Chapter 333
“An exchange student?”
Mel blinked wide-eyed.
“Yeah.”
After class, Leo visited the professor’s office and told Mel about the exchange student offer.
“Seiren, huh… Even if you go, I doubt it’ll do you much good, Leo.”
Pouring tea, Mel tilted her head.
“Besides, if you go to Seiren now, most of the students there will definitely be hostile toward you.”
As the Dragon Lord, Mel was the one who appointed all vice principals of the Hero Academies.
Because of that, she was well informed about the situation of each academy.
Hearing her, Leo chuckled faintly.
“I’ve been curious about Seiren since I first heard about the exchange program.”
“But… some elves will surely be rude to you.”
Mel’s expression hardened.
Knowing that Leo was the [Hero of Beginning, Kyle], she couldn’t stand the thought of anyone being disrespectful toward him.
The great hero who had saved the world.
If not for Leo, the current world wouldn’t even exist.
“Just imagining someone showing disrespect to you… I could never forgive it.”
Rumble—!
A dangerous aura flowed from Mel.
Startled, Fiora and Kirran—who had been casually looking around the office—quickly hid behind a bookshelf.
Arti, who’d been resting with her eyes closed, opened one eye to glance at Mel, and Elci murmured in awe.
Normally, Mel was gentle and calm, but right now, she radiated the majesty befitting her title as Dragon Lord.
Her eyes had even turned into those of a dragon.
Leo reached out.
“Hya!”
Mel flinched as he pinched her nose, grabbing it with both hands in panic.
“You’re getting worked up over something that hasn’t even happened yet.”
“B-but still…”
Mel’s nasally voice wavered.
“I can’t forgive it.”
Leo rested his chin on his hand.
“I’m used to the arrogance of elves anyway.”
In the early days of the Era of Calamity, elves still clung strongly to their sense of superiority.
Leo had met countless elves who couldn’t get along with other races and caused endless discord.
“Back in my day, there were still High Elves around. They were even worse than now.”
“Sometimes when I talk to you, Leo, I realize something.”
“What’s that?”
“That you’re actually a really old man… Ow!”
Mel flailed her arms as Leo pinched her nose again.
Watching the scene, Arti muttered dreamily,
“I want to be scolded by the Dragon Lord… and then be scolded again by my master who can easily overpower a Dragon Lord.”
Elci sighed deeply.
-Please, have some dignity as a Pegasus.
Of course, Arti ignored her.
After finishing her playful scolding, Leo said,
“Going to Seiren isn’t just about Kirran’s wings.”
“Then what is it about?”
“I want to see what kind of Hero Cadets they have. The only ones I know from Seiren are Lunia and Eiran.”
When Leo said he wanted to see Hero Cadets, it carried a completely different weight.
When he spoke of Hero Cadets, he meant those capable of carrying the future—heroes worthy of bearing the world.
Those who could one day face Tartarus and even Erebos.
‘If the true owner of the [Hero Record]—the great hero Leo himself—chooses a hero, they’ll be exceptional.’
Mel nodded.
“And if Seiren is as rotten inside as it seems, someone needs to help heal that rot.”
Leo knew better than anyone how the world had fallen to ruin when the Era of Calamity began.
The world had reached the brink of destruction not only because of Erebos, that monstrous being even the gods couldn’t handle, but also because of factions that destroyed themselves from within.
The elves, despite their once-great power, had crumbled far too easily.
Tina had suggested the exchange program because she wanted Leo to shake up Seiren and prevent its decline.
But Leo—who had seen firsthand how the once-glorious elven race had collapsed—simply didn’t want history to repeat itself.
He believed Seiren needed to change before it was too late.
Mel’s expression grew worried.
“I hope so, but… an exchange program only lasts about a month. Can that really change anything?”
“Lunia and Eiran are already there. I just need to give them a push.”
Leo smiled faintly.
“If they’re destined to be true heroes, a single push will be enough.”
Mel nodded just as—
Knock, knock—
Someone rapped urgently on her office door.
“It’s open.”
At her response, the door swung open, and Anna rushed in.
“Assistant Professor Anna, what brings you—?”
“Leo! Professor Len heard about the exchange student proposal from Professor Tina and—!”
Leo and Mel exchanged glances before standing up immediately.
—
“So, what you’re saying, Professor Len, is that we should expel Professor Tina right this instant?”
Principal Leena let out a long sigh.
“Yes, Principal! We must banish that vile elf imme—mph!”
Leena clamped her hand over Len’s mouth before he could finish.
Despite his tantrum, Tina calmly sipped her tea.
The moment Len heard about the exchange program, he’d gone berserk.
Anna had rushed to get Leo and Mel, and only with their help had they managed to restrain him. But even now, Len’s outbursts hadn’t stopped.
When other professors heard the commotion, they rushed in too, and the matter eventually reached the principal’s office.
Leena rubbed her temples in exasperation.
“I honestly don’t know how Kalian managed this job for decades. These professors throw tantrums every other day.”
“Kalian just dumped everything on Professor Harrid, remember?”
“Hm. Tempting idea.”
At Anna’s dry comment, Leena stroked her chin thoughtfully.
Ignoring the still-seething Len, she turned to Tina.
“Professor Tina, why did you suggest Leo as an exchange student, and under what authority can you send him?”
“I wanted the students of Seiren to see that there are outstanding students like Leo. I also thought it’d be a good opportunity for Leo himself to broaden his perspective.”
Her answer was perfectly by-the-book.
“As for authority—requesting through my family is enough.”
Although Tina hid her status as a direct descendant, her mastery of magic was among the finest even in the prestigious Tingel family.
Using her theoretical expertise, she had successfully deciphered several of Seiren Tingel’s long-unresolved magic formulas.
She wasn’t famous outside, but within the family, her influence was undeniable.
“Though I’m neither from Seiren nor connected to any hero, I believe Leo’s exchange to Seiren will benefit both sides.”
“Hm.”
“Principal! Don’t be fooled! She’s trying to lure Leo away to Seiren—”
“Yes, yes, calm down, Professor Len.”
“Quiet.”
Mel smiled sweetly as she subdued Len, while Anna quickly covered his mouth again.
“What about you, Leo? What’s your opinion?”
After a brief pause, Leena looked to him.
“I’d like to go.”
“It’s a good opportunity. If that’s what you want, I see no reason to stop you.”
Leena spoke calmly.
“It might even strengthen cooperation between our academies. I’ll consult with Sedgen. Since you proposed it, Professor Tina, please handle Seiren’s end of the arrangements.”
“Understood.”
Leena herself had been intrigued by the idea of exchange students since the year before.
‘This is the right time to strengthen cooperation between the Hero Academies. The Seiren lot won’t like Leo, of course…’
She could easily imagine their reaction.
Glancing at Leo, she thought,
‘Still, outwardly, promoting inter-academy relations like this is ideal.’
If Seiren sent an exchange student in return, it’d be beneficial for Lumene as well.
Tina nodded and left the office.
Len, however, slumped in despair as things moved completely against his will.
“Professor Len.”
Leo turned to him.
“Since I’m a co-author of Assistant Professor Anna’s paper, *Introduction to Star Magic*, I’ll help her present it during my stay in Seiren.”
“Good. Support her as much as you can.”
Leena nodded.
After Leo left, she sighed and tried to calm Len.
“Professor Len, relax. Just because Leo’s going as an exchange student doesn’t mean he’ll become one of them—”
“Heh… heheheh.”
Len let out a low, ominous laugh.
‘Oh no, what now?’
“I just had a brilliant idea.”
“What now?” Anna asked nervously.
“If Leo goes to Seiren and those pointy-eared bastards hate him, perfect! They already despise *Introduction to Star Magic*! Hahaha!”
Clutching his face, Len grinned maniacally.
“All I have to do is make our presentation even more provocative to drive those elves mad! Assistant Professor Anna, I’m coming to that conference with you!”
“…”
Anna’s expression turned cold.
“…It’s *my* conference.”
Preparing for it had been hellishly stressful, but presenting at such a prestigious international gathering of magicians was both an honor and a dream.
Yet now Len was trying to steal the spotlight—and even rewrite her presentation.
“Don’t worry, Assistant Professor! I’ll take the lead!”
“Shut up!”
Anna finally snapped, shouting furiously.
Leena sighed.
“Professor Len, sorry, but you’re not going to Seiren.”
“Why not?!”
“You’re the only one who can manage the second-year Magic Department’s schedule. You just got my approval for it yesterday.”
Len had planned a schedule only he could handle. If he left, the entire semester would collapse.
“I’ll rearrange it! Assistant Professor Anna can handle the classes!”
“Fine. If you insist, go.”
Leena’s tone turned icy.
“But you’ll need to resign first.”
“W-what…”
Len’s face crumpled.
—
Tap—tap tap—
The sound of chalk scraping echoed in the empty classroom.
Only two elves were present.
At the center of the room, a Seiren girl with crimson eyes stared at the chalkboard covered in writing.
“Lunia, do you understand now the true purpose for which the Comet Mage founded Seiren?”
The strict-looking teacher asked proudly.
“Yes, I understand perfectly now.”
“Wonderful! It’s good to see you returning to your old self. Proof that the reformation classes are working!”
Beaming, the teacher checked his watch.
“That will be all for today’s supplementary lesson.”
Dinner time had already passed.
“Good work, Lunia. I’ll see you here again tomorrow.”
“Yes, Professor Orlen.”
Lunia bowed gracefully, and the satisfied teacher left the classroom.
The moment she was alone, her face hardened.
“Reformation, my ass. Who could listen to that kind of crap?”
The board was filled with phrases about “the proper mindset of an elf.”
Lunia, now looking every bit the delinquent, kicked the classroom wall. Bam! Bam! Bam!
“Ugh, I’m starving, and they expect me to study like this?! Unbelievable!”
After venting her anger, she slumped into a chair, crossing her legs and propping up her chin.
Outside, snow was falling.
Watching the pure white flakes that reminded her of someone, Lunia muttered softly,
“Maybe I really should just drop out.”