Book 1 Chapter 430

430.

That evening.

Looking worn out, the second-year students were staggering along.

Thud-

Kyle slumped to the floor.

"It's already this hard today… How are we going to endure another month?"

"When I go home, I'm throwing all my stuffed animals away."

The exhausted second-year students showed panicked reactions.

As soon as the sun set, the second-year students, warped to one place, were following a sign and moving towards their accommodation.

"I'm hungry."

"Of course we're hungry, we've been starving all day."

"What's for dinner?"

"I want to eat and quickly wash with warm water! I'm a mess!"

"I just want to lie down in bed~"

Wishes burst out from here and there.

"Kyle, stop lying there, let's go."

Chelsea poked Kyle, who was slumped on the floor, with her staff.

"I don't want to go."

"Why?"

"The future I foresee is nothing but darkness. *sob* *sob* *sob*."

Watching Kyle sob, Chelsea furrowed her brow.

Grabbing Kyle by the scruff of his neck and dragging him along, Chelsea said.

"By the way, Leo isn't around, is he?"

"He's probably already cleared the trials we've been through and gone back to the accommodation to rest, hasn't he?"

"Well, it is Leo."

Chelsea nodded as if understanding.

And so, they arrived at the accommodation where they would stay for a month.

In the large clearing, there were a few log cabins.

Although it wasn't as luxurious as they had imagined, seeing the decent accommodation, the students made satisfied expressions.

"Wow! This is perfect."

"Doesn't it feel like we've come to a vacation home?"

"Let's eat quickly!"

"We need to wash first!"

Showing excited reactions, the students were heading towards the log cabins.

"Where are you going?"

Leo, who had lit a bonfire in one part of the clearing, asked with a puzzled expression.

"Oh! Leo!"

Chelsea ran towards Leo, smiling brightly, while Kyle sighed deeply, approached Leo, and plopped down next to him.

Seeing Leo like that, Lunia approached and asked, crossing her arms.

"Why aren't you going inside?"

"Going where?"

"To the accommodation."

"Our accommodation is here."

Leo gestured towards the vast clearing with his chin.

"What?"

Lunia instantly made an expression of disbelief.

A moment later, understanding the situation, she wore a pale, horrified expression.

"Wait, just a moment! You're saying no place to sleep is provided at all? We have to sleep outdoors without any equipment?"

"That's right."

At Leo's answer, screams erupted from everywhere.

At that reaction, Ar crossed her arms and wore a smug expression.

"Hmph! How weak! This is why sheltered young masters and ladies just won't do!"

Waving her white cat tail, Ar puffed out her chest.

"For our Azonia students, sleeping outdoors isn't even a minor obstacle…"

"We also have to find our own food."

"Where would we get something like that?!"

Ar stiffened her cat tail.

"Idiot! If they don't even provide a place to sleep, do you think they'll provide meals?"

"Ugh!"

At Lunia's words, Ar flinched.

"What's all this commotion?"

Just then, the log cabin door opened, and someone appeared.

Everyone's gaze focused on the woman.

She was a woman with black hair that had a faint reddish tint.

She was an impressive beauty with long, slender limbs, but the most unusual thing was her ears.

A rabbit beast-person with black rabbit ears.

"Senior Banir!"

It was Banir, who had graduated from Azonia last year.

The Azonia students, with welcoming expressions, flocked around Banir.

"Senior! Have you been well?"

"We've heard about your achievements!"

"It's an honor to see you again!"

Banir, who had been looking at the juniors greeting her in loud voices with cold eyes, said.

"Stop chattering, it's noisy. You greenhorns."

With Banir's voice, which carried a chilling intensity, all the Hero Academy students flinched and trembled.

But the Azonia second-year students stood at attention and loudly replied 'Yes, ma'am!'

At that, Banir pressed her temples as if she had a headache.

"So, what are your complaints?"

One Seirun student raised a hand.

At that, when Banir gestured with her chin, he opened his mouth.

"I would like to hear the reason why sleeping arrangements and meals are not provided. We came here to improve our skills, and shouldn't we train in the best condition for efficiency to increase?"

"You don't by any chance think this place is an extension of your academic schedule, do you?"

"Huh? Of course…"

"It seems you're overly proud, as if you've been chosen just because you received an invitation from the Dragon Lord."

Banir swept her bangs back.

"The Dragon Lord didn't choose you. He's testing you."

At Banir's chilling words, the Seirun student trembled in his shoulders.

Not only that.

Other students also flinched.

"The reason why sleeping arrangements and meals are not provided to you? It's to see how well you can demonstrate your proper abilities even in extreme situations. If you're someone who complains about such things, leave immediately. No one will stop you."

Some students gritted their teeth and bowed their heads deeply.

Seeing them, Banir snorted and entered the accommodation, closing the door.

In the subdued atmosphere, Chen Xia said.

"Should we first divide the tasks? Preparing sleeping arrangements and meals is a priority, so let's decide."

"You're so calm even in this situation?"

"Because I'm used to it."

Chen Xia smiled faintly.

Chen Xia, who was a shadow, was used to such situations.

Everyone dragged their tired bodies and began preparing sleeping arrangements and meals.

Leo watched the scene silently.

"Black Rabbit, what are you thinking so hard about?"

Ar asked with a puzzled expression.

"Nothing much."

Leo smiled bitterly.

"Just reminiscing about old times for a moment."

***

In the territory of the Plove family, there is a lush mountain.

A land where monsters do not live.

Without any particular underground resources, it was a common, large mountain that could be seen anywhere in the countryside.

'Because of that, it's perfect as a training ground.'

Melina, through magic, had already sealed off this mountain from the outside.

And using the Dragon Lord's power, she had transformed this place into the ultimate training ground.

'In the end, no student passed the first stage today.'

The first and second-year students were currently separated.

However, on the first day of this training camp, not a single person passed the first stage of training.

It wasn't particularly because the hero candidates lacked skill.

To that extent, the training Melina had devised was harsh.

'They need to at least pass the first stage to begin individual training.'

Melina, who had been contemplating the schedule for the next month, opened her mouth.

"What's the matter?"

"I present myself before the Lord."

From behind, a blond-haired man knelt and bowed his head.

It was Akatis, Melina's trusted subordinate.

He was the one who, in the western part of the continent, was in charge of searching for the Hero Records of the Great Heroes and the Heroes of Creation.

When he came to her directly, Melina instinctively knew something had happened.

"In Delan, the capital of the Delard Kingdom, a Hero Dungeon has appeared."

"If you've come to me directly, it must be a Hero Record of a Great Hero or a Hero of Creation, right?"

Melina stood up abruptly from her seat and asked.

"The situation hasn't been precisely identified yet, however."

"However?"

"There was a report that black flames surged in Delan."

"Black flames…!"

Melina's face stiffened.

"What's the exact location?"

"It's the Delan Royal Palace Magic Research Institute."

"You lead the dragons first and wait. I'll finish sorting things out here first and come soon."

"Yes."

Akatis disappeared.

Melina took a deep breath and called him.

"Lord Leo. A problem has occurred."

***

The tragedy where all the children of the orphanage perished was the beginning of everything.

Arion's master, who was called the Guardian of the Azure Sky, said it was an unfortunate accident.

Arion wanted to hear the exact details, but his master did not tell him.

'Arion. You have not once since birth seen a clear sky.'

Agon, with an exhausted face, smiled with difficulty.

'To you, who has never even seen a clear sky, I do not want to tell the truth. Forgive me. As the Guardian of the Azure Sky… it is my selfishness to want to protect your heart, which is clearer than anyone else's… Forget your siblings.'

'Yes, Master.'

Arion had relied on his master from a young age.

Because of that, although he had many questions, he followed his master's words.

But after that tragedy, he thought.

'If I had been a little braver, could my siblings have lived?'

The exact incident was unknown.

Despite having immense power, he was always terrified.

But if he had been a little braver, his master wouldn't have despaired and been frustrated.

He thought his siblings wouldn't have left before him either.

Because Arion, afraid of fighting, had left home for half a year when the tragedy occurred.

Then one day.

They came.

Three people came, saying they would save the world, to recruit Agon, the Guardian of the Azure Sky, as a comrade.

"Lord Agon, Guardian of the Azure Sky. Your power is absolutely necessary."

"You were called Lysinas, I believe?"

Agon, in an exhausted voice, said.

"I'm sorry, but… I can no longer fight for the world. I cannot go to battle for people. My spirit… has already been broken."

Agon politely refused the request of the dragon known as the Fool.

"Instead… take my disciple. This child will be much stronger than me. He will be different from me. He doesn't hate people or the world like I do. This child's heart is as clear as the blue sky."

Agon, looking at Arion, smiled.

"He is a child who will step forward without hesitation to protect others."

"This timid-looking child?"

The elf perked up her ears and, as if curious, brought her face close to Arion.

As the incredibly beautiful elf gazed closely at him, he unconsciously blushed.

'Oh, she's pretty.'

"Oh, how innocent. He's blushing! How cute!"

"Don't interrupt."

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! Let go! Let go! No, let go! *Crunch!*"

"Aargh! You damn long-ear!"

Of course, less than three seconds after thinking she was pretty, at the sight of her biting the hand of the human man who was pulling her ear, the thought of her being pretty vanished instantly.

Thinking they were scary people, to Arion, who was terrified, the dragon known as the Fool approached.

"Arion. Won't you come with us?"

Lysinas smiled gently.

"If you were born with immense power… there must be a reason."

"The reason I was born?"

"Yes. What do you want to do now?"

"…I want to create a world where children can feel safe and laugh under a blue sky."

At that answer, Lysinas widened her eyes and gave a bright smile.

"Then won't you come with us? Because we too are going to reclaim the blue sky."

Even though a difficult journey lay ahead…

Even though it was clear they were feeling more despair than he was, his gaze was captivated by their hopeful smiles.

Encouraged by that smile, Arion, for the first time in his life, gathered great courage and stepped out into the world.

Afterwards, the strange dwarf, Dweno, joined.

Terrified, there were many days he couldn't fight.

But his comrades… his friends believed in Arion.

Arion also squeezed out courage to live up to that trust.

And so, the world regained hope.

And before embarking on their final journey, it was the last night in Gadslon.

"Kyle, is there truly nothing you want to do or achieve?"

"Not really, right now."

Kyle chuckled and asked, sipping his drink.

"What about you? Don't you have anything you want to do?"

"I want to create a world where children can laugh."

"Not that kind of thing."

"Huh?"

"Luna's goal is to make her name widely known to future generations, and Dweno's goal is to leave behind works of art, right? Those are all wishes for themselves."

"Lysinas just wants to save the world too, doesn't she?"

"That's because she's an idiot."

Kyle said indifferently.

"You don't need to care for the world like they do, do you?"

Kyle said to Arion.

"Find what *you* want to do."

And then they embarked on their final journey.

As he climbed the mountain, Arion looked up at the sky.

Beyond this mountain… lies the mastermind who made the world like this.

They had confronted him many times, but they had never once fought him directly.

Tremble, tremble, tremble-

His hands trembled.

It was the same as always.

This moment was so terrifying that he wanted to run away.

At that moment.

Suddenly, Arion's supersenses activated.

A transcendent sense, almost like precognition.

Arion's face turned pale.

'In this fight, we will lose.'

"Lysinas!"

"Huh? Why?"

"This fight! Ru…"

Just as he was about to speak urgently.

And cursedly, his supersenses told Arion what he didn't want to know.

He couldn't know what was happening.

The future his supersenses revealed was only the 'result'.

But at this moment.

He felt a vivid future result he had never experienced before.

Arion's gaze turned towards Kyle and Luna.

'If I run now…'

Arion squeezed his eyes shut.

'Kyle and Luna will die.'

Those who were like a brother and a sister… two people who were family itself, would die.

'What should I do? What should I do…'

A fear incomparable to anything he had felt before enveloped him.

It felt as if he couldn't breathe.

'What should I do…!'

As Arion, who had squeezed his eyes shut, his supersenses suddenly revealed the way.

"Arion?"

Lysinas, with a slightly bewildered expression, called Arion.

"Lysinas, let's not run away from this fight."

"Huh? Of course not."

Arion smiled at Lysinas.

It was a hopeful smile, just like the one Lysinas had given him at their first meeting, that had given him the courage to step out into the world.

"Surely, we can win."

In this fight, they would lose.

But…

'If I don't run away and fight back… Kyle and Luna won't die.'

Arion walked to the very front.

Fear receded, and peace arrived.

'If it's just me, it'll be over.'