Chapter 271
Chapter Title: An Unwelcome Interruption
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Seirun's class representative.
The rumor that Lunia El Lundua had assaulted a fellow student spread like wildfire among all the academies.
“Strange. I thought she was the model Seirun honor student.”
Rwen, the third-ranked second-year from Azonia and a fox beastkin, tilted her head as she groomed her fluffy, magnificent tail.
The model Seirun honor student.
Among students from other hero academies, it wasn't exactly a compliment.
Elves are, by nature, a race with immense pride in their heritage.
And Seirun students often take that pride to an extreme.
The phrase 'model Seirun honor student' was used to describe a top-class Seirun student who embodied that tendency.
Borman tilted his head at Rwen's words.
“What's a 'model Seirun honor student'? Does it mean she's fun to fight?”
Rwen let out a deep sigh at his question.
“My mistake for asking a simpleton who only thinks about fighting.”
“What did you say, you shady fox!”
Borman lunged at Rwen with a fierce expression.
“Calm down, Borman. Rwen outranks both you and me.”
At the words of Tabon, the fourth-ranked bear beastkin, Borman scoffed.
“A cheap woman who wins by plinking away with magic! I don't acknowledge her!”
“Oh my, and who might this simpleton be who has never once beaten that 'cheap woman'?”
“Hey! Come on! I'll take you down today for sure!”
The agitated Borman swung his fists wildly.
“Be quiet.”
At Dion's command, Borman crossed his arms and plopped down onto the grass.
The Azonia students were currently gathered in the courtyard behind the grand auditorium.
“Rwen. You didn't gather us here because of Lunia El Lundua, did you? Why bring her up?”
At the question from Dion, the second-ranked student, Rwen gave a deep smile.
“That's right. I only brought her up because...”
Rwen smiled, her fox tail swaying gently.
“Her actions were quite different from the information we have. She's one of our biggest rivals, so I thought we should get a good read on her.”
At Rwen's words, Dion glanced behind him.
“Ar. Didn't you meet Lunia El Lundua in the Lodren Empire last winter break? What was she like then?”
To that question, Ar, who was sitting cross-legged on a rock, answered.
“We didn't talk for long, but she was a little different from the image Rwen described. Oof.”
Ar hopped down from the rock with nimble movements and asked.
“When I asked the black rabbit, he did say she was like a thug. I thought he was joking, but seeing her now, it seems he wasn't entirely wrong.”
*'The Seirun second-year representative is a thug?'*
Rwen wore a peculiar expression.
“Anyway, Rwen. Why did you call the faction leaders here?”
Ar got straight to the point, and Rwen replied.
“I'm requesting cooperation between the factions for the upcoming Exclusive Smith Contract.”
“You?”
Borman narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Tabon also wore a wary expression, finding it hard to believe.
Rwen the fox beastkin.
She was quite the anomaly among the Azonia students.
In Azonia, duels and conflicts between factions were a daily occurrence.
As such, there was a strong tendency to solve everything with force.
In Azonia, where physical strength was the only truth, Rwen was notorious as a strategist.
She would deceive students from other factions, instigating conflicts between them to reap the benefits.
Because of this, students from other factions refused to acknowledge her.
This was true even though she possessed the strength of the third-ranked student.
*'Then again, as a mage in Azonia, I'm a heretic to begin with.'*
Rwen said with a self-mocking smile.
“Yes. It may be hard to believe, but this time, I'm serious.”
“Let's hear her out.”
At Dion's words, Rwen smiled brightly.
“This Exclusive Smith Contract holds a greater meaning than simply signing on talented Demian students.”
Rwen snapped her fingers.
Instantly, mana dolls in the shapes of the four races—human, elf, beastkin, and dwarf—floated in the air.
“Hero cadets of our generation have all gathered in one place. An event like this is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence during our school years.”
It was true. Just as Rwen had said.
It's not that the hero academies never interact.
But it was no exaggeration to say that an entire year group from every hero academy gathering in one place was something that would almost never happen before graduation.
“And the reputation of the Lumerne and Seirun second-years is currently ahead of ours in Azonia.”
Borman grumbled at Rwen's statement.
“I find that hard to agree with.”
“Whether you agree or not is irrelevant. The Lumerne second-years gained fame for subjugating the Gigantes during their first year. And both Lumerne and Seirun were present at the site where the Demon Queen was defeated last year.”
The subjugation of the Demon Queen Silatuna.
That great feat was accomplished by the Hero of the Beginning and the Progenitor of the Nebula, who miraculously descended upon this land.
But just for having participated in that legendary battle, it was only natural for their public reputation to rise.
“Since we have no comparable achievements, the public views Azonia's second-years as inferior to those from Lumerne and Seirun.”
Seeing Rwen shrug, Borman's face flushed with anger.
Tabon didn't show his emotions, but he too revealed a hint of displeasure.
Ar and Dion nodded in agreement with Rwen's words.
Seeing this, Borman flared up.
“Hey! Ar! Dion! Doesn't it piss you off to hear that?!”
“It's true that we lack achievements compared to Lumerne and Seirun.”
Ar said, stretching lazily like a cat, and Dion nodded in agreement.
“Right. That's why the headmaster ordered us to defeat Leo Flove.”
Dion clenched and unclenched his fists, a belligerent smile on his face.
If we can defeat Leo, the symbol of Lumerne, in a martial arts duel, Azonia's reputation will naturally rise.
“Exactly. That's why I'm proposing we stop the infighting between factions while we're at Demian. We should focus more on the external enemy.”
Rwen smiled brightly.
“Besides, beastkin and dwarves have gotten along for generations.”
Beastkin, who purely worship strength, showed a more serious attitude toward weapons than any other race.
Naturally, they were bound to have good relations with the dwarves, who craft exceptional weapons.
“In this Exclusive Smith Contract, which is practically an inter-academy competition, if we can secure the best Demian students, our public reputation will naturally improve.”
Rwen covered her mouth and chuckled.
“Conveniently, our strongest competitor, Leo Flove, has fallen out of favor with the Demian students, putting us in a much more advantageous position. If we clash with him head-on for no reason, we'll just become stepping stones for his fame.”
“Hmph! Don't be ridiculous! Are you saying we should avoid dueling Leo Flove? An Azonia student should face him head-on!”
“Right. I can't agree with that, Rwen.”
Borman snapped, and Tabon, who had been listening, also shook his head.
“You wouldn't win anyway, would you?”
“You never know until you try!”
“Then go ahead and be a stepping stone for Leo Flove's fame, you stupid tiger.”
“Who are you calling stupid!”
Ignoring Borman, Rwen looked at Ar.
“What do you think of my idea, Ar?”
“It's not a bad idea. But I'm against avoiding a duel with the black rabbit.”
Ar's tail swayed gently.
“There's a lot to learn from the black rabbit.”
“I didn't expect you to listen to that last suggestion.”
Rwen shook her head and said.
“In any case, I believe you'll agree to prohibit infighting for now and focus on securing the best Demian students. So...”
Rwen grinned slyly.
“Everyone, after you finish lunch, go all out. Showing off your strength is your specialty, isn't it?”
The faction leaders nodded at her words and returned to their respective groups.
But Ar narrowed his eyes and approached Rwen.
“What are you plotting?”
“Who knows?”
Rwen chuckled.
“The first rule of hunting is to wear down your prey, isn't it?”
Her fox tail swayed gently.
Looking at Rwen, Ar stuck his tongue out.
“I see what you're planning.”
“Oh my, the dumb boss cat has gotten quicker on the uptake. I suppose it is a rather simple plan.”
“Don't call me a dumb cat!”
Ar's tail and ears shot up as he retorted.
Then, he gave a sly grin.
“What's with that creepy smile?”
“I was just imitating your usual smile.”
Ar chuckled and said.
“I get your plan to take down the exhausted black rabbit at the end. But he's more of a monster than you think. No matter what you scheme, he'll just plow right through it.”
“Thanks for the advice. But even the fiercest beast will become docile when it's tired.”
As Rwen walked away with a bright smile, Ar stuck his tongue out.
*'Your clever little schemes are going to backfire spectacularly.'*
***
After lunch.
The students from the three hero academies arrived at the grand auditorium and were left speechless by the scene before them.
The chairs that had been there just moments ago were all gone.
And in their place was a scene that resembled a marketplace.
The second-year Demian students were each displaying the weapons they had crafted, waiting for the students from the other hero academies.
“Wow, how could the inside of the auditorium change so much in just an hour?”
Karl exclaimed in disbelief.
“They're dwarves.”
“Is that possible just because they're dwarves?”
“Because they're dwarves.”
As Karl listened to Leo's reply, he wore an expression of utter bewilderment.
“Lunia El Lundua!”
A hysterical voice echoed from the back of the auditorium.
Every student's gaze turned in that direction.
There stood Revere, the supervising instructor for Seirun's second-years, his face flushed red.
All eyes turned to Lunia, who stood at the head of the Seirun students.
Lunia put on a defiant expression and cleaned her ear a few times with her pinky.
*Thump— Thump— Thump—*
“I've been briefed on your rash behavior! What were you thinking, doing such a thing...! For you, who should be a model for Seirun, to display such disgraceful conduct in front of so many people!”
Watching Revere shout, his shoulders trembling, the students didn't know what to do.
There were no other faculty members present.
Depehto, the smith in charge of Demian's second-years, had not yet arrived.
As such, there was no one to restrain Revere.
No, the students from the other academies simply didn't want to get involved with him, an elven supremacist.
The Seirun students dared not challenge the authority of their instructor.
Lunia looked at Revere, who had come to stand before her, and spoke.
“It just sort of happened.”
“Do you think 'it just sort of happened' is a valid excuse! Do you have any awareness at all that you are Seirun's class representative!”
Standing before Lunia, Revere looked down on her with authoritarian eyes and said.
“It seems, Lunia, that you are in need of some strict correction. Return to Seirun immediately!”
Lunia scowled at his words.
“But this is an important academic event.”
“What you need right now is the etiquette and dignity befitting a Seirun student.”
Revere's lips curled into a sneer.
“If you fail to possess those qualities, you will lose the privilege of learning the Progenitor's magic.”
“That's not something you can decide on your own, Instructor Revere!”
Lunia's face contorted.
Lunia was the heir to the Lundua family.
Her standing in elven society was exceptionally high.
Although Revere currently held the nominal high position of supervising instructor for Seirun's second-years, Lunia's influence in elven society was overwhelmingly stronger.
Setting aside her status as a student, she was not someone Revere could treat so carelessly.
“Hmph, my will is also the will of the headmaster. If you wish to view the [Grimoire of the Comet], you would do well to follow my orders.”
Just as Lunia's red eyes began to burn with fury.
“Excuse me. You're being a nuisance to everyone else, so could you please leave?”
An annoyed voice cut in.
“Who dares to...!”
Revere's eyes flashed as he turned toward the source of the voice.
Leo was standing there.
“Ha, you insolent whelp. How dare a mere student order me, the supervising instructor of Seirun's second-years, around?”
“I'm asking as the student council president of Lumerne.”
Leo's lips curled into a smirk.
“The student council president of a hero academy also serves as a proxy for the headmaster, you know? Surely you're aware of that?”
“You brat...!”
Seeing Leo bring up his status as student council president, Revere's eyes shot sparks.
“Besides, Lunia has no need to learn the Progenitor's magic recorded in the [Grimoire of the Comet].”
“Hmph! It seems you fail to comprehend the magic of the stars and the greatness of the Progenitor. The [Grimoire of the Comet] is a tome of such profound...!”
“Instructor Revere. Have you ever met Lady Luna?”
“What?”
“I have.”
Leo gave a wicked smile as he summoned the Folium he had obtained from conquering Luna's world and waved it in front of Revere's face.
It was nothing more than an empty shell, devoid of divine power, but its symbolism was undeniable.
“You don't have one of these, do you, Instructor Revere?”
“Kgh!”
Revere's face turned shades of red and purple.
Looking at the flustered instructor, Leo said.
“And the reason Lunia doesn't need to learn the magic from the [Grimoire of the Comet] is because she already knows the Progenitor's magic.”
Leo smiled meaningfully.
Revere's eyes widened as he stared at Lunia.
The Seirun students also turned to Lunia in shock.
And Lunia stared back at Leo, her jaw agape.
*'What is he talking about?'*
The magic recorded in the Grimoire of the Comet was none other than 'The End'.
It was the ultimate magic, learnable only by chosen elves.
And Lunia had never once learned that magic.
“I received it as a reward for conquering Lady Luna's world before.”
Lunia's eyes widened at Leo's words.
At that time, Leo was the only one who received a reward.
And Leo had officially stated that the 'Folium' was the only reward he received.
That in itself was surprising enough.
But...
*'Could it be that he received the Progenitor's magic as a reward?'*
The possibility was certainly there.
*'Is he planning to teach it to me?'*