Chapter 31

【31】30.

“Coming to Lumeria after entering school is the first for me.”

As Leo stepped off the regular ferry that travels between Lumeran and Lumeria, Celia nodded.

“I am too. I had no idea it’d be so busy all the time that I’ve hardly had a chance to come out.”

Every weekend during this time, many students from Lumeran visit Lumeria, but among the first-year students, those who regularly visit Lumeria were still scarce.

The reason was that they were still getting accustomed to their department schedules.

Leo adjusted the collar of his school uniform.

“Isn’t it a pretty rigid rule that we have to wear uniforms even after coming to Lumeria?”

“I don’t mind. Our academy uniforms look great, plus being a student of Lumeran itself is an immense honor.”

Celia shrugged her shoulders.

“Moreover, the reason such a rule exists is to warn against foolishness in Lumeria. If you’re wearing the uniform, the school will immediately know who made a stupid mistake. That’s why I’ve heard many students end up breaking this rule. Of course, until they’re caught by a professor.”

Celia made a motion with her hand like she was cutting her neck.

“It’s ‘chopped’ when that happens.”

Indeed, a lot of students wandering around Lumeria in casual attire and being caught by professors were quite common.

“By the way, why does the Student Council President want to see you and me?”

It was quite strange that the Student Council President, who was currently on an assignment, wanted to see them outside.

But in response to the question, Celia wore an expression of disbelief.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know.”

“You don’t know who the Student Council President is?”

“I don’t know.”

After hearing Leo’s response, Celia sighed heavily.

As they entered the bustling Kujarue Street, Celia spoke up.

“Ris Zerdinger, the Student Council President, is the heir to our family! Which makes him your cousin.”

“Is that so? My cousin was the Student Council President?”

“Is that so? How could you not know Ris? He’s not only the top student in Lumeran but also the heir to our family!”

“Maybe I could?”

Leo shrugged as if it didn’t matter. Upon seeing this, Celia held her head in exasperation.

In the meantime, they had arrived at the dormitory where they had stayed before the opening ceremony.

Jjang-lang~ Jjang-lang~

As they entered by opening the door, a bell rang.

“Welcome! Ah, students from Lumeran! Do you plan to stay here over the weekend?”

The attendant smiled kindly while asking, and Celia replied.

“Is Ris Zerdinger staying here?”

“Sir Ris Zerdinger? Yes, he’s indeed staying here. Are you part of his group? Or do you have a separate appointment?”

Zerdinger’s heir and the Student Council President of Lumeran is a very famous person.

Many people recklessly seek connections with such a famous figure.

The hotel attendant had seen plenty of such interactions, so they revealed a guarded expression.

Because, as an attendant from a high-end hotel, their duty is to provide the optimal relaxation spot for their guests.

“I am…”

“Oh? Who’s this! Isn’t that Celia?”

Just then, someone from the first-floor lobby greeted them.

A man of Eastern origin with black hair and eyes approached with a bright smile.

“Li Jamaa-senpai. It’s been a while.”

Celia greeted him formally.

“Haha! Between us, let’s not be too stiff, okay?”

Li Jamaa laughed heartily.

“Miss attendant. These are our guests.”

“Ah, my apologies.”

“Not at all. Let’s go inside.”

While waving them off, Li Jamaa guided Celia and Leo inside.

“By the way, who’s this?”

“This is Leo Flove, my cousin.”

“Ho? Are you that famous first-year representative?”

Jamaa lit up with interest.

A full-class capability.

This fact alone was enough to create a huge buzz across the whole school, beyond the current grade.

Even in the history of Lumeran, which only accepts students with flying talents, full-class capability was unprecedented.

There were still some students and professors who viewed Leo as a cheat.

‘Hmm. In the previous life too, whenever someone was called ‘full-class,’ they were looked at with wonder.’

Leo understood the reasons for their distrust well and just let it be.

“Seems like you’re destined to be an outstanding knight.”

Jamaa grinned as he glanced at Leo.

“Ris is waiting. Let’s go up.”

As he strode forward, he spread his arms wide.

“Magic is good and summoning is good too! But above all, the best thing is this body of mine!”

Jamaa struck his own chest with his fist.

“Refining your sword skills alongside magic and summoning, you’ll surely become a great knight!”

Celia nodded at his words.

“That’s right. Leo, you’ve been neglecting your swordplay lately.”

“Absolutely not! This can’t be happening! You won’t become a fantastic knight without strict training.”

“Is that so? Celia, what do you think—should we increase the intensity of our training?”

Celia avoided Leo’s gaze after accidentally suggesting this.

Unaware of the situation, Jamaa saw this as Leo’s enthusiasm and smiled contentedly.

“Such a fantastic attitude!”

“Be quiet, Jamaa.”

As they ascended the stairs, an irritable voice reached their ears.

“Didn’t the professors say not to casually discuss department matters with dual-class students? And now you’re forcing your department onto a full-class junior, right from the get-go?”

Leaning against the wall of the second floor corridor was a female figure. With tan skin and amber eyes, she had leaned casually against the wall.

Judging by the Lumeran uniform and the badge marked ‘5’ on her left chest, she too was a senior student.

The emblem of a book and staff embroidered onto her shoulder suggested she was from the Department of Magic.

Peeling away from the wall, she stepped toward Jamaa with the click-clack of her heels and stood in front of Leo and Celia.

“Hello, I’m Toluah Yan. And you must be Celia? Ris has spoken quite a lot about you.”

“Hello, Senior Toluah.”

Although it was their first meeting, Celia knew her—she had heard she was a top student who placed first in the written exams for her class in the fifth year of the Department of Magic.

“And… you must be Leo Flove?”

Without waiting for his response, Toluah snorted.

“Professor Ren talked endlessly about you, but this pitiful amount of magical energy? What were the expectations? I feel like the fool expecting too much.”

“Are you calling Leo’s abilities insufficient?”

Celia flared up.

“I’m only stating facts. So, Leo…”

Click-clack… Click-clack…

Toluah approached Leo and continued.

“At once, quit the Knight Department lessons and summoning lessons and focus on magic.”

Toluah draped her arm around Leo’s shoulder and pointed at the ceiling.

“Leo. Look up. Don’t you see the potential of your brilliance shining like the night sky’s stars?”

“All I see is the chandelier on the ceiling.”

“You didn’t understand me. I meant to close your eyes.”

“Then I will just see darkness.”

“Ah, it seems you have the skill to assess things intuitively. A crucial quality for a wizard. Perhaps you’re naturally inclined to become a wizard.”

Toluah was the textbook wizard, speaking only for herself.

“Senior Toluah, didn’t you just say it’s not right to force department choices…?”

“Celia, I’m sorry, but this is a Department of Magic matter. Please don’t interfere.”

Celia furrowed her brows and asked Jamaa,

“Is this acceptable?”

“Of course not, but she won’t listen since she’s a magic fanatic. The professors will surely hear about this and scold her.”

“And they won’t find out because she’s a stubborn fanatic.”

“They will. And I’ll inform.”

Five years of friendship built across the quadrants brought a dumbfounded expression on Celia’s face.

*

“Big Brother!”

“Celia, have you been well?”

Upon entering Ris’s room, Celia greeted him warmly and clung onto him.

At this sight, Leo looked on with surprise.

This was the first time Leo had seen Celia act like this, despite her usually impeccable conduct as a Zerdinger.

‘Looking at this, she’s definitely fifteen, isn’t she?’

As Leo chuckled at her age-appropriate behavior, Ris spoke to him.

“You must be Leo. I’ve heard about you. How is Aunt doing?”

“Yes, I see. So you’ve met Mother?”

“I saw her when I was younger, and since I’ve been in Lumeran, I’ve also sent her several letters.”

“To Aunt?”

When Celia looked surprised, Ris chuckled.

“Aunt was quite famous in her school days. You’ll naturally hear about the legends as you continue school life.”

“Like?”

“Forming a student protest to storm the Principal’s Office over the poor quality of the dormitory cafeteria desserts—that incident truly became legendary, didn’t it.”

“That was Aunt?”

“Indeed. That was Mother.”

Celia’s jaw dropped, while Leo had an “I expected as much” expression.

“Yes. Thanks to Aunt’s efforts, students can now enjoy delicious desserts at the dormitory cafeteria. I even tasted it back then and agreed completely with her arguments. Hence, as Student Council President, I gave her position full backing.”

Ha-ha, laughing while nodding, Ris continued.

“Anyway, I apologize for calling you on the weekend. I figured school would get busy, and we might not see each other for a while, hence the separate invitation.”

“I’m fine!”

Seeing Ris after such a long time, Celia happily played and chatted.

Despite looking after his playful younger sibling, Ris also kept Leo in mind.

‘I understand why Celia admires him so much.’

As the heir of Zerdinger and the Student Council President of Lumeran.

Ris was a flawless individual beyond reproach.

Not only was his prowess remarkable, but his character also stood out.

‘A person nearing the status of a hero, no doubt.’

It felt inevitable that Ris would one day ascend to the Hero’s position.

“So, big brother! Which Hero Dungeon did you conquer this time, and which hero was it?”

As they continued their conversation, Celia asked.

“I can’t tell you that yet; it’s still a confidential matter. However, I can mention that I’ve recovered two pages.”

“Really?”

“Yes. One is too damaged, making it impossible to reconstruct even the Hero’s World.”

With a hint of regret in his voice, Ris checked the time.

It was already evening.

“It’s dinner time already. Don’t you two know about the hidden gem restaurants in Lumeria?”

“No, is there such a place?”

“Of course. Do you think I spent these 5 years at Lumeran for nothing? Today, I’ll take you to a truly delicious place.”

“Woo-hoo!”

Celia gleefully stood up with a bright smile.

“Leo, is there anything you don’t eat?”

“I eat everything fine.”

“Alright, noted. Head down first. I have to tidy up a bit before coming down.”

Celia, humming a little tune, pushed Leo’s back while heading out.

Ris pulled out from his luggage the box containing the pages of Hero Record that he collected on this expedition.

Something the regular students must never see, thus he always kept it with him during outings.

While holding the box, which was slightly larger than the palm of his hand, Ris hesitated.

An unusual power ripple emanated from the box.

“What is this? Is the Hero Dungeon I cleared going rogue?”

Ris wore a tense facial expression.

Pages taken from torn Hero Records were inherently unstable.

Occasionally, even after clearing the dungeon, they could trigger a rogue event leading to the formation of another Hero Dungeon.

Upon opening the box to check, Ris furrowed his brows.

The Hero Record was utterly unresponsive.

‘Wait. Surely not?’

He hurriedly opened the box with the heavily damaged page.

A tiny fragment, no bigger than a finger’s width, was emitting a pale gray light.

Until now, the page, which had shown no reaction, manifesting its power left Ris astonished.

‘What is this…?’

——————==