Let's Train Heroine

Lyria decided it was time to return and think about way to keep Kerum away from capital. With him around, her plans would be impossible to execute. Moreover, Lyria was not one to take chances—she believed in being overly prepared. She was the kind of woman who would spend 100 gold coins on something that cost only 1, just to ensure everything was perfect.

As she left the Light Tempest Kingdom, Lyria vowed to return soon. Her goal was clear, and she knew she needed to find Maris's weakness. Once she did, she could strike directly and bring Maris to her temple. Before leaving, she assigned a few trusted subordinates to keep a close watch on Maris and Lucan.

Lyria took one last look at the Grand Temple, her gaze filled with determination. When she returned, she would not leave without Maris.

---

Two days remained before summer vacation ended. Before moving into the academy's staff dormitory, Lucan decided to meet with Julia, Rina, Olive, and Hima.

Julia was her usual tsundere self, Olive remained as quiet as ever, and Hima was her flirty and touchy self. Rina, however, had changed. Her speech was more refined, as if she had shed her rough, rural manner of speaking and adopted a more polished city dialect.

He had fun with them, and Maris met Julia, Olive, and Hima, as she insisted on wanting to meet them.

Lucan didn't want Maris and Julia to meet, but he decided to let them get familiar with each other. It wouldn't be too bad.

Julia and Maris met, and as he expected, they didn't start off great. Although Maris was smiling and polite, her words made it clear that she didn't like Julia and wanted her out of Lucan's life. Julia, who understood this, was surprised but didn't back down from her love just because Maris was a saint and the most beautiful woman.

After their meeting, Lucan made his way to the academy's staff dormitory. At the school gate, he presented the ID card he had been given and entered the grounds.

The end of summer brought a surprisingly cool breeze that swept through the vast schoolyard, countering the sun's heat. The trees were lush with green leaves, and the distant sound of insects filled the air. A little farther away, students engaged in ball games, their laughter and shouts echoing across the grounds.

Lucan looked at the academy buildings and felt a wave of nostalgia. He had made friends here, though most friendships had been for his own benefit. Still, he had enjoyed his time with them. Now, those friends were on different paths, and he only occasionally received updates from them.

"Good day. Are you Mr. Ironfist?"

Lucan turned to see a young woman in a neatly tailored suit standing nearby. Her straight black hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, and her almond-shaped eyes were framed by delicate, arching eyebrows. Her skin had a soft, porcelain quality, and she carried herself with a refined grace.

"Yes, I am Lucan Ironfist. And you are?" he asked.

"Ah, my apologies. My name is Xue Lan. I teach biology at the academy."

Lucan smiled at the youthful woman, who seemed a bit younger than him. "Thank you, Xue Lan. Please, call me Lucan."

She hesitated slightly, then smiled back. "Very well, Mr. Lucan. I've been asked to show you around the dormitory today."

Lucan followed Xue Lan as she guided him through the campus. The academy, which he hadn't visited in years, appeared mostly unchanged since his student days. However, from an adult's perspective, everything seemed different. Despite it still being the summer vacation, students were present, engaged in club activities and committee work.

Back then, he hadn't thought much of it, but now, from an alumnus's perspective, the students seemed both childish and full of promise.

"Since you're a graduate, you must be familiar with the campus. This is the staff dormitory," Xue Lan said as they arrived at a building Lucan had never entered during his student days.

A guard stood at the entrance, and Xue Lan handed Lucan a staff ID card. "Please show this at the dormitory entrance."

"Thank you."

"If you don't have a permit, even staff members won't be allowed into the dormitory. Apparently, in the past, students used magic to disguise themselves as teachers to sneak in," Xue Lan added with a faint smile.

Lucan glanced away, a memory flashing in his mind. That student had been him. He had once used illusion magic to sneak into the staff area to get his hands on an exam paper because he hadn't studied enough. He remembered that friend who helped him in the illusion, because of him, his friend got suspended, but still maintained a good friendship.

"Well, please come in," Xue Lan said, gesturing for him to follow.

They showed their IDs and entered the dormitory. The three-story building had a common space on the first floor, with men's rooms on the second and women's rooms on the third. The common area included a lounge, dining hall, and a small shop, providing everything necessary for daily life.

"This is your room, Mr. Lucan," Xue Lan said, leading him to a corner room at the end of the second floor.

In front of the room, several wooden boxes and packages were stacked—his belongings sent in advance.

"Here is your key. The dormitory rules are written in the booklet on the desk inside, so please read them," she instructed.

"Understood. Thank you for everything," Lucan replied, bowing slightly.

"It was no trouble at all... Would you like some help with your luggage? It might be hard to carry everything by yourself," Xue Lan offered, her expression earnest.

Lucan shook his head. "No, it's okay. Despite how I look, I'm quite confident in my strength."

Xue Lan's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Is that so? If you need anything, feel free to ask. I'm in the room above yours, so don't hesitate to visit."

With a graceful wave, she smiled and left, leaving Lucan alone to settle into his new quarters.