Book 1 Chapter 126

126.

The first-year students headed to the academy using their respective methods.

Students of Knightology used Aura Steps.

Students of Magicology used Fly Magic or Wing Magic.

Students of Summonology used flying mythical beasts and spirits.

If it had been the beginning of the semester, many students would have struggled to cross the vast Lake Lumaria, but by now, no student in Lumern's first year could not cross the lake.

'That means everyone has grown.'

Leo thought as he flew through the sky using Fly Magic.

Though aquatic monsters inhabiting Lake Lumaria appeared to attack the students, everyone responded with ease.

"At this rate, I think we could even take on a Kraken?"

"Don't say that, even as a joke."

Leo chuckled as he overheard the conversations of his peers.

'But why are they sending us to Lumern Academy?'

It was evident that they wanted to test the students' skills.

However, it seemed too easy for that purpose.

Leo, who had already seen through Riben's true identity as a dragon, predicted that a difficult challenge awaited them.

'This is definitely not the end.'

It was at that moment Leo felt so certain.

A hazy fog spread out before his eyes.

Since the fog often appeared on Lake Lumaria, other students didn't think much of it.

But the moment they entered the fog, Leo's expression hardened.

'This…!'

Leo's eyes widened.

'Dragon Speech Magic?'

*Hwaak-!*

The moment he recognized the Dragon Speech Magic, Leo's vision changed.

'This is a bit much.'

It was a magic Leo knew.

A magic developed long ago by Lysinas, the King of Wisdom.

'To be precise, it's a curse.'

A dragon's curse created by Lysinas to counter one of Tartarus's most potent powers, curses.

'Nightmare.'

*Hwaak-!*

The scenery completely changed.

Leo took a deep breath upon seeing it.

He knew the characteristics of this curse well.

'A curse that makes you fight the person you least want to fight among those you know.'

Having thought that far, Leo turned his head.

And seeing the woman before him, he murmured, 'As expected.'

A beautiful woman stood before him.

It was none other than Lysinas.

***

Within Lumern Academy, the professors in charge of the first-year students watched the magical screen before them with serious expressions.

On the screen, they could see the students heading towards Lumern losing consciousness and collapsing.

"Ah…"

"Oh, no…"

Sighs of regret erupted from among the professors.

The students who lost consciousness and fell into the water were swallowed by their shadows.

The swallowed students were transported to the infirmary.

Among the professors, Head Professor Riben was known as someone who wielded powerful illusion magic.

Knowing the potency of that magic well, the professors strongly objected when Riben first proposed testing the first-year students.

'It's absurd!'

'Perhaps for the upperclassmen! It's impossible for first-years to pass!'

Riben's magic was that famous among the professors.

Not a single professor wanted to crush the will of the current first-year students with an absurd test.

'It's not a graded test. It's literally a simple test by Head Professor Riben to gauge the students' capabilities.'

Persuaded by Kalian, the first-year professors entrusted the students to Riben from the very first day of the semester.

And this was the result.

The professors let out deep sighs as they watched the students losing consciousness.

Even Sedgen, who would normally cheer on his students enthusiastically, watched the screen with a poker face, his arms crossed.

Several students from Class 1 could also be seen on the screen.

"Lacking elegance."

Sedgen muttered with a grimace and said to Halind,

"What are your thoughts?"

"The Head Professor must have his reasons. He's been a professor at Lumern longer than us."

Halind and Sedgen knew Riben's true identity.

And they had also been told about his goals at Lumern.

"But I don't like it."

While it would be great if Riben, a dragon, could personally mentor the first-year students, Riben showed no inclination to do so.

Lumern's goal was to cultivate hero candidates who could overcome any ordeal.

However, it did not mean sending students into impossible trials they could never overcome.

Riben had prepared this test precisely to refuse to mentor the first-year students.

Lumern's professors gave their all to the students they taught.

They firmly believed that their students would grow into talents who would transform the world.

Sedgen was a professor with a strong belief in this philosophy.

Therefore, he disliked Riben's approach of ignoring the students' potential.

Halind, who valued efficiency, felt the same.

"Perhaps it's a difference in perspective because he's looking at something bigger than us."

Halind said as he looked at the students, and Sedgen let out a deep sigh.

***

"Kael."

Lysinas, who had blocked Leo's path, moved aside with a smile from the path she had been blocking.

Then, pointing to the path she had been blocking with her finger, she said,

"Proceed."

"I knew you would say that."

Leo chuckled.

Leo would never fight Lysinas if she were his opponent.

Their meeting was the first step towards saving the world.

They had a trust in each other stronger than anyone else's.

Leo knew better than anyone that a hypothetical comrade, forged on strong trust, would never attack him.

This was why this outcome had occurred.

It was the same for his other comrades.

'Well, it doesn't matter if I fight.'

Leo looked down at his hands.

They were not the hands of a young boy, but the scarred hands of an adult who had traversed countless battlefields.

His vision had also changed.

Nightmare was a curse that showed illusions.

Ultimately, it was a fabrication that did not exist.

If Leo recognized Lysinas as his most unwanted opponent, it meant the illusion also recognized Leo not as Leo, but as Kael.

Leo scratched his gray hair and passed by Lysinas.

Looking up at Kael, Lysinas smiled faintly.

"Good luck."

With those words, Lysinas vanished.

The scenery changed, leaving only darkness.

"Good luck… huh…"

Leo, back to his original form, smiled bitterly and drew his sword.

"I must be strong."

*Hwareureuk-!*

Aura of fire exploded forth as if bursting.

Leo's eyes gleamed.

Unlike magic created by combining runes, Dragon Speech Magic was created by combining Dragon Speech, the language of dragons.

Other races found it difficult even to interpret, let alone use.

However, Leo, who inherited Lysinas's will, understood the magic formula without difficulty.

'Although it's impossible to use in my current physical condition.'

The interpretation was not that difficult.

Moreover, this Dragon Speech Magic was created by Lysinas.

*Kwadeuk-!*

He extended his sword towards the area where the magic formula was clustered.

*Ppatjjeek-!*

Cracks appeared throughout the space, and the darkness shattered and dissipated.

*Beonjjeok-!*

As Fly Magic was released, Leo, who had been falling,'s eyes flashed open.

*Cheolbeok-!*

Dodging falling into the water with Aura Step, Leo narrowed his eyes.

He saw the surrounding students being swallowed by shadows.

'They don't seem to intend to harm us.'

As a curse-type magic created by a dragon, it was impossible for first-year students to decipher.

*Kkueok-!*

Leo tensed his legs.

*Kwaang-!*

The aura gathered in his legs exploded forth.

Leo dashed towards Lumern at incredible speed.

Riben, who was already waiting at the pier where the first-year students would arrive, muttered,

"Was Nightmare too much after all?"

Riben, who had been staring at Lake Lumaria with an unmotivated expression, shook his head and turned around.

*Papapapapapat-!*

The sound of stepping on water was heard.

He turned his head and saw someone landing in front of Riben.

Riben's eyes widened.

Leo looked up at Riben and said,

"I've arrived."

Looking at Leo speaking in a slightly crooked tone, Riben's expression was one of disbelief.

"How did you break free and come out?"

"I just broke free and came out."

"Huh."

Hearing Leo's words, Riben let out a hollow laugh.

Seeing the bewildered Riben, Leo asked,

"By the way, aren't impossible things usually not given as tests?"

Riben let out a deep sigh at the pointed remark.

He trudged along and plopped down on a chair at the pier.

"I have been the Head Professor of Lumern for a long time. During that time, I have seen many students become heroes."

Riben smiled bitterly.

"However, not a single student dreamed of more than being a hero."

The last dragon to be chosen by a dragon in history was the Sword Saint Kalian.

That's why he is called the greatest hero of the current era.

"Seeing a world that has been stagnant for too long, I had lost my motivation. So I tried not to see your potential."

Riben bowed his head deeply.

"Therefore, I apologize."

As dragons are called the strongest race, they do not easily bow to others.

Knowing this, Leo accepted Riben's sincere apology.

"So. What is your dream?"

Riben was curious about the dream of this student who had achieved what he thought was impossible.

He was undoubtedly a student who had piqued his interest for the first time in a long time.

Hearing Riben's words, Leo replied as if it were nothing,

"The complete annihilation of Erebus."

Riben's eyes widened.

It was an answer he could never have imagined.

It was already difficult to even utter the name Erebus, yet here was a first-year student declaring his intention to annihilate Erebus?

Anyone else would have called it foolish.

It was an absurd goal, but Riben did not laugh.

Instead, he felt his heart pounding.

"It's understandable to be disappointed in students after working as a Lumern teacher for so many years."

Leo said, looking directly into Riben's eyes.

"But you know what?"

"What?"

"The King of Wisdom saved the world because he never gave up."

At Leo's words, Riben's eyes widened.

"Even if I was frustrated thousands of times, even if I was disappointed thousands of times. That was not a reason to give up."

Leo continued, recalling the leader who always led the subjugation forces from the front lines.

"Wouldn't it be right for the descendant of such a King of Wisdom to never give up, no matter what?"

"You… my true identity…?"

Riben instinctively realized that Leo had seen through his identity.

"I look forward to working with you, Head Professor."

Leo bowed to Riben and left the pier, heading towards Lumern's main gate.

Watching his retreating figure, Riben looked up at the sky.

'Oh, great King of Wisdom… what is the true identity of this boy who reminds me of your will?'

Riben, who was deeply respected by all dragons, recalled the great being.

He recalled Lysinas and pulled out the student roster from subspace.

And he turned the page.

Leo's photo appeared on the very first page.

'Indeed, was that child Leo Flove?'

He hadn't even realized that the truth could have been revealed by simply turning the first page.

Riben realized how lazy he had been and blamed himself.

'Even if I overlook my foolishness and disregard the potential of others… what about that boy?'

Closing the student roster, Riben looked up at the sky.

This was not just a golden generation.

'Perhaps the stagnant world's landscape will be shaken.'

Riben, who had watched many heroes up close for a long time, had an intuition.

Leo was not simply a boy with heroic potential.

Nor was he a hero destined for a greater position.

One word came to mind for Riben.

'Great Hero.'