Chapter 123
Chapter Title: Return to Lumeria City
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The morning of the day they were to leave for Lumeria City.
A guest arrived at the Flove estate.
“Haaah... Leo, good morning.”
“What the— Chelsea, what are you doing here?”
“Hm?”
Chelsea, who had been yawning languidly, suddenly seemed wide awake, her eyes widening.
Spotting Celia talking with Leo, she crossed her arms.
“I came to hang out at Leo's house, of course!”
“Leo, how long has she been here?”
“About a month?”
“She's been squatting here for a whole month? How shameless.”
“What's it to you? Blegh!”
“You little—!”
Watching the two girls bicker the moment they met, Leo clicked his tongue.
“When are you two ever going to grow up?”
The two girls often spent time together because of Leo, but they were still rivals.
“Oh my, Celia, you're here.”
“Ah! Auntie!”
Celia ran to Reina and bowed her head.
“Hello! Have you been well?”
“Yes. What brings you here so early in the morning?”
“I'm heading to Lumeria City with Leo.”
“Is that so? Have you had breakfast?”
“Not yet.”
“Then let's eat first.”
“Yes!”
Breakfast time.
Celia, who was catching up with Reina for the first time in a while, narrowed her eyes as she watched Chelsea cheerfully join the conversation.
She then poked Leo in the side.
“What.”
“Your aunt and Chelsea seem to be quite close.”
“Chelsea's always been friendly. She's good at being affectionate with adults. And since Mother always wanted a daughter, she's grown quite fond of Chelsea.”
“Hmph. Sly little thing.”
Celia glared at Chelsea.
“You said you'd visit during the break, but you never came.”
“I was a bit busy with family matters. It involves you too, so I'll tell you the details later.”
“Alright.”
After breakfast, Leo picked up his luggage and went to the entrance hall.
He greeted Reina and Dade, who had come to see him off.
“I'm leaving.”
“Alright, have a safe trip.”
“Stay healthy, you hear? And study hard.”
“Yes.”
When Leo finished his goodbyes, Chelsea bowed deeply.
“Marquis Flove, Lady Reina. Thank you for your hospitality this past month. I had a wonderful time!”
“Hohoho. We enjoyed having you, dear. Come visit again sometime.”
“Yes! I'll definitely come during winter break!”
“Auntie, I'll be sure to visit during the break, too.”
“Of course. Send my regards to your brother and Jis. And tell Lis to finish his graduation preparations well.”
“Yes.”
After their farewells, the three of them left the mansion and boarded the same carriage.
On the way to the Delan warp gate, Celia asked.
“By the way, Leo, did you finish all your break homework?”
“Of course.”
“I bet it was tough, having to do assignments for Magic and Summoning on top of Knight Studies.”
“It wasn't that hard.”
“Right. I guess it's no problem for you.”
“Did you finish yours?”
“Of course. Though, I did have some trouble with the special activity assignment.”
“That one was tricky for me, too.”
Chelsea grumbled.
The special activity assignment.
It was an assignment that literally required students to have a special experience during the vacation and write a report based on it.
“Leo must not have had any worries.”
“Really? What did you do during the break?”
“He attended Azonia's entrance ceremony.”
“What?”
Celia looked astonished.
“Wasn't there that whole uproar at the Azonia entrance ceremony because Ar-on's Page was cleared? You saw that in person?”
He had done more than just see it—he had cleared it himself—but since he couldn't reveal that, he just nodded.
“How did you get to attend the entrance ceremony?”
“My mother had a recommendation letter for Azonia's entrance exam because of something that happened long ago. I was able to attend thanks to that. Though I got caught by Professor Ain and Professor Yura partway through and had to come back before it was over.”
“Sounds like it was fun.”
Celia wore an envious expression.
All of Azonia's students were exceptional warriors.
So she was jealous that Leo got to compete against Azonia's prospective students.
“There must have been a lot of talented kids, right?”
“Yeah. Among them, Ar was a bit special.”
“Ar Tune. You mean the top student of Azonia's entering class?”
Celia's eyes sparkled.
“I'd love to face her.”
Watching Celia, her red eyes gleaming as she burned with a competitive spirit, Leo rested his chin on his hand and thought of Ar.
*I wonder if she's doing well.*
As they talked, the carriage carrying the three of them arrived at the warp gate.
The people working at the warp gate were startled to see the trio.
“Wait, isn't that a Lumerne uniform?”
“The male student looks like Leo Flove, but who are the girls?”
“Huh? Wait. Isn't that Celia Jerdinger and Chelsea Llewellyn?”
Since the entrance ceremony had been held in Delan half a year ago, quite a few people recognized Celia and Chelsea.
After completing the gate usage procedures and approaching an attendant, the man's face grew tense.
The Lumerne class representative and the daughters of renowned hero families.
Having such famous hero candidates, who had stirred the world, right in front of him naturally made him nervous.
“I will now confirm your names. Are you Leo Flove, Celia Jerdinger, and Chelsea Llewellyn?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. Please step onto the warp gate. We will now activate it.”
The three of them stepped onto the warp gate bound for Lumeria City.
*Flash—!*
With a brilliant flash of light, the scenery before them changed in an instant.
Arriving at a bustling warp gate, Leo exited the gate building.
Outside, the vast shores of Lake Lumeria stretched out before them.
“It's only been two months, but it feels like it's been forever.”
Celia brushed her hair back from the blowing wind and chuckled.
“Lady Chelsea.”
Just then, a young man in a mage's robe approached Chelsea.
“Sir Lewin.”
“Did you have a good vacation?”
“Of course.”
Lewin, a mage from the Llewellyn family, bowed politely to Chelsea before also bowing to Leo and Celia.
“My name is Lewin Frampt.”
“It's been a while, Sir Frampt.”
“It has been a long time, Lady Celia.”
Lewin Frampt was a renowned and skilled individual even within the empire, so he and Celia were acquainted.
“I have been ordered by the vice-head to escort you, my lady.”
“I see. Looks like I'll have to head to my dorm first.”
“Alright. We'll see you before then if we can. If not, see you on the first day of school.”
“Okay! I'm off!”
“Hurry up and go. Shoo, shoo.”
“Hmph!”
As Celia spoke while waving her hand dismissively, Chelsea stuck out her tongue before leaving with Lewin.
“She gets more annoying by the day.”
“I think she's cute.”
“Well, I don't think she's cute at all.”
Celia, glaring, spoke as they headed toward Kuraju Street in Lumeria City.
“Let's head to our dorms for now. Uncle Jis is coming this evening. He has something to tell you.”
“Something to tell me?”
“Yeah. There was a lot of talk within the family about your status during the summer break.”
Despite being Reina's son and having learned the Phoenix Breath, Leo's name was not on the Jerdinger family register.
However, after Leo's outstanding performance in his first semester, the atmosphere within the family had apparently changed significantly.
“Most of the family members have agreed to officially acknowledge you as my cousin.”
Over the first semester, Leo had more than proven his worth.
With various nations and factions already keeping a close eye on Leo, the Jerdingers needed to move quickly.
No matter how prestigious the Jerdinger hero family was, losing a talent like Leo would be a significant loss.
“But there's one issue that's still under discussion.”
“What is it?”
“The matter of your succession rights.”
Celia said seriously, and Leo was surprised.
“Succession rights?”
“Yes.”
Currently, the undisputed first heir of the Jerdinger family was Lis.
The second heir with succession rights was Celia.
Beyond them, there were no other official successors.
But now, Leo was being discussed as a potential third heir.
This meant more than just being recognized as a blood relative of the Jerdingers.
It literally meant gaining power within the Jerdinger family.
“Well, the opposition is quite fierce, so it's hard to say what will happen.”
Celia shrugged.
Then she gave Leo a mischievous smile.
“What? Are you excited that you might gain succession rights?”
“Like that would happen easily. And even if I did get them, there's still Lis and you.”
“Even if you don't become the family head, it'd still be nice to have considerable authority within the family, wouldn't it?”
“Not interested.”
Seeing Leo's indifferent expression, Celia let out a hollow laugh.
At the beginning of the year, she would have looked at him with disbelief if he had said such a thing.
But since it was Leo saying it, she understood.
*I can't tell if this guy is just that magnanimous or if he simply has no ambition.*
Shaking her head, Celia said.
“For now, let's just rest at the dorm until Uncle Jis arrives. We can start preparing for the second semester tomorrow.”
They had come to Lumeria City early, even though there were still a few days until school started, to buy supplies for the second semester.
“There are way more supplies to get than for the first semester. It feels like our Lumerne life is really starting in earnest now.”
Celia muttered as she looked at the supply list, then spoke to Leo.
“It must be hectic for you, having to prepare for Magic and Summoning too.”
“It's not that hectic.”
Leo replied, checking the supply list.
Once they arrived at their dorms, the two immediately unpacked.
As Leo lay down on his bed, Elsie appeared.
[Leo! What is this magnificent city?]
“Lumeria City. It's one of the largest cities in the world.”
[Wow! Whoa! It's amazing!]
Elsie, pressed right up against the window, marveled at the street view.
“Want to take a look around?”
[Um... shouldn't you be resting?]
“We traveled by warp gate. There's no need to rest.”
Leo chuckled and got up.
He told Celia he was going out for a walk and then headed into the streets.
Elsie, perched on Leo's shoulder, delighted in the vibrant city scenery, completely different from the era of 5,000 years ago.
Smiling at her reaction, Leo also took a leisurely stroll through Lumeria City.
“What do you mean? We're Lumerne students!”
“That's right! Hero candidates! So why won't you let us in!”
A commotion broke out on one side of the street.
A group of people in Lumerne uniforms were standing there.
It was a cafe named 'Hero's Respite.'
It looked ordinary on the outside, but only Lumerne students and staff were allowed entry.
In other words, it was a lounge exclusively for Lumerne within Lumeria City.
“Which is why I must ask you to present your student IDs.”
“I left it behind! We won't be long! Just let us in for a moment! It's not like you don't recognize my face!”
Watching the indignant group of students, Leo clicked his tongue.
*They're the ones who were advised to withdraw after the final exams.*
A few months ago, they had been Lumerne students, but not anymore.
So there was no way they could enter the Hero's Respite.
The people nearby sighed as if this were a familiar sight.
“Looks like they came to beg the professors for another chance.”
“This sort of thing happens all the time.”
“But has there ever been a student who was readmitted?”
The onlookers murmured among themselves.
As Leo listened and shook his head,
“If you don't move, we'll use force!”
The boy who seemed to be their leader manifested his aura.
Just as the people around them looked on in shock,
“How noisy.”
A listless voice drifted over.
Leo turned his head toward the sound, a surprised look on his face.
It was a man with black hair and black eyes.
“Lumerne doesn't give second chances to those who've been expelled. Give up and walk your own path. Attending Lumerne isn't the only way to become a hero.”
“Who are you?”
“We haven't been expelled yet!”
The former students retorted indignantly.
Seeing this, the man raised his hand.
“Ugh!”
In an instant, the former students were sucked into the ground.
More precisely, they were pulled into the shadows.
As everyone stared wide-eyed, the man grumbled in his listless voice.
“What a pain. They said this year's first-years were incredible, but seeing these shameless dropouts run wild, I'm not so sure... Why in the world did Kalian even call me here?”
Watching the man who muttered in a lazy voice, Leo narrowed his eyes.
Leo had no trouble figuring out the man's identity.
*A dragon.*