The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student

“It’s been almost a year since I last went on a commission with you, Leo!”

Lily exclaimed happily.

Last year, during the mission to meet Ignite, the Spirit of the Abyss, the Great Spirit of Darkness invited by Lumene, Leo had formed a party with Lily at her request.

“And it’s a mystery-related commission too! I never imagined you liked mysteries as well, Leo!”

With a genuinely delighted expression, Lily pulled something out from inside her clothes.

“What do you think, Leo? Won’t you join our club? There’s no rule saying the student council president can’t participate in club activities.”

Watching Lily hand him a club application form, Leo asked,

“We have a mystery club at our school?”

“Yes! It’s a club that investigates ghost stories and mysterious incidents from around the world! We also research all sorts of mysteries related to the Hero Record!”

“It doesn’t seem like an official club, though.”

“That’s because we only have two members!”

Lily said proudly.

To that, Leo replied,

“I’m not especially interested in mysteries. It’s just that this commission happened to catch my interest.”

“I see.”

At his words, Lily’s shoulders drooped.

But she quickly brightened again.

“Anyway, I heard all about your amazing achievements during summer break, Leo. Ah, becoming a Hero at that age! As your sunbae, I’m so proud!”

Watching Lily rejoice over her hubae’s success as if it were her own, Leo let out a small laugh.

“I heard your achievements were pretty impressive too, Lily-sunbae.”

Lily Luce, the third-year class representative.

She was an outstanding Spirit Mage, so overwhelmingly talented that even her sunbaes had nicknamed her the Monster Girl.

Even as a second-year, her Spirit Magic had already been formidable, and once she entered her third year, her abilities improved by leaps and bounds, as if she had undergone some kind of awakening.

At Leo’s words, Lily waved her hand dismissively.

“Compared to you, Leo, I’m still lacking a lot. Even my hubae from the Summoning Department, Walden, is more amazing than I am.”

“Walden?”

“Yes. He formed a contract with the Great Spirit of Earth, didn’t he? Ah, having such talented hubae really makes this sunbae feel small.”

At present, the most publicly famous student in Lumene’s Summoning Department was Walden.

Leo was treated as an exception, since he had already been evaluated as someone beyond the level of a student.

It was only natural for public attention to gather around Walden, who had formed a contract with a Great Spirit as nothing more than a second-year.

Even in Lumene’s history, the number of Summoners who had contracted with one of the Three Great Summoned Beasts or a Great Spirit in their second year could be counted on one hand.

'But it’s a different story if you judge them by pure combat strength rather than outward flashiness.'

Although she was called the Spirit Mage of the Gale, that was only because she happened to favor the wind attribute.

Lily had contracted with Spirits of every attribute.

'Compared to Walden, who only handles Spirits of the main Four Elements, her range of attacks is far more varied.'

And her Spirit Magic in each attribute was exceptional as well.

She was an all-rounder who could do anything, whether it was fighting on the front line, supporting from the rear, or acting as a Supporter.

The combat strength that came from that solid foundation was immense.

Lily certainly lacked flashy power.

That was only natural, since she didn’t possess overwhelming firepower or a special Mana trait.

'But that’s what makes her frightening. She doesn’t have a single specialized strength, yet every part of her is outstanding, and she has no weakness.'

On top of that, Lily’s Spirit Magic, which had already shown promise during her first and second years, had fully awakened upon her entry into third year, resulting in explosive growth.

Even the professors of the Summoning Department predicted that her skill had already surpassed the fourth-years and would soon reach the level of the fifth-years.

[With that level of skill, doesn’t that make her the third strongest in Lumene?]

At Elci’s words, Laurel tilted her head.

[Shouldn’t she be fourth?]

[Leo should be treated as an exception.]

[That’s true.]

Listening to the conversation between the Great Spirits of Darkness and Light, Leo inwardly shook his head as well.

'She’s definitely third.'

In Leo’s eyes, Lily’s rate of growth was remarkable.

'I can’t tell whether she’s just being too humble or if she’s genuinely timid.'

While Leo was shaking his head to himself,

“Student Leo, Student Lily. It’s your turn.”

The mage managing the Warp Gate approached them and spoke.

“Shall we go, then?”

As Lily stepped onto the Warp Gate, Leo followed behind her.

A moment later, with a brilliant flash of light, the two of them vanished.

===

Flash!

The Warp Gate released a brilliant burst of light.

Stepping out of the Warp Gate, Leo tilted his head as he looked over the surrounding scenery.

“It’s in ruins.”

“It is.”

At Leo’s words, Lily nodded calmly and stepped down from the Warp Gate.

'A one-way trip.'

Leo could tell immediately that the Warp Gate they had used was no longer being maintained.

Warp Gates were not something that could be used indefinitely once installed.

They required constant upkeep, and if that upkeep was neglected, they would eventually become unusable.

In the case of this Warp Gate, it was still possible to arrive here, but impossible to travel anywhere else from it.

Leo looked around.

It wasn’t just the Warp Gate that had fallen into ruin.

Normally, Warp Gates were only built in prosperous cities.

But at a glance, the entire city lay in ruins.

The expression disappeared from Lily’s face.

“A battle took place here not long ago.”

Smoke was rising from different parts of the city.

Embers that had not yet gone out continued to burn through the wreckage of collapsed buildings.

The flames of war had only recently swept through here.

Staring at the brutal scene, Lily took a deep breath, as if forcing down the turmoil inside herself.

Then she looked at Leo in admiration.

“As expected, you’re amazing, Leo.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even though I’m used to scenes like this, my heart still wavers. But I don’t see any of that in you.”

“I’m just doing my best not to let it shake me.”

“I think it’s something more fundamental than that.”

“Are you used to battlefields, Lily-sunbae?”

“Yes.”

Lily nodded.

Born into a military family, she had been educated about war from a young age.

“My Luce family is from the Kingdom of Tebern in the southeastern part of the continent. It’s a military kingdom, famous even across the continent.”

Lily spoke as she walked toward the battlefield.

“It’s not as constant as here in the northeast, but it’s still a region where wars happen often. My father believed that as a member of the Luce family, I needed to understand war, so ever since I entered Lumene, he’s taken me to battlefields every break.”

At those words, Leo furrowed his brow.

“You’re not the heir, are you, Lily-sunbae?”

“I’m not. But I think my father believed I could support my older brother. And for a member of the Luce family, it’s only natural.”

Lily answered with a blank expression.

Leo finally understood why Lily’s skill had been improving so dramatically.

'Real combat experience.'

No matter what anyone said, nothing drove growth more than real combat experience.

However, the battles Lily had experienced were not against Tartarus, but against other humans.

“Do you like it, Lily-sunbae?”

“I don’t.”

“Then you don’t have to keep going to battlefields.”

“I can’t do that.”

Lily answered firmly.

“Heroes are born on battlefields. Whether it’s a war against Tartarus or a war against other humans.”

At those words, Leo stared silently at Lily.

Her face remained expressionless, but her gaze stayed fixed on the ruins consumed by the aftermath of war.

A moment later, Lily met Leo’s eyes.

“Leo, I have to become a hero. Not just any hero, but a brilliantly shining hero like you.”

“Why do you want to become a hero?”

“You won’t laugh, will you?”

“No.”

At Leo’s answer, Lily raised a fist to her mouth and cleared her throat.

“Ahem. Ahem.”

“I will achieve world peace.”

At that, Leo stared intently at Lily’s face.

Under Leo’s gaze, Lily added,

“I want to create a world without war.”

It was an infinitely vast dream.

And because of that, Lily, speaking of a dream so absurd it almost sounded impossible, was completely serious.

She didn’t seem to care much about how others reacted to her goal.

Most people probably would have looked at her strangely, or simply laughed at her.

She had likely grown used to reactions like that.

“That’s a wonderful dream.”

Leo smiled brightly.

At that response, Lily’s eyes widened slightly as she looked up at him with a blank expression.

Lily knew it too.

She knew her dream was absurd.

That was why, whenever she spoke about why she wanted to become a hero, people either laughed at her or assumed she was joking.

Even when they didn’t reject it outright, no one truly affirmed it.

At best, they gave her polite words of support without meaning them.

That was why Lily understood immediately.

Leo had affirmed her dream.

“Isn’t my dream strange and ridiculous? Everyone else laughed at it.”

“I once laughed at someone else’s dream.”

He remembered Lysinas, who had declared that she would save the world.

“Because I was once saved by the very dream I laughed at. After that, I swore never to laugh at another person’s dream again.”

Leo smiled as he remembered Lysinas.

“And I think there should be at least one hero who dreams a dream like that. Besides, my goal is absurd too, isn’t it?”

Lily recalled what Leo’s goal was.

By now, it was already famous throughout the school.

'The complete subjugation of Erebos.'

Something even the Great Hero and the Heroes of Genesis had failed to achieve.

And Leo had already taken a step closer to that impossible goal.

“In a way, the goal you’re pursuing, Lily-sunbae, and the goal I’m pursuing are the same.”

Leo had already seen it.

The one who had led the world to salvation from the brink of ruin.

He had seen, right beside him, a friend who had turned an absurd ideal into reality.

“Somehow, my heart is pounding.”

Seeing Lily so happy that she didn’t know what to do with herself, Leo unconsciously reached out and patted her head.

He was genuinely proud of Lily for having a goal that was truly for the sake of this world.

'If Lysinas were still alive, she would’ve been so happy.'

A little flustered by Leo’s action, Lily touched her cheek.

“Normally, being treated like this by a hubae should make me feel bad somehow.”

From the moment they first met, Lily had always emphasized that she was his sunbae and tried hard to take care of him.

Lily herself liked taking care of others, but more than that, there was a strong part of her that didn’t want to lose her dignity as a sunbae.

“My apologies.”

As Leo drew back his hand, Lily shook her head.

“It doesn’t feel bad. Actually, I like it. It feels like I’m being praised by my older brother.”

Lily absentmindedly played with her hair for a moment, then smiled brightly.

“Well then, we can’t stay here forever, so shall we get moving?”

Leo nodded and pulled a map from inside his clothes.

“First, we need to figure out exactly where we are. This is border territory belonging to the Kingdom of Carnel, right?”

“That’s right. It was originally the domain of Viscount Tibun, the one who commissioned the request, but it’s been invaded by the neighboring Kingdom of Pettiman. First, we need to find our client, Viscount Tibun...”

Boom, boom, boom.

Just as they were about to discuss their next steps, the sound of drums began echoing through the air.

Leo and Lily, who had been talking while looking at the map, froze and lifted their heads.

Bwoooooooo—!

The sound of a horn rang out.

Lily raised her hand.

Wind began to gather at her fingertips.

“Oh dear.”

Lily’s face hardened.

“What is it?”

“The Pettiman Kingdom’s army is launching an attack.”

“Lumene students aren’t supposed to interfere in wars.”

“That’s true. But the Pettiman army isn’t targeting Carnel’s soldiers. They’re targeting the refugees.”

At those words, Leo narrowed his eyes and activated his Hyper Sense.

A vast flood of information from the surrounding area poured into Leo’s mind in an instant.

Lumene students were forbidden from interfering in wars between nations.

But civilians being attacked was a different matter.

Schwing!

Drawing his sword, Leo spoke.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Leo.”

Leo and Lily immediately flew toward the place where the fighting had broken out.

***

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