Book 1 Chapter 437

A week had passed since the training camp began.

As befitted a rural territory on the frontier, the Flov family's mountains had many rugged terrains.

Among them, far below, on a cliff where rough mountain streams flowed.

The students swallowed dryly, looking at the faintly visible stream.

Then they turned around and asked.

"So? What are we doing today?"

Iliana asked with a slightly disgusted face.

To her, Vanir, a rabbit beastman and a graduate of Azonia, said indifferently.

"Doing what."

She nodded towards the cliff with a blank expression.

"Jump."

At those words, Iliana and all the students training under her turned pale.

"You said it was a simple courage training today?!"

Lewen, a fox beastman and a second-year student at Azonia, shouted urgently.

"This is that courage training."

Vanir said indifferently.

"Courage is essential in battle. As you know, these are not only virtues of beastmen but also necessities for any hero candidate."

At those words, Iliana raised her hand.

"I'm curious about the connection between that and jumping off a cliff with nothing but your body."

"Where do you think true courage comes from?"

"From the heart."

Vanir shook his head at Iliana's answer.

"No."

Seeing Vanir shake his head resolutely, Tirena, a student from Seirun, raised her hand this time.

"I believe it comes from thorough preparation."

"That's wrong."

Finally, the students shared their thoughts, but Vanir only shook his head resolutely.

Lewen frowned and said, "Senior Vanir, where do you think true courage comes from?"

"True courage comes from fear."

"What?"

"When you overcome fear and squeeze out courage. Only then does it become true courage. The training of jumping off a cliff with nothing but your body is the same."

Vanir approached Lewen.

"Creatures instinctively fear jumping from high places. This training is to overcome that primal fear."

"If that's the case, shouldn't you make other beastman students do it? Why am I the only beastman student here?"

Lewen reacted sharply.

At those words, Vanir said indifferently, "Because the other Azonia students are foolish and will surely jump off the cliff without thinking at the mention of true courage."

"Indeed, fools would do that."

"But you are different."

Vanir looked at the faces of the students he was in charge of, including Lewen, and said, "You are not the type of fools who would jump in just because you heard this kind of talk."

"Hmph, as expected, someone who is the student council president has a discerning eye. I do tend to assess situations coolly."

Seeing Iliana answer with a smug expression, Vanir said, "You are all the type who unnecessarily overthink things. Because of that, you will feel doubts about such unreasonable training and continue to feel fear. To be blunt, you are petty and timid."

The students' faces contorted miserably at the scathing words that pierced their hearts.

"In that sense, this inefficient and unreasonable, crazy training is perfect for you."

"If you know it's inefficient, unreasonable, and crazy training, then don't make us do it!"

Lewen shouted indignantly.

*Snap!*

Vanir, with a blank expression, picked up Lewen and threw him off the cliff.

"Aaaargh!"

Lewen's desperate scream echoed.

Vanir watched Lewen fall down the cliff indifferently and said, "Next, jump. Commence."

But no student jumped at his words.

Vanir grabbed Iliana.

"Wait! You could really die! Some more rational training than this…!"

"It's okay, you won't die."

"How can you guarantee that!"

"If you die from this, blame your weakness."

"Th-that irresponsible…! Kyaaaah?!"

As Vanir's cold words ended, Iliana's desperate scream echoed throughout the mountain.

"Can't you hear Iliana's scream?"

Nella asked with a bitter smile, and Chloe sat up and shook her head.

"No, I can't hear it."

"You must have misheard."

"It's understandable to hear phantom voices."

Chloe gritted her teeth.

"Because we're being treated so badly."

"Hahaha! Chloe Muller. You have more grit than a magic student."

Zamua approached, loosening his shoulders.

However, a chilling aura emanated from his gentle smile.

Zamua's students' task was extremely simple.

It was defense training where they had to withstand Zamua's attacks without counterattacking.

The problem was Zamua's merciless attacks.

As if proving he was the "strongest" among last year's graduates with pure physical strength.

Zamua unleashed power comparable to a large-scale magic spell with just hand-to-hand combat, even without using aura or weapons.

'If it were magic or summoning, I'd have a way to defend… but Senior Zamua's attacks are pure physical force, so it's harder.'

As a traditional mage, Chloe had prepared countermeasures for a state of unpreparedness.

However, those were only countermeasures prepared for allies or counterattacks.

When thoroughly focused solely on defense, countermeasures were insufficient.

No matter what anyone said, Chloe was an attack-specialized mage.

At that moment, Driana stepped forward.

"Hoho?"

Zamua's lips curled up.

"Are you going to stop me alone?"

"Yes. Before being a blacksmith, I am a shield for my allies."

"Indeed, you are the representative of Demian's year."

Driana stood in front of Zamua with a serious voice, unlike her usual demeanor.

Her expression was infinitely solemn.

Seeing that, Chloe stood up.

"I'll help."

*Screeeech!*

And blocking Zamua's attack, she tore up the tattered hem of her skirt, which was hindering her movement, to her knees.

Zamua smiled with satisfaction, looking at Chloe, who was now dressed for easier movement.

"Tough one?"

Driana stared intently at Chloe's legs.

"Yes, I think ice sculptures would be good too."

"What?"

"Your legs are artistic. Chloe, was it? Are you interested in being a model for an artwork?"

"I refuse nude modeling."

"Don't worry about that. It's semi-nude. I don't need the whole body. Just the lower half."

"Absolutely not."

Chloe refused in a cold voice.

"Can you feel the emotions of the summoned beast now?"

Loonia's eyes trembled as she looked at Ulta, last year's graduate and a Pegasus contractor, who asked with his arms spread wide.

Not just Loonia;

Eliza next to her had a similar expression.

"No."

"Hoh."

Ulta looked up at the sky and lamented.

Ulta, a Pegasus contractor, had only two students assigned to him.

Loonia and Eliza.

"Why don't you know! I've told you repeatedly, your affinity with magical beasts is higher than mine! So why can't you do this simple thing?"

"How can I read the mind of someone else's summoned beast that isn't even mine?"

"I agree with Loonia El Lunda, Senior Ulta."

At Eliza's words, Ulta let out a deep sigh.

"Fiora, this is what you want, right?"

Ulta handed Fiora, who was sitting on the back of his hand, a cookie topped with cream.

*Peep!*

Fiora flapped her wings and rejoiced, seeing the cookie Ulta offered.

What Ulta was making Loonia and Eliza do was a training to read the minds of summoned beasts.

Reading the mind of one's own summoned beast was a natural act for a summoner.

That's why Ulta brought Fiora, the contractor of Leo, here.

"Wait! I gave him that cookie earlier too!"

Loonia protested as if she were being wronged.

Loonia, who was originally designated as Fiora's contractor, had her contractor position taken by Leo.

However, even after that, she didn't spare her affection for Fiora.

As such, she prided herself on knowing Fiora well.

"There's no cream on it, no cream."

*Peep - Peep -*

"Kuuuh-!"

At Ulta's reprimand, Fiora chimed in, and Loonia looked angry.

"Do you understand now? The meaning of my words when I said you lack love! In that sense, kneel and close your eyes. From now on, let's deeply contemplate what love is."

Ulta, who shouted majestically, suddenly left.

Loonia and Eliza knelt and closed their eyes.

They had been meditating on their knees like this for a week.

"Eliza Hergin."

"What is it, Loonia El Lunda?"

"What exactly is this love that person is talking about?"

"Don't ask me."

Ulta's thoughts, renowned as a eccentric before being a genius summoner, were beyond their comprehension.

***

*Fwoosh-!*

The moment he came to his senses, all he saw was black flames.

'Ah, it's a dream.'

Arion realized that the current situation was a dream.

His gaze naturally shifted to his broken beloved sword, 'Brave,' which he held in his hand.

The lifespan of the sword named courage had ended.

It had run out of life in the battle with Erebus.

'No…'

Arion knew.

The sword didn't break because its durability was exhausted.

Nor was it because the skill of Dwenno, who made the sword, was lacking.

'Because I couldn't swing it to the end.'

He stepped forward to single-handedly stop Erebus for his comrades.

However, Arion gave up the fight during the battle with Erebus.

Because he knew he would die.

'Dwenno will take care of the rest… Luna… Lisinas… Kyle will handle it…'

He resigned himself.

'Kyle will never give up.'

He leaned on his friend until the moment he died.

'I don't want to go back.'

He feared death.

'I haven't even found anything I want to do for myself yet.'

The courage that had been broken in the face of the fear of death made the hero hesitate.

*Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble!*

At that moment, the world shook.

***

*Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble!*

"Earthquake?"

Chelsea asked, her eyes wide, looking at the ground below.

A small vibration could be felt from underground.

*Flash-!*

At that moment, Arion's eyes snapped open.

*Whoosh-!*

In an instant, Arion's body changed.

'Kukuh?'

Kal gasped inwardly at the sight.

Eiran was also startled.

At the sudden earthquake, the moment Chelsea looked away.

Arion had suddenly transformed.

The moon had not risen yet.

No, even if the moon had risen, it wasn't a full moon today.

In such a situation, if Arion were to transform?

"What's with the sudden earthquake…!"

"Ch-Chelsea! You might fall!"

"Hey, Chelsea, get your balance!"

Eiran and Kal blocked Chelsea's view.

"What? It's just a small vibration, what do you mean fall? And why are you blocking my view? Are you hiding something from me?"

Chelsea opened her eyes slightly.

"Hiding!"

Kal shook his head slyly.

"Khaaaaaooooooong-!"

At that moment.

Arga pushed away Driana's hand and roared.

At the sudden roar, Chelsea covered her ears and frowned.

"Why the sudden roar!"

"Kyaaayaaang! Cough! Cough! Howling practice."

"…You guys are suspicious."

Chelsea looked at them with even more suspicious eyes.

Arion, who had been staring blankly, came to his senses.

Kal and Eiran looked at Arion and mouthed words.

Leo, seeing Arion, who didn't understand what was happening, said softly, "Release the transformation."

Arion, having grasped the situation, released his transformation.

But it was too late.

"Transformation?"

Chelsea's eyes widened as she saw Arion transform.

"H-how can you transform? It's not even a full moon, and only that cat can transform?"

Arga crossed his arms, watching the surprised Chelsea.

"Hmph! It seems Instructor Akan transformed in response to this body's howling!"

Arga puffed out his chest smugly.

Loonia and Driana quickly said, seeing Arga.

"Did you finally succeed?"

"Amazing. As expected of my exclusive model."

"Who's your exclusive model?"

The three engaged in a sly conversation to gloss over the situation.

At that, Chelsea made an "Aha!" expression.

"Come to think of it, Ar Tune could make other beastmen transform through howling!"

Kal and Eiran added, seeing Chelsea, who now seemed to understand.

"Amazing! Ar!"

"Oh, as expected of Azonia's representative."

Kal, who was desperately trying to smooth things over, covered his face as he watched Chelsea stare at him with amusement.

As close friends, she understood.

This little devil, who acted cute and obedient only in front of Leo, had already figured out the situation.

"Are you guys treating me like an idiot? Do you think I'll fall for such a clumsy act?!"

Chelsea opened her eyes slightly.

Then she approached Arion, who was flustered, and said, "Instructor Akan! Tell me honestly! You're the hero Arion, aren't you?!"