Editor : Amethyst00



Sarak—

The sound of a page turning echoed quietly.

Late at night, Leo remained alone in the student council room, silently reading the Book of Shadows.

With every page he turned, a new page filled with records appeared.

And the page he turned disappeared.

["You must be proud."]

Elsie, sitting on Leo's shoulder and reading the Book of Shadows with him, spoke.

"What's there to be proud of in a damn student who never listens?"

Leo responded curtly, but his hand turning the page revealed tenderness.

"That damned brat."

["……"]

Elsie gave a bitter smile.

What Bihar had done was something someone had to do.

If Kyle had survived, he would have taken that role upon himself.

But through Bihar's record, it became clear.

It wasn't simply because someone had to do it that she chose to.

Bihar had never once regretted her decision.

'Don't feel sorry for the shadows…'

Recalling what Emperor Xyau had said, Leo closed the Book of Shadows.

At that moment, the door creaked open, and Chen Xia peeked her head in.

"I saw the lights were still on in the student council room and thought maybe you were still here? What have you been doing this late?"

"Working."

Chen Xia giggled at that reply.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Well, with Elena and Carl gone, it must be tough. You usually push all the bothersome work onto Elena-sunbae."

"If someone heard that, they'd think I do nothing but slack off."

Grumbling, Leo watched as Chen Xia suppressed her laughter and stepped out of the room.

Moments later, she returned carrying a tray with a warm teacup.

Clack—

Placing the cup in front of Leo, she said:

"This is tea drunk by the imperial family of Xian. It helps relieve fatigue and clears the mind."

At her words, Leo took a sip.

The tea was transparent, with no discernible aroma or taste.

Yet, he clearly felt his head clear and his fatigue ease.

"Ho? What is this? A tea made with alchemy?"

"It's brewed from poison."

"……"

Leo lowered the teacup and looked at Chen Xia, waiting for an explanation.

"There are many types of poisons. Some have beneficial effects."

"Of course, since they're still called poison, most beneficial effects are masked or even intensified by toxicity. But—"

"But?"

"There's a saying: fight poison with poison, right? Sometimes, different poisons neutralize each other. When the toxicity is neutralized, only the beneficial effects remain. This tea was made that way."

"And you still fed poison to someone?"

"It's a tea that the emperors of Xian have long enjoyed while governing. The effects are guaranteed."

Leo shook his head while looking at Chen Xia's cute smile as she stuck out her tongue.

"You're drinking it well for something poisonous."

"I trust you wouldn't give me anything bad."

Chen Xia smiled proudly at Leo's words.

"Is there still a lot of work left? I'll help."

"Did you get permission to go out?"

"Nope. I snuck out."

At Chen Xia's shameless answer, Leo let out a dry laugh.

"I've finished everything I had to do."

"Then what were you doing?"

"Reading the Book of Shadows."

Leo placed the Book of Shadows on the desk.

"Did you tell the first-years that their new practical assignment is tackling the Book of Shadows?"

"Yes."

"And their reaction?"

"They're pretty confused."

"What about the students from shadow backgrounds?"

"……"

"Something happened?"

Leo asked curiously as he noticed Chen Xia's face slightly darken.

"It just made me realize how lucky I was."

"What do you mean?"

"Becoming a hero was like a dream, even just two years ago."

Chen Xia looked down at her own hands as she spoke.

"When I took the hand you offered and stepped into the light… I don't think I'll ever forget that moment."

Leo, who had held out his hand and promised she'd become a beloved hero.

At that moment, Chen Xia had sensed that her destiny had changed.

And thus, the title of hero—something she once thought a dream—became her own.

"After my name went into the Hero Record, I think I wandered a bit."

Becoming a hero wasn't her final destination.

There were still many things left for her to do.

Her duties as a hero.

And her responsibility to assist Leo in his journey to save the world.

The path of a hero was long.

But the moment she became a hero, the path she originally wanted to walk vanished.

Leo rested his chin on his hands, fingers interlocked, and asked:

"So? Have you decided on your new path?"

Chen Xia looked into Leo's red eyes.

'He looks like he already knew everything.'

She pouted slightly.

The way he looked at her—like he was proud she had found her way again—felt a bit unfair, like he still saw her as a child.

"I realized something today watching the first-years. Just because I stepped into the light doesn't mean all shadows found their way out of darkness."

She recalled Freyna, whom she met earlier.

A figure that reminded her of her former self.

And she also remembered the first-years' gazes.

Some looked at her with pure admiration, others with a mix of fear and subtle hostility.

Some with reverent awe.

Receiving all those overlapping gazes, Chen Xia understood.

The title of hero she bore was heavy.

She had become the hero she once dreamed of, but she had no intention of denying her identity as a shadow.

Just like Leo.

She would build her legacy as both a hero and a shadow.

'Other than Leo, I'm the first.'

The first person to rise as a hero from the shadows.

The first since the hero era began.

And so, she set her goal.

"Just like you reached out to me, I want to extend a hand to the shadows still trapped in darkness."

"……"

"So they can proudly declare that they're shadows. I want to show the world that heroes and shadows are the same."

Chen Xia smiled gently.

"That's the reason I think I became a hero."

"A noble goal."

Leo stood and gently patted her on the head.

Chen Xia looked up at him and laughed joyfully.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

Leo and Chen Xia left the student council room and locked the door behind them.

After leaving the Hero's Tower, they headed to the Clocktower Dormitory.

"The moon is really beautiful tonight. And the stars are shining, too."

As they walked, Chen Xia looked up at the night sky and spoke.

"It really is."

"By the way, whose Book of Shadows are you going to open? Once you decide, I'll fetch the key."

To open a world of heroes, a hero's relic is required.

An artifact left behind by a hero while they were alive.

Likewise, to open a world of shadows, a shadow's relic is needed.

And deep within Xian's treasure vault, the relics of those who sacrificed themselves for the world are secretly kept.

At her words, Leo replied:

"There's no need for a key."

"Huh?"

"You know I'm the owner of the Hero Record, right?"

"You told me before."

"If I wish, I can open the Hero Record anytime."

The Hero Records stored in each hero academy were damaged and had limitations, but the Book of Shadows was a complete, newly written Hero Record by Leo himself.

As such, it could open a world without any restriction.

"That's good. So? Have you decided on the assignment?"

While Carl and Elena discussed party formation with other academy reps, Leo handled the assignment selection.

Leo nodded at Chen Xia's question.

"I've got something in mind."

bl

One week later.

In the skies over the central heart of the southern desert.

A massive ship was flying.

"Wow! So this is the Dragonia Dragonship I've only heard about!"

Luke, Lumene's second-year representative, exclaimed in awe.

Luke had been selected to assist senior supervisors during the exam.

Along with Luke, other selected second-years stood on the deck.

Not just from Lumene—students from other hero academies were also present.

"Amazing."

Aina, standing beside Luke, also sparkled with awe.

"Luke Eldar!"

A sharp voice rang out from the Seiren side.

Seiren's second-year rep, Leah, crossed her arms and glared at Luke.

"Hey, Leah! How have you been?"

Luke waved brightly. Leah responded with a chilly smile.

"That carefree attitude ends today."

"Huh?"

"This time, I'll crush you. Huhuhu."

"Um… we're here to assist the seniors, not fight, though?"

"Doesn't matter! Just be ready!"

With that declaration, Leah stormed off.

"Luke. Did you do something to her?"

"I didn't do anything wrong."

Aina asked, puzzled, while Luke scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.

Meanwhile—

In front of the third-years from other schools, Aru looked full of confidence.

"Huhuhu— Sorry, but it looks like Azonia will be taking first place."

Lunia, watching her, gave a cold smile and countered.

"Don't be ridiculous. Seiren's taking first."

Drianna shook her head as she watched them argue.

"You two never get tired, do you? Now you're dragging underclassmen into your rivalry?"

Clicking her tongue, Drianna looked out at the deck.

"Still, Leo's idea really is outlandish."

"What is?"

"Borrowing a dragonship to lull the first-years into a false sense of security and then forcing them to free-fall into the middle of the desert."

"Well, yeah. That guy's always thinking about how to grind the students."

Lunia nodded in agreement.

"You've got your hands full."

Drianna glanced toward Lumene.

From the shade, Abad gave a soft smile.

"At least it's not boring."

"Hmm…"

Drianna stared at Abad.

"Abad Lewellin. Ever consider being a nude model?"

"An honor, but far too much for someone like me."

"With your looks, I don't think it's too much at all."

"Fufufu."

Abad declined gracefully, and nearby, Eliana chuckled wickedly.

"Abad, how about just going shirtless— Ow!"

Celia elbowed Eliana in the temple.

"This feels like a picnic."

Eiran watched the scene with amusement.

Just then—

The moving dragonship suddenly halted.

First-years began murmuring anxiously.

"Huh? Aren't we still far from the destination?"

"What's going on?"

While the first-years looked confused, the upperclassmen, aware of a surprise exam, remained calm.

"Looks like it's starting."

"I can already picture the first-years freaking out."

Lunia and Drianna looked at them with slight pity.

The first-years were about to be forcibly dropped into the desert and had to find their way to the test site.

All part of Leo's plan.

Aru, puzzled, looked at Lumene's group.

"What are you all doing?"

"Preparing for free-fall."

Eliana replied matter-of-factly.

"Why?"

At that response, Aru still looked confused.

Eliana explained:

"Isn't it obvious? We're going to be dropped."

"But why? We're not even part of the exam."

"What do you mean? No way the class rep would drop just the first-years in the desert. That's common sense."

Aru looked dumbfounded.

"That's… not common sense."

Eliana looked at her with envy.

"Azonia must have such a cozy school life."

Aru made a strange expression.

'No way Azonia, the land of constant struggle, has an easy school life.'

Flash—!

At that moment, the dragonship vanished.

Just as Eliana predicted, all hero academy students on board were dumped into midair.

"Wait! We can't use Fly magic! I can't even summon my familiar!"

As gravity pulled them down, Lunia shouted. Eliana responded calmly:

"Why would the class rep let you use powers during a forced drop? That's common sense."

"That's not common sense in Seiren!"

"Seiren must have it real easy, too."

Looking genuinely envious, Eliana made Lunia think:

'Just what kind of school life do Lumene kids even have?'