Editor : Amethyst00



"Huaaang—!"

Kar's fierce punch split the air.

"It's the wind pressure from his fist! Dodge it!"

Kwaang! Pabababababang—!

"Kugh!"

"You said to dodge—why are you the one getting hit?!"

The violent shockwave from Kar's punch sent Borman flying.

And across the sea beyond, a chain explosion triggered by air pressure erupted in succession.

Watching it, Leo let out a dry laugh.

"Hah. At this point, it's basically performance art."

It was at that moment—when Leo was admiring a new technique he had never seen in his past life.

Kwaang—!

"Guek?!"

Splash—!

Ruwen, grazed by Kar's charge cloaked entirely in aura, let out a wretched scream as she flew into the sea.

A one-sided massacre.

Just brushing against Kar sent Azonia's students flying into the sky—Leo exhaled a long sigh as he watched.

Then, feeling a sudden presence, he turned around.

Outside the beach, a crowd had gathered to watch.

"Ooooh… they're surviving today!"

"Popcorn, get your popcorn~"

"Ah! Run! I bet on you being the last one standing!"

It seemed that the Azonia students' training had become a popular spectacle in the city.

Clicking his tongue at Kar, who was stirring up a sandstorm, Leo muttered:

'I wasn't even that bad.'

From the start, Kar didn't know the meaning of "moderation."

Born with overwhelming talent, he simply couldn't understand what others couldn't do.

All he could do was look at them pitifully and teach with his body.

Not that it was ineffective—but it certainly was brutal training.

Dion, who had just rushed Kar, was now flying straight toward Leo's location.

Puhaahaak—!

Leo lightly sidestepped Dion, who kicked up sand as he crashed nearby, and stood up from where he sat.

Kugagagagak—!

At that moment, Ruwen, who had fallen into the sea, summoned seawater using magic.

Clicking his tongue, Leo retreated beyond the spell's range.

The training, as intense as real combat, was utterly savage.

Pabababang—!

Water and sand exploded in all directions.

A moment later.

Swoosh—swoosh—

Leo, feet dipped in the safe shallows of the beach, crossed his arms and looked at the last student still standing.

The final survivor—was Aru.

"Yaaaaaah!"

With great vigor, Aru charged at Kar.

Whump—!

"Kyauh!"

But was quickly smacked back by a fist and sent flying.

And as fate would have it, the direction she was flying in—

—was right toward Leo.

Clicking his tongue, Leo opened both arms.

Pof—!

Landing neatly in a princess carry in Leo's arms, Aru's eyes widened in surprise.

"You okay?"

"Y-yeah… I think I'm…"

"Good."

"Huh?!"

Splash—!

"Gah! Pwah—!"

As Leo let go, Aru dropped straight into the sea, flailing.

"It's shallow."

Hearing that, Aru, who was floundering, suddenly stood upright.

Swoosh—!

A wave came in, soaking her.

"You can't just drop someone like that without warning!"

Grumbling, Aru glared, but Leo only smiled and walked over to Kar.

The battered students, barely able to crawl, gathered around Kar.

Aru, too, followed Leo, leaning heavily on a stick that had washed ashore, using it like a cane.

Seeing the miserable state of the juniors, Kar wore a sorrowful expression.

"How pitiful… is everyone alright?"

"Y-yes… we're fine…"

"Perfectly fine!"

Azonia's students responded energetically, touched by Kar's sincere concern.

"Giving the poison and the antidote now? You're the one who beat them up like that."

At Leo's comment, Kar's shoulders drooped.

Scratching his head, Leo looked around at the Azonia students and said, "And yet you all still manage to attend school. Impressive."

Borman thumped his chest muscles and declared, "We're proud descendants of the Brave and the Grand Warrior! Through harsh training like this, we grow stronger!"

"It's definitely effective."

Dion nodded with a bitter smile.

It was true.

Azonia's third-years were physically robust.

'Compared to the ones in my world, these guys feel way more savage.'

Naturally so.

In Leo's world, the Azonia students were inspired not by the Brave himself…

But by the image of the Brave reflected in the figure of the Hero of Beginnings.

Leo could pass on Aaron's will and techniques—but he couldn't be their Brave.

'There's only one Brave.'

But this world's Azonia students were different.

Just as the Lumene students had followed Leo's lead—

These Azonia students had grown under the direct influence of their idol, Aaron.

They might not realize it, but they were, in a way, being raised as successors to the Brave.

The problem was…

'They're just getting stupidly strong like Aaron.'

Leo let out a long sigh.

Thanks to these kinds of combat simulations, their raw power and battle instincts had definitely improved.

'If we're talking purely about physical strength and speed, these guys have the edge over ours.'

But that didn't mean they could beat the Azonia students from Leo's world.

'Skill-wise, our guys are leagues ahead.'

For one, these students hadn't awakened their hyper-sensory perception yet.

'And most importantly…'

Leo looked at Aru.

'Our cat is stronger.'

It was genuinely surprising.

Given that this Aru was directly influenced by Aaron, Leo had expected her to be stronger than his world's Aru.

But that wasn't the case.

'Even if Aaron was a bad teacher, with this kind of rough training… there's no way she wouldn't grow stronger.'

"Hey, kitty."

"I have a name! It's Aru Tune!"

Hands on her hips, chest puffed out, chin held high—Aru protested confidently.

Leo looked at her and asked:

"Between you in Seiren and Lunia El Lunda—who's stronger?"

"Hmph! Obviously me! What kind of comparison is that with that delicate, flimsy elf?"

Aru snorted.

Leo tilted his head.

'Delicate? Flimsy?'

That didn't suit Lunia at all.

Yes, in terms of raw physical ability, Aru, a beastkin and a warrior, clearly had the advantage.

But "delicate" and "flimsy" were not words anyone would associate with Lunia.

'Considering her violent, thug-like nature… it's not even close. Though, maybe personalities shift a bit? Doesn't look like it from this idiot.'

Lost in thought, Leo mused:

'So Lunia isn't seen as strong either, huh…'

Muttering to himself, Leo turned to Aru.

"Hey, kitty."

"I said, my name is Aru Tune…!"

"What's your goal?"

"Huh?"

Aru blinked, startled.

"As a Hero—what's your goal?"

The sudden question caught her off guard.

But seeing Leo's serious expression, Aru paused—and then answered after some thought.

"To follow in Senior Kar's footsteps."

"Not the Brave's?"

"Kar-sunbae is the Brave's successor."

Aru shrugged.

Then puffed out her cheeks.

"Following Kar-sunbae means following in Brave Aaron's footsteps!"

'So she wants to follow Kar…'

Leo looked at Kar and asked:

"Wouldn't it be better to dream bigger?"

"Bigger how?"

"You Azonia kids are descendants of the Brave. Wouldn't it be more fitting to chase the Brave's back, rather than his successor's?"

"Do you know how amazing Kar-sunbae is?!"

Aru beamed.

"A student unprecedented in Azonia! Overwhelming might! And the second beastkin after Aaron himself to master elemental resonance freely!"

"You can do it too."

"I learned from Kar-sunbae."

"Well, that part you learned well."

"…"

Aru's face darkened rapidly.

Leo glanced at Kar, who gave an awkward smile.

'I don't even want to know what he did to teach her.'

Clicking his tongue, Leo continued.

"And after enrolling, he singlehandedly conquered Aaron's world! Alone! Kar-sunbae is a living legend! He may be a bit of a scaredy-cat, but that's part of his charm too! When it counts, he shows immense courage—just like Hero Aaron!"

"…Alone?"

Leo's face twisted oddly.

"Didn't give anyone else a chance?"

"Huh? Yeah, so?"

Aru nodded, as if it were perfectly normal.

Leo looked at Kar.

Kar avoided his gaze.

"Hey. Come with me. We need to talk."

"Huh? We can talk here?"

"Come. You guys rest up."

Grabbing Kar by the scruff, Leo dragged him away to a secluded spot.

Once they were alone, Leo let him go and said:

"You do understand what the Hero Record is, right?"

"Y-yeah… it's the power that passes the strength of past heroes to future generations…"

"Then why didn't you give others a chance to clear it? You had plenty of opportunities to do it together, didn't you?"

As Leo narrowed his eyes, Kar fiddled nervously with his fingers.

"W-well… the trials I went through were too dangerous for the kids… and also…"

"Be honest."

Leo glared sharply.

"You went solo on purpose, didn't you? Afraid they'd find out you're a coward?"

"B-but… Kyle…!"

"No buts! What kind of excuse is that?"

"I-I train them! Aru can use elemental resonance, and she even awakened the power to resonate other beastkin through howling…"

"You want them dead from your training?!"

"I just couldn't shatter people's illusions…"

"You were just embarrassed!"

Bonk—!

Leo smacked Kar on the head.

Kar drooped.

"Anyone else pull a stunt like this?"

"Just me…"

"Some legacy, huh."

Leo sighed deeply.

Even if Aru hadn't conquered the Brave's world, that didn't mean she was weak.

Her potential was astonishing even by Leo's standards.

Whether or not she conquered Aaron's world—was just a minor detail for her.

Most importantly—this world's Aru was said to be on par with Lunia.

Kar didn't deny that either.

'So Lunia conquered Luna's world along with Luna herself.'

Perhaps this world's Lunia had even more opportunities than Leo's.

'But still… she's weaker than mine.'

The same likely applied to Drianna.

'There is a definitive difference between the three here and ours.'

After some thought, Leo came to a conclusion.

The three in Leo's world were official successors of the Great Heroes.

They had no choice but to become them, like it or not.

But not here.

Here, aside from Leo, the world recognizes the original Great Heroes as the true successors.

'These kids aren't chasing the Great Heroes…'

They're chasing the successors of the Great Heroes.

A difference in admiration.

A difference in dreams.

A difference in what must be done.

'They're not realizing their full potential.'

It wasn't the kids' fault.

It was simply how things were.

Looking at Aru chatting with the Azonia students in the distance, Leo said:

"Aaron."

"Yeah?"

"Aru's going to be your successor."

"Yeah. I know. That's why I've been teaching her so much—"

"Not Kar's. Yours. The Brave Aaron's."

Leo met Kar's gaze.

"Show them who you really are. They won't be disappointed."

"…"

Kar shrank slightly and looked at Leo.

"Also… I'll take over their training for a bit."

"You will?"

"There's clearly a reason I ended up here."

"…"

"And if that's the case—then I have something I must pass on."