Chapter 3
“Ah! How amazing would it be if people from a Heroic House visited our home?”
“Our house has already finished party preparations for them!”
After class, the Delan students were buzzing with excitement.
Starting today, candidates from Lumene Academy would begin visiting Delan.
The nobles of the Delard Kingdom were desperate to host members of the Heroic Houses in their homes.
Heroic House.
An honorable title given to the greatest families that have produced Heroes for generations.
Naturally, their chances of getting into Lumene were high.
“Gullivan, which of the Heroic Houses visiting our country do you think is the most renowned?”
“Heh, obviously Zerdinger.”
At Gullivan’s answer, his friends started chattering.
“The Zerdingers will definitely visit the Tratten family, right?”
“Of course! Right now, the only one in our country who could possibly take the Lumene entrance exam is Gullivan!”
Gullivan puffed up as his friends showered him with praise.
“Phew… Just thinking about talking with the Zerdingers about Heroes has me excited already.”
“Man! Jealous! So jealous!”
“Gullivan! Can I come over to your house later?”
“Why not?”
“Whoa! Thanks!”
“Gullivan! What are friends for? Count me in too!”
Gullivan Tratten.
Heir to the Tratten marquis family and regarded as Delard’s greatest magic prodigy.
At fifteen, he was already 2nd Circle.
People expected him to be a shoo-in for Lumene.
It had been twenty years since Delard Kingdom last produced a Lumene student.
So, even the kingdom itself had its eyes on Gullivan.
While everyone was excited,
A student by the window suddenly shouted in surprise.
“Hey, isn’t that the Zerdinger family crest?”
“What? Where? Where?”
“They’re here already?”
Students rushed to the window.
Meanwhile, Leo left the classroom as if he had no interest at all.
On his way out, he made eye contact with Gullivan’s group.
“Heh! Are you going to try and get noticed? The Zerdingers won’t care about someone like you.”
Gullivan sneered at Leo.
Gullivan was the top student in every subject.
Yet he was jealous of Leo.
Because there was one class where Gullivan could never beat him.
Combat class.
The professors openly favored Gullivan and avoided pairing him with Leo in practical exams, but everyone knew what the result would be.
Leo answered indifferently.
“Just heading home.”
“Heh, at least you know your place.”
“Yeah. Go wag your tail at the Zerdingers all you want.”
“Watch your mouth. I’m just checking out Celia Zerdinger as a rival.”
Sparks flew in Gullivan’s eyes.
The tension between the two was palpable.
[Attention from the staff room. All students must assemble in the banquet hall immediately. No exceptions.]
A magical broadcast echoed through the school.
The reason for the gathering was obvious.
To welcome the Zerdinger delegation.
‘This is why I wanted to leave early.’
Leo grumbled to himself.
Gullivan scoffed and left the classroom.
The other students rushed to the banquet hall as well.
Leo scratched his head and muttered,
‘Forget it. I’ll just skip.’
“Huh? Leo, aren’t you going?”
“Going home.”
“What? This is a rare chance to see people from the Zerdinger family!”
“Don’t care.”
Leo waved his hand and headed in the opposite direction, leaving his classmate looking baffled.
* * *
“It is an honor to have you visit, Gis Zerdinger!”
Professor Jaden called out, his face flushed.
The other students gazed at Gis with admiration.
“Thank you for such a warm welcome.”
“This is Gullivan Tratten. He’ll be taking the Lumene Academy entrance exam!”
“Is that so? My niece will also be taking the entrance exam this time.”
All eyes naturally turned in one direction.
Standing with the Zerdinger knights was a girl.
Celia Zerdinger.
Daughter of the Zerdinger head.
A princess of the sword famous not just in the Empire, but worldwide.
Under everyone’s gaze, Celia squared her shoulders confidently.
Gullivan looked at her in a daze.
‘She’s beautiful!’
Black hair, large ruby-like red eyes.
A sharp nose and red lips.
He had seen many noble girls, but never anyone as beautiful as Celia.
“Celia, come here.”
At Gis’s words, Celia strode forward.
She smiled brightly at Gullivan.
“Are you taking the entrance exam too? Let’s do our best together.”
“Y-Yeah! Let’s have a good competition. Hahaha!”
Gullivan grinned confidently and extended his hand.
Celia stared at his hand for a moment.
Gis nudged her elbow and only then did she shake his hand.
Gullivan grinned goofily.
“I’ll show you around the school. Please say a few words to our students.”
“Hehe. I wonder if my words will be of any help.”
“If it’s from Gis Zerdinger, it’s bound to be helpful!”
Known as the Flame Blade, he was one of the Empire’s greatest knights.
His legendary deeds were famous not just in the Empire, but worldwide.
People said he would soon be given the title of Hero. The value of his words was immense.
“So, about your accommodations…”
“We’ve already arranged a place to stay.”
“I see.”
Professor Jaden’s face fell.
“By the way.”
“Yes!”
“I would like to meet Leo Plov.”
“Pardon?”
Jaden looked flustered and Gullivan’s eyes widened.
He couldn’t believe what he’d heard.
‘How does he know Leo Plov?’
Gis didn’t even seem to know Gullivan, regarded as Delard Kingdom’s greatest prodigy.
So how did he know Leo?
“H-how do you know Leo?”
“I heard from someone that he’s a remarkable talent.”
“Are you sure you’re not mistaken, Sir Gis Zerdinger?”
At the mention of Leo—whom he couldn’t stand—Gullivan bristled slightly.
“What do you mean, mistaken?”
“Leo Plov is in the same class as me. He’s certainly an outstanding student, but…”
Gullivan shook his head.
“He can’t even handle Aura properly.”
“Is that so?”
The staff of Delan Royal Academy were impressed that Gullivan didn’t shrink back, even in front of Gis.
Gullivan also trembled with pride at his own boldness.
‘Gis Zerdinger actually listened to my opinion!’
Thinking Gis’s nod was a sign of agreement, Gullivan wore a satisfied expression.
But the Zerdinger members snickered at Gullivan.
Gis was responsible for guiding the family’s blood relatives.
Even the head of the house valued Gis’s opinion when discussing the children’s abilities.
For some brat to cut someone down with an “opinion” was simply absurd.
“So, where is Leo Plov?”
Gis asked again without even glancing at Gullivan.
Gullivan was flustered, and Jaden quickly said,
“Leo Plov! Please come forward!”
“……”
“Leo?”
A student cautiously raised their hand.
“Professor, Leo already took a carriage home earlier.”
“W-what?”
Jaden’s mouth dropped open.
“I said all students must gather!”
“He… said he wasn’t interested in the Zerdinger delegation…”
The students began murmuring.
Celia looked dumbfounded.
Gis smiled softly.
‘As expected of my sister’s son.’
* * *
After finishing the day’s events at Delan Royal Academy, Gis and Celia boarded their carriage.
The people who came to see them off flinched as they saw the carriage.
‘A griffin?’
A carriage pulled by a magical beast!
As people clicked their tongues in awe, the carriage set off.
“Ah, I wonder which family will get to host them?”
“So jealous.”
While the students whispered,
Gullivan clenched his fists as he watched the departing Zerdinger party.
‘If I enter Lumene, I’ll get to study with girls like her!’
This really was the place for someone as talented as he was.
Determined, Gullivan’s eyes shone.
‘The entrance exam in a week! I’ll pass for sure!’
* * *
Meanwhile,
Inside the griffin carriage, Gis asked,
“What did you think of the Delan Royal Academy students?”
“They were a mess.”
Celia looked disappointed.
She’d sat through the Hero Studies class at Delan Royal Academy for a short time.
The verdict: not even worth listening to.
Hero Studies, which researches previous generations of Heroes, is an important subject for anyone aspiring to be a Hero, regardless of country or race.
But Delan Royal Academy’s curriculum was a joke.
“And that Gullivan guy? He doesn’t know his place, even daring to talk back to Uncle.”
“The house we’re visiting now will be a little different.”
“The Plov family, right?”
Celia recalled what had happened earlier.
She remembered that one student who said he had no interest in the Zerdinger family.
‘Hmph. What an arrogant guy.’
With strong pride in her family, Celia didn’t like that attitude.
‘And he wants to enter the knight program but can’t even handle Aura at his age?’
Celia found Leo completely uninteresting.
She had no idea the place they were heading was her cousin’s house.
Meanwhile, Gis took a letter from his pocket.
‘If my sister hadn’t left the family, she’d have held an important position.’
The current head, Selde Zerdinger.
And Gis, Reina.
The three siblings were once considered the future of the family.
Reina had left the family due to an unfortunate incident, but Gis knew her true ability.
She’s the one who called her son a “genius.”
And besides…
‘Can’t handle Aura, huh?’
Aura was essential for noble children aiming to be knights.
They learned it from a young age.
But Leo reportedly couldn’t handle Aura.
‘What kind of child is he?’
* * *
Evening.
Leo remained alone on the training ground, eyes closed, focusing his mind.
He was drenched in sweat from training.
“Hoo.”
He exhaled deeply.
‘The vessel is ready.’
The reason he hadn’t learned Aura until now.
Part of it was to keep pace with his mother’s lessons.
But the main reason was to build his vessel.
In terms of a warrior’s potential, this body was even better than his previous life as Kyle.
But his aptitude for other abilities, like those of a mage or summoner, was almost zero.
That’s why he hadn’t rushed to learn Aura.
In his previous life, Kyle was a battle-hardened warrior, a powerful mage, and a contractor with spirits and magical beasts.
As his friends died one by one, Kyle kept the expedition from collapsing because he’d mastered all those abilities.
‘I managed to fill the gaps left by my fallen comrades.’
Right before the final battle.
Kyle, left alone, still held the essence of the power his comrades had carried.
Their entrusted hopes and wills.
‘I couldn’t handle it properly in my past life, but this time, I’ll master it perfectly.’
The moment one accepts Aura into their body, the body becomes specialized for Aura.
When that happens, the chance to build up Mana and spiritual power is lost forever.
That’s why he’d been laying the groundwork.
To inherit the will of his friends.
Leo clenched his fist tightly.
‘First, I need to learn Aura!’