Editor : Amethyst00



“I cannot understand this. This is an unprecedented event.”

At the words battle royale, the professors voiced their objections.

As the name suggested, an academic competition that was supposed to be fought between departments could, if handled poorly, turn into a free-for-all individual contest.

Watching the three professors protest, Kalian leaned back in his chair.

“I don’t blame you for feeling this way. This year’s first-years are unusually outstanding.”

Indeed, whichever department they belonged to, the first-years this year had an extremely high chance of victory.

That was exactly why the professors opposed the highly unpredictable format of a battle royale.

“But as you well know, there is one student who makes this year particularly special, isn’t there?”

“Are you referring to Leo Plov?”

“That’s right. At first, everyone was simply shocked by the fact that he was an All Class. Most thought he would quickly hit his limits, didn’t they?”

The three professors nodded in agreement. They had all been convinced he would eventually choose their own department.

“But Leo continues to maintain grades close to the top of every class.”

Kalian propped his chin on his hand.

“Because of that, the Board’s interest in him has only deepened.”

The Board.

They were the true owners of Lumene: the three great houses known as the Houses of Beginning — Zeron, Rigard, and Tursia.

“You mean the Board wants Leo Plov, as an All Class, to inscribe his name into the Hero Record?”

“Correct.”

If that happened, it would not be impossible for another All Class to appear in later generations by inheriting Leo’s powers.

In short, one boy alone had created a monumental ripple.

“Of course, he will eventually have to choose a department, but the Board believes now is not the time. I know you’ve all worked hard to prepare for this year’s competition, but… this time, I ask for your understanding.”

Hearing Kalian’s words, the three professors let out long sighs.

It was impossible to keep objecting to the words of the headmaster they all deeply respected.

‘From here on, cooperation will matter less. What will matter is individual ability.’

The professors fell into troubled thought.

‘So it comes to this. The only way to prepare for the competition now is to raise each student’s abilities.’

bl

The next day.

In the knight-department’s practical class, every student was filled with a strange excitement.

It was because today marked the true beginning of their preparation for the academic competition.

On top of that, Professor Ain had announced that the lesson would be a tremendous help in conquering the Hero’s World, so the first-years’ anticipation only grew louder.

“Hey, who are you going to choose?”

“The Moonlight Knight. You?”

“I’m going for Hermilan the Spear Knight!”

Though actually entering the Hero’s World was still far off, the very thought of preparing for it was enough to make their hearts race.

Watching his classmates buzz with excitement, Leo muttered,

“They’re all in such a frenzy.”

“As they should be.”

“You don’t seem all that happy about it.”

“For someone of the Zerdinger line, the Hero’s World isn’t anything special. But you don’t seem excited either, do you?”

“Of course I am. I’m really looking forward to it.”

After all, he would finally get to see the true face of the Hero Record he’d been so curious about.

He had already received Hero’s World rewards twice, but those had not been the normal kind.

‘I wonder what the standard path rewards will be.’

Kyle, the Great Hero, could in some sense be called the ancestor of all heroes.

The Great Heroes were the first names inscribed on the Hero Record, the ones who had achieved the most legendary feats.

Even Leo couldn’t help but feel a thrill at the thought of inheriting another hero’s power.

‘It might let me make up for what I lack.’

History painted the great heroes as flawless paragons.

But Leo knew better than anyone that they were not perfect.

‘If they had been, no one would have been lost in the battle with Erebos.’

Leo clenched his fist tightly.

‘Besides, compared to my past life, I’m weaker now.’

It wasn’t merely that he hadn’t regained all his old strength.

Kyle had been at his strongest right before confronting Erebos.

Even if he reclaimed all his former power, he could never reach that same height.

‘Back then, my strength wasn’t mine alone.’

Before the subjugation of Erebos.

The grand vow to save the world.

The foolish dream of turning the world into a field of flowers.

The wild goal of restoring the lost beauty of the world.

The small hope that people could laugh freely again.

It was only because he carried the ideals and entrusted powers of his companions that he had been able to prevail.

As those memories surfaced, Leo realized something.

‘Come to think of it, the way we inherit powers from the Hero Record resembles my past self.’

As Leo’s thoughts turned doubtful, Professor Ain appeared on the training grounds.

The chatting students quickly fell into formation and stood at attention.

“As promised, from today I will be teaching you aura skills to prepare for both the academic competition and the conquest of the Hero’s World.”

At his words, cheers erupted across the grounds.

Watching them, Ain added,

“And let me make this clear: any student who fails to conquer the Hero’s World in the second semester will be expelled, regardless of grades.”

At that, a chilling silence spread among the students.

“Now, let’s begin. Who can state the forms of power granted as rewards for conquering the Hero’s World?”

Normally, students would have shot their hands up immediately. But intimidated by Ain’s cold voice, they hesitated.

One calm hand went up.

“Duran Moira.”

“Hero Weapon, Hero Ability, and finally, Hero Skill.”

“Correct.” Ain nodded.

“[Hero Weapon] is, as the name implies, the power to summon the arms used by that hero. Weapons long gone, existing only in legend or history, can be called back into this age — weapons of immense power.”

Leo folded his arms.

‘Could I summon the weapons that I or my comrades once wielded?’

Visions of the weapons destroyed in the Age of Calamity flitted through his mind.

“[Hero Ability] refers to the hero’s unique talent. Lastly, [Hero Skill] is the technique the hero used.”

Ain crossed his arms.

“The first power you’ll inherit will be [Hero Skill]. Who can explain its defining trait?”

This time, Chen Xia raised her head.

“Chen Xia.”

“Its power varies depending on the user’s ability. It can be far weaker than the original, or, conversely, it can surpass the original.”

“Correct.”

Ain strode to the front of the grounds.

“Before you begin inheriting heroes’ powers, there’s a technique I will teach you. Celia Zerdinger, step forward.”

At his summons, Celia walked out.

“Draw your sword.”

She unsheathed her blade.

“Do you remember what I said at the start of the term? That I would teach you the Aura Studies taught at Azonia, the Hero Academy of the beastkin?”

“Yes.”

“All throughout the past classes, I have incorporated aura studies into the aura techniques I’ve taught you.”

Celia nodded.

The aura skills Ain had instructed them in were those she had already learned from the Zerdinger family.

‘But the content was entirely different.’

She had been taught to use aura with far greater refinement.

For example, even with something as simple as aura armor, the method of maximizing its defense was different.

Before, she had only learned to harden the armor’s density.

But that was not all aura armor could do.

‘It’s not just about repelling blows. It can absorb or divert them. Defense can take many forms.’

Based on Ain’s Aura Studies , she could adapt the nature of her defense according to the enemy’s attack.

Though it wouldn’t show immediate results, with mastery it would become an enormous advantage.

“Up until now, I’ve only had you apply techniques we could use right away. But what you’ll learn now goes beyond applications — it’s what Azonia students themselves are taught.”

The students held their breath and focused on his words.

“Learning this will help you greatly in wielding [Hero Skills]. More than that, it will raise your overall aura skill proficiency.”

Celia’s eyes shone.

“What technique is it?”

“It’s faster to show you. Celia, use your aura.”

She called forth her aura.

Ain pointed at the empty end of the training ground.

“Unleash your strongest strike over there.”

Celia raised her power to its maximum and swung her sword.

Fwoosh—! Boom!

A wall of blazing fire erupted upward like a flame barrier.

The sheer force left students staring in awe.

“As expected of one of the knight department’s top three!”

“Flame monster!”

“Hey! Who just called me a monster!?”

Celia’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“Excellent. Truly a Zerdinger.”

Ain gave a dry laugh.

“Now then.”

Fwoosh—!

Flames erupted from Ain’s blade.

The students’ eyes widened.

For Ain, the “Glacier Knight,” was known for wielding aura of ice.

As the students gasped in shock, Duran gave a scoffing laugh.

“Professor Ain is a dungeon raider. With such feats, it wouldn’t be strange for him to ascend to the ranks of heroes. It’s no surprise he inherited the ability of a hero who wielded fire.”

“Exactly. This flame aura is the [Ability] I inherited from one of the heroes I conquered long ago.”

Ain imbued his blade with flames on par with the aura Celia had just unleashed.

Then he raised his sword, inhaling.

The sound was strange, unlike any normal breath.

With it, his body shimmered faintly with aura.

Leo’s eyes shot wide open.

‘That’s…!’

Fwoosh—! Boom!

A slash of fire roared skyward, even more powerful than Celia’s.

“……!”

Celia’s eyes were filled with shock.

Despite channeling a similar strength of aura, Ain’s flames were stronger.

Moreover, the fire he used was not Phoenix’s flame, nor was fire even his natural attribute. By all rights, its power should have been reduced.

Leo’s eyes widened further.

“H-how did you do that?”

When the stunned Celia asked, Ain lowered his sword and answered,

“This is called the [Brave's Breath].”

“……!”

“And it is the technique you will now begin to learn.”

‘That’s… Aaron’s technique!’