Chapter 132

‘Hmph, is it finally time for my name to be known throughout the world?’

‘Get over yourself.’

‘What would anyone do knowing your name?’

That evening, the entire dormitory cafeteria was abuzz with talk about mission fieldwork.

‘Everyone’s excited about mission fieldwork,’ Chelsea said, opening her mouth wide to eat the pudding that came with dessert.

“Mmm~”

Watching Chelsea blissfully holding her cheeks, Carr asked, “What’s up? Is the pudding good?”

“It’s a limited edition today, so I’m definitely not sharing.”

Seeing Chelsea’s strong vigilance, Carr replied flatly, “Fine, I don’t want any.”

“Good. Don’t eat any. Leo, do you want a bite?”

“What is with this difference in treatment?!”

Carr protested with a sulky face.

Ignoring him, Chelsea scooped up some pudding and looked at Leo.

“I’m fine.”

“This is really good! Leo, you’ve never had the limited edition pudding, right?”

“Yeah. Leo, it’s really good. The kids go crazy for it for a reason,” Carr agreed, nodding, having tried it before.

“Then I’ll try a bite.”

“Okay.”

Just as Chelsea was about to feed Leo a spoonful of pudding—

Chomp—!

“Mmm! Limited edition pudding really is delicious.”

Someone barged in and ate the pudding in the middle of it all.

Chelsea’s eyes widened as she tried to stir the spoon in Celia’s mouth.

But Celia bit down on the spoon and snatched it away from Chelsea’s grip.

“Are you a crocodile?!”

“Hmph.”

Sweeping her hair back, Celia scoffed.

Chelsea, about to take back the spoon, glared at both Celia and Carr. “Touch my pudding and you’re dead!”

“I’ll make sure you don’t get any,” Leo said with a laugh, and only then did Chelsea, reassured, quickly go to grab another spoon.

“Leo, you haven’t decided where you’re going for mission fieldwork yet, right?”

“I have. Why?”

“With whom? Don’t tell me you’re going with the kids from Class 5?”

Celia looked displeased.

It was obvious Chelsea would be included if he went with his classmates.

Celia, who wanted to do the mission fieldwork with Leo, wasn’t happy about that.

“No. I’m going alone.”

“What? Well, that’s perfect. Then come with m—”

“Guess who?”

At that moment, someone covered Leo’s eyes.

Leo calmly moved the hand away. “What is it, Chen Xia?”

“Aww, you’re no fun.”

Disappointed by Leo’s indifferent reaction, Chen Xia let go of his hand.

Celia looked puzzled. “Is that how you two play?”

“I’m just trying to tease Leo, but he never reacts, so it’s no fun,” Chen Xia grumbled, poking Leo’s cheek.

Watching, Carr turned his head.

There, Chelsea—on her way back with a spoon—had frozen.

“Hi, Chelsea,” Chen Xia greeted with a wave and a smile.

“Oh, uh, hi,” Chelsea replied awkwardly before sitting down in front of Leo, glancing between Leo and Chen Xia.

“You’re here for mission fieldwork too?”

“Yes. I thought it’d be nice to team up with Leo. If you’re planning to form a party with Leo, could you include me too, Celia?”

“Hmm. The top three in the Knights Department teaming up for mission fieldwork… not bad. That’s a luxury lineup,” Carr chimed in.

“It’s not like I have a crush on our country’s prince or anything. Anyway, Duran’s second place in the Knights Department, right? And why is Leo even in the Knights Department?”

“Yeah, yeah!” Chelsea waved her spoon in agreement.

Celia replied coolly, “What are you talking about? Once it’s officially announced that Leo is my cousin, he’ll be confirmed as a member of the Knights Department.”

“Huh? That’s going to be announced?”

“Yeah. It should be soon.”

As Carr looked surprised, Celia nodded nonchalantly.

“So Leo and Celia really are related,” Chen Xia said.

“You noticed?”

“Both of you use similar flames. The observant students probably already picked up on it.”

Chen Xia shrugged.

“Anyway! Leo! Let’s do mission fieldwork together!”

“That’s right. It’s better for people in the same department to stick together,” Chen Xia added in support of Celia’s suggestion.

“I haven’t chosen a department yet. Besides, I already decided on my mission fieldwork.”

“Then let’s go together. If you picked it, it must be a high-level one.”

“Leo said he’s going for bandit extermination,” Chelsea said.

“Bandit extermination? Are there any major bandit groups active right now?”

“I haven’t heard anything like that,” the two girls replied, puzzled.

Leo answered with a blank look, “I’m just going to clear out a group of bandits in some country village.”

“What? Why!”

“A mission like that won’t help your grades at all.”

Chelsea put her spoon in her mouth and said, “I told him a bunch of times, but he won’t listen.”

“Leo probably has his reasons,” Carr said, leaning back.

“Even so, with Leo’s abilities, he could handle a much better mission and get better results,” Chelsea pouted.

Even after Celia tried several more times to persuade Leo, he didn’t budge.

After the meal, as Leo left the dormitory cafeteria—

Murmur—murmur—

There was a commotion in front of the dormitory.

“What’s going on?” Carr asked.

A student from the Summoning Department replied excitedly, “The seniors from the Dungeon Raider party are here!”

“What?”

“They said they’re recruiting first-years to join them for this mission fieldwork!”

The Dungeon Raider party.

A party composed of students with excellent grades in their departments.

They received official permission from the school to tackle hero dungeons as a team.

In other words, they were Lumene’s top students.

As they approached the dorm entrance, they saw what appeared to be third- and fourth-year students.

The graduating fifth-years didn’t participate in recruitment, as they were retiring after this year.

“Ah! Celia!”

At that moment, someone approached Celia.

A boy with black hair and red eyes.

Celia’s relative and a second-year at Lumene, Varden Zerdinger.

“Perfect! I was waiting for you!”

“Why me?” Celia asked, crossing her arms.

Varden grinned. “Why else? I want to recruit you into our party!”

For regular students, joining a raider party was a huge honor.

Dungeon Raiders were the best of the best, and being invited meant you could become friends with them.

Everyone did their best to get in.

But there are always exceptions.

Rising stars—especially students like Celia—were in high demand for the raider parties.

They already had the skills to become Dungeon Raiders as upperclassmen.

So students with good grades were naturally scouted by the parties.

“You haven’t joined a raider party yet, right? Rhys’s party is all fifth-year seniors, so it’s disbanding this year.”

The Dungeon Raider party Rhys Zerdinger belonged to—Red Wing—was a party Rhys himself created.

Along with talented classmates like Torua and Jamua, they had been active since their third year.

Many current third- and fourth-years wanted to join Red Wing, but since the party only accepted students from the same year, it was set to disband after this year.

“I belong to Blue Moon, the raider party Elena founded! I guarantee, in terms of influence at Lumene, only Red Wing rivals us!”

Chelsea, standing behind, scoffed at Varden’s confident words. “Yeah, you go on ahead then, Celia.”

“Chelsea Lewellin? Should I invite you too?”

“No thanks. And who do you think you are, using my name so casually?”

“What? Don’t you know me? You don’t know Varden Zerdinger?”

“Why would I bother remembering all the Zerdinger names that aren’t even direct lineage?”

“What did you say?”

Varden bristled at Chelsea’s sharp words.

But just as she said, even if the Zerdingers were great, Chelsea, as a direct descendant of the Lewellin line, had no reason to remember distant Zerdinger relatives.

“A-anyway! We’re going to explore a hero dungeon this time! It’s mission fieldwork season, right? If you come with us, it’ll be super helpful! Plus, it’ll make it easy to manage your grades!”

Celia replied, “I’m not thinking about joining any raider parties yet.”

“What?”

“Let’s go, Leo.”

Celia walked off, and Leo followed.

‘That punk!’

Varden glared at Leo’s back.

Being a Zerdinger himself, he knew Leo might be named the heir this time.

‘He doesn’t even have the Zerdinger name!’

In terms of bloodline, Leo was much closer to the direct line, but Varden couldn’t accept him.

As Leo, Celia, Chelsea, Chen Xia, and Carr walked away, a crowd rushed toward the raider parties.

Among the first-years, Leo, Celia, Chelsea, and Chen Xia were must-have recruits.

Other students who played an active role in taking down Gigantes during the department competition were also grabbed by seniors.

“Lucky to be popular,” Carr muttered from a step back.

“Yeah. Leo, you sure are popular.”

“Huh? Whoa—!”

Hearing the bright voice next to him, Carr turned and gasped.

It wasn’t just Carr—everyone around was startled.

Standing there was a true big shot.

‘Elena Zeron!’

Someone so far above them that first-years couldn’t even dream of reaching her—her appearance left everyone breathless.

Even other upperclassmen who’d come for recruitment were shocked.

Elena, known as the queen of the school, was rarely seen by first-years or even other upperclassmen.

She smiled brightly at Carr.

Carr blushed at her overwhelming beauty.

When word got out that Elena had arrived, the Blue Moon party quickly gathered nearby.

But no one dared stand next to Elena or speak to her.

Those recruited for publicity only belonged to the party in name and didn’t actually participate in dungeon raids—the so-called low ranks.

Even regular members hesitated to speak to Elena.

As Elena walked forward, the crowd parted for her.

She strode confidently through the throng as if she were used to it.

She stopped right in front of Leo.

“Hello, Leo.”

“Hello, Elena.”

Leo greeted her calmly, even as Elena greeted him with a radiant smile.

Leo remained unfazed by her almost enchanting smile.

Finding his reaction amusing, Elena spoke.

“This time, my raider party is going to explore a hero dungeon.”

“Yes.”

“Join our party. I’ll make you a full member of the raider party.”

Everyone was shocked by the offer.

The fact that the party leader personally invited someone was amazing—let alone a first-year.

“I’ll make you the best, Leo Plov.”

Elena smiled confidently and extended her hand.

Beautiful, strong, and with immense power—her offer was irresistible.

Who could possibly refuse such an invitation…

“I don’t want to.”

‘What did he just say?’

‘Did he say no?’

No one there could process Leo’s words for a moment.

Even Elena’s delicate brow furrowed.

“Why?”

“Like I said before, I’m expensive.”