Chapter 570

The day after the Festival of Heroes schedule was finalized, the Hero Academy students headed toward the warp gate along Dragonia’s main avenue as the dragons gathered to see them off.

“The One Who Chases the Nebula!”

“Wow... She’s beautiful....”

Among them, Lunia naturally attracted the most attention.

The dragon children cried out in admiration whenever she passed.

Her radiant red hair and beautiful face.

Her immaculate Seiren uniform.

Anyone who saw her would consider her the perfect Seiren honors student.

Moreover, like Leo, her name had already been recorded in the Hero Record while she was still a student. In a sense, it was strange to call her a mere Hero Candidate.

“Why does it feel like I’m receiving the most attention?”

Lunia looked bewildered even as she smiled and waved.

Leo’s name had also been recorded in the Hero Record.

He had even fought alongside Arron when the Third Fragment of Erebos resurrected.

That was not to mention his unprecedented status as an All-Class.

Yet despite all that, the dragons were paying far more attention to Lunia.

“Of course they are.”

Haddin adjusted his glasses.

“Leo Plov is unquestionably ahead of you in every respect. However, most people care far less about such substantial qualities than you might think.”

“Pardon?”

“After coming to Dragonia, I realized that dragons are not so different from us.”

Wisdom’s students and the dragons who guided heroes for the sake of the world might be exceptions.

However, most dragons living in Dragonia led ordinary lives.

“What attracts the public’s attention is visible fame. And in that respect, Lunia, no hero of this age is discussed more frequently than you.”

“It’s because of my epithet.”

“Yes.”

Lunia El Lunda, the One Who Chases the Nebula.

The first hero to be officially recognized as the successor of a Great Hero.

The Genesis Heroes were regarded as part of the lineage that succeeded the Great Heroes, but Lunia was the first whose Hero Record directly identified her as a successor.

Naturally, the public could not help but view her as someone special.

“It is an epithet far beyond what I deserve.”

Lunia stared down at her palm, and Haddin smiled faintly.

“Then become someone worthy of it.”

“...Yes.”

“The dragons are still cheering for you. Why don’t you stand beside Leo Plov?”

“....”

At Haddin’s suggestion, Lunia looked at Leo with an indescribable expression.

He was a Great Hero who had saved the world, the man loved by Luna, the Founder of the Nebula, and the man loved by Lysinas, the Wise King.

'For now, please keep this matter a secret.'

Melina had asked everyone present to remain silent as she took possession of the vow earlier.

The world currently believed Kyle and Luna had been lovers.

If it was revealed that Lysinas had also been involved, turning their relationship into a love triangle, the entire world would descend into chaos.

A careless revelation could even tarnish all three of their reputations.

'And his relationship with Lysinas-nim went far beyond that of ordinary lovers....'

Lunia’s face reddened, and her shoulders trembled faintly.

'Did he two-time them? Was he playing with Luna-nim’s feelings?'

Everything had been so chaotic earlier that they had never properly resolved the misunderstanding.

Countless thoughts raced through Lunia’s mind.

'What do you think? I’m much better than Lysinas, aren’t I?'

The image of Luna grabbing Leo by the collar and suddenly kissing him surfaced in her mind.

'Kyle, I love you.'

Luna had finally conveyed her feelings.

'So marry me.'

'I....'

'I don’t need an answer.'

The image of Luna declaring her love to the world without listening to Leo’s answer flashed through Lunia’s mind.

'My goodness. Luna-nim only managed to confess her feelings after her death....'

She must have loved Kyle but been unable to force her way between him and Lysinas.

That was why she had only confessed after dying.

Lunia looked heartbroken as she imagined the tragic love story.

While misunderstandings combined spectacularly to give birth to an entirely new misunderstanding, the Hero Academy students arrived at the gate.

“Why have you been glancing at me this whole time?”

“Hmm? W-Well....”

When Leo clicked his tongue and questioned her in front of the gate, Chelsea became flustered.

She fidgeted with her fingers before carefully answering.

“It just feels strange to learn that Leo Oppa was a married man.”

Leo felt a vein throbbing in the back of his head.

'What am I supposed to do about that damned scammer of a lizard?'

Leo was about to explain before any more pointless misunderstandings arose when—

“Leo, why didn’t you answer Luna-nim’s proposal back then?”

Lunia had approached at some point and spoke in a sorrowful voice.

“What are you talking about? Explain everything.”

Chelsea’s eyes widened. Lunia pressed her lips together before recounting what had happened.

“My goodness... I can’t believe there was such a tragic story.”

Chelsea covered her mouth and gasped after hearing the tale.

Leo clutched the back of his neck.

'This is driving me insane.'

He had somehow become a man who had ignored a confession Luna only managed to make after death because she had been forced to conceal her feelings throughout her life.

“You two, come here for a moment.”

Leo beckoned them closer.

He then wrapped an arm around each girl’s shoulders and pulled them close.

Suddenly pressed against Leo, Lunia and Chelsea opened and closed their mouths wordlessly.

“Listen carefully. Lysinas and I were never in that kind of relationship.”

“What? Melina-nim clearly said that was a marriage vow.”

Lunia lowered her voice.

Leo clicked his tongue.

“Yes, apparently it was. But I wrote my name without knowing it was a marriage vow.”

“Really?”

“Yes. That damned lizard scammed me.”

Leo ground his teeth.

Chelsea tilted her head.

“Then what about Luna-nim?”

“Luna and I weren’t in that kind of relationship either.”

“Then are you saying you never realized how either of them felt in your previous life?”

Leo paused at Chelsea’s question.

How was he supposed to answer?

Luna had openly expressed her feelings, but he had failed to understand because she used an elven custom.

Lysinas had never said anything directly, but she had made her feelings obvious, and he had failed to notice that too.

'You really are an idiot.'

Leo heard the voice of that damned long-eared bastard whose backside he had kicked.

'She even went out of her way to teach you dragon etiquette you had absolutely no reason to learn. If you still failed to notice, you’re a genuine moron.'

'Please stop telling such ridiculous lies.'

The voice of that damned lizard whose head he had struck echoed alongside it.

Remembering Seiren and Rodia, two juniors who had gotten far too full of themselves and shamelessly mouthed off to their great senior, Leo ground his teeth.

'The next time I meet them, I’ll shave every last hair from their heads.'

“Those were difficult times. We simply pretended not to recognize one another’s feelings.”

“Ah....”

Chelsea innocently nodded at Leo’s lie.

However, Lunia narrowed her eyes.

“Is that really true?”

When Lunia asked suspiciously, Leo grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her closer.

“Do these eyes look like they’re lying?”

Their foreheads lightly touched.

Leo’s red eyes were directly before hers.

Lunia froze, and her face gradually reddened.

“What are you two talking about so secretly?”

“Gasp!”

Ar suddenly shoved her head between them.

“I understand now, so move apart.”

Chelsea sounded annoyed as she separated Leo and Lunia.

Lunia sharply turned away and repeatedly cleared her throat.

Meanwhile, the warp gates leading to the respective academies activated.

Leo looked at them and spoke.

“As I mentioned yesterday, I ask for every academy’s active cooperation in preparing for the Festival of Heroes.”

“Since we have already decided to participate, there is no harm in making it spectacular.”

Marigold nodded.

“You need not worry about Seiren.”

Haddin adjusted his glasses.

Doberman grinned as he listened.

“Azonia will claim victory.”

Marigold and Haddin turned toward him.

“Through this Festival of Heroes, we will announce to the world that we have arrived.”

Haddin curled the corners of his lips upward.

“An admirable ambition. Unfortunately, Seiren will be the victor.”

“What strange things you two are saying. Damienne will win.”

As representatives of the Hero Academies that embodied their respective races, the three proudly issued their declarations.

Chelsea watched them before speaking.

“Lumene will win! Right, Leo Oppa?”

“Who cares who wins?”

“Huh?”

Chelsea looked bewildered by Leo’s answer.

“Let’s all do our best.”

Seeing Leo smile, Chelsea felt a sense of unease.

'What in the world is Leo Oppa planning?'

===

Leo and Chelsea returned directly to Lumene through the warp gate.

“Leo! What happened with the competition?”

“You didn’t manage to schedule it, right? The other academies couldn’t adjust their schedules, could they?”

When they entered the Student Council room, the officers buried beneath work rushed toward them with questions.

Their faces held the faintest sliver of hope.

“We set the date.”

“No!”

“How was that even possible?!”

Screams erupted throughout the room at Leo’s answer.

“Oh my. You all have enough time to scream? Then perhaps I should increase today’s workload—”

“No!”

“We already have more than enough work!”

“We’re sorry for screaming!”

At the words of Elena, who had recently begun to be called a tyrant, the Student Council officers cried out and hurried back to work.

Leo immediately entered the Student Council President’s office with Elena.

Carr was asleep inside a sleeping bag.

Chelsea approached and nudged him repeatedly with her foot.

“What are you doing? Why are you sleeping here? Go back to the dormitory.”

“Uuurgh... I’ll work even harder when I wake up. Please, just let me sleep a little.”

Carr squirmed miserably.

Chelsea looked toward Elena, who smiled gently.

“He completed every task I gave him without the slightest difficulty, so I may have pushed him a little too hard. Carr-gun performed far beyond my expectations.”

'This is why being unnecessarily competent is a bad idea.'

Chelsea shook her head as she watched Carr’s labor being thoroughly exploited.

'Chelsea, what do you think about recruiting Carr into our family after graduation?'

'Carr? That slippery bastard?'

'Yes. This experience convinced me that he would be a great asset to House Lewellin.'

Graduating from Lumene also opened the path toward excellent employment.

Heroic Houses actively used the connections they forged at Lumene to recruit talented individuals.

'Carr would probably come running the moment we invited him.'

'I don’t think it will be that simple. The way Duran has been looking at Carr recently is rather concerning. Still, Carr is your best friend.'

Chelsea recalled how pleased Abad had looked as he said Carr would probably join House Lewellin because the two had been close since their first year.

She gave Carr a slightly pitying look.

Meanwhile, Leo told Elena about the students from Wisdom.

“That worked out perfectly. We needed more labor.”

After hearing everything that had happened in Dragonia, Elena looked genuinely delighted.

To Elena, the dragons from Wisdom were excellent labor.

Nothing more and nothing less.

“Then everything is settled?”

“Yes. Now we only need to prepare.”

===

Before long, autumn ended and winter approached.

Fweeeee—! Boom—! Boom—!

Fireworks burst without pause above Lumeria City.

“Waaaaaaaaah!”

At last, the celebratory fireworks announcing the beginning of the Festival of Heroes filled the sky.

***