Chapter 135
“I’ve finally escaped!” she exclaimed as she left the city. “I was so overwhelmed, I thought I was going to die!”
“Weren’t you pretending to be fine around the other students?”
“What do you mean? Your choice of words is strange.”
“Then what was the happy facade all about?”
Lunia smiled gracefully.
“It’s just tiring maintaining a facade to not shatter other people’s illusions.”
Leo shook his head.
“By the way, you were teasing me earlier, weren’t you?”
Lunia raised her eyebrows, but Leo remained unfazed.
“Do you have to play the perfect student in front of your seniors?”
Lunia’s expression darkened at the question.
“Most of the seniors don’t really know my true personality.”
“Most?”
“Yes, a few seniors know me. You know the one with the glasses, the leader? He’s familiar with my real self.”
Lunia rubbed her forehead.
“I came here thinking I’d only be with him. But other seniors showed up too, and so this has all been exhausting.”
“You wouldn’t be so tired if you acted like yourself, would you?”
“If they would just have let things be, they wouldn’t have tired me out!”
Lunia crossed her arms and frowned.
“But they kept pulling tricks.”
“Tricks?”
“Yeah, the second-year students kept pestering me!”
“You could have told them off.”
“They keep twisting things so I can’t make them stop! It’s so frustrating!”
Lunia kicked at the wood around her, clearly agitated.
It seemed she had built up quite a bit of stress during the trip.
“Also, everyone was so obsessed with elitism. It was awful!”
As the first-year representative from Seiren, Lunia had been famous since entering the academy.
Her beauty and prestigious background drew attention and high expectations from Seiren’s faculty and seniors.
Despite a few exceptions like Lauta, most seniors treated their juniors well there.
“Why do you dislike it so much?”
“They keep criticizing you! They say you were just lucky to have finished that spell from the Poet, and that your interpretation is probably wrong, so anyone else should be able to come up with a new one! But I just want to say that anyone who can’t do any better, like all of them, should just keep quiet! It’s infuriating!”
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
Lunia kicked the tree in frustration.
Leo found her anger endearing.
“Did you get mad because of all that criticism directed at me?”
Pause
Lunia stopped kicking and glanced at Leo with a snort.
“Hm! I just don’t like that they’re talking bad about my rival without knowing you properly!”
“Right, right.”
Leo nodded, amused by Lunia’s haughty demeanor.
“How’s Eiran doing?”
“Oh! She’s adjusted well to school now. No one ignores her anymore!”
Lunia laughed happily, sharing news about Eiran.
Even though they had exchanged letters, talking in person was far more satisfying.
‘Nevertheless, I can communicate with her well.’
As Lunia spoke to Leo, she reflected on how, despite their different backgrounds, Leo felt oddly approachable.
Meanwhile, Leo asked casually, “So, you’re here to investigate the Hero Dungeon, right? Can we go and deal with the bandits first?”
“Yeah. I’m just investigating it. You’re not planning to leave me and head into the Hero Dungeon, are you?”
Lunia, who had replied without thinking, suddenly panicked and covered her mouth.
“Really?”
“D-did you hear anything? Hero Dungeon? What? That’s crazy… Ha ha ha.”
Leo looked at Lunia, who was now flustered.
“Well, now. Isn’t that a big deal?” Leo took out the communication beads given to him for the mission, shook them around, and asked, “Should I contact Lumene right now? Gotta let them know that there are students here from Seiren.”
Lunia, eyes darting around, sighed deeply.
Lunia, realizing she couldn’t hide it any longer, confessed. “Fine! Our vice-principal mentioned there might be a Hero Dungeon somewhere in this region! Are you satisfied?”
The appearance of Seiren students in the area made the existence of the Hero Dungeon quite likely in Leo’s mind. He nodded.
Lunia looked slightly downcast when she saw Leo’s reaction.
“Let’s go.”
Leo didn’t press further about the Hero Dungeon and pulled out a map from his bag.
“The bandits must have made their hideout in the ruins at the eastern end of the Garan province.”
Lunia nodded in agreement.
“Alright. Let’s go and clear them out.”
She cracked her knuckles, her expression fierce.
“A bunch of punks doing nothing but messing with innocent people? I can never forgive that.”
As a hero candidate, herself, Lunia had a strong sense of justice.
“Of course.”
Leo crouched down, his back facing Lunia.
“…? What’s this?”
“Let me carry you.”
“What? Why?” Lunia’s cheeks flushed slightly as she asked.
Leo replied calmly, “Shouldn’t we get to the bandits’ hideout quickly?”
“But you can just use your sorcery to fly!”
“If you’re on my back, I’ll run faster.”
Although the idea of carrying someone was unusual for her, as a member of a prestigious family, Lunia sighed and climbed onto his back.
“If you think of anything weird, you’ll regret it.”
“What’s there to think about?”
“Uh, never mind. Just… let’s go.”
With a resigned sigh, Lunia wrapped her arms around Leo’s neck.
Leo stood up, bent his knees, and took off at a breakneck speed.
Lunia closed her eyes momentarily, feeling the intense wind.
But as she adjusted to the rush, she opened her eyes and saw they were moving at an incredible pace.
‘He’s fast.’
Lunia pouted slightly.
Then she rested her chin on Leo’s left shoulder, contemplating.
‘Has he grown taller, too?’
Feeling strange about how the boy she remembered being as tall as her had grown so much, Lunia tightened her grip around Leo’s neck.
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – Aine]
[Proofreader – Ash]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
“So, we would like to request permission to explore this area for ecological research.”
“Yes! Yes! Feel free to stay as long as you need! I’ll make sure you’re comfortable during your stay!”
Haddin spoke politely.
The lord of Garan rubbed his hands together, observing him.
A second-year Seiren student, watching from a distance, chuckled. “How pathetic. But I suppose all humans are like that.”
Elves, known for their pride in their culture, often viewed themselves as superior.
There was also a widespread belief that Seiren students were inherently exceptional, which contributed to their arrogance.
Not all students were like that, of course.
The upperclassmen in particular, though, were particularly stubborn in their racist views.
All three students in question were in their upper years.
The investigative party here included two third-years, two second-years, and one first-year.
Haddin, the third-year leader, served as the Dungeon Raid Leader for Seiren, while the other students were candidates for joining the expedition.
This mission practice also acted as a test of their competence as Dungeon Raiders.
“By the way, Miss Lunia neglected her duties to deal with bandits. Is there something youthful about her, despite her excellence?”
One of the students glanced at her senior male classmate, awaiting his response.
A second-year student spoke up from the side.
“You must have a strong sense of justice.”
He had shown a clear interest in Lunia since the start of the mission practice.
“But why did she go after bandits with a student from Lumene instead of joining us?”
When the second-year Seiren boy voiced his confusion, the third-year student explained, “I heard Lunia sees Leo Plov as her rival.”
It was well-known that Lumene and Seiren’s first-years had a brief joint class during the first semester.
During that time, Herdium, a renowned elite teacher, had praised Lumene’s first-year students, which Seiren students couldn’t easily overlook.
“Well, considering the Gigantes case, it’s impressive. But don’t you think our first-years could’ve handled it, too?” the second-year girl said bluntly.
“Exactly. There’s no way we at Seiren can’t match what Lumene has accomplished.”
Her face twisted with blatant hostility towards Leo, who was left alone with Lunia.
“Isn’t it obvious that we’ll win this year at Lumeiren anyway? Their second-years were dreadful, and the third-years weren’t much better.”
The Seiren third-year student’s expression hardened at the second-year’s comments.
“Not exactly. Lumene’s third-years have a formidable student on their side.”
“A formidable student?”
“Are you referring to Elena Zeron?”
The second-years tilted their heads in confusion, and the third-years nodded.
Seiren’s second-years laughed at the senior’s reaction.
“That’s just one student. Aren’t the others lacking?”
“True. We should have an easy time this year. Lumene’s sophomores don’t seem to be a threat.”
The current Lumene second-years had been severely beaten by Seiren’s the previous year.
“Lumene’s first-year representative was quite impressive last year, though. Don’t let last year’s easy victory make you complacent.”
“Oh, you mean that peculiar girl? Lille, was it? She was quite a standout among the other students.”
“Yes. It’s hard to believe she’s the representative. Lumene went all out last year.”
“Oh, my. What’s wrong with our cutie Lille?”
The students turned in surprise at the sudden voice.
A beautiful girl stood there, smiling.
The Seiren third-year student’s face tightened slightly.
“Elena Zeron? What are you doing here?”
“Hello, Seiren kiddos,” Elena said, gently twisting a strand of hair around her finger. “I appreciate people who try their best.”
The Seiren students were taken aback by her unexpected words.
“My dear Lille always puts in effort. And she’s kind. Last year, despite not being able to fully support her classmates, she worked hard to restore Lumene’s honor.”
Elena smiled fondly as she thought of her favorite junior.
“You’re free to talk about other schools as you wish.”
Her smile remained unwavering.
“I was offended by the remarks about her, however. So I’m giving you a chance to apologize. If you kneel and bow your head respectfully, I’ll forgive you.”
A second-year Seiren male student, flustered by Elena’s words, spoke with a hint of defiance.
“I just told you the truth. We won’t kneel to you.”
“That’s right! If you don’t like the criticism, prove yourself with your skills!”
“I both informed you of the reason why I felt insulted and offered you a chance to apologize.”
Elena, the Queen of Lumene, had a fierce gleam in her eyes.
“Aren’t you the one who wasted the opportunity?”
A brilliant light erupted at the end of her words.
Crash-!
The lord’s manor was briefly devastated by the explosion.
Haddin and the lord, who had been talking when the blast occurred, rushed in.
Haddin’s expression hardened as he saw a familiar face stomping on the head of his junior.
“Oh, I don’t think you’re in a position to mock our school with such confidence.”
Stomp-!
Elena, who usually just ignored those around her, could not tolerate others looking down on Lumene.
She was the daughter of the chairman of Lumene Academy.
And she was set to become the chairman of the board of directors in the future.
Anyone who insulted her alma mater was unacceptable to her.
“Elena… Zeron.”
“Hello, Haddin.”
Elena smiled brightly at Seiren’s third-year representative, with whom she had been competing for three years.
“I think you need to whip your juniors into shape.”
“Run away! It’s a witch!”
“Do you want to die? Have you ever seen a witch this cute before?”
“You’re not cute, are you?”
“What? Do you want to be the first one I take down?”
Lunia glared at Leo.
Nevertheless, Lunia’s sorcery continued to cut down the bandits with precision.
The bandits, swept away by the roaring waves of flames, screamed in agony.
Lunia chased after the fleeing bandits, her laughter echoing.
“You’re all villains! All you do is torment the innocent! I’ll send you straight to hell!”
‘If you look at her expression, she really does look like a witch.’
Leo shook his head in amusement, laughing out loud.
‘Kind of like Luna.’
Perhaps Lunia would have been pleased to hear that, but Luna wouldn’t have been happy to hear she resembled a witch.
He looked towards the entrance to the castle site, which was now a complete ruin.
‘The entrance to the castle site has completely lost its former solidity.’
Leo followed Lunia into the castle.
Inside, Lunia was using sorcery to subdue the remaining bandits.
The first-year representative of Seiren Academy was truly overwhelming.
Despite their considerable size, the bandits were no match for her.
“W-we have a hostage! Take him hostage!”
The bandits found Leo and swarmed around him.
“Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?”
Leo raised his hand nonchalantly, laughing.
Flash!
In an instant, Leo completed the spell and unleashed a whirlwind of flames at the bandits.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
The bandits screamed as they scattered in all directions.
The bandits were wiped out almost instantly.
“Huh! This is hardly a challenge.”
Lunia glanced at Leo with a flick of her wrist.
‘What is he doing?’
Confused, Lunia approached Leo.
Meanwhile, Leo was kneeling and sweeping the floor.
‘…I guess… It seems that the Godthron itself is buried in the ground.’
Despite the passage of thousands of years, it had once been the world’s final line of defense.
It was strange that such a fortress, once legendary, had vanished without a trace.
But Leo, now standing in the castle site where remnants of old debris faintly lingered, could see more clearly.
‘This is the upper part of the walls of Godthron.’
The walls of Godthron were so vast and thick that they defied imagination.
Godthron was a city of immense scale, incomparable to the refugee city of Leisar.
As Leo swept the ground clean, he sensed a faint energy beneath it.
‘Dark sorcery…I see.’
Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘Did Tartaros try to bury Godthron?’
