Chapter 334
In the coldest reaches of the northern continent lay the elves’ domain.
Among their many territories, one city held the greatest importance—
Rangen.
Long ago, it was the birthplace of the Comet Mage, Seiren Tingel, who inherited the legacy of the Founder of the Nebula.
The Founder of the Nebula, the Fairy Knight, and the Comet Mage—
of the three greatest elves in history, Luna and Velkia had lived over five thousand years ago, leaving their homelands unknown.
But the Comet Mage’s birthplace was clear.
Thus, Rangen was revered among elves as a “holy land.”
As one of the heroes who saved the world from another crisis and was called the reincarnation of the Founder, Seiren’s hometown was worthy of that title.
At the heart of Rangen stood a great castle.
From the highest chamber, an elf looked out over the snowbound city and then turned his gaze to the letter in his hand.
‘You’re asking me to write a recommendation so that Leo Plov can attend Seiren as an exchange student?’
Tion Tingel, current head of the Tingel family, folded the letter his younger sister had sent with a puzzled expression.
‘She went to Lumene as a visiting professor, and now she’s making this kind of request?’
Setting the letter on the table, Tion walked over to his desk and sat down, taking up a quill.
The Tingel family had long been regarded as the most prestigious of all elven lineages, though it had refrained from political involvement for generations.
Since the founding of Seiren—the Hero Academy established by the Comet Mage—the elven power structure had centered around that institution.
If they’d wanted, the Tingels could have ruled as kings of the elves.
Given that elves were the most unified race among all peoples, the Tingels could have easily become their sole royalty.
But because of a single statement left behind by Seiren Tingel, that never came to pass.
“Elves have no need for a king.”
No one knew why the great Comet Mage had said such words.
Yet, following that decree, the Tingels had distanced themselves from the Elven Council.
Even so, their influence remained absolute.
Seiren had no such thing as an “exchange student program.”
But if the head of the Tingel family wished it, such a program could easily be created to accept one.
Even if that student was the one currently making waves throughout elven society—Leo Plov.
After finishing the letter addressed to Seiren Academy’s acting principal, Tion sent it off through a familiar.
He then reached for the newspaper on his desk.
‘An All-Class student, just like the Hero of Beginning.’
Reading the report of Leo’s achievements, Tion smirked.
‘I’m curious to see what kind of impression he’ll leave in Seiren.’
—
“An exchange student?!”
A week after the commotion began, Leo finally received Seiren’s confirmation from Tina and told Celia about it the next morning.
Celia, who had been eating breakfast with him, nearly spat out her drink in shock.
The noisy second-year dining hall of Lumene fell silent as everyone turned toward them.
“Is it really that surprising?”
Leo stirred his soup with a spoon and smiled faintly.
“You’re going to study abroad out of nowhere! Of course it’s surprising! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I hadn’t decided yet. I only confirmed it this morning.”
“You’re impossible sometimes…”
Celia looked exasperated.
“Exchange student? What’s this about?”
Eliana, who’d been eating nearby, perked up and hurried over to sit beside Leo.
A few others soon gathered around.
“It’s not a big deal,” Leo said casually. “Professor Tina suggested I try going to Seiren as an exchange student.”
He tore a piece of bread and continued eating.
“I thought it might be worth the experience, so I agreed.”
“Just you?” Chelsea asked, tilting her head.
“Yeah.”
“So no one’s coming here from Seiren?”
“Doesn’t look like it.”
“Aww, that’s boring.”
Chelsea pouted.
Carr crossed his arms.
“When are you leaving, and when are you coming back?”
“I leave today. I’ll be back in a month.”
“A month?”
Carr looked shocked, and the other students shared the sentiment.
“Whoa! So Class Rep’s heading off to conquer Seiren too?!” Eliana shouted, eyes sparkling.
“I’m just going to observe—see how they study, what kind of students they have.”
Leo smiled.
‘Yeah right. Like Leo ever goes anywhere quietly.’
‘He’s definitely going to get caught up in something again.’
‘If it’s Leo, something huge will happen for sure.’
Their knowing looks didn’t faze him in the slightest. Leo simply kept eating.
—
That evening, Leo packed his belongings for the trip to Seiren.
Before departing, he took a moment to visit the training yard behind the first-year boys’ dormitory.
Luke was staggering around the track.
Leo’s mentee had a simple daily routine: wake up earlier than anyone, train his body in the yard, attend class, then train again until late at night.
He always wore weighted artifacts on his wrists and ankles.
“Urgh!”
Gasping, Luke covered his mouth as he ran.
His stamina had long since run dry—only sheer willpower kept him moving.
After barely finishing his set distance, he collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Step—
“You don’t have to push yourself that hard,” Leo said, walking toward him.
“L-Leo, sir…”
Luke hurriedly sat up straight.
Leo smiled.
“The training plan I gave you already pushes you close to your limits.”
It was a brutal schedule—physical conditioning, mana awakening, magic study.
Even so, Luke continued to drive himself harder.
He clenched his teeth and bowed his head.
“…If I fail and get expelled, you’ll be forced to withdraw too. I can’t let that happen.”
Under the mentor system, if a first-year was expelled, their mentor would also be dismissed.
The rumor alone was enough to keep Luke constantly anxious.
His mentor, Leo Plov—an All-Class student like the Hero of Beginning, Kyle, and Lumene’s youngest-ever student council president—was a legend.
And Luke, his mentee, was mocked as the worst student in Lumene’s history.
“Even if that happens, it won’t be because of you.”
Leo chuckled softly.
“It’ll be my choice. You don’t need to carry that burden—it’s my responsibility.”
Looking down at him, Leo continued,
“I trust my own judgment.”
His crimson eyes reflected Luke.
“You have the potential to become a hero.”
A hero didn’t need talent, glory, or divine recognition.
‘Back before the [Hero Record], it was simpler.’
Leo recalled a conversation with an old friend.
– “‘A hero,’ you say?”
Lysinas had smiled and replied,
– “Someone who never gives up.”
Thinking of that, Leo said,
“I think you need a little more confidence.”
“Confidence?”
“Yeah. If you can’t believe in yourself, then believe in the person who chose you.”
Luke’s eyes widened.
Taking a deep breath, he stood up.
“I’ll run a bit more.”
“Go ahead.”
“Oh—right! You’re leaving for Seiren today, aren’t you? I’ll keep working hard while you’re gone!”
Leo nodded at the boy’s renewed determination.
Leaving Luke to his training, he turned toward the warp gate.
Their mentor-mentee relationship was an odd one.
Other second-years taught their mentees exam strategies, departmental insights, or combat tips.
Leo did none of that.
He simply created a training plan and gave it to Luke.
‘Everything a hero needs to learn can be found in Lumene.’
The Hero Academies were designed as the perfect places to forge heroes.
Leo’s job was merely to shape the vessel.
He didn’t lend a hand or offer easy help—only guided from behind.
When Luke faltered, Leo caught him just before he fell, then pushed him forward again.
‘Strength only has meaning when it’s earned by one’s own hands.’
Leo glanced back once more.
Only Luke could change how others saw him.
And Luke was working harder than anyone.
“I’m looking forward to the finals.”
—
“I refuse to accept this!”
In Seiren’s second-year conference room, Professor Reber slammed the table.
“Leo Plov! That arrogant delinquent from Lumene—as an exchange student?!”
Bang!
He struck the table again, his eyes blazing.
Leo Plov—
Reber still remembered the humiliation he’d suffered during the Smith contract negotiations.
During that incident, Leo had publicly embarrassed him while defending Lunia, who had just awakened as a rebellious student.
The image of Leo mockingly waving the [Polium]—the reward from Luna’s world conquest—still burned in Reber’s mind.
Veins bulged on his forehead.
“Besides! Student Lunia has recently begun to change! She’s becoming a model Seiren student again!”
At that, Professor Herdeum sighed deeply.
“Professor Reber, forgive me for asking, but… do you really believe those ‘reformation classes’ are working?”
Having taught Lunia since her first year, Herdeum knew her better than anyone.
In his eyes, she didn’t need any so-called “reformation.”
‘Sure, she can be reckless sometimes… but Lunia knows self-control, and she looks out for others. She has leadership.’
No student perfectly matched the ideal image of obedience that adults wanted—
and Herdeum knew that such ideals weren’t even healthy to begin with.
He also knew what Reber meant by a “model student”—one shaped to fit the elves’ racial supremacist ideals.
And as for those so-called supplementary lessons—
Herdeum sighed inwardly.
‘What a load of crap.’
Lunia’s irritated voice echoed in his head like a ghost.
“It’s working,” said Orlen, Lunia’s reformation instructor, smiling smugly.
Watching him, Herdeum’s expression twisted slightly.
‘She hasn’t changed a bit.’
The only difference was whether she bothered pretending.
Both Reber and Orlen had joined Seiren recently, but even considering that, their capability as educators was abysmal.
Still, Herdeum said nothing.
Speaking up would only make things harder for the students.
‘This is a rare opportunity. Leo will influence Seiren one way or another.’
He too believed Seiren needed to change.
From the few times he’d met Leo, Herdeum could tell—the boy had the presence to bring transformation, for better or worse.
‘It’s already at rock bottom anyway. It can’t get any worse.’
As he thought that grimly—
“Professor Reber, I have a splendid idea.”
Orlen raised his teacup with graceful poise, took a sip, and smiled meaningfully.
“If we simply prevent Leo Plov from influencing Student Lunia in any way… wouldn’t that solve everything?”