Book 1 Chapter 521

"Are you Leo Flove?"

Kaodin smirked, looking at Leo.

"Do you know I'm the same year as your mother? Are you talking so carelessly?"

"So what if you're the same year as my mother? Does that mean your wild behavior is forgivable?"

"Reina clearly failed to educate her child. If you retired without much accomplishment, you should have at least raised your child properly. Perhaps some education is needed?"

"Right. I'd like to educate you, but your level is too low for me to teach."

Leo met Kaodin's provocation with a scoff.

Seeing Leo like that, Kaodin's expression completely changed.

His face looked as if he would attack Leo at any moment.

It was then.

"Ugh."

Chen Xia, who had been sent flying and lying on the ground from Kaodin's attack, lightly pushed herself up.

"My newly fitted uniform is ruined."

At her composed demeanor, Kaodin's eyes twitched.

'He's not even hurt?'

Although Kaodin was a graduate of the Knight Department, he was an archer class.

Compared to other knight classes skilled in melee combat, his close-range attack power was significantly weaker.

However, that was only by the standards of a hero.

His attack had a power level that a student would find difficult to withstand.

Yet, Chen Xia walked over calmly.

"I'll handle this person. You two have no reason to be involved, right?"

"Why wouldn't we be involved? This person insulted my cousin and my aunt. I can't forgive that. Duran, you have no reason to be involved, so step aside."

"Don't order me around."

"These brats don't know their place. Are you fearless just because people call you the Golden Generation!"

*Fzzt-!*

Scarlet lightning raged from Kaodin's body.

Aura emission.

*KWA-GAGA-GAGA-GAK-!*

Chen Xia and Celia quickly moved out of Kaodin's attack range.

"One of them didn't manage to escape. So, you should know your opponent before attacking…"

*Fzzt-!*

"Is this all a hero's aura is worth?"

A longsword crackling with golden lightning flashed.

*KWAAAAAA-!*

Weaving golden light, Duran's sword aimed for Kaodin's neck.

Seeing that, Kaodin, shocked, hastily performed an aura step to evade Duran's sword.

At that moment.

"I'll pay you back."

*KWAAAA-NG-!*

"Cough!"

Chen Xia, who had instantly closed the distance, kicked Kaodin in the stomach with a smile.

Despite her gentle tone, the power of the blow was chilling.

As his body bent into a 'ㄱ' shape, his head facing the ground.

The rapier, still in its sheath, stabbed Kaodin's face as he fell towards the ground.

*QUACK-!*

"Ghk?!"

He maximally protected his body with aura armor.

However, Celia's thrust pierced through the aura armor.

Although the reduced power prevented a fatal wound, his nose bridge was crushed and he was sent flying.

"You bastards!"

*KWA-GAGA-GAGA-GA-GA-GAK-!*

Kaodin, his eyes wide open, unleashed his aura again.

A much more powerful aura storm than before.

However, the three people pulled back before the aura storm engulfed them.

"You goddamn brats!"

Clutching his bleeding nose bridge, which had collapsed, Kaodin exuded terrifying killing intent.

Iliana, seeing that, opened her mouth.

"Even for those three, is it possible to so overwhelmingly overwhelm a knight-class hero?"

"It's possible."

Claria answered calmly.

"The skill of those three is something that even those who have reached the level of a hero cannot easily witness. Against such knights, that scoundrel… no, Sir Kaodin was careless. It's not strange for him to be put in such a defensive position."

The three people moved sharply, continuously pressuring Kaodin.

"When facing many opponents, once you start getting pushed around, it's hard to regain the initiative. And…"

"Not all knight classes are the same."

Leo said, watching the movements of the three.

"Just by looking at the women he brought along, you can easily estimate how he fights on the battlefield."

Leo glanced at Kaodin's knights, who looked flustered.

"That's his private knight order, right?"

"That's right, Leo-student. Valkyrie is at a disadvantage. They are knights specialized in defense, blocking enemies. You recognized it immediately."

"You can tell by looking."

"What? What is it? Class representative, what do you mean?"

Iliana asked with a confused expression, and Leo sighed.

"Iliana, you'll get stronger faster if you just observe your opponent carefully and think about countermeasures."

"Ugh."

"What would happen if a mage hero, who is protected at the front and capable of powerful attacks, were attacked at close range by skilled knights?"

"They'd get taken down, of course."

"It's the same principle. This guy is a knight class, but he's been fighting like a pure mage. That's why his ability to cope with close combat is so poor."

"Aha!"

Iliana nodded as if she understood.

"How did someone like that manage to receive the title of hero?"

'There are plenty of gods with questionable taste.'

Leo frowned.

"Valkyries! What are you doing not protecting me!"

Just then, Kaodin's roar was heard.

Then, the Valkyries hurriedly and quickly surrounded Kaodin.

"You bastards! I won't let this go!"

*Thump-!*

Kaodin opened an interdimensional space and grasped a bow imbued with powerful magic.

Seeing Kaodin like that, Duran narrowed his eyes.

"To think that even someone like this becomes a hero… I really wonder if the gods have any taste at all."

"We're in agreement for once. I'm starting to doubt what a hero is."

Celia sighed softly.

"You arrogant brats! Don't you know who I am? How dare you insult me! Your families won't be safe either…"

"I don't want to bring up family, but compared to your strength, Zerdinger is a bit too big. What about you?"

Celia retorted with a bored expression, and when she looked at Duran, he sneered back.

"This looks interesting. Are you planning to wage war with the Moira Kingdom?"

"I don't want to cause trouble at the school, but if you wish, I'll show you how strong the Shan Empire is."

With the background of the three of them, Kaodin fell silent.

"That was a cool coordination. Even though you bicker every day, friends are still friends."

Just then, Leo appeared from behind the three.

"Who said we're friends? Leo Flove."

"I've never been friends with someone with such a messy personality, Leo."

"Come on, friends should get along."

Duran and Celia bristled, but Chen Xia intervened with a smile.

"Of course."

Leo chuckled, and Duran, scoffing, sheathed his sword and crossed his arms.

Celia and Chen Xia also retracted their auras.

*Thump- thump-*

"You looked pretty good getting beaten up by your juniors."

"You arrogant brat!"

Kaodin's anger flared again at Leo's taunt, and he pulled back his bowstring.

*Fzzt-!*

"Die!"

With a roar, he released the drawn bowstring, and scarlet lightning surged towards Leo.

*Tap-!*

Leo caught the flying arrow.

*Fzzt-!*

"……!"

Kaodin's eyes widened as his attack was so easily blocked.

*Quazzz-!*

As Leo tightened his grip, the aura arrow scattered and disappeared.

Everyone present widened their eyes at that.

Leo slowly approached Kaodin.

"Block him! Block that guy!"

Seeing that, Kaodin shouted at the Valkyries.

Leo raised his hand.

*Shoooooak! Kwagang-!*

"Kuhk?"

"Th-this is…!"

The shadows of the Valkyries began to surge and then bound the Valkyries.

It was Lisinas's magic.

"H-how cowardly, using magic…!"

"That's rich, coming from someone who hides in a safe place and shoots arrows."

Leo said with a sneer as he approached.

Seeing Leo like that, Kaodin desperately drew his bowstring again.

*Gooooooo-!*

Killing intent emanated from Leo's body.

*Tuk-!*

Kaodin, who received that killing intent head-on, dropped his bow.

*Tap-tap-tap-*

Kaodin's pale jaw trembled.

Seeing that, Leo looked up at the sky and narrowed his eyes.

"To you all, is this also a hero?"

"Don't be ridiculous! I am a hero chosen by the gods! You have no right to question my qualification as a hero…!"

"Kneel."

*CRACK-!*

"Kyahhh!"

Leo kicked Kaodin in the shins.

Kaodin's shin bones shattered, and he collapsed.

"Certainly, I have no right to question your qualification as a hero."

Leo said, stepping on Kaodin's head.

"But you certainly are not."

*CRACK-!*

"Kyahhh!"

Kaodin screamed under the overwhelming pressure.

Several second-years gasped at the sight.

"I would have preferred to just watch. Because if I intervened, the problem would have escalated."

He knew he had the authority to speak, but he had no intention of abusing it.

"But if people like you are called heroes, then those who truly dedicated themselves to the world become a laughingstock."

"Guk- guk-"

As Leo's killing intent deepened, Kaodin could barely breathe.

He trembled as if having a seizure, gasping for breath.

'I'm going to die! I'm really going to die!'

Kaodin was terrified.

"Forgive, forgive me… forgive…"

"Ask Chen Xia for forgiveness. She's not someone a piece of trash like you can insult."

"F-forgive me… krrrk-!"

Kaodin's eyes rolled back, and his body went limp.

Leo, with a blank expression, said to the Valkyries.

"Clean this up."

At his words, the Valkyries hurriedly took Kaodin and left.

Leo said to Chen Xia, who was approaching him.

"I was trying to make him apologize to you."

"It's okay. I wouldn't feel any better even if someone like him apologized."

Chen Xia smiled faintly.

Just then, Duran, who had been watching the situation calmly, spoke.

"Leo Flove, I have something to ask you."

"You have something to ask me? That's unusual."

"What is an ideal hero to you?"

"……?"

Leo tilted his head in confusion at Duran's question.

"Why are you asking that?"

"The reasons for wanting to become a hero are different for everyone. Therefore, the ideal hero they want to become is also different."

Duran wanted to be a hero because he admired strength.

For Celia, it was to elevate her family's honor.

Chen Xia dreamed of being a hero to help many people.

Each had their own reasons and their own paths.

"But you weren't interested in the position of hero from the beginning."

"Did it seem that way?"

"Yes, but you were more heroic than anyone else."

Everyone, including Leo, was surprised by Duran's words.

It was the first time the proud Duran had so purely acknowledged Leo.

"You had the power to make the impossible possible. You were honorable as a hero and didn't hesitate to help people. It was as if you were born a hero."

Duran looked directly into Leo's eyes.

"And today, seeing an unheroic hero, you were more enraged than anyone. That's why I wanted to ask. What is your ideal hero?"

"It's difficult because I've never thought about it."

Leo pondered seriously and then spoke.

"A person who can show courage for others. A person who can willingly become a shield for others. A person who can shine in any situation."

Recalling Aron, Dweno, and Luna, Leo spoke slowly.

"A person who can turn despair into hope. That's the ideal hero in my opinion."

"Wow, that's exactly like Leo-dono."

"Not at all."

"Why? It's exactly like Leo-dono."

"I just didn't give up thanks to people like that."

"That's something amazing."

Chen Xia said with a dissatisfied expression.

"So? Why are you asking that?"

"It's just that I want to pursue a different path as a hero than yours."

Duran had not given up on chasing Leo.

Perhaps, no, he knew he would never reach him, even if he chased him his whole life.

Still, he had no intention of giving up.

'Still, I don't want to become the ideal hero he pursues.'

It was a strange sense of rebellion, a desire not to completely follow in someone's footsteps.

'I think a hero is someone who doesn't give up.'

He remembered their first conversation.

'Right, not giving up. Aiming for that wouldn't be bad.'

Duran looked down at his hands, then back at Leo and said.

"I will never give up on surpassing you, Leo Flove."

At that, Leo's eyes widened slightly.

"Why so?"

"No, it's just that you remind me of someone."

"Of whom?"

'If I say I resemble someone, he'll get angry again.'

"Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning."

At that, Chen Xia's eyes widened, and she looked back and forth between Leo and Duran.

As if unaware of her reaction, Duran merely scoffed.

"You speak as if you know Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning."

"I heard it from Luna-nim."

Duran frowned slightly at that.

"Alright, let's start class again."

Claria smoothed things over.

In the meantime, Duran approached Chen Xia.

"You weren't hurt by just that kind of attack, were you?"

Although his words were arrogant, Duran was worried in his own way.

Chen Xia looked up at him with a somewhat sulky expression.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Wouldn't it be nice? Hearing that you resemble the Hero of the Beginning, Leo-dono."

"Are you jealous now? I don't know if this is something to be jealous about."

"Hmph!"

Chen Xia reacted petulantly and turned away.

Duran, watching Chen Xia leave, just looked at her with a bewildered expression.