Book 1 Chapter 642

642.

The movements of the freshmen chasing Kal were very aggressive.

Everyone was tense after first seeing Kal's magic, which defeated Vito.

However, seeing that Kal did not use magic afterward, except for traps, the freshmen aggressively charged at Kal.

'The effects of using the great magic still remain!'

Kal is already a globally famous person.

One who rose to the position of a hero at a young age.

Moreover, a new type of hero that had never existed before.

Kal's name was constantly appearing in world newspapers throughout the winter break.

At the same time, facts about Kal also became known.

Even about his school grades and magical abilities.

That's why the first-year students knew a certain amount about Kal.

When such a Kal used great magic, they thought it differed from their information.

But seeing Kal no longer use magic, they quickly began to pursue him.

Now, the first-year students who entered Lumerne are all full of dreams.

Since there's no one who hasn't been called a genius since childhood, they believe they are the best.

'If I succeed in taking the key from Senior Kal, my school life will be smooth sailing!'

Most of the first-year students saw this as an opportunity to earn the rookie title, which would monopolize the attention of professors and seniors.

And then…

Kwagagagang-!

"Kyaaaah?!"

A female student from the Summoning Department screamed, clutching her head and squatting on the floor, as explosions erupted all around.

It was already a party in appearance only.

Their coordinated play was a mess due to their desire to catch Kal.

All the students who found Kal and chased him were caught in the explosions and were ruled out of combat.

The female student from the Summoning Department, with tears welling up in her large eyes, hugged her summoned creature tightly and tried to get up.

Kal appeared in front of her, aiming a crossbow.

"Hey, don't move."

"Hiccup!"

At Kal's appearance, the female student hiccuped, tears streaming down her face.

The horned rabbit, Horn Rabbit, held in her arms, also made 'kyu~ kyu~' cries, looking terrified.

"Waaaah-! I give up! Just don't shoot!"

The terrified freshman girl from the Summoning Department declared her surrender, crying.

Small in stature with large eyes.

And as the pretty and cute freshman girl trembled and cried, it stimulated a protective instinct.

"Ah~ I'm weak to this kind of thing."

Kal clicked his tongue and casually hung the one-handed crossbow over his shoulder.

"I won't disqualify you, so hurry back."

"Yes…"

Kal turned away, watching the sniffly girl turn around and head in the opposite direction.

'Hmph-!'

The eyes of the girl, who was trudging along, suddenly changed.

'He fell for it!'

The plan using her charm was a great success.

The Horn Rabbit, held in the arms of the female student, Perena, also showed a sharp expression.

'Stab him!'

It was a cowardly plan, but what did it matter?

'It's his fault for falling for it!'

She unleashed the Horn Rabbit towards her unsuspecting opponent.

And the moment she grinned and looked back.

Perena's head was sharply thrown back.

"H-How…"

Kal chuckled, "Hmph-."

"Even if I shot my crossbow, the Horn Rabbit would block it with plenty to spare. I just waited for you to let your guard down so I could deal with you easily."

"B-But you just said you were weak to this kind of thing…"

"Oh, that? Of course, it was a lie."

Kal shrugged his shoulders and looked at Perena, who was being disqualified and disappearing, with a solemn expression.

"In Lumerne, where schemes and stratagems run rampant, the clumsy don't survive."

"Just you wait and see!"

Perena cried out, her eyes blazing.

Kal smiled faintly, waved his hand, and muttered to himself.

'Perena Hergin. Unlike her older sister Eliza, she's a viper who will stop at nothing.'

Regardless of personality, Eliza preferred to confront opponents head-on.

Unlike Eliza, Perena was the type to use every available means.

Kal already had a head full of information about the freshmen.

It was Perena's misstep to approach such a Kal clumsily.

"Anyway."

Kal, who had already rendered nearly 200 freshmen incapable of combat, stroked his chin.

"Kuh~ For me, the weakest among the third-year students, to be unrivaled among the first-years."

Kal, who had a momentarily smug expression, headed towards the stronghold.

He had used all the traps he had set.

'First, resupply.'

The moment he thought that.

Kal, startled by the killing intent he felt from afar, slid straight away.

Kwaak-! Tididing-!

Kal gulped dryly as an arrow imbued with aura flew over his head.

'Looks like she's finally making her move.'

Milia Rola.

The number one target Kal had singled out among the freshmen.

Kal chose Milia as his number one target because of her weapon.

'A bow!'

Milia, whose main weapon is a bow, delivers overwhelming long-range attacks.

'Her range is even longer than Juen's!'

Of course, there's a difference in power and rate of fire.

The problem for Kal is that Milia, who snipes from outside his perception range, is a worse match for him than Juen, whose strength lies in overwhelming power and rapid-fire.

'Moreover, she's a strategist!'

Even though there had been opportunities to snipe him all along, Milia had been observing Kal.

And she attacked at the most inconvenient moment.

From the information Kal knew, she was a very intelligent student.

'On top of that!'

Kal pushed off the ground and ran at full speed through the bushes.

Wheee-shhh! Kwaak-!

An arrow narrowly grazed Kal.

Upon seeing the arrow, Kal hastily pulled out a red cloak from his pocket and wrapped it around himself.

Kwaaang-!

A massive explosion echoed.

An arrow causing an enormous explosion.

This was not Milia's ability.

'No, it is an ability! Because she poured all her wealth into it!'

Milia Rola.

She was none other than the heiress of the Rola Merchant Guild, which dominated the southern trade routes of the continent.

'And she doesn't hesitate to rely on items!'

Lumerne students usually have strong pride.

That's why, even in tests where it's normally fine to use tools, they approach the test purely with their own skills.

But Milia is different.

As much as she seeks extreme efficiency.

In situations like this, she actively uses tools.

From Kal's perspective, she was an incredibly tricky opponent.

Kal, who avoided being caught in the explosion, quickly moved while wearing an invisibility cloak.

***

'Hmm?'

Milia narrowed her eyes, watching Kal, who had evaded her attack and disappeared.

'I thought I'd hit him at least once?'

She thought she could inflict some damage, if not a fatal wound, but Kal dodged all of Milia's snipes.

That was quite surprising.

Milia didn't know.

That Kal had been running away from Duran's sword, which was far more dangerous and faster than her arrows, throughout the winter break.

What Duran had told Kal during their combat training was this:

'Don't expect to counterattack. Don't even think about blocking. Just dodge.'

Such special training with Duran shone brightly, allowing him to reach a state where he could sense killing intent and move preemptively.

The surprised Milia lightly licked her upper lip with her tongue.

'Yes, this much makes the hunt worthwhile.'

Milia quickly headed to where Kal had been.

Even with an invisibility cloak, traces still remain.

Arriving at Kal's former location, Milia focused aura into her eyes.

Milia, having maximized her eyesight, tracked the traces Kal left behind.

A smile formed on Milia's lips as she confirmed the direction Kal had gone.

'Now, let's see you suffer just as our senior suffered.'

Kwaang-!

An explosion occurred.

Kwagagagang! Kwang-! Kwagagagang-!

Explosions continued to erupt.

While Kal was conducting guerrilla warfare and toying with the freshmen.

Milia had set up a trap zone in this area, using magic landmines, exactly like the ones Kal had made.

The reason for doing so was extremely simple.

To put Kal in a difficult situation.

Milia, who was enjoying the continuous sounds of explosions like a musical melody, took aura steps and climbed up a tall tree.

Kwaang-!

And she looked through binoculars at the place where the explosion had occurred.

Kal was moving quickly.

"To get through all those traps… As expected of Senior Kal."

Milia took her eyes off the binoculars and muttered.

"He's cool."

Milia respected Kal even before he became a hero.

Although she was born under parents who led a major merchant guild, she was still a commoner.

And she couldn't help but be drawn to Kal, who, as a fellow commoner, had risen to the position of acting student council president of Lumerne.

On top of that, he overcame all sorts of trials with skills that made it unsurprising if he were expelled at any moment.

Others simply dismissed Kal's survival as luck, but Milia was different.

'If you could survive by luck, there'd be no reason for Lumerne to be the best hero academy, would there?'

She knew that he had fought for and earned everything he had.

That's why he caught her eye.

Even more than the brilliantly shining Leo Floff.

And eventually, Kal succeeded in becoming a hero.

For those living in this era, there is a hero everyone admires.

For Milia, that person became Kal.

She literally became a fan.

That's why she wanted to see him up close.

His struggle through crises and trials.

Kal's way of toying with the foolish classmates who underestimated him and charged at him was also cool.

'Still, what I want to see is senior's appearance overcoming a crisis.'

Milia's hobby was originally hunting.

Watching her prey struggle was strangely enjoyable.

'If it were a 1:1 duel… I wouldn't have stood a chance against that person.'

No matter how much Kal was recognized for something other than his raw power to become a hero, he was a hero recognized by the gods.

On top of that, he was also a student who had endured three years at Lumerne.

There was no way she, who had just become a freshman, could defeat Kal.

'Far from hunting, I would have been the one being hunted.'

But the current Kal had to contend with hundreds of people.

That's why she could corner Kal as her prey.

Milia watched Kal and curled up the corners of her mouth.

"That must be senior's stronghold."

Milia chuckled "Hmph-" and headed towards Kal's location.

***

"I really thought I was going to die!"

Kal trembled.

"If it weren't for Duran's special training, it would have been over long ago."

Kal shook his head, then turned around.

Click-clack- click-clack-

A girl was approaching the inside of the cave.

"Milia Rola."

"Oh, you know me. It's such a great honor."

Milia smiled brightly.

Kal scratched his head, looking at Milia.

And just as he was about to quickly dart away.

Thwack-!

"Kuh?!"

An arrow shot by Milia pierced Kal's thigh.

Milia, who had drawn her bow, said, "I'm sorry, Senior Kal. I ended up hurting you. Oh, to hurt the senior I respect so much."

"…"

Kal let out a hollow laugh, looking at Milia, who was trembling, feigning a truly apologetic expression.

"You look like you're enjoying yourself?"

"…"

"Just laugh."

At Kal's words, Milia's distorted lips formed an arc.

Kal, who had laboriously gotten up while looking at Milia, said, "You're a pervert, aren't you? A pervert who likes hurting others."

"Yes. That's right. I'm a pervert. But not to just anyone. I enjoy it when I hurt what I like."

Milia's eyes sparkled.

"How was it? How does it feel to be caught in your own trap? How does it feel to be the hunted? Oh, don't misunderstand. I truly respect Senior Kal. If it were 1:1, I probably wouldn't have stood a chance. I'm not asking this to tease Senior Kal."

A blush rose on Milia's face.

Kal muttered to himself, watching Milia, who was genuinely shy.

'Wow, her eyes are completely wild.'

He had experienced all sorts of things and met all sorts of people in Lumerne.

But he could assert that this was the first time he had met someone as wild as Milia.

Kal shook his head and reached into his pocket.

Then he pulled out a key and threw it with all his might towards Milia.

Milia sharply turned her head, dodging the key flying towards her head.

"To think I can hunt Senior Kal! It's an honor!"

Kal chuckled at Milia's words.

"I'm sorry, but."

"Yes?"

"I won."

"As expected of Senior Kal! To have a secret weapon to overcome this situation!"

Milia smiled brightly, as if she had believed it all along.

"But even so, in that state, won't you be defeated by the remaining first-year students?"

"Oh, them. I already dealt with them all."

"What?"

Milia's eyes widened as Kal grinned.

"What do you mean…"

"Your traps. I used them well."

"…!"

'He read that far?'

The moment Milia's eyes widened.

Smack-!

Something hit the back of the defenseless Milia's head.

It was the key Kal had thrown.

Thwack-!

Kal, who snatched the returning key, grinned and then lunged towards one side of the cave.

Kal winked at Milia as he dove into a tunnel covered by an invisibility cloak. "Whoosh-!"

"Not bad, junior."

The moment Kal entered the tunnel.

Flash-! Kwagagagagagang-!

The explosion potions Kal had set up throughout the entire cave began to detonate simultaneously.

Milia sank to the ground, watching the explosions engulfing her.

'I was the prey. I was just playing in Senior's palm from the very beginning.'

Kwagagagang-!

Milia covered her cheeks with both hands.

'He's truly amazing!'

With Milia's elimination, the freshmen were completely annihilated by Kal.