Chapter 281

The party was finally formed by the time evening was approaching.

Unlike Leo who managed to form his party rather smoothly, the other students experienced numerous difficulties. As Kal watched various parties causing trouble from the start, he scratched his head.

“This is going to be rough for other parties, not because of the mission’s difficulty but because of the lack of cohesion between party members, I think.”

Unexpectedly, conflicts weren’t limited to just between Seirun students and those from other Hero Academies.

“So! First, let’s gather information around the town!”

“What’s the need for that? We just need to search Mount Erdien, right?”

“Ah! Seriously! It’s like you don’t understand anything! Aren’t you a beastman with a simple and rude demeanor?”

A Lumeran female student and a male student from Azonia were arguing. A Demian male student stood back a step with a somewhat cynical attitude, observing the situation, while it was rather surprising that a Seirun female student was trying to mediate.

Despite her restlessness, the Seirun girl couldn’t do much to stop the two from arguing.

Kal, checking on the atmosphere of the other parties, sighed inwardly.

‘There isn’t any party here with a good vibe, it seems.’

After understanding the situation of the other parties, Kal returned to his own, thinking with a somewhat lighter heart.

‘At least our party has a good atmosphere; we’re lucky for that.’

Kal returned to the party with a bright smile, only to find Lunia and Ar glaring at each other, standing face to face.

“Ka, Lord Kal! Is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Eiran quickly approached Kal, trying to support him as he slumped down.

“I like peace. Boo hoo hoo.”

Eiran was perplexed seeing Kal’s despair. As Kal stood up again, he asked,

“What are you two doing?”

“They both want to be the party leader.”

The moment Eiran finished speaking, Lunia crossed her arms and replied,

“I’m the leader of this party.”

Ar placed her hands on her hips, straightened her chest, and gave a mocking snort.

“What nonsense! I am the leader!”

Kal looked towards Leo, asking him, “Won’t you do it, Leo?”

“If someone’s eager to do it, let them.”

Leo smiled and took a hands-off approach.

‘Leo doesn’t have much desire for the leader’s role, apparently.’

It was the same when Leo was the 1st-year Class Leader and even when he became Student Council President — it wasn’t because he really wanted to, but because it happened naturally.

‘Naturally emerging leaders… It seems they naturally draw others around them.’

Truly outstanding individuals naturally want to be leaders.

Particularly, from what Kal could observe, many of the second-year top students from Lumeran had not just talent but also remarkable charisma.

‘All these people carry the qualities of a leader.’

Even so, Leo was recognized as a leader by second-years and even the dormitory heads who aimed to surpass him do not deny his leadership skills.

‘It seems they acknowledge it despite their pride.’

Had Leo stepped up as the party leader, this situation would probably not have arisen.

‘What’s he trying to see?’

If Leo didn’t want the position as party leader, friction was inevitable. Both Lunia and Ar were strong contenders for the Student Council President positions in their respective prestigious schools, Seirun and Azonia.

Despite the uncertainty with Lunia after she opposed her teacher, there was no doubt she was Seirun’s top student.

“So, let’s decide by voting.”

“You have friends here! It won’t be fair!”

“You’re a really whiny cat.”

The sleepy-eyed Lunia smirked.

“Then, let’s settle it with a clean duel.”

“Hmm? For an elf, that’s a good suggestion.”

With a smirk, Ar cracked her finger joints.

“I’ve always been curious about how great the top student of Seirun is.”

“I wanted to know the skills of Azonia’s top student as well.”

Gooouuuuu!

A hot surge of energy emitted from Lunia’s body.

Ar was already emanating a sharp, dangerous aura.

‘It was said that Ar possesses the water manipulation ability that some ancient hero used and is even better than me.’

Lunia glanced at Leo.

‘I’ll show him that his thoughts were wrong!’

Lunia’s red eyes sparkled.

Ar, too, swayed her white tail.

‘I heard she spent a lot of time lately with this elf.’

Ar’s lake-like blue eyes gleamed.

‘I want to play with the black rabbit too!’

Ar bared her fangs and extended her nails.

She looked every bit like a cat ready to leap.

Watching this, Kal covered his face, and Eiran was at a loss of what to do.

“Hmm. The atmosphere here isn’t good.”

Driana took a calm, observer-like attitude just then.

Clang!

A bell sound rang out.

At the same time, a tuft of fur with a bell came rolling towards Ar.

Pak!

Acting purely on instinct, Ar stomped on it with her foot.

“…”

After a moment of silence, Ar looked up and lunged at Leo.

“Stop messing with people!”

Ar clutched at Leo’s clothing fiercely, angrily shaking it.

“You’re treating me like a cat!”

“That’s because you’re acting like one.”

“That’s instinct!”

As Ar yelled with frustration, Lunia sighed.

“It’s demotivating.”

Seeing this, Leo spoke up.

“I have someone I’d like to recommend as the party leader.”

At Leo’s words, both Lunia and Ar stiffened.

Driana showed an indifferent expression as to whoever the choice would be, and Kal finally felt as if things would be settled.

“Lord Leo’s recommended party leader? I will follow!”

Eiran smiled cheerfully.

Truthfully, it didn’t matter to her who the leader was.

Lunia and Ar, on the other hand, exchanged glances and turned their heads away sharply, but their pointed ears and feline ears constantly perked up.

Both were listening intently to Leo’s words.

Just as they were getting increasingly agitated internally,

“Kal. I’d like you to be the party leader.”

“Huh? Me?”

Kal wore a confused expression.

Eiran beamed.

“I agree!”

“Wait, consider carefully. You’ll agree with anything Leo says, even if he appoints a passing dog as the party leader, won’t you?”

“Ah, that’s not true!”

As Kal spoke, Eiran slightly blushed, protesting.

“Hmm. So a despondent guy is the party leader, is that it? That’s not bad.”

“What’s this ‘despondent man’?”

“Because your looks of despair are masterpieces, I gave you that name. Do you like it?”

“This tone…this strange naming…!”

Kal’s forehead veined out seeing Driana call him with some weird nickname.

But Kal couldn’t further bicker with Driana because

‘They’re glaring, glaring intensely.’

Lunia and Ar were now staring at Kal intently, like wild beasts observing their prey.

Kal broke out in a cold sweat, avoiding their gaze, awkwardly scratching his head.

“Hey, Leo. You’re joking, aren’t you? With you and representatives of Seirun and Azonia here, it seems rather odd for me to be the party leader, doesn’t it?”

“Yes! Yes!”

“Hmm! Hmm! That’s right!”

Lunia and Ar nodded approvingly.

“I do think you have the qualities to lead this party.”

With this, Lunia crossed her arms.

“Leo, there must be a reason why you’ve chosen this guy for the leader, right? But I find it hard to accept.”

“Me too, I agree with her.”

Ar narrowed her eyes.

“The party leader should be the most outstanding person. Black Rabbit, if you were the leader, I wouldn’t have any complaints. But while I don’t mean to belittle your friend, I don’t see him surpassing me or Seirun’s representative to qualify as the leader.”

“Fair enough.”

Kal nodded readily.

“Of course, both of you already possess enough qualities to lead a group.”

Leo continued, addressing Lunia and Ar.

“But as the leader of this party, Kal is more appropriate here. This party needs someone who will lead from behind, supporting everyone, not someone who will charge ahead.”

Leo hadn’t chosen Kal for the party initially merely because he specialized as a supporter.

From the moment talk of forming a party came up, Leo had intended to gather this lineup.

Each member, including Lunia and Ar, was among the best of their respective schools.

Placing one of these two as the leader might have led to internal fractures within the party.

‘It wouldn’t matter if I took the leader role, but… It’s a rare opportunity, it would be a waste.’

A perfect party was formed with four races—Human, Elf, Beastman, and Dwarf—all comprising this generation’s finest prodigies.

This was also a chance to grow.

Therefore, Leo appointed Kal as the leader.

‘Good social skills, good observational skills. He can read the party’s dynamics well.’

Kal wasn’t leader material in the classical sense.

But his ability to meld together party members with strong leadership traits was commendable.

Hence, Leo selected Kal as the core of this party.

“Kal, there’s much you could teach them.”

Hearing Leo’s words, Lunia and Ar stared at Kal intently.

“If you say so, Leo, I will trust you this once.”

“Me too, Black Rabbit must have his reasons.”

Lunia smiled, but her eyes remained intently on Kal.

Ar, like a cautious cat around strangers, wagged her tail while observing Kal closely.

As if she intended to see what Kal, praised so highly by Leo, would do next.

‘Why must I bear the jealousy of these scary girls?’

Kal, targeted by the representatives of Seirun and Azonia, nearly cried.

*

Once the party leader was decided, the group headed straight to Tarkam via a warp gate.

Upon arriving in Tarkam, they promptly found lodgings.

In this situation, Kal suggested,

“Let’s grab a quick dinner at a tavern first?”

“Why must we go to a noisy tavern? Let’s eat somewhere quiet.”

Lunia and Ar shook their heads.

Eiran tilted her head in confusion.

“Why are we eating at a tavern?”

Eiran asked innocently, and Kal shrugged.

“For easier information gathering.”

“Ah.”

Eiran let out an exclamation.

From the renowned elf lineage, the Erasar family, Eiran was indeed quite naive about worldly matters.

“I read about that in a book! It’s to contact the informants who are often undercover in the tavern!”

“…Well, no, actually just to hear rumors people are chatting about. It’s unlikely that you’d meet an informant at a tavern.”

“Really? But the book clearly said…”

“Books don’t always reflect the real world.”

Eiran looked shocked.

So, having decided on the tavern for information gathering, just as they were about to enter, Leo paused.

Looking at the alleyway beside the tavern, he said,

“I’ll be back shortly.”

Ar asked,

“Where? I’ll come along.”

“To the restroom.”

“Ah… Alright, come back soon then.”

Ar turned her head slightly, feeling embarrassed.

As Leo distanced himself from the party and entered the back alley, a halt came as Mel appeared before him.

“Good evening, Lord Leo.”

Mel bowed respectfully and began to speak.

“I’ve called you in regard to reporting about Lord Dwenno’s legacy…”

“Mel. Before that, I have a question about a rumor circulating in Tarkam.”

“About the giant monster that appeared in Tarkam? Isn’t that simply a rumor?”

Seeing her confusion, Leo sighed.

“Given that even the Dragon Lord like you dismisses this as a mere rumor, it seems like that guy has managed to completely obscure his existence for 5000 years.”

“Hmm… Can it really be…?”

Mel’s face turned slightly pale.

“Yes.”

Leo replied firmly.

“Perhaps the Giant King Gias is on the move with a high probability. In this world, there’s no other creature with a size large enough to cover half of Mount Erdien.”

Hearing this, Mel wore a bewildered expression.

“If the Giant King has moved, why now? Is it because the Demon Queen has been eliminated?”

“Hmm. The guy was extremely cautious even during the Era of Catastrophe. He wouldn’t move just because a fellow was killed.”

Leo narrowed his eyes.

‘Remembering the look in the eyes when I was in the Hero’s World during the freshmen’s admission test and visited Mount Erdien… Those were undoubtedly Erebus’s eyes.’

Leo wore a serious expression.

‘What the heck is on that mountain?’