372
The middle-aged man, seated on the throne, spoke with a grave voice.
“So, it seems students have also arrived from Lumeran, is that right?”
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
“How absolutely disrespectful!”
Bang-!
King Bihir III of Alehem struck the armrest of his throne fiercely and shouted.
“What nerve do they have to doubt me and dare to investigate my land so lightly!”
As King Bihir III revealed his anger, the ministers dared not meet his eyes, bowing their heads deeply.
Everyone swallowed hard.
Alehem.
A country branded with the unfortunate title of the largest slum nation, where all kinds of things illegal elsewhere are made legal.
The country receives criticism as an open display of hell on earth for the abandonment and slow d*ath of countless of its citizens, and as a result, its king is looked down upon by other nations.
However, within Alehem, he remains an absolute ruler with uncontested power.
The entire nation had been driven into ruin to serve the wealth and power within his grasp.
And those nobles entangled in that wealth and power.
In Alehem, the words of the king were law and truth.
Yet, the king’s power in Alehem does not hold over Lumeran.
Unlike the King of Alehem, who doesn’t receive proper recognition as a legitimate head of state abroad, Lumeran is a pan-national entity.
A place cultivating future heroes to guide the world, where the students are known as ‘the future of each nation.’
Students with boundless talent from countless countries gather here.
Among them are the children of families powerful enough to erase Alehem from the map.
King Bihir III felt immense irritation simply at the fact that hundreds of people over whom his power did not extend resided on his land.
One of the nobles, observing the situation, cautiously spoke up.
“Today, the students from Lumeran are visiting the palace to have discussions with the royal wizards…”
Snap! Clang!
“Ugh! Those utterly disrespectful individuals have not only set foot on my land without restraint, but now they dare to invade my very castle with their dirty feet!”
Grabbing a golden goblet filled with wine and throwing it across the room, King Bihir III let out even greater rage.
“What exactly are you all doing?! You, the nobles of this country! You, my servants, are allowing these arrogant, inexperienced brats to act as they please!”
The nobles could only bow their heads in response to King Bihir III’s outburst.
They could not block the students even if they wanted to.
The reason Lumeran sent the students this time is purely for the “exploration of a Hero Dungeon.”
The Hero Record is owned by the Hero Academies.
Moreover, leaving a Hero Dungeon unattended threatens the world and is a matter of maintaining world peace.
Hero Academies do not use recovered Hero Dungeons for private purposes.
Therefore, no country has the authority to prevent Lumeran from investigating these Hero Dungeons.
This is not some unofficial rule.
3000 years ago,
Rodia, known as the Dragon of the Cataclysm, gathered all the world’s heroes and kings to establish what was called the “Law of the World.”
Yet, in this place, no noble dared to utter this fact.
Speaking would risk losing one’s head.
While all the nobles were exchanging looks, a young man entered the meeting hall and said,
“Calm down, Your Majesty.”
“Cough! Lord Evarn.”
Upon hearing the words of the young man who entered, King Bihir III’s anger began to subside.
The entry of this man brought a smile to the faces of the nobles.
Delean Evarn.
A man who had settled in Alehem five years ago and quickly rose to become one of King Bihir III’s closest advisors.
And Delean was the one person King Bihir III, known for his arrogance, respected in this country.
Delean was a Lumeran graduate from ten years ago.
It was a remarkable achievement for Alehem—an entity that hadn’t produced a single Lumeran student or graduate for hundreds of years.
Delean’s existence was not publicly known.
However, it was common knowledge among the gathered individuals here that he deeply involved himself in the governance of Alehem.
His arrival was welcomed by the nobles as he was the sole person capable of calming King Bihir III.
“Lumeran’s arrogance is something I’ve come to understand well, being a graduate from there.”
Shaking his head as if in disgust, Delean continued his statement.
“But there is nothing we can do to stop Lumeran. They are, after all, those who consider themselves the enforcers of the law.”
Delean’s words caused King Bihir III’s clenched fists to tremble.
“But you don’t need to worry, Your Majesty.”
Delean straightened up and offered a formal bow.
“They are merely first or second-year students. They won’t possibly reach what is precious to you.”
This statement relieved King Bihir III’s face.
Delean was the one leading the exploration efforts for the concealed Hero Dungeon that Alehem was secretly hiding.
No matter how many hundreds of people have come to investigate Alehem’s Hero Dungeon, they are merely first or second years.
And the Hero Dungeon had been hidden by none other than a graduate of Lumeran.
The disparity in ability was obvious to anyone.
“But isn’t Leo Flove, the Student Council President, among the second years from Lumeran?”
King Bihir III’s face displayed an uncomfortable hint of worry again.
“Leo Flove, yes, I’ve heard he’s a monstrous peer.”
Delean chuckled faintly.
“But he’s still merely a second-year student. No matter how extraordinary he might be.”
“Hmm. Delain, I can trust only you.”
Delain smiled at the relieved expression on King Bihir III’s face.
“I will restore Alehem to its former glory for you.”
Leaving the pleasure district, Leo immediately headed towards his lodging.
Rael, despite concealing her identity as the Great Spirit of Light, had been operating within the underworld of this country, managing the ‘Pleasure Palace.’
“I haven’t been interested in the Hero Dungeon, but I do know this country has shown suspicious movements since at least five years ago.”
As the owner of the Pleasure Palace, she couldn’t ignore the naturally arising information.
Leaving the main street, Leo then arrived at the central street.
“Leo-ni. Where did you book your lodging, Leo-ni? I haven’t found one yet.”
Chelsea asked, her eyes glittering.
At the sight of Chelsea, Iliana cried out.
“Chelsea! Are you trying to form a party with the Class Leader to coast through this assignment?! Don’t get ahead of yourself! I’m going to form one with the Class Leader!”
“Do you think I’m like you?”
“Is that what you’re scheming?”
At Iliana’s exclamation, Chelsea looked utterly confused, while Chloe lazily opened her eyes.
Iliana covered her mouth, exclaiming,
“Hmph!”
“You kids of Class 5 sure are very dependent on Leo.”
Chloe crossed her arms, smiling faintly.
“Not with us in Class 1.”
When the rivals, Class 1 and Class 5, were together in the first year, they were always competing.
With their teacher Sedgen, who had rallied against Halind, naturally, Class 1 also did not want to fall behind Class 5.
While Class 5 initially just went along with it, the competition finally caught fire.
With Celina from Class 1, Chelsea, who couldn’t stand losing, also stirred up her friends.
Even now with competition between dormitories, a subtle competitive spirit lingers between students from Class 1 and Class 5.
In response to Chloe’s comment, Chelsea sniffed and said,
“Don’t lump me in with that idiot.”
“Yes, we’re not all like Iliana.”
“Hey! Kal! You shouldn’t say that! Aren’t you trying to form a party with the Class Leader and ride on his efforts too?”
Iliana retorted furiously to Kal’s statement.
However, this time Kal remained calm.
“Ah~ no no. Do you think I would do something as despicable as that?”
Shaking his head, he wore a smug expression.
“What’s most important in this task practice? Information gathering, of course. That’s my strong suit.”
Kal stroked his chin with his finger, smirking.
“I’ve received numerous cooperation requests during the task practice. So I’ve already formed a party with Chloe. Not like someone else.”
“Ugh!”
Iliana’s face turned frustrated, realizing there was no way to counter that statement.
“Then, since we’re all gathered here anyway, how about sharing information?”
“Did you get information in the pleasure district?”
“Yeah, it’ll be really useful.”
“Fine, then let’s convene at Leo’s lodging to hold a meeting.”
At Kal’s suggestion, Chelsea responded,
“I’ll summon a Servant Familiar to show everyone where Leo-ni’s lodging is. Bring your mentees along.”
Chelsea handed Familiars she conjured with magic to Kal and Chloe.
Just as they were about to disperse,
“Hehehe, Miss Chelsea.”
Iliana approached Chelsea, rubbing her palms together.
“You didn’t give me a Servant Familiar, did you?”
Wearing a submissive smile, Iliana asked cutely.
“Look at you, not giving even a tiny bit of consideration to someone you went to Class 5 with?”
“You’re useless.”
“But we were in the same Class 5! Isn’t even a little consideration for a close friend normal?”
“Uh-huh.” Chelsea said simply.
“Class Leader! They’re excluding me!”
Seeing Chelsea’s cold attitude, Iliana complained to Leo, grabbing onto him.
Sighing at the sight, Chelsea handed a Servant Familiar to Iliana as well.
“Senior Leo! Senior Chelsea! You’ve arrived!”
Luke, who had been waiting at the lodging, greeted Leo and Chelsea warmly.
Looking at Luke, Chelsea showed an irritated expression.
“You’ve booked your lodging here?”
At Chelsea’s reaction, Luke adopted a serious expression.
“Is a lodging with a personal shower in each room too luxurious, then?”
Luke had chosen a spotlessly clean and comfortable hotel as his lodging.
And that was its only advantage.
Amidst a street filled with all kinds of luxurious accommodations, this one looked unnecessarily shabby to the point of being pitiful.
But to Luke, who came from the countryside, even this was excessively extravagant.
“Here, complimentary beverages!”
Luke took the drinks, filled them, and handed them over.
While Chelsea glanced at Luke with a somewhat sympathetic look,
“Luke, wait here in the lounge. When Chloe, Kal, and Iliana arrive, head to my room together. Chelsea, take a shower and come.”
“Okay.”
“Yes.”
With that, Leo went upstairs to the room.
He entered the bathroom to take a shower and inquired,
“Rael, what does it mean that this country has shown suspicious movements for the past five years?”
—Exactly what it means. The palace is secretly exploring specific areas.
“Where?”
—Underneath Uargela and the Forest of Monsters. The Hero Dungeon is probably in the Forest of Monsters.
Shaaaa—!
Surprised by Rael’s answer, Leo asked while washing his hair.
“How can you be so sure the Hero Dungeon is in the Forest of Monsters?”
—I know what’s in the underground of Uargela.
“What’s there?”
—Rodia’s treasure vault exists there.
Upon hearing that, Leo hesitated for a moment.
After exiting the shower, drying his body, and wrapping a towel around his waist, Leo donned a gown.
“Rodia’s treasure vault?”
—Yes. It’s the treasure vault Rodia left for the one who would become her Vow Keeper.
“Hmm.”
At that exact moment, as Leo stroked his chin,
Knock knock.
“Leo-ni, I’m ready.”
Chelsea’s voice was heard.
“Come in.”
Creak—!
“Leo-ni, this hotel’s bathroom is not quite to my liking. The hot water’s not coming out properly, so I had to use magic, which was a bother……”
As Chelsea entered the room while complaining, she paused.
Soft moonlight seeped into the room, dimly lighting it.
Against this moonlight, Leo stood drying his hair with a towel.
Through a gap in the gown, the tight muscles of his chest were visible.
He looked like a delicate boy, but thanks to actual combat and rigorous training, Leo’s body carried masculine charm.
“Definitely different from Oniisan.”
Chelsea exclaimed in admiration.
Being siblings, Chelsea had often seen Abad in more relaxed moments, unavailable to others.
The aura around Leo was clearly different from Abad’s.
“Whoa, so you have actually trained rigorously as a knight.”
As Chelsea approached Leo and spoke,
“Can I feel your muscles?”
The question, driven by pure curiosity, made Leo laugh awkwardly, but he nodded.
Clap clap—
“Waah, they’re firm but elastic. This is what male muscle feels like.”
While inspecting Leo’s arm muscle, Chelsea’s gaze drifted to his chest.
For some reason, a strong desire overwhelmed her to touch it as well.
“It’s fine, right? Since Leo-ni said I could feel him.”
Swallowing hard, Chelsea placed her hand on Leo’s chest muscles, marveling at the sensation, different from that of his arm.
At some point, she realized that this situation might appear awkward to someone else.
‘If I draw attention now, it will just make things weird.’
Hiding her reddening face, Chelsea maintained her composure, removing her hand from Leo when—
“Leo! I’m out!”
Creak—!
Kal suddenly burst into the room, froze upon witnessing the scene inside.
The atmosphere in the room was odd.
Leo stood there with wet hair dressed only in a gown.
And another friend was touching this half-n*ked friend’s arms and chest.
The sight was beyond Kal’s imagination, and he bowed his head.
“I apologize for interrupting.”
Creak—!
As Kal tried to shut the door,
Whoosh—!
A gust of wind pulled him back into the room forcefully.
“It’s not like that.”
“I apologize profusely. I haven’t seen anything. Please continue…”
“No, it’s not what it looks like. I was just curious and touched him.”
Chelsea kept her cool while explaining the situation to clear up the misunderstanding.
“You don’t need to explain. I’ll keep your secret. I won’t tell anyone that we were alone in a dark room.”
“So you’re misunderstanding.”
“But I saw with these eyes the wet body of Leo being fondled by you. What misunderstanding is this? I’m starting to feel a little hurt. We’re close friends, aren’t we? You don’t need to keep secrets from me.”
“Leo-ni and I have seen each other sweaty many times, you know?”
“Huh?! Since when have you two been…….”
“Because it’s about training! Stop having vulgar thoughts!”
While Chelsea tried to maintain composure, she eventually burst out.
“Young people these days are precocious.”
As Leo murmured, drying his hair, Elshi sighed quietly.
—Leo should be more careful.
![[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")
