Chapter 54
“So, everyone. We’re decided on Elsalbekia for our class trip, right?”
“Yes!”
At Sena’s question, everyone in Class 5 answered together.
The day after the party.
All the Class 5 students, including Leo, were in the classroom even though it was the weekend.
Not just Class 5—other classes were also busy on this weekend morning, heatedly discussing their school trip destinations.
Standing up front with Nella, gathering everyone’s opinions, Leo looked satisfied as he saw the class’s chosen destination.
‘Now we just have to head for the city where Fairy Forest is.’
“There must be a reason if the class president suggested it~”
“Yeah. If the class president chose it, we can trust it.”
The biggest reason Class 5 chose Elsalbekia was Leo’s influence.
“I’m glad it got decided quickly.”
Watching from a corner at the front, Harrid flicked his finger.
“Class president, vice president. Hand these out.”
A bundle of printouts from his bag flew to the two of them.
Leo and Nella passed them out to their classmates.
“Let’s see.”
“Supplies?”
“Do we have to get these ourselves?”
As the students looked at the printouts and voiced their doubts, Harrid replied in his usual expressionless way.
“You only have this weekend to get ready. So once the meeting ends, everyone should prepare. That’s it for the meeting. Dismissed.”
Clatter—!
The students all stood up at once.
“Class president and vice president, stay behind.”
At that, Leo and Nella, who were about to leave, stopped.
“Let’s go to Lumeria City right now!”
“Okay!”
“Elsalbekia’s a cold country all year, right? I want to look for winter clothes!”
Chatting happily, the Class 5 students left the classroom.
“Leo! Nella! We’ll wait for you at the docks!”
“Hurry up.”
Chelsea and Carr also waved and left.
Only four people were left.
Harrid spoke to Leo and Nella, who stood in front of him.
“Everyone’s excited, but you two aren’t thinking of treating this school trip lightly, are you?”
At Harrid’s blunt question, both nodded.
“No.”
“I’d hope not, but Lumene isn’t an easy place.”
At that answer, Harrid nodded.
“Good. In that case, let me ask you something.”
“What is it…?”
“Normally, once the country is decided, I would set the schedule. But I started thinking, maybe it would be fine to leave it to you two.”
“What do you mean?”
“Yes. Would you two—class president and vice president—like to plan the schedule yourselves? Of course, if it’s too much, I’ll do it as usual.”
‘The whole schedule with just me and Leo? It’s nice that Professor Harrid trusts us, but is it really okay?’
Nella hesitated.
But Leo smirked a little.
‘This actually works out well.’
For Leo, who was aiming for Fairy Forest, this was perfect.
“I’ll do it.”
At his immediate answer, even Nella and Sena looked surprised.
“Can you handle it?”
“Didn’t you bring it up because you thought I could?”
At Leo’s bold reply, Harrid smirked.
“Nella Carven, your thoughts?”
“It’s the vice president’s job to support the class president.”
Nella let out a light sigh and gave her signature languid smile.
“Alright. I’ll look forward to it, then. Make sure to report to Assistant Professor Sena every night.”
After hearing that, Leo and Nella bowed and left the classroom.
“That’s pretty bold.”
“I just wanted to see how capable Leo really is.”
Harrid opened the attendance book and looked at Leo’s photo.
“This first-year generation is something else.”
“They really are. Celia, Duran, Chen Xia, Abad, Chloe, Walden, Eliza. Any of them could be year rep and it wouldn’t be strange.”
Even in a place like Lumene where only the talented gather, it’s rare to see so many standouts in one year.
“But Leo is special even among them.”
“He’s all-class.”
“That’s not the only reason.”
“Then what?”
“Professor Albi’s evaluation that he’s hero material wasn’t wrong.”
Sena’s eyes went wide.
Harrid’s judgment of students was more accurate than anyone’s.
‘For Professor Harrid to say this much…’
Harrid closed the attendance book.
‘Whether you like it or not, Leo pushes those around him. The students influenced by that are making huge progress.’
A person who has a massive impact on those around them.
That’s what you call a hero.
‘That bottomless potential really is amazing.’
With that thought, Harrid stood up.
“I’ll leave the school trip schedule to you.”
“You’re busy because of the midterm incident, right?”
“Don’t ask further. Those who aren’t full professors shouldn’t know.”
At that, Sena smiled and nodded.
—
After reaching the entrance to Courage Street, the main street of Lumeria City, Eliana suggested,
“Let’s split into three teams of two!”
“That’ll be more efficient than all going together.”
Nella laughed and agreed, and Tide asked,
“How do we pick teams?”
“Let’s do rock-paper-scissors and match whoever gets the same.”
Everyone nodded at Carr’s suggestion.
“Rock, paper, scissors!”
After a few rounds, the teams ended up as Leo and Chelsea, Carr and Nella, Eliana and Tide.
“Alright, let’s decide what each team will buy.”
Leo and Chelsea: groceries.
Carr and Nella: equipment.
Eliana and Tide: potions.
Groceries, equipment, and potions.
These were all items the students were told to prepare.
They were even given funds individually.
Checking the printout, Eliana stroked her chin.
“This really feels like getting ready for an expedition.”
“It’s a Lumene department event. Maybe it’s like the mission trial that starts in the second semester?”
“Oh! That could be it.”
At Chelsea’s words, Eliana nodded.
“Then let’s meet back here for lunch in three hours! Break!”
The groups split up.
Chelsea, who had been eager to start, suddenly stopped.
“But… how are we supposed to buy groceries?”
For her, an elite noble lady from a heroic house, this was surprisingly difficult.
“Follow me.”
“Huh?”
Chelsea blinked, then trailed after Leo.
Leo headed straight for the market on Courage Street like he’d done it a hundred times before.
He started buying the necessary food supplies for the trip—starting with preserved goods, then other ingredients.
Since they’d brought a storage subspace for food, storing it all wasn’t a problem.
Chelsea watched, eyes wide, as Leo expertly bought everything they needed.
Finally, they stopped by the fruit shop—the same one whose owner had tossed apples to Leo and Celia on the day of the entrance ceremony.
As they approached, the owner greeted them with a hearty laugh.
“Oh! Students from Lumene! What year are you in?”
“First year.”
“Oh? First year? What’s your name?”
“Leo Plov.”
“Leo Plov? Wait, you’re the first-year representative, Leo Plov?”
The fruit shop owner’s eyes widened.
“You know Leo?”
“Of course! Kid, look at this!”
“That’s the school newspaper.”
Leo accepted it with a curious look.
[The unprecedented all-class first-year, Leo Plov, is making headlines.]
There was an article about Leo.
“This is quite the honor, huh? Hahaha! Shake my hand, would you?”
‘What a straightforward guy.’
Leo thought, shaking his hand.
“Alright! Since I’m in a good mood, I’ll give you a discount!”
“Thank you.”
Leo grinned.
“I once dreamed of being a hero myself, but I didn’t have any talent!”
He laughed, tapping his forehead, and clicked his tongue with a hint of regret.
“That’s why, when I see students like you, I can’t help but feel envious and want to help out. Aren’t you all the future of this world?”
Chelsea looked a little shy at that.
“I’m just an ordinary guy who can only cheer you on.”
“That encouragement really is a help to us.”
“Hm?”
“That’s what a hero is.”
Leo smiled.
In the Age of Despair.
What picked the expedition team up, again and again, when they were about to fall, was the hope and support of people who believed in them.
Hearing that, the fruit shop owner’s eyes widened, then he burst into laughter.
“I’ve seen a lot of Lumene students, but you really are something! Alright, from today on, I’m your fan!”
With a big laugh, the fruit shop owner handed apples to Leo and Chelsea.
“Leo, you’re really good at this. It doesn’t look like your first time.”
Chelsea asked as she crunched into an apple.
“I’ve done this kind of thing before.”
In his previous life, supplies were critical.
‘I couldn’t help but get used to it.’
Thinking of the past, he bit into his apple.
“We have a lot of time left. What should we do until then?”
Chelsea, nibbling her finger, started to ponder.
“I have somewhere to go.”
“Where? Want me to come?”
“It’s personal.”
At Leo’s answer, Chelsea nodded.
“See you at the meeting spot in a bit.”
“Okay.”
Leo smiled at Chelsea’s slightly disappointed wave and headed into the back alley.
‘It should be around here.’
Looking around the alleys, Leo soon stopped in front of a shop called Lutech.
“This is it.”
On the outside, it just looked like an ordinary back-alley shop.
But this was the place that had sold the Demonic Artifact to Chloe.
He turned the door handle, but it was locked.
Leo recited an unlocking spell.
Click—! Creak—!
He stepped inside. The shop was dark.
“Light.”
He illuminated the inside with a simple light spell.
‘Lumene’s probably already finished their investigation here…’
Leo narrowed his eyes as he looked at the ransacked shop.
‘A place linked to the Demonic Artifact. There might still be something left.’
He carefully searched the shop.
But there was nothing unusual.
The only thing left was an old teddy bear stuffed into the corner of a display shelf.
‘Wait. A teddy bear?’
This place had already been thoroughly investigated by Lumene.
They would have taken everything, even the smallest thing, for examination.
So why was there a teddy bear?
As Leo considered this, he flinched.
‘Cognitive suppression magic?’
The moment he thought that—
Wooooo—
Black energy began to flow from the teddy bear’s eyes.
Squirm! Squirm! Slosh! Slosh!
The doll, spreading black energy, soon swelled into a lump of flesh.
‘Demon!’
Flash—!
A giant eye popped out of the center of the flesh, twitching as it made eye contact with Leo.
Crunch—!
At the same time, the flesh shot out toward Leo.
Crack!
The floor of the shop collapsed.
Fwoosh—!
Leo ignited his [Aura] flames.
Boom—!
The demon’s body caught fire.
But the flames soon died out.
[Kekeke. Kehihihik!]
A mocking laugh echoed out.
At the sound, Leo felt a chill.
‘That voice…!’
It was a voice Leo knew well.
‘Queen of Monsters… Sillatna!’