Chapter 559
Chapter Title: The Lumerne-Seirun Games
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559.
The Lumerne-Seirun Games.
A competitive event between Lumerne and Seirun, boasting a long history and tradition.
Though an annual event hosted alternately by Lumerne and Seirun, the games always garnered immense attention.
It was only natural for so many eyes to be on a stage where the talents who would lead the future of humans and elves showcased their abilities.
Furthermore, a single year for a hero cadet is far more condensed than for anyone else.
It wasn't uncommon for a student who had been completely unknown just a year prior to become a star performer at the Lumerne-Seirun Games.
For that reason, the games also served as a stage to display the fruits of a year's worth of growth.
People are always thrilled by the emergence of a new hero.
As such, the appearance of an unexpected dark horse was one of the elements that made the public look forward to the Lumerne-Seirun Games each year.
Knowing they are in the spotlight, both Lumerne and Seirun pour all their efforts into preparing for the games every year.
A large budget and workforce are allocated, and an invitation list is drawn up.
"But now, with so little time left, he suddenly adds Azonia and Damian! He wants to gather all four schools in one place! He may be my cousin, but he's out of his mind!"
One morning, a week after the inauguration ceremony.
Celia let out a scream in the student council room.
Frankly, from Seirun's perspective, it wasn't a huge problem.
This year, Seirun was the guest, so all they had to do was show up at Lumerne.
The only thing that changed for them was that instead of facing just Lumerne, they would now be competing against Azonia and Damian as well.
But for the Lumerne student council, who had to prepare to welcome them all, it was a living hell.
Student council members were running around the Tower of Heroes like mad.
The hero academies now had a history of 3000 years.
Although the four hero schools had built cooperative relationships over the long years, never in history had they all gathered in one place to compete against each other.
It was, quite literally, an unprecedented plan.
"But is it really possible to gather all four hero academies in one place?"
Niel, a fourth-year from the Knight Department who was helping Celia with the paperwork, asked with a puzzled expression.
Niel was from the Roda family, a vassal to the Jerdinger Family, and served as the knight to Celia, a direct descendant of the Jerdingers.
At Niel's words, Martina, a first-year from the Knight Department and also from the Jerdinger Family, nodded in agreement.
"Just contacting Azonia and Damian won't be easy, will it?"
At their words, Celia clutched her head.
"That Leo, when he says he'll do something, he does it. He'll push it through one way or another."
"Still, it's an unreasonable task. Shouldn't we try to persuade Young Master Leo?"
Niel suggested with a serious expression.
"Hmph, so a vassal of Jerdinger would go against their master's command simply because they find it bothersome?"
"What did you say?"
A vein popped on Niel's forehead.
The one who had spoken was none other than Machel Ruzia, a fifth-year from the Magic Department.
As the heir to the Ruzia family, vassals of the Llewellyn Family, he was well-known for his rivalry with Niel, who was a year his junior.
Invisible sparks flew between the two.
*Thump.*
"Ugh? S-Senior Niel?"
Niel handed the documents he was holding to Martina and approached Machel.
The tall stack of papers completely blocked her vision, causing Martina to stumble around in confusion.
Niel crossed his arms in front of Machel and said.
"Who said it was bothersome? I'm saying we should persuade him because it seems like an unreasonable task to begin with."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"So, the Llewellyn vassals just say 'yes' to whatever their master commands without any objection? Must be nice to have it so easy."
As the two growled at each other, Celia wore a troubled expression.
"Excuse me, I have a message from Senior Elena."
Karl inserted himself between them with a soul-drained expression.
"She says you're being a distraction and to take your lovers' quarrel outside."
"Who's having a lovers' quarrel!"
"As if I'd ever get along with a Jerdinger!"
"Celia and Chelsea get along just fine."
As Niel and Machel retorted in unison, Karl scratched his head and replied.
"Who said anything about getting along with anyone."
"Just hold back for now. You're making things worse."
Karl sighed and replied.
Just then.
"Hey."
A gloomy voice cut through the air.
Everyone flinched and turned toward the source of the voice.
Standing there was Hark, devoid of any sign of life.
"Are you all taking a break?"
"Senior Hark, this isn't a break..."
"I asked if you're taking a break."
Hark shoved his face close to Niel's and asked menacingly.
"I'm working like this. Because of those damn juniors, I'm working like this even though I'm in my graduating year. So why are you taking a break?"
"S-Senior Hark? Get a hold of yourself."
"Hey, hey, Hark. Calm down. Why are you getting so serious over a little chat?"
Niel and Machel, who had seemed ready to fight just moments ago, were cowed by Hark's intensity and hastily tried to calm him down.
But Hark's rampage didn't stop.
"A little? A little chat? You've got it easy, don't you?"
His eyes wide, he pointed at the other students who were taking a short break and shouted.
"Don't eat or drink! Don't sleep! Don't even blink! Don't breathe! Just work!"
"Senior Hark? If we don't breathe, we'll die."
"Then die. Just work until you drop... Mmph?!"
"Yes, yes, that's enough. Have something sweet and calm down."
Elena, who had appeared out of nowhere, smiled sweetly and shoved a piece of candy into Hark's mouth.
The enraged Hark was about to explode when she spoke again.
"Leo said you can all go rest for today and come back to the student council in two days."
"Really?"
Hark glared at Elena with disbelief.
"Yes. Leo said that Senior Hark has worked too much and absolutely needs to rest."
At those words, Hark's face brightened.
Though always sleepy and irritable, Hark himself was a delicate-looking, handsome young man.
When he smiled brightly, it felt as if life was blooming around him.
Rolling the candy in his mouth, Hark left the student council room, even humming a little tune.
The student council members watched his retreating back with pity.
Despite all the havoc Hark had wreaked in the student council over the past week, they all sympathized with him.
They knew all too well that Leo had been working him without letting him sleep.
'Is he really that happy?'
'It’s true what they say—when someone’s been exploited, they find immense joy in the most basic rights.'
As all the student council members wore expressions of pity.
"Why are you looking at him so pitifully?"
"I know you two don't usually get along, but don't you feel even a little bit sorry seeing him like that?"
When Niel spoke reproachfully, Elena just smiled brightly.
"Nope. Not at all."
At her answer, the student council members clicked their tongues, thinking, 'Truly the Witch of Lumerne.'
"Because that's our future. We're going to go through the same thing, so what's there to be pitiful about?"
"..."
At those words, the faces of the entire student council hardened.
"Leo is surprisingly good at working people. It's like he knows exactly how to push someone to their absolute limit."
Elena said, as if intrigued, and reached out her hand.
Karl, who had been stealthily trying to distance himself from her, was caught by the scruff of his neck.
"Where do you think you're going? Since Senior Hark went to rest, you and I have to split his work."
"S-Save me!"
"Don't worry, you won't die."
Elena smiled brightly and dragged Karl away.
Watching them go, Celia looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh.
"When will this hell ever end?"
***
It wasn't just the student council that was busy.
The entire student body was mobilized to prepare for the Lumerne-Seirun Games, or rather, what should now be called the Hero Academy Invitational.
During free periods in the morning and afternoon.
And late into the evening after classes.
*Thwack-!*
"I didn't enroll in Lumerne to dig holes in the ground!"
A first-year from the Knight Department. El Jane shrieked, slamming her pickaxe into the ground with a *thwack-!*
As a Shadow Cadet, she was a student from the Shan Empire who followed Chen Xia.
"And why is there no end to this work!"
*Thwack, thwack, thwack-!*
As El Jane furiously swung her pickaxe, Luke, who was next to her, chuckled.
"They're expecting tens of thousands of spectators this time. It's the first time in Lumerne's history that we're receiving this many visitors. We have to build accommodations for all of them."
"Luke, you're just happy to do whatever Lord Leo says, aren't you?"
El Jane narrowed her eyes.
Looking at her, Luke said.
"Jane. You'll tire yourself out swinging the pickaxe like that."
"Huh?"
"Relax your hips a little..."
Luke corrected El Jane's posture.
"You know your stuff, huh?"
"I used to help out with farming back in the countryside."
"Ah, right. You'd be used to tools. I've only practiced stabbing people."
Luke gave an awkward laugh at El Jane's grim words.
"Luke, how's my form?"
Aina approached Luke and asked.
"I think it would be better if you put more strength into your wrists."
"Okay."
Aina nodded at Luke's advice.
"This could be a new form of training."
"You relate everything to training, don't you?"
El Jane shook her head at Aina's muttering.
The hero cadets were all young, but they were elites with strong physical abilities who could freely use supernatural powers.
With them assigned to various civil engineering and construction projects—such as building accommodations for visitors, spectator stands, and arenas—the work progressed at an incredible pace.
But with so much to do, the work seemed endless.
"By the way, I wonder what the first-years from the other schools are like."
"We were only wary of Seirun."
The first-years began to chat about a topic that sparked their curiosity.
Every hero academy has geniuses who make a name for themselves globally from their first year.
But information about the other students was relatively scarce.
By the second year, skilled individuals would start to distinguish themselves, but in the first year, most remained shrouded in mystery.
That made it difficult to compare their skills with students from other hero academies.
"Whoever they are, we will just show the world that we are the best."
The first-years nodded at Habiden's words.
"Yeah! Let's blow away Seirun, Azonia, and Damian!"
"Yeah!"
"Bring it on!"
The first-years shouted with enthusiasm.
Aina, who had been watching them with a blank expression, said impassively.
"Finish this first."
At her words, the first-years' fiery enthusiasm was doused as if by a bucket of cold water.
"You really know how to kill the mood when we're just getting fired up..."
"Huh? What?"
As Luke scratched his cheek and spoke, Aina tilted her head, not understanding.
"No, it's nothing."
Luke shook his head with an awkward smile.
During this busy period when all of Lumerne was preparing for the inter-academy competition.
An invitation arrived at Lumerne.
The invitation, addressed to the student council president of Lumerne, was from none other than Dragonia.
And it wasn't just Lumerne.
Invitations were also sent to Seirun, Azonia, and Damian.