Book 1 Chapter 280

Lunchtime.

Following yesterday, most of the students at the Hero Academy wore tired expressions today as well.

"Seriously, don't these guys ever get tired?"

Ar held a disgusted look on his face.

Even the students of Azonia, who possessed formidable physical strength, were exhausted by the aggressive dwarves.

Ar, in particular, was the grade representative of Azonia, so many dwarves were targeting him from all directions.

"You're lucky, muscle-brain. You've already decided on a smith for exclusive contract."

Ar pouted and glanced sideways.

Beside him stood Dion, Ar's childhood friend and ranked second in Azonia's second year.

Dion had already chosen his smith.

Dion's exclusive smith was none other than Dignes, the second-year representative of Demian.

"Didn't Dignes offer to make you an artifact as well?"

"He did offer."

Ar crossed his arms.

His white tail swayed.

"But the artifacts he made weren't to my taste."

The artifacts Dignes made generally had a refined feel to them.

Their advantage was also that they didn't discriminate by type or class of artifact.

Ar's specialty was martial arts.

However, that didn't mean he couldn't use weapons.

In fact, he had been trained since childhood to wield all sorts of weapons with great skill.

'Because I admired Arion-nim!'

The Hero Arion.

According to historical records, he was a near-god of martial arts who could wield any weapon.

Ar had strived since childhood to become like Arion.

Dignes' artifacts were certainly excellent, but in Ar's opinion, they lacked flexibility.

"What if there was an artifact that could be a sword at times! A spear at others! And even an axe, all while being easy to carry!"

"You're quite greedy."

Dion, who had clicked his tongue, stopped walking.

Then, he spotted Leo talking to someone from a distance.

"There's Leo Flob."

"Black Rabbit?!"

Ar's white tail stood up straight like an exclamation mark.

'I have to ask how the Black Rabbit used Howling!'

Thinking it was an opportunity to ask about something he'd been curious about for days, Ar approached Leo.

Dion followed behind Ar.

"Black Rabbit, I have something to ask you…"

"I wanted to talk to you, Leo Flob."

Dion, who had grabbed Ar's head and pushed him aside, stepped forward.

Ar glared and kicked Dion's backside.

Dion, as if used to it, ignored Ar.

"It's been a while."

"Indeed. Is this our first conversation since the eve of the entrance exams at Azek?"

Recalling his trip to Azek for Azonia's entrance exams last summer, Leo chuckled.

"I've always heard about your accomplishments. It's a shame you didn't come to Azonia."

Dion, who was smacking his lips regretfully, grinned.

"In that regard, Leo Flob, I challenge you to a spar…"

*Slap!*

Ar smacked Dion on the back of the head.

In response, Dion grabbed Ar by the collar.

"What are you doing?"

"You started it first."

Ar said nonchalantly.

"And Dad warned us not to fight while we're in Demian."

"Indeed, Uncle Berg did say that."

'That seemingly aggressive uncle?'

Leo recalled Berg, Ar's father, who was a friend and comrade of Ar's mother, Reina, and an instructor at Azonia.

It was when he wore a look of surprise.

"Fights are meant to be done secretly."

"Oh, please. You think you could fight secretly if you sparred?"

It seemed Dion's fighting style was quite flashy.

Seeing Ar snort, Dion said,

"Ar, you know this too. The excitement of challenging someone strong."

Dion revealed his fighting spirit and looked at Leo.

"I want to test how much my strength can contend with Leo Flob, who is considered the strongest of our generation."

'I thought he was quite calm, but he has a tough personality.'

It was when Leo chuckled and looked at Dion.

"Everyone assemble! All students from each Hero Academy, assemble!"

Berg, an instructor at Azonia, shouted in a thunderous voice.

The voice was loud enough for everyone present to hear.

Everyone, surprised, quickly assembled.

Led by Ain of Lumern, Heridium of Seirun, Berg of Azonia, and the second-year in charge of Demian, Retana.

Students from each Hero Academy gathered.

"Professor Ain, what's going on?"

During the exclusive contract period with smiths, Lumern had guaranteed students autonomous action in Demian.

This was the same for students from other Hero Academies, not just Lumern.

Ain replied to Duran's question,

"The Principal and Professor Sedgen, who is in charge of the second year, are in a meeting, so I've come to inform you of the situation."

The Lumern students looked puzzled.

Amidst that, Ain said,

"You all know about the city called Tarkam in the eastern part of the continent."

At the edge of the Dwarf territory.

It was a large dwarf metropolis and a production site for numerous magic stones and rare ores, so most people knew about Tarkam.

"We have received reports of an anomaly occurring in Tarkam. There was a report of a colossal monster, half the size of Mount Errdien, appearing. It is said that the Tarkam guards have fallen into a panic as a result."

At that, the students began to murmur.

"Mount Errdien… isn't that where we went for the first-year entrance exams?"

"A monster that could cover that mountain?"

"Does such a monster exist?"

Most of the second-year students had seen Mount Errdien last year.

Having seen the immensely tall mountain themselves, the second-year students found it hard to believe that a monster half its size existed.

Chloe, who had been tilting her head after hearing this, suddenly looked to her side.

"Leo?"

Leo stood there with a stiff expression.

"Leo, is something wrong?"

Chloe asked cautiously, and Leo shook his head.

"It's nothing."

Answering with a smile, Leo relaxed his expression.

'A monster half the size of Mount Errdien?'

It was an impossible story by common sense.

The very existence of such a colossal life form was absurd.

But Leo knew.

He knew such a colossal monster.

'The Giant King, Gias.'

A Legion Commander who had not shown himself since the Age of Calamity.

Everything about him was shrouded in mystery, and now even in historical texts, he was a monster forgotten by people.

'He is cautious. Even if the Demon Queen has been subjugated, he's not the type to act rashly.'

Despite his immense size, the Giant King was an extremely stealthy Legion Commander.

'If he's moved, there must be a reason.'

Leo wore a serious expression.

"Tarkam has requested an investigation from Demian regarding this incident. And at the Principal's meeting, there was an opinion to entrust this mission to you."

"To us?"

"Yes. To be precise, it was proposed to form mixed parties from each school for the investigation."

Hearing that, the Lumern students began to murmur.

"As you all know, forming parties with students from other Hero Academies is included in the third-year curriculum. This is an opportunity for you to experience it a year early. The Principal would have wanted this too."

"Did other Hero Academies also agree?"

"Yes."

Upon Ain's reply, the Lumern students wore excited expressions.

"This sounds fun!"

"I'm a bit wary of the Seirun guys though…"

"Nah, it's not like they're all terrible people."

"Professor! What's the party size?"

"That will be left to the students' discretion."

Ain crossed his arms.

"Although it's a sudden mission practice, we professors have also agreed to reflect this in your performance evaluation."

At Ain's words, grumbling voices erupted from various places.

However, no one protested or rebelled.

The Lumern students were already accustomed to dealing with sudden situations.

"What about the exclusive contracts with smiths?"

"This mission practice will continue until next week. The exclusive contracts with smiths will continue for the remaining week. It's also an opportunity for Demian students to get to know us better, so it's not bad."

Ain scanned the second-year students.

"First, form your parties. Since you'll be going to Mount Errdien, form your parties carefully. You can also cooperate with other parties. As this mission practice will take place in a monster-infested area, combat will be essential."

At Ain's words, the Lumern students wore tense expressions.

Even though they had gone through many hardships for a year, the word "actual combat" was enough to induce tension.

"This mission practice will be a time for you to mobilize everything you've learned. And it's an opportunity to compete with the hero candidates of your generation. I will be expecting good results."

"Yes!"

***

"Leo, what are you going to do?"

Cal scratched his head and asked.

Forming a party.

This was the biggest hurdle for Cal.

Cal aspired to be a professional supporter.

However, this was a path he chose out of necessity due to his insufficient skills.

Lumern viewed Cal's choice positively, but it was uncertain how students from other Hero Academies would perceive it.

In response to Cal's question, Leo said,

"Cal, why don't you form a party with me this time?"

"If you'll have me, I'd be happy to."

Cal grinned.

"So, how will you form the party? Do you have anyone in mind?"

Cal asked, and Leo nodded.

"Yes. I'll go gather them, so you wait here."

With those words, Leo headed towards the Seirun side.

Students from Lumern, Azonia, and Demian were actively talking to each other to form parties.

However, no one dared to approach the Seirun students rashly.

The actions shown by the Seirun students this time made it difficult for students from other Hero Academies to approach them.

This mission practice was an event where hero candidates from various races would gather in one place.

Race, culture, values.

As people with completely different backgrounds had to work together, teamwork was more important than anything else.

And Seirun's racialist tendencies had a very high probability of disrupting such teamwork.

Therefore, they planned to carefully accept Seirun students after Lumern, Azonia, and Demian students had fully discussed and formed their teams.

Meanwhile, only Leo headed to Seirun first to recruit Seirun students into his party.

Of course, the students Leo would bring into his party were obvious.

"Luna, Eiran."

Leo grinned as he looked at the two students standing at the front of the Seirun students.

"Will you form a party with me?"

In response to Leo's invitation, Luna looked at Leo intently and smiled, nodding her head.

"I'll do it if you ask, Leo."

"Of course! Leo-nim!"

Eiran also smiled brightly and nodded.

Afterward, Leo went to the Azonia side and recruited Ar.

"Black Rabbit. It looks like it would be fun to form a party with you!"

Ar also readily joined the party.

Finally, the Demian student Leo chose was Driana.

"I have no intention of talking to you, who ruined my artwork!"

Driana, who had somehow reverted to her peculiar speech, curtly refused Leo's offer.

It seemed she still held a grudge for him damaging her sculpture earlier.

Looking at such Driana, Leo said,

"I've gathered people who could be models."

At those words, Driana flinched.

"Models? Are they pretty?"

"Yes. I guarantee their looks."

"That's tempting."

After some thought, Driana also readily accepted Leo's offer.

Leo, accompanied by Driana, headed towards the party's location.

Meanwhile, seeing Luna, Eiran, and Ar in front of him, Cal looked up at the sky and lamented.

'What is that guy planning to do by gathering such a star-studded lineup?'

Excluding himself, who was practically a failure, they were all top-tier students, grade representatives.

Some students around them looked at Cal with envy.

And some of them pointed at Cal and whispered.

'They're probably saying I'm coasting again.'

But Cal felt truly wronged this time.

"Cal's coasting again?"

Iliana, who was passing by, teased.

"No. Hey! Think about it! Do you really think I'm coasting?"

"Yes. You've formed a party with the class president, the Seirun grade representative, and the Azonia grade representative. If that's not coasting, what is?"

"Think about Leo's personality! Why do you think he gathered these people!"

Cal pleaded with a tearful face.

"It's obvious he's going to make us do incredibly tough things!"

At Cal's lament, Iliana paused.

Indeed, it was as Cal said.

Leo was not the type of person to gather talented individuals simply to make things easier.

Thinking that far, Iliana patted Cal's shoulder with sympathy.

"Fighting."

"What? Iliana, are you joining my party too?"

Iliana flinched at the voice from behind.

Then, with a terrified expression, she looked at Leo's face and promptly fled.

Cal clasped his head.

Driana, who had come with Leo, said, looking at Cal.

"Hmm. For a model, his face is a bit lacking."

"What are you talking about?"

"But his despairing expression is a masterpiece. Would you consider becoming my model?"

"Model?"

"Yes, a nude model."

Cal looked dumbfounded as the cute-looking dwarf girl seriously proposed being a nude model.

'Come to think of it, she's also a former grade representative of Demian, right?'

Cal glanced at Luna and Ar.

"What's with that unpleasant gaze?"

Luna reacted a bit defensively, and Cal muttered internally.

'A thug, an idiot, and a pervert. The representatives from the other Hero Academies aren't normal either.'

Cal looked at Leo.

Leo smiled gently at Cal.

It was a mature smile.

Cal knew well.

When Leo smiled like that, things became very difficult.

As his best friend sitting next to him for a year, he had learned this thoroughly.

'I'm doomed.'

Cal gave a bitter smile.