Chapter 055
Chapter Title: A Chilly Welcome
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A week flew by in an instant, and the day of the school trip dawned.
The first-year students were gathered by class in front of the Lumerne Teleport Gate.
“It's pretty hot today.”
“Going to a cold region in this heat… isn't this basically a summer retreat?”
It was the first day of the summer uniform season, so all the students were dressed for the warmer weather.
Despite having shed their spring and fall uniforms for summer attire, the weather was exceptionally hot. As Nella fanned herself with her hand and muttered, Iliana chimed in cheerfully.
While Class 5 was chatting, Celia approached from the direction of Class 1.
“Leo. Why is your class going to Elsalvekia? It's the coldest country.”
A white, short-sleeved blouse.
With a red ribbon tie and a red-and-black plaid uniform, paired with socks that came to just below her knees, Celia looked impeccably neat despite the sweltering weather.
Lumerne had a lenient policy: as long as the essential elements of the uniform were present, students could customize their attire however they pleased.
Being teenagers who loved to express themselves, they often personalized their uniforms.
For instance, there was a male student with jewels dangling all over his uniform, and another who had modified theirs to conceal weapons in various places.
Some students kept their uniforms as crisp and sharp as a military dress.
There was even a student who had refashioned theirs to look like a wizard's robe.
Consequently, it was surprisingly rare to find a student like Celia who wore the uniform so properly.
As a member of a renowned hero family, a neat appearance was Celia's motto.
“Your class is going to the warmest place available, aren't you?”
“Of course. I can't stand the cold.”
Celia stated flatly in response to Leo's question.
“Well, it would have been a different story if we could have gone to Seirun.”
Seeing Celia's cheerful smile, Karl asked.
“Hey, Celia. You look like you're in a really good mood.”
“That Duran fellow wanted to go somewhere cold. So, I had a showdown with him to decide our destination.”
Celia swept her hair back with a smug look.
“And as you can see, I was victorious.”
“A duel between the first and second-ranked students in the Knight Department... That's a huge match! Why didn't I hear about it? What was the event?”
“Rock, paper, scissors.”
“...”
“The look on his face when he threw rock! Ohohohoho!”
“Celia, deciding the class trip destination with rock, paper, scissors isn't something to brag about, you know? Could you please keep it down?”
Chloe interjected, looking embarrassed.
“A warmer place means you're more likely to run into humans. Be careful.”
“I'd actually rather meet those kinds of guys.”
Celia grinned at Leo's words.
Humans are not allowed to enter elven territory.
Most humans found in elven lands have crossed the border illegally.
In fact, the majority of humans who trespassed into elven territory were bandits.
“Those who tarnish the honor of our race with their evil deeds need to be taught a lesson.”
“Monsters and humans are different.”
“I know. Do I look like the type to let my guard down?”
As Celia smiled slyly, Leo shook his head.
“That's not what I mean. I'm saying you shouldn't underestimate human malice.”
Celia's eyes widened.
“Your big brother is just worried about you.”
“I-I don't need your worry! And why are you the big brother? I'm the big sister!”
Flustered, Celia pouted.
“You be careful, too! The Fairy Forest is a monster-infested area!”
Leo nodded at Celia's words, then turned to Chloe.
“You be careful too, Chloe.”
“Okay. See you in ten days, Leo. Karl.”
Chloe waved.
After they parted ways, Chen Xia came over to say hello.
“Young Master Leo. See you in ten days.”
“You have a safe trip, too.”
“Yes.”
While they were chatting briefly, the homeroom teachers appeared.
“Leo, Nella. Do a head count.”
“Everyone, assemble.”
At Halind's command, Leo took charge of Class 5.
With Halind as their homeroom professor, the students of Class 5 quickly formed neat lines.
“All present and accounted for.”
“Good.”
Standing before Class 5, Halind spoke in his characteristically cool voice.
“This school trip is also part of your curriculum. I expect none of you to treat it lightly.”
“Yes, sir!”
Halind nodded, watching Class 5 respond with sharp discipline.
And so, starting with Class 1, the students entered the warp gate one by one.
“Gate connection to the destination, Elsalvekia, has been established.”
“The spell will activate in five seconds.”
“Five, four, three, two, one. Teleport.”
Fwoosh—!
A bright light flared, and their vision shifted.
Fwoosh—!
As their vision cleared, the first thing they saw was a blizzard.
“Aaaah!”
“What is this!”
“It's so coooold!”
The students of Class 5 screamed as they scrambled to pull out and put on their winter coats.
“I thought we'd at least be inside a building!”
Karl exclaimed, aghast.
The teleport gate Class 5 had arrived at was located right outdoors.
“What's with all the fuss?”
Facing the blizzard head-on without so much as blinking, Leo prompted Chelsea to ask, sniffling.
“Aren't you cold, big brother Leo?”
“I am.”
“Then why are you just standing there like it's nothing?”
“Making a scene is embarrassing.”
“Wow, so cool.”
Chelsea said in admiration.
“I think this sometimes, but our class president has the looks of a pretty boy, but he's got a real manly side to him.”
“I know! He's especially scary when his eyes get sharp.”
“But isn't that when he looks the most dangerous and cool?”
The girls whispered amongst themselves.
“Should we have tried to act all stoic like Leo?”
“It wouldn't have mattered. The reaction would've been the same.”
“Yeah, they'd just say we're trying too hard to look cool.”
The male students looked dejected.
“If you're done chatting, fall in line.”
At Halind's words, Class 5 lined up.
Leo, too, slowly put on his winter coat.
“As previously announced, we have arrived in Verchia, the capital of Elsalvekia. Now, is there anyone who can tell us about the history of Verchia?”
At the pop quiz, a few students raised their hands.
Halind gestured with his chin toward Chelsea, who had raised her hand first.
“Verchia is a city named after one of the disciples of Luna, the Progenitor of the Nebula! Fairy Knight Verchia Ersar! And Verchia's descendants, the Ersar family, lead the Elsalvekian council!”
“Well done. Five points.”
Chelsea clenched her fists.
“Just as Chelsea Llewellyn explained. Elven nations, unlike ours, are republics without a monarch. And the families that make up that republic are all prestigious houses.”
As he listened to Halind's brief lesson, Leo thought to himself.
*‘So that arrogant, two-faced brat is now called by the grand title of Fairy Knight.’*
Before the Age of Calamity, the elves were ruled by a single king.
The Fairy Knight was the guardian knight who served that elven king as his closest aide.
Now, the title has vanished into history.
And the last Fairy Knight in history was none other than Verchia.
Verchia.
She was one of the great figures who led the revival of the elves after the Great Heroes ended the Age of Calamity.
She was known to the world simply as Luna's disciple, but in truth, She was a joint disciple of Luna, Ar-on, and Kyle.
*‘She acted all coy with Luna and Ar-on, but she was always so insolent with me.’*
He was just recalling his not-at-all-cute disciple when...
Crunch— crunch—
Footsteps could be heard from beyond the blizzard.
“I've been waiting for you, Professor Halind.”
And the one who appeared was an elf with pale silver hair.
“Who in the world is that? He's incredibly handsome.”
Iliana muttered in a girlish voice, and Dade, who was next to her, made a gagging motion.
Of course, he then took a punch to the ribs from Iliana and ended up rolling on the ground.
Watching this, Leo commented.
“You don't care about his age? He looks at least seventy.”
Iliana let out a short laugh.
“Oh my? Is the class president jealous? How can that face be seventy years old?”
The other students seemed to agree.
“Why would I be jealous? And you know that elves are long-lived and don't age much, right?”
An elf's childhood is similar to a human's, but their youth and middle age are very long.
Their overall lifespan is fifty to over a hundred years longer than the average human's, and they tend to maintain a middle-aged appearance even in their old age.
Therefore, it wasn't strange for that man to be over seventy.
However, humans usually find it difficult to guess an elf's age by their appearance.
“Show some respect! Do you know who you are speaking of so carelessly?”
The elves who had come with him shouted angrily in Leo's direction.
Hearing this, the silver-haired elf smiled gently.
“What lively students. The ones Professor Halind brings are usually so disciplined.”
“They are only first-years and still immature.”
“Hahaha. It's always nice to see lively first-years, no matter where you go. You all, don't be rude to our guests.”
“Our apologies!”
The elves apologized in unison.
Halind had the silver-haired elf stand before the students.
“This is Rune Ersar. He is the Chairman of the Elsalvekian Council.”
“Gasp!”
“The... the Chairman?”
The students of Class 5 were stunned by the appearance of the highest-ranking person in Elsalvekia.
“Everyone, attention.”
At Nella's command, the students snapped to attention.
“Greet Chairman Rune.”
“Hello, Mr. Chairman!”
“Such polite children. It's a pleasure to meet you. Seeing hero candidates like yourselves brightens my day. Now, does anyone have any questions?”
Seeing Rune laugh heartily, Iliana hesitantly raised her hand.
“Yes, you there.”
“Um... if you don't mind my asking... your age...?”
“I turned ninety-seven this year.”
Crack!
“That face is ninety-seven? He's aged well.”
Leo remarked, impressed.
Iliana, however, was in a state of culture shock, her expression blank.
Just then, Halind's chilly gaze fell upon her.
Leo nudged Iliana's foot with his toe, and she snapped back to reality, quickly straightening her posture.
Rune, who had been watching with a smile, spoke.
“I will guide you to the lodgings where you'll be staying. Everyone, follow me.”
Rune led the way.
After a short walk, the blizzard subsided, and the cityscape came into view.
The sight drew gasps of admiration from the Class 5 students.
Passing elven pedestrians also looked at Class 5 with curiosity.
“Professor Halind, what's the schedule for the first day?”
“I plan to give them free time.”
“Hah. Free time? You?”
Rune looked surprised.
“I suppose you're going a bit easy on them since they're your cute little first-years.”
Seeing Rune's understanding expression, Halind shook his head.
“Not exactly. It's just that this student was the one who planned the itinerary.”
Halind glanced back at Leo.
Following Halind's gaze to Leo, Rune looked puzzled.
“Hmm. I see. You always were one to respect your students' wishes. The other students must be relieved that he was the one who made the schedule.”
“I wonder.”
Halind wore a strange expression.
“It makes me think they might have been happier if I had planned it myself.”
Over the past week, looking at the schedule Leo had created, Halind had shaken his head again and again.