Chapter 54

## Chapter 53

“Then, everyone. Our class is decided to go to Elsalbekia, right?”

“Yes!”

In response to Sena’s question, everyone in Class 5 answered in unison.

The day after the party.

All the students in Class 5, including Leo, were in the classroom even though it was the weekend.

It wasn’t just Class 5; other classes were also busy, even from the early hours of the weekend morning, discussing heatedly about the field trip destinations.

Standing at the front with Nella, Leo gathered the opinions for Class 5, and upon finishing, he wore a satisfied expression about the decision to go to Elsalbekia.

‘We just have to go to the city where the Fairy Forest is located.’

“Since the class leader says we should go, there must be a reason~”

“Right. If it’s Class Leader’s choice, we can trust it.”

The reason Class 5 ended up choosing Elsalbekia was heavily influenced by Leo.

“That’s good. We’ve decided quickly.”

Sitting in the corner of the classroom and watching the class meeting, Halind flicked his finger.

“Class Leader, Assistant Class Leader, distribute these printed documents.”

A bundle of printouts from his bag flew toward the two of them.

Leo and Nella passed them out to their classmates.

“Let’s take a look.”

“Supplies list?”

“Do we need to prepare these things separately?”

As the students expressed questions while looking at the printouts, Halind responded with an expressionless face.

“You only have this weekend to prepare. Once the class meeting is over, everyone should take care of their preparations individually. That’s enough for this meeting. Dismissed.”

The students all stood up in unison.

“Class Leader and Assistant Class Leader, please stay.”

At these words, Leo and Nella, who were about to return to their seats, paused.

“Let’s head to Rumelia City right now!”

“Okay!”

“Isn’t Elsalbekia a country that’s cold all year round? I want to go shopping for winter clothes!”

While happily chatting, the students of Class 5 left the classroom.

“Big Brother Leo, Older Sister Nella! We’ll wait for you at the dock!”

“Hurry up.”

Chelsea and Kal also waved and exited the class.

Now, only four people remained in the classroom.

Halind addressed Leo and Nella, who were standing in front of him.

“Although everyone seems excited, as Class Leader and Assistant Leader, you two are not going to take the field trip lightly, are you?”

In response to Halind’s straightforward question, the two of them nodded.

“Yes.”

“That may be true, but Lumeran is not an easy place.”

At this answer, Halind nodded.

“Good. Then, I’ll ask you this.”

“What…?”

“I was originally planning on setting the schedule myself once the field trip destination was decided. However, I momentarily thought that perhaps letting you two handle it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“What do you mean?”

“Yes. Assistant Class Leader and Class Leader, why don’t you two plan the schedule? Of course, if it feels burdensome, I’ll handle it as planned.”

‘Plan the schedule for the whole class with just Leo and me? Though Professor Halind seems to trust us, is this alright?’

Nella was deep in thought.

However, Leo subtly turned up the corners of his mouth.

‘This turned out pretty well, didn’t it?’

For Leo, whose ultimate destination was the Fairy Forest, this turned out to be a good situation.

“We’ll do it.”

The immediate response startled not only Nella but Sena as well, causing them to wear expressions of surprise.

“Will you be able to do it well?”

“Did you not suggest it because you believed we could do it well?”

His bold words made Halind smirk.

“Nella Kaven, what’s your opinion?”

“It’s the Assistant Class Leader’s duty to assist the Class Leader, isn’t it?”

Nella sighed lightly and gave her characteristic lazy smile.

“Understood. Then I’ll expect good work from you. Report regularly to Associate Professor Sena every night.”

After hearing this, Leo and Nella bowed and left the classroom.

“Quite radical.”

“I was just curious about the extent of Leo Flove’s capabilities.”

Halind opened the attendance book and looked at Leo’s picture.

“This first-year generation is somewhat extraordinary.”

“Indeed, they are exceptionally talented. Celia, Duran, Chen Sia, Abad, Chloe, Warden, Eliza—they’re all skilled enough to represent the first-year class without question.”

Though outstanding talents often gather in Lumeran, having such a number of exceptional talents from one generation isn’t common.

“Among them, Leo Flove is special.”

“He’s an all-rounder.”

“It’s not simply because of that that he’s special.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means Professor Alby’s evaluation wasn’t wrong—Leo has the makings of a hero.”

Sena’s eyes widened.

Halind was a professor whose accuracy in assessing students was unrivaled.

‘That Halind would say as much…’

Halind closed the attendance book.

‘Whether liked or not, Leo Flove stirs those around him. And the students affected by that are achieving remarkable progress.’

An existence that significantly impacts its surroundings.

Such a person is called a hero.

‘The depth of that strength is indeed astonishing.’

Thinking thus far, Halind got up from his seat.

“The arrangements for the field trip will be entrusted to you.”

“Is it because you’re busy from the mid-term incident?”

“Ask no further. It’s a story that others who are not full professors shouldn’t know.”

At that, Sena smiled and slightly bowed her head.

*

After reaching the entrance of Courage Street, the main strip of Rumelia City, Illiana proposed.

“Let’s split into three teams of two!”

“It would be more efficient than all of us wandering together.”

As Nella agreed with a laugh, Teid asked,

“How will we form groups?”

“Let’s have rock-paper-scissors. Those who pick the same thing go together.”

Everyone nodded at Kal’s suggestion.

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

After a few rounds of rock-paper-scissors, the teams were set: Leo and Chelsea, Kal and Nella, Illiana and Teid.

“Alright, now let’s decide what each team will buy.”

Leo and Chelsea were assigned to buy food supplies.

Kal and Nella would handle equipment.

Illiana and Teid were assigned potion purchases.

Food supplies, equipment, and potions.

These were all the items the students were told to prepare.

Moreover, each student was given a certain amount of funds.

As Illiana stroked her chin while checking the printout,

“It feels like preparing for an expedition mission.”

“Since it’s an Lumeran department event, it might be similar to the mission experiences we’ll have starting from next semester.”

“Hmm! That could be true!”

At Chelsea’s words, Illiana nodded.

“So, let’s meet back here in three hours to have lunch! Let’s disband!”

Thus, the teams separated.

As Chelsea was about to enthusiastically start, she hesitated.

“But how do we get food supplies?”

This was quite an obstacle for her, the elite noble daughter from a hero house.

“Follow me.”

“Huh?”

Chelsea widened her eyes and followed Leo hesitantly.

Leo headed towards the Courage Street market as if he were familiar with it.

Meanwhile, he began purchasing expedition food supplies.

Starting with preserved food, moving on to ingredients.

Since they had brought along an interspace for food storage, storing the supplies didn’t prove troublesome.

Watching Leo skillfully buy what was needed, Chelsea widened her eyes.

Finally, they stopped by the fruit store where the owner had thrown apples to Leo and Celia on the day of the entrance ceremony.

As they approached the shop, as usual, the owner greeted them with a hearty laugh.

“Ah! Lumeran students, how about it? What year are you in?”

“First year.”

“Ho? First year? What’s your name?”

“Leo Flove.”

“Leo Flove? No way! The Leo Flove who’s the representative of the first year?”

The owner of the fruit shop widened his eyes in surprise.

“Do you know Big Brother Leo?”

“Of course I do! Student, look at this!”

“Our school’s newspaper club released a newspaper.”

As Leo took the newspaper with a curious look,

[The unprecedented all-rounder first-year, Leo Flove, is gaining attention.]

An article about Leo was featured.

“This is a tremendous honor, huh? Hahaha! Can I shake your hand?”

‘What a hearty uncle.’

Leo thought to himself as he shook hands with the man.

“Heh! Feels good! Let me give you a discount!”

“Thank you.”

Leo smiled.

“I once dreamed of becoming a hero but found out I had no talent!”

The fruit vendor smacked his forehead and laughed heartily, looking somewhat regretful.

“So, when I see students like you, I feel envious and want to be kind. Aren’t you all the future of this world?”

At this, Chelsea made a slightly embarrassed expression.

“The only thing I can do is cheer, but I’m just a normal guy, you know.”

“That encouragement will be a great strength for us.”

“Huh?”

“Heroes are that kind of existence.”

Leo smiled faintly.

In the era of despair,

The expedition team that tried to fall numerous times was repeatedly rekindled by people who hoped and cheered for them.

Upon hearing Leo’s words, the fruit vendor widened his eyes and laughed heartily.

“I’ve seen many Lumeran students, but you, my boy, are special! I like it! From today, I’m your fan!”

The laughing fruit vendor handed an apple to Leo and Chelsea.

“Big Brother Leo is really good at these kinds of things? It doesn’t seem like the skill of someone who has only done it once or twice.”

While taking a hearty bite into the apple, Chelsea inquired.

“I’ve done it a few times before.”

During his previous life, supplies were very important.

‘There was no way not to get used to it.’

Thinking back, he took a bite into the apple.

“We still have lots of time left. What should we do during the rest of the time?”

Chelsea tapped her finger thoughtfully.

“I have somewhere I need to go.”

“Where? Can I come with you?”

“It’s a personal errand.”

At Leo’s words, Chelsea nodded.

“Let’s meet up at the agreed place a little later.”

“Alright.”

With a look of disappointment, Chelsea waved her hand, and Leo smiled slightly before entering a back alley.

‘Where around here did they say?’

As Leo looked around the back alley, he soon stopped in front of a shop called Ruteck.

“Here it is.”

It looked like an ordinary sundry goods shop in the alley from the outside.

But this was none other than the place where Chloe had purchased demon tools.

When he turned the shop door handle, it was locked.

Leo recited an unlocking magic spell.

Click! Creak!

Inside, the shop was dimly lit.

“Light.”

He cast a basic light magic spell, illuminating the inside.

‘The investigation should already be completed, right? Nevertheless…’

Looking at the shop interior, which was in disarray, he narrowed his eyes.

‘This place is related to demon tools. They might have left something behind.’

Leo carefully surveyed the interior.

However, he didn’t find anything unusual.

The only thing remaining was a dusty teddy bear stuck in a corner of the display.

‘What? A teddy bear?’

This place had already been thoroughly investigated by Lumeran.

Surely, every single item from the store would have been taken for inspection.

So why was there a teddy bear?

Upon realizing this, Leo was startled.

‘Bewitchment magic?’

At that thought,

Ghooowww!

Black energy flowed out from the teddy bear’s eyes.

Gurk! Gurk! Yack! Yack!

The teddy bear, spreading black energy, began mutating into a mass of flesh and growing larger.

‘A demon!’

Flash!

Finger-sized bulging eyes popped out on the bulging flesh, which then twitched and locked eyes with Leo.

Crunch!

At the same moment, tentacles of flesh stretched out to capture Leo.

Thud!

The store floor caved in.

Fwoosh!

Leo ignited a flame of aura.

Kang!

The demon’s body caught on fire.

But as the flames faded,

[Heeheehee. Heeheehee!]

A mocking sound echoed.

Hearing the laughter, Leo felt a chill.

‘This voice is…!’

It was a voice that Leo was well acquainted with.

‘Demon Queen… Silatuna!’

—