Editor : Amethyst00



“Death Knight?”

“A Death Knight inside a sacred sanctuary?”

Harrid and Rune, who had received Leo’s report, both wore grim expressions.

“I can hardly believe it.”

But an elf wearing glasses, seated in Rune’s office, raised a doubt.

“Indeed, it is tragic that monsters have begun appearing in Fairy Forest long ago. But a Death Knight? There has never been such a precedent, has there?”

Shaking his head, the elf turned to Leo and asked,

“Are you certain that what you saw was truly a Death Knight?”

“There’s no reason for me to say I saw what I didn’t see, is there?”

“I am not saying you are lying, Lumene student. We received reports from our own students of skeletons appearing. That is why we came here to inform the Head Councilor. But as for a Death Knight, no such report has reached us.”

‘So, this one must be a professor of Seiren.’

The Seiren teacher adjusted his glasses and asked,

“Lumene student, have you ever seen an undead before?”

“Not in this life.”

“Then you might have mistaken a Skeleton Knight for a Death Knight. It is a fairly common mistake.”

‘In my previous life alone, I slew Death Knights in units larger than battalions. As if I’d mistake one.’

Leo let out a dry chuckle and said.

“So, Seiren’s students often make such mistakes, huh?”

At that, the Seiren professor faltered for a moment before clearing his throat.

“Hrmm. Our students… do make that mistake from time to time.”

With that, the Seiren professor shifted the subject.

“In any case, Lumene student, if you truly did encounter a Death Knight, you should not have been able to come back alive. Even our first-year students at Seiren would struggle to handle such a monster alone. And yet you claim to have escaped on your own?”

“Yes.”

“You must be very confident in your skills.”

The professor smirked faintly and turned to Harrid.

“What do you think, Professor Harrid?”

“I trust the word of our school’s student, Professor Herdium.”

Harrid answered firmly. Herdium narrowed his brow at that, then shifted his gaze toward Rune.

“And you, Head Councilor? What do you think?”

“He’s not the sort of boy to tell lies.”

Rune also smiled lightly as he spoke, leaving Herdium to show a reluctant expression.

“…Then let us discuss the matter of the Death Knight again later.”

At Rune’s words, Harrid and Herdium both nodded.

“Professor Harrid, Leo—why don’t you head off for now? I have matters to discuss separately with Professor Herdium.”

“Understood.”

With a bow, Harrid left the office together with Leo.

“Looks like our schedule is going to change.”

As soon as they exited, Harrid muttered.

Leo looked puzzled.

“Our schedule will change?”

“Professor Herdium is the homeroom teacher for Seiren’s first-year Advanced Class One. As it happens, that entire class came here on field assignment.”

Harrid chuckled.

“And when he learned we were here on a school trip, he proposed a joint class.”

“A joint class?”

“Yes. We’ll get to experience Seiren’s way of teaching, and they’ll experience Lumene’s.”

“That sounds fun.”

“Of course it will. But it must be more than just fun. This is a valuable chance to broaden your horizons. It’s not something just anyone can ask for. In that sense, our class is fortunate.”

“You’re right.”

“Advanced Class One gathers the most exceptional first-years even within Seiren. It will be a great benefit to us.”

“Oh-ho.”

“Professor Herdium has invited us to dinner this evening. Make sure you notify the class.”

“Yes, Professor.”

bl

“Wow, we actually get to meet Seiren students!”

“Hey, how’s my hair? I set it perfectly, right?”

“Does this necklace suit me?”

On the eve of the banquet, Class 5 of the first-years buzzed with excitement.

“Carl, what are you doing?”

Seeing Carl seated downstairs, working on a booklet, Leo tilted his head.

“Making a catalog. Don’t you think Seiren students might need the goods I deal in?”

Carl grinned slyly. Chelsea folded her arms in exasperation.

“You’re planning to do business right there?”

“Promotion, promotion. Well, I don’t mean to sell at the party. I’m preparing for the joint class starting tomorrow.”

Chelsea gave a small nod at that.

“It's time. Let’s go.”

After checking the time, Leo spoke, and Class 5 rose to leave.

The moment they stepped outside—

“So cold!”

“My hair! What was the point of styling it?!”

They screamed at the blizzard howling around them.

Carl snickered at he watched that.

“You guys are idiots,aren't you?”

Of course, he was immediately pelted with barrages of snowballs.

“At least it’s close by, that's relief.”

Nella smiled lightly.

Seiren’s lodging was a luxury hotel directly across from Lumene’s.

“So Seirun rented this whole place. As expected, their financial power is enormous.”

Carl snorted. Chelsea shrugged.

“Seiren is famous for being the wealthiest of all the Hero Academies.”

The status that hero academies held among each race was different.

Even in Lumene’s case, there were many factions dissatisfied with the current system.

Because of Hero Record, their nation’s best talents had no choice but to enroll in Lumene.

Through that, many graduates held good positions in their own country afterward, but not a few entered hero guilds operated by Lumene.

Naturally, dissatisfaction over the outflow of national talent arose.

But Seiren was different.

Seiren itself functioned as the central pillar of the Elven Union—a vast power uniting the whole elven race.

“Well, they say the conveniences Lumene provides to students are nothing compared to Seiren.”

“Mm-hm. Especially since elves value ‘lineage’ far more than us humans. So you hardly ever find nameless nobles or commoners among their students.”

“Their sense of superiority must be intense.”

As Carl clicked his tongue, Class 5 arrived at the hotel.

A waiting attendant opened the door politely.

“Welcome, everyone.”

“Allow me to take your coats.”

“Please, this way.”

In the lobby, attendants received their coats with perfect courtesy. Some students, like Chelsea, handed them over smoothly, while others, like Carl, fumbled awkwardly.

“This way, please.”

Guided inside, the students entered the grand banquet hall.

“…What the heck.”

Carl’s voice was blank with shock.

The hall was sheer opulence.

“This is on par with a party hosted by His Imperial Majesty.”

Even Chelsea, the direct descendant of the heroic noble Lewellin house—thought it overly extravagant.

As everyone gaped, Herdium approached.

“Welcome, first-year Class 5 of Lumene. I am Herdium Wintel, one of the teachers here at Seiren. You may call me Professor Herdium.”

“Thank you for inviting us, Professor Herdium.”

Class 5 bowed politely.

“Since you are the first-years who will one day lead both Seiren and Lumene, I hope this will be a place where you deepen your friendship.”

With a smile, Herdium withdrew.

Harrid and Sena had already arrived and begun dining.

“Anyway, I’m starving. Let’s eat.”

Carl rubbed his hands together, only for Chelsea to glare daggers at him.

“Don’t make a scene like usual. Seiren students are watching.”

“I know, I know. I won’t disgrace the school.”

Though curious about Seiren, Lumene and Seiren had long been rival hero academies.

In recent years, Seiren had consistently outperformed Lumene at exchange events. Lumene, meanwhile, sought any chance to surpass them.

Tonight’s gathering, in a broader sense, was a meeting with the rivals they would clash with throughout their school years.

That was why everyone had paid extra attention to their appearance. No one wanted to look inferior.

And so the party began.

Lumene and Seiren students mingled, curiosity and exploration easing their first awkwardness.

Sharing the same age and the same goal of becoming heroes, they soon warmed up.

Even Leo drew interest from several Seiren students.

“I’m studying elemental arts at Seiren. You?”

“I’m also taking summoning studies.”

“Oh? How is Lumene’s elemental arts class?”

The first student introduced himself as a elemental-user.

“I’m training in spear arts.”

“I’m in knight studies too.”

“Oh! I’d love to broaden my horizons on Lumene’s knight training. May I request a spar tomorrow?”

“Anytime.”

The second introduced himself as a knight.

Several more came and went, but Leo began to feel puzzled.

‘Why is there not a single student studying pure magic?’

Meanwhile, the music in the hall shifted constantly—sometimes calm and conversational, sometimes lively.

With each lively piece, elves took to dancing.

Class 5 struggled to adapt to this rhythm. Human social parties usually had set dance times.

But to Leo, the scene was familiar.

‘Elves have always loved dance, past and present.’

From ancient times, elves had expressed courtship through song and dance. Luna herself often sang and danced during their old camps.

The very dance Seiren students now performed was one Luna used to dance.

‘Dweno used to praise it as art itself.’

“How could such a foul-tempered creature sing and dance with such beauty!”

…Which usually ended in arguments.

As Leo reminisced, someone approached.

“You?”

“Hello. We meet again.”

Lunia smiled brightly.

Just then, dance music swelled.

Catching the timing, Lunia asked,

“Would you care to dance?”

“Shall we?”

Leo offered his hand; Lunia took it, and they began to dance lightly.

“You know elven dances?”

“I learned it long ago.”

Leo answered casually to her astonishment.

“Are you enjoying the party?”

“Yeah. But I’m a little curious—doesn’t Seiren have a department for magic studies?”

“We don’t divide into departments like Lumene. We focus on mastering our chosen specialty.”

“Mm, I figured as much.”

Leo recalled the earlier students who had introduced themselves as elemental-users, summoners, spear knights, and sword knights.

“Still, I haven’t seen anyone studying magic.”

“Seems you don’t know much about Seiren. At Seiren, magic is mandatory.”

“Mandatory?”

“Yes. We are the race of magic, after all.”

“But surely there are some without aptitude for it?”

“Such people cannot enroll at Seiren.”

‘So basically, they’re all dual-class.’

As she answered, Lunia danced with lively steps, and Leo smoothly supported her movements.

Lunia found dancing with Leo very enjoyable.

‘He’s really skilled!’

His talent made it more fun than usual.

When the dance ended, Lunia reluctantly stepped back and asked,

“Come to think of it, I never asked your name. What is it?”

“Me? Leo Plov.”

“……?”

Lunia, who was about to let go of his hand, froze.

Leo tilted his head at her reaction.

“What’s wrong?”

“It was you?”

“What?”

The gentle honor-student air vanished. Her expression twisted, eyes glaring sharply like a thug.

“You’re the thief who stole someone else’s contract, weren’t you?”

“Oh.”

Leo nodded in understanding, then smiled.

“I’ve been putting her to good use.”

“You dare say that!”

In a fury, Lunia grabbed Leo by the collar.

“A fight! A fight broke out!”

The banquet hall plunged into chaos.