Editor : Amethyst00



[Leo Plov had passed the finish line in first place!]

Shierra, who was in charge of commentary, shouted in an excited tone as she watched Leo cross the finish line in first place.

Afterward, Duran and Eliza also crossed, making Lumene’s riders take 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

Seiren’s riders were eliminated by Leo, with Eiran’s elimination, and by Chloe and Chen Xia, causing the rest to also fall.

Even in elimination points, Lumene led overall, and thus the first-year team match ended in Lumene’s overwhelming victory.

It was the first time since the current fifth years that the first-year team match had been won.

Because of that, loud cheers erupted from the Lumene stands.

“Leo! Duran! Eliza!”

The first-years praised the three.

Just when the Lumene side was in a festive mood—

“Hah! Lunia el Lunda!”

“Get out of the way!”

As Lunia approached, the Lumene first-years scattered in fright.

It was because they had seen Lunia’s terrifying momentum when she had attacked Leo during the obstacle race.

As everyone swallowed dryly, Lunia gave the Lumene first-years a soft, smile-.

The Lumene first-year students who had been frightened seeing Lunia’s fierce attacks against Leo, were hesitated.

Thinking about it, it had been a race with the pride of rival schools on the line. It's no wonder her attacks had been fierce.

Seeing Lunia acting the part of a perfect honor student, the Lumene first-years whispered among themselves.

“She’s not scary at all?”

“She’s actually super pretty.”

“How should I say it, a perfect honor student.”

The Lumene first-years, who didn’t know the details, fell for it completely.

In fact, even within Seiren, besides her classmates or a few upperclassmen, not many knew Lunia’s true nature.

Meanwhile, Lunia, having arrived before Leo, said,

“Leo, let’s talk for a bit.”

“Shall we?”

Leo, who had been sitting and resting, stood up with a grunt.

Then, after going to a place where only the two could talk, he asked,

“What is it?”

“Please cheer up Eiran a bit. Because of you, she’s really upset right now.”

Lunia sighed and pointed toward Eiran, who was sitting on the Seiren side.

Eiran being the representative rider for her grade had been naively outdone by Leo, and now she was terribly dejected.

At that, Leo scratched his cheek and walked toward Eiran.

Eiran, whose shoulders were slumped, was being comforted by other students.

Until the first semester, Eiran hadn’t adjusted well to the school, but now things were different.

After meeting Leo, she had steadied her heart and adapted with her academic life.

Since the advanced first-class students’ lineup had changed quite a lot since then, she adapted well to the new environment.

Because of that, she was now firmly recognized as Seiren’s 2nd rank of first-year.

As Leo approached, several Seiren students glared at him.

‘What? Why’s this guy here?’

Especially the gazes of some male students were not kind.

Eiran had become quite popular within Seiren due to her shy yet kind personality and her tendency to take care of others.

“Eiran.”

“Leo-nim?”

At Leo’s call, Eiran flinched and lifted her head, then her ears drooped down.

At the sight of an even more deflated Eiran than before, the Seiren students’ hostility grew stronger.

“You’ve grown a lot, you know?”

“Eh?”

“I heard you dodged Duran and Eliza’s attacks? That’s really impressive.”

Leo smiled as he praised Eiran.

At those words, Eiran’s ears perked up.

With eyes wide open, she looked up at Leo, her cheeks slightly flushed.

“R-really?”

“Yeah.”

Eiran smiled brightly as Leo smiled softly.

“Leo-nim was amazing too!”

Eiran, having regained her spirit, stood up and started chatting cheerfully.

Seeing that, the Seiren students made subtle expressions.

Especially the male students’ faces twisted.

Watching that, Lunia let out a small sigh.

‘Eiran is too weak when it comes to Leo.’

Lunia was filled with worry as she thought about the upcoming Lumeiren Competition.

bl

After the first-year team match, which could be called the opening match of Lumeiren Competition, ended—

Various other matches unfolded afterward.

Students from Lumene and Seiren each showed off their talents and specialties, displaying their presence to the public.

Though it was an event involving interspecies harmony and school pride, before that, it was also an occasion to publicize the excellence of the hero candidates to the public.

For hero candidates were themselves the very symbols of future peace.

The first day’s schedule came to an end.

Then, on the late evening of the third day’s end—

Most students were asleep due to fatigue from Lumeiren Competition.

Leo too was about to lie on his bed to sleep when—

Knock- knock-

A sound came from the window being tapped.

Leo got up and approached the window.

And when he saw the bird standing outside, he made a puzzled expression.

‘A Snow Bird?’

It was a low-grade phantom beast living in cold regions.

When Leo opened the door, the Snow Bird entered the room, dropped the rolled-up letter envelope it was holding in its claws, and then fluttered away.

Despite the rather strong wind blowing, it was unaffected as one would expected from a phantom beast.

With a puzzled face, Leo opened the envelope.

“An invitation?”

The sender was none other than Seiren’s vice principal.

‘To the Stars Archive at Seiren main campus?’

During Lumeiren Competition, Seiren opened its facilities to Lumene students as well.

The Stars Archive was no exception, though there were restricted hours of use.

The Stars Archive.

A place that was like the very heart of Seiren, where all manner of data on the Star Sorcery that had been accumulated by elves over the past 5000 years, lay dormant.

Being invited to such a place outside of normal hours, Leo couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

‘I can’t ignore it, I suppose?’

Scratching his head, Leo promptly changed clothes and headed for the Stars Archive.

Normally he would have been stopped by an administrator, but it seemed arrangements had been made in advance, and Leo reached the front of the Archive without issue.

Creaaak-

Leo opened the huge door of the Stars Archive and went inside.

Magical lamps faintly illuminated the interior, making it dim.

But Leo walked through the archive without much difficulty.

“Welcome, Leo Plov.”

After a moment, a clear voice was heard.

Flash-

The inside of the Stars Archive lit up brightly.

And there, sitting in the center, was an elven woman with silver hair and golden eyes.

Beside her stood a tall elven man.

Leo could tell easily that the one who had spoken to him was a dragon.

“Hello.”

As Leo bowed his head slightly in greeting, the elf man’s eyes twitched.

“Show more respect, Leo Plov. Do you know who this person is?”

“Vice Principal of Seiren, Lady Nerzia, right?”

“Even knowing that, you take such a disrespectful attitude?”

“Boreas. I don’t think there’s a need to be so strict.”

When Nerzia narrowed her eyes, the man called Boreas spoke with obvious displeasure.

“Vice Principal Nerzia. I still don’t understand. Why should we accept a human into Seiren?”

Boreas looked at Leo.

“He’s merely a human who happened to get lucky enough to interpret the Poet’s spell. To accept him as part of Seiren, he’s nothing but human.”

Boreas Zerkyn.

A graduate from five years ago, now an elf at the forefront of hero dungeon raids.

Leo narrowed his eyes at Boreas’s gaze.

‘I’ve seen eyes like him before.’

They were similar to some Seiren students’ gazes he’d seen back in the first semester, students who were convinced that they were a step above Lumene’s.

‘No, this one’s fundamentally different.’

Boreas’s gaze were even more blatant.

Leo knew eyes exactly like those.

The eyes of those intoxicated with racial superiority.

‘The same eyes as High Elves.’

“Boreas, I believe I allowed your accompany here under the condition that you wouldn’t bring that topic up?”

Nerzia rubbed her temple as if her head hurt.

“I apologize, Vice Principal Nerzia.”

“I don’t want to hear excuses. Leave.”

At Nerzia’s expression of displeasure, Boreas bowed his head deeply and left the Stars Archive.

Even as he left, he didn’t stop glaring at Leo.

‘To think there’d still be elves like that in this life.’

Compared to him, the Seiren students’ excessive school pride now seemed almost cute.

“Ugh— that guy’s brain is way too stiff in that area.”

Nerzia groaned, covering her face, then took a deep breath and smiled brightly.

“Anyway, welcome, Leo Plov.”

“So, why did you ask to see me?”

“That didn’t hurt your feelings?”

Nerzia asked with a slightly surprised look as Leo remained unbothered.

“I’m used to that sort of thing. I just think of it as a dog barking.”

As Leo smiled faintly, Nerzia made an intrigued hoo— sound.

‘As expected, his composure is extraordinary.’

Resting her chin on her hand, Nerzia spoke,

“The reason I asked to see you is simple. The longsword made from dragon bone you received. I’m the one who sent it.”

“I’m making good use of it.”

“Good. Then, why do you think I sent such a gift?”

Nerzia crossed her arms and made a meaningful expression.

“Because I want you to come to Seiren!”

“You mean transfer?”

“Yes.”

Nerzia grinned.

“I’ll be honest. Leo Plov, I desire your talent. You will surely become one of the next-generation heroes who lead this era, and among them, you will be the most outstanding one.”

Nerzia stood up and approached Leo.

“I deeply respect the great Wise Queen, Lady Lysinas. I want to raise a great hero who will subjugate the Flames of Calamity and Tartaros, just as Lady Lysinas did.”

Nerzia’s golden eyes gleamed.

“Do you know why Lumene has fallen behind Seiren recently?”

“Because the Seiren kids study harder, I suppose.”

“It’s because of me.”

Nerzia shrugged her shoulders.

“As Seiren’s vice principal, I’ve actively supported the Seiren students. Now Seiren isn’t just ahead of Lumene in competition. Even compared to Azonia and Damien, Seiren stands far superior. In other words! The most prestigious of the prestigious!”

With a meaningful smile, Nerzia extended her hand.

“If you study here, you can climb even higher, Leo Plov. To become the best, one must study in the best place. Seiren and I will make you a hero whose name will go down in history.”

Looking at Nerzia radiating confidence, Leo replied,

“I like my school.”

“Huht. I thought you might say that. Then I’ll tell you something only for you.”

Nerzia grinned.

“I’m a dragon.”

“……”

“Not just me. All the vice principals of the hero academies are dragons. And the current Lumene vice principal, Rivein-sunbae, isn’t very interested in supporting students. That old dragon’s at the age for retirement. Of course, experienced, but unlike my youthful vigor. You’ve been chosen by a dragon. How’s that? Doesn’t it make you want to come to Seiren even more?”

“Lady Melina said that the fact all the hero academies’ vice principals are dragons is top secret. Wouldn’t it be a big problem if you just revealed that?”

“Ah, well, if the Queen found out, that would be… Wait, what did you just say?”

Nerzia’s eyes widened.

“You know Her Queen?”

“Yes. I’ve met her a few times directly.”

Watching Nerzia’s mouth open and close silently, Leo said,

“If you’ve said everything you wanted, can I go to bed now?”

Since he had no thought of transferring, Leo saw no reason to prolong the conversation.

“Wait! Wait! Hold on!”

Nerzia called out hastily.

“Do you think I’d ask you to transfer to Seiren empty-handed?”

With a triumphant face, Nerzia took out a small case from her bosom.

Then handed it to Leo.

Leo looked puzzled as he received it.

“Open it.”

When Leo opened the case, inside was a small, worn piece of paper.

“It’s a fragment of the Hero Record of the Poet of the Star. A fragment capable of manifesting a Hero’s World.”

At those words, Leo’s face showed surprise.

“A relic left by Lady Luna?”

“Yes. Well, not exactly physical, but still.”

Nerzia smiled slyly.

“It’s a very recent discovery. Someone who’s mastered a specific spell of Star Sorcery can manifest the Hero’s World of this Hero Record.”

Then, approaching Leo and putting an arm around his shoulder, Nerzia spoke in a suggestive tone.

“If you come to Seiren, I’ll give you a chance to conquer the Hero’s World of a Great Hero.”

Taking out the Hero Record fragment from the case, Nerzia placed it in Leo’s hand.

At that, Leo quickly stepped back.

Given past cases, a Hero’s World could suddenly open.

“What? Why so startled?”

Nerzia looked puzzled at Leo’s reaction.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Leo looked startled for a moment, then regained composure and asked,

“What’s the Star Sorcery spell that triggers it?”

“That’s a secret.”

Nerzia smiled confidently.

“So? Doesn’t it pique your interest?”

Leo looked indifferent.

“No.”

“W-why not?”

“Because I feel school life would be miserable there. Just look at that elf earlier.”

At Leo’s words, Nerzia looked flustered.

Indeed, there were quite a few students in Seiren with racially superior mindsets.

“If you’re done, I’ll be going now.”

Leo bowed his head politely.

And left the Stars Archive.

‘It felt like my hand touched it earlier, but why didn’t Luna’s World activate? Though I’m glad… Could it be not Luna’s World? But she did say it was Luna’s Hero Record…’

Leaving the Stars Archive, Leo fell into thought.

Watching him go, Nerzia returned the Hero Record to the deepest part of the Library, looking disappointed.

‘That little one’s got quite the stubbornness. Maybe he’s just that attached to his school. Well! That kind of conviction makes it worth persuading!’s

Nerzia’s motivation burned brighter as she closed the central door of the Stars Archive.

Creeeeak—! Thud—!

Darkness fell over the very core of the Stars Archive, where the Hero Record was kept.

Crackle-

In that instant, gray sparks flickered across Luna’s Hero Record.