Book 1 Chapter 273

273

After a commotion,

Leo and Lunia returned to the auditorium.

Seeing Lunia return to where the Seirun students were gathered, Kal approached and poked Leo's side.

"Hey, Leo. What did you talk about with Lunia?"

"We talked about the capture reward I got back then."

"Oh, a high-level conversation, I bet?"

'It wasn't that high-level, though.'

It was rather childish.

Remembering Lunia yelling for an apology for insulting Luna while grabbing her by the collar, Leo shook his head.

"Well, among us, you're the only one who's cleared the world of the Great Hero, Leo, right?"

Last year's mission practical, clearing Luna's world.

In the process, it was revealed that Kyle, the Hero of Beginning, was a real person.

"When I think about it, you're always a step ahead."

"Is that how it seems?"

"Yeah."

"Anyway, it felt good to shut that annoying elf teacher's mouth, you know?"

Kal chuckled.

It went without saying that no students from schools other than Seirun viewed Lebet favorably.

Meanwhile, the students from the Hero Academies entered the auditorium.

Defeto, seemingly having heard about Lebet, was sighing deeply.

'It seems I'll have to warn Seirun's side. No matter what, this is going too far.'

Defeto knew well what kind of situation Seirun was currently in.

There had been many personnel changes within Seirun, and who had taken key positions.

In particular, Lehargen, who had taken the position of interim principal this time, was a very famous elf even among other races.

When he heard that news, Defeto, the second-year supervisor Smith of Demian, had even suggested canceling Seirun's invitation.

But it was Gerwin, the principal of Demian, who persuaded Defeto otherwise.

'We are blacksmiths who forge heroes' armaments. Therefore, we must treat hero candidates without discrimination.'

Gerwin stroked his beard with a bitter smile.

'And now that the Monster Queen has been subdued and the Sword Saint has passed away, the world may soon be swept into a maelstrom. The unity of your Hero Academies is more important than ever.'

Following Gerwin's wishes, Defeto ignored Lebet.

Schedule adjustments were also made with Herdium, who was in charge of the actual overall second-year duties.

'It would have been great if an excellent elf like Instructor Herdium had taken charge of Seirun's second-year students.'

Defeto let out a deep sigh.

Lumerun had Sedjen, who had guided students for many years.

Azonia had the young but capable instructor, Verga.

Truly, only those perfectly suited to lead the golden generation of each school.

'I'm worried that at this rate, Seirun's students will be ruined.'

Sighing, Defeto ascended the platform.

"To the students of Lumerun, Seirun, and Azonia. If our Demian students evaluated you this morning, it is now your turn to evaluate our Demian students."

The students from the three Hero Academies surveyed the auditorium, which was lined with weapons as if it were a weapon exhibition.

Dwarf-made items that knights, mages, and summoners all drooled over.

They were true masterpieces.

The time had come to evaluate them.

A privilege that, literally, only hero candidates could possess.

"Ooh… This is making me a bit nervous."

"Yeah, really."

Kal nodded at Illiana's murmur.

Illiana also came from a prestigious family, but it wasn't one that could freely use dwarf-made weapons.

Not only Kal and Illiana, but most Lumerun students had similar reactions.

The same was true for Seirun and Azonia.

Of course, there were also those who didn't care about such things.

"Hmph. I'll make them pay dearly for daring to critique the heir of the Hergen family."

Eliza, sitting in a chair brought by her follower and filing her nails as usual, curled up the corners of her mouth.

"I hope there's something better than the sword collections I have at home, at least."

"Should I get a new magic staff while I'm at it?"

Duran and Avad also showed interest.

Seeing that, Kal clenched his fist, letting out a frustrated gasp.

"Damn bourgeoisie."

"Don't listen to what they're saying. They live in a different world. A different world entirely."

Illiana shook her head.

"Alright, then."

Defeto looked around at the audience and said.

"You may begin."

And with that, as the Lumerun, Seirun, and Azonia students were about to move to view the displayed weapons,

"Hey! You there! There! Skinny!" *Rush!*

A Demian student came running, shouting.

"Skinny? Who are you talking about?"

Illiana tilted her head.

"Beats me?"

Kal shrugged.

But that was just the beginning.

Starting with that Demian student, others also came rushing over.

"You! You! Over there! What was your name again?"

"Anyway, the guy who presented something unique!"

"Wow, as expected, even the Demian kids are trying to snap up the honor students."

"Well, it's natural, I guess."

The students exclaimed in admiration.

Kal and Illiana nodded in response.

"It's natural, I guess."

"By the way, doesn't it seem like they're coming this way?"

Kal tilted his head.

"Hmph. As expected of master craftsmen, they have discerning eyes."

Just then, a snort came from behind.

Illiana openly made a face of distaste, and Kal moved aside as if he didn't want to get involved.

Emio, arms crossed, walked forward.

Coincidentally, the five dwarves were running towards where Emio was standing.

And Emio was also the top-performing student in this vicinity.

Emio trudged forward and spoke to the lead dwarf.

"What do you want with me…"

*Whoosh!*

"…!"

Emio's face stiffened as he watched the dwarves rush past him.

"Serves you right!"

Illiana giggled at the sight.

Then she puffed up her chest and lifted her chin smugly.

"It seems the dwarves are quite interested in me, the top magic swordsman student."

Illiana stepped forward a pace and cleared her throat, "Ahem, ahem!"

"Alright! I'll listen to what you have to sa…"

"You! Come with me! Let's talk!"

"Not this idiot! Let's have a serious talk, you and I!"

The five Demian students, bypassing even Illiana, gathered in front of Kal.

"Me?"

Kal asked, dumbfounded, pointing at himself with a finger.

"Yes! You!"

A Demian female student grabbed Kal's hand.

"I sketched out a rough design for that magic bullet-exclusive magic staff during lunchtime, you know? I'd like to hear your opinion."

"Don't listen to this amateur! You should look at my design."

"Amateur? Have you said everything you want to say?"

"No! I haven't!"

The male Demian student pulled Kal's other hand.

Kal looked at Illiana and said, teasingly.

"What's up, it looks like they came to see me."

"Kal, of all people…! Kal, of all people…!"

"It seems the dwarves are quite interested in me, the top magic swordsman student."

Kal mocked Illiana, imitating her tone and voice.

Illiana's face turned beet red at Kal's taunting.

Kal giggled, watching her.

But his laughter didn't last long.

"He's coming with me!"

"No! He's coming with me!"

"Ow? Ow ow ow ow ow! My arm's going to break!"

Dwarves were small in stature, but their natural physical strength was enormous.

As such dwarves pulled him from both sides as if in a tug-of-war, Kal couldn't help but scream.

Illiana, watching the scene, crouched down beside the hesitant dwarves who were observing the competition and said.

"I guarantee it. Kal Thomas is also a brilliant alchemist with incredible ideas, you know? The items he makes are incredibly popular among our school's students."

"Indeed. So that's how he came up with those ideas."

"I don't want to lose him."

"Hmm!"

The remaining three dwarves trembled, eager to join the struggle.

But Kal's arms were already occupied by other competitors, so they couldn't intervene.

"Are you just going to let him be taken like that? His feet and head are still available, aren't they?"

At her words, the dwarves rushed over.

"Aaaaaaaah!"

Kal's desperate scream could be heard.

Seeing Kal like that, Illiana approached him and gave a sweet, pretty smile.

"Kal, have you ever heard of dismemberment?"

"Yaaah! Illiana! You!"

At Kal's scream, Illiana burst into laughter.

Such commotion was happening all over the auditorium.

The Demian students had begun an intense struggle over the students they found appealing.

"Heeeeeek?!"

Eiran screamed in terror and fled.

"Stop right there!"

"Catch him! Catch that elf!"

"W-why are you trying to catch me?"

"Show us the Animus Armor that boasts absolute defense!"

The targets were not only students who had made excellent or interesting presentations.

Students with special skills also became targets.

Eiran fled in terror but found himself cornered in a dead end.

"Show us the unique magic passed down in the Ersar family!"

"Then there won't be any bloodshed!"

"Ah, I understand. So please don't chase me with such terrifying expressions! *Hoo-woo…*"

Shrugging his shoulders, Eiran trembled and asked.

"So, should I show you here?"

At his words, the ten dwarves chasing Eiran's eyes gleamed.

The unique magic passed down in the Ersar family.

The reason they wanted to see the Animus Armor was none other than to gain powerful inspiration.

For Demian students, each other was a powerful rival.

That was quite different from the typical competition at Hero Academies.

In Demian, the value of unique and ingenious ideas was immense.

Therefore, the Demian students chasing Eiran thought at the same time.

'I'll monopolize it!'

Simultaneously with that thought, they started punching each other.

"Give up! You're not even a specialist in armor!"

"Don't be ridiculous! It's magic, is there a rule that you can only get inspiration from armor?! Judging by that thought, your level is apparent!"

"What are you talking about?!"

Seeing the dwarves suddenly start fighting fiercely among themselves, Eiran became even more terrified.

"What's going on?"

Just then, Defeto approached with a puzzled expression.

"M-Master Defeto Smith! It's a disaster! The Demian students are fighting…"

"Hmm."

Defeto looked at his students with serious eyes, then smiled faintly.

"Remarkable passion."

"Huh?"

Leaving those words, Defeto walked away.

Eiran stood blankly, watching the Demian students genuinely throwing punches at each other.

To call that "remarkable passion" and stand by…

'Scary! The Demian students are so scary!'

In the end, Eiran trembled and couldn't even think of running away.

***

"Catch him!"

"Catch that gnat-like fellow!"

"That staff you have! It's [Legendary] grade, isn't it! Show us Rwalin's heirloom!"

"Gnat, you say! At least call me a butterfly!"

Chelsea, who had been freely flying around the sky, avoiding the Demian students, paused, then spoke towards Leo, who was leisurely walking below.

"Leo, you're so relaxed! I'm jealous!"

At her words, Leo smiled and said.

"It seems I've really earned their dislike."

"Hmph! What poor taste!"

Just then, Chelsea pouted.

"Stop right there!"

One of the dwarves chasing Chelsea had, at some point, made a butterfly net.

"Wow… they're really persistent. Leo! See you later!"

Chelsea, wearing a fed-up expression, waved her hand and fled.

Leo, waving back at her, noticed a large group of Azonia students gathered on one side of the auditorium.

"Ooh! Black Rabbit!"

Ar had a welcoming expression.

"What's going on here? Why are so many Azonia kids gathered?"

"There's a Demian student here who specializes in crafting heavy-duty weapons!"

"But you don't use such weapons, do you?"

When Leo asked, dumbfounded, Ar crossed his arms.

"That's right! But that dwarf had an interesting story."

"An interesting story?"

"Yeah. He said something about only those who earn his recognition through arm wrestling being able to try out his armaments."

Ar explained that upon hearing that, all the Azonia students confident in their strength had gathered.

"You too?"

"Of course!"

Ar snorted with a "Hmph!"

"Did you pass?"

"Naturally!"

Ar crossed his arms and lifted his chin.

Just then, a dwarf boasting a considerable physique approached.

"Ar Tune. Are you really not thinking of commissioning me to make a weapon?"

At his words, Ar Tune nodded.

"Of course! It's not that I can't fight using heavy weights, but my specialty is purely speed-focused combat!"

"Hmm. What a waste. If you have that much strength in those delicate arms, you'd be even more formidable if you trained your muscles."

"Hmph - If I become unnecessarily brawny here, my beautiful body will become unsightly, so I'll refuse."

"Beautiful body? Not scrawny, you mean?"

"Don't call me scrawny-aaaaah!"

It was then that Leo, with a nonchalant expression, grabbed Ar's hands as he hissed and bared his claws.

"Hmph, Leo Flobe, is it?"

The dwarf snorted at Leo.

"Earlier, you boasted that you could handle all weapons well, didn't you? Why don't you try handling one of my weapons, then?"

At his words, Leo chuckled.

"Shall I?"

"Yes, but first."

The dwarf pushed past the Azonia students and stood before a steel table.

"It would only be possible if you earn my recognition in an arm wrestle using pure physical strength, of course."

The Demian student smiled as if provoking Leo.

"For your information, only five people have successfully beaten me so far."

Among all races, beastmen had the most outstanding physical abilities.

However, when it came to pure brute strength, dwarves were the best.

This particular dwarf was 1.5 times larger than other dwarves.

Commensurate with his size, his arms were also heavily muscled.

He was, literally, a possessor of immense physical strength.

Leo looked at him, then nodded and stood before him.

"Ooh."

"Isn't that Lumerun's student council president?"

"I wonder how strong he really is."

The Azonia students showed interest.

"Hmph. You'd best put your full strength into it. You might break your arm if you're not careful."

The Demian student pointed to several Azonia students.

Indeed, they had bandages wrapped around their arms.

*Clench!*

They grasped each other's hands.

*Firmly!*

And with strength in their arms, they looked at each other.

'It's impossible to handle all armaments from the start. Especially heavy-duty armaments like these are even trickier to handle.'

The Demian student, Eget, muttered to himself, glaring at Leo.

'Even if you boost your physical strength by borrowing the power of aura, what's ultimately most needed is pure physical strength! My armaments can never be handled without such strength.'

"Ready."

Eget said, putting strength into his arm.

'You might be an amazing guy, but you're too arrogant!'

"Sta…"

'Leo Flobe! I'll show you a thing or two!'

"…rt!"

*CRASH!*

Eget blinked.

He was already looking at the ceiling.

The Azonia students stared wide-eyed at Leo, who had ended the match as soon as it began.

"Oh, didn't he use aura?"

"There was no sign of it."

Leo smiled and said to the fallen Eget.

"I'll try out the armament you made."