LHAHS Chapter 550
Following the appearance of Rian, the being claiming to be a god, the attention of the entire world focused on Lumene.
"Wow… things are really blowing up," Eliana remarked.
Early in the morning. Leo blinked in confusion at the sight of her sitting in the dormitory lounge reading a newspaper. "What's gotten into you, reading a newspaper?"
Eliana narrowed her eyes and retorted, "What do you mean, 'What's gotten into me?'! How rude can you be?" Folding the newspaper, she straightened her posture and said seriously. "We'll be third years soon, right? That means we'll have juniors under us again."
"So?"
"We have to act like proper seniors."
Watching Eliana elegantly sweep her hair back, mimicking a refined young lady, a few male students passing through the lounge secretly made gagging motions.
"How is it? Do I look like a refined young lady?"
Leo said bluntly, "You're trying too hard to be something you're not."
Eliana paid no attention to Leo's words. She simply turned a page of the newspaper with a graceful gesture.
Leo placed one of the two mugs he was holding down in front of Eliana. "Here's the coffee you asked for."
"Thanks. Whenever the Class Prez reads the newspaper while drinking coffee, I always wondered what the coffee he makes tastes like." Reaching leisurely for the cup, Eliana murmured softly, "Mmm~ smells nice," then took a sip.
"Blech?! Ptui! Ptui! What is this? Why is it so bitter?!"
"Didn't you ask for the same thing as me?"
"Ugh! Why on earth do you drink this awful stuff?"
"I had a friend who used to enjoy drinking it," Leo replied, sipping his coffee.
5000 years ago, even in Godthrone, there were brief moments of peace. When greeting such peaceful mornings, Lysinas often drank this bitter coffee.
"Eliana, I made some cocoa, want some?" Chloe asked.
"Cocoa!" Eliana eagerly took the cup Chloe offered. "Exactly! Cocoa is the best for cool autumn weather!"
"And she calls herself a refined young lady."
"Totally acting like a kid."
The sound of tongue-clicking could be heard from here and there, but of course, Eliana completely ignored them and unfolded her newspaper with an elegant gesture.
"Aren't you going to say anything when they talk like that?"
"Chloe, adults, you see, don't concern themselves with what children say." Eliana chuckled with a relaxed expression.
"Everyone, good morning."
"Good morning!"
Chen Xia and Eiran entered the lounge.
Chen Xia, having finished her morning training, sat in the empty seat next to Eliana. She poured tea from the pot on the table into a cup and took a sip.
"I always feel this, but every single one of your actions has such grace, you truly seem like a princess. Ah, of course, you really are a princess. Hehehe," Eiran covered her mouth and giggled.
"Ahem!" Eliana cleared her throat lightly. "Eiran, don't you sense something from me?"
"Huh? Like what?"
"Like grace, or seeming like a princess."
"Huh?" Eiran looked completely clueless.
"Pfft!"
"Haha!"
Sounds of stifled laughter were heard from various places.
"You little brats! I let it slide before, but now!"
"Didn't you say adults don't care about kids' reactions?!"
"You think adults have to endure everything?!" Eliana shrieked sharply and chased after those who had laughed at her.
"Noisy first thing in the morning, just like Lumene."
"Miss Lunia, are you all ready to return to Seiren?"
"Yeah."
Unlike Eiran, who was at Lumene as an exchange student, Lunia had to return to Seiren today.
Leo picked up the newspaper Eliana had left behind and unfolded it.
Lunia came and leaned against the back of the sofa where Leo sat, looked at the contents, and said, "It's been nothing but stories about gods since yesterday."
"Well, it's the first appearance of a god in 5000 years."
"Hmm, and there are tons of articles about the Heroes of Dawn too."
The newspaper featured banner headlines about the Heroes of Dawn.
Lunia narrowed her eyes as she carefully scanned the contents. "But there are no articles related to you?"
"Still nothing today?" Eiran came over next to Lunia and looked at the newspaper from behind Leo.
While there were countless articles about the god and the Heroes of Dawn, there were none about Leo.
"If Sir Leo is the hero personally certified by a god to fight Erebos, why isn't there any news about him?"
"The vested interests in human society are far more complexly intertwined than you might think, Miss Eiran." Chen Xia said, setting down her teacup. "The god told us the truth about the Age of Calamity that we didn't know. The fact that the Hero of the Beginning was the only one who could defeat Erebos, and also…" She glanced at Leo. "He told us that following the Hero of the Beginning, only Sir Leo can defeat Erebos."
"If that's the case, shouldn't we be giving more support to him? It means he is the only savior who can rescue this world."
"Being a unique, special existence also naturally means the masses will follow Leo. That itself is immense power. It's what they call authority." Lunia said with a sigh. "We've already seen it, haven't we? Those who distort the will of their predecessors for their own benefit."
"Ugh! The Pureblood Society…" Eiran muttered softly.
Chloe shrugged. "It's the same wherever people live."
Listening to his friends' conversation while flipping through the newspaper, Leo's gaze landed on one article titled [Rebellion in Eastern Lordren Empire].
"Hmm…"
Since his mother's family was the Zerdinger house, a renowned hero family of the Lordren Empire, the article naturally caught his eye.
Doesn't seem like anything major for now.
Checking the article's contents, Leo closed the newspaper.
I should ask the kids from the Lordren Empire about it later.
"A god has reappeared in the world! And because of that, we have keenly realized what we must do! Student Carl! State what that is!" Professor Sedgen said passionately.
Called upon by Professor Sedgen, Carl answered with a serious face. "That even if the world changes on a cataclysmic level, a student cannot escape the tragic fate of having to study in a lecture hall."
Bursts of laughter erupted from here and there at his answer.
"Mm-hmm! An answer indeed worthy of student Carl! Student Celia!"
"I leave the rest to you." Carl gave a thumbs-up and winked at Celia beside him.
Chelsea, sitting right behind Carl and listening to the lecture with her chin propped on her hand, clicked her tongue at his sly look. "You idiot, Professor Sedgen calling on Celia Zerdinger means he wants her to punish you."
"Huh? Oof!" Celia's fist dug into Carl's side.
Celia snorted, watching Carl clutch his side and roll pitifully on the floor.
"Truly, Student Carl. As expected of a student who barely avoids failing grades. Instead of student Carl, shall we have Student Tade from the Summoning Department next to him answer?"
Tade cast a sympathetic glance at his friend rolling on the floor and answered. "To subjugate the Flame of Calamity."
"That is correct." Sedgen nodded with a serious face. "For us, the complete subjugation of the Flame of Calamity was a long-cherished wish. A wish that even the great Great Heroes couldn't achieve. On the other hand, you probably thought it wasn't really your concern."
The students couldn't refute Sedgen's words. His statement was accurate.
"Most people are accurately aware that the demons of Tartaros are dangerous." Sedgen said in a solemn voice. Although he usually had a lighthearted demeanor, when he was serious, as befitting a professor who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Harrid at Lumene, his charisma was formidable.
"And you also know that someday Erebos will resurrect and calamity will strike. Few, however, think of it as a crisis right before their eyes. Does anyone know the reason?"
The students fell silent at his words. They too knew about the matters Sedgen mentioned, yet no one could pinpoint exactly why they constituted a crisis, because they had never once thought deeply about it.
Sedgen hadn't expected an answer anyway and continued speaking immediately. "5000 years have passed since the end of the Age of Calamity. The Return of Calamity was also 2000 years ago. We all know through countless records and the Hero Record how tragic things were back then. Regrettably, however, humans are creatures of adaptation. No matter how aware you are of danger or that calamity will strike again someday, if it's not visible right before your eyes, you inevitably become desensitized, even if it represents a despairing future."
He looked around at the students. "And that fact won't change even if it becomes known to the world that a god has reappeared and the Heroes of Dawn are continuing their desperate struggle. Because people inevitably become desensitized unless the danger is right upon them."
The students remained silent at his cold words.
"That's why, especially at times like these, your role is crucial." Sedgen said seriously. "You all must have entered Lumene for your own reasons. You must have all hoped to become heroes, dreaming different dreams."
He took a pocket watch from his coat, checked the time, and then said. "Starting today, however, as hero candidates, I want you to think once more about what the essence of a hero truly is. That's all for today's class."
As soon as he finished speaking, the bell signaling the end of class rang right on cue. Sedgen lightly gathered his lecture materials and went outside.
Students got up from their seats, chatting amongst themselves.
"Wow, today's class really makes you think about a lot of things."
"Hmm… I was only thinking about becoming the best knight hero in my kingdom to raise my family back to its peak status. The essence of a hero, huh."
"Isn't a hero supposedly someone who transforms the era and leads the people?"
The students discussed seriously.
Watching them, Carl asked Leo. "Leo, what do you think a hero is?"
"The dumbass who suffers the most bullshit," Leo replied tonelessly.
"Heheh," Carl snickered. "Wanna grab lunch?"
"Nah, I have to go to a student council meeting today."
"Oh yeah?"
"So… about that, Carl."
"Hm?"
"Besides the student council itself, could you find out which second years involved in club activities might be interested in council work?"
"Not a difficult task. Leave it to me." Carl said, giving a thumbs-up.
Leo chuckled, lightly patting Carl's shoulder. "Thanks."
Leaving those words behind, he exited the lecture hall.
Just then, Chelsea approached with Eiran. "Carl! Let's go eat! Leo went to the student council, right? Let's just the three of us eat today."
"……" Carl sent Chelsea a pitying glance.
"What's with that look?"
"Nah, it just looks like Leo is planning out the student council members for next year."
"Really? Right, the fifth-year seniors are graduating soon." Chelsea nodded.
"……" Carl looked at Chelsea with pity again.
"Seriously, what's with that look?"
"Nothing, just seems like your school life might get a bit busy from now on too."
Chelsea scrunched up her face, looking at Carl as if asking, "What kind of nonsense is this now?"
Carl shook his head in pity.
All the top students are probably Leo's slave candidates.