Book 1 Chapter 33

【33】32

The entire freshman class gathered in the main auditorium.

The low hum of conversation from the teenage students, who were in their mid-teens, filled the entire auditorium.

Meanwhile, associate professors and teaching assistants came out to prepare for the class.

Once the preparations were finished, one of the associate professors spoke.

"Everyone, please be quiet. Class is about to begin!"

"Yes."

The students responded to the teaching assistants.

The murmuring subsided slightly, but it didn't disappear completely.

Teenagers at the age when they love to play with their friends were not beings who could be silenced by an adult's words.

The associate professors knew this, but they didn't point it out anymore.

This was because the person in charge of the class today was none other than Professor Artian Nier.

"Everyone! I'm sorry I'm late!"

Professor Artian, who entered the auditorium, apologized as she climbed onto the podium.

Thud!

"Ouch!"

She then tripped and fell.

At that, the entire student body straightened up and fell silent.

Professor Artian, with an embarrassed expression, rubbed her knee and headed for the center of the podium.

Artian Nier.

The professor that the first-year students feared the most.

The reason was simple.

If you talked during her class, you would immediately face physical punishment.

Of course, it wasn't her will, but the short-tempered spirits contracted by Professor Artian.

As a result, students tensed up whenever Professor Artian appeared.

Artian, who controlled the students just by her appearance, clapped her hands and smiled brightly.

"As expected, our students are so good! They become so quiet in front of their professor!"

The optimistic Artian simply thought the students were well-behaved.

"In the last class, we talked about Hero Families, right? Shall we review what we learned a bit before today's class?"

Artian began the lecture.

"Who can tell me why Hero Families could be created after the appearance of the Hero Records?"

Hands were raised here and there in response to the question.

Regardless of her fearsome nature, she was a good professor.

She conducted her classes in an easy-to-understand manner and was also generous with grades.

Considering that some strict professors were not only stingy with grades but also deducted them, it wasn't bad to actively participate in Artian's classes.

Even Kal raised his hand enthusiastically.

"Kal from Class 5?"

"Yes!"

Kal, who let out a small cheer, stood up.

"Because in Hero Records, to open the world of a hero, you need an item that is closely related to that hero or has a deep anecdote about them. The descendants of heroes can easily access the hero's world because they inherit their ancestors' relics!"

"That's correct. Kal, I'll give you 5 points."

Kal sat down with a big smile.

"Although it's a political matter, the deep connection between Lumen Academy, which holds the Hero Records, and the Hero Families is also for this reason."

This is because even if you have the key to opening the hero's world, the records of recorded heroes are stored in the Hero Records in Lumen.

"For heroes who left no relics before the appearance of the hero's world, their related items can be obtained through ruin investigation and excavation."

Hero Records have existed since the Age of Disaster, before the hero's world was revealed, so there are countless pages that only exist as pages and cannot open the hero's world.

"Since not all pages of the same hero can be opened with one person's relics, excavation is the second most important act in the present day after conquering hero dungeons. Furthermore, although hero dungeons created by rampages offer rewards, the inheritance of power is often unstable. Now, here's a question."

Artian looked back at the students.

"Who can talk about the importance of Heroology besides what I've explained?"

Again, students actively raised their hands.

"Duran from Class 1."

"Because it can serve as a clue to conquering the hero's world."

"That's right. Duran, 5 points."

Duran sat down expressionlessly.

"The hero's world is the trial faced by the previous generation of heroes. It is a trial so great that even knowing the hero's anecdotes makes it impossible to conquer. Many lose their lives there. Therefore, even a small clue or anecdote becomes the key to conquest."

This is also why students dedicate themselves to Heroology.

"When you become a senior, you will choose a hero to inherit power from and conquer that hero's pages. By then, you will have to figure out which hero matches your disposition."

Iliana clapped lightly.

"Well then, shall we begin the homework presentations now?"

Last week, Artian had assigned homework to all the first-year students.

Of course, it wasn't a very difficult assignment.

It was to think about what they wanted to do as a hero and present it at the next Heroology class.

Although it might seem like nothing, those who dreamed of becoming heroes needed to establish their hero archetype.

And since everyone entered Lumen with a serious heart, the first-year students had seriously pondered this homework over the weekend.

"Alright, we'll start with Class 1."

The students of Class 1 hesitantly looked at each other.

They were embarrassed to talk about their goals as heroes in front of hundreds of people.

"Class 1! There's no need to be shy! Your goals are your guiding stars! Speaking of which, in front of people with pride is a proud…!"

"It's Artian's class now. It's not your turn."

"Professor Sedgen! Please! Professor Artian is already so timid!"

Professor Sedgen, who was enthusiastically cheering on the hesitant Class 1, was held back by the homeroom professors of other classes.

Just then, Celia stood up.

She stood up straight, pushed her hair back, and said confidently, "I want to become a knight who surpasses my ancestors."

A knight who surpasses the ancestors of Zerdinger.

For someone from a Hero Family, there was no goal more weighty than that.

"Wow! What a wonderful goal!"

The next to stand was Chloe.

"I want to create a grimoire that establishes my original spells."

"That's a grand goal for a mage."

Starting with Celia, the students one by one talked about their goals.

At first, everyone hesitated, but once they started talking, there was no stopping them.

The homeroom professors observing from behind listened intently to their students' presentations.

They knew well that this short presentation represented the path the students intended to take.

Eventually, it was Class 5's turn.

"I want to help the heroes."

When Kal revealed his aspiration, Artian showed a surprised expression.

But she soon understood Kal's intention and smiled.

"It seems Kal wants to be someone who supports the heroes' backs."

"Yes."

While most students didn't understand Kal, who chose the path of a supporter early on, the professors often positively evaluated the path Kal intended to take.

As Kal sat down, it was Leo's turn.

Leo, who stood up, said expressionlessly, "My goal is the complete annihilation of Erebus."

For a moment, silence fell upon the auditorium.

Artian was surprised, and the students looked at Leo with bewildered faces.

The complete annihilation of Erebus.

That was not merely a personal wish.

It was a wish that the world had carried since the Age of Disaster.

However, it was a foolish wish that even those great heroes had failed at, and one that would be met with ridicule if spoken aloud.

It was no wonder they were taken aback that he spoke it so freely.

"Ah, um…! That's a great goal!"

Artian barely regained her composure and smiled.

"Isn't that too much of a pipe dream?"

"There was one foolish fellow who used to talk about such pipe dreams a long time ago."

Leo smirked, propping his chin.

"At some point, I was moved by those foolish words. So, I decided to carry on that dream in his stead."

Seeing Leo speaking incomprehensible words, Kal wore an expression of disbelief.

Then, he grinned.

"Doesn't a person aiming for such a great feat need a capable supporter?"

"I'm counting on you, Kal."

***

"The class representative also has an unusual aspiration."

One of the homeroom professors, who had been watching the first-year students' presentations, muttered.

"Don't you think he answered too casually?"

"His homeroom professor is Professor Halind, isn't he? Surely he wouldn't joke around in a place like this?"

"Still, isn't it a completely unrealistic aspiration?"

Opinions were divided among the professors.

Then, Sedgen asked Halind, who was next to him, "Does it seem like a joke to you?"

"No. He's not the type to say frivolous things."

Halind scowled.

"That's why it's a little frightening."

Thousands of years have passed since Erebus was defeated by the great heroes and sealed into several pieces.

There have been several resurrections during that time.

However, even a single piece's resurrection plunged the world into a great disaster.

And here is a student who dreams of the complete annihilation of such an Erebus.

'Is he simply a fool? Or is his capacity that great?'

Even after a month, Halind had not been able to fully gauge Leo.

As Halind was intently looking towards where Leo was sitting.

"Professors."

Elena, the principal's secretary, approached the professors carrying a box.

"This is a page from the Hero Records that will be used as teaching material."

"Thank you, Secretary Elena."

Professor Sedgen received it and stood up.

The other homeroom professors also rose.

This joint class also involved the professors.

Precisely, it was to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.

In the past, the pages recovered from hero dungeons had occasionally gone berserk during classes.

While it wasn't a frequent occurrence, it wasn't entirely unheard of, so professors always attended when Hero Records were used as teaching material to protect the students.

By the time the professors headed to the podium, the presentations from the remaining classes had also concluded.

"Everyone, we will now proceed with the Heroology class using the Hero Records that the dungeon conquerors have recovered."

Professor Artian said as she received the box containing the sealed Hero Records from Sedgen.

"Finally!"

"This is my first time touching a Hero Record!"

"I'm so nervous!"

The students reacted with excitement.

"Today's class will involve reading the pages of the Hero Records, inferring which hero's page it belongs to by class, and devising a strategy to conquer the hero's world."

This class didn't necessarily require the use of Hero Records.

However, it was something they would encounter in practice someday.

Therefore, to add weight to the class, the students used Hero Records whose contents they did not know.

"Class presidents of each class, please come forward."

"You're lucky, Leo. To be able to touch the Hero Records directly!"

Iliana said, and Nella laughed.

"You'll be able to touch them all after class, so what's the rush?"

"But being able to touch them early is a privilege!"

Iliana envied the privilege of being a class president.

Thus, ten class presidents ascended to the podium.

"Oh ho. The Class 5 president is young Leo?"

Chen Xia, the class president of Class 10, greeted him warmly.

"It was decided hastily today."

"Hastily?"

Chen Xia tilted her head.

A strange atmosphere formed as outstanding students from the first year gathered in one place.

Artian opened the sealed box.

"We have recovered two Hero Records this time. Of course, only one Hero Record is used as teaching material. The other one is a page fragment… I brought it to show you that such things exist."

Artian held up the page fragment.

And handed it to Leo, who was closest to her.

Leo reached out without thinking.

Suddenly, the page fragment emitted a faint light.

And the moment the page touched Leo's hand.

[Hero Record Open. World of ■■. Chapter: ■■-■■■]

A familiar message appeared before Leo's eyes.

Artian, the class presidents, and even the professors who were preparing for unforeseen circumstances showed expressions of shock.

Woooong-!

A light appeared on the podium floor.

For the inhabitants of the lower realms, it was an unknown divine language.

"Rampage?"

With Professor Sedgen's bewildered voice, a bright light enveloped the podium.

When the light eventually disappeared, Leo, along with the professors and class presidents of each class, stood in a certain space.

It was the middle of a battlefield.

The corpses of all sorts of grotesque monsters lay scattered on the ground.

"Everyone, be alert! It's a hero dungeon!"

At Halind's shout, the class presidents' faces turned white.

"Halind! I see a city wall over there!"

Sedgen pointed to the city wall Leo was looking at.

Leo looked at the city wall with a dazed expression.

It was a familiar city wall to Leo.

A place that no longer existed in the current era.

The final defense line and the last city of the Age of Disaster.

The walls of Gardesron.

The stench of burning monsters, creatures, and demons stung Leo's nostrils.

Leo could never forget this sight.

If it was that time… if his memory wasn't mistaken, he had definitely said this.

'That's right, Kyle. My wish is such a foolish wish.'

"That's right, ■■. My wish is such a foolish wish."

At the voice from behind, the professors and class presidents flinched and turned their heads.

And then, without realizing it, they gasped.

The person standing there was a very famous being.

Leo dazedly turned his head towards the direction of the voice.

The woman spoke in the same confident tone as that time.

"But ■■. We will save the world."

The black dragon, now called the King of Wisdom in the present era.

A great and noble hero who shone a light of hope in the desperate age when the world was plunging into destruction.

In this era, he was a close friend who was ridiculed as a fool.

Feeling his throat constrict, Leo called out the name.

"Lisinas."

At the call, Lisinas smiled faintly.

Whoosh-!

At the same time, the world collapsed.

In the blink of an eye, they were back in the auditorium.

"What…!"

"P-Professors, what just happened?"

The students asked with trembling voices, their faces bewildered.

Halind made a cool judgment.

"Class is suspended for now. Everyone calm down and leave the auditorium."

At his words, the associate professors led the students out.

Leo stood there dazedly, looking down at the page fragment of the Hero Record in his hand.

He knew whose page fragment this was.

'Kyle's page. This is my record.'

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