Chapter 152
Chapter Title: Joint Classes
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“A connection?”
“Indeed. Since you enrolled… no. I’ve been looking into you since before you even enrolled.”
Kalian smiled faintly.
“You enrolled as a knight aspirant. Which is only natural, given that your maternal family is the Jerdingers.”
The fact that Leo’s maternal family was the Jerdingers was not yet public knowledge.
However, it wasn't difficult for the principal of Lumerne to find out about a student's family relations.
“But what’s strange is that you showed no signs of being an all-class before your enrollment. It was only after coming to Lumerne that you began to show an aptitude for magic and summoning. No, it was more than just showing an aptitude.”
In theory, Leo was on par with or even surpassed the top students in each department.
As a knight, he displayed overwhelming skill and aura control.
As a mage, his understanding of magical formulas was exceptional, and in summoning, he managed to contract with a phoenix in his very first class.
Any one of these feats would have been difficult to define as simple genius.
And yet, Leo was an all-class who possessed all those abilities.
Amidst all this.
Evidence that Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, actually existed was coming to light one after another.
It started with Azonia's entrance exam during the summer break.
Until then, the prevailing view in academia was that the Hero of the Beginning and the Surviving Hero were two different people with the same name.
But not long after it was revealed that the name Kyle was a real historical figure, the existence of Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, was proven.
“The academic world is still divided on what era the statue you saw is from, and whether it’s based on historical fact.”
Only Leo knew that the location was Gardsrone.
Ruina, Elena, and Hardin didn't know its exact whereabouts.
“But at the very least, the probability that Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, might have existed has skyrocketed.”
Kalian smiled faintly.
“That’s why I began to think that you, who possess the same abilities as Kyle, might have some connection to him.”
“A connection?”
“Have you… by any chance, ever conquered Kyle’s World of Heroes?”
At Kalian’s question, Leo looked surprised for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“No.”
He lied without batting an eye.
If Leo were to say he had conquered Kyle’s world, Kyle’s existence would be confirmed.
There were only two people in history who possessed the abilities of an all-class.
Kyle and Leo.
‘Though in the end, they’re both me.’
Leo sighed inwardly.
‘It’s good that my existence has been revealed, but the time isn’t right.’
Erebos and Tartaros despised Kyle.
Furthermore, it was known that they were searching for and destroying the pages of the Great Heroes, especially Kyle’s.
If it became known that Leo inherited Kyle’s power under these circumstances, there was no telling what would happen if Tartaros began to actively target him.
‘They’re surely paying attention to me already. If I become a primary target in this situation, I won’t be able to handle it as I am now.’
He still lacked power.
‘I need to reveal our connection only after I’ve regained a certain amount of my past life’s strength.’
“So you’re saying you were born an all-class?”
“Yes.”
“Weren’t you always deeply interested in Kyle? I heard you were even planning to create a club to study the Hero of the Beginning.”
He hadn't been able to participate in club activities during the first semester due to his department schedule, but he had submitted the application.
At Kalian’s words, Leo shrugged.
“I am interested. He’s the only one in history known to be an all-class, after all.”
At Leo’s response, Kalian let out a soft sigh.
After a moment of observing Leo, Kalian nodded.
“I see. That’s what I came to ask you.”
With a grunt, Kalian pushed himself up.
“Your body may not have fully recovered, but you can’t keep missing your department schedule. You are to attend classes starting tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
“Then take care of yourself.”
Kalian left the infirmary.
Left alone in the room, Elena smiled faintly.
“Leo. Are you really not related to the Hero of the Beginning?”
“I’m not.”
Watching Leo speak so calmly, Elena narrowed her eyes.
“It feels like you are.”
“Why do you think so?”
“A woman’s intuition.”
Smiling faintly, Elena leaned back in her chair and spoke coyly.
“Well, if you don’t want to tell me, I have no intention of prying.”
With that, Elena stood up from her seat.
“Leo. You said you had a favor to ask of me before, right? What is it?”
“You’ll grant it?”
“Yes.”
Watching Elena nod so readily, Leo tilted his head.
“What’s the price?”
“There is none.”
At Elena’s words, Leo looked puzzled.
“Really? Why all of a sudden?”
“I’ve become curious.”
Crossing her legs and resting her chin on her hand, Elena smiled.
“About where you’ll go from here.”
The way she looked at Leo with sparkling eyes was different from the Elena he had known until now.
There was a hint of innocence about her.
The look of someone purely admiring another.
It didn't suit the usual Elena, but Leo thought it was rather fitting for her age and chuckled.
“You’re finally acting your age.”
“And you. You know you act way too much like an old man, right?”
Elena grumbled with a frown and asked.
“So. What’s the favor you wanted to ask me?”
“I want to enter the Forbidden Archives.”
At those words, Elena paused.
“The Forbidden Archives?”
“Yes.”
“The reason?”
“I want to learn about the history of the Hero Record.”
“Because of this incident?”
“No. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while.”
Elena stared at Leo intently.
He had been planning to investigate the Hero Record long before this incident occurred.
‘Is it just a coincidence? Or…’
Elena’s eyes narrowed for a moment.
“Alright.”
Elena nodded.
“It’s not something I can decide on my own. But I’ll do my best to get you in.”
“Thank you.”
As Leo expressed his gratitude, Elena tilted her head.
‘Leo Flove. Just who is he?’
***
The next morning.
Discharged from the infirmary, Leo headed to his classroom.
His body was not yet in perfect condition.
The wounds inflicted by Erebos’s flames did not heal so easily.
Leo let out a deep sigh, feeling pain throughout his body.
It was almost time for class, so the hallways of the classroom building were quiet.
*Screech—*
As Leo opened the door to Class 5, the eyes of his classmates fixed on him.
“Gasp! It’s the class president!”
“It’s Leo!”
“Hey! Leo! I heard you conquered the world of the Progenitor of the Nebula!”
*Rumble—!*
His classmates swarmed around him.
Their eyes were filled with curiosity.
It was only natural, as the world of a Great Hero was something of a dream that everyone yearned to conquer.
Having experienced such a world, the first-year students couldn't help but look at him with admiration.
“Did you meet Lady Luna?”
“She’s as beautiful as they say, right?”
“Say something!”
Looking at the classmates blocking his way, Leo spoke.
“Can I at least sit down first?”
“Hey! The Class 5 president is here!”
“Where? Where?”
“Hey! Leo Flove! Tell us the story!”
Before he knew it, students from Classes 4 and 6 had also poured out, filling the hallway.
Many students had been eager to hear his story when they first heard the news, and their curiosity had only grown during his extended stay in the infirmary.
Information about the incident had been controlled by the Lumerne administration.
And since no one dared to approach the other conqueror, Elena, everyone had apparently been waiting for Leo’s discharge.
Chaos erupted throughout the first-year classroom building.
Seeing this, Leo sighed.
“Hmph! Didn’t Senior Elena do most of the conquering anyway?”
“Getting all this attention just for being lucky enough to be there.”
“I could conquer it too if I was with Senior Elena.”
The grumbling voices of a few resentful students could be heard.
Just as the Class 5 students were scowling at the mocking words from the other classes…
“What nonsense.”
A cold voice cut through the air.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the sound.
There, Duran from Class 1 was pushing his way through the crowd.
Duran looked at those who had been sneering at Leo with a derisive gaze.
“The ones who tucked their tails and ran during the Gigantes incident sure have a lot to say.”
“What did you say?”
“You wanna take that back?”
The students who had been mocking Leo bristled at Duran’s words.
Seeing them, Duran grinned fiercely.
“Are you trying to start something?”
*Crackle—*
Intense sparks flew from Duran’s body.
At the sight of Duran, the students who had flared up flinched, then sheepishly glanced around before retreating to their own classrooms.
Duran was famous for his foul temper.
He was the type to resort to force in this very hallway without a second thought if provoked.
With a look of disdain for them, Duran pushed through the crowd and stood before Leo.
Then he narrowed his eyes.
“Leo Flove. I heard the story. You conquered the world of the Progenitor of the Nebula, they say?”
“It just sort of happened.”
Leo shrugged.
The surrounding students watched the scene with tense expressions.
Duran was well-known for constantly challenging Leo.
With his overwhelming skill came a strong sense of pride.
As such, he could never tolerate falling behind Leo.
“Isn’t he going to challenge Leo to a duel to prove his skills, now that Leo conquered the Progenitor’s world?”
“He’s more than capable of it.”
“He’s usually cool and awesome, but when it comes to the class president, you never know what he’ll do.”
“...Iliana. Was that your type?”
“...! It is not?!”
The Class 5 students whispered among themselves.
As everyone watched with bated breath, Duran spoke.
“So. What was the Progenitor of the Nebula like?”
“What?”
“I asked what she was like.”
Contrary to his intimidating expression and voice, Duran wanted to hear about Luna from Leo.
The Class 1 students who had followed, tensed for a possible fight, looked deflated.
“Come to think of it, during the school trip, Duran bought all the elven items related to the Progenitor of the Nebula, didn’t he?”
“I think he personally admires the Progenitor.”
“He’s a prince, so I guess he has to get what he wants to be satisfied.”
As the Class 1 students whispered, Duran’s icy gaze shot toward them.
The Class 1 students immediately fell silent.
Just as the entire classroom building was in an uproar…
“What is all this in the hallway?”
A chilling voice was heard.
Everyone’s face hardened.
“I’ll give you ten seconds. If you are not all back in your respective classrooms, today will be a very enjoyable day.”
“Aaaah!”
“Move! Move!”
“Duran! Don’t leave us behind!”
Halind’s appearance threw the entire first year into a panic.
The symbol of terror known as the Wailing Wall of Lumerne.
Although no first-year student had yet been expelled by Halind, his fearsome reputation remained.
Students who had witnessed others getting into serious trouble for breaking school rules made sure never to get on his bad side.
The Class 5 students also scrambled to their seats.
The problem was the students who had left their classrooms and come to Class 5.
The crowd created a bottleneck, preventing them from returning to their classes.
Amidst the chaos, Duran’s figure, nimbly running along the wall to return to Class 1, was like a flash of lightning.
After ten seconds, Halind casually waved his hand.
The students’ name tags were ripped off and flew into Halind’s hand.
“Noooooo!”
“Please give us one more chance! Professor Halind!”
The students’ screams filled the hallway, but Halind didn’t bat an eye as he entered Class 5 and coldly shut the door.
*Slam—!*
*Thud— Thud— Thud—*
As the Class 5 students sat with tense expressions, Halind walked to the center of the podium and placed the attendance book down.
He glanced at Leo once, then looked at the rest of the class and spoke.
“I have an announcement.”
At his words, everyone looked puzzled.
“A joint class with students from other schools has been scheduled.”
Halind’s words surprised the entire class.
“What? With students from other hero academies?”
At Dade’s question, Halind shook his head.
“No. Not students from other hero academies.”
“Then?”
Halind picked up a piece of chalk.
*Tap— Tap—*
He wrote on the blackboard, then set the chalk down with a thud.
“It’s a joint class with students from the three great class academies.”
At those words, a murmur spread through Class 5.
The three great class academies.
The Knight Academy, Ecot.
The Magic Academy, Emeral.
The Summoning Academy, Scoun.
The top academies for each respective class.
However…
“The schools that were your second choice.”
Halind said coldly.
“And… the schools you might end up at after you’ve been expelled.”