Chapter 550

550.

An existence claiming to be a god, Rian, drew the world’s attention to Lumeran.

“Wow… it’s completely chaotic.”

Early in the morning.

As Leo watched Illyana reading a newspaper in the dormitory lounge, he raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you reading the newspaper?”

At that, Illyana narrowed her eyes and replied.

“Why?! How dare you say such disrespectful things?”

Illyana folded the newspaper and sat up straight, then seriously stated.

“Pretty soon, we’ll be third-year students, you know? We’ll have underclassmen below us.”

“So?”

“We need to set a good example as seniors.”

Illyana, trying to resemble an elegant young lady by gracefully flicking her hair, caused a few male students passing through the lounge to silently mimic ‘whooshing’ sounds behind her back.

“How do I look? Do I seem like a noble lady?”

“Not at all.”

Leo’s response didn’t faze Illyana.

With graceful movements, she flipped another page of the newspaper.

At this, Leo placed one of the mugs in his two hands in front of Illyana.

“The coffee you requested is here.”

“Thanks. Our class leader always drinks coffee while reading the newspaper, and I was curious about the taste of the dorm leader’s coffee.”

Leisurely reaching for the cup, Illyana softly murmured, “Hmm~ it smells good,” before taking a small sip.

“Ugh?! Pht! Pht! What is this? Why is it so bitter?!”

“But you asked for the same thing as me, didn’t you?”

“Ugh! Why would anyone drink such bad-tasting stuff?”

“Well, one of my friends used to enjoy it.”

Leo replied while sipping his coffee.

5000 years ago.

There was a brief period of peace in Guardstron as well.

During those peaceful mornings, Lissinas often enjoyed this bitter coffee.

“Illyana, I just prepared some cocoa, would you like some?”

“Cocoa!”

Illyana quickly took the cup offered by Chloe.

“That’s right! There’s nothing better than cocoa on a cool autumn day!”

“She claims to act like a noble lady.”

“She’s completely like a child.”

Whispers came from various directions.

Of course, Illyana gracefully ignored them and elegantly held the newspaper.

“How dare they say such things?”

“Chloe, adults don’t pay attention to what kids say.”

Just as Illyana smiled confidently.

“Good morning, everyone.”

“Good morning!”

Chen Sia and Eiran entered the lounge.

Chen Sia, after finishing the morning training, took the vacant seat next to Illyana.

She poured herself a cup of tea from the kettle on the table and took a sip.

“I always feel it in her every move – her nobility makes her truly seem like a princess. And, of course, she really is one. Hehehe.”

Eiran chuckled, covering her mouth.

“Hmm.”

Illyana gave a slight cough.

“Eiran, don’t you feel something from me?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Nobility, the air of a princess.”

“Me?”

As Eiran made a bewildered expression, snickers emerged from various places.

“These guys really! They’ve been teasing me since this morning!”

“They said adults don’t pay attention to kids’ responses!”

“Being an adult doesn’t mean you have to endure everything!”

Illyana sharply shouted and chased after those who were mocking her.

“Truly chaotic in the morning, just as it always is in Lumeran.”

“Lunia, are you ready to return to Seirun?”

“Yeah.”

Unlike Eiran, who was an exchange student, Lunia had to return to Seirun that day.

Leo picked up the newspaper Illyana had left behind.

Lunia, leaning against the back of the couch where Leo sat, commented on the newspaper’s content.

“It’s all about gods since yesterday.”

“The appearance of a god after 5000 years.”

“Hmm, there are also many articles about the Heroes of the Cataclysm.”

The newspaper was full of articles concerning the Heroes of the Cataclysm.

As Lunia carefully checked the content, she narrowed her eyebrows.

“Is there no article related to you?”

“Nothing came out today either?”

Eiran approached Lunia side and checked the newspaper’s content behind Leo.

Although there were countless articles on the god and the Heroes of the Cataclysm, there was nothing about Leo.

“Lord Leo is the hero personally acknowledged by God to face Erebus. Why is there not a single story about him?”

“Humans’ interests are much more complicatedly intertwined than what Eiran thinks.”

Chen Sia placed her teacup down and continued.

“The God revealed the truths about the Era of Catastrophe we didn’t know. Facts like the Hero of Beginning was the one who could defeat Erebus and.”

Chen Sia subtly glanced at Leo.

“Then revealed that only Lord Leo could be the one to defeat Erebus, succeeding the Hero of Beginning.”

“In that case, shouldn’t Lord Leo receive more support? It means Lord Leo is the savior who can save this world, right?”

“A single, unparalleled being naturally implies that the public will naturally follow Leo. And that entails immense power. We might call it ‘power.'”

Lunia sighed.

“We’ve seen it before, right? Those who distort the legacy to fit their agenda.”

“Ugh! The Pureblood Society…”

At Eiran’s soft mutter, Chloe shrugged.

“People are the same everywhere we go.”

As Leo listened to his friends’ conversation while flipping through the newspaper, his eyes landed on an article.

[Rebellion in the Eastern Region of the Rodren Empire]

“Umm.”

Given the ties between Leo and the Zerdinger family, this article naturally caught his attention.

“Seems like nothing serious has happened for now.”

While examining the article’s content, Leo closed the newspaper.

“I should ask the kids from the Rodren Empire about this later.”

*

“There is a god revealed in the world once again! And through it, we have come to once again realize what we must do! Kal student! Why don’t you announce what that is?”

Professor Sedgen passionately stated.

In response to Sedgen’s call, Kal gave a serious reply.

“Even if the world changes dramatically, a student’s tragic fate to study in the classroom cannot be avoided.”

At this answer, bursts of laughter erupted from all directions.

“Hum hum! Very characteristic of Kal! Celia student!”

“I leave everything to you.”

Kal gave a thumbs up and a wink to Celia, who sat beside him.

That awkward charm drew a tongue click from Chelsea, who was sitting right behind him, covering her chin while listening to the lecture.

“Fool, professor Sedgen calling Celia Zerdinger was to warn you.”

“Wha? Ch-keugh!”

Celia’s fist plunged into Kal’s side.

Watching Kal clutch his side and pitiously roll on the floor, Celia gave a mocking laugh.

“Truly fitting of Mr. Kal. Always managing to barely escape failing grades. Instead of Mr. Kal, let’s have Teid student, who’s in the Department of Summoning, answer.”

Teid glanced with a sympathetic look at his friend on the floor as he replied.

“To combat the Catastrophe Flame.”

“That’s correct.”

Sedgen nodded gravely.

“The complete eradication of the Catastrophe Flame has been our long-held wish. Even the great heroes couldn’t achieve it. But on the other hand, people thought it wasn’t our affair.”

Sedgen’s words met no rebuttal from the students because they were true.

“Most people know that the demons in Tartarus are dangerous.”

Sedgen spoke seriously this time.

While he usually had a light-hearted demeanor, Sedgen was one of the most charismatic professors at Lumeran when he was serious.

“Additionally, all know that Erebus shall resurrect at some point and calamity will descend. However, few consider it an immediate crisis. Does anyone know why?”

To this, the students were silent.

They were aware of what Sedgen mentioned, but no one could articulate why it was a crisis.

They had never given it much deep thought.

“Five thousand years since the end of the Era of Catastrophe. Two thousand years since the Rebirth of Catastrophe.”

Sedgen didn’t expect an answer and continued.

“We know well what the scenes were like then through countless records and Hero Records. Regrettably, humans adapt. Even if they know the danger and that catastrophe could return again, if it doesn’t seem immediate, they become desensitized to even despairing futures.”

Sedgen scanned the students.

“And that won’t change despite the reappearance of the God and despite the intense battle of the Heroes of the Cataclysm. People remain desensitized if it doesn’t feel immediate.”

The students were silent at his cold words.

“Therefore, at a time like this, it’s your role that becomes increasingly important.”

Sedgen spoke seriously.

“All of you entered Lumeran for your own reasons, dreaming differently to become heroes.”

Sedgen checked the time on a pocket watch in his pocket.

“However, from now on, think again about what being a Hero truly means. This ends our lecture for today.”

As soon as he finished, the bell signaling the end of class rang on time.

Sedgen tidied up his materials and went outside.

The students stood up and began chatting.

“It’s a class that makes you reflect on many things.”

“Hmm… I only wanted to become the kingdom’s best knight hero and make our family the greatest family again. What is the essence of heroism?”

“Heroes are those who transform the times and lead people, right?”

The students seriously discussed the topic.

Watching them, Kal asked Leo.

“Leo, what do you think a hero is?”

“The person who suffers the most.”

At this answer, Kal chuckled.

“Shall we go eat lunch?”

“No, I have a student council meeting today.”

“Is that so?”

“Which is why… Kal.”

“Yeah?”

“Can you find out if any second-year students involved in clubs are interested in joining the Student Council?”

“That’s not too difficult. Leave it to me.”

Kal gave the thumbs-up, making Leo smile and pat him on the shoulder.

“Thank you.”

With that, Leo left the lecture hall.

“Kal! Let’s go eat lunch! Lord Leo went to the student council, right? Let’s eat together this time.”

Then Chelsea approached with Eiran.

Looking at Chelsea, Kal showed a sympathetic glance.

“What? What’s with that look?”

“Just that it seems Leo is planning the next year’s student council members.”

“Really? Ah, our fifth-year seniors will graduate soon.”

Chelsea nodded.

Kal continued to look at Chelsea empathetically.

“What? What’s with that glance?”

“Nothing, I just feel your school life might get a little complicated from now.”

Chelsea scrunched her face and looked at Kal with an ‘are you kidding me?’ expression.

‘The top students will all be potential candidates for being enslaved.’

Kal shook his head.