Chapter 191
Chapter Title: The Zerodia Ruins
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191
Dawn, the next day.
Leo left the dormitory, feeling the chill of the autumn air.
Ril was waiting for him in the first-year dormitory garden.
“Sorry to drag you out so early, Leo. Shall we get going?”
“Yes.”
Leo and Ril immediately headed for the docks to catch the first boat to Lumeria City.
Normally, there wouldn't be a boat at this hour, but one had been prepared early in the morning for students trying to make the most of their limited weekend time.
Indeed, besides Leo and Ril, a few others were waiting for the boat at the docks.
After taking the boat and arriving in Lumeria early in the morning, Ril led Leo into a restaurant near the docks.
She ordered sandwiches for a quick bite and, sitting across from Leo, cleared her throat.
“Ahem. I will now tell you why I asked you to come to Lumeria with me.”
“What is it?”
“It’s because of a mission.”
“A mission.”
A mission.
As hero candidates, Lumerne students were often given missions, such as mediating disputes around the world or solving mysterious incidents—tasks that heroes were expected to handle.
The first-years had also undergone extensive mission training before.
However, mission training, while practical, mostly consisted of tasks with a difficulty level manageable for students.
But a ‘mission,’ not ‘mission training,’ was different.
They were given only to truly skilled students, so they usually didn't receive them until their third year.
Yet Ril, though a class representative, had been assigned a mission in her second year.
‘She really is impressive.’
“A mission in your second year. You truly are amazing, Senior Ril.”
“N-no! Don’t flatter me! If anything, you’re the more amazing one, Leo! You became the student council president as a first-year, didn't you? That’s a first in Lumerne’s history!”
Ril waved her hands in embarrassment at Leo’s praise.
Leo burst into laughter watching her.
‘Someone with her skills would normally have a huge ego.’
The undisputed number one of Lumerne's second-years.
She was a female student even her seniors acknowledged with the nickname ‘monster,’ yet she strangely considered herself ordinary. A top student indeed.
‘Once she gains more experience, she’ll become a formidable spirit artist.’
Thinking about Ril’s future, Leo asked.
“So, you want me to join you on this mission?”
“Yes.”
“There must be other seniors. Why me, of all people?”
“This is actually a solo mission assigned to me. I asked you to join because I wanted to team up with you at least once.”
A waiter brought the sandwiches and placed them in front of the two.
Ril picked up her sandwich, took a large bite, and spoke.
“Though if you refuse, Leo, I can’t force you.”
“I’ll go with you. I had nothing to do this weekend anyway, and I’m curious about the mission assigned to you, Senior Ril.”
A bright expression appeared on Ril’s face at Leo’s words.
After downing the milk that came with her meal, Ril pulled the mission papers from her pocket.
“Thank you, Leo!”
“So, what kind of mission is it?”
“Well, I haven't actually checked the details yet. It was a designated mission, and when I said I wanted to undertake it with you, they instructed me to check the details with you.”
Leo nodded at her explanation and leaned toward Ril while eating his sandwich.
Ril broke the wax seal on the mission papers and checked the contents.
[Guide the VIP at the Zerodia Ruins, located east of Lumeria City.]
That was all it said.
Ril, looking a bit flustered, checked the back, but there was nothing written there.
“The Zerodia Ruins… it’ll take half a day to get there. I see, so that’s why the mission period is two days and one night. But a VIP in those ruins?”
Seeing Ril’s perplexed expression, Leo said.
“The academy wouldn't give us a strange request… Let’s get ready and head out.”
“I suppose we should! Hup!”
Ril energetically took a huge bite of her sandwich.
With her cheeks puffed out, she quickly swallowed the sandwich and chugged her milk.
“Alright, Leo! Let’s go!”
“I haven’t finished eating yet.”
“Oh!”
A look of alarm crossed Ril’s face.
“S-sorry. I got a little carried away.”
“It happens.”
Leo chuckled and finished his sandwich.
He then stood up, gathered his things, and said as he walked out of the restaurant.
“You have a sort of manly side to you, Senior Ril.”
“Hmm, I think it’s because I come from a military family. I used to play war games with my older brother when I was young.”
Snap—Ril stood at attention, then began walking with the crisp movements of a disciplined soldier as she asked.
Her way of speaking was certainly precise as well.
“Thanks to that, other people often say my speech and actions are strange.”
“I think it’s charming.”
“Oh, thank you, Leo.”
Ril smiled brightly and walked away from the restaurant with Leo.
“Hoh.”
Flip—!
Just then, a man sitting in a corner of the restaurant folded his newspaper.
He narrowed his eyes.
“The second-year representative, Ril luce, and the first-year representative, Leo Flove.”
Scrape—Clink.
“This should be interesting.”
The man stood up, placed a few coins on the table, pulled his hat down, and followed the two.
***
“Hey, that Leo guy really did leave with Senior Luce at dawn.”
“Isn’t he the first in our year? The guy who proudly announced he’s spending the night out with a female student?”
From early morning, the first-year dormitory was abuzz with a single topic.
It was none other than the rumor about Leo and Ril.
Hearing the story, a crowd of female students swarmed around Celia.
“Celia! Celia! Is it true that Leo is dating Senior Ril from the second year?”
“It’s not, right? It’s a lie, isn’t it?”
Celia wore a sour expression as she looked at her classmates, some of whom were on the verge of tears.
“How should I know? But why are you all so worked up?”
“Why?! We’re Leo’s fan club!”
“…Leo has one of those? I guess being the student council president is different. You even get a fan club.”
Celia looked intrigued.
‘You have one too, you know?’
‘She can be so dense about these things.’
The Class 1 students nearby stared at Celia with incredulous expressions.
For the record, while Leo’s fan club had formed recently, Celia’s had existed since the beginning of the semester.
Just then, Duran, who was eating across from Celia, scoffed.
The Class 1 students had been gathered to discuss the selections for the Luse Competition.
As the class that had maintained the top average since the start of the semester, Class 1 was one of the most proactive in the Luse Competition team selections.
Duran wore his signature arrogant expression.
“Hmph, as if it’s such a big deal who Leo Flove is dating. Isn’t that right, Chloe?”
Duran smirked at Chloe, the Class 1 representative, as if seeking her agreement.
“What?”
Chloe’s blue eyes flashed coldly.
The surrounding Class 1 students flinched at the sight.
But Duran, not even looking at Chloe, continued with a smirk.
“It doesn’t matter who he’s dating, as long as he doesn’t neglect his training.”
Whoosh—!
“Eek?”
“Chloe? Chloe?”
As the temperature around Chloe plummeted, the Class 1 students scrambled away from her in fright.
“Senior Ril is a renowned top student, so dating her would be very beneficial for Leo Flove. They seem like a good match. If he reaches an even higher position, it will make him all the more worthy of being defeated…”
Crackle—
“Hey! Stop it! Read the room!”
Finally, as the area around Chloe began to freeze over, Celia, unable to watch any longer, lunged forward and clamped a hand over Duran’s mouth.
Duran scowled at Celia and pushed her hand away.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Duran, look over there.”
Howl sighed and pointed toward Chloe.
Duran flinched upon seeing Chloe’s ice-cold expression.
Even Duran, infamous for his foul temper, knew to back down; the atmosphere around Chloe was that menacing.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“It’s you! It’s your fault!”
“What did I do wrong?”
“Ugh! You’re so dense! So dense!”
Celia looked utterly frustrated.
Just then, Chen Xia entered the cafeteria.
“Chen Xia!”
“Today’s the day I recruit you for our club!”
“Hyaaa!”
Students from the knight department spotted Chen Xia and rushed her.
The other students watched with amusement.
Chen Xia, who possessed the best martial arts skills among all the first-years, was a highly coveted talent for the sports clubs.
She wasn’t part of any club due to her student council activities, but the sports clubs were always looking for an opportunity to recruit her.
As the seniors became increasingly blatant, Chen Xia made a declaration to them.
‘If any of my classmates can land a single hit on me in a martial arts spar, I’ll join their club. You can challenge me every weekend morning.’
Ever since she said that with her signature gentle smile, these ambushes had become a weekend morning routine in the cafeteria.
Of course, not a single student had succeeded so far.
Thanks to this, the first-years who were enduring grueling training from their club seniors were desperate to land a hit on Chen Xia.
Flick—
Chen Xia casually flicked her hand.
Crunch!
“Guek?!”
Thwack—!
“Keuk!”
Snap!
“Kyaaak!”
With almost supernatural movements, Chen Xia dodged their attacks and delivered ruthless counters.
They were sent flying by her fists, rolling from her kicks, and had their joints dislocated.
Watching Chen Xia deliver such brutal counters with a smile, a first-year observer muttered.
“Doesn’t she seem a bit more heavy-handed than usual today?”
“I think…”
Swoosh—! Thud—!
“…so.”
The observer broke into a cold sweat as a classmate flew past and crashed beside them.
“Chen Xia is super scary today.”
Her unchanging smile was terrifying, her classmates trembled.
“Why are they so hysterical this morning?”
Chelsea, who was having breakfast with her Class 5 friends, asked in a bored tone.
“Aren’t you bothered at all?”
Dade asked with a puzzled look.
“About what?”
“About Leo going on a date with Senior Ril.”
At that question, Chelsea grinned.
“I’m always close with Leo, and I’ve never once seen Senior Ril have any kind of romantic connection with him.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Besides, if Leo wants to date someone else, then he can.”
“…”
Chelsea shrugged nonchalantly and put her spoon in her mouth.
Watching her, Dade glanced to the side.
Karl and Iliana, who had teased Chelsea this morning, were lying in a miserable heap in a corner of the cafeteria.
Nella was healing them with her healing aura.
The two had paid dearly for teasing Chelsea when she was in a bad mood.
‘Leo, hurry back and clear this up.’
Dade sighed deeply, silently calling for his classmate.
***
Leo and Ril left Lumeria City and, after half a day’s journey, arrived at the Zerodia Ruins.
Leo tilted his head as he gazed at the ruined fortress.
‘This certainly doesn’t feel like a place a VIP from Lumerne would be.’
This place was a fortress in the central part of the continent 300 years ago.
The ruins of a castle where Zerodia, the headmaster of Lumerne at the time, had single-handedly halted the advance of a legion commander.
She was famous for summoning an endless stream of spirits to block the legion commander’s march.
As such, this place was something of a sanctuary for spirit artists.
Before entering the ruins, Ril straightened her uniform.
As a student of Lumerne, and as a spirit artist, it was proper to show respect to the great hero of the past when visiting this place.
Leo followed Ril’s lead, adjusted his own clothes, and entered the ruins.
“Look there, Leo. That’s the scar left when Headmaster Zerodia summoned the Great Spirit of Wind to block the legion commander’s black magic!”
Ril pointed excitedly at a massive gash on the castle wall.
“I hope that one day, I too can summon the Great Spirit of Wind, just like Headmaster Zerodia.”
Leo was smiling softly at the girl, her eyes sparkling with dreams, when it happened.
Whoooosh—!
A wind blew in.
Leo’s eyes twitched.
Ril, too, froze.
Kwagagagak—!
A fierce, cutting wind swept over Leo and Ril.
Leo, who had swiftly dodged the attack, righted his stance and narrowed his eyes at the wind that was taking form.
The summoned wind spirit was radiating killing intent toward him and Ril.
“I don’t know who you are, but this is a cruel prank.”
Ril, with a displeased expression, summoned her spiritual power.
“Show yourself, spirit artist!”
Whoooooosh—!
A powerful gale swirled around Ril.
Seeing this, Leo looked at the wind spirit.
‘This spirit wasn’t summoned by a spirit artist.’
Leo also summoned his spiritual power.
‘This is a spirit taking orders from a superior spirit.’
And the spirit before them was a considerably high-ranking one.
For a spirit to be able to command one of this level…
‘A Great Spirit.’