Chapter 460

The sovereign of Rodren.

Charles Dio Rodren rested upon his royal seat, gazing upon his subordinates with an expression of sheer weariness.

Prostrated beneath Emperor Charles, the figures with lowered heads voiced their concerns.

“Your Majesty. Regardless of the immense fame Leo Flobe has garnered, permitting an apprentice who has yet to officially attain the rank of a hero to enter Imperium violates our long-standing customs. We beg you to rethink this!”

“We beg you to rethink this!”

Extending an offer to Leo to become part of Imperium was entirely and exclusively Emperor Charles’s personal decree.

Naturally, he had called upon the patriarchs of Gerdinger and Rwalin—families that had served as the Emperor’s most trusted advisors for centuries—to deliberate on the matter.

To Seld, the patriarch of Gerdinger, granting Leo this exceptional entry was far from a negative prospect.

Truthfully, from his standpoint as the family’s leader, it was something to be celebrated.

Irrespective of public opinion, Leo was Seld’s own nephew and a pureblood heir of the Gerdinger lineage.

‘Furthermore, Leo’s abilities do not pale in the slightest when measured against actual heroes.’

He simply lacked the official title.

His combat prowess was already on par with the continent’s finest.

Should a nephew of his caliber be granted this extraordinary privilege to enter Imperium, the prestige of Gerdinger would soar to unprecedented heights.

Chaed Rwalin similarly found zero grounds for opposition.

‘Had Leo Flobe merely been a member of Gerdinger, it might have been debatable, but the boy is a mage.’

And not just any run-of-the-mill spellcaster, but one acknowledged as the rightful heir to Seyrun, the Comet Wizard.

Leo’s standing within magical circles was already remarkably esteemed.

‘Allowing Leo Flobe into Imperium wouldn’t inevitably amplify Gerdinger’s political sway.’

Instead, possessing an all-class aptitude meant his neutral stance would probably remain steadfast.

‘Plus, he holds a close bond with Chelsea.’

It was public knowledge that Leo, Chelsea, and Karl had been an inseparable trio since their inaugural year at the academy.

Consequently, Chaed saw no cause to block Leo’s enrollment either.

Once the news of Leo’s exceptional acceptance became public,

a multitude of aristocrats petitioned for a meeting with Emperor Charles.

Their primary objective was to revoke Leo’s unprecedented entry.

It was an undeniable reality that the royal bloodline of Rodren, alongside the distinguished founding houses of Gerdinger and Rwalin, held supreme authority within the nation.

Yet, regardless of their staggering influence, Rodren was simply too expansive for a mere trio of families to govern completely.

Managing such a colossal entity demanded complex political maneuvering, meaning various agendas inevitably clashed and overlapped.

Because of this, a faction undeniably existed that harbored deep resentment toward the unique privileges bestowed upon Leo.

The individual who rallied these dissenting voices and presented himself before the Emperor was Etherka Dekni, the Knight of the Snowstorm.

Having successfully claimed the mantle of Hero, he served as the commander of the Imperial Knights of the Rodren Empire.

Originating from a humble, lower-tier chivalric household, he had clawed his way up to a hero’s status, breeding a tremendous sense of self-importance within him.

His ultimate ambition was to claim the absolute pinnacle as the mightiest knight in the Rodren Empire.

Yet, he constantly found himself pushed into the runner-up spot, thoroughly eclipsed by Seld Gerdinger.

Because of this lingering bitterness, he spearheaded an anti-Gerdinger coalition within the borders that rivaled even Rwalin’s faction in sheer political weight.

“Sir Etherka. Do you imply that Leo Flobe lacks the requisite credentials?”

“I do, Your Majesty. He has yet to demonstrate any feats that justify his placement within Imperium.”

“Leo Flobe secured the role of student council president at Rumern despite his youth, and he has been successfully navigating the world of Great Heroes. On top of that, he recently played a monumental part in suppressing Erebus alongside the Brave. Even if his name does not yet grace the Hero Record, I consider these accomplishments more than adequate. Do you disagree?”

Responding to Seld’s defense, Etherka spoke with a stone-cold expression.

“Sir Seld. Are you not simply shielding the boy out of familial bias? Serving as the student council president of Rumern is no guarantee of heroic ascension. Additionally, the world of Great Heroes was hardly overcome by Leo Flobe’s individual might. The identical logic applies to the pacification of the fragment of Erebus. In the end, wasn’t the fragment of Erebus only defeated because Sir Arion was present?”

Etherka let out a derisive scoff.

“Absolutely nothing has been validated. Under these circumstances, handing out unearned favors might soil the prestigious legacy of Imperium, and even worse, it risks leaving a stain upon Your Majesty’s flawless standing.”

Etherka’s gaze sharpened as he concluded his argument.

“I had assumed the patriarch of Rwalin would keep Sir Seld Gerdinger in check.”

“I am also of the opinion that Leo Flobe possesses the aptitude fitting for Imperium.”

Chaed answered with tranquil composure.

While the trio of powerful figures engaged in their verbal standoff, Emperor Charles finally spoke up.

“A primary factor driving my decision to induct Leo Flobe into Imperium is the active interest other hero guilds are displaying toward him. As the sovereign of this land, it is my absolute obligation to ensure our empire’s finest prodigies are not siphoned away to outside factions.”

“We are profoundly humbled by Your Majesty’s foresight regarding the nation’s future. Be that as it may, Your Majesty,”

Etherka countered with unyielding resolve.

“If this boy is someone who would abandon his homeland so easily over such matters, then he is a resource the Empire does not require. Showering unearned grace upon an individual of that nature will inevitably sow unrest among the devoted servants who genuinely pledge their lives to you. I implore you, think on this again.”

Following Etherka’s declaration, the nobles aligned with him lowered their heads even further.

Emperor Charles squinted, observing the dissenting crowd.

‘It remains an absolute truth that Leo Flobe is an indispensable asset for our nation. Regardless of the sheer might this Empire wields, a prodigy of his caliber does not exist anywhere else.’

He was an all-class user, mirroring the legendary Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.

Beyond that, his milestones within every single discipline were nothing short of phenomenal.

Emperor Charles himself had never climbed to the official rank of a hero, nor had he forged a pact with Pegasus Arti, the sacred oath-taker inherited through his royal bloodline for centuries.

Yet, those were his only unfulfilled feats.

He was, by his own right, a tremendously formidable summoner.

Because of his personal expertise, he comprehended exactly how absurd and groundbreaking Leo’s accomplishments in summoning truly were.

The boy was a mastermind who had to be secured at all costs to pave the way for the Empire’s golden future.

Sadly, political landscapes are never that straightforward.

Factions will inevitably despise Leo’s sudden rise, striving to reject his legitimacy and obstruct his path through whatever methods are available.

They would do so even if it required turning a blind eye to undeniable facts.

‘Such is the nature of politics.’

Nevertheless, Emperor Charles harbored an ironclad resolve to enforce his decree, regardless of the pushback.

‘Leo Flobe is destined to mature into a champion who eclipses even the Sword Saint. Given the volatile era we live in, he is a vital necessity for the survival of the Empire.’

Right as Emperor Charles parted his lips to deliver his final word.

Knock—!

A sharp rapping echoed from the heavy doors of the council chamber.

Immediately following the sound, a courier rushed into the room.

“I bring urgent tidings.”

“Speak.”

“We have received word that Leo Flobe’s name has officially been inscribed in the Hero Record!”

Upon hearing the report, a chaotic murmur erupted across the assembly hall.

Etherka’s expression contorted in sheer disbelief.

“It appears granting a special exception is no longer required.”

It was then that Emperor Charles’s smooth remark instantly muted the voices of the opposition.

Just then, a second courier bolted into the chamber.

“A dispatch has arrived from Dellan, the location where Your Imperial Majesty’s royal summons was dispatched!”

“Ah, and does the message state that Leo Flobe will accept his place in Imperium?”

Emperor Charles inquired, a confident, easygoing smile gracing his features, while the hesitant messenger nervously opened his mouth.

“The dispatch… states that Leo Flobe has rejected the invitation to join Imperium.”

“Excuse me?!”

Blindsided by the wholly unanticipated rejection, Emperor Charles’s relaxed demeanor turned to stone.

The council room instantly dissolved into a frenzy of shocked whispers.

“What grounds did he give? Has he aligned himself with a different guild? Or did he decline under the pretense that his current status as a student prevents him?”

“Based on the accounts of Sir Zis Gerdinger and Lady Rozes Rwalin, the boy plans to found his very own guild.”

Those words left every noble in the room thoroughly dumbfounded.

“Found an entirely new guild?”

“The sheer arrogance of him.”

Through the sea of indignant mutters, Sasha, who had been observing the assembly in silence, whispered to herself.

“That sounds exactly like something Senior Leo would do.”

“You look quite amused by this development,”

Lis, standing right beside Sasha, pointed out with a knowing smirk. Sasha elegantly obscured her smile behind a folding fan before responding.

“Was I making it that obvious?”

Sasha’s gaze sharpened playfully as she looked back at Lis.

“Though, Senior Lis, you appear to be having quite a bit of fun yourself.”

“Well, it is endlessly entertaining to witness the antics of such an unpredictable cousin.”

The revelation of Leo’s official induction into the Hero Record rippled rapidly across the globe.

Citizens everywhere rejoiced, celebrating the dawn of a newly crowned champion.

Millennia had elapsed since the enigmatic Hero Record was first brought to light.

While history did record instances of champions earning their place in the Hero Record at Leo’s youthful age,

absolutely none possessed a track record or raw power as blindingly dominant as his.

Throngs of journalists and reporters swarmed him, desperately vying for an exclusive interview.

The public fixation surrounding him intensified to a fever pitch, yet Leo remained profoundly apathetic to it all.

His name dominated the headlines of daily broadsheets without fail, but to Leo, the fanfare was nothing more than a persistent nuisance.

Days drifted by, and eventually, the long summer break drew to its close.

“You’re honestly unbelievable. Had it been me, I would be soaking up every ounce of this public adoration.”

Karl clicked his tongue as they stood together at the Rumelia City pier.

Hearing Karl’s exasperated remark, a slight smirk tugged at the edges of Leo’s lips.

“For someone who craves the spotlight, you certainly didn’t hold back when shooting down those recruitment offers from the Dwarf Hero Guilds, did you?”

Leo was hardly the solitary target for guild recruitment.

Countless factions had extended their reach, trying to poach other high-potential students alongside him.

Karl, naturally, was one of the most sought-after individuals.

“As the one who secured Dweno’s Alchemist’s Tome from a successful conquest, you’re basically the ultimate prize that the dwarven factions would kill to have, right?”

“Hey, they don’t care about my talent! You didn’t see the way those dwarves were staring at me!”

Karl wrapped his arms around his own torso, shivering dramatically.

“It honestly felt like they were plotting to vivisect me on the spot!”

Leo erupted into genuine laughter at the sheer horror painted across Karl’s face.

“On a different note, do you think they plan on overhauling the academy regulations?”

“They won’t ever alter them.”

Leo’s gaze grew sharp.

The headmasters commanding the various military academies were not the sort to casually rewrite institutional laws.

‘And even if they attempted a revision, I would intervene to prevent it.’

Thrusting unready novices onto the front lines was a line that should never be crossed.

Having survived the horrors of the Age of Calamity, Leo understood this reality intimately.

Regardless of how dazzling one’s potential or how refined their techniques might be, warriors lacking proper mental and physical conditioning were utterly helpless amidst the chaos of true combat.

He knew all too well the crushing psychological burden of watching young, unfulfilled lives being snuffed out prematurely.

‘Back in the Age of Calamity, our extreme lack of manpower left us without alternatives.’

When the era of destruction pushed the world to the brink of annihilation, every single soul capable of bearing arms was forced onto the blood-soaked earth.

‘Things are different in this era.’

Right now, the luxury of time existed to train them properly.

Just as a quiet sigh escaped Leo’s lips.

“Oh my gosh! That’s Leo.”

“He’s practically a superstar now. Do you think we could ask for his signature?”

Several fellow students had spotted him and gasped in awe.

“My, my~ The grand hero is certainly idolized by his peers.”

Karl teased with a sly grin.

While Leo offered a dry chuckle in response, a girl hailing from the Summoning Department timidly stepped forward, her cheeks flushed bright red.

“U-um, pardon me. Mr. President. Could I trouble you for an autograph?”

“I want one too! Over here!”

“Tell us the details about your clash against Erebus!”

That initial request acted as a dam breaking, and suddenly, a massive throng of students surged toward Leo, engulfing him.

“Whoa there?!”

Shoved aside by the sheer force of the incoming mob, Karl was forcibly separated from his friend.

“Man~ It seriously feels like he’s transcended into an entirely different realm of existence now.”

Karl absentmindedly scratched his cheek.

By their very nature, heroes served as icons of reverence.

The endless stream of commercial goods centered around them was proof enough of that reality.

‘Maybe I should capitalize on this and manufacture some exclusive Leo merchandise to rake in a massive fortune?’

Karl began to entertain the lucrative thought with absolute sincerity.

At present, this specific dock was reserved solely for the use of second-year students.

‘Once we actually cross into the academy grounds, people from every single grade are going to swarm him.’

Lost in thought while watching Leo, Karl instinctively took a step in reverse.

Thud—!

“Oh, my apologies. I wasn’t watching—”

“I’ve tracked you down. Karl Thomas.”

Mid-apology, Karl stiffened abruptly as a deeply unsettling voice washed over his back. He pivoted around in surprise.

Coming face-to-face with a figure radiating pure homicidal intent, a wave of panic washed over Karl’s features.

“Emio? What are you doing here?”

Hearing that question, Emio’s expression warped into an ugly snarl.

“You arrogant wretch. Are you implying I have no right to be here?!”

“No, it’s not that you don’t have the right, it’s just…”

Karl stammered, his face painting a picture of utter confusion before he finally pointed out the obvious.

“Weren’t you officially expelled last semester?”