Chapter 106
“I didn’t know you had the talent for all classes.”
“I only found out when I went to school, Father.”
He spoke calmly as he chatted with his father, Deid, during dinner.
“He’s my son, but… How on earth did we end up with such a monstrous kid?”
Reina shook her head.
Even Reina, who had recognized her son’s genius as a knight, never imagined that Leo would be an all-class.
She had doubted her ears when she first heard it.
Enjoying dinner with his parents after a long time, Leo shared stories about what had happened at school with them.
“So many familiar names.”
Reina smiled brightly as she recalled her own school days.
“Ain, is he still as blunt as ever?”
“You know Professor Ain?”
“Yeah. He was my classmate.”
Leo admired Reina’s casual response.
“Come to think of it, you’re the same age.”
“Yeah. Anyway, Ain… hehehe.”
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. I just thought it would be fun to meet him at the parent observation event next semester. Oh, right! Didn’t Professor Harrid say he’d visit during this break? I should tease him!”
Reina, reminiscing about her school days, wore an expression like a young girl as she delighted in the thought.
“Professor Harrid? Even his old students freeze up in front of him—can you really tease him?”
“Huh? Why would they freeze up? Professor Harrid is so kind.”
“…”
The word ‘kind’ didn’t suit Harrid, who was known as the Wailing Wall of Lumene, and Leo made a strange face.
Leo was the only one who didn’t get nervous in front of Harrid, but all the other first-years trembled before him.
Actually, even upperclassmen and professors were afraid of him.
‘Well, she can deal with the consequences herself.’
Leo shrugged as he enjoyed homemade food after a long time.
Deid watched him with a pleased expression.
“Oh, by the way, I met Phirina.”
“Huh? Phirina?”
Reina was startled.
“Why is Phirina at Lumene?”
“She said it was for personal reasons.”
“I see.”
“And, I made a contract with Phirina’s daughter.”
Reina’s jaw dropped.
“What? You made a contract with a Phoenix?”
It wasn’t widely known, so Reina and Deid were shocked.
Seeing their reaction, Leo summoned up Spirit Power and drew a summoning circle.
A moment later, Fiora appeared in her true form through the circle.
“Chirp?”
“Oh my, what a cute chick. Come here.”
Reina exclaimed, beckoning with her hand.
Fiora cocked her head curiously but approached Reina without much suspicion.
Then she pecked at the steak in front of Reina.
Watching the scene with affection, Reina asked Leo,
“So, where’s the Phoenix you made a contract with?”
“Chirp! Chirp!”
Phirina spread her wings wide and chirped as if protesting.
Seeing this, Leo said matter-of-factly,
“That’s the Phoenix.”
At those words, Fiora folded her wings gracefully and raised her chin.
“…But it’s a chick?”
“Peep-!”
And she protested in dissatisfaction.
“She’s definitely a Phoenix. Her name is Fiora.”
“I see.”
As Reina accepted Leo’s explanation, Fiora bowed her head gracefully in greeting.
“But wasn’t Phirina’s daughter supposed to contract with Ellen’s daughter?”
“It just happened that way. I also met the successor of Lunda and already spoke with her.”
“Ellen’s daughter? Ah! Must’ve been during the school trip?”
Reina nodded in surprise.
Then she let out a wry laugh.
“Really, you had a whirlwind of a semester.”
“Isn’t Lumene always like this?”
“No matter how tough Lumene is, it’s not easy to have a semester as spectacular as yours.”
As a Lumene graduate, Reina shook her head.
“Anyway, it must’ve been tough this semester, so rest well during the break.”
After the meal, enjoying tea and a long conversation with her son, Reina hummed a tune as she returned to her room.
After washing up and getting ready for bed, Deid entered the room to find Reina taking something out and looking at it at her desk with a puzzled expression.
“What are you looking at?”
“My old school album.”
Deid sat next to Reina with a gentle smile.
“You finally felt like looking at it?”
“Yeah. Listening to Leo’s stories made me nostalgic.”
Reina, who had lost her flames in an accident.
Though she smiled calmly, her days as a Zerdinger and at Lumene were a painful scar for her.
Because of that, she had tried to avoid anything that might remind her of those times.
Deid knew this as well and never asked her about the past.
“How do I look in my teens?”
“Beautiful.”
“Even more than now?”
“Just as beautiful as now.”
“Smooth answer.”
Reina chuckled as she turned the album’s pages.
Deid looked at the other races in the album with a curious expression.
“Are these students from the other Hero Academies?”
“Yeah. That elf is Ellen, the beastman is Verga, and the dwarf is Jack.”
Hearing the names, Deid clicked his tongue.
They were all heroes whose names were recorded in the Hero Record or were famous as experts of the highest order.
“I heard that the Beastkin Hero Academy, Azonia, holds its entrance ceremony in summer, unlike other schools?”
“That’s right. They hold the entrance ceremony during the hottest time.”
“Is there a reason?”
“Yeah. Azonia’s entrance ceremony is famous for being the toughest.”
The entrance ceremony at the Beastkin Hero Academy, Azonia, was quite unique.
It was a desert-crossing marathon.
“Well, it’s called an entrance ceremony, but it’s actually the final entrance exam.”
“Final entrance exam?”
“Yeah. While other schools are holding entrance ceremonies, Azonia opens free lectures.”
“Free lectures?”
“Yes. Anyone who turns fifteen can attend. Other races can attend too. If you want, you can take the classes. So among Azonia students, there are even human and dwarf students.”
“Elves?”
“Elves would never go to Azonia because they hate its style.”
Reina rested her chin on her hand.
“Anyway, you take classes and occasionally have exams. Only those who pass can continue. Finally, those who survive until summer are given the opportunity for the entrance ceremony. If you finish the marathon, you officially become a student of Azonia. That’s why the entrance ceremony is also called the final exam.”
“Interesting.”
“Unique, right? Well, it’s a test to select students suitable for their academy.”
“Does everyone have to take the free lectures?”
“No. Students from Heroic Houses or those with a recommendation can skip the free lectures and participate in the entrance ceremony through recommendation. Of course, even with a recommendation, if you fail at the entrance ceremony, you can’t enroll.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, if you’re selected by recommendation, you become a prospective Azonia student and can participate in the entrance cerem—”
Flip-!
Reina paused as she turned a page in the album.
Inside was an envelope instead of a photo.
Looking puzzled, Reina took out the envelope and checked the wax seal on the back—then suddenly cried out, “Ah!”
“What’s wrong?”
Reina scratched her cheek.
“I forgot that I once received an entrance recommendation for Azonia.”
“What?”
Deid was startled.
“I helped Azonia Academy clear a dungeon once. Back then, they asked if I’d consider enrolling my child if I ever had one. I declined, but they pushed it on me and I ended up accepting it absentmindedly.”
Beastkin valued strength.
That’s why they were eager to recruit warriors of outstanding might into their academy.
Having witnessed Reina’s power, Azonia had honored her and handed her a recommendation letter.
“Well, it was about twenty years ago.”
“So it doesn’t matter, right? They probably forgot about it too.”
“Yeah, probably.”
Reina nonchalantly slipped the letter back into the album.
“Anyway, let’s get some sleep tonight, Reina.”
“Okay.”
Deid and Reina lay in bed.
Staring at the ceiling under the covers, Reina suddenly recalled something.
“Come to think of it, during that banquet, I got tipsy and received the recommendation from Verga… didn’t I also make a sort of contract with a spirit?”
She also remembered dropping blood on the contract.
Feeling a bit uneasy, Reina let out a laugh.
“Oh well, Leo is already a Lumene student. What could happen?”
—
Back home, Leo enjoyed a leisurely break.
Of course, he didn’t forget to keep up with his homework.
In Leo’s case, one for each department.
Since he had three assignments, he had much more work than the other students.
But he worked through it without any trouble.
Meanwhile, letters kept coming from noble houses eager to invite Leo to their parties.
Some even came to the house to meet Leo directly.
“They never cared when I went to Delard Royal Academy. Fickle people.”
Clicking his tongue, Leo turned down the invitations.
He knew only troublesome things would happen if he attended.
But it wasn’t just nobles sending letters.
“Son! Son!”
“What is it?”
“Who are these girls—Chloe, Chen Xia, Nella, and Eliana? Judging by the names, they must be girls, right?”
At breakfast, Reina fussed over the letters delivered to Leo.
Since there was no direct mail from Delard, letters from friends in other regions all arrived at once via Lordren.
Reina was overjoyed that her son was so popular.
There were also letters from male friends like Carr and Tide, but Reina showed not the slightest interest in them.
“You don’t ask about the boys?”
“I don’t care about boys.”
Watching his mother obsessed only with his love life, Leo sighed.
“Ma’am.”
“What is it?”
A maid hurried over.
“You have a guest, ma’am. And young master, too.”
“Guest? If it’s a noble guest, say we’re busy.”
“Well…”
The maid hesitated before speaking carefully.
“They said they’re from Azonia Academy.”
“Azonia?”
Leo looked puzzled.
Reina let out a groan.
“Tell them to come in.”
“Yes.”
Leo, seeing Reina sigh deeply, asked,
“Why is Azonia looking for us?”
“Looks like a bit of a hassle.”
As Leo frowned, the door opened and someone entered.
Even in the hot summer, the person was wearing a robe pulled low over their face.
Seeing this, Leo looked puzzled.
“Spirit?”
[Are you Reina Zerdinger?]
“I’m not a Zerdinger anymore, but yes, I’m Reina.”
[Hello, I’m a messenger spirit from Azonia.]
The spirit bowed politely and handed over a rolled parchment.
Reina scratched her head and handed it to Leo after reading it.
Leo’s face took on a strange expression as he checked the parchment.
[Congratulations, Reina Zerdinger. Your child has been selected as a recommended candidate for admission to Azonia.]
The content was simple.
They were being summoned to attend Azonia’s entrance ceremony in two days, in the southern coastal metropolis of Azrek.