Book 1 Chapter 739
739.
Kwaang! Kwagagagagang! Kwang-!
“Isn’t that where the third-year students are having their combat class?”
“It’s particularly intense today.”
The fifth-year students, who were taking a heroics class, mumbled indifferently at the sounds of battle coming from outside the classroom.
It was obvious noise pollution, but if they couldn't focus on their class with this much distraction, they wouldn't be able to survive in Lumerne.
The fifth-year students, nearing graduation, listened to the class very calmly.
It was clear that even if a meteor suddenly fell from the sky, they wouldn't bat an eyelid.
“Is there anyone who would like to answer this question?”
At that moment, Mel smiled and asked the fifth-year students a question.
The fifth-year students' faces instantly clouded with tension.
They were fifth-year students who had gone through all sorts of trials and tribulations, including aerial combat, during their five years since entering Lumerne, but their opponent was none other than the Dragon Lord.
He himself vehemently insisted he wasn't the Dragon Lord, but it was just a futile attempt to deny the obvious.
As such, Mel's class was one of the few classes where the fifth-year students were excessively tense.
At that moment, Runba raised his hand.
“Yes, Runba.”
“Professor, shouldn't you call on the student who's sleeping?”
“One can sleep if they're tired.”
Mel said, smiling brightly as if unconcerned.
At his words, everyone's gaze turned towards the window seat at the very back.
There, Lumerne's queen, Elena Zerion, was peacefully sleeping, sprawled over her desk.
If it had been any other professor, they would have immediately pointed it out and woken her, but Mel did not.
‘Even so, to be sleeping so peacefully during the Dragon Lord's class…’
Niel, sitting next to her, shook his head.
“Since Runba has already raised his hand, please answer.”
“Yes.”
Runba nodded and said.
“The first person Sir Risinas recruited into his party was Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings…”
Rumble!
At that moment, a shockwave hit, shaking the entire classroom.
‘The third-year students are really going all out today.’
Thinking that, Runba glanced out the window.
And his mouth dropped open.
“Runba?”
Mel tilted his head, looking at Runba, who had stopped answering.
Accordingly, all the students' gazes turned to Runba.
Realizing that Runba was frozen, staring out the window, they naturally turned their heads to look outside.
And they froze, just like Runba.
Kwagagagagang-!
A black dragon, having flown up amidst the dust cloud rising visibly from the training ground, was breathing fire towards the ground.
Kwagagagagang-!
The shockwave that reached the classroom made the windows rattle.
Crrrack-
Even as cracks appeared on the windows, the fifth-year students could only remain frozen.
It was partly due to the surprise of a black dragon suddenly appearing in the middle of Lumerne, but soon their minds froze as they instinctively realized who that black dragon was.
“What's going on? So noisy.”
At that moment, Elena, who had been sleeping, sat up.
Elena, looking around with a sleepy face, realized that her classmates were looking outside.
“What? What's going on outsi…”
Even Elena, who naturally turned her head to look out the window, froze at the sight that entered her vision.
Elena, with her mouth agape, rubbed her eyes.
But the majestic black dragon's form did not disappear.
“What is this…? Is this… a dream?”
Elena tried to deny reality and lie down on her desk again.
Seeing that, Mel smiled brightly and said.
“It's something you all will have to do soon too.”
At those words, the fifth-year students' faces turned pale.
With her face buried in the desk, Elena tore at her hair.
“That darn old man, seriously…! He should know his limits!”
***
‘Why is my ear suddenly itchy? Is someone badmouthing me?’
Leo, furrowing his brows, looked at the training ground.
“Uwaaaaaaaah!”
Iliana was seen running frantically, letting out a desperate scream.
And in front of the training ground, most of the third-year students had rushed forward.
Protected by a barrier spell, the third-year students, pressed close to the barrier, desperately cheered for Iliana beyond the invisible transparent barrier.
“Iliana! They're right behind you!”
“Dodge! Dodge!”
“Breath!”
Flash! Kwagaga-gang-!
“Woooah!”
As Iliana dodged to the left, a laser breath swept through the path she had been running on.
“I… I survived…! If it weren't for the class president's hellish training, I wouldn't have been able to dodge it…!”
Iliana, recalling the special training she had undergone in Dweno's world last time, mumbled, trembling.
With the overwhelming dragon attacks continuing without a break, Iliana was currently exhausted.
‘H-I have no strength…! My whole body aches…’
Although she avoided a direct hit, Risinas's attacks were utterly brutal, with even a graze causing immense pain.
It was then that Iliana's face contorted in pain.
“Cheer up! Try harder! Now is important!”
“Focus! Concentrate!”
“You can do a little more!”
“Don't give up!”
“Snap out of it!”
“I believe in you!”
“Do your best!”
Cheers from the third-year students poured towards Iliana, who had collapsed on the ground.
“E-Everyone…!”
Iliana, who had barely managed to get up, wore a touched expression.
All her classmates, regardless of their department, were cheering for Iliana until their voices were hoarse.
The sociable Iliana had made friends widely, regardless of department.
‘So this is what it means to have friends.’
Her heart swelled.
To think they were cheering for her, who was challenging an impossible fight, with such unity!
‘Yes! Let's not give up!’
Iliana used her sword as a staff and stood up with her trembling body.
‘Lady Luna said so too… Sir Kyle never gave up!’
“Ooooh!”
Cheers erupted among the third-year students who saw her.
“That's right! The longer you endure, the later our turn will come!”
“We won't forget your sacrifice!”
“Our year's fastest! Iliana Raden! Fighting!”
“Hey! Were you cheering me on just to delay your turn?! You scoundrels…! Cough!”
Risinas's tail whipped like a whip, mercilessly sending Iliana flying.
“Oh dear.”
Leo, who was watching the scene, clicked his tongue with a regretful expression.
And when his ear became itchy again, he poked it with his little finger.
“It's been itching for a while. Is some brat really badmouthing me?”
“Would there be anyone so audacious?”
At that moment, Chen Sia, who had come and sat next to Leo, spoke with a slightly prim voice.
At her words, Leo stared fixedly at Chen Sia.
“Why do you seem quite displeased with me right now?”
“Me? No. How could I dare harbor such disrespectful feelings towards Young Master Leo?”
At the somewhat brusque and sharp answer, Leo clicked his tongue.
“It seems you've misunderstood something. Today's mock battle wasn't my idea.”
Despite his words, Chen Sia did not withdraw her distrustful gaze.
“Don't you believe me?”
“I can believe everything else, but not that. Young Master Leo always seems to be thinking about how to torment students more.”
“Anyone would think I'm desperate to torment students. And it's all for your own good.”
Even at those words, Chen Sia snorted.
It was then that Leo pondered how to clear up the misunderstanding given her attitude.
“Brother Leo, isn't this a bit too much this time? Even so, a 1:1 against Sir Risinas?”
Chelsea approached, making a tearful face.
At her words, Leo sighed deeply.
“This wasn't my idea.”
“Lie.”
Chelsea pouted, showing her disbelief.
‘Did I torment the kids that much?’
Leo briefly reflected on his past.
He had certainly put them through rough experiences multiple times.
It was understandable that deep distrust had taken root in their hearts.
Even so, he genuinely felt wronged before.
“It really wasn't me.”
“…Let's just say that.”
“Hmph. I suppose you would.”
“Are these brats going through puberty lately? Why are they so rebellious?”
In the end, Leo reached out and pinched Chelsea's and Chen Sia's cheeks.
“Yo, Leo.”
“Did you come to protest too?”
“No.”
In fact, Karl had indeed come to protest, but seeing Chelsea and Chen Sia being disciplined, he quickly dropped that idea.
“I have something to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Once class is over, the remaining students won't have to do it, right?”
“You think you won't? I hear today's combat class is all day long.”
“Kh-heup.”
“Are you crying?”
“It's just that I'm so deeply moved by the fact that I can fight Sir Risinas.”
Karl, covering his mouth, unable to control his emotions.
Seeing that, Leo sighed, then let go of Chelsea's and Chen Sia's cheeks.
“Even I think it's a bit much.”
“If it's too much, then you shouldn't have done it.”
As Chelsea replied sharply, Leo immediately put her in a headlock and gave her a knuckle rub on the top of her head.
“I told you it wasn't my idea.”
“Ouch! Ouch!”
Leo, having finished his disciplinary action, released Chelsea and said.
“Just think of it as a simple test.”
“A test?”
Leo looked at Iliana on the training ground.
“You just need to show your potential against the King of Wisdom.”
Soon, Leo's gaze turned to the beautiful black dragon.
“You've met Arion, Luna, and Dweno, haven't you?”
“We have.”
As Karl nodded, Leo said.
“Risinas is a bit different from those guys.”
“Well… of course he's different since his race is different, right?”
“That's not what I mean.”
Leo looked at Risinas and gave a bitter smile.
“Those three also sacrificed everything to save the world, but they didn't bear the world itself.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that only when Risinas showed hope could they challenge the impossible.”
The world is in crisis, so save the world.
As of now, it's an extremely obvious statement, but in the Age of Calamity, those who spoke such obvious words were treated as fools.
Risinas was the one who thought of something no one else could.
“The one who persuaded and led the great heroes that the world could be saved, that was Risinas. Our leader.”
“Ah…”
“As someone who bore the world in the past. As one who chose the great heroes and led the world to salvation.”
Leo continued, looking at Risinas.
“I want to confirm your potential, you who must walk the same path as us. And I want to be reassured. So, even if it's hard, please do your best.”
Hearing those words, the three clenched their fists.
It was heavy.
A weight that only the three who knew Leo's true identity could feel.
“Th-This is a big problem. What if we disappoint Sir Risinas?”
Karl's voice trembled.
He realized that the significance of this mock battle was greater than he had imagined.
At Karl's words, anxiety also surfaced on Chelsea's and Chen Sia's faces.
It was obvious that Risinas would not be able to stay in the present world for a long time.
The pressure of potentially disappointing the King of Wisdom approached them as fear.
Leo smiled, looking at the three anxious people.
“Don't worry, Risinas will never be disappointed in you.”
Leo smiled gently.
“Risinas knows well that because you are still young, you have infinite potential.”
“As expected of Sir Risinas…!”
“He is benevolent.”
Chelsea and Chen Sia felt relieved.
But Karl was still uneasy.
This was because Leo's smile was deeply frightening.
“Instead, he'll be disappointed in me.”
The smile completely vanished from Leo's face.
“He'll chew me out terribly for not guiding you properly.”
A demonic aura briefly appeared on Leo's face.
“So, if anyone fails to satisfy Risinas, I intend to personally train with them.”
Soon, Leo smiled faintly.
“I sincerely hope such a thing doesn't happen.”
After saying that, Leo approached the training ground to get a closer look at Iliana.
Karl, left standing alone, watching his back, muttered.
“He really seems like the Archdemon.”
At those words, Chelsea made a tearful face.
“What on earth should we call Sir Risinas, who scolds that Archdemon?”
Chen Sia sighed deeply and mumbled.
“Wouldn't he be something like an Archdivine?”
Looking at those two wicked great heroes, they missed Luna and Arion, who, though they might frustrate them with their overwhelming genius, never stinted on praise for their efforts.
And Dweno, who was strict but benevolent.
They were the three who longed for these three great heroes.