Chapter 497
Chapter Title: The Progenitor's Lesson
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497.
Two days had passed since the end of the mission period.
The returning students were gathered in groups in the lounge, chatting.
“Are you getting a room for the Twilight Festival?”
“Of course! I already booked one!”
“How did you manage that? The competition for reservations must be fierce.”
The main topic of the students' conversation was the upcoming Twilight Festival.
A grand festival held once every five years.
As a festival honoring the Knight of Twilight, Lumerne—one of the Heroes of the Beginning and the founder of Lumerne Academy—it was famous as a worldwide celebration.
It was a grand festival that attracted not only outsiders but also many different races.
“The Twilight Festival!”
Just then, a door on one side of the lounge burst open.
It was the door connecting to the study hall.
And the student who jumped out was one who didn't quite fit in a study hall: Iliana.
“Me too! Me too! Let's plan our schedules together!”
Iliana enthusiastically tried to join the group of students.
But someone grabbed her by the scruff of her neck before she could.
“No, you can't.”
It was none other than Chen Xia.
“Where do you think you're going when Young Master Leo's special tutoring isn't over?”
“B-But!”
“Young Master Leo is taking time out of his day specifically for you, Miss Iliana. Are you going to disregard his sincerity?”
“Eek?!”
Iliana flinched at Chen Xia's cold words.
Normally, she was the gentle big sister of the second years, but when she got angry, she was the scariest of them all.
“That's what you get for slacking off all the time.”
“Go study some more.”
Jeers echoed from the dormitory lounge.
“Hey! You're all dead later!”
Iliana glared, shaking her fist.
Chen Xia dragged Iliana back into the study hall.
Inside the study hall, there were six students, including Iliana.
Leo stood at the front, and sitting before him were Chloe, Eiran, and Iliana.
Chen Xia stood by the door, and next to her, Luna sat with her arms and legs crossed.
Leo spoke.
“Shall we start again, then?”
Leo pointed to a small whiteboard and said.
“As you can see, Iliana, your magic is focused on destructive power.”
“Like I said before, annihilate them from the start with overwhelming power! That's the Raden family motto!”
“Wow, that's so cool!”
“Hmph!”
As Eiran clapped in admiration, Chloe spoke coldly.
“Don't be impressed. She's just a reckless idiot.”
“Class Rep! Chloe called me a reckless idiot!”
Iliana whined with a teary face.
“Well, I agree with Chloe.”
At Leo's words, Iliana's shoulders slumped.
Iliana was one of the top-ranked students among the second years.
An absolute, unshakable powerhouse.
The eight students who were considered the strongest of the second years, excluding Leo.
From the Knight Department: Celia, Chen Xia, and Duran.
From the Magic Department: Chloe, Abad, and Chelsea.
From the Summoning Department: Eliza and Woreden.
Of course, there were differences in skill among them, but considering their respective specialties and potential for growth, they were considered to be on par with each other.
Even excluding the anomaly that was Leo, they were a golden generation unprecedented in Lumerne's history.
Their potential for growth was literally limitless.
And one of the people ranked right behind this lineup of powerhouses was Iliana.
However, she was also underrated for her skill.
That was largely due to her personality.
“You're hot-headed,”
“Keuk?!”
“Simple-minded and reckless.”
“Keck!”
“So no matter who your opponent is, you just charge in headfirst and get yourself smashed.”
“Ugh!”
At Leo's words, Iliana fell out of her chair.
Seeing Iliana twitching on the floor as if she'd taken a huge blow, a startled Eiran rushed to her side.
Chloe, however, let out a deep sigh.
It was true that if Iliana could just fix those flaws, she could improve much more.
“The professors and I have tried hard to help you fix those things. Because you can definitely become much greater.”
“Class Rep!”
Iliana's eyes welled with tears, her face filled with emotion.
“But I heard you can't fix people.”
“Puhuk!”
Leo's following words completely sank her.
“Sob, I've been abandoned by the Class Rep.”
“Stop talking nonsense and listen.”
“Huh?”
“I've changed my mind.”
“I figured if we can't fix that tendency, we should just enhance the advantages you can gain from charging in.”
“Huh?”
Leo glanced at Luna.
Luna, meeting his gaze, smiled warmly.
***
“Did you two happen to train with Ar-on?”
After returning to Fairy Land.
Luna asked as she watched Eiran and Chen Xia spar in the training grounds.
At her question, Eiran and Chen Xia, who were sparring, widened their eyes.
“Did Lord Leo tell you?”
“I only heard from Kyle that Ar-on had crossed over to this world. And that you all defeated a fragment of Erebos together.”
Luna crossed her arms and closed her eyes.
She had heard Ar-on's story from Leo.
Her heart ached when she heard about the thoughts behind Ar-on's sacrifice.
On the other hand, hearing how Ar-on had overcome everything and grown made her feel proud.
*'That's Ar-on for you.'*
Luna smiled softly, recalling the back that had always given her courage.
Eiran and Chen Xia thought her smile somehow resembled Leo's.
“Anyway.”
Luna opened her eyes and said.
“I could tell you trained with Ar-on just by watching your movements. I could see glimpses of his style in yours.”
“Wow, you can tell just by looking?”
“Hmph, who do you take me for? I am the great Lady Luna, the Progenitor of the Constellation.”
Luna wore a smug expression as she swept her hair back.
To be sure, Luna's specialty, no matter what anyone said, was magic.
Of course, as a summoner, her aptitude was so exceptional that she had formed a pact with Silroad, the heir to the Fairy King.
In addition to that, Luna's close-combat abilities were also overwhelming, enough for her to fight on the front lines if necessary.
Although she couldn't wield Aura, her combat skills were top-notch.
That was why she could glimpse Ar-on's shadow in the two of them.
“Crucially, Ar-on is a genius-type idiot.”
“A genius-type idiot?”
Seeing Eiran's baffled expression, Luna made a sullen face.
“He's terrible at teaching others. He does everything so naturally that he can't explain it at all.”
“Ah...”
“I think I know what you mean.”
Eiran and Chen Xia recalled Ar-on smiling brightly and asking, "See? It's easy, right?"
“So he teaches through practical application. That's why you naturally pick up his movements.”
“That's definitely true.”
“It was incredibly tough, but we felt like he was adjusting his level to match ours.”
Chen Xia and Eiran nodded at Luna's words.
At that, Luna laughed wistfully.
“That's all thanks to this big sister's sacrifice.”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean?”
Chen Xia and Eiran looked flustered at Luna's sudden comment, but Luna just stared off into the distance.
In the past, she had sparred one-on-one with Ar-on, intending to practice close combat as if it were a real battle.
And she had suffered a terrible fate at the hands of Ar-on, who didn't know how to control his strength back then.
*'Don't hold back! Come at me!'*
At the ever-confident Luna's shout, Ar-on had hesitated before proceeding to beat her to a pulp.
*'If Lisinas had arrived even a moment later, I might have been traumatized.'*
She remembered the damn human and dwarf behind Lisinas—who was advising Ar-on to control his strength—clutching their stomachs and laughing.
*'Yep. I'll have to punch them later.'*
“Ar-on must have helped the kids who use Aura grow, right?”
“Yes.”
“I can't let myself be outdone.”
Luna chuckled, "Fufufu-!"
“Therefore! The great Lady Luna shall teach you magic! That's what I'm saying!”
“It's such an honor!”
Eiran said with a bright smile.
“But Lady Luna, I'm a knight.”
“Yes. But you can also use summoning, can't you?”
Luna's eyes curved into a smile.
“I'm also skilled in summoning. Unlike that idiot, I can give you clear, systematic help! So, what kind of summoned beast do you handle?”
“Ah, my specialty is water spirits.”
Chen Xia said with a bright smile.
Learning from the Great Hero Luna was a welcome opportunity, no matter the subject.
Moreover, to be taught spirit arts by an elf, the race most proficient in them.
Although Luna was famous for her magic, it was also well-known that she was a powerful summoner.
At Chen Xia's words, Luna stared at her intently, then nodded.
“Yes. Starting today, you'll switch from being a spirit user to a beast summoner.”
“What?”
Chen Xia looked bewildered.
Of course, Chen Xia also had contracts with low-level summoned beasts.
But for Chen Xia, who had believed her entire life that she had more talent for spirit arts, the sudden recommendation to change her specialty was baffling.
“You have more talent as a beast summoner than as a spirit user.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. You had no idea, I see. Don't worry. This big sister will...”
“Who do you think you're fooling?”
Leo appeared, scowling.
“Are you trying to convert a spirit user into a beast summoner just because you can't teach spirit arts?”
“Tch!”
Luna clicked her tongue at Leo's words.
Chen Xia looked puzzled by her reaction.
“Lady Luna, can't you use spirit arts?”
“I can't. I have no affinity with spirits.”
“Most elves who use summoning are good with spirit arts... That's surprising.”
Seeing Chen Xia's bewildered expression, Leo let out a small laugh.
“This one has such a nature-destroying personality that the spirits refuse to go anywhere near her.”
“Who has a nature-destroying personality? Who are you calling nature-destroying?!”
Her eyes wide with anger, Luna grabbed Leo by the collar and shook him violently.
Ignoring Luna, Leo said.
“So? You want to teach the kids magic?”
At his question, Luna nodded.
“Ar-on also stayed in this world and left various things behind.”
Luna crossed her arms.
“I want to be of some help, too.”
Luna wore a serious expression.
“Have you got your eye on any of them?”
“The one who stood out the most was the girl named Chloe.”
Luna thought of Chloe.
From the perspective of a vastly senior mage, Chloe was admirable.
Moreover...
“I think that girl has a talent she hasn't even realized yet.”
“A talent she hasn't realized?”
“Yes.”
Luna smiled warmly.
“Seeing her gave me some inspiration.”
“Inspiration, huh.”
When it came to magic, Leo and Luna had different perspectives.
In that case, Chloe must have a talent that not only Leo but even she herself hadn't realized.
“On top of that, there's the girl Iliana. A magic swordswoman, right? She also doesn't properly understand the characteristics of her mana.”
“I thought Iliana was making full use of her talents.”
“Certainly, light-attribute magic is flashy and powerful. But I believe she needs to develop her magic in a different direction.”
“What direction?”
At Leo's question, Luna smiled warmly.
“Speed.”
***
“But I'm already fast enough.”
Iliana looked puzzled at the suggestion to enhance her speed.
“The characteristics of your light mana seem better suited for speed rather than destructive power.”
“Hmm?”
“If you do it right, your instantaneous speed could become even faster than Duran's, don't you think?”
“What?!”
Iliana's eyes went wide.
The Leo she knew was not one to make empty promises.
“The Light-Speed Swordswoman, Lady Iliana!”
Watching Iliana, whose eyes were sparkling as she snorted with excitement, Chen Xia muttered.
“Miss Iliana is so simple.”
“Huh? I think she's childlike and cute.”
Luna laughed.
Leo taught Iliana the magic formula that Luna had created.
*'Luna is different from Ar-on.'*
Magic was a domain of research and inquiry.
It was a discipline where one had to understand 100% of what they were using.
In that sense, Luna's genius shone not only in her personal strength but also in her exceptional ability to teach others.
Her ability to see through others' magical talents and create magic for them was particularly outstanding.
“How did you even think of this?”
Chloe was exclaiming in admiration.
“Chloe.”
“Yes?”
“Lu wants to talk with you.”
At those words, Chloe's eyes widened and she turned to look at Luna.
Luna waved at her.
*'I wanted to discuss magic with that girl. This is perfect.'*
Chloe's eyes also lit up as she approached Luna.
Leo stared intently at the scene.
“Lady Luna seems to be enjoying herself.”
“I'm sure she is. For Luna, having such an enthusiastic discussion about magic is one of her greatest joys.”
Leo stared intently at Luna and muttered.
“Lord Leo?”
*'...What exactly is Luna's lingering regret?'*
Watching Luna laugh happily as she talked with Chloe, Leo looked down at his hands.
Luna wasn't staying in this world through divine power.
She was staying here through her own magic that remained in Cometes.
The amount of Luna's magic contained in Cometes was not small.
On top of that, the amount of magic used to manifest Luna was extremely small.
*'Just continuing to exist with a body as a heroic spirit is an incredible feat.'*
The magic of the current era would probably advance just by Luna's existence alone.
But...
*'Is it right to keep Luna in this world?'*
Leo's eyes clouded over.
Heroic spirit.
A manifestation of the mana remnants left by a powerful soul with lingering regrets, brought forth by a spiritmancer's spiritual power.
But it was by no means a natural state.
5,000 years ago.
That was also why Lisinas had let the heroic spirits pass on instead of holding onto them.
*'The remnants left in a heroic spirit fade over time. After all, it's a lingering regret for this world. For ancient heroic spirits, that regret becomes an obsession. And they start to forget themselves.'*
Lisinas had smiled bitterly.
*'A heroic spirit is a being with an ego strong enough to remain in this world out of regret. As such, they have strong self-love. There is nothing more tragic than losing oneself. That is why a spiritmancer honors the spirits of the heroic dead and soothes their souls. Because a heroic spirit can never be happy.'*
Recalling Lisinas's words, Leo opened his eyes.
For a moment, his eyes met Luna's.
Luna looked at Leo and gave him a bright, joyful smile.
Seeing her smile, Leo smiled back.
*'For now, being together is probably enjoyable for Luna, too.'*