Chapter 550

Book 1 Chapter 550

550.

Following the arrival of Lyan, a entity proclaiming to be a deity, global interest immediately shifted toward Lumen.

“Wow… things are completely chaotic.”

It was early in the morning.

Leo had a perplexed expression as he observed Iliana lounging in the dormitory common room, engrossed in a newspaper.

“What possesses you to read the news?”

Hearing his question, Iliana knit her brows together and retorted.

“What do you mean, ‘what possesses me’! How can you speak to me in such an unrefined manner?”

Iliana neatly folded the paper, straightened her posture, and spoke with a serious demeanor.

“We are about to become third-years, aren’t we? That means a new batch of underclassmen will soon be arriving beneath us.”

“And?”

“We need to demonstrate to them what a proper upperclassman looks like.”

As Iliana tossed her hair back with an air of sophistication, pretending to be a refined noblewoman, a couple of male students walking past the lounge discreetly mimed gagging.

“How do I look? Do I give off the impression of a high-born lady?”

“You are acting in a way that really doesn’t fit you.”

Iliana paid no heed to Leo’s remark.

She simply turned to the next page of the newspaper with a poised movement.

Observing her behavior, Leo set down one of the two warm mugs he was holding right in front of Iliana.

“Here is the coffee you requested.”

“Much appreciated. I have always been curious about how the coffee brewed by our class president tastes, especially since you always drink it while reviewing the morning news.”

Iliana took her time reaching for the mug, quietly whispering, ‘Mmm~ the scent is quite lovely,’ before taking a mouthful of the beverage.

“Ugh?! Pfft! Bah! What on earth is this? Why does it taste so incredibly bitter?!”

“You explicitly requested the exact same drink I was having, did you not?”

“Ugh! How can you possibly tolerate drinking something that tastes this awful?”

“I once knew someone who truly relished drinking it.”

Leo offered his response while taking a calm sip of his own beverage.

Five millennia ago.

There was a brief window of tranquility even within Gardsron.

This strong, bitter coffee was a drink that Lysinas frequently enjoyed while welcoming those peaceful mornings.

“Iliana, I brewed some hot cocoa over here, would you care for some?”

“Cocoa!”

Iliana immediately snatched the mug that Chloe held out to her.

“Just as I thought! Nothing beats hot cocoa when the autumn weather turns chilly!”

“And here she was claiming to be a sophisticated lady.”

“She acts like a total toddler, honestly.”

Tsk-tsking noises rippled out from various corners of the room.

Naturally, Iliana chose to completely ignore the commentary and gracefully spread her newspaper open once more.

“They are openly mocking you, and you aren’t going to say anything back?”

“Chloe, mature individuals do not concern themselves with the petty chatter of children.”

It was at that moment that Iliana let out a soft chuckle, appearing completely untroubled.

“A very pleasant morning to everyone.”

“Good morning!”

Chen Sia and Eiran walked into the common room.

Chen Sia, who had just wrapped up her early morning workout routine, took a seat in the vacant spot right beside Iliana.

She poured herself a cup of tea from the pot resting on the table and took a gentle sip.

“It strikes me every single time, but there is an innate elegance to every move you make; you truly carry yourself like royalty. Well, of course, you actually are a genuine princess. Hehehe.”

Eiran placed a hand over her mouth as she began giggling softly.

“Ahem.”

Iliana let out a soft, self-important cough.

“Eiran, do you not sense a certain aura radiating from me?”

“Huh? Like what?”

“An air of supreme grace, or perhaps the dignity of a royal princess.”

“Huh?”

When Eiran reacted with a completely bewildered look, muffled laughter broke out from various spots around the lounge.

“You people are unbelievable! I have been tolerating your behavior this entire time!”

“I thought mature individuals didn’t pay attention to how children react!”

“Do you honestly believe adults are obligated to put up with absolutely everything?!”

Iliana yelled out in exasperation and began chasing after the students who had dared to mock her.

“It is always so boisterous here in the morning, which is exactly what one expects from Lumen.”

“Lunia, have you completed all of your arrangements for your journey back to Seyrun?”

“Yes, everything is set.”

In contrast to Eiran, who was residing at Lumen under an exchange program, Lunia was scheduled to depart for Seyrun on this very day.

Leo smoothed out the newspaper that Iliana had tossed aside.

Lunia walked over and rested against the back of the couch where Leo was seated, peering down at the headlines as she spoke.

“Ever since yesterday, the front pages have been entirely dominated by talk of the deities.”

“It makes sense, given that this is the first time a god has shown themselves in 5000 years.”

“Hmm, and there are an abundance of write-ups concerning the Heroes of Genesis as well.”

The publication featured a massive spread dedicated entirely to the Heroes of Genesis.

Lunia, who was carefully reading through the text, suddenly knit her brows in disapproval.

“But why are there absolutely no pieces mentioning you?”

“Is there really nothing about him today either?”

Eiran stepped up beside Lunia, peering over Leo’s shoulder to scan the printed pages.

While there were countless articles detailing the divine being and the legendary Heroes of Genesis, Leo’s name was nowhere to be found.

“Lord Leo is a warrior who was explicitly chosen by the deity to stand against Erebus, so it makes no sense that the press is completely silent about him.”

“The political dynamics and motives of human society are far more complicated than you might realize, Eiran.”

Chen Sia interjected, gently placing her teacup back on its saucer.

“The deity brought to light historical facts regarding the Age of Calamity that had remained hidden from us. He revealed that the Hero of Origin was the sole entity capable of overcoming Erebus, and.”

Chen Sia cast a meaningful look toward Leo.

“And that, inheriting the mantle of the Hero of Origin, young master Leo is now the only individual capable of throwing down Erebus.”

“If that is the case, shouldn’t society be granting Lord Leo far greater authority? It implies that Lord Leo is the solitary savior who can deliver this world from ruin.”

“Holding such a singular, irreplaceable role naturally guarantees that the general public will rally behind Leo. That devotion translates into an overwhelming amount of political leverage. That is precisely what people refer to as true authority.”

Lunia remarked with a heavy sigh.

“We have already witnessed it firsthand, have we not? There are always factions willing to pervert the legacy of their predecessors solely to serve their own greed.”

“Ugh! You mean the Pureblood Society….”

Chloe gave a light shrug of her shoulders as she listened to Eiran mumble under her breath.

“No matter where communities gather, human nature remains identical.”

Leo, who had been flipping through the printed sheets while listening to his companions converse, suddenly paused as his eyes caught a specific column.

The heading read: [Eastern Rebellion of the Rodren Empire].

“Hmm.”

Given that his mother’s lineage belonged to the Zerdinger family—a highly respected line of heroes within the Rodren Empire—it was a piece of news that naturally commanded his attention.

‘For the moment, it doesn’t appear to be a critical situation.’

After scanning the details of the report, Leo folded the paper shut.

‘I ought to consult the students from the Rodren Empire regarding this matter at a later time.’

“A divine being has walked among us once more! Consequently, we have been forced to recognize our true purpose with renewed clarity! Student Karl! Pray enlighten the class as to what that purpose is!”

Professor Sedjen declared with dramatic fervor.

Addressed suddenly by Professor Sedjen, Karl offered his response with a thoroughly earnest expression.

“Even if the world undergoes a literal apocalypse, students are permanently condemned to the miserable reality of sitting through classroom lectures.”

The witty retort caused the entire lecture hall to burst into waves of laughter.

“Hmm, hmm! Quite an answer, and entirely typical of Karl! Student Celia!”

“I shall hand the reins over to you.”

Karl offered a sly wink, flashing a supportive thumbs-up to Celia who sat right next to him.

Observing his shameless antics, Chelsea, who was resting her chin in her palm directly behind Karl, let out an annoyed sigh.

“You absolute simpleton, the only reason Professor Sedjen called on Celia Zerdinger was so she would discipline you.”

“Huh? Gasp!”

Celia’s clenched fist buried itself directly into Karl’s midsection.

Celia let out a sharp snort as she watched Karl writhe in agony on the ground, clutching his bruised ribs.

“Classic Karl. He truly is a student who walks a tightrope just to avoid a failing grade. Moving past Karl, perhaps Ted from the Department of Summoning, who sits adjacent to him, can provide an answer?”

Ted offered his response while casting a look of pure pity at his companion who was currently writhing on the floorboards.

“Our purpose is to eradicate the Flames of Calamity.”

“Precisely.”

Sedjen gave an approving nod, his expression turning grave.

“For generations, achieving the absolute eradication of the Flames of Calamity has been our ultimate aspiration. A monumental task that even those legendary figures of old failed to fulfill. Yet, conversely, a great many of us likely operated under the assumption that this issue had nothing to do with our daily lives.”

The assembled students found themselves unable to argue with Sedjen’s point.

His assessment was undeniable.

“The vast majority of the populace is well aware that the monstrous entities of Tartarus pose a lethal threat.”

Sedjen spoke with a deep, commanding resonance.

Though Sedjen typically carried himself with a lighthearted, casual air, when the situation demanded seriousness, his commanding aura was truly formidable—befitting an academic who stood on equal footing with Harlind inside Lumen.

“Furthermore, they understand that Erebus will inevitably break free one day to unleash devastation upon the world. Even so, very few people view this as an active, immediate emergency. Does anyone care to explain why that is?”

At his query, a heavy silence fell over the entire lecture hall.

The students were well aware of the concepts Sedjen was referring to.

However, none of them could articulate the precise reason why those distant threats failed to feel like an impending crisis.

It was simply because they had never paused to deeply analyze the concept.

“Five thousand years have slipped away since the conclusion of the Age of Calamity. Even the most recent resurgence of that disaster occurred two millennia ago.”

Sedjen did not wait around for an answer, immediately pressing forward with his lecture.

“By studying endless historical accounts and the Hero Records, every one of us understands the sheer terror of those ancient eras. Yet, unfortunately, human beings are remarkably adaptable creatures. Even when they possess intellectual knowledge of a threat and comprehend that doom will inevitably return, if it is not actively staring them down, they inevitably grow desensitized—even to a hopeless tomorrow.”

Sedjen swept his gaze across the faces of his students.

“And that fundamental psychological trait will not alter, even now that the global population knows a deity has returned and the Heroes of Genesis are locked in a desperate battle. Because unless a threat is directly in front of their faces, humanity will always become indifferent.”

The classroom remained utterly silent in the wake of his stark declaration.

“Which is precisely why your individual actions are of paramount importance during an era such as this.”

Sedjen stated with absolute seriousness.

“Every single one of you chose to enroll in Lumen for your own personal motivations. You all harbored distinct aspirations and wished to carve out your names as heroes.”

Sedjen retrieved a pocket watch from his vest, verified the time, and concluded his thought.

“However, starting from this very hour, I want you as future hero candidates to thoroughly reevaluate what the true core of a hero is. That concludes today’s lecture.”

The moment the words left his mouth, the institutional bell chimed, marking the end of the period with perfect precision.

Sedjen gathered his instructional papers with a practiced motion and exited the room.

The students rose from their desks, instantly falling into animated discussions.

“I have to admit, the material covered today really forces you to ponder a lot of deeper questions.”

“Hmm… Up until now, my entire focus was just on becoming the most renowned martial hero in our kingdom so I could restore my lineage to prominence. The true core of a hero, huh.”

“They always say a hero is someone who alters the course of history and guides the masses forward, don’t they?”

The youth debated the topic with earnest expressions.

Observing the scene, Karl turned his attention toward Leo.

“Leo, in your personal opinion, what truly defines a hero?”

“The individual who endures the greatest amount of suffering.”

Hearing his answer, Karl let out a cheerful laugh.

“Shall we grab some lunch together?”

“I can’t, I am required to attend a student council gathering this afternoon.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“On that note, Karl.”

“Yes?”

“Would you mind identifying which second-year students currently participating in various campus clubs might have an interest in taking up student council responsibilities next term?”

“That is an easy task. Consider it done.”

As Karl flashed a confident thumbs-up, Leo gave his friend a supportive pat on the shoulder and offered a warm smile.

“I appreciate it.”

With those parting words, Leo turned and walked out of the classroom.

“Karl! Let us head out for food! Big brother Leo went off to handle council business, correct? The three of us should dine together today.”

Right at that moment, Chelsea walked over alongside Eiran.

Karl shifted his gaze toward Chelsea, his eyes filled with a distinct look of sympathy.

“What? Why are you staring at me with that ridiculous expression?”

“Well, it appears that Leo is already plotting out the lineup for next year’s student council.”

“Is he? That makes sense, considering the fifth-year upperclassmen are going to graduate in the near future.”

Chelsea nodded in understanding.

Karl continued to look at Chelsea with an expression of profound pity.

“I literally just asked you, what is with that look?”

“Oh, nothing major. I just have a feeling your academic life is about to become exceptionally miserable from this point forward.”

Chelsea scowled, glaring at Karl with a look that clearly demanded to know what kind of ridiculous nonsense he was spouting now.

‘Every single top-tier student is basically about to be drafted as a forced laborer.’

Karl simply shook his head in silent resignation.