Chapter 230
“This is troublesome.”
As usual, Chloe, with a magic tome tucked under her arm, scratched her cheek.
“We’ve suddenly been given such a big task.”
“Yeah.”
In the empty dormitory lounge, Leo clicked his tongue.
He and Chloe had arrived early at the dorm they would be staying in.
The dorm building contained only basic furniture—nothing else.
‘Are they telling us to furnish it ourselves?’
“Chloe, what kind of students do you want to bring in?”
The dorm heads had full authority over dorm recruitment.
They would be living with these members for a year.
On top of that, dorms would be competing with each other.
No matter how you looked at it, it would certainly affect [grades].
“Well…”
Tilting her head slightly and glancing around, Chloe answered.
“To be honest, I’d prefer to build a dorm mainly composed of students from the Magic Department.”
Chloe was one of the top students in the Magic Department.
She excelled at magical theory and was one of the fastest to adopt new magic technologies and ideas.
While Leo, Abad, and Chelsea were practical-type mages, Chloe was academic.
She was the very model of a traditional mage.
‘Luna would’ve liked her.’
“What about you, Leo?”
“I get why you’d want to bring in Magic Department students.”
It wasn’t just because she was a mage.
Chloe was well-liked within her department.
She always helped classmates with anything they didn’t understand.
So naturally, many students followed her lead.
Since she got along well with others, she also had a clear grasp of most students’ personalities.
As dorm head, she had to keep the peace—meaning they needed to avoid bringing in any potential troublemakers.
“And you, Leo?”
“I don’t care which department they’re from.”
“Well, you are an All-Class student.”
Leo was taking every department’s courses.
“But it’s hard to decide anything right now. Chen Xia’s still not here.”
“Oh yeah, where is Xia?”
“Probably family matters. In any case, we should aim for a balanced mix across departments.”
At Leo’s words, Chloe nodded.
If the goal had been a department-centric dorm, the school would’ve just grouped the dorm heads by department.
While there were exceptions, most dorm heads were considered the top performers and unofficial leaders of their respective departments.
Instead, the school mixed the top students across dorms.
‘We don’t have a Summoner in our dorm… but Leo’s a Phoenix Contractor.’
That made him the de facto representative of the Summoning Department.
It was a clear signal:
Departments needed to work together if they wanted success.
Ultimately, the foundation of Lumene’s curriculum was student competition.
Those who couldn’t keep up were expelled.
“We’ve only got a week. Let’s shortlist candidates. We can’t hear Xia’s opinion, but it can’t be helped.”
“Right.”
Chloe nodded at Leo’s suggestion.
She summoned paper and pen from subspace and began organizing—but then paused.
‘Come to think of it… it’s just the two of us right now.’
In the large dorm, only she and Leo were present.
The other students were still waiting in the old dormitory building.
Feeling her heart race, Chloe cleared her throat.
“Well, it’s a good thing. Leo, you’re familiar with the personalities of the Knight Department students, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Still, I’d prefer to start with students from the Magic Department.”
“That makes sense. Who do you think would be good?”
“Hmm… First of all, I’d say Carr.”
“Carr? I was thinking he’d be good too, but I didn’t expect you to suggest him first.”
Carr was among the lowest-ranked students in terms of both grades and combat ability.
Yet Chloe picked him first.
“We’ll really need his intel during the school year.”
Carr was the fastest when it came to finding out test details or internal school happenings.
He had good relationships with all staff and was close with upperclassmen, regardless of department.
“True. That’s a real strength.”
Though Leo was student council president, he left most operations to the upperclassmen.
Even the student council had trouble digging into departmental schedules.
Carr’s information network would definitely be vital.
“Besides, his alchemy is top-tier.”
Because Lumene emphasized combat-heavy subjects, this fact often got buried.
But Carr’s alchemy was indeed among the best.
“He wants to be a support specialist, so he pairs well with anyone. I think he’s essential for team-building.”
‘She’s grown.’
Leo smiled faintly.
Back in first year, Chloe had been a little rigid.
But over the past year, her thinking had become much more flexible.
Leo and Chloe continued talking about dorm candidates well past midnight.
“Stretch—!”
Chloe let out a yawn and stretched.
“So, is this our general dorm composition?”
Together, they had built a list that offered the best synergy.
“Did I push my preferences too much?”
Leo chuckled.
“I think your choices were great.”
“…You’re not just trying to shove all the dorm leader duties onto me, are you?”
“That too.”
Chloe whipped a sofa cushion at him.
Leo took it in the face, stood up, and said,
“It’s late. Let’s head out.”
They left the dorm to return to the temporary second-year dorms.
Since the dorms were gender-separated, they went different ways.
[You’re trying to pawn off dorm duty like you do student council work, aren’t you]
[Totally! It’s obvious!]
[Peep!]
Led by Elci, Kirran and Fiora materialized.
[Master is a Great Hero! He has more important things than schoolwork!]
Appearing in the form of a small girl, Ahti flopped down in front of Leo.
“…Why are you blocking my path?”
[Please trample me on your way through!]
“You’re getting bolder with your demands.”
With a cold remark, Leo walked past her, and Ahti clutched her chest on the ground.
[Haaah! That gaze! That cold, unhesitating dismissal! So dreamy…!]
[Are you really a pegasus?]
[Of course I am.]
Springing to her feet with a sunny smile, Ahti followed Leo.
After the Lumeiren incident, Leo’s summoned beasts had learned that he was the Great Hero Kyle.
‘I’m a little worried Fiora or Kirran might spill the secret, but… for now, Ahti’s keeping them in check.’
Despite her perverted antics, Ahti was a seasoned Summoned Beast and managed the younger Fiora and Kirran well.
Late at night, as Leo returned to the dorm, the boys on the first floor greeted him.
“Last one in.”
“Well, your dorm probably gets along the best.”
Jureden, ranked third in the Summoning Department, gave a wry smile as Leo asked,
“What about the others?”
“Walden came back 30 minutes after going to his dorm meeting. Then Duran showed up. After that, Abad. Sounds like none of them had a smooth time.”
Jureden shrugged.
In his temporary room, Leo lay on his bed, deep in thought.
‘Being back at school really throws you into chaos.’
Staring at the ceiling, he recalled—
‘That during the entrance exam… that really was Erebos.’
The final exam.
He remembered the eyes of Erebos from the Hero’s World.
‘But it wasn’t a fragment sealed in the Hero Record.’
Leo’s eyes narrowed.
‘It must’ve been lingering will left behind.’
The entrance exam site happened to be where Kyle and Erebos had their final battle.
It wouldn’t be strange for a powerful remnant to linger there.
It was Erebos’s influence that had turned the area into a monster zone.
‘If I get the chance, I should go back. And…’
Leo looked at his right wrist.
There rested the symbolic staff of Luna—Polium.
Now, it was just a shell.
‘I’ve already used up all the divine power Fibua gave me.’
The gods had created the Hero Record.
With divine power, he might be able to recreate a miracle like the one in Luceiren.
‘It’s similar to what happened with Zerdiach crossing over.’
Zerdiach was brought into the present by Erebos.
But now, the gods had vanished from the surface.
‘Leveling up by conquering past heroes’ worlds is still an option…’
To target god-related worlds, the only choice was those of the Great Heroes.
‘Besides, Luna’s world where I met Fibua is already in ruins.’
Even if the world manifested again, there was no guarantee he could meet Fibua again.
‘I’ll have to visit Seiren again to confirm.’
Thinking about his upcoming plans, Leo looked out the window.
‘For now, picking dorm members is top priority.’
Tartarus was quiet—for now.
‘Time to sleep.’
Closing his eyes, Leo drifted into a deep sleep.
—
The next morning.
Leo and Chloe headed to the cafeteria together.
From early morning, second-year students crowded around them.
“Leo, Chloe! Pick me!”
“Forget them! Choose me!”
“No, pick me!”
Startled, Chloe tried to calm the crowd.
“E-Everyone, calm down. We’ve already finalized the rough member list. Yelling won’t change anything.”
“I’m on the list, right?”
“Then just announce it now!”
The chaos only grew louder, and Chloe sighed softly.
Then she spoke.
“Everyone, be quiet.”
Shhh—
Her icy voice froze the room.
“We’ll talk about dorms after breakfast.”
“Y-Yes!”
“Got it.”
As the students dispersed, Chloe exhaled and glanced at Leo.
“W-What’s with that look?”
“Just thinking. They don’t call you the Ice Princess for nothing.”
“Don’t make fun of me with that nickname!”
“As you wish, Princess of Ice.”
“You brat!”
Chloe swung her magic tome at him.
“Good morning! Great to see you both so lively this early! Heard you came back late last night? Heh~ Must’ve been a nice little moment together—”
Carr greeted them with a smirk.
Chloe immediately turned her tome and smacked him in the temple.
As Chloe’s shoulders shook with embarrassment and Carr writhed on the ground, Leo shook his head.
“Carr. Have you decided which dorm you’re joining?”
“Hmph. I don’t care where I go—!”
He struck a dramatic pose—
“You’re bleeding from your forehead.”
“Gah?!”
Carr panicked, pulled out a potion, and applied it.
After barely stopping the bleeding, he spoke again.
“Honestly, I don’t care where I end up, but if I have a choice, I’d prefer to be in your dorm, Leo.”
He pointed.
There, Celia and Chelsea were snarling at each other, while Walden ate indifferently.
“That one’s too intense.”
Then he pointed to the other side.
Duran and Eliza sat across from each other, locked in an icy stare.
“And that one’s too cold.”
Watching Carr express the same thoughts as most students, Chloe smiled.
“Then great. Join our dorm.”
“Oh! For real?”
Just then—
“Sorry.”
A gentle voice interrupted.
Abad placed a hand on Carr’s shoulder with a soft smile.
“Carr, you’re in our dorm.”
“Huh?”
Carr blinked in confusion.
Chloe frowned.
“I went to Professor Sedgen last night and registered you for our dorm.”
“Without asking me?”
Carr looked flustered. Abad nodded.
“Professor Sedgen said that once someone’s picked, they can’t refuse.”
Chloe’s eyes widened. Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘So the dorm heads are already fighting over picks.’
Still, they couldn’t just force people in recklessly.
It could hurt dorm cohesion.
They’d be living together for a year, after all.
Even if the authority existed, using it carelessly wasn’t smart.
But Carr was different.
He was flexible and got along with everyone, so he could fit anywhere.
That’s why Abad hadn’t hesitated to claim him.
‘We were a step too late.’
As Leo clicked his tongue inwardly—
“Hold on! I appreciate the flattery, but can you not just shove me into a warzone?! I don’t want to get on those two’s bad sides!”
Carr screamed.
He knew better than anyone that Duran and Eliza, known for their elitism, wouldn’t like someone with the lowest grades.
Abad reassured him with a smile.
“No need to worry. They agreed to it too.”
“What?”
“Even if we dorm heads don’t get along, our goal is the same.”
“What’s the goal?”
Abad smiled at Leo.
“To defeat Leo Plov.”