Chapter 359
Chapter Title: The Talk of the Academy
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Early morning.
“Haaah.”
Karl let out a long yawn as he walked out into the dormitory lounge.
Karl was an early riser.
His diligent nature had him waking up at the crack of dawn to prepare for the day.
Of course, this preparation mostly involved brainstorming business ideas through alchemy rather than studying or magic training, but he was still the second person to wake up in the Noble Dormitory.
Karl scratched his stomach as he headed outside.
And there, he saw Duran sprinting at full tilt, making him shake his head in amazement.
‘He’s a real training machine.’
The earliest riser in the Noble Dormitory was none other than Duran.
Duran began his physical training first thing in the morning.
He was the type to spare no effort if it meant getting stronger.
Thanks to that tenacity, he was considered one of the top students in the Noble Dormitory, alongside Abad.
Of course, Eliza was also an honor student based on grades alone, but her poor attitude in class often earned her glares from the professors.
‘Just a delinquent with good grades.’
Tsk-tsking, Karl walked over to the mailboxes at the dormitory entrance.
Every morning.
The Lumerne school newspaper was delivered to the student dormitories.
It looked like a normal school paper, covering daily life at the academy.
But the moment you got a ‘personal subscription,’ the quality of the newspaper changed.
It included not only key information about the academy but also details on restaurant events on campus and even predictive analyses of the school schedule.
You could even get more information depending on your subscription tier.
‘The merchant club is fine, but the newspaper club might not have been a bad choice either.’
Known as the information broker of the second years, Karl thought he would have done well in the newspaper club. He picked up a thick paper envelope with his name on it.
‘Just how much am I getting fleeced for this every month?’
Crying tears of blood internally, he unfolded the newspaper.
And his eyes widened at the massive headline plastered across the front page.
[A Miracle Following the Founder's Return! The Second Coming of the Comet Sorcerer!]
“Whoa? What is this? This is huge!”
Normally, he wouldn't have readily believed such an outrageous newspaper.
But Karl had witnessed the Hero of the Beginning and the Founder of the Nebula reveal themselves with his own two eyes last winter.
“Just how many more secrets and powers are hidden in the Hero Record?”
First the Great Hero, and now the Hero of Genesis.
It was astonishing that the greatest heroes in world history were making appearances.
‘Anyway, that guy Leo really does cause trouble wherever he goes.’
When he said he was going to Seirun as an exchange student, most students had expected him to get caught up in some kind of incident.
And their prediction had hit the mark perfectly.
With a look of fascination, Karl read through the front page.
As a student of the magic department himself, his heart couldn't help but pound at the news that Seirun, a legend of magic, had appeared in the present day.
He popped open a bottle of morning milk with a ‘pop-’ and was reading the second page when he spat it all out with a ‘pfft!’
“Cough! Cough! Choke!”
As Karl coughed uncontrollably, having choked on his milk, Duran, who had just finished his training, approached him.
“What are you making a fuss about now?”
Karl showed the newspaper to Duran, who was looking at him with a pathetic expression.
A rare look of surprise flickered across Duran's face as he read the paper.
[Seirun's Successor, Leo Flove.]
A hero candidate has inherited Cometes from the Comet Sorcerer, who appeared in the present day through the miracle of the Hero Record. That candidate is none other than Leo Flove... (abridged)
Duran muttered as he read through the article.
“Hmph. He's becoming more and more worthy of chasing.”
With a curl of his lip, Duran tossed the newspaper back to Karl and started sprinting like a madman again.
‘At this point, it's not tenacity, it's an obsession, isn't it?’
Shaking his head at Duran's display, Karl looked back at the newspaper.
‘He's not just caught up in an incident; he's the center of it.’
“What is he, really? Some kind of irresistible force.”
Looking at his friend who was constantly the center of attention, Karl could only shake his head.
***
Murmur, murmur—
Around the Hero's Tower, the heart of Lumerne, was a restaurant district with numerous establishments that had set up shop within the academy.
It was a place where one could experience various cuisines from different cultures, and even taste dishes from other races.
It was also a famous spot in Lumerne that outside dignitaries always made sure to visit.
Every day at lunch, the restaurant district bustled with students.
And with so many students gathered, the streets were always filled with conversations on various topics.
Topics ranged from academics to recent global issues.
It was also a place for lively debates.
But today, there was only one topic.
“Leo really is the center of attention wherever he goes.”
After her morning magic classes, Chelsea found a table in the restaurant district with her friends, her eyes sparkling as she spoke.
To that, Iliana, who was munching on a large bite of pizza, mumbled.
“Does the class president have no limits?”
Seeing Iliana tilt her head in confusion, Chelsea reached for the last slice of pizza.
At that, Iliana hastily stuffed the pizza into her mouth and snatched the slice.
“Hey! Iliana, you!”
“Hmph!”
“You're not ten-year-old boys. Why are you being so childish over a single slice of pizza?”
Karl sighed.
“Oho, if it isn't my beloved students!”
Just then, a familiar voice came from behind them.
Ren, holding a newspaper, was looking at Chelsea, Karl, and Iliana with a benevolent expression.
The three of them stood up to greet him.
“Professor Ren, hello. Are you here for lunch?”
“Yes. I promised to buy lunch for Ain and Yura today, so I came here.”
Ren pointed behind him.
Ain and Yura were taking their seats there.
“So, what were you all talking about so cheerfully? Don't tell me!”
Ren raised his voice.
“Were you talking about the pride of our Lumerne Magic Department! Student Leo!?”
Watching Ren shout as if he wanted everyone to hear, Karl and Chelsea laughed awkwardly.
And Iliana shrank back, cautiously glancing at Ain.
As a magic swordsman, Iliana had one foot in the knight department and the other in the magic department.
She was getting excellent grades in both, but it was almost time for her to choose a primary department.
She was trying to feel things out and pick the more advantageous side, so she had to stay on the good side of both Ren, her magic professor, and Ain.
“Student Iliana! Isn't it about time you chose a department! If you consulted me about your future path, does that mean you're planning to choose the magic department over the knight department after all?!”
‘Kyaaaaaaaaaaah!’
Iliana screamed internally.
She peeked at Ain, who was letting out an intrigued ‘Hoh?’ with his characteristic cold smile.
In that moment, Chelsea and Karl exchanged glances.
“That's right, Professor Ren. Iliana consulted us about her department choice too. Right, Karl?”
“Yeah, yeah. She said she hoped to stay with us in the magic department.”
“Hahaha! So Student Iliana was considering the path of a mage after all! Good! Very good!”
With a satisfied expression, Ren turned back.
“If my school life gets messed up, it's all your fault.”
“Who told you to play both sides?”
“Yep. Yep. You shouldn't do that.”
Chelsea and Karl snickered as they watched Iliana, who looked like her soul was about to leave her body.
Meanwhile, Yura spoke with a look of disbelief.
“He's really acting as if Leo is in the magic department.”
“Let him enjoy it.”
At Ain's words, Yura let out a short laugh.
“You're not in a position to be so relaxed, Ain. Leo is the contractor of the Three Great Beasts! Do you think someone like that would choose the knight department?”
“Hehe. You're holding onto useless hope, Yura.”
Ren, sitting in front of the two, gave an elegant smile.
“Student Leo, the successor of Lord Seirun, in the summoning department? My, my. How dull-witted.”
“Hey... he's the contractor of the Three Great Beasts, you know? It's unprecedented in the history of summoning! Unprecedented!”
“I agree with that! Unprecedented! An unprecedented mage who contracted with the Three Great Beasts despite being a mage!”
“There's no talking to you.”
“It's only natural that a conversation between a sensible person based on cold reason and an irrational person swayed by emotion would be impossible.”
“So you're saying you want to die?”
As Yura grabbed him by the collar, Ren shook his head.
“Resorting to violence when words fail you. How barbaric.”
“Die!”
“P-Professors! No violence in the restaurant!”
The staff rushed out and hastily stopped the two.
“Let's bet on the lunch bill. I've got my money on Professor Yura winning.”
“I'm betting on Professor Ren.”
“Professor Yura for me too.”
The first-year students in the restaurant looked completely flustered, but the upperclassmen, who were already used to the school's antics, placed their bets with calm faces.
Of course, the match never reached a conclusion.
Ren and Yura, who had been bickering for a while, were subdued by Ain.
During the now-quiet meal, a bird-shaped familiar flew into the restaurant and landed in front of Ren.
“What's that?”
“Associate Professor Anna sent an urgent report on the academic conference presentation.”
Ren smiled proudly and opened the envelope.
The letter contained details about the presentation on the [Introduction to Star Magic].
“Hoh, it seems the elves had a very positive reaction to my thesis. Hehe. Well, if they have any brains at all, they wouldn't dare belittle a paper I wrote.”
As Ren, looking smug, was carefully reading the letter and about to turn the page...
Flutter~
A photograph tucked inside the envelope fell to the floor.
Ren picked up the photo with a puzzled expression, which then hardened.
Ren's shoulders began to tremble.
“What's wrong?”
“I must go to Seirun... right now! Immediately!”
With a stiff face, Ren shot up from his seat and stormed out of the restaurant.
“Hey! Pay before you go!”
Yura shouted in annoyance.
Ain furrowed his brow and reached for the photo Ren had been looking at.
“Professor Ain, Professor Yura. Is something wrong? Professor Ren just ran out in a hurry.”
Chelsea, Karl, and Iliana, who had finished their meal and were about to leave, approached with curious expressions.
In response to Chelsea's question, Ain clicked his tongue and showed the photo to the three students.
It was a group photo of the Seirun students.
Leo was in the picture too.
A picture of Leo, wearing a Seirun uniform, fitting in naturally with the Seirun students.
“Just because he's wearing a Seirun uniform, does he think Leo would transfer schools? He's our school's student council president. That Ren fellow's obsession is a sickness at this point.”
Yura clicked her tongue.
At that, Chelsea muttered.
“Looks like we won't be having a proper magic class this afternoon.”
“Hooray!”
“It's a study hall!”
Karl and Iliana cheered.
***
After school that day.
Lumerne was abuzz with a new issue.
“Come to think of it, he was chosen as Seirun's successor, right? Do you think Seirun would let him go?”
“Nah, you know what Seirun is like. Would they really accept a human like Leo as a student?”
“You never know. Leo's Star Magic is on another level.”
Even while walking across campus after class, the talk about Leo was incessant.
As Karl left the magic department building, he caught a glimpse of Ren's back as he trudged back to the professor's office.
Seeing Ren's somewhat dazed expression, Chloe sighed.
“I hope Leo comes back soon so we can have a proper class.”
“Why? I thought this afternoon's class was great.”
“...You like study hall?”
“Of course!”
Chloe glared, and Karl snickered.
Just then, Duran and Eliza were passing by.
“Hmph. It wouldn't be so bad if Leo Flove transferred to Seirun.”
“I agree. If he became a Seirun student, he'd become an opponent we must completely defeat. A clear rivalry seems better than this lukewarm relationship of being at the same school.”
Hearing their conversation, Chloe and Karl simultaneously looked toward Ren.
Ren had already pulled out his staff and was aiming it at the two.
“Professor Ren! I have something to ask you!”
Chloe urgently ran to Ren.
“Why did you two have to pass in front of the magic department building of all places!”
Karl, his face pale, pushed them from behind to get them out of Ren's line of sight.
“How dare you push me? You must not fear the consequences.”
“You've lost your nerve, Karl Thomas!”
“You're the ones who've lost your nerve! You two!”
Karl shouted desperately.
“You all seem to get along well.”
A familiar voice was heard.
Karl's eyes widened, and he turned his head.
There stood Leo and Anna, holding travel bags.
“Leo, when did you get back?”
Karl asked in surprise, and Leo smiled brightly.
“Just now.”