Book 1 Chapter 376
376.
Leo looked at Delian, who was sitting in front of him.
Delian looked at Leo and said,
"I'll be blunt. There's a high probability that the legacy of Rodia, the Dragon of Creation, lies dormant beneath Shadow."
Ar, who was sitting next to Delian, widened his eyes.
"How can you be so sure? Did you see it yourself?"
"I've investigated many things as a hero scholar in this country for a long time."
Hero scholar.
This refers to someone who specializes in studying heroics and excavating traces of heroes.
Their fields of activity are diverse.
They might track and find artifacts of heroes that are recorded in the Hero Records but whose relics no longer exist, making it impossible to open the heroes' world.
Or they might search for the ruins of a nation lost in the distant past to find traces of heroes there.
Or they might excavate lost Hero Records.
In the process, they sometimes conquer hero dungeons.
Most of them were graduates of hero academies who had specialized in heroics.
"Many hero scholars aren't paying attention to Elehem. Even though it's a country where many heroes were born, given its long history."
"All records and relics related to Elehem's heroes are being discovered outside of Elehem's current territory," Ar answered definitively to Delian's words.
As he said, records of heroes from Elehem are all being found in Elehem's old territories.
Most of these were once part of Elehem but are now completely independent and belong to other nations, as renowned hero families.
"Exactly. Furthermore, no heroes have been born in Elehem for the past few hundred years."
All past heroes' connections to Elehem have disappeared.
And no heroes have been born for the past few hundred years.
It was a country with nothing that hero scholars would find interesting.
"However, this country is where Rodia, the Dragon of Creation, was born. That alone makes its research value immeasurable."
"Most research on the Heroes of Creation must have been completed by now," Leo said.
"Thanks to 3,000 years of research, most of the legacies of the Heroes of Creation have been revealed."
"That's right. Sir Lumern, the Knight of Twilight, Seirun, the Mage of the Comet, Azonia, the Great Warrior, and Demian, the Indomitable. Their wills are carried on by the hero academy students. I, too, inherited a little of Sir Lumern's legacy."
The legacy of the Heroes of Creation refers to the spirit and Hero Records they left for future generations.
And the 'armaments' they used.
Since the world of Creation itself no longer exists, practical succession is impossible.
"But don't you also know? All the Heroes of Creation left legacies related to great heroes, but only Sir Rodia left no legacy related to Sir Lysinas."
Delian smiled meaningfully.
"Isn't that strange? Sir Rodia is like the symbol of Creation. The Hero Academy was born out of his will."
The Hero Academy was founded by the Knight of Twilight, the Mage of the Comet, the Great Warrior, and the Indomitable.
Though there are four of them, it was Rodia who first proposed establishing a school to train heroes.
The four founding heroes of the Hero Academy left their legacies for future generations.
But Rodia did not.
He left something for the dragonkin, but it is definitively lacking compared to his other comrades.
Delian smiled meaningfully.
"Isn't it highly probable that he left arrangements for someone worthy to follow in his footsteps? For a long time, I've believed that and researched everything related to the Heroes of Creation. And I came to think that what Sir Rodia left would be here, in his hometown. And this dungeon beneath Shadow is the only place in this country that I haven't been able to research."
His deduction was correct.
In fact, Rodia had left a treasury here for the one who would become Larel's Covenant Holder.
There also exists a legend that Larel's library might be there.
At Delian's words, Leo spoke.
"Why are you telling us this story?"
If he believed Rodia's legacy was in the underground dungeon, it would be right to conquer it alone.
That way, he could monopolize the legacy.
However, Delian proposed cooperation.
Of course, Leo knew the treasury's true nature.
But that was only because Leo had made a covenant with Larel.
"Unfortunately, while I confirmed the existence of the dungeon beneath Shadow, I haven't been able to conquer it."
"If a Lumern graduate failed to conquer it, what can a second-year student like me do?"
"The youngest student council president of Lumern is being excessively humble."
Delian, who had been smiling faintly, adopted a serious expression.
"To be precise, it's because I couldn't even attempt to conquer it. The master of this Shadow wouldn't allow it."
"In that case, if I don't get permission, isn't it the end for me too?"
"That's right. But the master of Shadow said she would grant permission to someone she favored. You should be able to win her favor sufficiently. You need 100 million points to meet her, right? I can help you with that part. How about it?"
'He's willing to hand over such a large sum to someone he doesn't even know what will happen to after meeting?'
Leo smiled faintly.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'll decline."
"Why?"
"I'm not particularly fond of excessive favors."
Delian narrowed his eyes.
"Oh. It's foolish to refuse an excessive favor but then tell the one who offered it that fact. Is it due to a lack of experience?"
"You said you've researched in this country for a long time?"
"Yes."
"Then you must be affiliated with the Elehem royal family."
At those words, Delian paused.
"You know why Lumern students came to Elehem, don't you? Whether we become enemies or not here, we were never meant to be together anyway, right?"
Seeing Leo shrug and stand up, Delian offered a benevolent smile.
"As a senior, I'll advise you. There's nothing in this country like what you think at Lumern. So don't waste your precious time and accept my offer. This is my last act of leniency as a senior. Wouldn't it be better for you to have achievements as student council president?"
"Whether it's a waste of time or not, we'll know once the investigation is over. And I can explore the dungeon without your cooperation."
"Hmph. Is it because you're the youngest student council president? Your confidence is not just excessive, it's arrogant. Know your place. You're a second-year. From my perspective as a graduate, you're just a wet-behind-the-ears punk. Harke Ligaard or Elena Zerron would have accepted my offer."
'Elena would have attacked directly, and Harke would have ignored him, saying he was sleeping.'
The seniors Leo knew at school were those kinds of people.
Regardless of the reason, both were from Lumern's three great noble families.
They would never compromise with anyone who went against Lumern's will.
Clicking his tongue at Delian, who had completely come to the wrong place, Leo took Ar and left.
"He suddenly became so condescending. His eyes also looked a bit off," Ar muttered with a strange expression.
Leo's eyes narrowed at that.
'I know guys with eyes like that.'
It was the eyes of someone who would stop at nothing to achieve their goal.
And he knew very well how far those means and methods would go.
Leo put a hand to his temple.
Woong-!
A small ripple of magic power shimmered.
-This is the first time you've called me like this.
A slightly surprised voice reached Leo's ears.
It was none other than Chen Shia.
It was a communication using an artifact Chen Shia had given Leo.
Chen Shia dreamed of being a hero but didn't deny her identity as a shadow.
Students didn't know it, but after being saved by Leo, Chen Shia had been following Leo as his shadow.
And there was only one reason for using this artifact.
-Give me your command, Master.
"Cut out that title. It makes me feel like I'm becoming some weirdo."
-But I like it?
Leo shook his head at the playful, laughing voice.
-What command should I follow, Young Master Leo?
"Can you come to Shadow, the underground casino in Uargela?"
-I'll go right away.
After the communication ended, Leo looked at Ar.
"How many Azonia students, besides you, are in debt at this casino?"
"17, including me."
Leo clicked his tongue at the rather large number.
"Can you pay off the debt?"
"Don't worry! Everyone can pay it all off by next week and escape this dreadful place!"
Leo sighed as he watched Ar, hands on his hips and chest puffed out, speak confidently.
'I hope our school kids don't act as foolish as the Azonia kids.'
"How are you paying off the debt?"
Ar grinned at Leo's question.
"The arena."
*
"So."
Chelsea was pressing her temples.
"You lost all your points?"
"If I had known the class president's three sizes, I could have collected 100 million points."
Chelsea said, looking at Iliana, who answered with a serious face.
"Idiot."
"Ugh."
Iliana flinched, seemingly unable to retort to Chelsea's words.
"But I didn't get into debt!"
"If you borrowed points from juniors and blew it all, and still got into debt, you wouldn't be an idiot, you'd be stupid."
Iliana pretended not to hear Chelsea's cold words.
"It's not just Iliana's fault. Most of us lost money too," Chloe said with a sigh as Kal flicked a chip into the air.
Ding!
Kal, who cleanly caught the chip spinning in the air with a clear sound, said triumphantly.
"I won."
"How much?"
"1,000 points."
"You won a lot, but it's still nowhere near enough."
Just as Chelsea sighed softly.
"It seems events are the only way to earn money after all," Juen sighed.
"Anyway, when is Leo coming?"
Everyone wore puzzled expressions as Leo showed no sign of arriving, despite the appointed time having passed.
[Gentlemen and ladies who visited Shadow today! Welcome!]
Suddenly, a magnification spell blasted throughout the entire casino.
Everyone's eyes in the casino turned to the center.
The floor split open, and an iron cage descended from the ceiling.
[Welcome once again to the stage of honorable bloody combat!]
Cheers erupted from everywhere at the male announcer's words.
Everyone in the group looked surprised at the sight.
Clank- Clank-
The iron cage that descended from the ceiling formed a massive arena.
So that no one who entered could ever escape.
Flash-!
The casino's interior lights went out, and a spotlight shone on the center of the arena.
And people muttered as they saw the boy standing there.
"Oh, is such a young boy the first challenger?"
"Ah, how regrettable. What kind of story led him to this?"
Ladies, seemingly noblewomen, spoke regretfully.
However, contrary to their worried tone, their eyes held a strange excitement.
It was an unwavering belief that the boy would soon let out a desperate scream.
[Today's first challenger has declared a bold ambition: to defeat the champion! Now! Will the challenger reach the champion?! The long-awaited first match begins now!]
With that, bunny girls appeared.
[The challenger's first opponent is Jaydon, the scum of the slums who cruelly murdered seven boys and girls!]
"Guwoooooooooooh!"
A giant man in a mask, wielding a massive sword, let out a roar.
"How vulgar. A piece of trash who committed murder."
"Are they giving even such a wretch a chance to live?"
People made disgusted faces.
But even so, they continued to place bets with interest.
A moment later, a bell rang, signaling the end of betting, and a trumpet blared, announcing the start of the fight.
Everyone's gaze turned to the arena.
"How should I slice you? Punk," Leo said, looking at Jaydon, who wore a murderous smile.
"Do you want to die without pain? Or do you want to die in agony?"
"You arrogant brat!"
Jaydon raised his huge sword and lunged at Leo.
CRACK-!
Just as the huge sword was about to strike Leo's neck.
CRUNCH- CRACKLE!
"Ughhhhhhhh!"
Jaydon's sword-wielding arm twisted at an odd angle.
Leo kicked Jaydon's knee, who was clutching his arm and screaming in pain on his knees.
Then his knee buckled.
Leo spoke amidst Jaydon's screams of agony.
Leo grabbed Jaydon by the collar and flung him aside like he was cleaning up trash.
THUD-!
With a heavy thud, Jaydon's body rolled across the floor.
Jaydon slowly died, writhing in pain.
Everyone stared with wide-open mouths.
Leo's friends were among them.
'If I had drawn my sword, it might have been quite a shock.'
Leo didn't look at his friends but loosened his fingers.
For his friends, who had probably only seen his proper side, Leo's current appearance must have been a huge shock.
'But I can't always show only my good side.'
Leo smiled wryly.
'My way isn't the only answer, but knowing how to deal with dirty things isn't bad either.'