Book 1 Chapter 262

Leo looked down at the dwarf staring up at him with an absurd expression.

'Nude model?'

He found it ridiculous.

"What nonsense are you talking? Who are you?"

"My name is Driana! The greatest artist born from Dweonia!"

'Dweona.'

From a dwarf's perspective, being compared to Leo, the reincarnation of the great hero Kyle who saved the world with Dweona, could be an infinite honor.

However, for Leo, the name Dweona was synonymous with pervert.

It couldn't be helped.

A worshipper who praised beauty.

A weirdo who was more interested in creating beautiful works of art than making weapons.

This dwarf, who introduced herself as Driana, bore a strong resemblance to Dweona's inclinations.

Driana stretched out her arms, bringing her index fingers and thumbs together to form a square.

Then, with one eye open, she looked at Leo through it.

"Hair as white as pure snow. And eyes like rubies. A boy of outstanding appearance, but somehow, I feel a sense of age within him."

Driana wore a satisfied expression.

"If I made a work with you as the model, a magnificent work of art would surely be completed."

Nodding at Driana's words, Leo left without hesitation.

It was best not to associate with perverts.

Moreover, if she was a dwarf of Dweona's ilk, he was sure they wouldn't be able to communicate.

To Leo's ruthless reaction, Driana rushed to his side in a panic.

"Wait, wait a moment. Of course, I'm not asking for free work."

Thanks to the height difference between humans and dwarves, Leo walked with long strides, and Driana followed him with short steps.

"You're a student at Lumern, aren't you? You must be here in Demian for the exclusive smith, right?"

Driana smiled faintly.

"I'll be your exclusive blacksmith! Believe it or not… Hey! Hey! Stop!"

Driana shouted urgently after Leo, who was running away at full speed.

But Driana's shouts echoed in vain.

Leo, having shaken off Driana, stopped in the middle of the street and looked back.

'I've gotten involved with a strange fellow.'

Leo clicked his tongue, recalling Driana's unusual eyes.

'Judging by her words, she seemed to be a student at Demian?'

He doubted her skills as a craftsman, but based on her demeanor, Driana was undoubtedly a formidable individual.

"She seemed to be my age too. A dwarf of that skill at my age must be a Demian student."

As Leo speculated on Driana's identity, he thought he would meet her again at Demian.

"Leo!"

He heard Kal's urgent voice.

"What's wrong?"

Leo asked with a puzzled expression, and Kal shouted with a pale face.

"Big trouble! Big trouble! There's a fight between our school and Azonia right now!"

"What? Why?"

"They kidnapped Chloe!"

Leo scowled at the words.

"Why would Azonia's guys kidnap Chloe?"

"Who knows! Anyway, as soon as they heard the news, Celia, Chen Xia, and Duran stormed into the temporary lodging of Azonia's students and are causing a ruckus!!"

Leo's eyes narrowed.

Each hero academy had its own guiding principle that symbolized the school.

Lumern was to challenge limits and overcome them.

Seirun was to be more noble and honorable than anyone else.

Demian was an unyielding will, like steel.

Finally, Azonia was…

'Struggle.'

To obtain ultimate strength through struggle.

That was Azonia's school rule.

Ar had told Leo something like this once.

'Azonia never mocks defeat. Even if they lose, if they fight again, it's not a defeat. They are praised as brave warriors.'

Ar crossed his arms and snorted.

'Conversely, if you run away from a battle after losing once, you are criticized as a coward.'

Ar's eyes sparkled.

'Lord Arion never ran away!'

'Arion ran away more than anyone else.'

Leo, thinking this far, said,

"First, we need to find Chloe."

"Right. But finding Chloe in this vast Dweonia is not easy…"

CRACKLE-!

At that moment, a giant ice pillar shot up high not far from where Leo and Kal were.

Seeing that, Kal's mouth moved.

"Found her."

Leo grinned and headed towards where the ice pillar had sprung up.

Numerous people had gathered around.

"What on earth is going on?"

"This is the inn where the beastmen were coming and going earlier."

The dwarves looked surprised.

Despite the activation of magic of this scale in the middle of the city, the spectators were unfazed.

"They say this place is full of incidents and accidents due to weapon production every day."

Kal, who had rushed to the scene, was taken aback by the dwarves' calm reaction.

This floating city, Dweonia, was also the world's largest producer of magical artifacts.

Dwarves, evaluated as a craftsman race, were always trying new things, leading to endless incidents and accidents involving magic.

'It's no wonder Professor Ren pleaded so desperately to come.'

Kal pushed through the crowd of dwarves, thinking of Ren.

"Excuse me. Excuse me."

It wasn't easy to push through the crowd of dwarves, who only reached up to his chest at best.

'No, it feels like I'm walking through a pile of rocks.'

The dwarves, who had considerable innate strength, made Kal's lower body ache.

"What are you doing?"

Kal looked up.

And he saw Leo floating in the air with the Fly magic, and his expression turned gloomy.

"Sometimes, I feel sad because Chelsea is right."

"What do you mean?"

"She calls me an idiot all the time."

Kal said with a bitter expression and used the Fly magic to head to the very front.

CREAK- CRUNCH- CRUNCH-

CRACKLE-

At that moment, the inn door opened, and Chloe came out.

"Hmph! You're just messing around."

"Are you going to pay me back for my worry? If I had known, I wouldn't have worried."

Seeing that, Kal grumbled, but Chloe smiled faintly.

"Do you want me to turn you into a frozen human like them?"

At Chloe's question, Kal quickly hid behind Leo.

"I heard you were kidnapped, so I was worried, but I'm glad you're safe."

"Kidnapped? What are you talking about? I just went along with it because I didn't want to cause a scene."

Chloe snorted.

Leo smiled faintly, watching Chloe.

"Still, I was worried."

Seeing Leo's smile, Chloe momentarily showed a flustered expression and then turned her head.

And she fanned her face.

"Ho ho? Ho ho? Our cold Ice Queen has become a shy princess…"

"Do you want me to freeze you?"

CRACKLE-

"Ugh-ho-ho-ho! Forgive me!"

Kal cried out in terror, begging for forgiveness as fearsome frost formed in Chloe's hand.

Leo said, looking at the two of them,

"Kal, you quickly inform our schoolmates. Chloe is safe."

"And you?"

"I'm going to the Azonia guys' lodging."

"No, Leo. For the time being, you absolutely shouldn't go near the Azonia school."

"Why?"

"Azonia has put a bounty on you."

"A bounty?"

"Yes."

The reason Chloe willingly let herself be caught by Wern wasn't just to avoid causing a disturbance in the middle of the street or to infiltrate and sweep through their stronghold.

'The Azonia guys even used a decoy to lure Leo in.'

The simple-mindedness of Azonia students was famous even in Lumern.

Chloe had heard a lot about Azonia students from her magic department seniors and knew their tendencies well.

No matter how simple they were, trying to bait someone aiming to be the second-year representative was a serious matter.

It was a problem that could escalate from a mere student duel to an inter-school issue.

'Though it has already escalated.'

Chloe looked at the inn where she had been.

'It's not my fault.'

She had simply turned some arrogant beastmen into frozen humans.

'Yes. This is self-defense, no matter who looks at it.'

In any case, they were willing to take such a risk to fight Leo.

And when Chloe lightly poked Wern, he spilled everything about why the Azonia students were targeting Leo.

"The Azonia principal has decided to give the student who defeats you first the privilege of conquering the 'World of Heroes'."

"World of Heroes?"

Kal showed a shocked expression.

"At that point, they would be more interested in you than a smith contract, wouldn't they?"

"Still, I have to go. Three people are causing a commotion over there right now. I need to bring them back."

"Three people?"

Chloe tilted her head.

"Celia, Chen Xia, and Duran went to Azonia's students' lodging to save you."

"Ah…!"

Chloe showed a flustered expression.

"Then I'll go!"

"It's fine. You show your face to our schoolmates and calm them down first."

"Can you go alone?"

Kal asked with concern, and Leo grinned.

"Don't worry. I know how to handle beastmen."

"How to handle beastmen? What's that?"

To Kal's question, Leo raised his left hand and clenched his fist.

"You don't mean…"

"Yes."

Leo smiled coldly.

"Fists."

***

SPARKLE-!

Lightning aura swirled around Duran's body.

Towards Duran, a giant beastman swung a massive greatsword.

FLASH-! CRASH-!

The lightning emanating from Duran's longsword electrocuted the Azonia student.

"Ho ho? You've got some spirit for a human! It seems the words 'Lumern's Golden Generation' are not just empty talk!! Hahaha! This is exciting!"

The tiger beastman, about half a head taller than Duran, swayed his large tiger tail.

"But, it's a shame. We have a bad elemental matchup."

Borman, ranked fifth among Azonia's second-year students, grinned.

"My aura specialty is armament."

Borman's body turned to steel.

"Unlike fire or water, which are the aura specialties of your friends, lightning is simply absorbed by me."

SPARKLE-

Lightning swirled around Borman's greatsword.

Like a lightning rod.

The lightning flowing within Borman's body gathered in one place.

Borman sent that attack back at Duran.

SPARKLE-!

Golden sparks swirled around Duran's body.

SIZZLE-

Smoke rose from Duran's electrocuted body.

Duran aimed his sword with an expressionless face.

Seeing that, Borman was impressed.

"It's been a while since my blood has boiled."

Borman, resting the greatsword on his shoulder, narrowed his eyes.

"But you're already at your limit. And our matchup is bad. Why don't you leave the rest to your friends?"

"Who are you calling friends?"

Duran smirked with his characteristic cynical smile.

"What?"

"They are enemies to be defeated."

At Duran's words, Borman looked bewildered.

"Does Lumern also 'struggle' like us?"

"Hmph. Do you think we would do something so ignorant?"

Duran scoffed.

A female student from Azonia, watching this, said,

"Do I need to stop him?"

The female student, with a flick of her fox tail, approached, using her tail as a chair by bringing it between her legs and in front of her abdomen, and smoothed the tip of her tail.

"That fool is simple-minded and ignorant. If he gets excited and attacks with all his might, that handsome guy with a bad elemental matchup will be in danger."

At those words, Celia swept her hair back.

"They met their match in simple-minded ignorance."

"That handsome guy doesn't look simple-minded and ignorant."

At Celia's words, Lewen tilted his head.

At that, Chen Xia laughed.

"Duran is the most ignorant among our knight department classmates."

"If the opponent is foolishly bold, you just cut them down and win easily, but he's just as bold. It's pathetic."

Celia snorted.

At those words, Lewen looked at Duran.

Borman, ranked fifth in Azonia.

He was a student with the aura ability to turn his entire body into steel through his bloodline trait.

And for Duran, who wielded lightning, he was literally like a natural enemy.

'Where is he being bold?'

Borman also narrowed his eyes.

"You should get help from your rival."

"Hmph. Chen Xia might butt in and help. She acts like an elder, arrogantly."

"Oh, but I'm actually older than Duran."

Chen Xia muttered softly.

"But even if it's truly dangerous, he won't help me."

Duran smiled coldly.

"Because my pride won't allow it."

"Impressive."

Borman exclaimed.

"It will be more satisfying to defeat you. I'm happy to meet a good opponent before fighting Leo Flowb."

"Foolish words."

"What?"

Borman looked dumbfounded.

"You guys seem to have no interest in anyone other than Leo Flowb."

Borman saw Duran as nothing more than an appetizer before fighting Leo.

Normally, he would have felt offended.

But…

"I understand. He is worth it."

Duran felt no offense.

Just…

"So, I'm looking forward to it."

With his characteristic arrogant gaze, Duran looked at Borman.

"How far you guys, who don't even know Leo Flowb, will fall into the abyss."

Duran looked around at the Azonia students.

"Hmph. If he's that strong, then welcome. We are descendants of the hero Arion."

Borman snorted.

"Overwhelmingly strong individuals are always welcome. But you seem to have felt despair towards Leo Flowb. I thought highly of you for a moment, Duran Moira. I thought you might be a warrior like us. But you were a coward, afraid of overwhelming strength. Pathetic!"

Duran felt no displeasure at Borman's taunt.

Nor did he retort.

'Yes. I despaired.'

SPARKLE-

'I can see it.'

CRACKLE-

'Clearly, I can see it. The more I struggle.'

FLASH-!

'The wider the gap between him and me becomes.'

"You're a guy who doesn't understand words."

GRAB-!

"……?"

At Borman's taunt, Duran reached out and grabbed his face.

'I might never be able to surpass him in my life. But.'

CRACKLE-!

'I'll never give up.'

"Gggaaaaaah!"

Intense sparks swirled around Duran's body.

His veins stood out clearly.

But Duran smiled.

"It's very simple to cut down a guy who's full of openings because he's overconfident. But do you know why I specifically faced you with 'aura'?"

Duran looked at the unconscious Borman, rolling his eyes.

"To show you what 'dignity' is."

CRASH-! THUD-!

Borman fainted, foaming at the mouth.

If he had fought properly, he wouldn't have suffered such humiliation.

But Borman had to pay the price for underestimating his opponent.

"Courage is different from recklessness. Self-proclaimed descendant of a hero."

Duran scoffed.

"That guy is amazing too. He doesn't know how to give up. He's persistent."

Celia said, looking at Duran, and snorted.

"Duran won't give up. And Celia, you won't either, you'll keep chasing after him, right?"

"Of course."

"Are you chasing after Leo Flowb?"

Lewen tilted his head.

"Is he really that amazing?"

"That expression is not enough. Looking at him, you're naturally intimidated. Perhaps you'll never achieve it even if you try your whole life."

Chen Xia said with a bright smile.

"Still, not giving up, his will is amazing."

Duran alone was enough to tell.

How strong they were.

'Leo Flowb seems to be a monster beyond our imagination.'

"I thought the hero's courage was exclusive to beastmen, but seeing you all, it seems that's not the case."

At Lewen's words, Chen Xia smiled faintly.

"Isn't our mindset a little different from courage?"

"Yes."

"The hero is the great hero of the beastmen. I've respected him since I was young and still do, but I think there's someone else humans should learn from."

"Ah."

Lewen understood who Chen Xia was referring to.

"The hero of the beginning."

"Yes. Our ancestor told us."

Chen Xia said, looking at Duran.

"When an impossible battle begins, the person with the most courage was Lord Arion, the one who could be trusted until the end in endless battles was Dweono's artifacts, the one who led an impossible battlefield to victory was Lisinas' wisdom, and the one who turned the tide of a disadvantageous battlefield was himself."

Lewen's eyes widened.

The Advent of the Ancestor.

A great event that still caused a stir across the entire continent.

"And."

Celia glanced back and said teasingly,

"The one who never gave up was Kyle. You didn't hear that back then, did you?"

"Luna said that?"

Lewen showed a surprised expression, seeing Leo suddenly appear.

'When did he get here?'

"Yeah. We all heard it? Aren't you jealous?"

Celia chuckled and teased Leo.

At that sight, Leo gave a wry smile.

'That idiot said something like that?'

"If Azonia's hero candidate inherits Arion's will, then our Lumern's hero candidate must inherit Kyle's will."

Chen Xia looked back at Leo and smiled faintly.

"We will never give up. We will follow in Leo Flowb's footsteps."