Chapter 338

Lunchtime at Seirun.

Leo was walking down the hallway of the first-year ‘Tower of Beginnings.’

Thubk- Thubk-

And at the end of the long hallway,

Swish-

A girl with gray hair peeked out from around the corner of the wall.

“Could that be Leo Flove? Am I sure? Is it not someone else who just looks similar?”

Having seen Leo leave the cafeteria, Lea hastily finished her meal and began chasing after him.

Even though Lea was certain it was Leo, she still struggled to fully understand the situation.

It didn’t make sense that the student council president of Lumeran would be pretending to be a student at Seirun.

“And as a first-year in one of the lower-level classes, no less?”

Because the situation was so strange, she pursued Leo to confirm his identity.

Thubk-

At that moment, when Leo stopped walking, Lea, startled, instinctively hid behind an armor decoration on the wall with a sudden ‘Shack!’

“Hold on a sec, why should I have any reason to hide? Can’t I just ask him?”

She was beginning to feel disappointed with herself for hiding when she heard a voice from behind.

“What are you doing?”

“Kyaaah?!”

Lea screamed in panic and clung onto the armor decoration as a voice came from behind.

Whoosh-!

Unable to bear Lea’s weight, the armor decoration wobbled.

Thud! Whoosh-!

Leo reached out his hand to catch Lea while using air magic to set the armor decoration back upright.

Seeing Leo’s face up close, Lea felt certain.

“Of course, it’s Leo Flove!”

“Are you alright?”

As Leo helped Lea regain her balance, she snapped out of her daze with a “Haa-!”

and quickly turned around while putting some distance between herself and Leo.

‘It’s really Leo Flove!’

Lea hurried to straighten her clothes.

After clearing her throat, she turned around to face the taller boy and greeted him respectfully.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Lea Tinggel.”

As Lea performed a polite bow, raising the hem of her school uniform skirt slightly, Leo looked at her with a puzzled expression.

‘First-year top student?’

This was the first-year representative of Seirun that Professor Tina had mentioned – an excellent student who had successfully communicated with Silrod.

‘Well, there’s nothing odd about meeting someone from the same first-year class, but why is she so formal?’

They were both first years.

And yet, Lea was treating Leo, who was in one of the lower-level classes, as though he were an upperclassman, which puzzled him.

Leo’s confusion was soon clarified by Lea.

“Are you Leo Flove? Why were you in the first-year cafeteria at Seirun? And in one of the lower-level classes?”

‘So she recognizes me.’

“Uh, maybe! Did Aunt Tina send you here to Seirun? Is that it? Hmm? Hmm?”

“Why all the fuss?”

“I like you!”

Leo’s face contorted strangely as this girl, whom he had just met that day, declared her affection.

Unable to contain her excitement, Lea continued to talk.

“Since I was little, I’ve always loved the fairy tale about the Hero of Beginnings, Kyle! It’s… well… kind of tragic, isn’t it? But I see him as a truly moving Great Hero! And you are part of the All Class like Kyle! And you also helped reveal the fact that Kyle was a real person! Oh! My heart races every time I hear the stories of your heroics!”

Watching Lea speak so rapidly, Leo’s face showed bewilderment.

In truth, there were quite a few among the students of Lumeran who were fanatical followers of the great heroes.

And it wasn’t just Lumeran students; this was a common trait across all hero academies.

They admire heroes and dream of becoming one, thus it isn’t strange to deeply respect those heroes who saved the world and are considered the greatest.

In particular, there’s no rule that says you need to admire the Great Hero of your own race just because it’s your race.

Elves can revere Aron for his immense courage, or they can admire Lissinas for his wisdom in leading everyone.

It’s only natural to have different Great Heroes that people revere based on individual inclinations.

However…

‘This one says she likes me the most.’

Kyle, revealed to be a real person now, had long been treated as a fictional character over thousands of years.

Compared to other Great Heroes, Kyle was considerably obscure.

In fact, people who liked Kyle’s story could be summed up as Chelsea, Eiran, and Luke. And even among them, Kyle isn’t necessarily their most admired or respected hero.

Yet, here was an elf, someone with a strong racial pride, calling Kyle her favorite Great Hero.

“Why is that? I thought… if you’re here to apply to Lumeran…”

Lea clasped her hands together.

“But why are you at Seirun?”

“I’m here as an exchange student.”

“An exchange student! Oh! I see! But…”

Lea wore a very bewildered expression.

“So… why… first-year lower-level class?”

The student exchange program does not exist in Seirun.

However, being a member of the Tinggel family, Lea knew well about the family’s influence.

Even though the Tinggel family may not be well-known, if their request were made, creating an exception for a non-existent system wouldn’t be too challenging.

Lea also thought that having someone like Leo around as an exchange student would be a great boon to Seirun.

She had never met him personally, nor were they acquaintances.

But his achievements as a hero candidate were undeniable proofs that he was an extraordinary person.

‘More like a hero.’

The thought that such a person was in 1st year instead of 2nd was puzzling.

Lea, who had considered applying to Lumeran because of Leo, would have been ecstatic about studying with him.

‘But… lower-level class?’

It didn’t make sense.

As Lea looked confused, Leo asked,

“Lea Tinggel.”

“Ah! Please call me Lea casually! Flob senior!”

“Senior? But I’m not officially a Seirun student, right?”

“Even if you’re from another hero academy, you’re still a hero candidate, and you started one year before me. You’re clearly a senior, Flob Senior! Oh, what a wonderful way to refer to you.”

Watching Lea getting excited by herself, Leo chuckled.

“Alright, Lea, what do you think about the lower-level classes?”

“The lower-level classmates? Teachers say these students don’t work hard.”

Leo clicked his tongue at her innocent response.

‘Is that how they’re educating them?’

It seems the students in lower-level classes were being labeled as “those who don’t put in the effort.”

‘The direction Seirun is heading is clear.’

Founded by the Comet Wizard who aimed to follow the legacy of the Star Cloud,

the current dominant force in Seirun appears intent on shaping the school into an institution specifically for training the Comet Wizard’s heir.

A school for only the exceptional Star Magic users.

‘Is that really what the Comet Wizard would have wanted?’

The Great Heroes, including Lunia, fighting against the Pieces of Erebus within the Hero Records.

‘If Seirun had truly followed Lunia’s vision, would he have wanted a school only for Star Magic users?’

Lunia’s dream was for a world where flowers bloom.

Watching just the one peaceful landscape, she risked everything in her battle against Erebus.

For a student 2000 years removed, though they had never met,

the heart of one who sacrificed themselves to fight Erebus for the world likely wasn’t much different from that of the heroes 5000 years ago, nor from their friends.

Seirun likely wouldn’t have wanted a school solely for Star Magic.

Seirun wouldn’t have sought someone to carry his banner.

He would have simply desired to pass on the wish to protect this world,

a world that he and the generations before him rebuilt with all their might.

‘If we had been in the same situation as the Great Heroes, we would have done the same.’

Seirun currently was misguided.

Surely, there must be students among the higher years who realize this.

‘At first, I intended not to care whether the school rises or falls.’

Leo chuckled and said to the strange elf who most admired the Hero of Beginnings,

“Lea Tinggel.”

“Oh my, please call me Lea…”

“If I give you some homework, can you handle it?”

“What kind? If it’s about the theory of Star Magic, I can do it by tomorrow…”

“Can you ask your seniors what they think about the current state of Seirun?”

“What do the seniors think about the current state of Seirun?”

“Lunia and Eiran.”

At the mention of the top two second-years, who were currently the talk of the school, Lea’s eyes grew wide.

“If they’re reluctant to talk, just say I asked.”

“Sure! In return, can you please do me a favor?”

“What favor?”

“Treat me as your junior and teach me magic, Senior Flob.”

Hem! With her chest puffed out, Leo smirked at Lea.

“Alright.”

“Yay!”

Watching Lea joyfully, Leo continued,

“And let’s keep it a secret from your peers that I’m here as an exchange student.”

“It’ll be our little secret, Senior Flob! Got it!”

With a beaming laugh, Lea dashed down the hallway.

Apparently, she was heading straight to Lunia and Eiran.

Watching her go, Leo chuckled.

‘Not sure if I’m turning a good kid into a troublemaker.’

He briefly had that thought but then looked at the scenery outside the hallway window of the ‘Tower of Beginnings’ and muttered,

‘Maybe it’s time for a serious overhaul?’

*

Spring in the Northern Continent is fierce.

The intense cold of the Northern Continent might be a natural occurrence,

but the faces of those working were filled with vitality.

The faces of the elves looking at the soon-to-be-completed ‘Tower of Beginnings’ were bright.

They believed without doubt that this place would be a new hope and future.

“Your school is almost finished, too.”

“Mhm.”

An elf woman smiled and glanced at the only human present.

“How about your school, Lumeran?”

Lumeran responded to the elf.

“The freshmen are cute.”

“Are they?”

“Yep. Don’t make that face, Seirun.”

While Lumeran smiled at his gloomy friend,

as soon as he turned his head,

Seirun looked up.

Just then, it appeared.

The only “real” symbol of calamity visible to anyone present—

Black Flame.

When they were establishing the hero academy, they had no doubts.

That heroes would arise to protect the world.

But now…

‘Already 2900 years… will we be able to hold out until then?’