Chapter 333
Chapter Title: Exchange Student
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“An exchange student?”
Mel asked, her eyes wide.
“Yeah.”
After class had ended.
Leo went to Mel’s office and told her about the exchange student program.
“Seirun… I don’t think going there would be particularly beneficial for you, Leo.”
Mel tilted her head as she sipped her tea.
“Besides, if you go to Seirun now, most of the students there will undoubtedly be hostile toward you.”
As the Dragon Lord, Mel appointed the vice principals of all the hero academies.
Therefore, she was well-informed about the state of affairs at every academy.
Hearing Mel’s words, Leo let out a soft laugh.
“I’ve wanted to go at least once ever since I heard about the exchange program.”
“But… some of the elves will surely be rude to you, won’t they?”
All expression vanished from Mel’s face.
As someone who knew Leo was the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, Mel could not tolerate the elven supremacists being rude to him.
The Great Hero who saved the world.
Without Leo, the world as it was now would not exist.
“Just the thought of them committing such sacrilege against you… I can never forgive it.”
A menacing aura began to radiate from her.
Piora and Kiruan, who had been casually looking around Mel's office, flinched and hid behind a bookshelf.
Arti, who had her eyes closed, opened one to look at Mel, while Elsie watched in awe.
Though usually gentle, Mel now exuded a dignity befitting her title of Dragon Lord.
Leo reached out toward Mel, whose eyes had already transformed into those of a dragon.
“Oof!”
When Leo pinched her nose, a flustered Mel grabbed it with both hands.
“Why are you getting so worked up over something that hasn’t even happened yet?”
“B-But.”
Mel replied, her voice nasal.
“It’s unforgivable.”
At Mel’s response, Leo rested his chin on his hand.
“I’m used to the arrogant attitude of elves, anyway.”
Back in the early days of the Calamity, the elves’ sense of superiority was still strong.
Leo had met countless elves who couldn’t mingle easily with other races and only created discord.
“Besides, there were still High Elves back in my day, so it was even worse than it is now, never better.”
“Sometimes, when I talk with you, Leo, I realize something.”
“What’s that?”
“The fact that you’re a really old man… Ack!”
Pinched on the nose again, Mel flailed her arms about.
Watching the scene, Arti muttered.
“I want to be scorned by the Dragon Lord. And then I want to be scorned by my master, who so easily subdued that Dragon Lord.”
Elsie let out a deep sigh.
-Please, maintain your dignity as a pegasus.
Of course, Arti didn't listen.
After scolding Mel, Leo spoke.
“Going to Seirun isn’t just about Kiruan’s wings.”
“Then?”
“I’m going to see what kind of hero candidates they have there. The only ones from Seirun I know well are Lunia and Eiran.”
Someone else going to see hero candidates and Leo going to see them were two statements of entirely different weight.
When Leo spoke of hero candidates, he meant those who could one day bear the weight of the era.
The battle against Tartaros.
Furthermore, talent that could stand against Erebos.
‘Because a hero chosen by Leo, the true master of the Hero Record and the Great Hero, would be different.’
Mel nodded.
“Besides, if Seirun is that rotten on the inside, it needs to be treated to some extent.”
Leo knew all too well the process of how the world had reached the brink of destruction after the Calamity began.
The world had rapidly spiraled toward ruin partly due to the power of Erebos, a terrifying monster even the gods couldn't handle, but also because many factions had self-destructed from internal problems without putting up a proper fight.
The elves, in particular, had collapsed far too easily for such a powerful faction.
Tina, worried Seirun would fall behind, had suggested the exchange program in the hopes that a being like Leo would create a great stir there.
But Leo, who had seen how the once brilliant and mighty elven power of the distant past had crumbled, was worried about the elven race itself.
To avoid repeating the past, Leo felt that Seirun needed to change.
Mel wore a worried expression at Leo’s words.
“That would be for the best, but… the exchange program will last a month at most. Can you really change much in that time?”
“Lunia and Eiran are already there. I just need to create an opportunity.”
Leo smirked.
“For those who will become true heroes, an opportunity is all they’ll need.”
Just as Mel nodded in agreement, there was a knock.
*Knock, knock—*
Someone was knocking urgently on the door to Mel’s office.
“It’s open.”
At Mel’s words, the door opened and Anna entered.
“Assistant Professor Anna, what brings you here…”
“Student Leo! Professor Ren just heard about the exchange student program from Professor Tina and…!”
At her words, Leo and Mel looked at each other, then rose from their seats.
***
“So, you’re saying we should expel Visiting Professor Tina immediately, Professor Ren?”
Principal Liina asked with a deep sigh.
“That’s right, Principal! We must banish that wicked elf at once… Mmph!”
Liina clamped a hand over Ren’s mouth as he shouted convulsively.
Despite Ren’s reaction, Tina calmly sipped her refreshments.
Ren had flown into a rage the moment he heard about the exchange program.
Anna had quickly called Leo and Mel for help, and they had barely managed to subdue him, but Ren’s rampage continued.
Other professors had rushed over upon hearing the news, and they had all ended up in the principal’s office.
Liina wore a disgruntled expression.
“I don’t know how Lord Kalian managed this job for decades. These professors cause a ruckus almost every single day. Good grief.”
“Lord Kalian just passed all this work onto Professor Halind.”
“Hmm. That’s tempting.”
At Anna’s words, Liina stroked her chin with a serious look.
Ignoring the still-fuming Ren, Liina spoke.
“Professor Tina. I’m curious as to why you recommended the exchange program to Leo, and by what authority you can send him.”
“I recommended Student Leo for the exchange program because I wanted to show the students of Seirun that there are outstanding students like him. I believe it will also be an opportunity for Student Leo to broaden his horizons at Seirun.”
Tina’s words were very by-the-book.
“As for the authority to apply for the exchange program, a request to my family is sufficient.”
Although Tina had to hide the fact that she was from the direct family line, her knowledge of magic was among the best in the Tingel family, the greatest of the elven houses.
Using her expertise in magical theory, she had even succeeded in deciphering several of Seirun Tingel’s magical texts that had remained unsolved for thousands of years.
Thanks to that, while her name wasn't widely known outside, she held considerable influence within her family.
“Although I am not from Seirun and have lived a life unrelated to heroes, I believe that Student Leo going to Seirun will be of great help to both him and the academy.”
“Hmm.”
“Principal! You mustn’t be deceived! This is a wicked scheme to poach Student Leo for Seirun…”
“Yes, yes. Please calm down, Professor Ren.”
“Be quiet.”
Mel calmed Ren with a bright smile, and Anna covered his mouth.
“What are your thoughts, Student Leo?”
After some thought, Liina looked at Leo and asked.
“I’d like to go.”
“It’s a good opportunity, and if you want to go, then so be it.”
Liina said nonchalantly.
“This could be a chance for mutual benefit through an exchange program. I’ll have to discuss it with Sedgen. Professor Tina, since you proposed this, I’d like you to handle the procedures on the Seirun side.”
“Understood.”
Liina herself had been very interested in the exchange student talks that had started last year.
‘Now is the time to strengthen cooperation between the hero academies. Though those Seirun folks will likely look down on Leo.’
Liina could also predict how Seirun would react to Leo coming as an exchange student.
Glancing at Leo, Liina spoke.
‘On the surface, it would be ideal if this develops into an inter-academy exchange following the Lumerne-Seirun Exhibition.’
If they sent an exchange student in return, it wouldn't be bad for Lumerne either.
Tina nodded and returned to her office.
As Ren despaired at how things were unfolding against his will, a voice spoke.
“Professor Ren.”
Leo addressed him.
“I’m also listed as a co-author for the [Introduction to Star Magic] that Assistant Professor Anna will be presenting at the upcoming magic conference, so I will help her with the presentation during the exchange period.”
“Right, since you’re going anyway, give Assistant Professor Anna a hand.”
Liina nodded.
After Leo left, Liina sighed and tried to console Ren.
“Professor Ren, first, calm down. Just because Student Leo goes as an exchange student doesn’t mean he’ll become a Seirun student…”
“Heh heh, hehehe.”
Ren chuckled softly.
‘Now what’s with him?’
“I have a brilliant idea.”
“What is it now?”
Anna asked, a look of unease on her face.
“All I need is for Student Leo to go to Seirun as an exchange student and be hated by those pointy-eared bastards! Hehehehe! Those pointy-ears hate the [Introduction to Star Magic].”
Ren clutched his face, his expression crazed.
“I just need to prepare a provocative conference presentation that those elves will hate and present it with Student Leo! Assistant Professor Anna! I will be attending this conference!”
“…”
Anna’s face turned cold.
“…But I’m the one who’s been preparing for that conference.”
Preparing for the magic conference was incredibly stressful for Anna.
But it was also an honor to prepare for an event where the world’s most renowned mages gathered.
For a mage, simply presenting a paper at the magic conference was a tremendous honor in itself.
That was why Anna had worked so hard to prepare for it, despite the immense stress and pressure.
And now, Ren was suddenly declaring he would take it over.
Moreover, from the sound of it, he clearly intended to change the presentation content she had prepared.
“Assistant Professor Anna! Don’t you worry! I will take the lead on this conference.”
“Shut up!”
The last thread of Anna's reason snapped, and she reacted fiercely.
Watching the scene, Liina spoke.
“Professor Ren, I’m sorry, but you can’t go to Seirun.”
“And why not!”
“Who else do you think can handle the complicated 2nd-year magic department schedule you’ve laid out? You just got it all signed off yesterday.”
Ren had created a class schedule that no one but him could manage, and he had gotten it approved just the day before.
In other words, Ren’s absence would throw the entire 2nd-year magic department schedule into chaos.
“Principal, I will rework the class schedule so that Assistant Professor Anna can handle the classes.”
“Fine, if you want to go that badly, then go.”
Liina said coldly.
“But hand in your resignation first.”
“Th-That’s…”
Ren’s face fell in despair.
***
*Tap— Taptap—*
The sound of chalk against the blackboard echoed emptily in the classroom.
Two elves were in the spacious classroom.
And in the very middle.
A female student from Seirun, seated at the only desk, stared at the writing that filled the blackboard with her red eyes.
“Student Lunia, do you understand? The purpose for which the Comet Mage created our Seirun.”
Lunia offered a faint smile at the words of the stern-looking Seirun instructor.
“Yes, I understand it well now.”
“I’m glad! It seems you are returning to your old self, Student Lunia. This is proof that the re-education lessons are proceeding well!”
The Seirun instructor smiled brightly and checked the time.
“This concludes today’s supplementary lesson.”
The dinner hour had already passed.
“Good work, Student Lunia. I will see you here again tomorrow.”
“Yes, Teacher Orlen.”
Orlen looked at Lunia’s graceful bow with a satisfied expression before leaving the classroom.
Once left alone in the classroom, Lunia’s expression changed completely.
“Re-education, my ass. You think I can listen to this crap?”
The blackboard was filled with nothing but the proper mindset an elf should have.
Instantly transforming into a delinquent, Lunia kicked the classroom wall repeatedly. *Thump, thump, thump!*
“I’m already pissed off from being so hungry! How am I supposed to study while I’m starving?!”
After throwing a tantrum with a furious face, she plopped down onto the elegant desk and chair, crossed her legs, and rested her chin on her hand.
Snow was falling outside.
Gazing at the white snow that reminded her of someone, Lunia muttered.
“Should I just drop out of this school for real?”