Chapter 152
“Connected?”
“That’s right. Ever since you enrolled… no, I’ve been investigating you since before you enrolled.”
Kalian smiled.
“You entered as a knight candidate. That’s only natural, given your mother’s side is the Zerdinger family.”
The fact that Leo’s maternal family is the Zerdinger family isn’t publicly known yet.
But for the principal of Lumene, learning about a student’s family relationships isn’t difficult.
“But what’s strange is that, until you enrolled, you didn’t show any abilities as an All-Class. You only began to stand out in magic and summoning after you entered Lumene. Actually, it was more than just standing out.”
In terms of theory, Leo was equal to or better than the top students in every department.
As a knight, he demonstrated overwhelming technique and Aura control.
As a mage, his understanding of magical formulas was extraordinary, and as a summoner, he contracted with a phoenix during his very first lesson.
Even having only one of those would be too much to simply call someone a genius.
And yet, Leo had all those abilities as an All-Class.
Meanwhile, more and more evidence is coming out that Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, actually existed.
It started during the Azonia entrance exams over summer break.
Until then, the academic community mostly assumed the Hero of the Beginning and the Hero Who Survived were just two people with the same name.
But after it became known that Kyle’s name existed in history, and soon after, proof of the Hero of the Beginning’s existence was found.
“There are still debates in academia about which era that statue you saw is from, and whether it’s based on historical fact.”
Only Leo knows that the place was Guardslone.
Lunia, Elena, and Haddin don’t know exactly where that was.
“But at the very least, the chances that the Hero of the Beginning Kyle actually existed have skyrocketed.”
Kalian smiled.
“That’s why I wondered if someone with abilities like Kyle’s might be connected to Kyle himself.”
“Connected how?”
“Have you… ever conquered Kyle’s Hero’s World?”
Leo’s eyes widened at Kalian’s question, but then he burst out laughing.
“No.”
He lied without hesitation.
If Leo admitted to conquering Kyle’s world, it would prove Kyle existed.
In history, only two people had All-Class abilities.
Kyle and Leo.
‘And both are me, after all.’
Leo sighed inwardly.
‘It’s good that it’s known I existed, but it’s not the right time yet.’
Erebos and Tartarus hate Kyle.
On top of that, it’s been revealed that the great heroes—especially Kyle’s Hero Page—are being hunted and destroyed.
If it became known that Leo inherited Kyle’s power, and if Tartarus started targeting Leo in earnest, no one knows what would happen.
‘They’re probably watching already. If I become a real target, I won’t be able to handle it right now.’
He still wasn’t strong enough.
‘I need to recover some of my past life’s strength before revealing the connection.’
“So you were just born an All-Class?”
“Yes.”
“I heard you’re pretty interested in Kyle. Weren’t you planning to start a club about the Hero of the Beginning?”
He couldn’t participate in club activities during the first semester due to department obligations, but he’d at least applied for the club.
Leo shrugged at Kalian’s words.
“I am interested. The Hero of the Beginning is the only All-Class in history, after all.”
Kalian sighed.
After watching Leo for a moment, Kalian nodded.
“All right. That’s all I wanted to ask.”
With a grunt, Kalian stood up.
“You haven’t fully recovered, but you can’t keep skipping classes. Start attending again from tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
“Take care of yourself.”
Kalian left the infirmary.
Elena, left behind, smiled.
“Leo, are you really not connected to the Hero of the Beginning?”
“Nope.”
Elena narrowed her eyes at Leo’s casual answer.
“It seems like you are.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Woman’s intuition.”
Elena smiled, leaning back in her chair with a prim expression.
“Well, if you don’t want to tell me, I won’t pry.”
With that, Elena stood up.
“Leo, you said you wanted to ask me for a favor before, right? What was it?”
“Will you hear me out?”
“Mm-hm.”
Elena nodded without hesitation, making Leo tilt his head in curiosity.
“What’s the price?”
“There isn’t one.”
Leo looked puzzled at Elena’s answer.
“Really? Why?”
“I’m curious.”
Crossing her legs and propping up her chin, Elena laughed.
“I want to see where you’ll go from here.”
The look in her eyes as she watched Leo was different from before.
There was a certain innocence about her.
A pure gaze of admiration for someone.
It didn’t fit her usual image, but Leo found it fitting for someone their age and smiled.
“Now you seem more like a peer.”
“And you’re way too much like a little old man, you know that?”
Scowling, Elena asked,
“So. What’s the favor?”
“I want to go into the forbidden archives.”
At that, Elena paused.
“The forbidden archives?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I want to learn more about the history of the Hero Record.”
“Because of the recent events?”
“No. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”
Elena quietly studied Leo.
He’d planned to research the Hero Record long before all this happened.
‘Is it just a coincidence? Or…’
Elena’s eyes narrowed for a moment.
“All right.”
Elena nodded.
“I can’t make that decision on my own, but I’ll do what I can to get you in.”
“Thank you.”
As Leo thanked her, Elena tilted her head.
‘Leo Plov. What is he really?’
—
The next morning.
Having been discharged from the infirmary, Leo headed for his class.
He still wasn’t fully recovered.
The wounds from Erebos’s flames weren’t healing easily.
Feeling pain throughout his body, Leo let out a deep sigh.
It was already almost class time, so the classroom hallway was nearly empty.
Creak—
As Leo opened the door to Class 5, his classmates’ eyes all shot toward him.
“Huh? It’s the class rep!”
“It’s Leo!”
“Hey! Leo! They say you conquered the Founder of the Nebula’s world!”
Thud-thud-thud—!
His classmates crowded around.
Their eyes were full of curiosity.
For first-years, experiencing a great hero’s world was a dream come true.
Having experienced it himself, Leo drew their admiring gazes.
“Did you meet Lady Luna?”
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Come on, tell us something!”
Looking at the classmates blocking his way, Leo said,
“Can I sit down first?”
“Hey! The class rep is back!”
“Where? Where?”
“Hey! Leo Plov! Tell us everything!”
Soon students from Classes 4 and 6 crowded the hallway too.
People had been eager to hear the story since the first rumors, but Leo’s extended hospital stay had only increased their curiosity.
The Lumene administration had restricted related information.
And no one dared to go ask Elena, the other conqueror.
So everyone was waiting for Leo’s return.
The whole first-year wing was in chaos.
Leo sighed at the commotion.
“Hmph! Wasn’t it mostly Elena who did the conquering?”
“He just happened to be there and now everyone’s treating him like some big deal.”
“If I were with Elena, I could’ve done it too.”
While some from other classes sneered, the Class 5 students shot them fierce looks.
“That’s nonsense.”
A cold voice cut through the noise.
Everyone turned to look.
It was Duran from Class 1, pushing through the crowd.
Duran glared at the sneering students.
“You talk big for the ones who tucked tail during the Gigantes incident.”
“What did you say?”
“Wanna say that again?”
At Duran’s words, the students who had been mocking Leo got angry.
Duran grinned at them menacingly.
“Want to try me?”
Crackle—
A fierce spark shot from Duran’s body.
Those who’d been about to snap at him shrank back and retreated to their own classes.
Duran was infamous for his bad temper.
If something set him off, he wouldn’t hesitate to use force in the hallway.
Wearing a look of disdain, Duran pushed through the crowd to stand before Leo.
He narrowed his eyes.
“Leo Plov. I heard you conquered the Founder of the Nebula’s world.”
“Just kind of happened.”
Leo shrugged.
The students around them looked nervous.
Duran was well-known for being fiercely competitive with Leo.
His overwhelming skills gave him a strong sense of pride.
He could never accept being outdone by Leo.
“I bet Duran is going to challenge Leo to a duel to prove himself.”
“Yeah, that sounds like him.”
“He’s usually so cool, but when it comes to the class rep, you never know what he’ll do.”
“…Eliana, is that your type?”
“…! No way!”
Class 5 students whispered among themselves.
As everyone grew tense, Duran spoke.
“So. What was the Founder of the Nebula like?”
“Huh?”
“I asked what she was like.”
Despite his intimidating expression and voice, Duran just wanted to hear about Luna from Leo.
The students from Class 1, who’d followed just in case there was a fight, looked let down.
“Come to think of it, on the field trip, Duran bought every elf item related to the Founder of the Nebula.”
“I think he personally admires her.”
“He’s a prince, so I guess he has to get whatever he wants.”
When the Class 1 students whispered, Duran shot them a chilling glare.
They all clammed up.
The whole classroom wing was still in chaos when—
“What are you all doing in the hallway?”
A cold voice echoed.
Everyone froze.
“I’ll give you ten seconds. If you’re not back in your classrooms, today is going to be a very interesting day.”
“Eek!”
“Move! Move!”
“Duran! Don’t leave us behind!”
With Professor Harrid’s appearance, all the first-years panicked.
The terrifying symbol of Lumene, the Wailing Wall.
Though no first-year had been expelled by him yet, his fearsome reputation remained.
Anyone who’d ever run afoul of the rules and suffered for it would never dare cross Professor Harrid.
Even the students from Class 5 scrambled to their seats.
But the ones who’d spilled out in front of Class 5 were stuck in a bottleneck, unable to return.
Meanwhile, Duran dashed along the wall and slipped into Class 1 like lightning.
After ten seconds, Professor Harrid waved his hand.
Name tags were ripped from students’ uniforms and flew into his hand.
“Nooo!”
“Please, just this once, Professor Harrid!”
The students’ cries filled the hallway, but Professor Harrid didn’t even blink as he entered Class 5 and shut the door coldly.
Bang—!
Step—step—step—
With the students sitting tensely, Professor Harrid placed the attendance book on the teacher’s desk.
He glanced briefly at Leo, then addressed the class.
“There’s an announcement.”
Everyone looked puzzled.
“There’s going to be a joint class with students from other schools.”
The whole class gasped at Professor Harrid’s words.
“With students from other Hero Academies?”
Tide asked, and Professor Harrid shook his head.
“No. Not with other Hero Academies.”
“Then who?”
Professor Harrid picked up a piece of chalk.
Tap-tap—
He wrote on the board, set the chalk down, and spoke.
“It’s a joint class with the Three Great Class Academies.”
The class erupted with chatter.
The Three Great Class Academies.
The Knight Academy, Ecorte.
The Magic Academy, Emeral.
The Summoning Academy, Scaun.
They’re the pinnacle of each class.
However—
“They were all your second-choice schools.”
Professor Harrid spoke coldly.
“And… if you’re expelled, you might end up at one of them.”