Chapter 418

Divine Power.

It was an alternate designation for Divinity, a force strictly employed by the divine pantheon.

Consequently, it was completely inaccessible to terrestrial species, whether they were humans, elves, beastfolk, or dragons.

‘A energy that dissolved from the world when the deities departed.’

Granted, this power had not completely faded away.

The primary piece of evidence was the Hero Record, an artifact entirely structured from that very divine essence.

It represented the absolute final trace of a deity surviving within the mortal realm.

‘Should this power manifest itself in the realm of mortals down the line.’

Leo recalled Pivva, a deity of antiquity whom he had encountered within the confines of the Hero Record.

Though mere vestiges of a bygone era, that deity possessed near-limitless authority and had granted Leo a divine favor, offering up a portion of his strength.

‘Yet I have already drained every drop of the essence I acquired during that encounter.’

Utilizing the sacred power that Pivva had imparted to him, Leo had managed to bring forth two distinct miracles.

‘The initial one allowed me to invoke the capabilities of a past incarnation.’

For a fleeting instant, he had shattered the constraints of temporal space, grasping the immense strength belonging to Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.

‘And the second miracle was…’

Leo tightened his hand into a firm fist.

He had managed to pull Luna, an entity anchoring the historical past, into the current era, even if only for a brief window of time.

This differed drastically from the situation with Seirun.

Seirun had been trapped in an eternal cycle of combat against Erebus within the genesis domain for three millennia, meaning he remained functionally among the living.

Extricating a living strategist from the Hero’s World fell squarely within the operational boundaries granted to Leo as the master of the Hero Record.

Conversely, Luna was a departed soul from history, meaning she did not fall under those rules.

‘It constituted an action that overstepped the absolute thresholds of what the Hero Record could manifest.’

By pulling Luna out of the Hero’s World for those fleeting moments, the entirety of Pivva’s sacred essence had been spent.

Furthermore, the Folium, which served as the physical vessel containing that divine essence, had been transferred over to Seirun.

‘Still… what exactly is this sacred energy that lingers now?’

“Sacred energy… are you speaking of the authority belonging to the gods?”

Melina, visibly startled by Leo’s musings, questioned him with deep reserve.

“Precisely.”

“Goodness. If that is the case, does this mean Lord Leo can once again summon the absolute might he wielded as Lord Kyle… or perhaps manifest other legendary champions into this present age?”

“I certainly wish such a feat were achievable.”

Leo narrowed his eyelids at the highly optimistic Melina, turning his focus inward.

He attempted to project his intent to summon the divine essence, but his efforts met with absolute stillness.

Observing this lack of response, Leo murmured under his breath.

“Commanding this force appears out of reach for the time being. The presence is incredibly minuscule, to the degree that I would have overlooked it entirely had it not been pointed out to me.”

Melina’s features shifted into an expression of disappointment upon hearing Leo’s assessment.

“What do you believe caused Lord Leo to receive this sacred energy?”

Melina paused to reflect for a brief moment before offering her thoughts.

“The factions within the shadows have taken to calling Lord Leo the God of Shadows. Do you think there is a connection to that title?”

“No, that cannot be the cause.”

Leo gave a firm shake of his head.

“I am no expert on matters of faith. However, having lived through an epoch where deities walked the earth, there is a singular reality of which I am entirely certain.”

“And what reality is that?”

“Mortal beings are incapable of ascending to divinity. This restriction applies equally to every other earthly species.”

The historical period preceding the Age of Calamity was widely recognized as the Age of Gods, an era that naturally saw extensive academic focus directed toward divine entities.

Deities were fundamentally transcendent existences, operating on an entirely different plane than earthly lifeforms.

“Divine beings are indifferent to whether mortal populations offer them devotion or ignore them completely. Because of this truth, regardless of how intensely people view me or offer me worship as a deity, it will not grant me true divinity.”

“Understood.”

Melina gave a nod of assent, processing his explanation.

‘Regardless of the underlying cause, it remains an objective fact that divine essence has taken root within my physical form. If I can uncover the source and master its application.’

Leo’s deep red gaze flashed with intensity.

‘This sacred authority will undoubtedly serve as a critical asset in the conflicts that lie ahead.’

The official presence of the Shan Empire, alongside the sudden appearance of the Silent Dragon.

An unforeseen event paired with a scenario that had only been anticipated as a remote possibility had taken place.

As a result, public curiosity regarding the grand conference surged to even greater heights.

The entire global community redirected its focus toward Lumeria City.

Yet, even while the eyes of the world were tightly fixed on this location, certain individuals remained fully absorbed in their immediate responsibilities.

The most prominent examples were the first-year and second-year pupils of Lumerne, positioned at the very epicenter of the gathering.

Their continued enrollment at Lumerne for the upcoming term rested entirely on one factor.

Everything hinged on the outcomes of the first-year tournament appraisal bouts.

“Professor Ren, in your estimation, who stands the greatest chance of claiming victory in this first-year tournament?”

The standard curriculum had officially drawn to a close.

The second-year cohort had likewise completed all of their required examinations.

Ren, an educator possessing skills that placed him among the apex of Lumerne’s faculty—notwithstanding his recurring bouts of erratic behavior—had already concluded the evaluation process for the second-year pupils.

Consequently, Ren along with his assistant professor, Anna, were peacefully whiling away the hours in the very lecture hall where they had instructed students throughout the term, waiting out the final days of the semester.

Their decision to remain in the regular lecture hall stemmed from a straightforward reality.

The student body of Lumerne possessed such an intense drive for academic achievement that individuals frequently arrived seeking guidance, even during these final moments preceding the break.

They chose this open setting over their private quarters simply because it offered far greater accessibility for any student seeking them out.

‘Observing his demeanor right now, one cannot deny his dedication as an educator.’

Ren poised his porcelain cup with refined grace and answered,

“The individuals with the highest probability would be Aina or Badeyna.”

Ren tasted the dark brew within his cup, tilting his head with quiet contentment before redirecting his attention back to his reading material.

Ren possessed strikingly handsome features, and based purely on his current presentation, he perfectly embodied the image of a deeply scholarly instructor of the mystic arts.

Anna permitted a subtle smile to grace her lips.

‘It would be far more pleasant if the material he was consuming wasn’t completely preposterous.’

Gazing at Ren as he poured over a text titled Why Mages Are Superior to Knights and Summoners, Anna felt the onset of a distinct tension in her temples.

At that exact moment, the entry door to the lecture hall swung inward.

The attention of both Ren and Anna immediately shifted toward the doorway.

Ren’s gaze sharpened noticeably as he identified the highly unexpected visitors stepping into the room.

“Seirun?”

Sensing Ren’s immediate shift in demeanor, Anna swallowed hard in anticipation.

Seirun Academy.

That institution stood as a primary catalyst for the numerous episodes of instability Ren had experienced over the course of the semester.

Given those past incidents, seeing representatives from Seirun step into their instructional space made it impossible for Anna to suppress her anxiety.

‘He simply cannot afford to lose control again.’

Fixing them with a apprehensive look, Anna suddenly recognized the visiting Seirun pupils.

‘Their identity belongs to… Angre Bijan, if I recall correctly.’

These were the pupils from the less privileged tiers who had previously endured marginalization at Seirun due to their minimal proficiency with stellar magic.

Naturally, following the structural reforms enacted by Seirun and the widespread impact of Ren’s Introduction to Star Magic, their circumstances had undergone a massive shift, elevating them far beyond the lower tiers.

“Angre, is that you?”

“Ah! Assistant Professor Anna!”

Angre alongside the remaining members of the former lower-tier group quickly gathered around Anna.

“It is wonderful to see all of you! How have things been progressing?”

“Excellently!”

“We owe our current success entirely to Assistant Professor Anna and Senior Leo!”

The first-year pupils conversed with vibrant enthusiasm, their expressions radiating joy.

“Senior Leo? You belong to entirely different institutions, yet you refer to him as Senior Leo? Do you comprehend the utter nonsense escaping your lips this instant?”

Following those words—Thud! He forcefully brought his book down onto the surface and pushed himself upright.

His expression burned with such intense hostility that it mirrored beams of blinding light emanating directly from his eyes.

The young pupils from Seirun found themselves utterly paralyzed by the oppressive, freezing aura Ren was emitting.

“What business brings you to this place?!”

“W-who are you supposed to be?”

Angre, calling upon what resolve he could find, spoke up hesitantly as the voice for the group.

“My identity is Ren Horuss! I am the very educator whom Leo Plob—the individual you brazenly claim as a ‘Senior’—holds in the absolute highest esteem!”

“…Cease the fabrications.”

Anna interjected, her eyes narrowing in disbelief, though Ren completely disregarded her comment.

The moment they registered Ren’s name, Angre and his companions stared back with wide, astonished eyes.

Angre then addressed him directly on behalf of the students.

“You are truly Professor Ren! Getting to meet you face-to-face is an immense privilege! My name is Angre Bijan!”

The very students who had been trembling in terror moments prior were now offering greetings with gleaming, star-struck expressions, causing Ren’s oppressive aura to dissipate significantly.

“My entire path was rewritten due to the insights within Professor Ren’s Introduction to Star Magic! Please accept my deepest gratitude!”

“I hold you in the highest regard, Professor!”

“It is an absolute privilege to stand before you!”

Witnessing the genuine appreciation and admiration flowing from the Seirun first-years, Ren let out an appreciative exclamation, “Oho!”

“So you are the notable Angre Bijan. The correspondence you sent reached me safely. Splendid! Precisely as I deduced, you possess the qualities of an exemplary scholar!”

Anna let loose a heavy breath, observing how Ren, who had displayed pure antagonism just moments earlier, completely reversed his disposition in a heartbeat.

Following this shift, Ren entered into an intellectual dialogue regarding mystic theory with the Seirun first-years.

“At this present moment, Professor Ren’s standing within Seirun is incredibly elevated.”

“A great many scholars find themselves astonished by your capacity to interpret stellar magic with such profound depth, particularly given that you do not belong to the elven race.”

“There are widespread assessments indicating that your work has permitted individuals to evaluate stellar magic through an entirely novel lens!”

“Word is circulating that you might receive an official request to serve as a visiting lecturer over the course of the upcoming summer hiatus.”

“Hahaha! To be granted such high accolades by an institution as esteemed in the mystic arts as Seirun. I find myself genuinely humbled by such praise.”

‘If those individuals possess functioning minds that aren’t merely decorative, it is entirely expected that those insufferable long-ears would eventually comprehend the sheer brilliance of my academic publications, Assistant Professor Anna!’

‘…Even after uttering such thoughts aloud.’

Anna could only sigh.

A short while later, additional high-achieving first-years from Seirun, namely Eclair and Yoinia, arrived looking for Ren as well.

Noticing their arrival, Angre questioned them.

“Where did Leah head off to?”

“She was accompanying us just a moment ago, but she unexpectedly slipped away from the group.”

“I was deeply hopeful that she would have the opportunity to meet Professor Ren.”

Angre expressed clear disappointment upon receiving Eclair’s update.

In the meantime, Anna edged closer to Ren, murmuring in a hushed tone.

“…Barely an hour has passed since you were actively disparaging Seirun Academy, yet you have completely inverted your behavior.”

As Anna challenged him with a critical gaze, Ren offered a dismissive laugh.

“Assistant Professor Anna, a refined individual must possess the wisdom to mask their underlying sentiments based on the constraints of time and environment. One who maintains a distinction between their internal thoughts and external presentation is what we define as an individual of true sophistication.”

“Who exactly defines that as sophistication?”

Anna countered sharply, but Ren remained entirely unfazed by the critique.

Shhh-! Shhh-!

Within the corridors of the Lumerne first-year instructional facility.

The attention of the passing first-year pupils repeatedly drifted toward a particular figure who was navigating the space with conspicuous stealth.

‘…That individual belongs to Seirun.’

‘What is the reason behind their highly secretive movements?’

‘Do they genuinely believe they are passing unnoticed behaving in that manner?’

A first-year representative from Seirun, Leah Tingel, was openly navigating the hallways populated by Lumerne’s first-year student body, fully attired in her Seirun academic uniform.

Leah was currently locked onto a specific target, pursuing them with single-minded focus.

The moment her quarry rounded a junction in the corridor, Leah accelerated toward the turn and cautiously extended her view around the edge.

She fixed a sharp, intense glare directly onto the back of her target.

‘That is undoubtedly Luke Elda.’

She extracted a photographic image of Luke from within her apparel.

The individual responsible for providing this image was none other than Carl.

She had caught sight of Luke while traveling alongside her fellow Seirun peers and had trailed him across the campus to this location.

‘Senior Plob’s personal understudy. To hold such a deeply enviable position completely to himself is something I simply cannot overlook.’

She stoked an intense spirit of competition against a target who had given her absolutely no cause for hostility.

“…State your identity. What reason brings a Seirun first-year into this sector?”

Right then, an unfamiliar voice sounded from directly behind her position.

Shifting her gaze around, she found herself looking at Habidan.

Leah turned her entire form to confront Habidan, adopting a rigid posture and elevating her chin with an air of defiance.

“My identity is Leah Tingel.”

“Leah Tingel?”

“Hold on a moment! Is she not the highest-ranking first-year within Seirun’s ranks?”

Surprised exclamations began to erupt from the surrounding onlookers.

“What objective brings the top first-year representative of Seirun to our halls?”

Leah mirrored Habidan’s posture, locking her arms across her chest as she faced him, as he stood with his own arms crossed.

“I have journeyed here for the express purpose of bringing down my primary competitor.”

“Pardon? What are we talking about? Is this an official challenge of hostility?”

“Is this occurring as a preliminary to the upcoming Lumerne-Seirun competitive event?”

“Incredible!”

“A competitor? Target identity? Surely she intends Aina, correct?”

The observing first-years began to display highly energized responses to the unfolding drama.

“So, you have chosen to venture into our territory entirely unaccompanied. You possess a commendable amount of audacity, do you not?”

A sharp smile curled the edge of Habidan’s lips.

As the level of excitement escalated, a growing crowd of pupils began to flood into the corridor space.

Amidst the rising volume generated by the assembled onlookers, Aina made her appearance, prompting the surrounding students to divide and form a clear clearing between Leah and Aina.

The current environment placed the primary first-year figureheads of both Lumerne and Seirun in a direct, tense standoff.

Aina’s expression made it abundantly clear that she lacked any context regarding the nature of the gathering.

It was a window of time where every onlooker maintained a highly stressed disposition.

At that precise moment, Leah elevated her arm.

Her finger extended, pointing unequivocally toward an unexpected individual.

“Luke Elda.”

The collective attention of the crowd instantly pivoted to focus entirely on Luke.

Luke, who had merely approached to ascertain the source of the disruption, featured a look of complete mystification.

“Engage in combat with me.”

“Excuse me?”

Failing entirely to grasp the intent behind the demand, Luke sought clarification.

The surrounding student body mirrored his state of utter perplexity.

“My directive was clear: engage me in a duel this very instant!”

“What reason targets me specifically?”

Luke adopted a highly defensive look, directed straight at Leah whose eyes were narrowed with intense focus.

“Because you have been designated as my personal quarry.”

“Top representative of Seirun’s first-years.”

Habidan let out a sharp chuckle.

“Luke Elda represents my intended quarry. I will grant absolutely no one permission to strike him before I do.”

“Should you choose to obstruct my path, I will dismantle you prior to dealing with him.”

“You are giving voice to the exact declaration I intended to make.”

Zing-

An invisible current of hostility sparked as Habidan and Leah locked gazes with pure enmity.

The observing crowd grew visibly rigid once more, witnessing the sudden transformation of their interaction into an intensely combative standoff.

“Professor Harlind is approaching!”

Following an urgent warning issued by one of the pupils, the assembled first-years flinched in unison and scattered rapidly toward their respective learning spaces.

Leah, caught completely off-guard by the highly coordinated evacuation, raised her voice to shout,

“Ah! Luke Elda! Halting your movement is an order! Duel with me this instant!”

Leah’s voice, entirely out of sync with the immediate reality of the situation, resonated loudly down the length of the corridor.

And right as she sharpened her gaze, bracing herself to pursue Luke at maximum velocity.

“Who granted authorization for combative behavior within these hallways?”

An incredibly frosty, demanding voice cut through the air.

Leah’s physical form locked up entirely against her will.

“Furthermore, who granted authorization for vocal disruptions within these hallways?”

Leah turned her body around utilizing highly rigid, halting motions.

Standing before her was Harlind, widely recognized as the Wall of Weeping within Lumerne.

“EEK?”

Leah instinctively retreated by a single step, completely overwhelmed by the intense, menacing presence Harlind projected.

“It appears you hold no respect or fear regarding disciplinary measures?”

Leah felt absolute terror gripping her.

Despite her fear, she managed to muster enough fortitude to voice a defensive claim.

“I-I do not fall under the jurisdiction of Lumerne’s student body.”

Every internal signal screamed within her mind.

Instructing her to avoid any engagement with the imposing figure standing before her.

Yet such justifications carried absolutely no weight with Harlind.

“The specific institution of your origin is of zero consequence to me.”

Harlind extended his hand, clamping it firmly onto the collar at the back of Leah’s neck.

“The moment your feet cross into Lumerne territory, you adapt to Lumerne’s regulations.”