Chapter 264
“I heard there was an incident with the Azonia students.”
That evening, before heading to Damienne, Ain called in Celia, Chen Xia, and Duran for a talk.
“Of course, Azonia did take Chloe Mueller first. But the three of you could have handled it more wisely, couldn’t you?”
Celia spoke up.
“If we had informed the professors, I think it could have ended without major conflict.”
“And yet, knowing that, you still fought Azonia? Don’t you think that was a rash decision? They gave us the excuse, sure, but handled poorly, it could have escalated into a school-wide conflict.”
All four hero academies had the same beginning.
The founding heroes of the Era of Genesis had created them to raise the next generation of heroes.
The founders’ personalities, abilities, and races shaped each academy’s direction, but ultimately, the goal was the same—
The complete eradication of Tartarus.
That’s why all hero academies were in a cooperative relationship.
But with so many years gone by, friction between them was inevitable.
Even with the same goal, their paths diverged.
In fact, this difference in direction had led not just to clashes between academies, but to large-scale wars between races.
The most recent example was the war between humans and elves.
Even the Lumeiren event between Lumene and Seiren, now a prestigious tradition, had begun as a friendly match meant to “promote harmony between races.”
As a result of that war, even today it was difficult for humans or other races to freely enter elven territory.
And that war between humans and elves?
It had started as a student conflict between Lumene and Seiren.
Duran replied to Ain’s words.
“We didn’t go to the professors because we believed student matters should be resolved by the students.”
“And the Azonia students were targeting Young Master Leo. The methods they used were extreme enough that they needed to be warned—so they’d know we wouldn’t just stand by if they touched our students.”
“If we’d gone through the professors, I think they would have looked down on us. They might have done something even more extreme.”
Ain’s cold demeanor softened into a satisfied smile.
Despite his questioning, their confident attitude pleased him.
Clap clap clap—!
“Elegant! Truly elegant!”
Professor Sedgen burst in with an emotional expression, applauding.
“For your comrades! For your friends! Never enduring injustice! This is the chivalry of Lumene! Splendid! Celia! Chen Xia! Duran!”
“Ain, I believe they should be rewarded, not punished! Fifty attitude points each—!”
“Professor Sedgen, we can’t just hand out points because they were your students in their first year.”
“Ain! Do I seem so petty that I’d give points just for that?”
Though Sedgen was offended, it was already well-known that he cared deeply for students he had once taught.
“While fifty points is excessive, your actions do deserve recognition. I’ll grant you ten points each.”
“Ain, lately you’ve been playing Harrid’s lapdog, and you’re starting to become just as stingy.”
Ain sighed quietly at Sedgen’s words.
“Go and prepare to leave for Damienne.”
“Yes.”
The three answered in unison and left.
After they were gone, Ain asked:
“How did Azonia respond?”
“They issued an official apology. We’ve also received assurances it won’t happen again.”
“Quite the noisy start.”
“It’s to be expected. This isn’t like the Lumeiren event.”
The Lumeiren event was an annual exchange between Lumene and Seiren.
Because it happened every year, preparations were routine, and students from both sides were familiar with one another.
But this time was different.
Damienne had brought all four hero academies together in one place.
Different races meant different values.
And as representatives of their races, the hero candidates had strong pride.
Now, suddenly, they were all in one place.
Although the four academies cooperated, their schedules rarely overlapped.
And it was almost unheard of for an entire year group to live together in one place for two weeks.
Especially when this year’s second-years, regardless of school, were extraordinary.
“We might be about to witness the future leaders of the world gathered in one place,” Sedgen said.
“If that’s true, then as a professor of Lumene, I couldn’t be more honored,” Ain replied with a laugh.
—
As the sun set, Lumene’s second-years set out for Damienne.
The massive mine attached to Dwernonia was the entrance to Damienne.
As the enormous tunnel stretched on, grumbling spread among the girls.
“Ugh! I wore my best uniform for going out, and it’s getting ruined~”
“Why is the entrance to Damienne like this?!”
Hearing the complaints, Carr, hands clasped behind his head, muttered.
“They’re already starting. And I’m worried, really worried.”
“About what?”
Chelsea tilted her head at his words.
“Barely an hour after we arrived in Dwernonia, we already had an incident with Azonia.”
Carr clicked his tongue.
“And now all four hero academies are in one place. Imagine how often things will happen.”
“You think so?”
Seeing her indifferent reaction, Carr shrugged.
“Exactly. And this time, even if they call it an invitation, Damienne’s basically bringing us here to judge the other schools.”
“That’s a little insulting.”
“For us or Azonia, maybe it’s just mildly insulting.”
Carr shook his head.
“But Seiren? They might kick up a real fuss. Those Seiren kids are united in thinking they’re the best of the four academies.”
Chelsea thought back to the Seiren students.
“That’s true.”
On the first-year trip, Seiren students had looked down on Lumene students.
By the end, many still hadn’t changed that attitude.
Even during the Lumeiren event, most of them had looked at Lumene as though they were unquestionably superior.
“The moment they heard Damienne would evaluate Lumene, Azonia, and Seiren on the same level, their precious pride took a huge hit.”
Chelsea had been recognized by Seiren’s students because she ranked among the top three in Lumene’s Magic Department.
But Carr hadn’t been so lucky.
The moment they heard his grades, they’d openly looked down on him.
‘Even our own school’s aristocrats look cute in comparison.’
“Don’t worry too much. No matter how arrogant, they were invited—they won’t openly act rude.”
Leo’s words made Carr sigh.
“Maybe, but… I heard Seiren’s acting principal right now is something else.”
“I’d heard they were changing principals, but they’ve already chosen a temporary one?”
“Yeah. Just recently. Hardly anyone in Lumene knows yet. And the problem’s who it is.”
Carr’s face turned serious.
“Luhagen Le Creo.”
“Ew.”
Chelsea’s expression twisted.
“Who’s that?”
“Leo, you don’t know Luhagen? He’s a famous elven hero.”
“I’m not really up to date on modern heroes.”
“Oh, right. You never really cared about that, did you?”
Chelsea nodded.
Most hero candidates had at least one or two active heroes they admired.
But Leo only knew of old heroes from his Heroics classes.
In his eyes, both past and present heroes were nothing more than distant juniors.
“He calls himself the ‘Knight of the Founder.’ He’s a fanatic.”
Carr clicked his tongue.
“He’s notorious for extreme racial chauvinism. He openly belittles heroes of other races.”
Leo frowned.
“That’s a total crank.”
“Exactly.”
“It’s strange Seiren would put someone like that in charge.”
The elves’ racial pride was well known even before the Era of Calamity.
But not all elves were like that.
Luna, for example, had been far from an elitist.
‘If anything, her problem was not caring enough about that kind of thing.’
Excessive elitism rotted a race from within.
The elves surely knew that.
So Seiren’s principal should have been someone wise, with a broad perspective.
‘The high elves must know that too.’
Yet now a man known for his extreme racial views was their principal.
Leo couldn’t understand it.
“The Monster Queen’s invasion of Seiren was the problem.”
“That was the problem?”
“Yeah. And then the Founder descended.”
For unknown reasons, the descent of the Founder of the Nebula and the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, had become a miracle spoken of by many.
The ultimate form of Star Magic—
The image of her defeating the Monster Queen with *The End* had been witnessed by everyone in Lumene and Seiren.
“The elves declared that day the Day of Miracles. And now there’s even talk of moving Seiren entirely, turning it into a holy site for preservation.”
“That’s extreme.”
“Yeah, but that’s not the real issue.”
Carr sighed.
“Because of the miracle of the Founder appearing in the present day, the racial chauvinists in elven society gained more influence.”
Leo’s brow furrowed.
‘Didn’t they say most of today’s elven chauvinists are Luna fanatics?’
Those who hailed the Founder of the Nebula Luna as the greatest of the great heroes.
The most extreme among them even claimed Luna was the only true great hero.
Luna’s face flashed in Leo’s mind.
‘That overconfident fool.’
She’d been an elf who was quick to boast and just as quick to be dejected.
She used to brag that she’d be praised as a great figure among elves one day.
‘But she wouldn’t have wanted to be worshipped like this.’
He smiled bitterly at the thought of his friend.
By then, they’d exited the tunnel.
Before them stood a massive castle, drawing gasps from the Lumene students.
The wide-open gates.
And in front of them, four colossal statues.
Carved so lifelike, they seemed ready to move.
“So these are Damienne’s famed statues of the great heroes.”
Someone murmured in awe.
Beside them, a new statue was in progress.
The face wasn’t yet complete, but its shape was becoming clear.
The Lumene students already knew who it was.
A hero who could stand beside the four greats—there was only one.
“It’s the statue of the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle.”
“Wow! I’ve never seen what Kyle looked like!”
“I can’t wait to see it finished!”
While the others admired the statues, Leo’s gaze was fixed higher—on the lofty heights of Damienne’s grounds.
At the highest point—
Thump.
He felt his heart beat faster and looked down at his hand.
‘This feeling… is it calling to me?’
Mana stirred.
But it wasn’t his own mana.
It was Dweno’s mana, flowing within him.
The flame of Dweno, awakened before by Pibua’s divine power, was responding.
‘To its creator?’