“Is this your first time visiting Lumeria since enrolling?” Leo inquired as they disembarked from the regular ferry that traveled between Lumeren and Lumeria, and Selia nodded in response.
“Same here. I’ve been busier than I expected, so I haven’t had the chance to come here.”
While many Lumeren students visited Lumeria every weekend, there weren’t many first-year students who did so regularly. The primary reason was their unfamiliarity with the academic schedule.
Leo adjusted his uniform collar and remarked, “Isn’t it quite strict to have to wear uniforms even in Lumeria?”
Selia responded, “I don’t mind. Our academy’s uniform is well-designed, and being a Lumeren student is an honor in itself.”
She continued, “The reason for such a rule is to discourage unruly behavior in Lumeria. If you’re wearing the uniform, any misbehavior is immediately reported to the school. That’s why I’ve heard many students break this rule, especially if they’re caught by a professor.”
Selia pantomimed a throat-slitting gesture with her hand and added, “Then they’re in trouble.”
True to her words, many students were casually dressed in Lumeria, and a significant number of them were caught by professors.
Leo then asked, “So, why did the student council president want to see you and me?”
It seemed unusual for the student council president, who was busy with assignments, to request their presence.
Selia appeared incredulous and asked, “You genuinely don’t know?”
Leo responded, “I’m asking because I don’t.”
Selia sighed deeply and explained, “You don’t know who the student council president is?”
Leo admitted, “I don’t know.”
Selia then revealed, “The student council president, Lis, is the heir of our family! He’s your cousin!”
Surprised, Leo asked, “Really? My cousin is the student council president?”
Selia confirmed, “Yes! How could you not know Lis? He’s the top student in Lumeren and the heir of our family!”
Leo replied, “One can be unaware.”
While Leo nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, Selia clutched her head in frustration.
Amidst their conversation, they reached the inn where they had lodged prior to the entrance ceremony.
Cling- Cling-
Upon pushing the door open and stepping inside, a bell chimed, announcing their arrival.
“Welcome! Oh, you’re Lumeren students, aren’t you? Planning to stay the weekend?” The inn’s employee beamed with enthusiasm.
Selia inquired, “Is Lis Zerdingher staying here?”
“Are you asking about Lis Zerdingher? Yes, he’s a guest here. Are you accompanying him or do you have a separate reservation?”
Lis Zerdingher, the heir and student council president of Lumeren, was a well-known figure, and many sought to forge connections with him. The hotel staff had encountered such situations numerous times, so they exercised caution.
Selia replied, “I am…”
“Ah? Isn’t this Selia!” At that moment, someone in the lobby recognized her.
A man with black hair and eyes, who appeared to be of Eastern descent, approached them with a warm smile.
“Lee Zamoa, it’s been a while,” Selia greeted him formally.
Lee Zamoa, a fifth-year student at Lumeren.
“Haha! No need for such formality between us,” Zamoa laughed heartily.
“Hotel staff, these are our guests.”
“Apologies for any inconvenience.”
“No problem. Let’s proceed inside.”
Lee Zamoa led Selia and Leo into the inn, gesturing for them to follow.
“By the way, who’s this?” he inquired.
“This is Leo Plov. He’s my cousin.”
“Ho? Are you the famous first-year representative?”
Zamoa’s eyes sparkled.
An All-Class Talent.
This fact alone was enough to astonish not only their grade but the entire school. In the history of Lumeren, which exclusively admitted students with extraordinary talents, an All-Class Talent was unprecedented. Some students and professors still harbored doubts about Leo.
‘Well, even in my previous life, people marveled at me when I mentioned I had dual classes,’ Leo, understanding the skepticism, simply accepted it.
“You seem like an exceptional knight,” Zamoa remarked while studying Leo.
“Lis is waiting. Let’s head upstairs,” Zamoa said, leading the way with expansive strides.
“Magic is great, and summoning is too! But most importantly, it’s this body!” Zamoa thumped his chest with his fist. “If you hone your swordsmanship alongside your magic and summoning abilities, you’ll likely become an outstanding knight!”
Selia nodded in agreement. “He’s right, Leo. You’ve been neglecting your swordsmanship lately.”
Zamoa responded, “No way! Neglecting training won’t lead to becoming an excellent knight.”
“Really? Selia, shall we increase our training intensity?”
Selia, who regretted bringing up the topic, avoided Leo’s gaze.
Unaware of the situation, Zamoa assumed Leo was enthusiastic and smiled approvingly. “Great attitude!”
“Quiet, Zamoa.”
As they neared the top of the staircase, a stern voice interrupted their conversation.
“Do you not remember the professors’ admonition not to casually discuss departments with dual-class students? Furthermore, you’re assigning a department to a junior you just met?”
A Southern woman with a light brown complexion and reddish-brown eyes leaned against the wall in the second-floor corridor. She was dressed in Lumeren’s uniform and displayed a badge with the number 5 on her left chest, signifying her seniority. The book and staff emblem stitched on her right shoulder indicated her affiliation with the magic department.
The woman moved away from the wall, clicked her heels as she brushed past Zamoa, and positioned herself in front of Leo and Selia.
“Hello, my name is Torua Yan. You must be Selia? I’ve heard a lot about you from Lis.”
“Hello, Senior Torua.”
Although it was their first encounter, Selia had also received information about Torua from Lis. Torua held the top position among fifth-year students in the magic department’s written exam.
“And you must be Leo Plov, correct?”
Torua scrutinized Leo in silence and then sneered.
“Professor Ren praised you so highly that I had expectations, but… what’s with this meager amount of mana? I feel foolish for expecting more.”
“Are you calling Leo inadequate?”
Selia retorted, her anger evident.
“I’m merely stating the facts. So, Leo.”
Click, click.
Torua advanced toward Leo and continued, “Abandon your knight and summoning classes immediately and focus solely on magic.”
She draped her arm around Leo’s shoulder and pointed upward.
“Leo, look up. Do you see your potential shining like stars in the night sky?”
“All I see is the magical chandelier on the ceiling.”
“You misunderstood. I mean, close your eyes and visualize.”
“Then all I’ll see is darkness.”
“You possess the ability to intuitively assess things, a quality crucial for a wizard. It appears you’re a natural wizard.”
Torua was a typical mage who spoke her mind without restraint.
“Senior Torua, didn’t you just say not to assign departments…”
“Selia, I’m sorry, but this is a matter for the magic department, so please don’t interfere.”
Selia narrowed her eyes and sought clarification from Zamoa, “Is this allowed?”
“Of course not, but she’s a staunch advocate for magic, and she won’t listen no matter what.”
Zamoa shook his head.
“If the professors find out, she’ll be in significant trouble, won’t she?”
“But the professors are unaware.”
“They’ll eventually find out.”
“How?”
“Because I’ll report her.”
In response to this complex friendship that had developed over five years, Selia wore an expression of astonishment.
***
“Brother!”
“Selia, how have you been?”
Upon entering Lis’s room, Selia warmly embraced Lis.
Observing this, Leo wore a look of amazement.
Selia, who had always maintained a dignified demeanor as a member of the Zerdingher family, was now displaying a more youthful and carefree side in front of Leo.
“So, she really is just a fifteen-year-old kid, huh?” Lis chuckled at Selia’s age-appropriate behavior and addressed Leo. “You must be Leo. I’ve heard a lot about you. How’s Aunt?”
“Yes, you’ve met my mother before?”
“I encountered her when I was young. I’ve sent her letters multiple times since arriving at Lumeren.”
“Letters to aunt?”
Surprised by Selia’s reaction, Lis smiled.
“Aunt was quite renowned during her school days. You’ll naturally hear legends about her as you navigate your school life.”
“Like what?”
“For instance, she rallied students and marched into the principal’s office because the dormitory cafeteria desserts were terrible. That’s a legendary tale.”
“That was Aunt?”
“It seems like something my mother would do.” Leo confirmed with a smile.
Selia was left astounded by the revelation, while Leo appeared unsurprised by the story.
“Yes, thanks to her, students can now savor delicious desserts in the dormitory cafeteria. I tried those desserts from back then, and as the student council president, I wholeheartedly supported Aunt’s stance.”
Lis nodded, chuckling.
“I apologize for calling you both over on the weekend, but I thought we might not have the chance to meet once school starts again. That’s why I invited you like this.”
“I don’t mind!” Selia responded.
After a long time, Selia was acting more carefree and engaging in pleasant conversation.
While caring for his sister, Lis also took notice of Leo.
‘I can see why Selia admires him.’
As Zerdingher’s successor and the student council president of Lumeren, Lis was a man without imperfections. Both his abilities and character were truly exceptional.
‘He’s close to becoming a hero.’
Lis’s ascent to the status of a hero felt like just a matter of time.
“So, brother! Which hero’s dungeon did you explore this time? Who was the hero?” Selia inquired during their conversation.
“That’s still classified, so I can’t tell you. But I can reveal that we retrieved two pages.”
“Really?”
“Yes, although one is so damaged that it can’t even be incorporated into the hero’s world,” Lis regretfully stated as he glanced at the time.
Dinner was already upon them.
“Do you two know about the hidden gem restaurants in Lumeren?”
“I don’t. Are there such places?”
“Absolutely. Do you think I’ve spent five years in Lumeren for nothing? I’ll take you to an exceptionally delightful spot tonight.”
“Wow!” Selia beamed and rose from her seat enthusiastically.
“Leo, do you have any dietary restrictions?”
“I can eat anything.”
“Is that so? Alright, head downstairs first. I’ll wrap up a few things and then join you.”
Selia playfully pushed Leo forward and left, humming a tune.
Lis retrieved a sealed box containing the Hero Record pages he had recovered this time from his belongings. It was something he couldn’t show to ordinary students, so he always carried it with him when going out.
Holding the palm-sized box, Lis hesitated. He sensed an unusual surge of power emanating from the box.
‘What is this? Is the hero dungeon I tackled this time on the brink of going berserk?’
Lis tensed up.
The torn pages remained in an unstable state. Even after being conquered, there were instances when they would go berserk again, giving rise to a new hero dungeon.
Furrowing his brows, Lis cautiously opened the box to inspect its contents.
The Hero Record displayed no response.
‘Wait a minute. Could it be?’
With haste, he opened the box containing the heavily damaged page.
A small fragment of the page, roughly the size of a fingertip, emitted a faint gray glow.
Lis couldn’t help but be astonished as the page, which had shown no reaction until now, revealed its latent power.
‘What on earth is this…?’
Cliche Novel 