Chapter 134
The day came for the first-years to begin their mission fieldwork.
For the week that fieldwork was held, there were no classes.
So, students who finished their missions early could return to school and enjoy some free time.
Additionally, those doing fieldwork with upperclassmen sometimes left a bit later.
First-years gathered in front of the warp gate and chatted as they prepared to depart.
“So you’re the only one heading to the Garan region?”
“Looks like it.”
“I know you’ll handle it well… but I still don’t get why you’re taking a mission that doesn’t even give high marks.”
Celia looked genuinely puzzled.
When her turn came, she waved her hand. “Anyway, see you after fieldwork.”
“Take care. Be careful.”
“Who do you think I am? Don’t worry.”
With her usual confident smile, Celia brushed back her hair and stepped onto the warp gate.
One by one, the students boarded the warp gate.
Leo was the last to step onto it.
Flash—!
His vision changed with a burst of bright light.
Arriving at the warp gate in the Garan region, Leo looked around at the shabby interior.
Warp gates were usually quite splendid wherever you went.
But since the Garan region itself was so underdeveloped, even the warp gate seemed poorly maintained.
“What brings someone to use the warp gate in this area?”
An old wizard eyed Leo curiously but let out a gasp when he recognized Leo’s uniform.
“My! Are you a Lumene student?”
“Yes.”
“What business brings a great hero candidate to such a backwater?”
Leo smiled at the old wizard’s curious expression.
“I’ve come to resolve a request in the Garan region.”
“A request? Ah! You must mean those bandits!”
The old wizard’s face brightened.
“That’s great news! The locals have had a hard time because of those scoundrels!”
The Garan region, located between the western and southern parts of the continent, was a neutral area ruled by a lord not affiliated with any kingdom.
The lord claimed it was a kingdom, but in reality, it was nowhere near that level.
As a result, even when large groups of bandits appeared, there was no nation capable of subjugating them.
Leo clicked his tongue at the old wizard’s reaction.
‘Sounds like the bandits are running even more rampant than I expected.’
Leo’s main purpose in coming to the Garan region was to investigate the ruins of the ancient Guardslone, but he had no intention of neglecting the request.
‘I’ll wipe out every last one of those bandits.’
Leo hated bandits.
In his previous life, when the world was ending, there were people who did everything they could to save and help others—while there were also those who trampled others for their own gain.
To Leo, bandits belonged to that kind of human.
The old wizard gave Leo detailed directions to the lord’s castle.
With the old wizard’s warm welcome, Leo left the warp gate.
Stepping outside, the scenery of the city unfolded before him.
As expected for the countryside, it felt very run-down.
‘This whole area used to be Guardslone in the past.’
Leo muttered inwardly as he took in the city.
Back when Guardslone was the last line of defense, the city had been unimaginably large.
As Leo made his way toward the lord’s castle, people’s gazes gathered on him.
Strangers were rare here, so everyone stared at Leo with curiosity.
At the castle gates, the guards gave him odd looks.
“Who are you? Haven’t seen you before.”
“Looks like an outsider. What brings you to the lord’s castle?”
“I came to see the lord.”
The guards exchanged glances and burst out laughing.
“Why would an outsider want to see the lord?”
“You think the lord is someone you can just meet?”
At their response, Leo took out his mission request.
“I’m here about the bandit subjugation mission.”
“Bandit subjugation? Hah! What, some kid thinks he can take on bandits?”
“What’s with this scrap of paper—”
But as they looked at the document Leo handed over, their faces began to turn pale.
Their bodies shook as they read the words on the mission slip.
“Lu-Lumene Academy?”
“Hero candidate?”
They gawked back and forth between the paper and Leo.
“Can you call the lord, please?” Leo asked.
“P-please wait!”
One guard hurried inside.
The other, pale as a ghost, said, “F-forgive us! We didn’t realize you were a Lumene student!”
“No need to apologize so much. It’s natural to be cautious if you don’t know. But from now on, don’t judge people just by their appearance.”
Leo spoke calmly.
Soon, a steward came rushing out from inside.
“Welcome, great hero candidate!”
Leo let out a sigh inwardly at the over-the-top reaction.
‘The Lumene student title really is something else.’
Since everyone around Leo was someone noteworthy, he’d never felt the full weight of being a Lumene student until now.
But doing fieldwork alone, it became clear.
Guided respectfully by the steward, Leo headed for the lord’s office.
“Oh my~ For a great Lumene hero candidate to visit such a humble place! It’s an honor!”
The scrawny lord bowed deeply, rubbing his hands together before Leo.
“Here, please sit, Lumene student!”
He gestured to the guest sofa by the window.
As Leo sat, the lord quickly took a seat across from him.
“You must be tired from your travels. Would you like to rest—?”
“No, that’s not necessary. Just tell me where the bandits are.”
At Leo’s words, the Garan lord hesitated.
Then, with a glance, he signaled the waiting steward.
The steward hurriedly brought a map and spread it on the table.
Familiar terrain was revealed.
The once-great city had vanished without a trace, but the land itself hadn’t changed.
“The bandits are holed up in some ancient ruins.”
“Ancient ruins?”
“Yes. We don’t know which era the buildings are from, but there are ruins left on the far east edge of the Garan region. Though they’re little more than a pile of rubble now.”
The lord pointed to the spot at the edge of the map.
Staring at that location, Leo’s eyes gleamed.
‘This is where the Guardslone defense line was.’
It was the defense line built to stop Tartaros’s army.
It was also the area where Kyle spent most of his time and where Kyle and Lysinas met outside the fortress wall.
As Leo focused on the map—
Bang!
“L-lord! There’s trouble!”
“What is it? I’m entertaining an important guest!”
“A visitor has come!”
“What visitor?”
‘Who could be more important than a Lumene student?’
With a scowl, the lord looked at the servant, who blurted out,
“S-Students from Seiren are here to see you!”
The lord couldn’t process the words for a moment.
‘Seiren students? The Elf Hero Academy? No… Why would Seiren come to a place like this? So, what else could Seiren students mean?’
He tried to think, but nothing else came to mind except the Elf Hero Academy.
Leo stood and looked out the window beside the sofa.
“It really is Seiren.”
“Huh?”
The lord muttered dumbly, then looked out the window himself.
He gasped at the sight of five elves at the mansion’s entrance.
“S-Seiren, here?!”
“Well, I’m sure they have their reasons. You should go greet your guests, my lord.”
With a slight smile, Leo tucked away the map.
“I have a good idea of the bandits’ location. I’ll head out for the subjugation now.”
He had no reason to linger at the castle.
Leo’s real reason for coming to this region was to explore the ruins of Guardslone.
This place had been Leo and Lysinas’s base city long ago—the city where the old heroes had once lived and breathed.
He’d come hoping to maybe find something related to that era.
He had to finish his fieldwork within a week, so Leo wanted to complete the request quickly and search for the Guardslone ruins.
At Leo’s words, the lord looked flustered.
He desperately wanted to make connections with a hero candidate like Leo.
But Leo was getting right to the point, leaving the lord at a loss.
‘This boy has no intention of staying here any longer! Hmm!’
The lord rolled his eyes.
‘Maybe it’s better to impress the Seiren students!’
They were of a different race, but still students at a hero academy.
Building relationships would surely help in the future.
“Understood! Please take care of those bandits for us!”
‘This lord really changes sides quickly.’
Leo let out a short laugh.
‘Well, it’s better than him clinging to me.’
Thinking that, Leo left the office.
“Prepare to welcome the Seiren students! Quickly!”
He could hear the commotion behind him as he headed for the entrance.
The guard who’d apologized to Leo earlier was now in even more of a panic at the arrival of the Seiren students.
No wonder—this was a place where not only hero academy elves but even ordinary elves were never seen.
Elves rarely entered human lands.
The townsfolk gathered, murmuring in excitement at the elves’ arrival.
Amid it all, Leo stepped out the mansion door.
“Huh?”
A cry of surprise came from the Seiren group.
Leo turned and recognized a familiar face, mirroring the girl’s expression.
“Leo?”
“Lunia?”
The first-year representatives from Lumene and Seiren, both looking a bit surprised.
With Lunia’s reaction, the other Seiren students also focused on Leo.
“A Lumene student?”
“Lunia, did you just say Leo?”
Leo Plov.
Though it hadn’t been officially announced, among Seiren students, Leo was already famous for interpreting the magic of the Founder of the Nebula—the spell that made flowers bloom.
Hadin’s cold gaze turned to Leo.
‘So this is Leo Plov?’
“What brings you here?” Lunia asked, beaming at Leo.
Leo gave her a wry look and glanced at Lunia’s group.
There wasn’t a single first-year among them.
‘So I’m supposed to play along, huh?’
Leo smiled at Lunia.
“Just act normal.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Leo.”
“You’ll get sick if you keep pretending.”
Crack—!
Lunia’s brow twitched as Leo teased her.
“Hehehe—Leo, you really do have a mischievous side.”
‘Ugh! If only there weren’t so many people watching, I’d grab him and shake him!’
“So, Leo. What brings you here?” Lunia asked.
“I’m here for mission fieldwork. I need to wipe out the bandits in this region.”
At that, Lunia’s eyes sparkled.
‘This is it!’
Cheering inwardly, Lunia spoke up.
“Oh my, bandits? That’s terrible.”
Covering her mouth and feigning elegance, Lunia let out a delicate gasp, prompting Leo to click his tongue.
Lunia almost snapped again at the act, but managed to hold back.
She put on a worried face.
“The locals must be really suffering.”
Lunia played the part of the gentle, upright flower-like Seiren girl—completely out of character for her—and the townspeople gasped in admiration.
“Leo, I’ll help you.”
“Lunia, what are you talking about?”
“But, seniors! The locals are suffering because of these bandits. As a student of Seiren, I can’t just stand by!”
Lunia declared firmly, locking eyes with Leo.
“Leo! So, I’ll help you!”
‘Take me! Take me! Take me! Please take me!’
Seeing Lunia’s desperate gaze, Leo let out a wry laugh.
“If you want to help, fine.”
‘Yes!’
Lunia cheered inwardly as she looked back at her seniors.
‘Goodbye to these stifling people!’