Editor : Amethyst00



The first-year students and the second- and third-year students who had led them returned to school.

Since news of the students' achievements had already spread within the school, they were greeted with intense interest from their peers and upperclassmen as soon as they arrived at their dorms.

"Is it true you saw Lady Azonia and Lord Damien?"

"They say you even met the Great Heroes!"

Students from the Summoning Department were especially curious about those who had experienced Aaron's world.

As she was heading to her dorm room, having just left that place, Freyna noticed someone approaching her.

"Did you have a good trip?"

"Yes!"

Freyna beamed as she looked at Eliza.

Seeing her younger sister's noticeably brighter expression, Eliza smiled faintly.

"How was it? The Hero's World?"

"It was amazing."

Freyna recalled the despair-filled scenes from the Hero's World.

And the people who managed to create hope even within that despair.

Deep in thought, Freyna suddenly spoke up.

"Hey, sis."

"What?"

"Senior Carl, you know?"

"What about him?"

"He was really cool this time."

"Cool, huh."

Eliza scoffed at Freyna's words.

But Freyna noticed Eliza's lips twitching slightly.

bl

After reporting the first-year test results to Professor Harrid and Sedgen, Leo was only able to return to the Clock Tower Dorm by sunset.

"The autumn leaves are beautiful."

Elena murmured, looking at the Lumene garden, now awash in vibrant fall colors.

"Hmm~ Thinking this is the last autumn I'll see as a student in Lumene makes me a little sad."

As she caught a drifting leaf with her finger and smacked her lips, Leo commented, "You're the acting director. You can come back to school whenever you want."

"My, look at this emotionally dried-up man. I meant it's my last autumn as a student. I was enjoying some girlish sentiment, and here you are ruining it?"

"Wait till you get older. You're not even a girl anymore."

Elena made a sulky face and poked Leo's side with her finger in response.

Then she asked, "Leo. Are you troubled about something?"

After thinking for a moment, Leo told her about what he had seen in the world of Dawn.

"It didn't come out even though the passage was wide open…"

Elena furrowed her brow in a serious expression.

"Maybe it didn't come out because it was afraid of you?"

"No, that's not it. The passage has always been there. Besides…"

Leo clicked his tongue.

"Unlike the fragments I've faced before, the one trapped in the world of Dawn has been resurrected for a long time."

The world of Dawn keeps resetting over and over.

But Erebos had escaped that cycle and was steadily growing stronger.

It was fundamentally different from fragments that had only just revived.

"Still, you defeated Erebos with a single spell this time."

Elena recalled the events in Aaron's world, but Leo shook his head.

"That was only possible because Luna was there. And strictly speaking, what we fought in Aaron's world was just a mass of Erebos' power."

That alone was still a catastrophic calamity.

But the allies had Leo and Aaron, both with experience fighting the full Erebos.

Even if their physical forms weren't complete, their minds were.

Not to mention the other Great Heroes — and even two heroes from Dawn.

"By contrast, it had no authority or consciousness. That's why it was a winnable fight."

Even if it had only had consciousness and not power, it wouldn't have let Leo and Luna's magic hit so easily.

In contrast, the fragment sealed in Dawn is essentially a complete being with power.

Leo does possess divine power too — but victory is not guaranteed.

'It was completely different from how it had desperately tried to escape just a while ago.'

"Maybe it's gathering strength?"

Elena mumbled with a grave face, and Leo replied,

"There's probably more to it than that."

"Hmm."

Elena let out a small sigh.

"Well, there's no point worrying about it right now, is there? Let's rest for today. You haven't had a break at all, have you?"

Smiling sweetly, Elena linked arms with Leo.

"Let go. You're heavy."

"Big strong man complaining, huh?"

Grumbling, Elena unlinked their arms.

"Still, it's kind of a letdown that this year's Lumeiren Competition is going to be quiet."

She smacked her lips.

They had both heard about the Lumeiren Competition while reporting the recent events to the professors.

Leo responded to her muttering,

"Hopefully it really will be quiet."

"Hmm… now that you've said that, I doubt it will be."

bl

The next day, third-year magic class.

"Ah! Leo oppa!"

Chelsea, entering the lecture hall, saw Leo and ran up to him with a bright smile.

"Did you have a good trip?"

"Sure did."

Leo chuckled lightly.

Chelsea began telling him all the big and small things that had happened while he was away.

"So, while studying magic, I got inspiration for a new spell! It's a basic formula though."

"Oooh? Impressive."

"Heheh!"

Chelsea puffed out her chest and looked proud.

Her magical inspiration was indeed unique, and it caught Leo's interest.

As she chatted excitedly, Leo patted her head — he could tell she was being considerate of him.

She had figured Leo must be emotionally drained after meeting Aaron and his past friends, so she was acting extra cheerful.

As Leo was patting Chelsea's head, Eliana burst into the room and ran toward Leo.

"Class repaaaah!"

With her usual exaggeratedly wronged expression, she clung to Leo and whined.

"The others are teasing me again!"

"What'd they say?"

"I said I want to apply for the new student council secretary position Elena-sunbae created, and they told me someone dumb like me can't do it!"

"They're right. Someone like you shouldn't bother."

"See?!"

Chelsea, who'd been listening, stated it bluntly, and Eliana pouted even more.

Leo gently consoled her.

Just then, Carl entered the lecture hall.

"Eliana, why are you crying again? Did the others say someone as dumb as you could never be a student council secretary?"

"Exactly."

Chelsea grinned in response to Carl's question.

"Not that it's untrue."

Carl chuckled, and Eliana glared at him.

Carl shrugged, and Eliana said,

"Class rep, do you think I'd be a bad secretary too? I really think I can do a good job."

With both fists clenched, Eliana looked determined, and Leo said, "I think you'd do well."

"Then pick me!"

She pulled something out from her coat.

"These are autumn-limited cookies from ' Abundance's Afternoon' café at Lumene."

She stuffed the bag of cookies into Leo's inner pocket.

"This is a bribe."

"Hey, just take them, okay?"

Eliana insisted, forcing the cookies into his pocket.

But Chelsea immediately took them out and popped them into her mouth.

"Hey! Those were for class rep!"

"Leo oppa doesn't even like sweets."

Crunching the cookies, Chelsea said matter-of-factly,

"And Leo oppa doesn't have the authority to pick the secretary. Elena-sunbae does."

"Yeah. Better suck up to her."

Carl nodded, and Eliana fell into thought.

"How do I butter up Elena-sunbae…?"

"You try that and you'll end up roasted yourself."

Carl warned from the side.

Leo rested his chin on his hand, watching his lively friends.

Seeing them laugh and talk like always made him feel like he was finally back at school.

More students entered the lecture hall.

Before long, the class bell rang.

Bang–!

"Greetings, everyone! I'm thrilled to explore the infinite world of magic with you again today!"

Professor Len burst through the door energetically.

"But first! I heard you all returned after great accomplishments! My dear students! Let's welcome them back with applause!"

He spread his arms and praised the students who had just returned from deployment.

After a round of clapping and whistling, Len continued,

"Now then! I'll announce the details of this year's Lumeiren Competition!"

As soon as he said that, everyone turned to look at one person.

"What?"

Leo asked in a bored voice.

Last year.

The Lumeiren Competition, originally supposed to be held in Seiren, had been moved to Lumene and turned into a massive event called the Hero's Festival — all thanks to Leo.

Students recalled their hardships from last year and looked at Leo with concern, wondering what chaos he'd bring this time.

Especially…

"Hey, Leo. Please go easy this time, yeah? Please."

Carl begged in a desperate tone.

No one had suffered more last year than Carl, who had been worked like a slave by Elena.

Leo laughed at his desperate voice.

"Why are you laughing like that? It's scary."

Carl's voice trembled.

At that moment, Assistant Professor Anna spoke.

"Everyone, don't worry. This year's Lumeiren Competition will be held in Seiren."

"Ooh!"

Everyone cheered at the news.

"Professors from each hero academy met and agreed that last year's Hero's Festival was a success and had a positive influence on all the students. So they've decided to hold it officially at regular intervals."

The students gasped in amazement at Anna's words.

"Does that mean it'll be held every year like Lumeiren Competition?"

"Since it involves all the hero academies, an annual event would be too much. They decided to hold it every two years instead. The next one will be hosted in Azonia next year."

The students nodded in understanding.

'At least we won't have to prepare it again before we graduate.'

As everyone felt relieved, Anna continued,

"As a result of the meeting, Seiren made a proposal regarding this year's Lumeiren Competition."

The students looked puzzled.

"Seiren said that since the Hero's Festival has become an official event, the competitive meaning of Lumeiren Competition has diminished."

The students nodded, finding it reasonable.

"So they suggested turning this year's Lumeiren Competition into a cultural exchange instead."

At the unexpected news, the students looked confused.

"A cultural exchange?"

"Yes. They want to hold a cultural festival."

The students began to buzz with excitement.

"That actually sounds fun."

"Like those talent shows between clubs? Maybe those will get a boost?"

"If it's a festival, at least it won't be exhausting."

The students of Lumene responded positively.

Meanwhile…

Carl stroked his chin.

"Hooh? I smell money."

Leo chuckled quietly as he looked at the generally cheerful students.

'Well, enjoying it like this isn't so bad either.'