Chapter 304
“Wow, it’s absolute chaos. Total chaos.”
Wearing a patient gown inside Damienne’s infirmary, Carr clicked his tongue as he read the newspaper.
“Of course it is. The Giant King, who hasn’t appeared for thousands of years, suddenly showed up. Yum—”
Lunia replied while eating an apple she had neatly carved into a cute rabbit shape.
“You’re surprisingly good with your hands.”
As Driana commented, stabbing her fork into the apple, Ar rolled her eyes.
“What do you mean surprisingly? What’s surprising about it?”
“But it really is pretty.”
Eiran admired the rabbit-shaped apple as if it were too cute to eat.
Creak—
The door opened, and Leo walked in.
“How’s the treatment going?”
“They said I should rest a few more days.”
Answering Carr’s question calmly, Leo picked up a piece of apple to eat. Ar muttered with a dark expression,
“A tragic case of kin slaying.”
“What are you talking about?”
Leo looked at Ar with a puzzled face and slumped down beside Carr.
Folding the newspaper, Carr murmured,
“Still… it was incredible.”
“Yes, it really was.”
They had always known the Great Heroes were remarkable.
They’d even seen their feats firsthand—except for Driana.
But this was the first time they had spent such a long period together, hearing and learning directly from a Great Hero.
“I doubt any other conquerors who cleared the Great Heroes’ worlds got to learn from them like we did.”
Ar folded her arms and nodded.
“Now that I think about it, Leo, you never got to meet Master Kyle, did you?”
“Kyle? What are you talking about?”
“We met him right before clearing the Hero’s World.”
“Pfft! Cough! Guh—! Cough!”
Leo choked at Driana’s words, coughing violently.
Startled, Eiran hurried over to pat his back.
Once Leo managed to catch his breath, he asked in disbelief,
“You saw Kyle?”
“Yeah, he was incredible. He wiped out Erebos’s flames like it was nothing. Seriously, seeing it up close—he was breathtaking.”
Carr recalled the moment with awe.
“Even summoning a Pegasus as his contracted beast was shocking.”
As Lunia muttered, Ar crossed her arms.
“His swordsmanship was flawless—without a single wasted movement.”
“Mhm,” Driana nodded solemnly.
“And the final spell he used to finish everything was beautiful.”
Carr whistled.
“It really made me think—‘So this is what a true all-class master looks like.’”
Eiran beamed brightly.
“Yes! He reminded me of you, Leo!”
‘Of course he did. Because that was me.’
“But Leo’s still got a long way to go if he wants to catch up to Master Kyle.”
“No matter how amazing the Black Rabbit is, Kyle’s a Great Hero.”
“It’s a shame you didn’t see him. He would’ve been a great role model.”
As Lunia, Ar, and Driana spoke, Leo gave a dry laugh inwardly.
‘That’s me, you idiots.’
“Anyway, are we stuck here in the infirmary until the end of the exclusive Smith contract period?”
Carr leaned back on the sofa, hands laced behind his head.
“They said we need a few more days for recovery and to write a report on what happened inside the Hero Record.”
Lunia sighed lightly.
“Just thinking about seeing those annoying teachers again is already stressing me out.”
“You’ve really committed to the delinquent student path, haven’t you?”
“Huh? You got a problem with that?”
“Of course not, ma’am.”
As Lunia gave him a thin smile, Carr quickly shook his head.
He knew better than to joke around and get hit.
“Speaking of the exclusive Smith contract,”
Driana’s face turned serious.
“This experience made me think a lot. I said I admired Master Dweno, but when I looked at myself, I realized… I hadn’t really done anything. I’ve reflected deeply.”
“Did you also reflect on calling weird junk ‘art’?”
“Be quiet, you dumb cat.”
Driana glared at Ar before clearing her throat.
“Meeting Master Dweno taught me many things and gave me a lot to think about.”
She looked down at her small hands.
“I finally understand what these hands can do—and what they must do.”
Clenching her fist, she said firmly,
“If you’ll allow me, I want to become your exclusive Smith.”
“It would be an honor to have someone as skilled as you, Miss Driana!”
“She may be a pervert, but her skills are legit.”
“And Master Dweno himself recognized her abilities.”
Eiran, Ar, and Lunia nodded.
Driana smiled at their responses.
“Thank you. Then let’s make it official.”
She pulled out contract papers and a pen, handing them to everyone.
“Just sign at the last section here.”
Pointing at the signature line, Driana waited. Lunia, Ar, and Eiran started to sign without hesitation—
“Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?!” Carr shouted in panic.
“Huh? We’re signing the exclusive Smith contract…”
“You’re signing without reading? What if there’s some weird clause in there?!”
“Come on, Miss Driana wouldn’t deceive us.”
“Noble ladies are always too trusting,” Carr muttered, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, Lunia and Ar narrowed their eyes, flipping through the pages.
When they reached the last clause, both glared at Driana.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a clause regarding my artistic model activities.”
“Why does it say nude model?!”
“The pure form one’s born with! Isn’t that the most beautiful shape of all? Especially you, Lunia! Since Master Dweno himself once chose you as a nude model, I feel it’s my duty to immortalize your body in art for the world to—”
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Bright red, Lunia tore the contract to shreds.
Ar ripped hers apart too, and Eiran’s face turned scarlet.
“You should thank me.”
Carr tore his copy in half as well.
Watching the scene, Leo let out a deep sigh.
‘Have these kids actually matured at all?’
—
Leo and Carr were finally discharged from the infirmary on the last day of their Smith contract period.
As they walked back toward the dorms, Carr sighed.
“In the end, we missed all our class schedules. It’s a miracle we can even attend the final banquet. I thought I’d be stuck in Damienne for days.”
He looked tired just thinking about it.
“That’s how much there was to talk about from this conquest.”
It had truly been an unprecedented experience.
To directly witness one of the largest battles of the Era of Calamity—the Defense of Guardslone—was something beyond imagination.
And to meet Dweno, the Divine Blacksmith; Arron, the Hero; and even Kyle, the Hero of Beginning—not to mention Velkia, one of the greatest elves in history—
Never before had so many legends appeared together in a single Hero Record.
The academic and historical value of their experience was immeasurable.
Hearing their conversation, Sedgen said,
“You both did well. Especially you, Carr. You had the toughest job.”
“It’s thanks to you, Professor Sedgen.”
Among the group, Carr had drawn the most attention.
It was inevitable—his conquest reward was ‘Dweno’s Alchemy Tome.’
In other words, the very embodiment of Dweno’s knowledge.
While Leo, to avoid unwanted chaos, had publicly claimed he received no reward, Carr’s reward was something that could be shared—making it highly coveted.
Many from all races had tried to pressure him into revealing or sharing it.
And the one who had stepped up to defend him was none other than Sedgen.
‘‘Rewards gained from a Hero’s World belong solely to the conqueror. To demand a student share his reward—especially before he’s even read it—is disgraceful! Have you no shame?!’’
He had lashed out furiously.
To that, a Seiren investigator had sneered:
‘‘Knowledge only has value when shared. Besides, that student’s grades are so poor he could be expelled from Lumene at any time. Isn’t such a reward wasted on him?’’
Sedgen’s eyes had turned cold.
‘‘Carr Thomas has demonstrated exceptional skill in alchemy—among the best in Lumene’s second year. Even Master Dweno recognized him and personally taught him! The reward from the Hero Record is a rightful result of that. Your words insult both Dweno’s judgment and the will of the Hero Record itself!’’
After that, Sedgen personally blocked every attempt to pressure Carr.
“I was honestly moved.”
“I only did what any proper professor should. That reward is rightfully yours. Unless you choose to share it, Lumene will stand by you and protect your right to it.”
“Professor Sedgen!”
“Carr!”
The sight of the once-greedy professor and his formerly conniving student now sharing heartfelt respect was almost touching.
Leo just shook his head.
“Well, at least it wasn’t Harrid or Leena there.”
“What would’ve happened if they were?”
“Harrid would’ve cursed everyone out, and Leena would’ve punched them.”
Sedgen sighed.
“When you grow older, you should act like adults. Honestly, how are they still so immature?”
‘You’re the most childish one among them, Professor,’ Carr thought silently, wisely keeping it to himself.
He didn’t want to ruin the rare warm atmosphere.
Following Sedgen’s lead, they soon arrived at the dorms.
When the door opened, all eyes turned to them.
“It’s Leo and Carr!”
“What?”
“Leo!”
“Carr!”
Chelsea and their former first-year classmates rushed over, followed by others they knew.
“I heard you were badly injured. Are you both fully recovered?”
“How’s your body holding up, Leo?”
Chloe and Chen Xia asked with concern, and Leo smiled faintly.
“Almost fully recovered.”
“Leo, you’re amazing! You actually cleared Master Dweno’s world! No student in history has ever cleared multiple Great Heroes’ worlds during their academy years!”
Chelsea jumped with joy as if it were her own success.
“What were Master Dweno and Arron like?”
Celia’s eyes sparkled.
Everyone was dying to hear stories of the Great Heroes—especially Arron, known as the strongest warrior, and Dweno, the Divine Blacksmith who served as the shield of his comrades.
For students of the Knight Department, just hearing their tales was thrilling.
Meanwhile, Abad greeted Carr with a grin.
“Welcome back, Carr.”
“You’re the only one who actually welcomes me, Abad. I thought the others would too.”
Carr said dramatically.
“Hmph. Did you think we’d treat you like royalty just because you cleared Master Dweno’s world?”
Eliza scoffed, polishing her nails elegantly on her usual luxurious chair.
Duran added in his pompous tone,
“Such arrogance, Carr Thomas. Don’t you all agree?”
“Uh… y-yeah?”
“Well, I kind of do want to hear about it…”
“Shh! Don’t let them notice!”
The noble students whispered among themselves.
Abad chuckled.
“So? What were Master Dweno and Lord Arron like?”
“How should I even begin to explain?”
Folding his arms, Carr glanced at the others and grinned.
“Do you want to hear it? Gather around. I’ll tell you what I saw.”
At that, Duran and Eliza both stiffened.
“N-not really.”
“I already know everything worth knowing from the literature.”
They lifted their chins defiantly, but the other students thought differently.
They crept closer, curious.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just… not curious at all,” Eliza said quickly.
“Hmph. Of course everyone’s curious about the Great Heroes. Not that I am.”
Despite their words, the noble students began gathering around Carr.
“Then let’s begin!”
“Hey, Carr! Tell us the story!”
“Hmm~ where should I start? Maybe with the moment Lord Arron blocked the Giant King’s attack with a single swing?”
Duran flinched.
Eliza smirked at him.
“Oh my, pretending not to care, but you’re eager to hear it, huh?”
“W-who’d care about some commoner’s story…”
“Or should I tell you about the Phoenix King—Lysinas’s contracted being? Ever seen a white Phoenix before?”
“W-wait! Is the Flame Emperor’s feather really pure white?!”
Realizing what she’d just said, Eliza clamped her hand over her mouth.
Abad laughed.
“Come on, drop the pride and just listen.”
“Yeah, Duran! As Knight students, how could you not want to hear about Lord Arron and Master Dweno?”
“Eliza! Hurry up and join us!”
The noble students called out, and soon Eliza stood before Carr with a pout while Duran stood beside Abad.
Watching the lively second-year students of Lumene, Sedgen smiled softly.
‘Looks like our students have gained quite a lot this time.’
“We’ll hear the rest at the banquet. Leo, Carr—go get ready. As Lumene students, you must show elegance to the other academies, even on the final day.”
At Sedgen’s words, the students reluctantly let Leo and Carr go.
The final event at Damienne was drawing to a close.