Chapter 270
Chapter Title: Provocation and Rebellion
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The final turn.
Following Leo's bombshell declaration, a chilling silence fell over the grand hall.
The Damian students stared intently at Leo, while students from the other schools gaped.
Lumerne, Seirun, Azonia.
The students from these three schools were fundamentally dissatisfied with Damian's request.
After all, no one enjoys being evaluated.
But on the other hand, they also understood Damian's position.
Damian wasn't just a hero academy; it was also the world's largest forge.
There are many forges in the world that produce armaments.
But among them, the dwarven forges were special, and Damian was even more so.
Being able to use the armaments produced by Damian's artisan candidates was a privilege reserved for fellow hero candidates.
That's why they didn't voice their complaints.
Instead, they aimed to win the competition against the other hero academies and be chosen by Damian's outstanding second-years.
In that situation, Leo had declared the opposite—that he would evaluate the Damian students.
So, they were left speechless.
'He's done it again!'
Celia leaned her head back and pressed the back of her hand to her face.
She knew her cousin could be impulsive at times.
But she never thought he'd pull a stunt like this at another school.
'This is a complete provocation of Damian!'
Celia screamed internally.
Just then, a female student from Damian raised her hand.
"Leo Flove. I heard you're an All-Class."
"That's right."
"What exactly do you mean when you say you're confident you can handle any armament perfectly? Does it mean you can perfectly handle armaments of any class? Or..."
The female student paused, then narrowed her eyes.
"Are you really saying you can perfectly handle every single type of armament that exists in this world?"
Common sense dictated that perfectly handling every type of armament in the world was impossible.
Take a mage's staff, for example. Even within the category of long staves, there are numerous variations depending on the element.
In response to the Damian student's question, Leo smiled faintly.
"I'm saying I can perfectly handle every single type of armament that exists in this world."
"Don't lie! That's impossible! If you're going to joke, pick a better time! Or what? Are you saying that the armaments we'll craft aren't good enough for Lumerne's youngest student council president?"
The Damian student flared up.
She wasn't the only one.
The entire Damian second-year class glared at Leo.
They thought Leo was making a fool of them.
"Settle down."
Just then, Depeto, who had been watching the situation, stepped in to mediate.
Stepping onto the stage, Depeto calmed his students and glanced at Leo.
'Yes, he's at an age where such bravado can be forgiven.'
Depeto looked at Leo and gave a subtle smile.
Leo's earlier statement was one that could be condemned as arrogant without argument.
Common sense dictated that even for an unprecedented All-Class and the youngest student council president, perfectly handling every armament in the world was in the realm of impossibility.
However, Depeto didn't dislike Leo's attitude.
He, too, was a Damian graduate who had crafted armaments for hero candidates and heroes alike.
Some he had known since they were hero candidates had gone on to become full-fledged heroes.
Therefore, Depeto knew well.
'Artisans aren't the only ones with pride.'
Those who wield armaments have pride as well.
And in Depeto's eyes, Leo was someone who had every right to that pride.
While it did sound like excessive bravado, it wasn't strange considering Leo's age.
'It will be a good stimulus for my students, too.'
Damian students go on practical training to forge armaments starting from their first year.
They are dispatched to various regions in the east for practical training, where they craft armaments in exchange for payment.
Even for first-year apprentice smiths, as students of Damian, the quality of their creations is excellent.
'That's why Damian's second-years are used to being praised.'
As expected of Damian.
A future master artisan.
Worthy of the descendants of the Divine Blacksmith.
They had heard such praise ad nauseam.
'Indeed! An artisan cannot grow on praise alone.'
Sometimes, criticism is what helps a smith grow.
"You may step down now."
"Yes, sir."
At Depeto's words, Leo replied politely and descended from the stage.
Watching Leo, Depeto said,
"Don't you worry that the Damian students might refuse to make an armament for you."
Depeto smiled faintly.
"Those kids are proper smiths, too. And they acknowledge your skill. They'll likely try to convince you with their finest masterpieces, if only to knock you down a peg. They are the descendants of Dweno, after all."
Depeto raised a hand as large as a cauldron lid and patted Leo heartily on the back.
"I'm glad you'll be a source of motivation for our students. Please, give your honest evaluation of the armaments those kids bring you."
"If I'm being truly honest, they might never recover."
"Hmm? What an interesting thing to say."
Hahaha-! Watching Depeto's hearty laugh, Leo muttered to himself.
'But it's true.'
***
"Looking at him sometimes, I really can't tell if he's being humble, bold, or just plain arrogant."
After the presentations ended and lunchtime arrived, as students filed out of the grand hall, Lunia watched Leo talking with the Lumerne students and muttered in disbelief.
In Lunia's eyes, Leo was a remarkably mature boy for his age.
Despite possessing overwhelming skill that belied his age, he never boasted or showed off.
But at other times, he clearly leveraged his strength.
'Well, for Leo, that might just be a matter of course.'
Lunia chuckled and glanced to her side.
There, Eiran was watching Leo with an anxious look in her eyes.
'Eiran must be frustrated, too.'
Lunia sighed inwardly.
Lately, the atmosphere at Seirun had been unsettling.
Especially since the acting principal took office, the number of students exhibiting elven supremacist tendencies had been rapidly increasing.
And currently, the person Seirun considered the biggest thorn in their side was none other than Leo Flove.
The reason was simple.
It was because of the [Introduction to Star Magic], which listed Leo as a co-author.
'I'd like to read it.'
Lunia was curious about the paper's contents.
As someone who had studied the Founder's magic, it was only natural for her to be interested in a new magical theory related to star magic.
But Seirun was completely rejecting this novelty.
It had now reached a point where it was treated as a forbidden book within Seirun, making it impossible to obtain.
'Should I ask Dad to sneak a copy in for me?'
Of course, if she were caught, it would undoubtedly become a huge headache.
Still, Lunia wanted to read the magical theory co-authored by Leo.
The same was true for Eiran.
She was a friend who rejoiced as if it were her own accomplishment whenever news of Leo's exploits reached Seirun, so it was only natural.
'She's Leo's fan, after all.'
When they heard that all the second-year students from the hero academies would be gathering in one place,
both Lunia and Eiran had thought they would be able to talk with Leo and discuss magical theory.
Eiran, in particular, had been so excited she could barely contain herself, truly overjoyed.
But then, the day before their departure.
'Students of Seirun. During this visit to Damian, you are strictly forbidden from associating with students from any hero academy other than Damian.'
'What is the reason?'
'Because it would lower our standing. Especially...'
Revere looked at the students with arrogant eyes and said,
'Leo Flove, who has sullied the Founder's name. Associating with him will absolutely not be tolerated.'
Thanks to that absurd announcement, Lunia and Eiran were unable to speak to Leo.
'That bastard! To think he even removed Luca from this school event!'
Luca, a half-elf, was excluded from the event despite being proudly ranked third among the second-years.
A few teachers, including Herdium, strongly protested, but to no avail.
*Grind-*
Just as an ominous sound escaped Lunia's lips,
"Lunia, Eiran. Have you been well?"
Leo approached the two with a smile.
Lunia, who had been grinding her teeth, instantly put on a gentle smile as if nothing had happened.
Eiran's face lit up.
If Leo initiated the greeting, they couldn't just ignore him.
"It's been a while, Leo Flo—"
"Hold on. Who do you think you're talking to?"
Lunia, who was about to respond to Leo's greeting with her public persona, froze as another student stepped in front of her.
'An intermediate class student.'
It was none other than a second-year from Seirun's intermediate class.
Leo paused at his appearance, then pointed a finger at Lunia and Eiran.
"Is it a problem to talk to my friends?"
"Friends? Who are you calling friends?"
The male student from the intermediate class wore a displeased expression.
"Miss Lunia here is a candidate for Seirun's youngest student council president. You are not in a position to speak to her so casually."
'Hey! You idiot! Leo is already Lumerne's student council president, if anything, I'm the one who can't speak casually to him!'
Lunia screamed internally.
In fact, a few Lumerne students who heard this looked utterly baffled.
Some even stifled their laughter with choked sounds.
That's how absurd the Seirun student's words were.
'He's the one spouting nonsense, so why am I the one feeling embarrassed!'
"Besides, do you really think it's appropriate for Lady Lunia, who is set to inherit the Founder's magic, to be spoken to so freely by a charlatan like you who has sullied the Founder's name?"
"Inherit the Founder's magic?"
Leo looked puzzled.
"That's right. As the next student council president candidate, Lady Lunia has been chosen to inherit the Founder's magic, passed down through Seirun."
The Founder's magic passed down in Seirun.
Magic that was infinitesimally close to the original used by Luna, it was a grimoire left behind by the Comet Mage, the founder of Seirun, who was said to have conquered Luna's World more than anyone else.
It was magic that only students at the level of Seirun's student council president could learn, and mastering it meant being revered as the elf closest to the Founder.
In elven society, it was an honor that could not be exchanged for anything.
Leo, too, knew this.
"Congratulations."
Leo smiled faintly.
At his words, Lunia gave a bitter smile.
"Ah... Ugh..."
Eiran whimpered, giving Leo an apologetic look.
"You're having a tough time, too."
'This is killing me, seriously.'
Lunia replied internally to Leo's words.
"Sorry for the trouble."
'You have nothing to be sorry for. It's Seirun that's acting weird right now.'
As Lunia mentally replied while watching Leo's back as he apologized and turned away,
"Lady Lunia, Lady Eiran. Were you not startled by such a rude person speaking to you?"
'You were far ruder, and frankly, I was more startled by you!'
Lunia wanted to say this while planting her fist in the guy's face.
But there were too many eyes on them right now.
Besides, the only ones who knew Lunia's true nature were those from Class 1 of the advanced course.
Among the other second-years, Lunia was known as the epitome of a Seirun honor student—beautiful, pure, and gentle.
Just as Lunia smiled faintly without answering,
"He is an arrogant one. Just like the disrespect he showed the Damian students earlier. And to think he would dare tamper with the great Founder's magic and create some strange thing called Flower Magic."
During the first-year field trip.
The Founder's legacy that Leo had restored and given to Seirun.
Magic that had shaken the elven magical academic world just last year.
But now, the magic's value was fading.
Last year, as Lunia conquered Luna's World, it became known that the ultimate magic Luna aimed for was the 'magic to make flowers bloom'.
And yet, Seirun turned its back on the magic of blooming flowers.
The reason was simple.
'Because it was magic restored by Leo.'
In a way, Leo was a benefactor to the elves.
After all, he had shown them the ultimate form of magic that their Founder had pursued.
But because of their petty pride and tradition, they were even turning away from the Founder's magic they so revered.
And in just a few months, elves who denied the Founder's magic had appeared.
'Is this really right?'
Lunia's eyes darkened.
She looked down at her own hands.
Lunia had an eccentric personality.
Despite that, she had perfectly played the part of a beautiful, pure, and gentle Seirun honor student.
The reason she could pull off such a performance, which wouldn't be out of place for someone with a split personality, was simple.
'Because I admired Lady Luna.'
The image of Luna known among the elves was the very ideal of an honor student that Seirun desired.
Because she admired Luna so much, Lunia was able to act out the Luna from the stories.
But... the Luna that Lunia knew now?
'...She was beautiful.'
But she wasn't pure and delicate.
The Luna that Lunia had seen in person was different from the one she knew.
She was somehow lively and boisterous, yet also quirky.
She was the kind of person who would use a magical formula so complex it felt like your head would shatter just looking at it to complete the 'magic of blooming flowers'.
That side of Luna was shocking, yet it also felt warm in a way.
She recalled the object of her admiration slinging an arm around her shoulder and smiling brightly.
'Right now, Seirun is denying Lady Luna.'
In fact, they were acting just like the elven society of the past that had oppressed Luna.
'There's no reason for me to follow the ways of a school that denies Lady Luna.'
A fire lit in Lunia's eyes.
"I definitely felt it yesterday, too, but Seirun is just obnoxious."
"So arrogant."
"Let's not get involved with them."
Jeers could be heard from the Lumerne and Azonia students.
"Hmph, we have no intention of associating with you lot either! Lady Lunia! Lady Eiran! Ignore these rude people and let's go to where the other Seirun students are..."
"Hey. You're the rudest one here, you know?"
"Huh? K-huh?"
*Thwack-!*
Lunia grabbed the intermediate student by the collar and slammed her forehead into his.
Then she planted her fist in the staggering student's face.
*Smack-!*
"Kyehk!"
The intermediate student shrieked as he was sent tumbling.
"L-Lady Lunia!"
Eiran called out to Lunia urgently, her face pale.
The students from the other schools also stared at Lunia, their jaws dropped.
Lunia put her hands on her hips with a look of relief.
"Ugh! This damn school! I feel so much better now!"
Watching Lunia shout with her head held high, Leo looked on in disbelief.
"So you've decided to stop pretending to be a fake Luna?"
"Huh? You knew?"
Lunia made a defiant face, then let out a short laugh.
"Well, you met Lady Luna back then, too. Yeah, I've decided to quit. I really held it in until the end of first year, but I can't take it anymore!"
Lunia, looking thoroughly fed up, walked up to Leo.
And smiled faintly.
"How have you been?"
"I've been fine. But if you act like that, aren't you going to get expelled?"
Seirun was also famous for mercilessly expelling students who damaged the school's dignity.
"Hmph! Let them try! I have no intention of attending a school like that anymore, anyway. Well, if I get expelled..."
Lunia smiled faintly.
"I can just enroll at Lumerne."
"You're just as reckless as Luna."
"Thanks for the compliment."
'It was an insult.'
Watching the brightly smiling Lunia, Leo replied inwardly.
Because if he told her it was an insult, she would surely attack him for insulting Luna.
Watching Lunia giggle, Leo said,
"Congratulations on graduating from being an honor student to a delinquent."