Chapter 305
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The Lumerne students, all dressed in their finest attire, made their entrance into the banquet hall.
Already waiting there were the second-year students from Damian, looking as sharp as they had on their very first day, clad in their neat school uniforms.
“Is that him?”
“The one who got Master Dweno’s alchemy tome as a reward, right?”
The Demian students’ eyes flashed as they stared at Karl.
He made a face, looking utterly repulsed.
“They’re not going to suddenly jump me, are they?”
As Karl muttered, Chloe, who was walking with him, spoke with a serious expression.
“They might try to capture and dissect you.”
“Chloe. You know how to make jokes like that?”
Karl let out a hollow laugh as he watched Chloe speak with sincere contemplation.
Chloe blinked at him.
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“What?”
“You were in the infirmary, so you didn’t experience it, but.”
Chloe looked over at the Demian students with somber eyes.
“I get the feeling they’re more than capable of it.”
Karl swallowed hard.
Seeing him, Chen Xia smiled brightly.
“Don’t be so scared, Karl.”
“R-right? No matter what, they wouldn’t actually dissect me…”
“There’s probably a specialist among the Demian students who could cleanly slice open your stomach, see what’s inside, and stitch you up beautifully. There’s even a torture technique for dissecting someone without killing them…”
“Aaaahhhh!”
At Chen Xia’s words, Karl clapped his hands over his ears and screamed.
“Unlike Chloe, I was just joking to help you relax, but you’re really terrified.”
“When you say it, it doesn’t sound like a joke.”
Chloe shook her head as she watched Chen Xia shrug.
Shortly after the Lumerne students arrived, the students from Azonia entered.
The Azonian students’ fierce gazes were fixed on Leo.
Watching them, Chelsea narrowed her brow.
“Why are they staring at Leo like that again?”
“They wanted to fight Leo during this exclusive contract period with Smith, but they couldn’t because he was in the infirmary, right? Maybe that’s why?”
“Hmph. Looks like they all need to be taught a lesson.”
Chelsea snorted.
As a strange tension filled the hall, Leo, who had taken a seat, was lost in thought, staring down at his own hands.
*Dweno’s legacy.*
Through this reward, Leo had obtained ownership of all of Dweno’s artifacts that remained in the current era.
Now, he could summon them just by thinking of their forms.
Leo let out a dry laugh, remembering Melina, who had said she would retrieve Dweno’s legacy from the headmaster of Demian.
*From the Demian headmaster’s perspective, it’s basically theft.*
Shaking his head at the memory of Melina’s bright smile, Leo glanced at Driana among the Demian students.
*They’ll need to be repaired before they can be used, though.*
All Leo could do was temporarily restore them to their past forms.
The fact that most of the artifacts were broken remained unchanged.
Even if they were made by Dweno, using them without proper maintenance would surely lead to their destruction sooner or later.
*If Driana hones her skills, it should be possible.*
Her talent was acknowledged by Dweno himself.
Leo trusted his friend’s judgment.
*And Dweno’s Flame.*
Leo had received two rewards this time.
One of them was Dweno’s Flame.
The small spark he had obtained through the divine power left by Pivua after conquering Luna’s world.
If that was a tiny ember on the verge of extinguishing, what he had gained this time was a roaring fire, the flame itself.
*Unlike my past life, this body is better suited for the flame.*
Dweno’s Flame could be considered the ultimate shield against Erebos’s attacks.
And during the final battle with Erebos.
Kyle had been unable to fully wield Dweno’s Flame.
*That’s why I couldn’t finish him.*
One by one, his friends.
As they passed on, they each entrusted Kyle with their power.
Ar-on’s Aura.
Dweno’s Flame.
Luna’s magic.
Lisinas’s Dragon Heart.
He had woven those powers together and pushed Erebos to the brink of annihilation.
But the reason he ultimately failed to deliver the final blow.
It was because Kyle’s body couldn’t withstand Erebos’s flame.
If only Leo had been able to handle Dweno’s Flame better back then.
Erebos would have been completely erased.
*This time, I can withstand it.*
Leo clenched his fist as he stared down at his hand.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
Celia, dressed in a beautiful red gown, asked with a curious look.
“Just thinking about the old days for a moment.”
“You sound like an old man.”
Celia, wearing white gloves, rested her chin on her hand.
At the sight of her beauty, male students from her dormitory approached.
“Celia, want to dance with me later?”
“No, with me!”
As if used to such reactions, Celia straightened her posture and smiled brightly.
“Sorry, I don’t feel like dancing today.”
The male students dispersed in disappointment.
It was then.
The doors to the banquet hall opened, and the Seirun students appeared.
Though only half their number was present, Seirun, led by Herdium, attended the final day’s banquet.
The Seirun students who attended chatted happily with students from other academies whom they knew.
While Leo’s party was conquering Dweno’s world.
There had been a massive attack from the Gigantes belonging to Gias’s legion.
Celia explained that many had become close friends after joining forces to fight back.
“Well, there were also plenty of parties that fell into crisis due to their own blunders.”
Just as Celia let out a small sigh.
A group of beastkin students approached Leo.
Celia’s eyes narrowed.
“What is it, Dion?”
“I came because I have something to ask Leo Flove, Celia.”
Celia had been in the same party as Dion during the incident.
Dion, who had answered in a solemn voice, blushed slightly and cleared his throat upon seeing Celia’s appearance.
“You look beautiful, Celia.”
“Thank you.”
Celia replied with a bright smile.
“What did you want to ask me?”
The Azonian students who had sought out Leo were the leaders of the second-year faction, including Dion.
In other words, they were among the top five second-years at Azonia.
All of them were students who wanted to face Leo in a fight.
“Leo Flove.”
Dion’s face contorted.
“What kind of person was Lord Ar-on, exactly?”
“You could just ask Ar about that.”
“That foolish cat only talks about Lord Ar-on’s heroic deeds.”
A fox beastkin, Rwen, answered, her fine brow furrowed delicately.
“We all know Lord Ar-on was great. What we’re curious about is what his personality was really like. What he liked. What he was like in his daily life!”
Rwen, who had a sly side but whose respect for Ar-on was genuine as a beastkin, continued as if her teeth were chattering with frustration.
“But that dumb cat… a cat, trying to act all cool, saying things like, ‘You’re not ready yet.’ It's just nonsense. I couldn't stand seeing it strike such a pose while drinking milk from a goblet, so I came to ask you.”
Leo glanced toward the Azonia students.
Ar was surrounded by a crowd of people.
Watching the scene, Leo rested his chin on his hand.
“Ar-on, huh.”
Leo let out a soft chuckle.
“Ar-on was with Ar for quite a long time.”
“Grr! That Ar! I’m so jealous!”
Borman clenched his fists tightly.
The others also sent envious gazes toward Ar.
“Did Lord Ar-on really treat Ar like a disciple?”
At Rwen’s question, Leo shook his head.
“No.”
“Hmph, I knew she was bluffing.”
*He treated her like a little sister.*
Fundamentally, Ar-on liked young children.
His dream was to create a world where children could laugh in peace.
“Ar-on was too scared of Ar to treat her as a disciple.”
“Don’t lie. Why would Lord Ar-on be afraid of Ar?”
“Ar was right. You’re not ready.”
Leo chuckled.
The Azonian students asked Leo more about Ar-on afterward, but Leo never revealed the truth that his friend was a coward.
*It’d be a shame to shatter the kids’ illusions. Not that they’d believe me anyway.*
For similar reasons, he also protected Dweno’s honor.
*You guys had some really good friends.*
Leo chuckled, thinking of his companions.
As the banquet reached its peak.
Students from all the academies laughed, talked, sang, and danced together without reservation.
Comrades who had overcome difficult times together shared a joyful moment.
For most students, it was a slightly awkward time.
But Leo felt a familiar sense of nostalgia.
*I’m entrusting the future to you.*
Leo smiled, recalling Dweno’s words.
*Don’t worry.*
***
“We’re back!”
“Phew! Home sweet home!”
“Technically, this isn’t home.”
“Aw, it’s practically the same thing.”
The students who had returned to Lumerne let out joyous cries.
Sera, the dormitory supervisor professor, greeted her students with a smile.
“Welcome back, everyone. I heard something big happened, but I’m glad you’re all safe!”
“Professor Sera! It’s good to see you!”
“We brought you a souvenir!”
The students greeted their supervisor, Sera, warmly.
“Oh my, thank you.”
Sera accepted the students’ gifts with a bright smile and said.
“Now that you’re back, I have some good news and some bad news for you.”
At her words, the students’ faces stiffened.
Good news and bad news?
They didn’t have high hopes for the good news.
But the bad news was enough to fill them with a tremendous sense of dread.
“What is it?”
As Iliana swallowed nervously, Sera smiled.
“Which one would you like to hear first?”
Everyone turned to look at the dormitory heads: Leo, Chloe, and Chen Xia.
“Please tell us the bad news first.”
At Leo’s words, Sera nodded.
“Alright. The bad news is that the dormitory’s magic water system is currently broken. You’ll have to use the first-year dormitory to wash up.”
Sighs of relief erupted from all around.
*What, that’s the bad news?*
*It’s a little inconvenient, but if that’s all…*
Everyone’s mood lightened.
“So what’s the good news?”
Iliana asked in a cheerful voice, and Sera beamed.
“The midterm exam schedule has been set.”
At those words, the faces of the entire student body froze solid.
“Is that supposed to be good news?”
Iliana asked with a grimace, and Sera nodded.
“Of course, it’s good news! The midterms are scheduled earlier than usual. That means you’ll have more time to prepare for the final exams, right?”
Sera spoke with a positive smile.
“You’ll have plenty of time to prepare for the finals!”
This semester, neither first-years nor second-years would face expulsion recommendations until the end of the term.
And the biggest factor in determining whether one stayed at the academy or left was the final exam.
Therefore, the longer the preparation period for the finals, the better.
Sera was being overly optimistic, but from the students’ perspective, exams were never a good thing, so they couldn’t help but look miserable.
* * *
“Ughhh! Midterms!”
Iliana frantically scratched her head.
Watching her, Leo said.
“If we have to take them anyway, it’s better to get them over with quickly.”
“There it is! The confidence of a top student!”
Iliana pouted.
“Are exams really that dreadful?”
“Right! A textbook honor student like Chloe has nothing to worry about, is that it?”
“By the way, I wonder what the practical portion of the midterms will cover.”
Just as Chen Xia tilted her head in thought.
“Ah! It’s Leo-sunbaenim!”
“Where? Where?”
The first-years reacted with surprise.
Leo was currently on his way to the first-year dormitory to wash up.
“The class president is popular with the underclassmen, too.”
Iliana nudged Leo’s side with a sly grin.
A crowd of first-years swarmed over and surrounded them.
“Sunbaenim! Is it true you conquered Master Dweno’s World of Heroes?”
“I heard you met Lord Ar-on, too!”
“What was it like?!”
“Tell us!”
The thoroughly excited first-years buzzed around Leo, eager to hear about his exploits in the World of Heroes.
Leo scratched his head, looking troubled.
“Move.”
A cold voice cut through the air.
“Hey! Get in line!”
A male student at the very back turned his head with a rough retort.
And when he saw who it was, his face went pale.
“V-V-V-V-V-Vice President!”
“Move.”
At Hark’s icy voice, the first-years parted like the sea.
Leo’s expression brightened at the sight of Hark.
“It’s been a while, Hark-sunbae.”
“…A while?”
“Hey, Leo. Wait a minute. Did you just say it’s been a while?”
Chloe and Iliana’s faces turned white.
Hark walked up to Leo with a menacing smile.
“‘It’s been a while, Hark-sunbae?’ Are those words that should be coming out of your mouth right now?”
A vein throbbed on Hark’s forehead as he spoke.
“Do you really think it’s acceptable for the student council president to dump all his work on the vice president and not show his face at the student council even once?!”
At Hark’s furious shout, Leo replied.
“There’s nothing for me to do even if I go to the student council office, anyway.”
“Gack!”
Hark clutched the back of his neck, his eyes bloodshot.
“Hey. Let’s go.”
Hark said, his eyes wide.
“I’ll beat you down and take the student council president’s seat! And then…!”
With a savage smile, Hark spat out his words.
“I’ll make you the vice president and make you suffer the same pain I have!”
Everyone swallowed nervously at the murderous aura flowing from Hark.
The strongest fifth-year.
Those words meant he was the absolute peak among Lumerne’s students.
“You said if I had a problem with you, I just had to beat you in a fight, right?”
Hark’s eyes flashed.
“I have a lot of problems with you. So, let’s go.”
The aura coming from the grinding Hark was nothing short of ominous.
As everyone watched the student council president and vice president with tense expressions.
“I never said I’d fight unconditionally.”
Hark’s eyes widened as he saw Leo speak with a smile.
“I’m refusing your request for a duel.”
As Leo brought the situation to a simple close, Hark hung his head low.
A moment later.
“Graaaaaaaah!”
As the enraged Hark was about to go on a rampage, the second-years threw themselves onto his arms and legs in terror.
“S-Sunbaenim! Hold him down!”
“If you go wild here, the first-years will get hurt!”