Chapter 352
Chapter Title: The Shadow Lord's Daughter
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“Pfft?!”
Assistant Professor Anna, who had been drinking warm tea in her room to warm up, spat it out involuntarily.
She had been filled with immense anger when she heard how Leo had been treated at Seirun.
How dare they treat Lumerne’s student council president in such a manner!
But the words that followed made Anna doubt her own ears.
“You taught… a Seirun student?”
“I taught them the [Introduction to Star Magic].”
The [Introduction to Star Magic] at the conference.
The mere act of presenting it at Seirun, the heart of elven magic, was already causing an uproar among the rigid elven mages.
And in that situation, what?
‘He taught Seirun students the [Introduction to Star Magic]?’
Anna could almost hear Ren’s annoying voice as an auditory hallucination.
‘Bravo! Bravo! Student Leo! As expected, you are a true mage! Such a bold decision! Drive! Experimental spirit! These are truly the virtues a mage must possess! Bravo! Bravo! Your audacity makes my heart swell with pride!’
A vein throbbed on Anna’s forehead at the hallucination of Ren.
‘Calm down. Stay calm.’
Assistant Professor Anna took a deep breath.
In truth, viewed purely as a co-author of the paper, this situation was incredibly fascinating.
The initiation into star magic through the [Introduction to Star Magic] had already been proven with Lumerne’s second-year students.
What effect would it have if it were taught to another race?
Especially to elves, who used star magic as their innate magic?
Being a mage to her very core, Assistant Professor Anna was extremely curious about the results.
But this was the Magic Conference.
Worse, the rigid elven mages were preparing to tear Anna’s presentation apart any way they could.
If it became known in such a situation that Leo had taught them the [Introduction to Star Magic], a book Seirun had designated as forbidden…
‘An enormous incident is sure to erupt.’
Anna’s eye twitched.
The diplomatic fallout would be beyond imagination, and unavoidable.
“…How many did you teach?”
At Anna’s question, Leo held up all ten of his fingers.
Seeing this, Anna let out a sigh.
“Ten. Thankfully, it’s not a large number. It’s unlikely you’ll be caught right away.”
This matter could not be revealed before the conference.
It was an incident she absolutely could not handle as an assistant professor of Lumerne.
“First, we need to finish the conference safely and return to Lumerne to discuss how to respond…”
“No.”
Leo smiled.
“It was a hundred.”
Anna’s face twitched violently.
“…When do you think you’ll be found out?”
“It will definitely be revealed during the conference.”
“I should have told Professor Ren to go instead.”
Assistant Professor Anna could only cover her face with both hands and sob.
Leo patted her on the back and said.
“It’s okay, I’ll handle it somehow.”
Seeing Assistant Professor Anna show a sense of responsibility even while sobbing, Leo spoke.
“Assistant Professor Anna, here’s an analysis of the magical proficiency of Seirun’s first-years. It might be a good reference for you.”
Anna’s sobbing stopped abruptly.
‘Oops.’
Meeting the eyes of Assistant Professor Anna as she lowered her hands, Leo feigned innocence and backed away.
With Anna’s head already aching, throwing more work at her was bound to elicit a harsh reaction.
For instance, if the person standing before Anna now had been Ren instead of Leo.
She might not have hesitated to try and strangle him.
Leo gave Assistant Professor Anna a cute smile, then clenched his fist and said.
“You can do it, Professor.”
He then quickly left her room.
Watching him go, Assistant Professor Anna let out a hollow laugh.
‘No matter how much he’s the greatest top student in Lumerne’s history, a kid is still a kid. Though he acts like a cunning old snake.’
Shaking her head, Anna reached for the documents Leo had left behind.
*Flip-*
As she read through the documents, Anna’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
‘This… the results are far more incredible than I imagined, aren’t they?’
***
*Step- Step-*
Walking back to his room, Leo muttered inwardly.
‘They’re following me.’
In the darkness of the quiet hallway.
Something stealthy was tailing Leo.
‘An elf.’
Judging by the presence, it was definitely an elf.
Leo paid the tail no mind and returned to his room.
*Click-!*
After Leo entered his room.
*Swoosh-*
The moment a figure in a black hood reached out and turned the doorknob to Leo’s room.
“I don’t recall making any enemies who’d have a reason to follow me.”
At the voice from behind, the black figure instantly shot a hand backward.
*Grab-!*
Leo snatched the opponent’s wrist in an instant and twisted their arm.
With his other hand, he covered their mouth, pulled them into the room, and closed the door with his back.
*Clank.*
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
Having swiftly subdued the person, Leo leaned against the door and said.
“I’ll let you go if you don’t cause a scene.”
At Leo’s words, the person gave a small nod.
Leo released his hold, and the black-clad figure took a few steps forward before spinning around.
And faced Leo.
Blue eyes glinted from within the hood.
The person pulled back their hood, readily revealing their face.
Blue hair cascaded down.
They had the distinctively beautiful features of an elf.
But the aura they exuded was strangely different from that of an elf.
‘A half-elf.’
The beautiful woman with a pure and clean aura straightened her clothes, then knelt before Leo.
She then bowed respectfully and said.
“It is an honor to meet you, Lord Leo Flove. I am Anyas Begas, daughter of the Master of the Northern Magic Tower, here to offer my greetings.”
“Daughter of the Master of the Northern Magic Tower?”
Leo wore a puzzled expression at the person’s identity.
“Why is the daughter of the Northern Magic Tower’s Master following me? And why are you being so uncomfortably polite?”
The reason Leo had let Anyas go so easily was simple.
While it was true she had been stealthily following him, he hadn’t sensed any killing intent from her.
It was suspicious, but he didn’t think she meant him any harm.
The fact that she was the daughter of the Northern Magic Tower’s Master was certainly a surprise, but her attitude was even more puzzling.
The Magic Towers.
They were collectives of mages representing each continental region.
The Master of a Magic Tower was the strongest mage of their era, and most of them became heroes who left their names in the Hero Record for their incredible achievements.
Naturally, as the masters of the Magic Towers, their power and prestige were comparable to that of a nation’s king.
Although Leo was Lumerne’s student council president and acknowledged as a direct descendant of the Jerdinger family, the authority of a Magic Tower Master’s daughter was no less than his own.
Moreover, though she was a half-elf, she still had elven blood flowing through her veins.
Leo found it strange that a woman of such high status was being excessively polite.
At Leo’s question, Anyas spoke.
“It is only natural to show respect to you, the master of Shan.”
As Anyas spoke deferentially, Leo looked incredulous.
“Why am I the master of Shan? That’s the Emperor of Shan.”
“You must be displeased by my rudeness. But you do not need to hide it. Emperor Shau has already summoned the Shadow Lords and informed them of the existence of the [Book of Shadows] and its master, Lord Leo Flove.”
Shadow Lords.
Chen Xia had mentioned them before.
Shan, as the nation of shadows, had supported shadows across the world for ages.
But Shan’s influence didn’t extend to all the world’s shadows.
Traitors emerged from every race.
The shadows of the elves, beastkin, and dwarves each had their own leaders.
‘And they are called the Shadow Lords, weren’t they?’
“The great deeds and achievements of the Great Hero, Kyle, recorded in the [Book of Shadows], have been shared with all the Shadow Lords.”
“So you’re a Shadow Lord?”
“My father, Algran Begas, is a Shadow Lord. I, though lacking, am his successor.”
“It’s true that I found the Book of Shadows in Shan, and it’s also true that I’m an All-Class like the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle. But is that a reason to be so polite to me?”
At Leo’s question, Anyas, who had been bowing, lifted her head.
“Because you saved all the shadows of the world.”
Where there is light, there is shadow.
For the past 5,000 years, it was the shadows who had resolved the darkness that heroes could not.
They too were a great pillar that had built and maintained an era of peace.
But they had been scorned for the sole reason that they could not have their names recorded in the Hero Record.
The [Book of Shadows] was what saved all of those shadows.
“Of course, there are some among the Shadow Lords who doubt your abilities. I was one of them, but… I realized it just a moment ago.”
Anyas looked up at Leo’s face.
“That you are a hero, and at the same time, a shadow.”
The darkness was the stage for shadows.
And in that darkness, Leo had easily subdued Anyas.
If Leo had wanted to, Anyas would likely have lost her life right then and there.
“That you are the successor to the great Hero of the Beginning!”
‘Her eyes have gone crazy.’
Her face was calm, but her eyes were a storm of ecstasy and longing.
It was a look Leo knew well.
The same look the elves had when they excessively praised Luna.
‘No, I’ve felt this before, but is excessively praising things a racial trait of elves?’
Leo clicked his tongue and organized his thoughts.
‘So the Emperor of Shan told the Shadow Lords about the [Book of Shadows], about me, and that he dedicated the Shan Empire to me.’
Emperor Shau was not a man to speak nonsense.
Leo, who had suddenly become the master of a great empire, wore a grim expression.
‘At this rate, I could probably wage a war against the world.’
Leo, letting out a hollow laugh, said.
“Were you tailing me to test my capabilities?”
“Yes, I have been rude.”
Leo sighed as he watched Anyas bow flat before him once more.
“Alright. I get it, so why don’t you sit up straight now?”
Anyas rose and sat in the seat Leo offered.
As Leo looked at Anyas, who sat with her back ramrod straight, he spoke.
“Let me ask you one thing. Is the Northern Magic Tower associated with the shadows?”
“No, it is not.”
“In that case, are you attending the Magic Council as a member of the Magic Tower? Or as a shadow?”
“Both.”
“The Pureblood Society, I see.”
Leo sighed at Anyas’s words, and she looked at him with admiration.
“You are sharp.”
Anyas’s expression of admiration turned serious.
“There is no need for you to dirty your hands, Lord Leo. Once we secure the evidence, my father and I will…”
“I’ve never really thought of it as dirtying my hands.”
“Pardon?”
Leo looked at Anyas with a blank expression.
“If those who sell the name of the Progenitor of the Constellation have committed betrayal, I can never forgive it.”
Leo said in a dispassionate voice.
“If there’s anyone who goes against Luna’s will while selling the name of the Progenitor of the Constellation, I will tear them to pieces myself.”
Anyas couldn’t help but flinch.
“That is my duty, after all.”
“Ahh… to call walking a path of blood in the darkness a duty… to have such a noble thought…”
Watching Anyas clutch her face, her eyes glazing over in a trance, Leo thought.
‘…Now her whole face has gone crazy.’
