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Chapter 65




【65】64.
“What’s going on here! A fight?”
Herdium pressed the two people with a pale face.
Currently, the two had left the party hall, which was in a chaotic atmosphere.
Lunia had sharply turned her head, while Leo calmly straightened his clothes.
Halinde, who had been watching this, asked.
“What’s the cause? Who started it?”
At the cold voice of Halinde, Lunia flinched for a moment.
Seilun didn’t have a teacher like Halinde.
Herdium frowned.
“Are you interrogating our student now?”
“We need to know what the problem is to solve it.”
“What! Fine! Student Lunia is the class representative of the first year at our school! She’s not the type to make mistakes!”
Herdium, speaking assertively, turned to Leo.
“Student Leo Flaub. What was the cause of the fight?”
Seeing Herdium’s obvious bias, Leo calmly replied.
“It seems I made a small mistake.”
“Aha! I knew it! Student Lunia wouldn’t make a mistake...!”
“Teacher Herdium. Isn’t it unfair to push so one-sidedly?”
“What are you talking about! Student Leo Flaub just admitted to making a mistake...!”
“Student Lunia El Runda is the class representative of the first year at Seilun, but Leo Flaub is also the class representative of the first year at Lumern.”
Hearing Halinde’s firm statement, Herdium was surprised.
He hadn’t thought Leo would be the class representative.
Generally, Seilun wasn’t very interested in other schools.
“Most importantly.”
Halinde’s icy gaze made Herdium flinch.
“I trust my students as much as you trust yours.”
At this, Leo couldn’t help but smile.
Students might fear him, but Halinde genuinely cared for them.
‘He must be doing this for their own good.’
Herdium cleared his throat after hearing Halinde’s words.
“Well, fine! Student Lunia, what did you hear from Student Leo Flaub?”
‘I can’t tell anyone else this story!’
Being the successor of the Runda family, having the Phoenix taken away was a deeply shameful matter.
If this fact became known at Seilun, she would surely be mocked.
Not knowing what to say, Lunia looked at Leo.
“I made a contract...”
“Ahahaha! It was just a minor misunderstanding.”
Lunia quickly clamped her hand over Leo’s mouth.
She glared at him with a fierce look, as if saying, ‘If you say a word, I won’t let you off!’
Leo shrugged and nodded, and Lunia released her hand, bowing her head.
“I’m sorry, Teacher Herdium, Professor Halinde. I caused a disturbance at a place of harmony, and...”
Lunia forced a smile and said.
“I’m sorry, Leo Flaub. I apologize for my rudeness.”
Seeing Lunia’s trembling lips, Leo smiled.
Halinde, seeing this, clutched his head.
“Ah! How could this happen.”
“Let’s continue the party. We won’t talk about this incident anymore.”
Herdium nodded, glancing at Halinde.
“Professor Halinde and Student Leo, please go back in. I’ll give Student Lunia a separate warning.”
With that, Halinde and Leo entered the party hall.
Once they were alone outside, Lunia bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, Teacher.”
“No, it’s fine. Since the incident has already happened, there’s nothing we can do. Did you have a fight with Tirien during the day?”
“Yes.”
“Leo Flaub, I see. I remember he was the representative of the first year when he entered Lumern.”
Herdium nodded and crossed his arms.
“Make sure you never make the same mistake again. Student Lunia, you are the class representative of the first year at Seilun, and an outstanding talent who will lead our school in the future.”
“I understand.”
“And starting from tomorrow, in the joint classes, you must not fall behind Student Leo Flaub! Seilun has long been ahead of Lumern!”
Herdium clenched his fists, showing his competitiveness.
“We must continue to prove that Seilun is superior to Lumern! No, that it is the best among all hero schools!”
Lunia, hearing this, gritted her teeth.
“I won’t lose to him! I’ll tear him to shreds, don’t worry! For the honor of Seilun!”
“Lunia! I’ve told you many times to stop using such harsh language!”
Herdium, clutching his head, Lunia ignored him and glared at the party hall with burning eyes.
‘Prepare yourself, Leo Flaub!’
***
The party ended.
But the atmosphere between the two schools was extremely awkward.
It couldn’t be helped.
There had been a dispute between the class representatives of the two schools.
A new awkwardness lingered between the two schools.
After returning to the dormitory, Leo changed into comfortable casual clothes.
Sitting at a table in the dormitory, Leo crossed his arms and waited for someone.
Whoosh!
A shadow passed between the windows.
The snowstorm had already stopped.
Looking outside, Lunia was already there.
Lunia, making eye contact with Leo, muttered a spell.
Click!
The window opened, and Lunia came inside.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Judging by your personality, I thought you’d come on a moonlit night.”
“Then, shall I explain? How did I end up stealing your contract?”
“There’s a bit of a misunderstanding, isn’t there? I only made a contract with Fira at the suggestion of Lady Phirina.”
“Nonsense! I was chosen as Fira’s contract partner since I was five! How much have I cherished Fira since I was young! We always played together! I bathed with her every day! I even dressed her!”
“But Fira hatched three months ago, right?”
“I can take good care of her even in egg form!”
“Look for another contract partner. Lady Phirina is also trying hard to find another Phoenix for you.”
To ordinary people, a Phoenix is a rare mythical creature, but with the influence of the Runda family, it’s possible to find a Phoenix suitable for a contract.
“I won’t accept anyone else!”
Lunia, with tears in her eyes, shouted.
‘Indeed, I feel sorry for her.’
Stealing a pre-arranged contract partner is a very impolite act.
In severe cases, it could even cost a life.
Phirina had arranged the contract between Leo and Fira because she thought it would be impossible.
It’s not unreasonable.
How could someone who hasn’t learned summoning magic make a contract with a Phoenix?
But Leo managed to make a contract with Fira, leading to this situation.
It’s a situation where no one is at fault, but Lunia had indeed lost her contract partner.
‘Besides, a Phoenix only has one contract partner.’
The reason Phirina suggested the contract to Leo, despite being the son of her benefactor, was because he was an exception.
The noble Phoenix is known for not having two contract partners.
“I took such good care of her! Sob! We were always together! Sob! But now she’s not my contract partner anymore! Firaaaaa! Sob!”
Seeing Lunia, who had already collapsed on the floor and was sobbing, Leo asked.
“What can I do for you?”
Lunia abruptly stopped crying.
She glanced at Leo.
“Will you grant me one request?”
“As long as it’s something I can do.”
“Fight me.”
“What?”
“Prove to me that you are a better contract partner for Fira than I am!”
Seeing Lunia’s burning red eyes, Leo chuckled.
“Should I leave?”
***
Leo and Lunia left the dormitory and headed to a spacious, deserted field.
The two left footprints in the snow and stood far apart from each other.
“Let me warn you.”
“Huh?”
“If it looks like you can’t handle it, surrender quickly. Don’t get hurt just because of stubbornness.”
Lunia, hearing this, chuckled.
“Are you worried about me?”
“Worried? Ha!”
Lunia, blowing a raspberry, crossed her arms.
“I’m only telling you this because you’re the son of Lady Reina, my father’s benefactor!”
Saying this, Lunia took a coin from her pocket.
“The moment this coin drops, the duel starts.”
“Got it.”
“Alright.”
Ding! Whirl!
The gold coin, rising high into the air, glittered in the moonlight before falling.
Thud!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Auras of flame and magical power surged simultaneously.
Seeing Leo’s flames, Lunia narrowed her eyes.
‘Zerdingger’s flames. A family blessed by the Phoenix, like ours.’
Given that the Zerdingger family was one of the few in the world capable of handling Phoenix power, Lunia felt a competitive spirit.
‘I won’t lose!’
“In the name of the contract partner.”
Five summoning circles appeared around Lunia.
With them, intermediate-level elemental creatures, Salamanders, appeared.
The Salamanders, capable of bipedal movement, could breathe fire and use their hands freely.
“Five intermediate-level Salamanders?”
Leo was impressed, but it didn’t end there.
As Lunia chanted a spell, the Salamanders’ hands formed flaming spears and shields.
Seeing Lunia quickly enhancing the Salamanders with magic, Leo smiled.
“Indeed, you are the class representative of Seilun.”
“Feeling confident? But I haven’t even started yet. I entrust the front to you all!”
Lunia, who had assigned the front to the Salamanders, quickly increased the distance from Leo and began chanting a spell.
While dealing with the five Salamanders pressuring him, Leo muttered.
“Relying on summoned creatures to fight while casting powerful spells... classic.”
“It’s the traditional battle method of elves! Lady Luna fought this way too!”
By modern standards, Luna was known as a traditional-type mage who could turn the tide of battle with powerful spells.
“Indeed, by modern standards, Luna is known as a traditional-type mage.”
Leo chuckled.
“But that’s wrong.”
“What?”
“By modern standards, Luna was a combat-type mage.”
A mage who continuously cast spells on the battlefield without a moment’s rest.
The battlefield that Kail and his companions had to fight through was one where stopping to cast a spell meant certain death.
Luna only cast spells when there was some leeway on the battlefield.
Yet, Luna was known as a traditional-type mage in the current era for a simple reason.
‘Even while moving frantically, each of her spells could turn the tide of battle.’
A perfect mage.
That was the progenitor of the Celestial Cloud, Luna.
“Hmm~ Humans think so, but isn’t the record of the elves closer to the truth about the progenitor?”
He opened his eyes.
During their conversation, Leo had already dispelled the five Salamanders.
If Lunia had supported the Salamanders more, Leo wouldn’t have been able to dispel them so quickly.
But now, Lunia was focusing all her attention on her magic.
‘Now, I just need to take down Lunia.’
Leo quickly closed the distance with Lunia.
But as soon as he met Lunia’s eyes, which were smiling, he quickly backed away.
“You have good instincts.”
Lunia, smiling, raised her right hand.
A massive sphere of flame, the size of a house, formed.
Whoosh!
The intense heat melted all the snow around them.
“Scorching Heat. It’s the ultimate magic of our family.”
Like the Phoenix Breath of the Zerdingger family, it was a magic that utilized the power of the Phoenix.
But no one would be foolish enough to face such a powerful magic head-on.
‘Of course, a magic of this magnitude would have considerable power even from a fragment...’
“Will you be okay? Magic that uses the power of the Phoenix will have reduced effectiveness against me.”
That’s right.
Leo’s flames and Lunia’s flames were essentially the same elemental power.
Thus, Lunia’s magic couldn’t fully harm Leo.
“I know. But I’ll take you down with this magic.”
“Why?”
“This isn’t just a simple duel. It’s a fight to prove that I am a better contract partner for Fira than you. So just winning isn’t enough.”
Lunia’s expression turned serious.
“This is a matter of pride as a contract partner of the Phoenix.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll accept your challenge.”
“What?”
Lunia, who couldn’t understand Leo’s words, hesitated.
But she didn’t think deeply and sent the magic toward Leo.
“Prepare yourself!”
A flame like a small sun engulfed Leo.
Whoosh!
Flames surged from Leo’s body.
Taking a deep breath, Leo swung his sword at the Scorching Heat.
Boom!
Lunia’s eyes widened in shock.
“Are you serious! You could die if you make a mistake!”
“You want to prove that you are a better contract partner for Fira? Then I’ll prove it too!”
Lunia, who had tried to cancel the magic, hesitated.
“Why did Fira choose me!”
Lunia’s mouth dropped open.
‘Is that what you meant? You’re completely crazy!’
If she attacked Leo now, she could easily win.
But now, the duel wasn’t just a contest of skill.
As a summoner against a summoner.
And as a user of Phoenix power, it had become a battle of pride.
Crack! Crack!
Blocking the Scorching Heat, Leo continued to back away.
But his flames continued to erode Lunia’s flames.
‘Stronger! More fiercely!’
Whoosh! Boom!
Leo’s flames greedily consumed the fragments of fire that fell from Lunia’s magic.
‘He’s increasing his firepower even at the cost of injuring himself?’
It wasn’t a normal method.
It was an unimaginable way.
To emit firepower beyond what was allowed, even at the cost of injury!
Yet, Leo continued to consume Lunia’s flames endlessly.
And finally...
Whoosh!
Leo’s flames completely consumed the massive Scorching Heat.
Thud.
Lunia, too shocked to move, collapsed to her knees.
Thud, thud.
Leo, whose upper body was charred and barely functional, tore off his shirt and walked toward Lunia.
Lunia looked at Leo blankly.
“If you want a proper duel, I’ll face you. What do you think?”
“Haha! Ahahahaha!”
Lunia, unable to control herself, burst into laughter.
“No, I lost.”
How could she continue to be angry at someone who had faced her anger head-on?
Groaning, Lunia stood up and said with a bitter smile.
“I can’t admit it, but I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s fine. I would have been angry too.”
‘...We’re both class representatives of the first year, yet there’s such a difference. I’m embarrassed.’
She felt ashamed of the gap.
“I acknowledge you, but I’m not giving up.”
Lunia, crossing her arms, said.
“I’ll prove that I am a better contract partner for Fira! I’ll make Fira choose me in the future!”
Lunia pointed at Leo with her hand.
“So, Leo Flaub! From now on, you’re my rival!”
“Think what you want.”
“I’ll be looking forward to the joint classes tomorrow.”
Seeing Lunia, with her red hair fluttering, turn sharply, Leo chuckled.
“I’ll live up to your expectations.”
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