Chapter 105
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“I never knew you had the talent to be an All-Class.”
“I only found out after I went to the academy, Father.”
Leo spoke nonchalantly as he chatted with his father, Dade, over dinner.
“He’s my son, but… I have no idea how we produced such a monster.”
Reina, too, shook her head in disbelief.
Even Reina, who had seen the makings of a genius knight in her son, had never dreamed that Leo was an All-Class.
When she heard the story, she couldn't believe her ears.
Enjoying dinner with his parents for the first time in a while, Leo told them about what had happened at the academy.
“That brings back so many memories.”
Reina smiled brightly, recalling her own school days.
“Ain, is he still as blunt as ever?”
“You know Professor Ain?”
“Yes. He was in my class.”
Leo looked at Reina with admiration as she spoke so casually.
“Come to think of it, you two are the same age.”
“Yep. Still, Ain… hehe.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking how fun it would be to see him at the parent observation event in the second semester. No, wait! Professor Halind is coming during this break, isn't he? I have to tease him!”
Reverting to her schoolgirl days, Reina beamed with a youthful expression.
“Professor Halind? Even his former students are too intimidated to move a muscle around him. Are you sure you should be teasing him?”
“Hm? Why would they be intimidated? Professor Halind is so kind.”
“…”
The word ‘kind’—something that didn't suit Halind, the man known as Lumerne's Wailing Wall, in the slightest—made Leo's expression turn strange.
Leo himself had no reason to be intimidated by Halind, but every other first-year trembled before him.
Actually, even the upperclassmen and other professors trembled.
‘Well, I’m sure she’ll handle the consequences herself.’
Leo shrugged and enjoyed the home-cooked meal he hadn't had in a long time.
Dade watched him with a pleased expression.
“Oh, by the way, I also met Ms. Pirina.”
“Hm? Pirina?”
Reina was startled.
“Why is Pirina at Lumerne?”
“She said it was for personal reasons.”
“Is that so?”
“And I formed a contract with Ms. Pirina's daughter.”
Reina’s jaw dropped.
“What? You contracted with a phoenix?”
Since this fact wasn't known to the public, Reina and Dade were completely shocked.
Seeing their reaction, Leo channeled his spiritual power and drew a summoning circle.
A moment later, Piora appeared through the circle in her true form.
Chirp?
“Oh my? What a cute little bird. Come here?”
Reina exclaimed in admiration and beckoned.
Piora tilted her head but approached Reina without much suspicion.
Then, she started pecking at the steak on Reina’s plate.
Reina watched her with an affectionate gaze before asking Leo.
“So, where is this phoenix you contracted with?”
Chirp! Chirp!
Piora spread her wings wide and chirped as if in protest.
Seeing this, Leo stated calmly.
“She is the phoenix.”
At his words, Piora elegantly folded her wings and lifted her chin.
“…But it’s a chick?”
Chirp-!
She protested again, clearly displeased.
“She is a phoenix. Her name is Piora.”
“I see.”
As Reina accepted Leo’s explanation, Piora once again bowed her head in an elegant gesture of greeting.
“But wasn't Pirina's daughter supposed to contract with Ellen's daughter?”
“It just sort of happened. I've already met the heir of Lundua and we've talked things over.”
“Ellen's daughter? Ah! You must have met her on the school trip.”
The surprised Reina nodded her head.
Then she let out a dry laugh.
“My. You really had a hectic semester.”
“Isn't this just how it is at Lumerne?”
“No matter how tough Lumerne is, it's not easy to have a semester as spectacular as yours.”
Reina, a Lumerne alumna herself, shook her head and said.
“Anyway, you must have had a hard time this semester, so get plenty of rest during the break.”
After finishing their meal and even enjoying dessert, Reina, having had a long conversation with her son for the first time in a while, returned to her room humming a tune.
After washing up and getting ready for bed, Dade entered the room and saw Reina looking at something she had taken out at her desk, a curious expression on his face.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
“My old school album.”
Dade smiled gently and sat down beside Reina.
“You finally feel like looking at it?”
“Yes. Hearing Leo’s stories made me feel nostalgic.”
Reina, who had lost her flames in an unfortunate accident.
Although she smiled nonchalantly, the time she had been active as a Jerdinger, including her days at Lumerne, was like a painful scar for Reina.
Because of that, she had tried to avoid anything that would remind her of those days.
Dade, aware of this, never asked Reina questions that would bring up her past.
“So? What do you think of my teenage self?”
“Beautiful.”
“More than now?”
“No, just as beautiful as you are now.”
“Nice save.”
Reina chuckled and turned the page of the album.
Dade looked at the other races in the album with a curious expression.
“Are these students from other hero academies?”
“Yep. This elf here is Ellen, this beastkin is Berga. And the dwarf is Jack.”
Hearing those names, Dade shook his head in amazement.
They were all heroes whose names were in the Hero Record, or renowned warriors of comparable fame.
“I heard that the beastkin hero academy, Azonia, holds its entrance ceremony in the summer, unlike the other schools?”
“That's right. They hold their ceremony when it's hottest.”
“Is there a reason for that?”
“Yes. That's because Azonia's entrance ceremony is famous for being the toughest.”
The entrance ceremony for the beastkin hero academy, Azonia, was quite unique.
It was none other than a desert-crossing marathon.
“Well, they call it an entrance ceremony, but it's really the final entrance exam.”
“The final entrance exam?”
“Yes. During the season when other schools hold their entrance ceremonies, Azonia opens up free lectures.”
“Free lectures?”
“Yes. Anyone who turns fifteen can attend. Even other races are welcome. As long as you want to, you can take the lectures. That’s why there are a surprising number of human or dwarf students at Azonia.”
“What about elves?”
“Elves? They despise Azonia's culture, so they'd never go.”
Reina propped her chin on her hand.
“Anyway, they study like that and take exams from time to time. Only those who pass can continue to attend classes. The students who ultimately survive until summer are given the chance to participate in the entrance ceremony. And if they complete the marathon, they officially become students of Azonia. That's why the entrance ceremony is also called the final entrance exam.”
“How peculiar.”
“Unique, isn't it? Well, it's their way of selecting talent that fits their school.”
“Does everyone have to take the free lectures fairly?”
“No. Students from renowned hero families or those with letters of recommendation can skip the free lectures and go straight to the entrance ceremony. Of course, even with a recommendation, if you fail the entrance ceremony, you can't enroll.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, if you're selected through a recommendation, you're considered a prospective Azonia student, so you can participate in the entrance ceremony…”
*Flip-!*
Reina, who had been turning the pages of the album, paused.
Instead of a photo, a single envelope was tucked into the page she had just turned to.
With a puzzled look, Reina took out the envelope and looked at the back.
Then, after checking the wax seal on the envelope, she let out a small shriek, “Ah!”
“What is it?”
Reina scratched her cheek.
“I forgot that I received an entrance recommendation for Azonia a long time ago.”
“What?”
Dade was taken aback.
“I helped Azonia Academy with a dungeon clear once. At the time, they asked if I had any intention of enrolling my child, should I have one. I refused, but they forced it on me, so I ended up taking it.”
Beastkin were a race that revered strength.
As such, they had a strong tendency to actively recruit talented martial artists into their academy.
At the time, Azonia had witnessed Reina's power, paid respect to her strength, and offered her a letter of recommendation.
“Well, it was about twenty years ago.”
“Then it shouldn't matter, right? They've probably forgotten they even gave you the recommendation.”
“Mmm, I suppose so?”
Reina casually tucked the recommendation letter back between the album pages.
“Anyway, let's get to sleep for today, Reina.”
“Okay.”
Dade and Reina lay down in bed.
Covered by the blanket and staring at the ceiling, Reina suddenly recalled something.
‘Come to think of it, I think I was drunk and in a good mood at a banquet back then, and when I got the recommendation letter from Berga, I made something like a contract with a spirit.’
And she remembered pricking her finger for a drop of blood to sign the contract.
Feeling a sense of unease, Reina chuckled.
‘Eh, Leo's already a student at Lumerne anyway. What could possibly happen?’
***
Having returned home, Leo was enjoying a leisurely vacation.
Of course, he didn't forget to consistently work on his homework.
In Leo’s case, he had one assignment for each of his departments.
With a whopping three assignments, his workload was immense compared to other students.
But he tackled the homework without any particular issues.
Meanwhile, letters from surrounding noble families, inviting Leo to parties, continued to arrive.
Some even came to the mansion to meet Leo in person.
‘They didn't give me a second thought when I was at Delan Royal Academy. Such fickle people.’
Leo clicked his tongue and declined the invitations.
It was obvious that going to such places would only lead to trouble.
But the letters weren't just from nobles.
“Son! Son!”
“What is it?”
“This Chloe, Chen Xia, Nella, and Iliana… who are they! Judging by the names, they sound like girls?”
At the breakfast table, Reina, who had received the mail addressed to Leo, made a fuss.
Letters to Deladro weren't sent directly, so they had to pass through Rodren first.
That was why the letters from his friends in other regions had all been delivered at once.
Reina was delighted, thinking, ‘My son is so popular!’
There were also letters from his male friends, including Karl and Tiede, but Reina showed not the slightest interest in them.
“Aren't you going to ask about the boys?”
“I have no interest in boys.”
Leo sighed, looking at his mother who was solely interested in her son's love life.
“Madam.”
“What is it?”
A maid came rushing over.
“Madam, Young Master, you have a visitor.”
“A visitor? If it's a noble, tell them we're busy.”
“Well…”
The maid hesitated, then spoke cautiously.
“They say they're from Azonia Academy.”
“Azonia?”
Leo wore a puzzled expression.
Reina let out a groan, *Ugh-!*
“Show them in, for now.”
“Yes, Madam.”
As Reina heaved a deep sigh, Leo asked.
“Why is Azonia looking for me and you, Mother?”
“I think we might have a bit of a problem.”
Just as Leo’s brow furrowed at her words, the door opened and someone entered.
It was a person with their robe's hood pulled down low on this hot summer day.
Leo looked on with a curious expression.
‘A spirit?’
[You are Lady Reina Jerdinger, correct?]
“I'm not a Jerdinger anymore, but yes, I'm Reina.”
[Greetings. I am a messenger spirit from Azonia.]
The spirit bowed politely and handed over a rolled-up parchment scroll.
Reina unrolled it, read it, scratched her head, and then passed it to Leo.
Leo’s expression turned peculiar as he checked the parchment.
[Congratulations, Lady Reina Jerdinger. Your child has been selected as a recommended candidate for admission to Azonia.]
The content of the parchment was simple.
It was a notice to attend Azonia's entrance ceremony, to be held in two days in the great southern port city of Azrek.