Chapter 594
Chapter Title: A Victorious End
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594.
The winner of the fierce Hero Festival was none other than Lumerne.
The Lumerne students gathered around the platform where the championship trophy was placed.
Hark, the representative of the Lumerne students, climbed onto the platform and raised the trophy.
“Waaaaaaah!”
The Lumerne students roared in celebration at the sight.
But it wasn't just the Lumerne students.
The humans who had visited Lumerne to watch the festival rose from their seats, cheering and applauding wildly.
As it was a competition between the hero academies representing their respective races, it was only natural for the entire race watching the victory to share in the joy.
The students from the other schools, who had narrowly missed the championship after a fierce competition, wore expressions of frustration.
Watching them, Leo murmured.
“Hark looks really happy.”
“Of course he is. He worked the hardest out of everyone at the Hero Festival. But why was he so fired up?”
Celia tilted her head.
As she said, the one who had been unbelievably active during this Hero Festival was, surprisingly, Hark.
Until just before the festival, Hark had been unmotivated, complaining about being worked to the bone before graduation, but as soon as the event started, he dove in with a fire in his eyes.
“He was grinding his teeth, saying that since he was going through all this trouble anyway, he had to win the cup no matter what.”
“Ah.”
Celia nodded as if she understood.
Newspaper reporters continuously adjusted their magitools to capture photos of Hark.
“By the way, shouldn't you be the one holding that, as the student council president?”
Celia muttered with a hint of complaint in her voice, and Leo chuckled.
“I didn’t do anything in this Hero Festival.”
This time, Leo had strictly limited his involvement to managing the competition.
“That may be true, but.”
Even so, as Leo was the one representing the school, Celia couldn't hide her disappointment.
“It’s a chance to greatly elevate the family name.”
“Aren’t the titles of ‘youngest Lumerne student council president’ and ‘youngest hero’ enough?”
“Isn’t it best to grab as much as you can when you have the chance?”
Smiling sweetly, Celia swept her hair back.
“Anyway, is the closing ceremony next week? Second year is almost over.”
“We still have final exams.”
After the major event of the Hero Festival ended, Lumerne would immediately begin its final exams.
It was an incredibly harsh academic schedule, but the students, who were already well-accustomed to Lumerne’s unforgiving nature, accepted it calmly.
“I’m fine since I already finished preparing for the exams.”
Celia smiled confidently.
“Oh, by the way, I heard from some family members who came to watch that they’ll be deciding on the territory you’ll receive soon.”
As a direct descendant of the Jerdinger line, Leo was set to inherit a portion of the vast Jerdinger territory.
“You’ll probably have to come to the Jerdinger estate during winter break because of it.”
“Really? Alright.”
***
After the final exams ended.
As always, joy and sorrow crossed paths among the students.
Some students would remain at the academy, while others would be leaving.
After the closing ceremony.
The second-year students held end-of-term parties in their respective dorms.
“Waaaaah! Xia! Chloe! You can't pretend you don't know me later, okay?”
“Why would we pretend not to know you? We were in the same dorm. Even if we can’t study in the same space next year, we’re still friends.”
“Chloe!”
Chen Xia smiled wryly as she patted the backs of the crying female students.
“Stop crying. This isn't the end.”
“Chloe!”
“I’m a year younger than you.”
Chloe wore a troubled expression.
After comforting the female students, Chloe stood up.
“Let’s put aside this gloomy atmosphere. Some of us are staying, and some are leaving. But the important thing is that we all made it through the year safely.”
There had been several major incidents this year as well.
Yet, despite it all, every student had made it here without suffering any unfortunate accidents.
“We overcame adversity by working together. I believe it was possible because we became one as a dorm. So, from now on, we’ll always be friends.”
The female students who had been sniffling over not being promoted and the male students with somber faces shook off their gloom.
“Xia, as the dorm president, you should say something too.”
At Chloe’s words, Chen Xia spoke.
“Thank you all for following my lead so well this year. At first, I was worried about whether I could do a good job, but thanks to all of you, I was able to perform my duties as dorm president splendidly. Thank you, everyone.”
Smiling gently, Chen Xia looked at Leo.
“Now it’s Young Master Leo’s turn.”
“Good work this year, everyone.”
The Glory students burst out laughing at Leo’s impassive words.
“The class president’s speech is always short.”
Iliana shook her head.
“Anyway!”
Iliana raised the glass of juice in her hand and said.
“Let’s enjoy this moment today!”
Everyone shook off the somber mood and enjoyed the party.
“Ah! Professor Sena!”
“What took you so long! You said you’d be here early!”
“I’m sorry, everyone. The faculty meeting ran late.”
Sena, the resident advisor for Glory Dormitory, arrived late to the party.
Iliana spoke to her.
“Professor Sena! It’s vacation now, right? We won’t get demerits for breaking the rules, will we?”
Sena looked troubled as she saw Iliana’s sparkling eyes.
“That’s true, but… what rule are you planning to break?”
“We’re not breaking any rules, just letting loose a little.”
Iliana stealthily pulled a bottle out from under the table.
“When else would we get to drink at school if not now?”
“When on earth did you bring that into the dorm?”
“Gasp?!”
As Chloe’s eyes widened, Iliana flinched and quickly hid behind Chen Xia.
“I-I got permission from Xia to bring it in!”
“Xia!”
“What’s the big deal? We haven’t drunk it yet, have we?”
“Honestly.”
Chloe let out a deep sigh.
Unlike Chloe, who was strict about the dorm rules, Chen Xia would occasionally let the students cut loose.
Watching them, Sena said.
“Normally, it’s not allowed. But since today is a special day, I’ll turn a blind eye just this once. Still, you know not to drink too much, right?”
“Ooooh!”
The students cheered as Sena gave them a wink.
“Why is everyone so desperate to drink that stuff?”
“Aren’t you going to have any, Chloe?”
“...I will.”
Chloe pouted.
With the introduction of alcohol, the party atmosphere became even more boisterous.
“Lord Kyle was totally epic! That's why I've decided! I'm going to start the Church of Kyle!”
“Iliana, you’ve had too much to drink. Please calm down.”
Chen Xia tried to calm down Iliana, who was shouting with a face flushed from the alcohol.
“Leo, you have a drink too.”
Chloe came over to Leo, holding a bottle of liquor.
“You look drunk.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not drunk at all.”
Chloe’s eyes went wide as she shook her head.
Leo glanced at her hands.
He looked at the large cup held in Chloe’s hand.
‘That’s strong liquor, but she’s chugging it like beer.’
Leo let out a hollow laugh as he drank the alcohol Chloe poured for him.
“Leo! Have a drink from me too!”
“Me too! Me too!”
The dorm students crowded around Leo.
“I’m thinking of finishing all my homework during the break and then going on a training journey.”
“I’m going to my family’s villa with him.”
“What are you doing during the break, class president?”
“Well, I think I’ll be visiting the territory I’m inheriting from my mother’s side.”
“Huh?! Inheriting?”
“Ah, right. Leo is a direct descendant of the Jerdinger family.”
“Inheriting at your age, I’m so jealous.”
Gasps of awe erupted from all around.
“The class president is a total bourgeois!”
“The Laden family is a prestigious house too. You’re the heir to your family, so what are you so jealous about?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?! My father said he won’t give me a single penny until I inherit the family! I’m stuck with an allowance until then!”
“How much are you inheriting?”
“Since it’s the Jerdingers, it must be huge, right?”
“I’m so jealous. In my case, my family’s territory was divided during my father’s generation, and I have to share it with my brother, so my share is smaller.”
“The fact that you have territory at all means you have tax revenue. Leo won’t have to worry about money while attending school anymore.”
Attending Lumerne often required a lot of money for various reasons.
Watching the students murmur in envy, Chen Xia tilted her head.
“Is inheriting land that important?”
“Of course it is!”
“Among noble families, civil wars even break out over it.”
“Really? Unless it’s land the size of a small kingdom, is it really an issue?”
The students fell silent as Chen Xia tilted her head.
‘Oh, right. She’s the heir to the Shan Empire.’
One of the two human empires, the Shan Empire, spanned the eastern continent. To Chen Xia, its future ruler, land on the scale of a noble family’s holdings didn’t seem significant.
“Oh, my~ Your future Imperial Majesty~”
Iliana rubbed her hands together and quickly sat next to Chen Xia.
“Please take good care of me when you become empress! By any chance, could you bestow a little land upon me?”
Chen Xia wore a troubled expression at Iliana’s playful words.
“Even if I become the empress, I can’t just give away land recklessly.”
“Why? When you’re the empress, it’s all your land, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s Young Master Leo’s land.”
“...”
“...”
The students muttered as they watched Chen Xia speak with a bright smile.
“Xia is drunk too.”
“So, does that mean Leo will own the entire Shan Empire in the future?”
“I’m so jealous!”
“Class President! No! Your Excellency, please bestow some land upon us!”
“Leo! Don’t forget about me, okay?”
The students, taking it as a joke, burst into laughter.
‘That doesn’t sound like a joke.’
Leo narrowed his eyes and looked at Chen Xia.
Their eyes met, and Chen Xia smiled sweetly and waved.
And so, the enjoyable time passed.
By the time late dawn arrived, the only students still awake were Leo and Chloe.
The drunken students were asleep, scattered around the lounge.
“Ugh—playing like this really makes it feel like it’s all over.”
Leo let out a sound of admiration as he watched Chloe stretch.
“You can really hold your liquor, can’t you?”
“You think so?”
Chloe tilted her head.
With a reddened face, Chloe smiled brightly.
“Anyway, Leo. You worked hard this year. I’m counting on you next year too.”
Seeing her, Leo chuckled.
“Yeah, I’m counting on you too.”
***
After taking a warp gate to Delan, the capital of the Delad Kingdom, Leo headed straight for the mansion.
‘Having to go to my own home in secret. How troublesome.’
The first hero in the history of the Delad Kingdom.
Furthermore, after becoming an All-Class, following in the footsteps of the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, Leo’s fame within the Delad Kingdom had long since surpassed that of the royal family.
Although Leo hadn't done anything specifically for the Delad Kingdom, he was already revered as a national hero simply for having greatly elevated the kingdom’s name.
‘Leo, you must! You absolutely must! Come home secretly, okay?’
Remembering Reina’s plea, Leo checked the hood he was wearing and shook his head.
Not a single member of the Flove family had been able to attend this year’s Hero Festival.
Anything related to him always drew attention.
‘She said the Delad royal family also blocked them, right?’
Now that it was known that Leo’s maternal family was the Jerdingers, the Delad Kingdom was wary of the Flove family defecting.
They couldn't risk losing the first hero ever produced by the Delad Kingdom to the empire.
The Rodren Empire could certainly offer treatment that the Delad Kingdom could not.
‘This must be a headache for Father.’
Thinking of his father, Leo gave a bitter smile as he arrived at the mansion.
“Father, Mother. I’m ho…”
“Oh, my. Leo. Welcome home.”
“...Where are you going?”
Leo asked blankly as he saw the household staff bustling about the mansion.
“Yes. The whole family is planning to go to my hometown tomorrow.”
“Your hometown is the Jerdinger estate.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
At Leo’s question, Reina smiled brightly.
“You’re being granted territory this time, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“The negotiations will likely go on for quite some time.”
With many interests at stake even within the Jerdinger family, disputes often arose when territory was granted to a direct descendant.
“It’s obvious the old geezers of the family will try to interfere.”
Leo knew instantly that by "old geezers," she meant the council of elders.
“Your mother was a direct Jerdinger descendant, you know? So I know very well which lands are the real treasures.”
“They’ll give me something good even without all that.”
“Son.”
“Yes.”
“You have to take as much as you can get while they’re giving it.”
Reina burst into a "hohoho" laugh, and Leo shook his head.