【3】2
“Aah! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Heroic Houses visited our house?”
“Our house has already prepared a party for them!”
The Delran students, whose class had just ended, were all abuzz with excitement.
Starting today, the prospective students from Lumeran Academy will begin their visit to Delran.
The nobles of the Delrad Kingdom were dead-set on inviting members of the Heroic Houses to their homes.
Heroic House.
This glorious title is given to the highest-ranking families who have produced heroes through generations.
It was only natural that the chances of entering Lumeran Academy were high for them.
“Gallibun, among the Heroic Houses visiting our country this time, which one do you think has the highest prestige?”
“Huh, obviously Zerdinger.”
At Gallibun’s words, his friends began chatting excitedly.
“Zerdinger will surely visit the Tradun family, right?”
“That’s obvious! In our country, Gallibun is the only one fit to take the Lumeran Academy entrance exam!”
As Gallibun observed his over-eager friends, he puffed out his chest.
“Hmm… I’m already looking forward to discussing heroes with the people of Zerdinger?”
“Kuh! Hey! I’m jealous! Jealous!”
“Gallibun! Can I come to your house later?”
“It’s not like I’d refuse.”
“Oh! Thank you!”
“Gallibun! What does it mean to be a good friend? Me too!”
Gallibun Tradun.
As the heir to the Tradun Viscount family, he was known as the greatest magical prodigy in Delrad.
At just fifteen years old, he reached the 2nd Circle.
He was noted as a potential candidate to become a Lumeran Academy student.
It had been twenty years since Delrad last sent a student to Lumeran Academy,
and thus he was being watched at the kingdom level.
Amidst everyone being excited,
a student outside the window suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
“Hey, isn’t that the Zerdinger family crest?”
“Huh? Where? Where?”
“Are they here already?”
The students rushed to the window.
Meanwhile, Leo left the classroom, showing no interest.
Then, as Leo was about to head outside, his eyes met with Gallibun’s group.
“Huh! Are you going to try to leave some kind of impression? The Zerdinger family wouldn’t care about someone like you.”
Gallibun mocked Leo.
Gallibun was a student ranked as the top performer in every category.
However, Gallibun harbored jealousy towards Leo.
Because there was one subject he could never defeat Leo in.
Combat class.
Although the professors openly favored Gallibun and avoided pairing Leo and Gallibun during practical exams, the outcome was obvious.
Leo curtly replied.
“I’m heading home.”
“Hmm, you have a good sense of your place.”
“Yeah. Go ahead and grovel as much as you want to the Zerdingers.”
“Don’t speak recklessly. I’m simply going to confirm Selde Zerdinger as a competitor.”
Fire sparked in Gallibun’s eyes.
A tense atmosphere flowed between the two.
[Announcement from the staff room. All students, please gather in the banquet hall immediately. No exceptions.]
A magical broadcast echoed through the school.
The reason for the gathering was obvious.
It was to welcome the Zerdingers.
‘That’s why I tried to leave early.’
He muttered to himself irritably.
Gallibun chuckled smugly and left the classroom.
Other students also headed towards the banquet hall.
Leo, scratching his head, muttered.
‘Screw it. I’m out of here.’
“Huh? Leo, aren’t you going?”
“I’m going home.”
“What? Isn’t this a rare opportunity to see the Zerdinger family?”
“I don’t care.”
As Leo waved his hand and walked away in the opposite direction of the banquet hall, a classmate looked at him with a baffled expression.
“It’s an honor to have you visit, Giese Zerdinger!”
Professor Jaiden exclaimed with a flushed face.
The other students also looked at Giese with eyes brimming with admiration.
“I’m at a loss for words with such a warm welcome.”
“This student is Gallibun Tradun. He is taking the Lumeran Academy entrance exam this year!”
“Is that so? Coincidentally, my nephew is also taking the entrance exam this year.”
The students’ gazes naturally moved towards one place.
A girl standing with the Zerdinger knights.
Celia Zerdinger.
The daughter of the head of the Zerdinger family.
The Princess of the Sword known throughout not just the empire but the entire world.
As Celia caught the students’ gaze, she smiled and relaxed her shoulders.
Gallibun looked at such Celia with a dazed expression.
“Ah, she’s beautiful!”
Black hair and large ruby-like red eyes.
She had a straight nose and red lips.
Among all the noble daughters he had seen, he had never encountered a young girl as beautiful as Celia.
“Celia, come here.”
At Giese’s words, Celia strolled over confidently.
Then, she smiled at Gallibun.
“You’re also taking the entrance exam, right? Let’s both do our best.”
“Y-yeah! Let’s have a good competition together. Hahaha!”
Gallibun proudly extended his hand with a self-assured smile.
Celia looked at his hand silently.
When Giese nudged her with his elbow, she finally shook hands.
Gallibun grinned foolishly.
“I will slowly give you a tour of the school. Please give our students some advice.”
“Hmm. I wonder how much help my words will be.”
“The words of Giese Zerdinger are of great help!”
He was one of the top knights in the empire, known by the nickname Flame Blade.
His exploits are well-known not just in the empire but throughout the world.
His words were considered invaluable as he was set to receive the title of Hero soon.
“By the way, where’s our accommodation…?”
“The accommodations are already arranged.”
“Ah, I see.”
Professor Jaiden looked uneasy.
“Therefore…”
“Yes sir!”
“I would like to meet the student Leo Flove.”
“…”
Jaiden looked flustered, and Gallibun widened his eyes.
For a moment, he doubted his ears.
‘How does he know Leo Flove?’
The ignorance was mutual—it seemed that Giese did not know about Gallibun, the greatest talent of Delrad Kingdom.
So how did he know Leo?
“Teacher, how do you know Leo Flove?”
“I heard he is an outstanding talent from someone I know.”
“Perhaps, Sir Zerdinger, there might be some misunderstanding?”
Gallibun bristled hearing the detestable name of Leo.
“What exactly do you mean by misunderstanding?”
“Leo Flove is a classmate of mine. He is, without doubt, a talented student but…”
Gallibun shook his head.
“This person cannot even properly handle aura.”
“Is that so?”
The Delrad Royal Academy staff marveled at Gallibun’s fearlessness in front of Giese.
Gallibun trembled at his own boldness.
‘Giese Zerdinger is considering my opinion!’
Taking Giese’s nod as affirmation, Gallibun wore a satisfied expression.
However, the Zerdinger members silently sneered at Gallibun.
Giese is responsible for guiding the family’s bl**d relatives.
Even the head of the family respects Giese’s opinions when discussing the children’s potential.
But here was some audacious greenhorn critiquing and attempting to diminish someone’s worth.
“So, where is Leo Flove?”
Ignoring Gallibun, Giese repeated his question.
Gallibun seemed flustered, and Professor Jaiden quickly said.
“Leo Flove! Please step forward!”
“…”
“Leo?”
A student cautiously raised their hand.
“Teacher, Leo took a carriage home a little while ago.”
“What? What did you say?”
Jaiden’s mouth dropped open.
“Didn’t I clearly say all students should attend?”
“…He said he’s not interested in the Zerdinger family…”
The students murmured.
Celia gave an exasperated look.
Giese smiled gently.
‘True to his mother’s son.’
After finishing their schedule at Delran Royal School, Giese and Celia boarded their carriage.
The people who came to bid farewell were startled as they saw who was in the carriage.
“Is that… a Griffin?”
A car drawn by familiars!
As people stuck out their tongues in amazement, the carriage departed.
“Ah, I wonder which family they’ll stay with?”
“Envious, so envious.”
As students muttered and looked at the departing Zerdinger family,
Gallibun clenched his fists tightly.
‘Once enrolled in Lumeran, I’ll study with girls like her, won’t I?’
Truly, this was the place fitting for himself, an outstanding talent.
Thus, Gallibun reaffirmed with confidence, his eyes shining brightly.
‘The entrance exam in a week! I will definitely pass!’
On the other hand,
Inside the Griffin carriage, Giese asked,
“What did you think of the students of Delran Royal Academy?”
“In a mess.”
Celia wore a disappointed look after hearing the brief content of the Hero Studies taught there during their short visit.
To sum it up, it was not worth listening to.
Regardless of the nation or race, Hero Studies, the study of past heroes, is an important subject for anyone aiming to become a hero.
However, the content of the classes at Delran Royal Academy was all a mess.
“Moreover, this Gallibun fellow? Having no self-awareness, he even dared to argue with my words.”
“The family we’re visiting now will be slightly different.”
“The Flove family?”
Celia recalled the earlier incident.
Apparently, there was someone among the students earlier who said they were uninterested in the Zerdinger family.
‘Humph. Such a presumptuous youth.’
Celia, who takes pride in her family, didn’t like his attitude.
‘Moreover, he wants to be a knight even though he’s of this age and cannot control aura?’
Celia found no interest in Leo whatsoever.
She didn’t even know that the place they were heading to was her cousin’s home.
Meanwhile, Giese took out a letter from his bosom.
“If she hadn’t left the family, she would have held an important post by now.”
The current head of the family, Selde Zerdinger,
and Giese and Reina.
These three siblings were once praised as the future of the family.
Despite the unexpected accident that caused them to leave,
Giese was well aware of Reina’s skills.
A nephew that Reina, who called a “prodigy,” praised so highly.
Moreover…
“Can’t control aura, huh?”
Aura is a must-have for children of noble families aspiring to become knights.
They practice it from a young age.
Leo, on the other hand, was said not to be able to control aura.
‘Looking forward to meeting this child.’
*
In the evening,
Leo was alone in the training ground with eyes closed, concentrating.
His body was drenched in sweat after finishing his practice earlier.
“Hoo.”
He exhaled deeply.
‘The vessel is complete.’
The reason why he didn’t practice aura until now.
It was partially to match the pace of his mother’s lessons.
However, the main reason was to build the vessel.
Compared to his body in his previous life as Kyle, this body was physically superior.
But his abilities as a wizard and a summoner were close to zero.
That’s why he didn’t rashly attempt to learn aura.
In his past life, Kyle was a veteran warrior well-versed in battle and a powerful wizard who wielded potent magic, as well as a pledge-keeper of spirits and familiars.
The reason why the extermination team remained undeterred even as friends kept falling was because Kyle had mastered all these abilities.
‘I was able to somehow fill in the blanks left by my comrades.’
Just before the final battle.
The essence of strength possessed by his departed comrades remained with Kyle, the sole survivor.
The resolve and hopes they entrusted to him.
‘This time, in this life, I will master it completely, unlike the previous one.’
Upon accepting aura into the body, it naturally specializes in aura.
Once that happens, the chance to store mana and spirit energy completely disappears.
Hence, he had spent all this time laying the foundation.
For the sake of continuing the legacy of his comrades.
Leo clenched his fists tightly.
‘First things first, it’s time for aura!’
—===
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
