Chapter 198
The Lumeiren, the school competition between Lumene and Seiren, was a matter of honor and pride.
Not only did it represent each school’s pride, but it was also a showdown between the representatives of their respective races, which made the Lumeiren a highly anticipated event each year.
Even Azonia and Damienne, the other hero academies, watched the Lumeiren closely.
While their rivalry wasn’t as fierce as that between Lumene and Seiren, as institutions that trained hero candidates, they couldn’t help but feel competitive.
Given its global attention, the event was massive in scale.
Many guests from outside were invited to the Lumeiren, regardless of whether it was held at Lumene or Seiren.
Not only world powers, but even famous heroes would attend.
One by one, invited dignitaries began to arrive in Seiren.
Besides them, huge crowds gathered from all over the world to watch the Lumeiren.
It was, in every sense, a grand festival.
In the very heart of the elves’ territory, Seiren, famed for its extreme cold, played host to countless races from across the globe.
On the opening day of the Lumeiren, the first-years from Lumene had to face the crowd filling the stands.
“I-I’m nervous.”
“Wow… I’d heard stories, but this is no joke.”
The first-years looked visibly tense at the thought of tens of thousands of spectators focusing on them.
At that moment—
[Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Seiren! My name is Eden Clayfo! I’m a student from Seiren and the MC for this year’s Lumeiren!]
Eden, who had hosted the welcome party two days before, shouted into a magically amplified microphone.
[And we have Miss Cheira Sikun from Lumene as our co-host!]
[Hello, everyone!]
Cheira and Eden, seated at the announcer’s table, introduced themselves.
[Today’s first event is none other than the first-year obstacle race! As expected of the first-years, it’s going to be a cute and lively match, isn’t it?]
Cheira beamed as she spoke.
Laughter broke out all over the crowd.
Although they were praised as the world’s finest talents and called hero candidates, the students of the hero academies looked like nothing more than boys and girls in their mid-teens.
They didn’t yet possess the gravitas or dignity of the upperclassmen, so Cheira’s words about it being a cute and lively match somehow rang true.
And the fact that it was an obstacle race brought a certain amusement.
Obstacle races weren’t exclusive to such prestigious institutions—they were a staple of any ordinary school sports festival.
[Of course, this isn’t your average obstacle race! Each school has three ‘runners’ for the obstacle race! Only when these runners cross the finish line are points awarded! The other students focus on either attacking the opposing runners to eliminate them, or protecting their own runners! But that’s not all. The students who aren’t runners can eliminate each other for extra points! If they make it to the finish line after earning points, that also counts towards the score!]
Eden explained the obstacle race.
In other words, the team with more runners crossing the finish line would win.
On the other hand, if a team’s runners were eliminated early, they could try to eliminate the opposing runners quickly—or turn the tables by taking out non-runners for extra points.
“Ooh. This is going to be interesting.”
“So they want to spark a fight? I knew it wouldn’t be a normal obstacle race.”
Excited murmurs arose in the stands.
Meanwhile, Lumene’s business club students were selling food in the stands.
The Lumene business club was famous for never missing a money-making opportunity.
Of course, the club wasn’t exactly viewed fondly in Seiren.
The president of the club, June Naia, ran a betting ring as usual and casually asked an elf spectator, “Sir Elf, aren’t you going to place a bet?”
“You think we’d do something so crude?”
When a Lumene student approached to ask about the betting, the elf frowned at June.
His companions snorted as if agreeing.
June smiled at them. “So, you’re not confident Seiren will win? Got it.”
“Wait. How does not participating in some crude game mean we’re not confident Seiren will win?”
As the elf asked sharply, June shrugged, about to leave.
“You only bet when you’re sure you’ll win. All the humans are betting on Lumene. That’s how confident they are in Lumene’s victory.”
“Ugh!”
Provoked by June’s calm words, the elf stiffened and took out his money pouch.
“I’ll bet on Seiren to win.”
“You really don’t have to.”
“It’s fine! Seiren always wins the Lumeiren! Of course we’ll win this bet!”
The elf and his companions staked all their money on Seiren’s victory.
As they left, one of the club members asked, “President, aren’t there also plenty of humans who are betting on Seiren to win?”
It was true that this year, with Lumene’s exceptional first-years, most humans bet on Lumene.
But there were always gamblers with a taste for risk who went for the underdog odds.
“Yeah. But if we didn’t say that, they wouldn’t bet.”
June replied matter-of-factly, grinning.
“Haha. I love the Lumeiren! Perfect for making a quick fortune!”
“But last year, didn’t Tet get caught by Professor Harrid for running this scheme?”
“……”
At the mention, June’s face stiffened.
But then she spoke in a solemn voice, “It’s fine. We didn’t get caught two years ago. High risk, high return! A beast’s heart is the merchant’s virtue!”
‘If you treat that as a virtue, you’re not a merchant with a beast’s heart—you’re just a beast,’ her junior sighed inwardly.
Meanwhile, family and friends of the students who had come to watch the matches were speaking words of encouragement.
“I’m so proud of you.”
“To be participating in the Lumeiren… it’s an honor for our family!”
Voices filled with emotion could be heard everywhere.
At that moment, someone appeared who drew everyone’s attention.
He stood nearly 180 cm tall, with broad shoulders and a powerful upper body.
His air was so sharp, he could easily be mistaken for a veteran warrior.
But with pale blue hair and eyes, he wore the robes of a magician rather than a knight.
Several attendants followed in his wake.
Everyone held their breath at the sight.
It was only natural.
He was the head of the Lewellin family, one of the twin pillars of the Lordren Empire, which ruled the western continent.
Chade Lewellin.
At the appearance of a great mage whose name was inscribed in the [Hero Record], tension ran high.
“Abad, Chelsea.”
“Father?”
“Dad! You said you couldn’t come!”
The Lewellin siblings looked surprised.
Celia and Chloe, who had been talking with them, were also shocked.
‘So that’s Chade Lewellin. One of the two heroes who support Lordren?’
Leo’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Chade Lewellin.
‘He’s strong.’
He was among the top three mages Leo had ever seen in his life.
‘A battle mage?’
Sensing the sharpness of Chade’s presence, Leo thought to himself.
Chelsea’s desire to become a battle mage was probably influenced by her father.
Chade, laughing with his son and daughter, turned to the three who had stepped back.
“Celia. I’ve heard a lot about your achievements lately. Seld is proud of how you’ve been following in Rhys’s footsteps and showing such excellence. Impressive.”
“Thank you for the praise,” Celia bowed politely.
Chade smiled and patted her shoulder, then turned to Chloe.
“You must be Chloe Mueller.”
“Greetings to the Master of the Western Wind.”
Chloe greeted him respectfully.
Master of the Western Wind.
It was a title given to Chade for his mastery over the winds of the continent’s west.
Chade was truly a great mage whose power and skill could shake the heavens and the earth.
“There’s no need to be so formal. I’ve heard plenty about you.”
He smiled warmly at Chloe.
“I hope you’ll visit the Lewellin household sometime. It would be a great honor for our family to have talented mages from the Tower and our family interact.”
“It would be an honor! I’ll be happy to visit!”
Chade nodded at Chloe’s bright smile and then looked at Leo.
“You must be Leo Plov.”
“Hello.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you from Chelsea. It seems my daughter’s always indebted to you.”
“I’ve been able to enjoy school life thanks to Chelsea,” Leo replied, and Chelsea grinned.
“How’s your mother?”
“Too healthy, if anything.”
“Ha, I see her personality hasn’t changed.”
Apparently familiar with Reina, Chade chuckled and shook his head.
“I hope you’ll visit Lewellin sometime, too.”
He patted Chelsea’s head as he spoke.
“My daughter seems to want you to visit as well.”
“Yeah, Leo! Come over to our house during the break.”
“Kh—”
For a moment, Chade’s eyes widened.
It was the first time he’d seen his daughter act so warmly toward a boy her age.
Even a hero whose name was written in the [Hero Record] could lose his composure for a moment.
“Haha… Yes, I hope you do. I’m curious to see what kind of mage you are.”
Chade forced a smile as he tried to regain his composure.
“I’ll visit during winter break,” Leo replied with a nod.
“Maybe I’ll visit then, too?”
“That’d be nice.”
Seeing Leo and Chloe chatting so comfortably, Chade managed to regain a bit of his calm.
“I’m looking forward to seeing your performance in the Lumeiren.”
As Chade left with a smile, Chelsea’s face lit up with excitement.
“My dad’s here to watch! I need to do my best! Let’s go for it!”
Abad smiled and nodded at her bright energy.
Leo watched and let out a small laugh.
“I’m counting on you.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let the Seiren kids lay a finger on you,” Celia replied with a grin.
Leo was one of the runners for this obstacle race.
—
[Alright! We’re about to begin! First-year students, please take your places at the starting line!]
Cheira called out cheerfully as the students lined up at the starting line.
Lumene’s three runners were the three fastest in their year.
Duran, who handled [Aura of Lightning] and was considered the fastest in the grade.
Eliza, who commanded swift flying [Summoned Beasts] and was almost equal to Duran in speed.
And Leo, who was slightly slower than those two, but certainly the third fastest among the first-years.
It was a perfect lineup.
The three wore headbands identifying them as runners, and the eyes of the Seiren first-years were fixed on them.
“Strange, only one of Seiren’s class representatives is running.”
Celia narrowed her eyes.
Seiren’s class representatives were ranked first, second, and third.
Only the second-ranked, Eiran, was a runner.
The other two weren’t.
“The first and third probably aren’t suited for a speed race.”
Abad replied calmly.
“Still, Eiran isn’t exactly a speed specialist either, is she?”
Chelsea tilted her head.
“There must be a reason,” Abad replied with a grin.
[Looks like everyone’s ready! Now, get set!]
Cheira, the commentator, raised the starting pistol at the line.
The first-years lowered themselves in preparation.
[Start!]
Bang—!
As the pistol fired—
Fwoooosh—!
“Leo! You pissed me off! You’re dead meat!”
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom—!
With a shout of rage, a massive explosion erupted.
“Eek?”
“What the—?! Isn’t she attacking both friend and foe?!”
The sudden attack left the Lumene students in shock.
Whoosh—!
But bursting through the flames, Leo calmly landed at the front and started running.
“Stop right there!”
With eyes blazing red, Lunia fired her next spell at Leo’s back.
In that moment—
Whoosh! Boom—!
A burst of fire from the side blocked Lunia’s flames.
Lunia faltered.
“Trying to take out a runner by surprise? Not a chance.”
Celia, wreathed in [Aura of Flame], smiled brightly as she blocked Lunia’s path.
“I’ve been wanting to face you, Lunia El Lunda.”
“Celia Zerdinger?”
“As a fellow [Phoenix Flame] user, let’s see—”
“Hey! Leo! Don’t run away! Sorry! I really want to fight you too, but I have to take him down first… I’ll fight you later!”
Lunia apologized as she ran past Celia, her eyes locked fiercely on Leo’s back.
Whoooo—!
Left alone, Celia wore a dazed expression.
A breeze tousled her black hair.
“Celia?”
Chloe called out awkwardly.
“It’s Celia Zerdinger and Chloe Mueller!”
“They’re not runners, but we have to keep an eye on them!”
“Everyone, form up!”
The Seiren first-years surrounded Celia.
Even if they weren’t runners, it was necessary to eliminate dangerous individuals quickly.
“Hehehe.”
Celia lowered her head, laughing ominously.
Flash—!
Celia’s red eyes glinted.
“Eek?”
For a moment, the Seiren students looked scared.
They recognized those eyes.
They were very familiar.
After all, they looked just like Lunia’s—the source of their torment.
“Scatter!”
“Run!”
Sensing the danger instinctively, the Seiren students scattered in all directions.
Boom-boom-boom-boom—!
Celia’s [Aura of Flame] scorched the area.
With veins bulging on her forehead, Celia glared at the distant Lunia with a savage grin.
She swept her hair back and took a deep breath.
‘Calm down. As a daughter of the Zerdinger family, I can’t make a scene in front of everyone…’
Taking down that one comes first. Taking down that one comes first. Taking down that one comes first.
Celia’s eyes trembled.
Lunia’s words kept ringing in her head.
‘Calm down, Celia Zerdinger. Don’t get worked up. Calm down… calm…’
“…Like that’s possible! Are you ignoring me? Lunia El Lunda! I’m going to crush you!”
Unable to hold back, Celia furiously chased after Lunia.
Chloe let out a small sigh as she watched.
“So much for strategy.”