Editor : Amethyst00



In the heart of the scorching desert.

Leaning on her longsword like a walking stick, Aru trudged along, then finally dropped to her knees—and collapsed flat on the ground.

"It's over for me… You guys go on… without me…"

But despite Aru's solemn muttering, the surroundings remained silent.

Aru lifted her head slightly and glanced behind hers.

There, her classmates were already sprawled out on the ground.

Seeing that, Aru muttered bitterly, "So this is how it ends…"

She sighed and rolled onto her back, spreading her limbs out.

Then, with a melancholy expression, she murmured,

"At the end… I wanted to return to Azonia…"

"Give me a break."

Trickle—

"Pugh! Pfuhuhuhuh!"

A water bottle suddenly appeared before her eyes and tilted, dumping its contents straight onto Aru's face.

Flailing and coughing, Aru shot upright.

Meanwhile, Kar moved from one student to another, offering them water.

Sopping wet, Aru pouted.

"How long are we going to wander around this desert?"

"Until you all learn to properly control your powers."

Leo answered as he turned away.

"Let's go, Kar."

"Yeah. Everyone, hang in there."

Wearing his usual gentle smile, Kar followed after Leo.

Aru and the others were fighting monsters while journeying through the desert back to Azonia—with both their supernatural abilities and physical enhancements sealed.

That was because Leo had suggested the harsh terrain of Azonia was the perfect place for training, especially compared to other hero academies.

As dusk fell and night settled in, Aru sat at the campfire and let out a long, weary sigh.

"That guy… he's seriously a devil."

Unlike Kar's training, which was physically grueling, Leo's methods were mentally exhausting.

For example, forcing them to fight under harsh restrictions in life-threatening situations.

At Aru's grumbling, Dion replied, "Still, he's definitely a good teacher."

"That, I'll admit."

The others nodded.

Thanks to Leo, they had finally entered the realm of hypersense—a skill that had felt unreachable before.

Though they had a foundation, it was Leo's guidance that pushed them to awaken.

"It's like he already knows everything about us."

Borman wore a look of amazement.

Leo's training often required a precise understanding of their strengths and weaknesses—something impossible to grasp in just a day or two.

"Maybe Kar-sunbae told him?"

At Ruwen's murmur, Dion smirked.

"Somehow, I doubt sunbae is that perceptive."

Not because Kar didn't care.

He was, in fact, the most passionate about helping and teaching his juniors.

He was just… terrible at it.

Kar's teaching style was simple.

He'd show them a ridiculous demonstration—something that seemed impossible—then say, "See? Easy, right? You can do it too!" while explaining the method.

Of course, from their perspective, it made no sense at all.

"Geniuses can never understand ordinary people."

Even though the Azonia students were among the elite, Kar operated on a completely different level.

Aru looked down at her hands.

Since meeting Leo, she had grown rapidly.

'No, more accurately… I've finally learned how to properly use the power I have.'

She still remembered what Leo had told her during training.

'You're not Aaron. You're not Kar, either.'

It was something she'd always known.

But the light Kar radiated was so overwhelming, she had forgotten for a moment.

She had been drawn to that light like a moth—but…

'I am me.'

"…I wonder if he'd join our school."

When Aru muttered that under her breath, everyone turned to look at her.

"What?"

"Wait, Aru. I thought you didn't like that guy."

"Yeah. But now I do. He's making me stronger."

Everyone nodded at Aru's words.

"Still… seeing Aaron was… a shock."

At Dion's comment, the Azonia students recalled the young Aaron they had seen in his world.

He had been about their age—or even younger.

But the boy hero had not matched their expectations.

No—he had been very different.

"I liked it, though. It was kind of… touching. Despite being so afraid, he found the courage to act in moments of crisis."

Aru smiled brightly.

"He's like Kar-sunbae. Maybe Kar-sunbae is Aaron reincarnated!"

The others burst out laughing.

"You have one hell of an imagination."

"Funny thought, though."

"What! He's strong and brave and scared of everything, just like Aaron! He could totally be reincarnated!"

Aru pouted indignantly.

Not far off, Leo poked at the campfire and muttered to himself.

"That kid… unnecessarily sharp. Don't you think?"

"Kyle! Your cooking's really gotten better! You could open a restaurant!"

"…Yeah. Eat up."

As Kar cheerfully devoured his food, Leo let out a wry laugh.

Leo turned to him and said, "It's about time I head to Lumene."

"Huh?"

Kar blinked.

"Looks like those guys have all found their own paths now."

In just a short time under Leo's guidance, the Azonia students had changed drastically.

They had always had potential—their vessels were already complete.

They just needed direction.

'Well, with a light like the Brave beside them, it's no wonder they lost their way.'

In Leo's world, the Azonia students had each found their path in their own way.

They had deeply considered their strengths and weaknesses and chosen what fit them best.

But that wasn't the case here.

'It's probably the same for other schools too.'

In this world, Kar, Rune, and Valhar—reincarnations of the great heroes—were hailed as their second comings.

'Only Lysinas doesn't receive that kind of evaluation.'

Likely because in this world, the Hero of Beginnings was thought to be a fictional figure.

'The Lumene students… might be different from Azonia, Seiren, or Damien.'

Because none other than Lysinas was teaching them.

Leo recalled how he had once led hero cadets.

He always thought about how to maximize their potential.

'In the end, what I gave them was direction.'

He provoked them, asking if they could chase his back.

Sometimes walking beside them, sometimes pulling ahead, adjusting the pace.

That was how they had grown.

Now, the hero candidates of Leo's world could feel the gap—but still followed.

'But these kids are different.'

Leo looked at Kar.

A world where all the other great heroes had reincarnated—except himself.

Leo needed comrades to share the burden.

But here, they already had each other.

That difference had affected the growth of the candidates.

'Maybe that's also why Sillatna and Giath haven't been subdued… and why the fragments of Erebos haven't awakened.'

Four great heroes had returned in this world.

Their very existence was a powerful deterrent.

'Still, that doesn't change the fact that the heroes of this world have reached their limit.'

So preparations would be underway.

Leo looked down at his hand.

'I'll pass on everything I can.'

There had to be a reason he'd come to a world he wasn't born in.

"Even without me, the Azonia kids will find their way now."

"Yeah, probably. But do you really need to rush off to Lumene? Can't you stay in Azonia a bit longer?"

Kar looked disappointed.

Leo smiled.

"I'm just curious what the Lumene students are like in this world."

"Ah… now I'm curious too."

Kar nodded, then said, "Once things are wrapped up here, I'll head to Lumene too. See you there! And—don't reveal your identity to Lysinas until I arrive!"

"Why not?"

"I want to surprise her! She'll definitely be happy."

"Probably. Her dead husband coming back to life? Of course she would."

"…Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Didn't Lysinas tell you? She liked me."

"…"

"Turns out Luna liked me too. What a mess."

Leo chuckled as Kar looked at him with real concern.

"Kyle… are you okay? Did you hit your head fighting Erebos or something?"

Leo sighed deeply at Kar's genuine worry.

'If I could, I'd smack him in the head.'

Unfortunately, in a pure brawl, he had no chance against the beastkin.

Leo stood up.

"Anyway, I'll head to Lumene first. Catch up once you're done."

"Okay. But… can you even enter Lumene?"

"You think the student council president wouldn't be able to?"

Leo smirked and vanished with teleportation magic.

"Once Kyle's identity is revealed… Lysinas and Luna will finally return to who they used to be, huh?"

Kar smiled brightly at the thought.

FWOOOSH—!

"Hm?"

Something flew in from the sky.

"A wind hawk?"

A wind-elemental summon often used to deliver letters or small items.

And there was only one summoner who would use a wind hawk to find him.

Kar opened the letter.

His eyes widened.

"She wants me in Damien immediately?"

Reading Lysinas's message, Kar tilted his head.

"Something must've happened. And… looks like I'll miss Kyle."

Clicking his tongue, Kar stood up.

"Everyone~ we're heading back to school right now! Something urgent came up!"

bl

Through spatial teleportation magic, Leo swiftly arrived at a nearby city and immediately located a warp gate, transporting himself directly to Lumeria City.

It was late at night. Leo walked through the familiar streets of Lumeria City.

'Not much has changed here. Well… it's the same place, after all.'

As he wandered the city, Leo eventually stepped into a suitable inn.

'Aaron told me not to meet with Lysinas… In that case, maybe I'll go find Rian first.'

Aaron was unaware of Rian, the librarian of the Hero Record.

Whatever the case, Leo figured he could rely on Rian for help, so he approached the bustling front counter of the inn.

"Welcome, sir!"

A familiar voice greeted him. Leo instinctively raised his head—and then froze mid-motion.

"…Carl?"

"Huh? Sir, do you know me?"

Standing there was a boy with orange hair, eyes wide as he looked at Leo.