Editor : Amethyst00



Leo pulled a map from his coat.

Because of the backlash from using the Brave’s Breath, everything around his left arm had turned to ashes.

Thanks to that, the map had also burned so badly it was almost impossible to read.

‘The power is tremendous, but I’ll need to adjust it quickly.’

Leo let out a quiet sigh as he walked through the ruins of an old castle.

By the time the cheers of his classmates had faded so much they were barely audible,

he reached the lakeside at the edge of the ruins.

Then he dipped his fingertip into the water.

Toong—!

Ripples spread across the entire lake.

“……”

Leo rose to his feet and, using Aura Step, walked across to the lake’s center.

Kkadeuk—!

Then he bit into his right thumb, drawing blood, and let a drop fall into the water.

The drop, imbued with Leo’s spiritual power, touched the surface.

But instead of spreading, it formed a small circle.

And within it, a complex sigil appeared—

the symbol of Luminus, Elemental Lord of Brilliance.

Woooong—!

A small ball of light rose before Leo.

Hwaak—!

Moments later, it burst, revealing a tiny white-haired elemental, no larger than a palm.

Its faint light flickered as if it might vanish any second. Its trembling eyes opened.

“It’s been a while, Luminus.”

Meeting Leo’s gaze, Luminus wore a troubled expression.

[Who… are you? How did you wake me?]

“It’s me. Kyle.”

[Kyle? You?]

Luminus stared fixedly at Leo.

[Indeed… this spiritual power’s resonance is unmistakably yours, Kyle.]

Even weakened and fading, an Elemental Lord was still an Elemental Lord.

Acknowledging that Leo was Kyle, Luminus asked:

[I don't know why you look like that. But… where is Lysinas?]

“Lysinas… is dead.”

At those words, Luminus lifted her gaze to the sky.

The blue sky.

Something unimaginable during the Age of Calamity. Now, so achingly beautiful that tears welled in her eyes.

To those who lived in this era, it was nothing new.

But to those who had endured the Age of Calamity, it was the one thing they longed to see most.

[So… that child kept her promise with me.]

Recalling the Contractor who swore to restore light to the world, Luminus spoke softly.

[Will you tell me what happened while I slept?]

Leo told her—of meeting comrades, forming the Subjugation Party, and after countless sacrifices, striking down Erebos.

Not in every detail, but enough that Luminus could picture the deeds of the Great Heroes.

After hearing it all, she whispered:

[Then it’s fortunate… that I never awoke for five thousand years.]

“Why’s that?”

[Because it let me say these words to you.]

The Elemental Lord of Brilliance, once called the greatest of all elemental, bowed deeply.

[For returning light to this world. For fulfilling that child’s wish. For saving this world. Thank you, Kyle.]

Raising her head, Luminus continued.

[Even if the world has forgotten you, the fact remains: you accomplished a great deed. That will never change. Truly… thank you.]

Gratitude only one who lived that age could express.

Leo burst into a laugh.

“This is the first time anyone’s thanked me.”

At that, Luminus smiled brightly.

Her body began to glow faintly.

She had been sealed to prevent her own collapse.

Now that the seal was undone, her remaining time was short.

“Leo! Where are you!”

A distant voice called for him.

[Those children?]

“They’re the new seeds of heroes, who’ll carry the next generation.”

[So that’s it.]

Luminus gave a wistful smile.

As long as Erebos was not completely gone,

the embers of calamity still smoldered in this land.

[Will you fight again, this time too?]

“Of course. We can’t afford to lose this peace.”

At his words, Luminus held out her hand.

A necklace appeared—set with a gem of white light.

[This is the Radiant Jewel, borne by the Elemental Lord of Light for generations. It should have been passed to my successor… but I could not. Please, take it.]

“Is it really alright for me to have something like this?”

[Yes. It holds no special power, but it carries immense meaning. With this, the elementals of light will treat you as they would an Elemental Lord.]

That made it no small thing.

[This is goodbye.]

“Yeah.”

[May the blessing of light be with you.]

“And may you rest in peace.”

At Kyle’s solemn farewell, Luminus vanished with a radiant smile.

Leo carefully tucked the necklace away.

Just then, Celia appeared by the lakeshore.

“Leo, what are you doing out here?”

“I had something to take care of.”

“Hurry up and let Nella heal your wounds first!”

“Alright.”

bl

Not long after the first-years defeated the Gigantes, Lumene’s rescue team broke the Curse of Severance and entered Neigrang.

Though there were several beast attacks along the way, none posed great danger, and the first-years were safely rescued.

Afterward, the incident of the Inter-Departmental Tournament brought about tremendous upheaval.

Two issues drew the most attention.

First, Lumene was put on trial by public opinion.

To anyone’s eyes, this Tournament had been orchestrated by Tartaros to target Lumene.

The academy’s inadequate response drew harsh pressure from outside powers.

But the hotter topic was the first-years who had slain a Gigantes.

That raid was truly a feat worthy of being called an epic achievement.

As all eyes turned to Lumene—

“Uuugh, I totally bombed the exam.”

Carl lay facedown on his desk, wailing miserably.

All the first-years were suffering through written exams.

Because the exam period overlapped with the Tournament, this term’s tests were especially difficult.

Though not everyone struggled.

“Carl, it’s been fun this semester.”

Chelsea, unusually kind, patted his shoulder with a smile.

“You said that at midterms too, didn’t you?”

“Yeah. But I don’t think a miracle will save you this time.”

“Ugh, too cruel.”

The honors students had leisure regardless of the academy’s schedule.

Watching them, Leo said:

“You worked hard, so it’ll turn out fine. You were great in the Tournament, after all.”

“As expected, only you get me, Leo!”

After finishing the magic exam, the three of them were chatting as usual when—

“Leo.”

“Associate Professor Anna? What is it?”

“Professor Len is looking for you.”

Leo tilted his head in puzzlement.

“I’ll be back.”

“Mm, Leo-oppa, we’ll wait in the classroom.”

“See you later.”

Chelsea and Carl rose and headed for Class 5.

“What does the professor want with me?”

“You’ll hear directly from him.”

Anna smiled faintly in reply.

Soon they arrived at Len’s office.

She knocked, then opened the door.

Clack—

Inside, Professor Len stood before a blackboard that filled an entire wall, covered with complicated magical formulas.

“Ah, you’ve come, Leo.”

Len spotted him and gestured to a seat.

“Something to drink?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Alright then.”

Len sat across from him with a steaming cup of coffee.

Heating it again with magic, he spoke gravely.

“I’ll be blunt, Leo.”

“Yes.”

“From second semester on, you’ll choose the Department of Magic as your major.”

“Isn’t forcing a student into a department against school rules?”

“Of course.”

Clink—!

Len set down his cup.

“But Leo! Your talent is far too precious! At your age, you wield Star Sorcery and unravel the spell left by the Poet of the Star! You’re a once-in-a-thousand-years genius!”

“I still want to take knight training and summoning classes. I appreciate your high opinion, but I plan to keep all three classes next term.”

Leo bowed politely.

“Thank you for this semester, Professor.”

With that, he left the office.

As he exited, Anna sighed.

“See? I told you it wouldn’t work.”

“Then starting next term, we’ll have to prepare events to draw Leo onto the path of magic.”

“Events?”

“A lecture no mage could resist! If he’s truly a magician, he won’t be able to ignore it!”

Seeing Len burning with passion, Anna smiled.

‘Sometimes he runs wild and causes trouble, but when he’s alight with his love for magic… he really is at his best.’

“I’ll support you, Professor Len.”

“Good. Then, Associate Professor Anna, you’ll stay here over break to prepare with me.”

Anna’s eyelid twitched.

“Stay… with you?”

“As my most trusted assistant, you’ll remain at the academy through the break and help me prepare next term!”

“I already filed vacation leave to visit home.”

“I canceled it.”

“You bastard! At the start of the term you told me I should go visit my hometown!”

Anna lunged, grabbing him by the collar.

Though it was outrageous for an associate professor to seize a professor like that, Len only laughed joyfully.

This time too, the victim of Len’s reckless passion was Anna..

bl

In the principal’s office, Kalian looked down over the school when the door opened and two professors entered—

Harrid and Sedgen.

The most senior professors of Lumene, both wielded significant influence in the academy.

A position of Profesor at Lumene was not something one simply held onto.

Each year, one had to pass rigorous qualification exams to remain.

Thus, those who had served so long were the most trusted by the headmaster.

“Sorry to trouble you during first-year exams.”

Kalian entrusted the aftermath of the Inter-Department Tournament incident to the two professors.

“It’s alright. Compared to taking charge of the 4th and 5th years, there’s more leeway, so it’s fine.”

Being in charge of the 4th and 5th years preparing for graduation certainly required enormous work.

But this year, taking charge of the 1st years, it was natural that they had more free time.

“So, have you narrowed down the suspects?”

At his question, Sedgen placed a sheet on the desk.

Kalian clicked his tongue after scanning it.

“All who raised suspicion are listed here.”

“A great many recommended by the Board of Directors.”

Kalian’s face grew grim as he looked it over.

“I’ll speak of this side myself from now on.”

“Understood.”

“Harrid, your report?”

“For now, every country is taking quite a hardline stance.”

Lumene, with its Hero Record, trained countless talents.

The question of whether their own young could be safely entrusted to it had become a worldwide debate.

But in truth, this was only a pretext to undermine Lumene’s influence.

Many nations had long resented its monopoly on the Hero Record.

“And their demand?”

“Their demand is to accept those they recommend as professors.”

“They must be thinking to increase their faction’s professors and expand their influence in Lumene.”

“Exactly.”

“With our recent shortage of staff, temporary professors might not be such a bad idea. Harrid, that task falls to you.”

“Understood.”

“And one more thing.”

Kalian’s face turned grave.

“From the second semester, we must reinstate the Vice Principal.”