Chapter 264

264

“I heard there was some commotion with students from Azonia.”

That evening.

Before heading to Demian, Ain called Celia, Chen Sia, and Duran to have a conversation.

“Of course, the students from Azonia did take Chloe Mueller first. But couldn’t you have handled it more wisely? If you had gone to the professors, the situation could have been resolved without major friction.”

In response to Ain’s words, Celia said:

“I believe that if we had informed the professors, the matter could have been resolved without any significant conflict.”

“Even knowing this, did you fight against Azonia anyway? Don’t you think it was hasty judgment? Even though they provided a reason, if things had escalated, it might have led to a school-wide feud.”

The beginnings of the four Hero Academies are the same.

They were founded by the Heroes of the Cataclysm to train the next generation of heroes.

Though the founders’ characteristics, traits, and races led to different directions, the ultimate goal was still one: the complete extermination of Tartarus.

Thus, all Hero Academies were bound in a cooperative relationship.

Still, as time passed, friction between them was inevitable, for even with the shared goal, their methods differed.

There were even times when large-scale wars broke out not just between the Hero Academies but also between the races themselves.

The most recent was the war between humans and elves.

The Ruse Tournament, which started as a friendly competition between Lumern and Seirun, was originally meant to promote unity between the races before it became a matter of pride between both schools.

As a result of that war, human and other races now find it difficult to casually enter elven territories.

The conflict between humans and elves began with a feud between students from Lumern and Seirun.

In response to Ain, Duran spoke up:

“We went to rescue Chloe Mueller directly without involving the professors because we believe student problems should be solved by the students themselves.”

“Besides, the Azonia students were targeting Lord Leo. Given the aggressive approach they used, we felt it necessary to warn them that we won’t sit idly by if they mess with our school’s students.”

“I believe that if we had gone through the professors, we would have been seen as weak, and they might have gone even further with their actions.”

Although Ain had emitted a chilly aura, his lips curled into a satisfied smile seeing the confidence in his students’ attitudes even under his questioning.

Clap, clap, clap—

“Elegance! Elegance!”

Suddenly, Professor Sedgen burst in, clapping with a look of amazement on his face.

“For a comrade! For a friend! They don’t tolerate injustice! That’s the chivalry of Lumern! Excellent! Students Celia, Chen Sia, Duran!”

“Professor Ain, I think these students deserve not punishment but awards! Perhaps 50 points each for their attitude…!”

“Professor Sedgen. It’s inappropriate to just hand out points to your former first-year students.”

“Ain, do you think so little of me to believe I’d give points for trivial reasons like that?”

Though Sedgen was angry, it was well known that he cared deeply for the students he used to manage.

“Awarding 50 points may be excessive, but your actions deserve recognition. I’ll give each of you an additional 10 points.”

“Ain, ever since you’ve been doing Halind’s dirty work, you’ve been becoming as rigid as him.”

At Sedgen’s taunt, Ain sighed lightly.

“Go get ready to head to Demian.”

“Yes.”

The three answered in unison and departed.

After the students left, Ain inquired:

“How is Azonia responding?”

“They officially apologized and promised that such an incident won’t happen again.”

“It’s quite tumultuous from the start.”

“Well, it couldn’t be any other way. This is different from the Ruse Tournament.”

The Ruse Tournament is an annual event between Lumern and Seirun.

Since everyone gets prepared each year, the students of both schools are familiar with each other.

This time, however, it was different.

The four Hero Academies were gathered in Demian.

With different races and values represented, pride among the candidates representing their respective races is also high.

Thus, this sudden gathering has brought them all in one place.

Even though the four Hero Academies are supposed to be in cooperative relationships, it’s rare for their academic schedules to overlap.

Furthermore, it’s even rarer for an entire year to spend two weeks living together in one place.

This particular second-year class, regardless of which school you consider, is extraordinary.

“We might be witnessing the gathering of heroes who will one day lead the world.”

At Sedgen’s words, Ain burst out laughing.

“If it really turns out that way, as a Lumern professor, I can’t imagine anything more glorious.”

*

As the sun set, the second-year students of Lumern headed to Demian.

The massive mine attached to Dweronia was the entrance to Demian.

As the expansive and lengthy mine tunnels unfolded, complaints rose from the female students.

“Aaaah! I wore my excursion uniform, and it’ll all be ruined~”

“Why are the roads leading into Demian like this?”

To these complaints, Kal, leaning his interlaced hands behind his head, muttered,

“Chaos already. Gosh, I’m worried.”

“About what?”

Kal’s muttering caught Chelsea’s attention, and her head tilted.

“An event happened between us and Azonia within an hour of arriving at Dweronia.”

Kal clicked his tongue.

“You realize that all four Hero Academies are here, right? Imagine how many incidents we’ll deal with.”

“Hmm?”

At Chelsea’s indifferent reaction, Kal shrugged.

“Yeah. Besides, it’s not an invitation but more like a summon by Demian to evaluate other Hero Academy students.”

“That sounds annoying.”

“Well, we and Azonia might feel slightly annoyed, but Seirun’s students are likely to go ballistic.”

Kal shook his head.

“Seirun students think they’re the most superior among the four Hero Academies, and they stick together on that notion.”

Recalling those Seirun students, Chelsea agreed.

“Indeed.”

During the first-year math trip, Seirun students looked down on Lumern’s.

Even toward the end of the trip, many students still held such disdainful looks.

And during the Ruse Tournament, a majority of the Seirun students believed, without doubt, they had the upper hand.

“Upon hearing that Demian would assess Lumern, Azonia, and Seirun on the same level, their pride was surely dealt a heavy blow.”

“Elves are known for their racial pride even before the Era of Catastrophe. But not every elf is like that.”

Chelsea thought of Luna, an elf far removed from the authority-laden behavior seen in some elves.

‘They’re too chaotic to care about such things anyway.’

Excessive authoritarianism only corrupts a race.

Elves are not immune to that knowledge.

Given this, the principal of Seirun should have been a wise individual with a broad perspective.

‘High-ranking elves surely can’t be unaware of this?’

Despite this, news came that a figure with strong racial supremacist views had become the principal.

Upon hearing this, Leo sighed.

“The person currently holding the interim principal post at Seirun is… scary.”

“I heard the principal would change, but an interim one has been chosen?”

Curious, Chelsea tilted her head.

“Yes. It happened not long ago. It’s still a pretty fresh and little-known news even in Lumern. The problematic figure is the new principal himself.”

Kal’s expression turned serious.

“LeHagen Li Creo.”

“Wha?”

Chelsea’s expression visibly darkened.

“Who is he?”

“Leo, haven’t you heard of LeHagen? He’s a famous elven hero.”

“I don’t really follow current heroes.”

“Ah, that’s right. Leo isn’t really interested in such matters.”

Chelsea nodded.

Typically, as heroes are figures of admiration, most hero candidates usually admire at least a couple of active heroes.

However, Leo only knew of the ancient heroes from the hero studies lessons at Lumern.

He showed no interest in the modern day.

To him, whether past or present heroes, they were mere distant juniors.

“He calls himself the ‘Knight of Antiquity.’ A fanatic about the progenitor.”

Kal clicked his tongue.

“A prominent racial supremacist who openly disdains heroes of other races.”

Kal’s comment drew Leo’s furrowed brows.

“That’s completely absurd.”

“Exactly.”

“How could Seirun even appoint such a person as principal?”

It’s true that elves have a known racial supremacist tendency since before the Era of Catastrophe.

But not all elves share this bias.

Luna, for instance, was far from the authority-focused stereotype of elven nobility.

‘Though her carefree attitude did cause problems at times.’

Excessive authoritarianism corrupts races.

Elves aren’t blind to that fact.

‘Higher-ranking elves aren’t oblivious to this, surely?’

Yet in this circumstance, a supremacist was chosen as principal.

This baffled Leo.

“The invasion of Seirun by the Demon Queen was the problem.”

“Hmm?”

“Yes. Especially the event where the Progenitor descended.”

For reasons unknown, the descent of the progenitor of the Star Cloud and the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, was regarded as a miracle, spoken of by many.

The ultimate skill of the Magic of Stars.

The moment when the End was used to vanquish the Demon Queen was witnessed by everyone in Lumern and Seirun.

“The elves designated that day as the Day of Miracles. Moreover, there’s talk of relocating Seirun as it’s being preserved as a sacred site.”

“Intense.”

“Yes, but here’s what’s most important.”

Kal sighed.

“The revelation of the progenitor in the present era empowered the voices of racial supremacists among elves.”

At this, Leo frowned.

‘Weren’t most of the modern-day racial supremacist elves followers of Luna?’

They hailed Luna of the Star Cloud as the greatest among the Great Heroes.

Some of the more extreme ones even claimed that only Luna was the true Great Hero.

The image of Luna flashed across Leo’s mind.

‘Always overly confident but just as easily deflated. A fool.’

In the past, she would boast about being hailed as a great person among elves, but…

‘She wouldn’t have wanted to be worshipped like this, right?’

Recalling his friend, Leo smiled wistfully.

In the meantime, they had emerged from the mine tunnels.

The sight of the immense castle before them made Lumern students gasp in amazement.

The open castle gates and the four towering statues ahead were a sight to behold.

Exquisitely carved, the statues seemed almost alive.

“So these are the famous statues of the Great Heroes of Demian.”

Someone murmured in awe.

And alongside those statues, a new sculpture was underway.

Though its face was still being carved and only rough shapes were visible, the Lumern students knew who it was.

There was only one hero who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Four Great Heroes.

“The statue of the Hero of Beginning, Kyle.”

“Wow! I’ve never seen Master Kyle’s face before!”

“I can’t wait to see it once it’s completed!”

Amidst the students’ exclamations of wonder…

Leo, however, was gazing at the towering campus of Demian.

Reaching the very top—

Thump.

Leo felt his heart beat.

‘Could it be… Is it calling me?’

Mana was reacting.

But not Leo’s mana.

The mana of Dwenno flowing within Leo’s body.

The fire of Dwenno, awakened by Pibua’s divine power earlier, was reacting now.

‘To its creator?’