Chapter 426
Chapter: 426
Chapter Title: A Warm Welcome
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426.
The height of summer.
The warp gate flashed.
With it, a boy with orange hair stepped out.
“The west is definitely hotter than the central region.”
Tugging at his collar to chase away the heat, Karl shielded his eyes with his other hand and looked up at the sky.
The intense, glaring sunlight was a stark reminder that summer had truly arrived.
“It’d be great if Chloe were here at times like this.”
Karl smacked his lips in disappointment, thinking of the ice mage, and glanced around.
Back in his hometown in the Moira Kingdom or in Lumeria City, on sweltering days like this, you could easily buy a cold drink or ice cream on the street.
*‘Is it because this is a countryside kingdom? There’s nothing like that here.’*
The Moira Kingdom, located in the central part of the continent, was a small but crucial hub where countless people and goods passed through. Lumeria City was, quite literally, a city so advanced it was called the center of the world.
Their urban infrastructure was developed accordingly, but here, in the remote western kingdom of Dellad, such amenities were absent.
*‘I feel like I could make a killing if I started a business here. It’s the capital, so they must have some money, right?’*
Karl’s mind raced as he looked over the streets of Dellan.
How much could he earn if he spent the entire summer vacation making money here?
He entertained the thought for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
*‘It’s a shame I don’t have much time to stay here.’*
Smacking his lips, Karl was about to walk on.
A group of students in what looked like uniforms were riding horses down the street.
They moved as if escorting a single carriage.
Karl noticed the flag on the carriage and stepped aside.
It was embroidered with the symbol of the Dellad royal family.
*‘A carriage carrying royalty.’*
Karl muttered to himself and was about to move on.
“You there, the one with orange hair.”
Someone from the carriage called out to him.
He turned his head with a puzzled expression. A boy his age, also in uniform, was approaching on horseback.
“Yes?”
“How dare you block the path when royalty is passing by?”
At the boy’s words, Karl scratched his head.
He had moved out of the way so as not to obstruct the carriage.
For the boy to say this meant he had likely stumbled into some trouble.
“I’m from the central continent. I’m here as a tourist, so I’m not familiar with this country’s laws. Could you tell me what one is supposed to do when royalty passes?”
“When a royal carriage passes, it is proper etiquette to move as far away as possible.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Etiquette varied from kingdom to kingdom.
Karl chose to go along with it rather than get entangled in something bothersome.
Watching Karl, the boy, Gulliver, curled his lip into a smirk.
“Hmph. Even if you are a commoner, if you come to another country as a tourist, you should at least learn its customs. Consider it an honor that I, the top student of Dellan Royal School, have personally instructed you on proper etiquette as a commemoration of your visit to Dellad.”
“That’s very kind of you.”
Karl smiled brightly.
No matter where you went, there were always nobles of this sort.
*‘Thank goodness I didn’t come with the prince.’*
Karl thought of Duran, the crown prince of his own kingdom, an academy classmate, and a fellow dorm resident.
The morning after the vacation had started.
An invitation had flown into Karl’s room.
The sender was none other than the Dragon Lord.
He had gasped and was about to have breakfast in the kitchen when…
*‘Karl Thomas, did you receive an invitation as well?’*
Karl, who had just taken a bite of his breakfast toast, nearly choked when Duran suddenly barged into the kitchen.
Karl sighed deeply, recalling his parents’ frantic reaction to the sudden morning visit from royalty, a crown prince no less.
They had chattered on about it being an honor for the family, and Karl had been shooed away from his own seat. Duran had shamelessly been treated to a lavish breakfast at Karl’s house.
*‘Mom, what about my breakfast?’*
*‘You can eat after His Highness the Crown Prince has finished.’*
Karl grumbled internally, remembering Duran who had brazenly barged into someone else’s home, shamelessly eaten their food, and even granted permission for the meal to proceed.
*‘The Flove family’s territory… does that mean Leo Flove’s territory?’*
*‘Probably? Anyway, you could have just used magical communication to talk to your friends. Why barge in here so early in the morning?’*
*‘Hmph, only a select few received the invitation. I have already confirmed this with several people.’*
It seemed Duran had spent the crack of dawn sending magical communications to his Lumerne classmates to check.
After gathering the information he needed, Duran had left.
Karl had narrowly avoided having to travel with him, as he had planned to visit Leo’s house earlier than the other students to hang out.
*‘It would’ve been a disaster if he’d come along.’*
As Karl was lost in thought, the carriage door suddenly opened.
The Dellan Royal School students escorting the carriage all startled, dismounted, and knelt.
The student who had been lording it over Karl also hastily knelt, glancing up at him and gesturing with his eyes.
“It is the Crown Prince of the Dellad Kingdom. Quickly…”
“Aren’t you Karl Thomas of Lumerne Academy? Sir Leo’s friend.”
“Your Highness. I trust you have been well?”
Karl bowed respectfully.
It was Prince Deven of the Dellad Kingdom, whom he had met through Leo during the last summit.
At the mention of Lumerne, the Dellan Royal School student, Gulliver, who had been sneering at Karl, widened his eyes.
“It seems you plan to spend your vacation here in Dellad.”
“Yes, I was invited by Leo.”
Karl smiled faintly.
Though a commoner, he was smooth, and as a member of the Noble faction, surrounded by students from prestigious families, he had grown accustomed to proper etiquette.
Prince Deven looked at Karl, nodded, then glanced at Gulliver with an apologetic expression.
“I hope our Royal School student did not cause you any trouble.”
“I believe such things can happen out of ignorance.”
Karl replied smoothly.
At his words, Gulliver, his head still bowed, turned pale.
“Since we’ve met like this, allow me to escort you to the Flove estate.”
“You don’t have to go to such trouble.”
“Don’t refuse. In truth, there is something I wished to ask your advice on.”
“My advice?”
“Yes, regarding the Hero Record.”
At the mention of the Hero Record, Karl’s expression turned momentarily puzzled.
“Recently, many items suspected to be fragments of the Hero Record have been discovered within our kingdom. As it happens, I was transporting a selection of those items to the palace today. As a student of Lumerne Academy, I imagine you have encountered the Hero Record many times, have you not?”
Prince Deven smiled.
“I would like you to take a look at these items.”
The discovery of a Hero Record alone could be a powerful event, capable of changing a nation’s destiny.
As such, countless fakes were in circulation.
*‘Still, I can’t exactly refuse a request from a nation’s crown prince.’*
Scratching his cheek, Karl spoke.
“As I am still a student, I hope you won’t place too much trust in my judgment.”
“Do not worry about that part.”
Karl boarded Prince Deven’s carriage.
Inside, he spotted an elegant box in the center.
When Prince Deven’s hand touched the magically sealed box, a magic circle appeared.
*Click-!*
With the sound of a lock disengaging, the box opened.
Inside were numerous scraps of paper, each imbued with mana.
*‘Just as I thought, items like these.’*
Fragments from old grimoires or summoning scrolls that contained magic or spiritual power were often mistaken for Hero Records.
*‘Luna, the Progenitor of the Constellations? Wow, even the King of Wisdom.’*
Karl let out a silent, hollow laugh upon finding paper scraps bearing the names of Great Heroes.
*‘Well, since very few records of the Great Heroes remain, it’s hard to verify their authenticity, so forgeries related to them are the most common. There are a ton related to the Hero of the Beginning.’*
Karl examined the records, sorting out the definite fakes.
“In my opinion, there is a very high probability that these records are forgeries.”
“I see. But why did you not exclude this one?”
Prince Deven picked up a piece of paper that was almost completely burned away.
It was a tiny scrap on which ‘Ar-on’ was faintly written.
“Records related to the Great Heroes are often found in such small fragments. Of course, it would be better to consult with experts rather than me.”
At Karl’s words, Prince Deven nodded.
The carriage had already arrived in front of the Flove family estate.
“If you have the chance, please visit the palace with Sir Leo.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
Karl bowed to the departing prince’s carriage.
“Why are you getting out of our country’s crown prince’s carriage?”
“Whoa! Leo! Having a good vacation?”
Karl greeted the voice from behind him cheerfully.
“I just ran into him on the way.”
Leo, who had been watching Karl with a slight smirk, opened the main gate.
“Are you having a good vacation?”
“So-so.”
“What about the homework? Can’t you show me what you’ve done so far?”
“Be my guest.”
“Aww, you’re the best! My friend!”
Karl thanked Leo profusely and walked on.
Watching Karl’s back, Leo muttered to himself.
*‘You probably won’t have time to do homework, Karl.’*
***
“This is the first time one of Leo’s school friends has come to visit since that girl, Chelsea.”
That evening.
Karl received a warm welcome from Leo’s father, Dade, and his mother, Reina.
“Thank you for welcoming me.”
Karl greeted Dade.
“Karl, dear, doesn’t Leo have any friends from the knight track? It’s a shame only students from the magic track come to visit.”
As Reina cupped her cheeks with a disappointed look, Karl replied.
“There’s a girl named Chen Xia and another named Iliana. But does Leo not talk much about his school life?”
“No. My son doesn’t talk much about his friends.”
Reina smacked her lips and asked.
“Does he really not have a girlfriend? I’d think he’d be popular as the student council president.”
“He doesn’t have a girlfriend. But he’s the most popular boy in the second year. He gets letters several times a day.”
“Oho. Oho.”
Reina’s eyes sparkled.
Karl told her stories about Leo’s life at the academy.
Leo simply listened to Karl’s stories with a smile on his face.
Watching him, Reina grumbled.
“Just looking at him, he really seems like an old man.”
“Please say I’m mature.”
“There’s a limit to being mature.”
Reina shook her head at Leo’s words.
“Isn’t your nickname at school something like ‘geezer’ or something? Hey, Karl. What’s Leo’s nickname at school?”
Reina looked a little excited to hear about her son’s school life.
Karl stated nonchalantly.
“The Demon King.”
“The Demon King?”
“Yes, because of the presence he showed during the midterm exams, the kids call him Demon King Leo.”
“Why are your nicknames always so far removed from anything heroic?”
Reina clicked her tongue.
“Anyway, you two have it rough. A training retreat during your vacation when you should be playing.”
Reina, who already knew about the training retreat, said.
“Well, it’s a good chance for us to bond. And it’s not like it’s in some dangerous area; it’s on the Flove family’s estate. There will be clean beds and meals, I’m sure.”
*‘Looks like he still doesn’t know.’*
As the mistress of the Flove family, Reina had been to the training retreat location selected by the Dragon Lord.
And she had seen the banner.
“Karl, dear.”
“Yes?”
“Eat more.”
“Ah, but I’m full.”
“No. Eat as much delicious food as you can now.”
Karl felt a sense of dread as he saw Reina looking at him with pity. He turned to Leo beside him.
“Hey, Leo.”
“What?”
“Do you have any idea what this training retreat is like? It’s on your family’s land, after all.”
The Dragon Lord choosing the Flove family’s land out of all places was likely due to the influence of Leo, the student council president and an all-class student.
As such, Karl expected Leo to know something.
In response to Karl’s question, Leo silently moved the main dish from his own plate onto Karl’s.
Seeing this, Karl managed a mournful smile.
*‘We’re so dead.’*