Chapter 334
Chapter Title: The Exchange Student
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The coldest place on the frigid northern continent. This was the territory of the elves.
And the most important city within that territory.
Langen.
In the distant past.
It was the hometown of the Comet Mage, Seirun Tingel, who carried on the will of the Nebula's Progenitor.
The Nebula's Progenitor, the Fairy Knight, and the Comet Mage.
Of the three great elven figures, Luna and Verchia were from 5,000 years ago, so their birthplaces were unknown.
But the Comet Mage's hometown was clearly known.
As such, Langen was treated as a ‘holy land’ among the elves.
As one of the heroes who had saved the world from yet another crisis and was called the Progenitor's second coming, it was only fitting that Seirun's hometown be called a holy land.
In the center of Langen stood a massive castle.
In the highest room of that castle, an elf who had been gazing at the frigid landscape of Langen turned his eyes to the letter in his hand.
‘A request for a letter of recommendation so that Leo Flove can go to Seirun as an exchange student.’
Tion Tingel, the current head of the Tingel family, folded the letter his younger sibling had delivered, a puzzled expression on his face.
‘She said she was going to Lumerne as a visiting professor… Why would she make such a request?’
Placing the letter on the table, Tion walked over to his office chair and sat down, picking up a quill.
The Tingel family had long been regarded as the most prestigious elven family, but they had refrained from political activities.
The hero academy founded by the Comet Mage.
The power structure of the elves had been reorganized around Seirun.
The Tingel family could have reigned as the kings of the elves without question.
Considering that elves were the most tightly-knit of all races.
The Tingel family could have ruled as the sole monarchs of the elves.
However, a single statement left by Seirun prevented the Tingels from becoming royalty.
‘The elves do not need a king.’
It was unknown why Seirun had left such a remark.
But in accordance with the words of the great Comet Mage, the Tingels naturally distanced themselves from the Elven Council.
Even so, their influence remained immense.
Seirun had no exchange student program.
But if it was the will of the head of the Tingel family, creating such a program and accepting an exchange student was entirely possible.
Even if that student was ‘Leo Flove,’ who had recently become a hot topic in elven society.
Tion finished writing a letter to Seirun's acting principal and sent it to Seirun Academy using a familiar.
Tion reached for a newspaper in his office.
‘An All-Class, just like the Hero of the Beginning.’
Reading about his recent exploits in the paper, Tion’s lips curled into a smile.
‘I wonder what he will show us at Seirun.’
***
“An exchange student?!”
A week after the exchange student commotion, during breakfast.
Having received confirmation from Tina about Seirun, Leo informed Celia of the news.
Celia, who was eating with him, asked in shock.
The gazes in the bustling Lumerne second-year cafeteria momentarily focused on the two of them.
“Is it that surprising?”
Leo, stirring his soup with a spoon, asked with a grin. Celia chugged her milk in one go.
Then, wiping her mouth, she said.
“Of course I’m surprised you’re suddenly going as an exchange student! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It wasn’t decided for sure whether I was going or not. It was just confirmed this morning.”
“You’re really something else…!”
Just as Celia was making a dumbfounded face.
“An exchange student? What’s all this about?”
Iliana, who had been eating, ran over with sparkling eyes and sat down next to Leo.
A few other friends they were close with also gathered around him.
In response to his friends’ reactions, Leo spoke as if it were no big deal.
“Professor Tina suggested I try going to Seirun as an exchange student.”
Leo tore off a piece of bread and continued.
“I thought it might be a good experience, so I decided to go.”
Hearing this, Chelsea tilted her head.
“Is it just you going, Leo?”
“Yeah.”
“Is anyone coming from Seirun?”
“It seems Seirun has no plans to send any students.”
“Aww, what? That’s no fun.”
Chelsea pouted and grumbled.
Karl crossed his arms and asked.
“When are you leaving and when are you coming back?”
“I’m leaving today and coming back in a month.”
“A month?”
Karl’s jaw dropped.
The other students also looked surprised by the unexpectedly long stay.
“Ooh! So, you’re going to conquer Seirun too, Class Rep?!”
Iliana shouted, her eyes gleaming.
“I’m just going to see how they study at Seirun and what kind of students they have.”
Leo said with a gentle smile.
‘There’s no way Leo’s just going to study quietly.’
‘He’s bound to get caught up in some incident again.’
‘Knowing Leo, he’ll definitely do something incredible before he comes back.’
Even under the confident gazes of his friends who knew better, Leo simply continued his meal nonchalantly.
***
That evening.
Leo packed his bags for Seirun.
Before leaving, he took a moment to head to the training ground behind the first-year male dormitory.
Luke was staggering around the training yard.
The routine of Leo’s mentee, Luke, was simple.
He woke up earlier than any other first-year to do physical training at the grounds.
And after his classes, he would stay the latest, doing more physical training.
He always wore artifacts on his wrists and ankles that increased the strain on his body.
“Ugh!”
Luke, stumbling as he ran, covered his mouth.
His stamina had been depleted long ago.
What kept his body moving were grit and mental fortitude.
Narrowly avoiding a messy situation, Luke squeezed out the last of his energy and ran.
Finally, having reached his goal, he stopped running and collapsed flat on his back.
*Thud.*
“You don’t have to push yourself that hard.”
Leo said as he approached the fallen Luke.
“L-Leo.”
Luke hastily pushed himself up.
Looking at him, Leo smiled faintly.
“The training regimen I set for you is already pushing your body to its limits.”
Training to build a strong physique.
On top of that, magic awakening training and studies to use magic.
For Luke, it was a punishingly difficult schedule.
Yet, Luke was pushing himself even harder.
Clenching his jaw, Luke lowered his head and said.
“...What if you get expelled because of me?”
The harsh penalty—that the mentor of a first-year who is forced to withdraw after the first semester final exams would also be expelled—was more than enough to pressure Luke.
In fact, the whispers he heard from his fellow first-years were enough to fill him with anxiety.
His mentor, Leo, was an All-Class like the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, and the unprecedented first-year student council president.
He was also considered a student who might become the strongest in Lumerne’s history.
In contrast, Luke, Leo’s mentee, was being ridiculed as the worst failure in Lumerne’s history.
“Even if that happens, it won’t be your fault.”
Leo let out a small laugh.
“It’s a matter of my choice. You don’t need to feel burdened. It’s my responsibility.”
Looking down at Luke, Leo continued.
“And I trust my own judgment.”
Luke was reflected in Leo’s red eyes.
“You can become a hero.”
What a hero needs is not talent, nor is it great deeds.
Nor is it the praise of people or the acknowledgment of gods.
‘Back in the day, before the Hero Record, things were a bit simpler.’
Leo chuckled, recalling a friend’s words.
‘You know, a hero…’
Lisinas had said with a grin.
‘…is someone who never gives up.’
Remembering his friend’s words, Leo said.
“I think you need to have a little more confidence in yourself.”
“Confidence?”
“Yes. If you can’t believe in yourself, then believe in me, who chose you.”
Luke’s eyes widened.
Taking a deep breath, Luke got to his feet.
“I’m going to run a little more.”
“Alright.”
“Oh, right! You said you’re going to Seirun as an exchange student, right? I’ll work hard while you’re gone!”
Leo nodded, seeing the motivation shining in Luke’s eyes.
Leaving the now-running Luke behind, Leo headed for the warp gate.
The mentor-mentee relationship between Leo and Luke was unusual.
Other second-years would guide their mentees with course know-how, exam information, or combat methods.
But Leo did none of that.
He simply set a training schedule and gave it to Luke.
‘Everything needed to be a hero can be learned at Lumerne.’
A place of learning optimized for raising heroes.
That was what a hero academy was.
Leo was simply creating a vessel capable of holding it all.
He wouldn’t extend a hand or offer help in the process.
He would simply watch.
When it looked like he might fall, he would catch him just before he did, then push him forward again.
‘Strength is only valuable when you seize it with your own hands.’
Leo glanced back at Luke.
Only Luke himself could change the way others saw him.
And Luke was working several times harder than anyone else.
“I’m looking forward to the final exams.”
***
“I cannot accept this!”
In the Seirun second-year meeting room.
Reber, the second-year coordinator, reacted with something close to a seizure.
“Leo Flove! To accept that arrogant, insolent delinquent from Lumerne as an exchange student!”
*Bang!*
Reber slammed his hand on the table.
His eyes were filled with deep-seated anger.
Leo Flove.
During the recent Smith exclusive contract incident, Reber felt he had been humiliated by Leo.
In a situation where he was scolding Lunia for becoming a delinquent, Leo had embarrassed him.
The image of Leo waving the Pollium, obtained as a reward from Luna's world conquest, in front of his face and sneering at him was still vivid in his mind.
A vein throbbed on Reber’s forehead as he spoke.
“Furthermore! Student Lunia has recently been undergoing rehabilitation and is once again becoming a proper, model student of Seirun!”
At Reber’s shout, Herdium let out a deep sigh.
“Professor Reber, I have a question… that rehabilitation class… is it truly effective?”
Herdium, who had been in charge of Lunia since her first year, knew her personality better than anyone.
From Herdium’s perspective, Lunia needed no rehabilitation or correction.
‘Of course, she has a tendency for drastic words and actions, but… Student Lunia is perfectly capable of controlling herself and has the leadership to look after the students around her.’
There is no such thing as a perfect model student that adults wish for.
Furthermore, Herdium, having taught many students, knew well that the image of a model student that adults desired was not always a good thing.
He also knew that the ‘model student’ Reber spoke of was one tailored to the standards of elven supremacists.
‘And the content of that class, conducted under the guise of supplementary lessons.’
Herdium sighed deeply to himself.
‘What kind of bull is this?’
Lunia’s voice echoed in Herdium’s ears like a phantom.
“It is effective. Student Lunia is returning to her former self.”
Orlen, the one in charge of Lunia’s supplementary classes, said with a gentle smile.
Looking at Orlen, Herdium’s expression twisted strangely.
‘She hasn’t changed a bit from how she used to be.’
The only difference was whether she was putting on a false front or not.
Both Reber and Orlen.
Even considering they were teachers who had suddenly been appointed to Seirun this year.
They were far too lacking in their abilities as educators.
But Herdium didn’t say it.
He knew that speaking up would only make things harder for the students.
‘This is a good opportunity. Student Leo will undoubtedly influence the students of Seirun in one way or another.’
Herdium also believed that the current Seirun needed to change.
Though he had only seen him a few times, the Leo in Herdium’s eyes was a student with the capacity to bring about change, for better or for worse.
‘Things are already at their worst, so it can’t get any worse than this.’
Just as Herdium’s expression hardened.
“Professor Reber, I have a good idea.”
Orlen, who had lifted her teacup with an elegant gesture, took a sip before offering a meaningful smile.
“We just need to make sure Leo Flove doesn’t have a negative influence on Student Lunia, don’t we?”