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Chapter 3




【3】2
“Oh! How wonderful it would be if the heroes' noble families visited our house!”
“Our house has already finished preparing a party for them!”
The Delan students, who had just finished their class, showed excited reactions.
Starting today, the candidates from the Lumern Academy will begin their visits to Delan.
The nobles of the Delrad Kingdom were eager to invite the members of the heroes' noble families to their homes.
Heroes' noble families.
This is the glorious title given to the highest-ranking families that have produced heroes generation after generation.
Naturally, the probability of being admitted to Lumern was also high.
“Geliven, which of the heroes' noble families visiting our country this time do you think has the highest reputation?”
“Huh, of course, it’s the Zerdingers.”
At Geliven’s words, his friends started to chatter.
“The Zerdingers will naturally visit the Tradden family, right?”
“Of course! Isn’t Geliven the only one in our country who can take the Lumern entrance exam?”
Geliven puffed out his chest, looking at his overly enthusiastic friends.
“Hmm... I’m already looking forward to discussing heroes with the people from Zerding.”
“Grr! Hey! I’m so jealous! I envy you!”
“Geliven! Can I come to your house later?”
“It’s not impossible.”
“Oh! Thank you!”
“Geliven! What does it mean to be a good friend? Me too!”
Geliven Tradden.
As the heir to the Tradden Viscount family, he was known as the greatest magical genius in Delrad.
At the age of fifteen, he had already reached the 2nd Circle.
He was widely recognized as a talent worthy of admission to Lumern.
The last time the Delrad Kingdom produced a Lumern student was twenty years ago.
As a result, the kingdom was also paying attention to Geliven.
Amidst everyone's excitement,
A student outside the window suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
“Guys! Isn’t that the Zerding family’s crest?”
“Huh? Where? Where?”
“Already here?”
The students rushed to the window.
In the midst of this, Leo walked out of the classroom, seemingly uninterested.
As he was about to leave, his eyes met those of Geliven’s gang.
“Huh! Are you going to get your eyes checked? The Zerdingers won’t be interested in someone like you.”
Geliven sneered at Leo.
Geliven was a top student in every aspect.
Despite this, Geliven envied Leo.
There was one class where he could never beat Leo.
Combat class.
Even though the professors openly favored Geliven and avoided pairing him with Leo in practical exams, the outcome was always clear.
Leo replied indifferently.
“I’m going home.”
“Huh, you know your place well.”
“Yeah. Go and wag your tail for the Zerdingers.”
“Don’t speak so carelessly. I’m just going to confirm Celia Zerding as a competitor.”
Sparks flew from Geliven’s eyes.
Just as a tense atmosphere was building between the two,
[This is an announcement from the faculty office. All students, please gather in the banquet hall immediately. There are no exceptions.]
A magical broadcast echoed throughout the school.
The reason for the gathering was obvious.
It was to welcome the Zerdingers.
‘I wanted to leave early, but...’
He grumbled to himself.
Geliven snickered and left the classroom.
The other students also rushed to the banquet hall.
Leo, scratching his head, grumbled.
‘Whatever. I’m out of here.’
“Eh? Leo, aren’t you going?”
“I’m going home.”
“What? It’s a rare chance to see the Zerdingers?”
“I don’t care.”
Waving his hand, Leo headed in the opposite direction of the banquet hall, leaving his classmates with a bewildered look.
***
“Thank you for visiting us, Zis Zerding!”
Professor Jaiden exclaimed with a flushed face.
The other students also looked at Zis with admiration.
“I don’t know what to do with such a warm welcome.”
“This is Geliven Tradden. He’s one of the students taking the Lumern Academy entrance exam this year!”
“Is that so? My nephew is also taking the entrance exam this year.”
The students’ gazes naturally turned to one place.
A girl standing with the Zerding knights.
Celia Zerding.
The daughter of the Zerding family head.
She was a famous sword maiden, not only in the empire but also worldwide.
Celia shrugged her shoulders at the students’ gazes.
Geliven looked at her with a dazed expression.
‘Ah, she’s beautiful!’
Black hair and large ruby-red eyes.
A straight nose and red lips.
He had seen many noble daughters, but none as beautiful as Celia.
“Celia, come here.”
At Zis’s words, Celia walked over.
She smiled at Geliven.
“You’re taking the entrance exam too? Let’s do our best together.”
“Y-Yeah! Let’s have a good competition. Hahaha!”
Geliven confidently laughed and extended his hand.
Celia stared at his hand.
When Zis nudged her with his elbow, she finally shook his hand.
Geliven smiled broadly.
“I’ll show you around the school slowly. Please give our students some good advice.”
“Hmm. I wonder if my words will be of much help.”
“Zis Zerding’s words will be a great help!”
Known as Flame Blade, he was one of the top knights in the empire.
His exploits were known not only in the empire but also worldwide.
A single word from him, who was expected to receive the title of hero, was invaluable.
“By the way, where will you be staying...”
“A place has already been arranged.”
“Oh, I see.”
Professor Jaiden’s face darkened.
“So, I have a request.”
“Yes!”
“I would like to meet a student named Leo Flaub.”
“Eh?”
Jaiden looked flustered, and Geliven’s eyes widened.
For a moment, he doubted his ears.
‘How does he know Leo Flaub?’
Zis seemed unaware of Geliven, who was considered the kingdom’s top talent.
How did he know Leo?
“H-How do you know Leo Flaub?”
“I heard he’s an outstanding talent from someone I know.”
“Sir Zis Zerding, are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
Geliven flared up slightly at the mention of Leo, whom he despised.
“What do you mean I’m mistaken?”
“Leo Flaub is in my class. He is indeed a good student, but...”
Geliven shook his head.
“He can’t even properly handle an aura.”
“Is that so?”
The Delan Royal School staff were impressed that Geliven didn’t back down in front of Zis.
Geliven himself was trembling with excitement.
‘Zis Zerding is listening to my opinion!’
Thinking Zis’s nod was an agreement, Geliven looked satisfied.
However, the Zerdingers were mocking him.
Zis was responsible for guiding the family’s bloodline.
Even the family head respected Zis’s opinion when discussing the children’s potential.
It was absurd for a young, inexperienced boy to criticize someone in front of him.
“So, where is Leo Flaub?”
Zis asked again, ignoring Geliven.
Geliven was flustered, and Jaiden quickly spoke.
“Leo Flaub! Please come forward!”
“...”
“Leo Flaub?”
A student cautiously raised his hand.
“Professor, Leo left in a carriage for home a while ago.”
“What, what did you say?”
Jaiden’s mouth dropped open.
“I clearly said all students should gather.”
“Well... he said he wasn’t interested in the Zerdingers...”
The students murmured.
Celia looked bewildered.
Zis smiled.
‘Just as I expected from my sister’s son.’
***
After finishing their schedule at the Delan Royal School, Zis and Celia got into the carriage.
Those who had come to see them off were startled at the sight of the carriage.
‘A, a griffin?’
A carriage led by a griffin!
People were amazed as the carriage started moving.
“Oh, I wonder which family they’ll stay at?”
“I’m so jealous. I envy them.”
As the students muttered,
Geliven clenched his fists, watching the Zerdingers leave.
‘At Lumern, I’ll study with girls like her!’
Indeed, it was a place that suited a talented person like himself.
Geliven’s eyes sparkled with confidence.
‘The entrance exam in a week! I’ll definitely pass!’
Meanwhile,
In the griffin carriage, Zis asked,
“What did you think of the Delan Royal School students?”
“They were a mess.”
Celia looked disappointed.
She had heard a brief overview of the hero studies taught at the Delan Royal School.
In short, it was not worth listening to.
Regardless of country or race,
Hero studies, which research the heroes of the past, are a crucial discipline for those aiming to become heroes.
However, the content taught at the Delan Royal School was entirely incorrect.
“Moreover, Geliven? He didn’t even understand his place and dared to contradict his uncle.”
“The family we’re visiting now will be different.”
“The Flaub family, right?”
Celia recalled the earlier incident.
One of the students who went first had said he wasn’t interested in the Zerdingers.
‘Hmph. A cheeky brat.’
Celia, who had a strong sense of pride in her family, didn’t like his attitude.
‘And he’s aspiring to be a knight but can’t even handle an aura at his age?’
Celia had no interest in Leo.
She didn’t know that the place they were heading to was her cousin’s home.
Meanwhile, Zis took out a letter from his pocket.
‘If she hadn’t left the family, she would have held an important position.’
The current family head, Seld Zerding.
And Zis, Reina.
The three siblings were once considered the future of the family.
Although Reina left the family due to an accident, Zis knew her skills well.
This nephew, whom she called a ‘genius,’
Moreover,
‘Can’t handle an aura?’
For noble children aspiring to be knights, handling an aura was essential.
They started learning it from a young age.
Yet, Leo couldn’t handle an aura.
‘I’m looking forward to meeting this child.’
***
Evening.
Leo, alone in the training ground, closed his eyes and focused his mind.
He was drenched in sweat after finishing his practice a while ago.
“Phew.”
He took a deep breath.
‘The vessel is complete.’
The reason he hadn’t learned to handle an aura until now.
Partly to match his mother’s lessons.
But the main reason was to create the vessel.
In terms of martial arts, his current body was better than Kail’s from his previous life.
However, his magical and summoning abilities were almost non-existent.
Therefore, he hadn’t learned to handle an aura recklessly.
In his previous life, Kail was a seasoned warrior, a powerful mage, and a pact holder of spirits and summons.
One, two.
While his friends were dying, the expedition didn’t fall apart because Kail had mastered all these abilities.
‘I could somewhat fill their voids.’
Just before the final battle.
Kail, who was left alone, had the essence of his comrades’ powers.
Their will and hope.
‘I couldn’t handle them properly in my previous life, but this time, I will master them perfectly.’
When the body accepts an aura, it naturally becomes specialized in aura.
This would eliminate the opportunity to accumulate mana and spirit energy.
That’s why he had been laying the foundation.
To carry on his comrades’ will.
Leo clenched his fist.
‘First, I’ll start with the aura!’
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