Book 1 Chapter 2

【2】1

The border kingdom. Delan, the capital of Delad.

"Everyone! We are now in the era of heroes!"

'That story again?'

Leo, who turned fifteen this year, let out a deep sigh of boredom.

"It's been 5,000 years since the Hero Record appeared in the world! During that time, the lower realm has undergone many transformations. And at the center of it all have always been those called heroes!"

Jayden, the hero studies teacher at Delan Royal Academy, raised his voice.

"Students who know the definition of a hero?"

Students raised their hands.

Professor Jayden pointed to one student.

"Gulliver student. Please answer."

"A hero is someone whose name is recorded in the Hero Record. Only those who have accomplished deeds recognized by the gods are allowed to leave their records in the Hero Record."

"That's right! As expected of Gulliver student."

Gulliver sat down with a triumphant expression.

"Next is… Leo student?"

Leo stood up when he was called, even though he hadn't raised his hand.

"Do you remember last week's homework? What kind of ritual was performed 5,000 years ago to be called a hero?"

"Basically, if people knew your name, they would just acknowledge you as one."

"You've done your homework so carelessly again!"

Professor Jayden frowned.

"Our Delan Royal Academy is the most prestigious institution in our country! Haven't I repeatedly told you that we must maintain the formality befitting a prestigious institution? Moreover, this year, our school has been selected as one of the examination sites for Lumern!"

Professor Jayden's eyes widened.

"Countless talented individuals will visit our school! At a time like this, you, as a student of Delan, should set an example, and yet you have such an attitude!"

With a displeased expression, he spoke to Gulliver again.

"Gulliver student, would you like to answer this question?"

"In ancient times, there was no means to receive divine recognition! Therefore, heroes were selected through sacred rituals! A prime example is the Ritual of Blood!"

"Yes, that's exactly right!"

Leo wore a nonchalant expression.

'Back then, it was so easy to meet gods, but there was no way to get recognized?'

5,000 years ago was a time when gods freely descended to the lower realm.

'And a sacred ritual? Was there such a thing?'

Clicking his tongue, Leo looked at his textbook.

'Hero Record.'

The origin of the record was the great catastrophe that occurred 5,000 years ago.

Erebos, the primordial evil that pushed the world to the brink of destruction.

Five heroes who stood against that Erebos.

[Progenitor of the Nebula] Elf Luna.

[God's Blacksmith] Dwarf Dwenno.

[Brave] Arion.

[King of Wisdom] Lisinas.

And finally, [Hero of Beginnings] Kyle.

A miracle gifted by the gods to the lower realm to eternally praise them.

'But why am I treated like I don't exist?'

The records of his close friends still remained, serving as proof that they existed and saved the world.

However, Kyle's record could not be found anywhere!

What an unfair situation this was!

Leo was lamenting his fate when.

Ding- Ding-

The bell signaling the end of class rang.

Professor Jayden closed his textbook and said,

"In a week, preparations for the Lumern entrance exam will be complete. At that time, talented individuals from all over the world will visit our school."

He surveyed the students and said,

"Interact with them and strive for higher goals. That is all."

***

As soon as class ended, Leo headed straight home.

The Flove Family.

A rather old and noble family in the Kingdom of Delad.

"Young Master, the Madam is waiting in the training ground."

"Ugh? Again?"

Leo frowned.

"I'm not going."

"The Madam said if you miss swordsmanship practice one more time, she'll cut off your allowance…"

"Hah! Seriously."

At the butler's words, Leo let out a deep sigh.

He changed out of his school uniform and headed to the training ground.

Normally, this would be the time when knights would be sweating and training hard.

However, the only person in the training ground was a beautiful woman.

Reina Flove.

She was the lady of the house.

"Mother, I'm home from school."

"Welcome, my son. But son, why do you always address your mother so formally as 'Mother~ Mother~'?"

Reina blinked her red eyes, the same as her son's.

"I hear children from other families call their mothers 'Mom'. This mother is sad because she feels a distance from her son."

Leo, holding a wooden sword, ascended the training ground and said,

"I'm deliberately trying to keep some distance."

"Oh? Why? Is it because you're a teenager?"

Reina's face filled with sadness.

Woosh-!

At the same time, her body surged towards her son at tremendous speed.

Clack-!

"Is it because of this?"

What kind of mother would suddenly swing a wooden sword at her son?

Which son wouldn't want to keep some distance?

Seeing her son's words, Reina grinned.

"You don't understand this mother's feelings… I guess I'll have to be a bit tougher today."

Reina's wooden sword changed rapidly.

Leo countered Reina's ever-changing swordsmanship.

The knights exclaimed in admiration.

"As expected of the Madam! She truly has the skill of someone from the Heroic Family, Zerdiger!"

"But the young master is amazing too!"

Normally, the sword training of noble children is handled by the family knights.

However, in the Flove family, the mistress, Reina, personally took charge.

No one complained about this.

A great nation bordering the Kingdom of Delad.

In the Rodren Empire, there is the Heroic Family, Zerdiger.

Reina was none other than someone from that Zerdiger family.

Clack-! Clatter-! Clack-!

Watching her son block her attacks, Reina's eyes shone.

'As expected, Leo is a genius.'

Reina, although retired, was once a formidable knight.

Even though she didn't use Aura and wore bracelets with weight magic on her limbs.

Still, it was a match that couldn't be matched.

The difference in skill was that significant.

Yet, Leo was countering Reina's swordsmanship.

'He quickly learns my techniques every sparring session.'

Watching her son grow day by day, she couldn't help but feel proud as a parent.

After ten minutes of exchange, Reina became engrossed in the sparring.

Seeing Leo instinctively read and react to her sword path, she instinctively twisted her wrist.

'Oops!'

Reina panicked.

An irregular move she used unconsciously!

A technique too difficult for her son to counter.

Reina hastily tried to retract her sword.

'Too late…'

Clack-!

"!"

Reina's eyes widened.

Leo, who had deflected the sword aimed at his neck, quickly surged into Reina's embrace.

The tip of the wooden sword was aimed at Reina's neck.

Reina stood there with a bewildered expression.

Leo retrieved his sword and sighed.

"Isn't that a bit too much for your son?"

"You say that, but your reaction was excellent."

Although she said it with a smile, Reina felt goosebumps all over her body.

'This child… has surpassed the realm I can handle.'

The irregular move from a moment ago was a technique so threatening that even a skilled knight would have had a hard time surviving if it had been a real sword.

It was not a realm that could be dealt with by mere talent.

Yet, Leo handled it well.

Of course, he retracted his sword midway.

But even so, what's amazing is amazing.

'Ugh, maybe I should have just let him hit me?'

Leo sighed, looking at his mother, who was beaming.

Leo was not an ordinary fifteen-year-old.

He was the body of a great hero who saved the world in his previous life.

Dealing with irregular moves was not difficult.

Reina asked, scratching her head.

"Leo, is your mind set on going to Lumern?"

"Yes."

Lumern Academy.

One of only four Hero Officer Academies in the world.

And the place where the 'Hero Record' was kept.

'I need to find out what happened after I died.'

After defeating Erebos, Kyle died from exhaustion.

However, Erebos was an immortal being.

While the subjugation was successful, they failed to destroy it completely.

Furthermore, Erebos's army, Tartarus, was still intact.

5,000 years had passed since then.

In the distant past, the stories of that time remained only as legends. What happened after Kyle's death was not properly recorded.

Perhaps he could learn about events after that time by accessing the Hero Record.

That was why Leo intended to enroll in the world's most prestigious Lumern Academy.

"So that's how it is."

Reina smiled.

"Alright, I understand. I'll pull some strings. So, leave it to your mother."

"Leave what?"

"People from the Zerdiger family will visit Delan tomorrow. They've decided to stay at our mansion."

"From my maternal family?"

The Heroic Family Zerdiger was Leo's maternal family.

However, they had never been in contact.

Reina had cut ties with her birth family when she married.

'They said they didn't part on bad terms, so it's true.'

Normally, one would be excited to have a maternal family as a heroic family.

However, Leo was not interested in any heroic family.

'There is no one greater than me in this world.'

"Yes. Your uncle, Gise Zerdiger, will be leading them. I plan to ask for a favor through Gise."

Reina said seriously.

"Ask him to let you inherit Zerdiger's Aura Cultivation Method. If that happens, you'll be strong enough to enroll in Lumern by next year."

Reina had taught Leo swordsmanship but not Aura Cultivation.

It was impossible for Reina to teach the Aura Cultivation Method she possessed without her family's permission.

Being able to learn the Aura Cultivation Method of a heroic family!

A dream for anyone aspiring to be a knight!

However, Leo was indifferent.

'So now I can learn the Aura Cultivation Method.'

Reina had been delaying teaching him the Aura Cultivation Method, hoping he would learn it.

Of course, Leo could have learned the Aura Cultivation Method long ago.

But he had decided to follow his mother's lessons for now.

It was frustrating, but he also enjoyed training together like this.

Still, with Reina making up her mind, the frustration would end today.

It didn't matter to Leo if it wasn't Zerdiger's method.

As long as he could learn Aura Cultivation, everything would be resolved.

'Mother seems to be thinking about next year.'

Leo grinned.

'I'm thinking of enrolling this year.'

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