo as the Freshman Representative was excessively unexpected, this year’s introduction by the representative bore a surprising meaning.

“What happened between you two?”

Claudia asked with a puzzled face, and Leo responded nonchalantly.

“Well, during the entrance ceremony, she kept fixating on me.”

Leo mumbled as he gazed at Aina.

“I guess I’ll have to talk to her soon.”