Editor : Amethyst00



“Then everyone, it’s decided our class will go to El-Salvekia, right?”

“Yes!”

The entire class responded in unison to Sena’s question.

The day after the party.

Despite it being the weekend, every student of Class 5, including Leo, was gathered in the classroom.

Not only Class 5 but the students of other classes too were busy holding heated discussions early in the morning about their own class trip destinations.

Leo standing at the front with Nella to consolidate opinions, looked at the chosen destination of Class 5 with satisfaction.

'Now all that’s left is to get to the city where the Fairy Forest lies.'

“Since the class president suggested it, there must be a reason~”

“Yeah. If it’s the president’s choice, then it’s trustworthy.”

The main reason Class 5 would be heading to El-Salvekia was Leo’s influence.

“Good thing it was decided quickly.”

Harrid, sitting in the front corner of the room, flicked his fingers while watching the class meeting.

“President, vice president. Hand out these printouts.”

A bundle of papers floated out from his bag to the two of them. Leo and Nella distributed them to their classmates.

“Let’s see here.”

“Supplies?”

“Do we have to prepare these ourselves?”

As students looked over the sheets with doubt, Harrid spoke in his usual expressionless tone.

“You only have this weekend to prepare. Once the meeting is over, get it done. That will be all for the meeting, right? Dismiss.”

Creak—!

Students all rose at once.

“Class president, vice president. Stay.”

At that, Leo and Nella, who had just been about to leave, paused.

“Let’s head straight to Lumeria City!”

“Okay!”

“El-Salvekia is cold all year, right? I want to go look for winter clothes!”

Chatting excitedly, Class 5 filed out of the classroom.

“Leo-oppa, Nella-unnie! We’ll wait at the port!”

“Hurry and come.”

Chelsea and Carl waved and left as well.

That left only the four of them.

Harrid looked at Leo and Nella before him.

“Everyone may be excited, but surely you two as president and vice president aren’t thinking of treating this trip so lightly?”

At the professor’s blunt question, the two nodded.

“Yes.”

“That’s good. But Lumene is no lenient place.”

He nodded at their serious reply.

“Good. Then I’ll ask you one thing.”

“What is it…?”

“Normally, once the country is decided, I would arrange the schedule. But it occurred to me that perhaps you two could handle it.”

“You mean…?”

“Yes. As president and vice president, would you like to plan the itinerary? Of course, if that’s too much, I’ll handle it as usual.”

'Planning the entire trip with just Leo and me? Professor Harrid may trust us, but… will this be okay?'

Nella fell into thought. But Leo’s lips curled faintly.

This works out perfectly.

Since Leo’s real objective was the Fairy Forest, this was good news for him.

“I’ll do it.”

His immediate reply shocked not only Nella but Sena as well.

“You can manage it?”

“You wouldn’t have suggested it if you didn’t think I could.”

At his audacious words, Harrid’s lips curled as well.

“Nella Caven. Your opinion?”

“Supporting the president is the vice president’s duty.”

With a small sigh, Nella gave her characteristic languid smile.

“Very well. I’ll expect good work. Report nightly to Associate Professor Sena.”

With that, Leo and Nella bowed and left.

“That’s quite the bold move, Professor.”

“I simply wish to gauge Leo Plov’s true capabilities.”

Harrid opened the class attendance book and looked at Leo’s photo.

“This year’s first-year batch is remarkable.”

“They’re certainly outstanding. Celia, Duran, Chen Xia, Abad, Chloe, Walden, Eliza… all of them have the ability to be grade representative.”

Even in Lumene, where talent gathered, it was rare to see a whole generation this packed with geniuses.

“Among them, Leo Plov is exceptional.”

“Because he’s an All-Class?”

“No. That’s not why he’s special.”

“Then why?”

“Professor Albi’s evaluation that Leo is a hero in the making wasn’t wrong.”

Sena’s eyes widened.

Harrid’s evaluation of students was the most precise of all professors.

'For him to say this much about Leo…'

Harrid shut the attendance book.

Like it or not, Leo Plov stimulates those around him. And the students affected by that influence are making leaps of progress.

A being who exerts immense influence on those around them.

That is what they call a hero.

'That unfathomable power is truly astounding.'

With that thought, Harrid rose.

“The trip schedule is delegated to you.”

“You must be busy with the midterm incident, right?”

“Don’t ask further. Associate Professors aren’t permitted to know.”

At those words, Sena smiled and bowed lightly.

bl

At the entrance of Courage Street, the main street of Lumeria City, Eliana proposed:

“Let’s split into three pairs of two!”

“That’s more efficient than going around all together.”

Nella agreed with a smile, and Tade asked:

“How do we decide pairs?”

“Rock-paper-scissors. Same hand partners up.”

At Carl’s words, everyone nodded.

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

After several rounds, the teams were decided: Leo and Chelsea; Carl and Nella; Eliana and Tade.

“Alright, let’s split up the shopping list.”

Leo and Chelsea would buy food.

Carl and Nella would buy equipment.

Eliana and Tade would buy potions.

Food, equipment, potions—these were the three categories listed on the preparation sheet. Each student was even allotted funds.

Checking the sheet, Eliana rubbed her chin.

“It’s like preparing for an expedition.”

“Well, it’s a Lumene school event. Maybe it’s training for the missions we’ll do next semester?”

“Oh! That makes sense.”

At Chelsea’s remark, Eliana nodded.

“Then let’s meet here in three hours for lunch! Let's split!”

The groups split up.

Just as Chelsea was about to start energetically, she faltered.

“But… how do we even buy groceries?”

For a noble lady from a prestigious heroic family, this was unexpectedly a huge obstacle.

“Follow me.”

“Huh?”

Chelsea blinked wide and trotted after Leo.

He led her confidently into the market on Courage Street, buying preserved foods first, then ingredients. Since they had storage subspace for food, carrying food wasn’t an issue.

Watching Leo shop skillfully, Chelsea’s eyes widened.

Lastly, they stopped at a fruit shop—the same one where, on entrance day, the owner had tossed apples to Leo and Celia.

As they approached, the boisterous shopkeeper laughed heartily.

“Oh! A Lumene student! What year are you?”

“First year.”

“Oh? First year? What’s your name?”

“Leo Plov.”

“Leo Plov? Don’t tell me—the first-year representative Leo Plov?”

The fruit seller’s eyes went wide.

“You know Leo-oppa?”

“Of course I do! Kid, look at this!”

He showed them a newspaper.

“It’s from our school’s newspaper club.”

Leo accepted it curiously.

[Unprecedented All-Class First-Year, Leo Plov, Makes Headlines.]

The article was about him.

“This is an honor! Hahaha! Shake my hand!”

Such a hearty man, Leo thought, shaking his hand.

“You know what, I’ll give you a discount!”

“Thank you.”

Leo smiled.

“I once dreamed of being a hero myself, but I had no talent!”

He slapped his forehead, laughing, then smacked his lips wistfully.

“So when I see students like you, I can’t help but feel envious and want to support you. You kids are the future!”

Chelsea looked a little embarrassed.

“I’m just a plain old guy who can only cheer, but…”

“That cheer is strength for us.”

“Huh?”

“Because that’s what heroes are.”

Leo smiled.

In the age of Calamity, when expeditions nearly gave in to hopelessness, it was always the encouragement and hope given by others that raised them up again.

The fruit seller’s eyes went wide, then he burst into hearty laughter.

“I’ve seen many Lumene kids, but you’re something else! Good! From today, I’m your fan!”

He pressed apples into Leo and Chelsea’s hands.

“Leo-oppa, you’re really good at this. Doesn’t seem like something you did just once or twice.”

Chelsea bit into an apple with a crunch.

“I’ve done this a few times before.”

In his past life, supplies were critical.

'I couldn’t help but get used to it.'

Leo bit into his apple, recalling old times.

“We’ve got lots of time left. What should we do?”

Chelsea tapped her finger against her lips, thinking.

“I’ve got somewhere to go.”

“Where? Should I come with you?”

“It’s personal errand.”

At Leo’s words, Chelsea nodded.

“Alright. See you at the meeting spot.”

“Yeah.”

Smiling faintly at Chelsea waving with a regretful face, Leo slipped into a back alley.

It should be around here.

After searching, he stopped before a shop named Lutech.

“This is it.”

Outwardly, it looked like a shabby back-alley general store.

But this was the very shop where Chloe had bought her black grimoire.

He tried the door handle—locked.

Leo cast an unlocking spell.

Click—creak—!

Inside was dim.

“Light.”

With a simple spell, he lit up the interior.

The investigation here should’ve already been done by Lumene, but…

Looking at the wrecked shop, he narrowed his eyes.

Since it’s connected to devil devices, maybe something was left behind.

He searched carefully.

But found nothing unusual. The only thing left was an old teddy bear shoved in the corner of a shelf.

'Wait. A teddy bear?'

Lumene should have combed this place thoroughly, taking even the smallest trinket.

But what was this teddy bear doing here?

Thinking that far, Leo flinched.

'A cognitive suppression spell?'

The moment he thought that—

Vwooom—

Black energy began seeping from the teddy bear’s eyes.

Squelch, squirm—!

The stuffed toy twisted, flesh swelling grotesquely.

Demons!

In an instant, a massive eye bulged from the meat and locked onto Leo.

Crash—!

Flesh lashed out toward him.

Crack—!

The floor collapsed beneath.

Fwoosh—!

Leo’s aura ignited into flame.

Boom—!

The demon’s body blazed.

But the fire died down.

[Kikikikik! Kehihihik!]

A mocking laughter rang out.

At that sound, Leo felt his skin crawl.

'This voice…!'

It was one he knew well.

'The Queen of Monsters… Sillatna!'