Chapter 334

334

In the coldest part of the northern continent, there lay the territory of the elves.

Among the many territories of the elves, one city was regarded as particularly significant.

Langen.

In some long-forgotten past, the Comet Wizard, Seirun Tingel, who carried on the will of the Star Cloud progenitor, was born here.

The ancestor of the Star Cloud, the Fairy Knight, the Comet Wizard.

Out of the three great figures of the elves—Luna and Berkiya, who lived 5,000 years ago, have left no record of their exact birthplaces.

However, as the Comet Wizard’s birthplace is clearly known, Langen is regarded as a “holy site” among the elves.

Given that one of the heroes who is called the “Reincarnation of the Ancestor” and saved the world from another crisis was Seirun, his hometown being referred to as a holy site is certainly merited.

At the towering castle in the center of such a Langen, an elf standing in the highest room of the castle gazed out at the bleak winter landscape of Langen before turning his gaze to a letter in his hand.

“Leo Flove asks for a letter of recommendation so that he can study abroad at Seirun.”

Tion Tingel, the current head of the Tingel family, furrowed his brow in puzzlement as he folded the letter that had been delivered by his brother.

“Didn’t he say he was going to Lumeran as a visiting professor? Why would he make such a request?”

Setting the letter on the table, Tion sat down in his chair with measured steps and picked up a quill.

The Tingel family has been regarded as one of the premier families among the elves for ages, but they’ve traditionally refrained from political involvement.

The Hero Academy established by the Comet Wizard.

Since Seirun became the focal point of the elven power structure, the Tingel family could have ruled as royalty among the elves without any issues.

Considering that the elves, compared to all other races, have an unparalleled sense of unity, the Tingel family could have ruled as the sole monarchs over the elven people.

However, because of one statement Seirun left behind, the Tingels could not become royalty.

“The elves do not need a king.”

No one knows why Seirun left that statement behind.

But following this directive from the great Comet Wizard, the Tingels naturally distanced themselves from the elven parliament.

Even so, their influence remains formidable.

Seirun has no official exchange student program.

But if the head of the Tingels says so, creating a new program to accept exchange students like Leo Flove is not impossible.

Even if he is the current talk of the elven community known as “Leo Flove,” it makes no difference.

After drafting a letter to the deputy principal of Seirun, Tion sent it off via a familiar to the Academy.

He reached out for the newspaper sitting on his desk.

“In the same class as the Hero of the Beginning.”

As he read about the heroics mentioned in the newspaper, Tion’s lips curled into a smirk.

“I wonder what kind of impression Seirun will leave on him.”

That evening,

Leo began packing to prepare for his journey to Seirun.

Before setting off, he took a moment to visit the training grounds behind the first-year boys’ dormitory.

Luke was staggering his way around the training grounds.

As Leo’s mentee, Luke’s daily routine was fairly straightforward.

He woke up earlier than anyone else in the first year to train physically at the training grounds.

He’d then attend classes and finish up with more physical training than anyone else until late.

On his wrists and ankles, Luke always wore artifacts that added extra strain on his body.

“Uhff!”

Luke covered his mouth and gasped as he continued his run.

He’d long since exhausted his physical strength, but perseverance and his mental fortitude kept his body moving.

He struggled, barely avoiding any disgraceful collapses, but managed to press forward by sheer force of will.

Finally, after achieving his target, he collapsed onto the ground on his back.

Thud.

“There’s no need to push yourself this hard.”

Leo approached him as he lay there.

“Le-Leo-senpai!”

Luke scrambled weakly to his feet at the sight of his mentor.

Smiling upon seeing Luke’s reaction, Leo continued,

“The training regimen I’ve given you alone is already enough to strain your body to its limits.”

The harsh regimen of physical endurance to build a strong body, combined with the magical strength awakening drills and extensive studying, was brutal.

Yet, Luke pushed himself harder, grinding his teeth and lowering his head.

“What if you get expelled because of me?”

The merciless penalty of expulsion looming over him as a mentor if one of his mentees failed exams was no small matter.

Indeed, hearing the voices of his peers wasn’t helping Luke’s growing anxiety.

Leo, his mentor, had been compared to the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle—a fellow all-class prodigy and an unprecedented first-year student council president. Leo was even considered potentially the strongest student in Lumeran’s history.

On the other hand, Luke, his mentee, constantly faced scorn for being the worst performing student in Lumeran’s history.

“Don’t worry; it’s not entirely your fault,” Leo said with a faint smile.

“If anything, it’s my choice. And it’s my responsibility. You shouldn’t feel too burdened by this.”

As Leo spoke, he looked down at Luke, his red eyes reflecting the younger student.

“You have the potential to become a hero.”

To be a hero, one does not need exceptional talent or accomplishments.

Nor does one require the praise of people or the acknowledgment of gods.

“Things were simpler back when we didn’t have the Hero Record,” Leo chuckled, remembering what his friend had once said:

“A hero refers to someone who doesn’t give up.”

With these words in mind, Leo spoke again.

“You need more confidence. Believe in yourself, or at least trust in my decision to select you.”

“Confidence?”

“Yes. If you can’t trust yourself, then trust the person who chose you.”

Luke’s eyes widened in shock, and after taking a deep breath, he stood up.

“I’ll run a bit longer, then!” he declared.

“Sounds good,” Leo nodded in approval.

As Luke took off again, Leo turned toward the warp gate.

The mentor-mentee relationship between Leo and Luke was unusual.

Other second-year students shared knowledge, examination strategies, or combat skills with their mentees.

But Leo was different. He simply handed Luke a training schedule and let him follow it.

“The Hero Academy has everything one needs to become a hero.”

Hero Academy was the perfect environment for nurturing someone into a hero.

All Leo did was help Luke prepare the foundation to absorb that training.

Throughout the process, Leo offered no hand or assistance.

He simply observed.

If Luke stumbled, Leo would catch him and push him forward again.

“True strength is valuable when it’s earned through your own two hands.”

Leo glanced back at Luke as he continued running.

Only the person within could change others’ opinions of them.

And Luke was putting in several times the effort of his peers.

“The term-end exams will be interesting.”

*

“I cannot accept this!”

In Seirun’s second-year faculty meeting room,

Lecber, the head of the second year, had become nearly apoplectic.

“Leo Flove?! Are you telling me we’re expected to take on Lumeran’s insolent delinquent as an exchange student?”

Bang!

Lecber slammed the table angrily.

A fierce look of indignation burned in his eyes.

Leo Flove.

Lecber still harbored a deep sense of humiliation from their previous encounter during the Smiths’ exclusive contract negotiation.

During the incident where the unruly Lunia was being reprimanded, Leo had embarrassed Lecber greatly.

He still remembered Leo’s derisive laugh as he waved the Polium, a reward from Lunia’s quest to conquer the world.

“You realize that Lunia, the Seirun student, has been reforming lately and is now one of the top students again?” Lecber’s forehead was red with fury.

At this, Herdium sighed deeply.

“Professor Lecber, though I have a question… Are these reformation classes truly effective?”

Herdium had been responsible for Lunia since her first year and knew her character very well.

From his perspective, Lunia did not need these corrective lessons.

“Of course, she’s a little unruly at times, but Lunia is capable of self-restraint and has excellent leadership skills, taking care of her fellow students.”

There is no perfect student that lives up to adult expectations.

Moreover, Herdium knew that the ideal image of an ideal student promoted by adults wasn’t always the best for the students’ growth.

He also realized that Lecber’s definition of an ideal student was largely aligned with those of elf supremacist standards.

“Besides, the content of those supplementary lessons…”

Herdium sighed internally.

“What nonsense is this?”

Lunia’s voice echoed in Herdium’s ears as though it was a distant memory.

“Absolutely effective. Lunia is returning to her original state.”

Orlen, the teacher responsible for Lunia’s supplementary lessons, smiled brightly.

Upon seeing Orlen, Herdium’s expression twisted with unease.

“Their approach hasn’t really changed, has it?”

If anything, the only difference was whether or not they were pretending now more than they used to.

Considering both Lecber and Orlen had transferred to Seirun this year, it only highlighted their severe shortcomings as educators.

But Herdium didn’t bring it up.

He knew that voicing such concerns would only cause more trouble for the students.

“This is a rare opportunity. Leo will undoubtedly influence the Seirun students in some way.”

Herdium personally believed that Seirun needed change.

Though he’d only met Leo a few times, he sensed that the boy was capable of bringing about transformation—whether positive or negative.

“Things are already at their worst, so it can only get better from here.”

Just as Herdium set his jaw firmly,

“Professor Lecber, I have a suggestion.”

Orlen, lifting her tea cup gracefully, sipped it before smiling meaningfully.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t worry about whether Leo Flove will negatively impact Lunia. We should just ensure that doesn’t happen, shouldn’t we?”