Chapter 270

270

The final turn.

In the wake of Leo’s bombshell declaration, an icy silence enveloped the grand hall.

The Demian students were glaring sharply at Leo, while the others from different schools muttered amongst themselves.

Lumeran, Seirun, Azonia—students from these three schools generally harbored dissatisfaction with this request from Demian.

After all, no one really enjoys being evaluated.

However, they also somewhat understood Demian’s reasoning.

Demian wasn’t just a simple Hero Academy; it was also the largest forge in the world.

There are many forges in the world that produce weapons and armor.

But among them, Dwarf forges are particularly renowned, and Demian was even more exceptional.

The privilege of wielding equipment crafted by Demian’s artisan apprentices was one afforded only to the Hero candidates.

Thus, they refrained from openly voicing their dissatisfaction, instead aiming to outcompete students from other Hero Academies and be chosen by Demian’s standout second-year students.

In this situation, Leo declared he would evaluate the students of Demian, going against the grain.

There was no way not to lose their words.

“Troublemaker again!”

Celia threw her head back and placed her palm on her forehead.

She knew her cousin occasionally made impulsive decisions, but she hadn’t expected such behavior in front of students from other schools.

“This is practically provoking Demian!”

Celia cried inwardly.

At this moment, a female student from Demian raised her hand.

“Leo Flove. I heard you’re an ‘All-Class.’ Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“So, what exactly does that mean when you say you can perfectly handle any weapon? Do you mean any weapon of any class, or…”

The female student paused for effect and narrowed her eyes.

“Are you really claiming that you can perfectly handle every kind of weapon that exists in this world?”

It is common sense that to master every kind of weapon that exists in this world is impossible.

Take a wizard’s magic staff, even if both are long staves—they’re divided into various types based on their attributes.

To such a question from the Demian female student, Leo grinned.

“I mean that I can perfectly handle every kind of weapon in existence.”

“Stop lying! That’s impossible! If you’re trying to make jokes, pick the right moment! Otherwise, what? The youngest student council president of Lumeran disdains the weapons we create?”

The Demian female student became upset.

Not just her, but all the second-year students of Demian glared at Leo.

They felt he was treating them like fools.

“Calm yourselves.”

At this moment, Depeto stepped in to mediate.

Depeto stepped onto the podium, quieted down his disciples, and glanced sharply at Leo.

“Ah, you’re still of the age where bravado can be forgiven.”

Depeto looked at Leo and slightly smiled.

Moments ago, Leo’s statement was undeniably one worthy of reprimand as arrogance.

Common sense dictates that, no matter how unprecedented or exceptional, it’s impossible for the youngest student council president and supposed all-class user to perfectly handle every weapon in existence.

But Depeto wasn’t entirely averse to Leo’s actions.

He was also a graduate of Demian, having crafted weapons for many of the Hero candidates, some of whom he cultivated relationships with as early as their Hero candidate days, relationships that matured into their becoming true Heroes.

Thus, Depeto knew well:

“It’s not just the artisans who have pride.”

Users of weapons also have their own form of pride.

And in Depeto’s view, Leo was certainly someone with sufficient qualifications for such a statement.

Though it was truly somewhat excessive bragging, considering Leo’s age, it wasn’t completely unreasonable.

“It’ll also be a good provocation for those kids.”

Students of Demian are sent off-site starting from their first year to craft weapons as part of their training.

They are dispatched to various regions in the eastern part, where they craft equipment and receive payment in return.

Even as first-year apprentice smiths, their quality of work is excellent—befitting students of Demian.

“Therefore, the second-year students of Demian are well versed in receiving accolades.”

Indeed, it was Demian.

The future artisans.

Worthy successors of the ‘Gods’ Blacksmith’.

They’ve heard such praise countless times.

“Ah, artisans can’t grow solely on compliments.”

At times, criticism also helps smiths develop.

“You may step down now.”

“Yes, sir.”

When Depeto spoke, Leo courteously replied and descended from the stand.

As he watched Leo leave, Depeto said,

“Don’t worry about whether the Demian students will make any weapons for you.”

Depeto grinned.

“Those kids are adept smiths and already respect your prowess. Likely, they aim to make you eat humble pie by crafting their finest piece to convince you. They’re Dwenno’s descendants, after all.”

Depeto then lifted his large, pot-lid sized hands and lightly slapped Leo on the back.

“I’m glad you’re here to serve as a stimulant for our students. Please do earnestly evaluate the weapons they bring.”

“Doing so might render them irreparable.”

“Hmm? Quite an interesting remark.”

“Hahaha!” Depeto laughed heartily, while Leo silently muttered to himself.

“It’s true.”

*

“You seriously can’t tell if he’s being humble or audacious sometimes—or if he’s just arrogant.”

After the presentation ended, it was lunch time, and as students exited the grand hall, Lunia watched Leo conversing with Lumeran students and couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, finding his behavior baffling.

To Lunia, Leo seemed incredibly mature for his age.

Despite possessing overwhelming abilities that didn’t seem appropriate for someone his age, he never boasted or flaunted them.

However, at times, he clearly used his strength assertively.

“Well, maybe that’s just the natural way of things for Leo.”

Lunia chuckled softly and glanced to the side.

There, Eiran was looking at Leo with nervous eyes.

“Eiran must be feeling so stifled.”

Lunia sighed silently to herself.

The atmosphere at Seirun had been increasingly unusual lately.

Especially since the current principal’s appointment, there had been a rising tendency towards Elf supremacy among students.

And at the moment, the person Seirun regarded as their biggest thorn in their side was none other than Leo Flove.

The reason was simple.

Due to the thesis “An Introduction to the Magic of the Stars,” where Leo was a co-author.

“I want to see it.”

Lunia was curious about the thesis’s contents.

As someone who practiced the magic of the ancestors, it was natural to be interested in any new magical theories related to Star Magic.

However, Seirun was entirely rejecting this novelty.

The thesis had since been treated as forbidden literature within Seirun, making it inaccessible.

“Maybe I could ask dad to secretly bring it in?”

Of course, if she were to get caught, it would surely be a headache.

Still, Lunia wanted to read the magical theory co-authored by Leo.

Eiran was the same.

Whenever she heard good news about Leo’s activities in Seirun, she would feel genuinely happy, as though it were her own accomplishment.

“Because she’s a Leo fan.”

When she heard that students from all Hero Schools would gather for this second grade exercise, both Lunia and Eiran thought they’d finally get a chance to talk to Leo and perhaps discuss magical theories with him.

Especially Eiran, who couldn’t contain her excitement and was genuinely thrilled at the prospect.

A day before departure:

“Students of Seirun! You are forbidden to associate with any Hero School students other than those from Demian.”

“What? Why?”

“It lowers our standard. Especially…”

Reber looked down arrogantly at the students.

“Leo Flove, the one who tarnished the name of the Ancestors. It is absolutely unacceptable to consort with such a person.”

Because of that ridiculous bulletin, Lunia and Eiran couldn’t even approach Leo.

“d*mn it, they even removed Luca from this exercise!”

Luca, a half-elf and a strong second-year student in her own right, was left off this schedule despite her impressive rank.

Though a few teachers, including Herdium, strongly opposed this, they were unsuccessful.

Grinding her teeth, a strange sound came from Lunia’s mouth at this point.

“Hey, Lunia, Eiran. Long time no see.”

Leo approached them with a smile.

Lunia, who had been gritting her teeth, immediately smoothed out a gentle smile, and Eiran’s face lit up.

If Leo had come to greet them first, it would be rude to ignore him.

“Long time, Leo Flov…”

“Wait. Exactly who are you speaking to?”

As Lunia was about to return Leo’s greeting, a student suddenly stepped in front of her and stopped her.

“Middle-level class.”

It was one of the second-year students from Seirun’s intermediate class.

Leo seemed surprised by his sudden appearance, pointing to Lunia and Eiran.

“Does even talking to friends count as an issue?”

“Friends? Who exactly are you referring to with ‘friends’?”

The intermediate class student wore an unpleasant expression.

“The Lunia here is a candidate for the youngest student council president in Seirun. You’re not worth addressing her so freely.”

“Hey! You, Leo is already the student council president at Lumeran—instead of having him do that, you’re unworthy of doing so yourself!”

Lunia silently cried out. Indeed, several Lumeran students who heard the comment had expressions of disbelief. Some even tried their best to suppress laughter.

The level of ridiculousness from the Seirun student’s statement was unmatched.

“Besides, how could the great Lunia, who will inherit the Ancestor’s magic, deign to address someone like you, a fraud who disgraces the Ancestor’s name?”

“Inheriting the Ancestor’s magic?”

Leo looked bewildered.

“Yes. As a candidate for the next student council president, Lunia decided to inherit the Ancestor’s magic preserved in Seirun.”

The Ancestor’s magic passed down at Seirun.

A magic so close to the original tome used by Lady Luna, the Progenitor who supposedly mastered the magic of the star clouds.

It was said to be the magnum opus of the “Comet Wizard,” recorded in the ancient magical tomes.

Only the top students at Seirun—students at the level of student council president—could learn this magic. Mastering it granted them the highest honor, being revered as the closest Elf to the Ancestor.

In Elven society, it was an irreplaceable glory.

Leo was well aware of these facts.

“Congratulations.”

Leo smiled faintly.

Upon hearing this, Lunia gave a bittersweet smile.

“Um… Ugh…”

Eiran looked at Leo with a sorrowful expression, feeling apologetic.

“You’ve worked hard as well.”

“Really, I should get a move on.”

At Leo’s response, Lunia inwardly thought back.

“It’s not like you should apologize in the slightest. It’s just that Seirun’s behavior now that’s strange.”

As Lunia replied mentally while observing Leo’s retreating back,

“Lunia-sama, Eiran-sama. Wasn’t this rude man’s greeting surprising?”

“Don’t you talk nonsense? It was actually you who was rude, and it’s because of you that we were more surprised!”

Lunia wanted to punch the man in the face while saying this.

But now, there were too many eyes on them.

Besides, only the few in her upper-level class knew of Lunia’s true nature.

For other second-year students, Lunia was considered the perfect example of a beautiful, elegant, and gentle top student from Seirun.

When Lunia didn’t respond and gave a faint smile,

“Arrogant. Not only his rudeness to the Demian students, but the way he so casually tampers with great Ancestral magic, creating bizarre things like ‘flower magic.'”

During the first-year field trip.

It was the heritage of the Ancestors that Leo had recovered and presented to Seirun.

An invaluable magic that shook the Elf magical world up until last year.

However, its worth has diminished over time.

Last year, it was also revealed through Lunia’s conquest of the Lunarian world that the ultimate goal of magic aimed by Luna was ‘flower magic.’

And yet, Seirun turned its back on this ‘flower blooming magic.’

The reason was simple.

“Because it was restored by Leo.”

In some sense, Leo was a benefactor to the Elves.

He had revealed the ultimate goal of the magic pursued by the Ancestor herself.

But due to the small-minded pride and tradition, they were ignoring even that celebrated Ancestral magic.

And within a short few months, Elves who outright rejected the Ancestor’s magic appeared.

“Is this really the right way?”

Lunia’s eyes darkened, and she looked down at her own hands.

Lunia’s personality was eccentric.

Yet, she had perfectly portrayed the ideal image of a beautiful, elegant, and gentle top student at Seirun.

The reason for her flawless performance—despite its seeming duality—was simple.

“Because I admired Lady Luna.”

The image of Luna circulating amongst the Elves was what Seirun idealized in its top students.

Due to her immense admiration for Luna, Lunia was able to play the part of Luna from their stories.

But… who was the Luna Lunia had now come to know?

“She was beautiful.”

But not elegant.

Lunia had seen Luna, and she was different from the Luna she had always known.

Somewhere within her, Luna was lively, a touch crude, and even whimsical.

She was the type who could master the ‘flower blooming magic’ through the use of complex, head-splitting magical formulas.

This side of Luna was at once shocking and warming, like someone who had placed a friendly arm on her shoulder and smiled brightly.

“I remember her.”

“Seirun is rejecting Lady Luna right now.”

Instead, the school was echoing the same suppression that the early Elven society had enforced on Luna.

“There’s absolutely no reason for me to follow the school’s rejection of Lady Luna.”

Lunia’s eyes flared.

“Indeed, I noticed this yesterday too, but Seirun is truly cursed.”

“Arrogant.”

“Let’s not get into it.”

Catcalls came from Lumeran and Azonia students.

“Hmph, we don’t even want to get involved with your lot! Lunia-sama! Eiran-sama! Ignore these rude people and let’s head towards where the Seirun students are…”

“Hey. The most rude one here is you right now.”

“What? Huh?”

Bang!

Lunia grabbed the middle-class student by the collar and smashed foreheads with him.

Thud!

She followed up by punching the swaying student right in the face.

Bang!

“Keh!”

The middle-class student screamed in pain and tumbled away.

“L-Lunia-sama!”

Eiran, with a pale, terrified face, urgently called Lunia.

Students from other schools were also staring at Lunia, mouths agape.

Lunia wore a look of relief and placed her hands on her hips.

“Ah! Really, this d*mn school! I feel so relieved!”

While Lunia threw her head back and shouted, Leo looked at her with a baffled expression.

“Are you done pretending to be someone else like Lady Luna?”

“Huh? You knew?”

Lunia wore a slightly slanted expression but then grinned.

“Of course, since you also met Lady Luna. Yeah, I’ve decided to quit. I’ve tolerated it until first year, but I can’t stand it anymore!”

She made a weary expression as she approached Leo.

Then she smiled.

“Have you been doing well?”

“As for me, yes, I’ve been doing fine. But won’t you get expelled if you keep going this route?”

Seirun was also infamous for mercilessly expelling students that tarnished the school’s dignity.

“Hmph! Let them try. I don’t even want to study in that place anymore. Anyway…”

Lunia grinned.

“I can enroll at Lumeran if I get expelled.”

“Your reckless behavior is exactly like Luna.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

‘If I said it’s an insult,’ Leo thought inwardly, ‘they’d surely jump in and start fighting.’

“Kekeke,” Laughing softly, Lunia continued.

“Leo said with a smile:

“Congratulations on graduating from being an honor student and becoming a troublemaker.”