Chapter 132
“Hoot, is it finally time to let the whole world know my name?”
“You’re joking.”
“What’s the point of knowing your name?”
That evening, the entire dormitory was abuzz with excitement over the mission practice.
“Everyone is thrilled about the mission training.”
Chelsea spoke as she enjoyed a pudding served for dessert.
“Wow~”
Carr, watching Chelsea savor her treat, asked, “What? Is the pudding that good?”
“It’s here today only, so I’m not sharing it with you.”
Carr frowned at Chelsea’s firm stance.
“I don’t want any, anyway.”
“Fine, don’t eat it. Hey, Leo, would you like a bite?”
“Why are you treating us so differently?” Carr protested loudly.
Chelsea, ignoring Carr, scooped a spoonful of her pudding and offered it to Leo.
“I’m fine.”
“This is so good! Leo, you’ve never tried this limited-edition pudding, have you?”
“Yeah, Leo. It’s really worth the hype. They’re not crazy about it for nothing.”
Carr, having tried the special pudding once, nodded in agreement with Chelsea.
“Should I have a bite?”
“Yes.”
Chelsea proceeded to feed Leo a spoonful of pudding.
Chomp!
“Hmm—! The limited-edition pudding really is delicious.”
Just then, someone barged in and took a bite of the pudding.
Chelsea, with a raised eyebrow, tried to maneuver the spoon out of Celia’s mouth.
But Celia bit down hard on the spoon, pulling it away from Chelsea.
“How dare you!”
“Hmph.”
Celia, brushing her hair back, snorted.
Chelsea, about to retrieve the spoon, glared at Celia and Carr.
“If you touch my pudding, you’ll regret it!”
“I won’t let you eat it.”
Leo burst into laughter as a relieved Chelsea hurried to grab another spoon.
“Leo, you haven’t decided where you’re going yet, have you?”
“I’ve made my decision. Why?”
“Who are you going with? Are you going with Class 5?”
Celia’s disapproval was evident.
It was clear that Chelsea would be included in the group if Leo were going with his classmates.
Celia, who wanted to coordinate her mission practice with Leo, was displeased.
“No, I’m going alone.”
“What? Then that’s perfect. Come with me…”
At that moment, someone covered Leo’s eyes. “Guess who?”
Leo calmly removed the hands and said, “What’s up, Chen Xia?”
“Oh, that’s not funny.”
Chen Xia withdrew her hands with a frown, clearly annoyed by Leo’s calm reaction.
Celia looked confused.
“Do you always play around like that?”
“I was just trying to amuse Leo, but it’s not working. He’s always so composed.”
Chen Xia poked Leo in the cheek, grumbling.
Watching this, Carr turned away.
Chelsea, still holding her spoon, was frozen in place.
“Hello, Mrs. Chelsea.”
Chen Xia smiled and waved.
“Oh, hi.” Chelsea replied in a flustered manner before sitting down across from Leo.
She glanced between Leo and Chen Xia.
“Did you come here to talk about mission training, too?”
“Yes, I thought it would be nice to form a party with Leo. Celia, if you are planning to team up with Leo, would you join us?”
“Hmm. The top three from the Knight Studies Department going together for mission training… It’s quite a prestigious group. Quite the adventure,” Carr responded to Celia’s words.
“It’s not that I favor our country’s prince. But Duran is second in the Knight Studies Department. And why are you grouping Leo in as part of the Knight Studies Department?”
“That’s right! That’s right!”
At Carr’s words, Chelsea protested, wielding a spoon.
Celia, observing, said sourly, “What did you say? Leo is my cousin, you know. He’s going to be a knight, obviously.”
“Huh? Was that announcement officially made?”
“Well, it will be announced soon.”
Celia nodded naturally at Carr’s surprise.
“As I thought, Leo and Celia are related.”
“Did you notice?”
“The flames you’ve used were similar. I’m sure all the more observant students have noticed.”
Chen Xia shrugged.
“Anyway! Leo! Let’s do our mission practice together!”
“That’s right. It’d be nice to study together.”
Chen Xia agreed with Celia.
“I still haven’t decided on a department yet. Besides, I’ve already chosen a mission for training.”
“Then let’s go together. If you chose it, it must be a high quality mission, right?”
“Leo said he was going for a bandit sweep.”
“A bandit sweep? Is there a large bandit group active now?”
“I haven’t heard of one.”
Leo looked frustrated as he listened to the two’s puzzled reactions.
“I wanted to go to a rural area to clear out the bandits there.”
“What? Why?”
“That kind of mission training won’t help you at all.”
Chelsea spoke with a spoonful of pudding in her mouth.
“I’ve mentioned it a few times, but no one listened.”
“Leo must have his reasons.”
Chelsea pouted as Carr leaned back in his chair.
“That’s true, though. With your skills, Leo, you could easily handle a more challenging request.”
Celia continued to attempt to persuade Leo, but he remained firm in his decision.
It was when Leo left the dormitory cafeteria after finishing his meal that a commotion erupted outside.
“What’s going on?”
In response to Carr’s question, a student from the Summoning Department replied excitedly, “Our seniors in the Dungeon Raiding party are here!”
“What?”
“I heard they’re recruiting freshmen to join them for this mission training.”
The Dungeon Raiding party.
A group of the top students in each department, officially sanctioned to attack the Hero Dungeon by the school.
Also known as the best students in Lumene.
Approaching the dormitory entrance, Leo and his friends saw students who appeared to be in their third and fourth years.
The fifth-year students, who were graduating this year, did not participate in the recruitment of party members.
“Oh! Celia!”
Then someone approached Celia.
A boy with black hair and red eyes.
It was Barden Zerdinger, a relative of Celia and a second-year student at Lumene.
“Good to see you! I’ve been waiting for you!”
“Why me?”
When Celia crossed her arms and asked, Barden grinned. “Why, you ask? To invite you to join our party!”
For ordinary students, joining the Dungeon Raiding party was a great honor.
Dungeon Raiding parties were comprised of the best students, and joining one provided the opportunity to form valuable connections with fellow party members.
Everyone tried their absolute best to get into these sought-after parties.
But there were always exceptions.
Such as the most promising of prospects.
In particular, students like Celia were coveted for these prestigious parties.
They naturally became targets for recruitment as they advanced in their studies.
Therefore, high-performing students were actively encouraged to join these elite groups.
“You haven’t decided on a party yet, have you? Rhys’ party is all fifth-year seniors, so it’s disbanding this year.”
The Dungeon Raiding party, Red Wing, led by Rhys Zerdinger, was a notable group.
It had been active since their third year, guided by prominent figures such as Torua and Jamua.
Among the current third and fourth years, many students wanted to join Red Wing, but it would be disbanded at the end of the year, sticking to its principle of only accepting students from the same year.
“I’m with Blue Moon, Elena’s party! I bet Red Wing is the only influential party in Lumene that compares to ours!”
Chelsea, standing behind Barden, laughed at his confident statement.
“Yes. You can go that way, Celia.”
“Chelsea Lewellin? Do you want me to join you?”
“I don’t need to. And who do you think you are, addressing me so casually?”
“What? Don’t you know me? I’m Barden Zerdinger.”
“The Zerdinger name may be well-known, but do I need to memorize all the names of people who aren’t directly involved in my life?”
Barden was furious at Chelsea’s pointed words.
But, as Chelsea pointed out, no matter how distinguished the Zerdinger name was, there was no reason for Chelsea, from the prominent Lewellin line, to remember every single one of the Zerdingers’ relatives.
“Oh, anyway! This time, we’re going to explore a Hero Dungeon! It’s a mission training period, right? It’ll be very helpful if you join us. It’ll make managing the rest of your years here easier!”
Celia responded.
“I don’t intend to join a party yet.”
“What?”
“Let’s go, Leo.”
As Celia walked away, Leo followed her.
‘Th-that guy!’
Barden glared at Leo’s retreating figure.
He knew that Leo might be a successor this time, as he was also a Zerdinger.
‘He doesn’t even bear the name yet!’
Leo was much closer to the core of the Zerdinger line, but Barden couldn’t admit Leo’s potential.
As Leo, Celia, Chelsea, Chen Xia, and Carr walked on, a crowd of representatives from each of the parties approached them.
Among the first-years, Leo, Celia, Chelsea, and Chen Xia were prime candidates for recruitment.
In addition to these four, all the students who had performed well in capturing the Gigantes during the Majors Competition were sought out by their seniors.
“I envy those popular people,” Carr mumbled as he stepped back.
“I know. Leo is popular.”
“Huh? What?”
Carr, turning to the source of the commotion, was taken aback.
Not only Carr, but everyone around, was surprised by the appearance.
It was momentous to have her there.
“Elena Zeron!”
Everyone held their breath at the sight of their legendary senior, a figure too grand for any normal first-years to approach.
Even the other seniors, who had come to promote their parties, were surprised.
Elena, known as the Queen of Lumene, was a student whom not only first-years, but also other seniors, rarely saw.
Elena flashed Carr a bright smile.
Carr blushed at her stunning appearance.
The Blue Moon party quickly gathered around, realizing Elena was there.
However, no one stood close to Elena or even spoke to her.
The members of the Dungeon Raiding parties that came to promote were part of their exclusive group, but even then, direct communication with Elena was rare.
When Elena moved, the crowd parted.
Elena walked through the throng as if she were accustomed to it.
She stopped right in front of Leo.
“Hello, Leo.”
“Hello, Elena.”
Leo greeted her calmly, even with her dazzling smile.
Elena, observing the scene with interest, said, “My Dungeon Raiding party is going out to explore a Hero Dungeon.”
“Yes.”
“Join our party. I’ll make you an official party member.”
Everyone was astonished by her unexpected offer.
It was surprising enough that the leader of the Dungeon Raiding party would personally extend an invitation, but to a first-year student was unprecedented.
“I’ll make you the best you can be, Leo Plov.”
Elena smiled confidently and extended her hand.
The proposal from a girl who was not only beautiful and strong, but also possessed immense power.
Who in their right mind would turn down such an offer?
“I’m good.”
“What did you say just now?”
“I’m good?”
Everyone present was momentarily baffled by Leo’s response.
Elena, too, frowned slightly.
“Why?”
“I’ve said it before, but I’m an expensive guy.”
