Chapter 271
The representative of Seiren’s year.
The rumor that Lunia El Lunda had assaulted a fellow student spread like wildfire among all the academies’ students.
“How strange. She should be the very definition of a model Seiren honors student.”
Ruewen, ranked 3rd among Azonia’s second-years and a fox beastkin, tilted her head as she groomed her soft, bushy tail.
A model Seiren honors student.
Among students of the other Hero Academies, it wasn’t exactly a compliment.
Elves were by nature a race of immense pride in their own kind.
And Seiren students often took that pride to excessive extremes.
So the phrase “model Seiren honors student” was reserved for those top-tier students who embodied that very arrogance.
At Ruewen’s remark, Borman cocked his head.
“What does ‘model Seiren honors student’ mean? That they’re fun to fight with?”
Ruewen sighed deeply.
“My mistake for asking an idiot who only thinks about fighting.”
“What was that, you scheming woman?!”
Borman snarled and looked ready to lunge at her.
“Calm down, Borman. Ruewen’s rank is higher than both yours and mine.”
Tavon, ranked 4th among the second-years, spoke, but Borman only snorted.
“Bah! She only wins by fiddling around with cheap tricks and magic! I’ll never acknowledge her!”
“Oh my, and who was the fool that’s never beaten this ‘cheap trickster’ even once?”
“You—! Fight me! Today’s the day I’ll put you down!”
Borman swung his fists wildly in anger.
“Quiet.”
At Dion’s single word, Borman folded his arms and plopped down onto the grass.
The Azonia students were gathered behind the auditorium.
“Ruewen. You didn’t call us here just because of Lunia El Lunda, did you? Why bring her up?”
Ranked 2nd, Dion eyed her carefully. Ruewen smiled thinly.
“That’s right. I only mentioned her because…”
She flicked her fox tail with a sly grin.
“…her behavior was far from the information we had. She’s one of our biggest rivals, so I thought it wise to keep track of her.”
At her words, Dion glanced behind him.
“Ar. Didn’t you meet Lunia El Lunda during last winter break in the Lordren Empire? What was she like then?”
Sitting cross-legged atop a boulder, Ar replied.
“I didn’t talk to her for long, but she didn’t really match the image Ruewen described. Hup.”
He hopped down lightly and asked,
“When I asked Black Rabbit, she said Lunia was like a thug. I thought it was a joke, but looking at her now… maybe not.”
‘Seiren’s second-year representative, a thug?’
Ruewen made an odd face.
“Anyway, Ruewen. Why’d you call the faction leaders?”
When Ar cut to the chase, Ruewen answered.
“For this Smith exclusive contract, I’m asking for cooperation between factions.”
“You are?”
Borman narrowed his eyes suspiciously, and Tavon also looked wary.
Ruewen the fox beastkin.
She was considered a strange one among the Azonia students.
Faction duels and skirmishes were daily life in Azonia.
So the tendency was always to settle things through brute force.
But Ruewen was infamous as a schemer.
She often deceived other factions, pitting them against one another for her gain.
Even with the strength to be ranked 3rd, she wasn’t respected.
‘Well, a magician like me is already heretical in Azonia.’
Ruewen smirked.
“Yes. Hard to believe, but this time I’m serious.”
“Let’s hear it.”
At Dion’s words, Ruewen smiled.
“This Smith exclusive contract means more than simply partnering with outstanding Damienne students.”
She snapped her fingers.
Figures of human, elf, beastkin, and dwarf appeared, crafted from mana, floating in the air.
“For the first time, all of our generation’s hero candidates are gathered in one place. An event like this won’t come again during our academy years.”
She was right.
It wasn’t as though the academies never interacted.
But to have entire year groups from all the Hero Academies together was something that practically never happened before graduation.
“And right now, Lumene and Seiren’s second-years have the better reputation than ours.”
At that, Borman grumbled.
“I don’t agree with that.”
“Whether you agree or not doesn’t matter. Lumene’s second-years made their name last year with the Gigantes subjugation. And both Lumene and Seiren were present when the Monster Queen was slain.”
The subjugation of Sillatna, the Monster Queen.
That feat was achieved by none other than the miraculously descended Hero of Beggining and the Founder of the Nebula.
But even just participating in such a legendary battlefield elevated their renown.
“Since we have nothing comparable, the public thinks Azonia’s second-years lag behind Lumene’s and Seiren’s.”
Ruewen shrugged. Borman’s face twisted in outrage, and Tavon looked visibly uncomfortable, though he held his tongue.
Ar and Dion, however, nodded in agreement.
“Hey! Ar! Dion! You’re not angry hearing that?!”
Ar stretched like a cat.
“It’s true we don’t have comparable achievements.”
Dion nodded.
“Right. That’s why the principal ordered us to defeat Leo Plov.”
He clenched his fists with a combative grin.
If they beat Leo, the symbol of Lumene, in a martial duel, Azonia’s reputation would rise.
“Exactly. Which is why I say we should stop fighting among ourselves while we’re here in Damienne. Let’s focus on external foes.”
Ruewen smiled.
“Beastkin and dwarves have always gotten along well, after all.”
Beastkin, who worshipped strength, respected fine weapons more than anyone.
Naturally, they were on good terms with dwarves, the greatest weapon smiths.
“In effect, this Smith exclusive contract is like an inter-academy competition. If we secure the best Damienne students, our reputation will rise.”
She covered her mouth and laughed.
“And with our greatest rival Leo Plov having fallen out of favor with the Damienne students, our odds are far better. Fighting him head-on now would only serve as a stepping stone for his fame.”
“Ha! Don’t be ridiculous! You’re saying we should avoid dueling Leo Plov? An Azonia student should face him head-on!”
“Yeah, I can’t agree with that, Ruewen.”
Borman roared, and even Tavon shook his head.
“You wouldn’t win anyway.”
“You never know until you try!”
“Then go ahead and be Leo Plov’s stepping stone, stupid tiger.”
“Who are you calling stupid?!”
Ignoring him, Ruewen turned to Ar.
“What do you think, Ar?”
“Not a bad idea. But I’m against avoiding a duel with Black Rabbit.”
She flicked her tail.
“There’s a lot to learn from her.”
“I didn’t expect you to accept that part anyway.”
Ruewen shook her head.
“Regardless, we should all agree to suspend faction fighting and focus on securing Damienne’s top students. So…”
She smirked.
“…go all out this afternoon. Showing off strength is what you’re best at, isn’t it?”
The faction leaders nodded and returned to their groups.
But Ar narrowed her eyes and approached Ruewen.
“What are you plotting?”
“Who knows?”
Ruewen chuckled.
“Hunting starts by wearing down the prey.”
Her fox tail swished.
Ar stuck out her tongue.
“I get it now.”
“Oh my, the dumb cat boss is catching on? Well, it was a simple plan.”
“Don’t call me dumb cat!”
Ar bristled, ears and tail standing on end. Then she grinned slyly.
“What’s with that creepy smile?”
“I was just imitating your usual grin.”
Ar chuckled.
“Anyway, I know your plan is to finish off Black Rabbit when he’s exhausted. But he’s more of a monster than you think. He’ll tear right through your schemes.”
“Thanks for the advice. But even the fiercest beasts calm down when they’re tired.”
Ruewen smiled and walked away. Ar stuck out her tongue again.
‘You’ll get crushed if you keep scheming.’
—
After lunch.
When the students from the three academies arrived in the auditorium, they were left speechless.
All the chairs from earlier were gone.
Instead, it looked like a bustling marketplace.
Damienne’s second-years had set up displays of the weapons they had forged, waiting for the visiting students.
“Wow, how did they change the auditorium in just an hour?”
Carr stared in disbelief.
“They’re dwarves.”
“And dwarves can really do this?”
“Because they’re dwarves.”
Leo’s answer left Carr making a dumbfounded face.
“Lunia El Lunda!”
A hysterical shout rang out from the back of the hall.
All eyes turned.
There stood Reber, Seiren’s second-year head instructor, his face flushed crimson.
Everyone looked at Lunia at the head of the Seiren students.
She pulled a crooked face and dug at her ear with her pinky.
Step, step, step.
“I’ve heard about your reckless behavior! How could you do such a thing…! As Seiren’s role model, how could you show such disgrace in front of everyone?!”
His shoulders trembled as he yelled. The students didn’t know what to do.
No staff from Damienne were present.
Smith Depeto, Damienne’s second-year instructor, hadn’t arrived yet.
So no one could stop Reber.
Besides, the other schools didn’t want to get tangled with an elf supremacist.
And Seiren’s students couldn’t challenge their teacher’s authority.
Lunia looked at him and muttered,
“It just kind of happened.”
“‘It just happened’? Do you even realize your position as Seiren’s year representative?!”
Reber glared down at her.
“It seems you need strict discipline. Return to Seiren immediately!”
Lunia scowled.
“This is an important part of the curriculum.”
“What you need is proper elf etiquette and dignity.”
He curled his lips in a sneer.
“Without them, you’ll lose your privilege to learn the Founder’s magic from the [Book of the Comet].”
Lunia’s red eyes blazed.
“Excuse me. Could you take this elsewhere? You’re bothering everyone.”
A tired voice interrupted.
“How dare you…!”
Reber whipped his head toward the speaker.
It was Leo.
“Hah. Such arrogance. Do you think you can talk back to Seiren’s second-year head instructor?”
“As Student Council President of Lumene, I’m asking politely.”
Leo smiled.
“The Student Council Presidents of the Hero Academies are also proxies of their principals. Surely you know that?”
“You…!”
Sparks flashed in Reber’s eyes.
“And besides, Lunia doesn’t need the [Book of the Comet] to learn the Founder’s magic.”
“Hmph! You clearly don’t understand the greatness of star magic and the Founder’s legacy. The [Book of the Comet] is—”
“Tell me, Instructor Reber. Have you ever met Luna?”
“…What?”
“I have.”
Leo smirked and summoned the Polium he had obtained from conquering Luna’s world, shaking it in front of Reber.
It was nothing but an empty shell without divine power, but its symbolism was unmistakable.
“You don’t have one of these, do you?”
“Grrk!”
Reber’s face turned red.
Leo continued,
“And the reason Lunia doesn’t need the [Book of the Comet] is because she already knows the Founder’s magic.”
He smiled meaningfully.
Reber’s eyes snapped to Lunia.
The Seiren students gasped and turned to her as well.
Lunia’s jaw dropped as she stared at Leo.
‘What the hell is he saying?!’
The spell recorded in the Book of the Comet was none other than [Termination].
The ultimate magic taught only to chosen elves.
And Lunia had never learned it.
“When I conquered Luna’s world, I received it as a reward.”
Leo’s words made her eyes widen.
Back then, Leo had been the only one to receive a conquest reward.
Officially, that reward was just Polium.
And that alone had been shocking enough.
But…
‘Did he actually receive the Founder’s magic as well?’
It was entirely possible.
‘Is he… planning to teach it to me?’