“So, you’re Leo Plov?”
Kaodin’s lips curled into a smirk as he looked at Leo.
“Do you speak so recklessly even knowing I was in the same year as your mother?”
“So what if you were? Does that give you permission to act like a complete scoundrel?”
“Reina failed to raise her child properly. If she retired without accomplishing anything notable, she should have at least raised her child well. It seems you need discipline.”
“Sure. I’d be happy to teach you a lesson, but your level is far too low for me to be the one teaching you.”
Leo met Kaodin’s provocation with a scoff.
At that, Kaodin’s expression changed instantly.
He looked as if he would pounce on Leo at any moment.
It was then.
“Oof.”
Chen Xia, who had been sent flying by Kaodin’s attack, lightly picked herself up.
“The uniform I just got recently is a mess now.”
Kaodin’s eyes twitched at her nonchalant attitude.
'She took no damage?'
Although Kaodin was a graduate of the Knights Department, his class was Archer.
Compared to other Knight classes proficient in close combat, his melee attacks were significantly weaker.
However, that was only by the standards of a Hero.
His attack was still more than powerful enough for a student to find difficult to withstand.
Yet Chen Xia walked back calmly.
“I’ll handle this person. It doesn’t concern you two, does it?”
“How does it not concern me? This man insulted my cousin and my aunt. I won’t forgive him. Duran, you’re the one who isn’t involved, so back off.”
“Don’t order me around.”
“You brats don’t know your place. Just because people call you the Golden Generation, you’ve lost all fear!”
Crackle—!
Crimson Divine Lightning surged from Kaodin’s body.
Aura Emission.
Rumble—!
Chen Xia and Celia quickly moved out of Kaodin’s range.
“One of you couldn’t get away in time. I told you to know who you’re facing before charging in…”
Crackle—!
“Is the Aura of a so-called Hero only at this level?”
A longsword wreathed in golden Divine Lightning flashed.
Flash—!
Golden light stitched across the air as Duran’s sword aimed for Kaodin’s throat.
Startled, Kaodin hurriedly used Aura Step to dodge Duran’s blade.
At that moment.
“I’ll pay you back.”
Boom—!
Chen Xia, having approached in an instant, kicked Kaodin in the stomach with a smile.
Despite her gentle tone, the power behind it was nothing short of brutal.
As Kaodin’s body folded and his head snapped toward the floor, a sheathed rapier struck his falling face.
Crack—!
“Gugh?!”
He had protected himself as much as possible with Aura Armor.
However, Celia’s thrust pierced right through it.
Though the force was dampened and he avoided a fatal wound, the bridge of his nose collapsed as he was sent tumbling back.
“You little bastards!”
Rumble—!
His eyes wide with fury, Kaodin released his Aura once more.
It was an Aura storm far more powerful than before.
However, the three had already widened the distance before the storm could reach them.
“You sons of bitches!”
Clutching his shattered, bleeding nose, Kaodin radiated terrifying murderous intent.
Eliana watched the scene with her mouth agape.
“Even if it’s those three, is it really possible to overwhelm a Hero of the Knight class like that?”
“It is,” Claria replied calmly.
“The skills of those three are already at a level that even someone in the realm of a Hero cannot underestimate. Against such knights, that scound—no, Kaodin-nim let his guard down. It’s not strange for him to be driven into a corner like that.”
The three moved sharply, continuing to pressure Kaodin.
“When facing multiple opponents, once you start being pushed around, it’s difficult to regain the initiative. Furthermore…”
“Not all Knight classes fight the same way.”
Leo said as he watched the trio’s movements.
“Just by looking at the women he drags around, it’s easy to tell how he fights on the battlefield.”
Leo glanced at Kaodin’s private knight order, who were standing by with bewildered expressions.
“That’s the private knight order he leads, right?”
“That’s right, Leo. They are called the Valkyries. They are a knight order specialized in defense and intercepting enemies. You recognized that immediately.”
“It’s obvious just by looking.”
“Wait, what? Class Rep, what do you mean?”
When Eliana asked with a puzzled look, Leo let out a sigh.
“Eliana. You’d get stronger much faster if you observed your opponents carefully and thought about how to respond.”
“Ugh.”
“What happens when a Mage-class Hero, used to being protected at the front while unleashing powerful attacks, is attacked up close by skilled knights?”
“Well, they’d get beaten up.”
“It’s the same principle. That man is a Knight class, but he has fought like a pure Mage. That’s why his ability to handle a chaotic melee is pathetic.”
“Aha!”
Eliana nodded as if she understood.
“How did a man like that manage to get the title of Hero?”
'There are plenty of gods with trashy taste.'
Leo furrowed his brows.
“Valkyries! What are you doing not protecting me?!”
Just then, Kaodin’s roar echoed.
The Valkyries hurriedly rushed to guard Kaodin.
“You pieces of shit… I won’t let you get away with this!”
Thump!
Kaodin opened his Subspace and grasped a bow infused with powerful Magic Power.
Duran narrowed his eyes as he looked at Kaodin.
“Seeing trash like this become Heroes… I’m starting to think the gods really have no eye for talent.”
“For once, we agree. I’m beginning to feel skeptical about the whole 'Hero' thing myself.”
Celia let out a small sigh.
“You arrogant brats! Do you not know who I am? To dare insult me! Even your families won’t be safe—”
“I don’t like bringing up families, but Zerdinger is a bit too big for you to handle with just your power, don’t you think? How about you?”
Celia snapped back with a bored face and looked at Duran, who also let out a scoff.
“This sounds like it could be fun. Are you planning to start a war with the Moira Kingdom?”
“I don’t want to make things a big deal at school, but if you wish, I can show you just how powerful the Shan Empire is.”
At the mention of their backgrounds, Kaodin’s mouth snapped shut.
(T/N: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH)
“That was some nice teamwork. You guys might bicker every day, but friends are friends after all.”
Leo appeared from behind the three.
“Who are you calling friends, Leo Plov?”
“I’ve never been friends with someone who has such a messy personality, Leo.”
“Now, now, friends should get along.”
As Duran and Celia bristled, Chen Xia intervened with a smile.
“Of course you would say that.”
Leo chuckled, and Duran snorted before sheathing his sword and crossing his arms.
Celia and Chen Xia also withdrew their Aura.
Step—
“Getting beaten up by your Hubaes was quite a sight.”
“You arrogant brat!”
Infuriated once again by Leo’s mockery, Kaodin drew his bowstring.
Crackle—!
“Drop dead!”
With a roar, he released the string, and a crimson arrow of Divine Lightning raced toward Leo.
Clap!
Leo caught the flying arrow with his bare hand.
Crackle—!
“…!”
Kaodin’s eyes widened as he saw his attack stopped so easily.
Crunch!
As Leo tightened his grip, the Aura arrow shattered and dispersed.
Everyone present gasped at the sight.
Leo slowly approached Kaodin.
“Block him! Stop that guy!”
Seeing this, Kaodin screamed at his Valkyries.
Leo raised his hand.
Whoosh! Crash!
“Gah?!”
“Th-this is…”
The shadows of the Valkyries surged upward, binding them where they stood.
It was Lysinas’s Magic.
“C-Cowardly, using Magic…”
“I don’t think that’s something a guy who hides in a safe spot and fires arrows should be saying.”
Leo approached with a sneer.
Looking at Leo, Kaodin desperately drew his bowstring once more.
Voom—!
Murderous intent erupted from Leo’s body.
Clatter!
Facing that bloodlust head-on, Kaodin dropped his bow.
Chatter, chatter—
Kaodin’s face turned pale, and his jaw trembled uncontrollably.
Leo looked up at the sky and narrowed his eyes.
“In your eyes, is something like this a Hero?”
“Don’t make me laugh! I am a Hero rightfully chosen by the gods! A brat like you has no right to question my qualifications as a Hero—”
“Kneel.”
Crack—!
“Aaaaagh!”
Leo kicked Kaodin’s shin.
His shinbone shattered, and Kaodin collapsed.
“True, I don’t have the right to question the qualifications of a Hero.”
Leo spoke as he stepped on Kaodin’s head.
“But at the very least, it isn’t you.”
Press—!
“Aaaaargh!”
Kaodin screamed at the crushing pressure on his head.
Seeing this, some of the second-year students held their breath.
“I was going to stay out of it if I could. Things get complicated when I get involved.”
He knew he had the authority to revoke titles, but he had no intention of abusing it.
“But if things like you are called Heroes, those who truly devoted themselves to the world would look like fools.”
“Guh… ack…”
As Leo’s murderous intent deepened, Kaodin couldn’t even breathe properly.
He trembled as if having a seizure, wheezing out words.
'I’m going to die! I’m really going to die!'
Kaodin was consumed by terror.
“Forgive… forgive me… forgive…”
“If you want forgiveness, ask Chen Xia. She’s not someone trash like you has any right to insult.”
“For… forgiveness… gurgle!”
Kaodin’s eyes rolled back, and his body went limp.
Leo spoke to the Valkyries with an expressionless face.
“Take him away.”
At those words, the Valkyries hurriedly took Kaodin and left.
Leo spoke to Chen Xia as she approached him.
“I was going to make him apologize to you.”
“It’s fine. Getting an apology from someone like that wouldn’t make me feel any better anyway.”
Chen Xia smiled brightly.
Duran, who had been watching the situation silently, spoke up.
“Leo Plov. There is something I want to ask.”
“You have something to ask me? That’s unusual.”
“What is an ideal Hero to you?”
“……?”
Leo looked puzzled at Duran’s question.
“Why are you asking that?”
“The reasons for wanting to become a Hero are different for everyone. As such, the ideal Hero everyone wants to be is also different.”
Duran wanted to become a Hero because he yearned for strength.
In Celia’s case, it was to bring honor to her family.
Chen Xia dreamed of becoming a Hero to help many people.
Each had their own reason and their own path.
“But you never had any interest in the position of a Hero from the start.”
“Did it look that way?”
“Yes. But you were more like a Hero than anyone else.”
Everyone, including Leo, was surprised by Duran’s words.
It was the first time the prideful Duran had acknowledged Leo so plainly.
“You had the power to make the impossible possible. You were honorable as a Hero and never hesitated to help people. It was as if you were born to be a Hero.”
Duran looked Leo straight in the eye.
“And today, you were more furious than anyone upon seeing a Hero who didn’t act like one. That’s why I wanted to ask. What is the ideal Hero in your mind?”
“I’ve never really thought about it, so it’s hard.”
Leo spoke after a moment of serious contemplation.
“Someone who can muster courage for others. Someone who is willing to become a shield for someone else. Someone who can shine in any situation.”
Thinking of Arron, Dweno, and Luna, Leo spoke slowly.
“Someone who can turn despair into hope. That is the ideal Hero I have in mind.”
“Wow, that sounds exactly like Leo-nim.”
“Not at all.”
“Why? It sounds just like you.”
“I just didn’t give up thanks to people like that.”
“That’s what makes it amazing.”
Chen Xia wore a dissatisfied expression.
“So? Why did you ask?”
“I only asked because I want to pursue a path as a Hero different from yours.”
Duran had not given up on chasing Leo’s back.
Even if he might never reach it in his entire life.
Still, he had no intention of giving up.
'Even so, I don’t feel like becoming the ideal Hero he pursues.'
It was a strange sense of rebellion, born from not wanting to follow completely in someone else’s footsteps.
'I think a Hero is someone who never gives up.'
He remembered his first conversation with Leo.
'Yes, never giving up. Aiming for that wouldn’t be so bad.'
Duran looked down at his hand and then back at Leo.
“I will never give up on surpassing you, Leo Plov.”
At those words, Leo’s eyes widened slightly.
“What is it?”
“No, it’s just that you remind me of someone.”
“Who?”
'He’ll throw a fit if I say he reminds me of myself.'
“Hero of the Beginning, Kyle.”
At that, Chen Xia’s eyes went round, and she looked back and forth between Leo and Duran.
Whether he noticed her reaction or not, Duran simply snorted.
“You talk as if you actually know the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle.”
“I heard about him from Luna-nim.”
Duran frowned slightly at that.
“Now, now, let’s resume the lesson.”
Claria stepped in to settle the situation.
In the meantime, Duran approached Chen Xia.
“You weren’t hurt by such a pathetic attack, were you?”
The words were arrogant, but it was Duran’s own way of showing concern.
Chen Xia looked up at Duran with a somewhat pouting face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Must be nice? Hearing from Leo-nim that you resemble the Hero of the Beginning.”
“Are you jealous now? I fail to see how this is something to be jealous of.”
“Hmph!”
Chen Xia gave a sassy reaction and turned away.
Duran was left with a bewildered expression, not understanding her reaction at all.
(T/N: Sooooo Chen Xia x Duran now?)
***
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