Chapter 658

“Wait, what? Are you guys heading out to Demian tomorrow as well?”

Early that morning, Carl was pushing through his breakfast with bloodshot eyes when he suddenly bolted upright, his gaze snapping toward them.

“You guys are going too? To Demian?”

Chelsea paused, her piece of bread hovering over her bowl of soup as she threw him a bewildered glance.

Running a hand through his hair, Carl sighed. “Yeah. My departure is scheduled for tomorrow too.”

“What business do you even have in Demian?”

“I’m tasked with guarding the second-years.”

“Hold on. Guarding the second-years? Why do they need an escort?”

Sitting right next to Chelsea, Illiana stopped chewing, looking completely thrown off.

“Every single second-year is being sent to Demian tomorrow morning.”

“Out of nowhere? The second-years themselves don’t even seem to have a clue about this.”

“Of course they don’t. The final decision was only reached yesterday.”

“Ah, no wonder you dragged yourself back so late from the council chambers last night,” Chelsea said, the pieces finally clicking together. “But really, why is the entire second-year class suddenly traveling to Demian? Class rep, do you know the reason?”

“It’s for their exclusive Smith contracts,” Leo answered calmly.

“Oh, right!” Illiana snapped her fingers. “Back when it was our turn, it was a massive deal, wasn’t it? Even the headmaster accompanied us. But this time, Carl is handling the protection details completely on his own?”

“There’s no way they’d leave the entire group to me alone,” Carl chuckled. “Professor Artian is supervising the trip as the main escort faculty member.”

“Even so, isn’t that a bit thin for security?”

“Our year was an exception because it was a joint event where the second-years from every single Hero Academy gathered simultaneously. Ordinarily, it’s a much smaller affair.”

“Ah, I see. So for this trip, it’s strictly our academy going?”

“Precisely. Seirun and Azonia are going to schedule their visits separately later on.”

Hearing that, the arrangement made perfect sense. One faculty supervisor paired with a single student assistant was more than enough for a single school.

“Still, isn’t that essentially a ceremonial role? For Carl to be picked for that duty means his standing has shot up significantly.”

“To be honest, Elena senior was originally line for it!” Carl groaned.

“Wow, you really are just a glorified laborer,” Illiana teased, throwing him a look of mock pity.

The following morning.

A large crowd of second-year students stood outside the entrance to the warp gate that connected to Demian, the air thick with the sound of overlapping conversations.

Though they had been thrown into a brief panic by the sudden declaration yesterday that they were being deployed to Demian for their exclusive Smith contracts, the initial shock had quickly dissipated into excitement.

If anything, it was the first-years who were left reeling by the news.

“Wait, the entire sophomore class is just leaving for Demian?”

“Isn’t this incredibly abrupt?”

Traditionally, Lumerne maintained a rigid, unyielding hierarchy between the different class years. Especially for the freshmen, a mere one-year gap felt like an insurmountable wall; they barely dared to look their upperclassmen in the eye.

However, thanks to the introduction of the mentor program the previous year and the fact that all grades were now sharing the same living quarters this term, the freshmen and sophomores had managed to grow quite close in just a matter of days.

Since the first-years still found it incredibly intimidating to strike up conversations with anyone in their third year or above, they naturally gravitated toward the second-years with their questions. The second-years, drawing on their own experiences as mentees, felt a sense of older-sibling responsibility and happily took the freshmen under their wing.

The sophomores couldn’t help but laugh at how worked up the freshmen were getting.

“That’s just how things work here at Lumerne,” they chuckled.

With that, the second-years turned their attention back to discussing the crafters awaiting them in Demian.

“Hey Juen, which artisan are you hoping to partner with?”

“Hmph. Like I’d tell you. It’s a secret,” Juen replied, offering a mysterious smirk to the fellow magic department student who had asked.

In reality, Juen had already secured a private list from Carl senior detailing the finest wand and staff makers among the second-year crafters. Being Carl’s direct mentee meant always having a distinct advantage when it came to critical insider information.

Over in the section where the knight department had congregated, Aina turned to a classmate with a curious expression. “Luke, what about you? Who are you planning to sign with?”

“Honestly, as long as it’s a weapon forged by a dwarf, I’ll be thrilled,” Luke admitted, scratching his cheek nervously. Coming from a remote, rural background, the mere prospect of wielding genuine dwarven craftsmanship made his hands shake with anticipation.

The entire crowd of second-years remained completely absorbed in debating which Demian students would make the best exclusive partners. Because securing an exclusive Smith contract was arguably the defining milestone of their sophomore curriculum, everyone had spent their winter break meticulously researching the available talent pool.

“Alright, look alive. Is everyone accounted for?”

At that moment, Carl stepped up to the entrance of the warp gate structure, raising a megaphone to his lips.

“Our departure window is closing fast. Wrap up your conversations and fall into your respective department lines immediately!”

“Got it~”

The sophomores answered back cheerfully, lightheartedly shuffling into their designated rows.

“Seriously?”

“That’s incredible!”

“Haha, no way!”

Despite the orders, the mood remained highly animated, with bursts of laughter and chatter continuing to echo across the plaza. Consequently, the lines were forming at a rather leisurely pace.

The second-years were well aware that Carl had achieved hero status and was an incredibly formidable figure. However, because Carl had always treated them with nothing but warmth and approachability ever since they first entered the academy, they viewed him more as an older brother than an authority figure.

‘Well, it’s true I’ve never been the type to rule over people with pure intimidation,’ Carl thought to himself.

To put it plainly, he wasn’t a terrifying senior. Because of that easygoing nature, the unruly energy showing no signs of dying down. Carl didn’t particularly mind, though; he had zero intention of altering his personality just to enforce discipline.

‘Besides, I don’t need to. There’s someone else here who handles the heavy lifting.’

Turning around, Carl whispered, “Professor Artian, the students aren’t really settling down.”

“What did you say?!”

Artian’s eyes instantly flew open, his expression shifting into a ferocious scowl. Radiating the intense, unyielding aura of a true knight hero, he tore the megaphone from Carl’s grip, slammed it against his mouth, and roared, “Are you implying that the instructions of your upperclassman carry no weight? What do you think you are doing?!”

The entire second-year class flinched violently at Artian’s sudden outburst, instantly snapping into rigid, flawless formations.

Once order was restored, Carl and Artian walked out to take their places at the absolute front of the group.

“Listen up, everyone! As you are well aware, today marks the day you journey to forge exclusive partnerships with the Smiths who will be responsible for crafting and maintaining your personal armaments moving forward!” Artian announced, his terrifying scowl instantly melting into a warm, bright smile that felt like a spring breeze. “This is a bond that could very well dictate the rest of your combat careers, so I expect every single one of you to choose a crafter who perfectly complements your individual style!”

“Yes, sir! Understood, sir!” the sophomores barked back in perfect unison, completely disciplined.

“Professor, does that mean we are activating the gate immediately?”

“No, not just yet. There are some third-year students who have urgent matters to attend to in Demian, so they will be traveling alongside our group. Ah, speaking of which, here they come.”

Following Artian’s gaze, the entire crowd of second-years turned their heads toward the entryway of the warp gate facility.

A collective gasp rippled through the ranks of the sophomores as five figures walked through the doors. While they were technically wearing their standard academy uniforms as a base, each of them was outfitted with an array of serious, high-grade combat equipment.

“Whoa, check out the amulet Eliza senior has on.”

“I swear I’ve seen that design somewhere before.”

“Wait, I remember! It’s from one of our textbooks!”

“Yes, that’s it! The Mark of Thunder and Lightning! That’s the legendary artifact preserved within the Hergin family. They say only someone who has fully proven their worth can ever hope to wield it!”

The relic Eliza bore was a renowned treasure of the Hergin house, accessible only with the direct blessing of the family patriarch. It was an amulet infused with the raw essence of Pegasus, holding centuries of spiritual power accumulated by generations of Hergin summoners who had bound themselves to the mythical beast. It was strictly attuned to those bearing the family bloodline, capable of immensely amplifying the destructive capabilities of any phantom beast that commanded storm and lightning.

A similar wave of awe swept through the martial students of the knight department.

“Look at the greatsword Duran senior is carrying on his back. You can tell just by looking at it that it’s completely out of the ordinary.”

“Isn’t that the legendary blade wielded by Moira, the first king who founded the nation?”

“Wait, you mean the Lightning Storm?”

“Exactly!”

Duran, who usually kept his loadout simple, stood out immensely today, fully armed with both a standard longsword and the massive greatsword.

And he wasn’t the only one making a statement. Illiana had her primary longsword secured at her hip, while simultaneously gripping a formidable spear in her hand.

“Even Illiana senior’s longsword looks entirely different from her everyday weapon. That thing looks like a masterpiece.”

“The Raden family is a powerhouse lineage, after all. It has to be an ancestral weapon, right?”

“Look at Chelsea senior with that massive staff!”

“Hold on a second… that staff. Is that actually Wind Memory?!”

“Incredible!”

Chelsea moved through the crowd holding the sacred heirloom entrusted to her by the Rwalin family, instantly drawing every eye in the room.

Finally, walking at the rear, Leo wore a deep black cloak. Compared to the lavishly equipped party members beside him, his attire was remarkably understated, yet the sheer, suffocating gravity of his cloaked presence felt absolutely overwhelming.

Seeing the core third-year party fully arrayed for war left a singular, undeniable impression on the minds of the observing sophomores.

‘They look absolutely terrifying.’

They already knew their seniors were incredibly powerful. But seeing them completely geared up like this projected a level of menace and majesty that was entirely different from their everyday interactions.

“Professor, I apologize if we kept you waiting,” Leo said smoothly.

“Not at all, you arrived precisely on schedule. Though I must say, everyone… you all look absolutely magnificent!” Artian applauded, his eyes wide with genuine admiration.

Carl was equally taken aback. “Wow. You guys really went all out with the flashy gear today. Whose grand idea was this? Illiana, let me guess, yours?”

“Hey, why are you automatically blaming me?!”

“Because who else in this group possesses such a ridiculous craving for theatrical flair?”

“It wasn’t me, I swear! It was the class rep’s idea!”

At Illiana’s exclamation, Carl shifted a surprised look toward Leo.

Feeling the heavy weight of the second-years’ awestruck gazes, Eliza finally spoke up. “I wore it because you insisted, but what exactly is the point of putting on this kind of display?”

“There’s a very specific reason,” Leo replied.

“And what would that be?” Duran asked, crossing his arms over his chest as Leo simply shrugged his shoulders.

“It leaves a strong impression on onlookers.”

“What?” Duran blinked, completely thrown by the incredibly shallow answer.

Chelsea also looked a bit bewildered. “Is that truly the only reason? That doesn’t really sound like you, Leo oppa.”

“Why not?! It’s a fantastic reason!” Illiana chimed in, her eyes gleaming as she gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Carl remained quiet for a moment, pondering Leo’s words before tilting his head sideways. “Are you trying to establish a symbol?”

“Huh? A symbol?” Chelsea asked, still confused.

“Leo isn’t the type of person to do something like this just for the sake of looking fashionable,” Carl explained.

“Mmh. That’s true,” Chelsea conceded, nodding along with Carl’s logic.

“In that case, he’s trying to transform us into a specific kind of icon, right?”

“Exactly,” Leo confirmed with a nod. “The world is currently sliding into chaos. This fragile peace we are enjoying right now could shatter at any moment. When that happens, terror and anxiety will grip the populace.”

Leo looked down, staring intently at the palms of his hands.

“Fear is incredibly contagious. Once panic takes root, people become easily manipulated, and a fractured population immediately begins to look at one another with suspicion.”

And internal suspicion is what ultimately destroys any hope of unity.

“Because of that, there is a message I want to firmly implant in their minds.”

“Which is?”

“The absolute certainty that whatever battlefield the party I lead steps onto, we will emerge entirely victorious.”

Duran’s eyes narrowed slightly at Leo’s bold declaration. “Entirely victorious? In every single conflict?”

“Yes.” Leo offered a soft, knowing smile. “I want to give them the unshakeable belief that defeat is an absolute impossibility wherever we appear.”

“Arrogant words. Do you truly believe it’s possible to never lose a single fight?”

“Strictly speaking, it’s impossible. It’s an outright fabrication. However,” Leo looked directly into Duran’s eyes, his lips curving into a sharp grin, “at the exact moment you force an impossible miracle into reality, a fabrication transforms into absolute truth.”

When a miraculous triumph is achieved against all odds, people completely forget the despair that preceded it.

“To permanently carve that image into the minds of the masses, it’s best to loudly advertise your intent to fight, dressing in a way that ensures absolutely no one can look away.”

“Is that a strategy you came up with yourself?”

“No. A massive eccentric drilled it into my head a very long time ago,” Leo murmured, shrugging his shoulders.

‘Lysinas! Every single word that leaves your mouth is nothing but a lie anyway! Everyone in this room is fully aware of it! You are manipulating these people with completely ridiculous fabrications!’

‘If we fight with everything we have, the world can still be saved.’

Back when Archy was first established, those words were nothing short of a complete lie.

‘Listen, if you are going to commit to playing the part of a fraud anyway, you might as well look the part perfectly! That is the golden rule of any good deception! The absolute baseline!’

Ever since receiving that specific piece of advice from Dwenno, Lysinas had made it an absolute point to don the most extravagant, eye-catching gear imaginable every single time he marched into battle.

“An icon of absolute victory,” Duran muttered under his breath, processing the words. “I don’t hate it.”

The corners of Eliza’s mouth tugged upward into a faint smile.

“So that was the underlying motive. That’s exactly what I’d expect from you, Leo oppa,” Chelsea added, her eyes filled with newfound respect.

“Hehehe!”

“What are you snickering so creepily for?”

“I knew all along that the class rep had a profound master plan. For you guys to only realize it just now… honestly, I’m a bit underwhelmed by the rest of you.”

“You just love anything that sparkles, you simpleton,” Duran snorted.

“Watch your mouth, Illiana Raden,” Chelsea chided.

“Class reeeep! They are totally ganging up on me! I swear on my life I knew exactly what you were planning when you told us to dress like this!” Illiana whined, turning a tearful, dramatic face toward Leo as Chelsea and Duran thoroughly shut her down.

“Right, right,” Leo muttered, letting out a soft sigh as he gently patted Illiana on the head to calm her down.

“Alright, that’s enough banter from everyone. It’s time for us to make our move,” Artian called out, cutting through the noise.

At his command, Leo and his companions stepped into formation directly ahead of the massive warp gate. As the magical gateway flared to life, shifting and expanding, Leo’s group was the first to step through the threshold.

Glancing back for a split second at the friends walking closely in his footsteps, a small smile crossed Leo’s face.

‘They have no idea.’

They had no way of knowing that this single, ordinary step marked the absolute beginning of a grand epic—one that would eventually command its own legendary chapter in the annals of history.

Granted, the ultimate outcome of the future could never be guaranteed.

Nevertheless.

‘I am going to ensure it happens.’

Just like Lysinas, who had successfully willed the impossible lie of saving the world into an undeniable reality. He intended to pass that exact same beautiful lie down to the new allies who had chosen to stand by his side.

‘Every single one of you will become the foundation of a brand-new legend.’