Book 1 Chapter 779

779.

Whoosh-!

Karr's fierce fist cut through the air as it swung.

"That's wind pressure from a punch! Dodge it!"

Kwaang! Pubububububung-!

"Kuaak!"

"You told him to dodge, and you're the one who got hit!"

Borman was sent flying by the fierce storm generated from Karr's fist.

Behind him, a series of explosions caused by air pressure occurred over the sea.

Seeing that, Leo let out a hollow laugh.

"Huh. At this point, it's just bizarre, isn't it?"

It was then, as Leo was marveling at the new technique he had never seen in his previous life.

Kwaang-!

"Kkuek?!"

Thud-!

Ruwen, grazed by Karr's charge, who was enveloped in aura, let out a pathetic scream and was sent flying into the sea.

One-sided subjugation.

Leo let out a deep sigh, watching the Azonia students being sent flying into the sky just by being brushed by Karr.

Then, feeling a sudden presence, he looked behind him to see people gathered outside the sandy beach, watching.

"Ohhhh…! They're enduring today!"

"Popcorn available~"

"Ah! Run away! I bet you'd be the last one to fall!"

The Azonia students' training seemed to have already become a good spectacle in this city.

Leo clicked his tongue, watching Karr create a sandstorm.

'I'm not even that much.'

Karr, from the start, doesn't know what 'moderation' means.

Born with such outstanding talent, he doesn't understand what others can't do.

He just looks at them pitifully and teaches them with his body.

It's not that it's ineffective, but it's certainly a difficult training to endure.

Dion, who was challenging Karr, was sent flying towards where Leo was.

Puhwahahak-!

Leo, who slightly avoided Dion flying in, scattering sand everywhere, stood up from his spot.

Kugagagagak-!

At that moment, Ruwen, who had fallen into the sea, used magic to draw in seawater.

Seeing that, Leo clicked his tongue and evacuated to a place where the magic's range couldn't reach.

The training, which was reminiscent of a real battle, was extremely brutal.

Pubububung-!

Water and sand splattered everywhere.

A little later.

Splash- Splash-

Leo, with his feet in the safe zone by the sea, stood with his arms crossed, watching the Beastman who was standing until the very end.

The last one standing was Ar.

"Iyaaaaaat!"

Ar charged towards Karr with great momentum.

Bang-!

"Kyaul!"

But he was soon hit by a punch and sent flying.

Coincidentally, the place Ar flew to was where Leo was.

Leo clicked his tongue and spread his arms.

Poof-!

Ar, who was held precisely in a princess carry by Leo, opened his eyes wide.

"Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah… I'm okay…"

"Then."

"Huh?!"

Thud-!

"Kuhek! Puheop!"

As Leo let go, Ar, who fell into the sea, floundered.

"It's shallow."

When Leo spoke, Ar, who was flailing, suddenly stood up.

Splash-!

The seawater rushed in and covered Ar.

"What do you mean 'suddenly let go'!"

Leo smiled at Ar, who was protesting, and approached Karr.

The disheveled students gathered around Karr, almost crawling.

Ar also followed Leo with difficulty, using a stick that had drifted to the shore as a staff.

Karr made a sad expression, looking at his junior students in their miserable state.

"Poor things… Is everyone okay?"

"W-we're okay…"

"We're fine!"

It was then that the Azonia students vigorously replied, seeing Karr genuinely worried about them.

"Are you giving them a disease and then a cure? You beat them up, that's why they're like that."

At Leo's words, Karr slumped his shoulders.

Seeing that, Leo scratched his head and looked at the Azonia students, saying,

"You're amazing for not dying and still attending school."

At that, Borman slapped his chest muscles with a *pak* and said,

"We are descendants of proud heroes and great warriors! We grow stronger through tough training like this!"

"It's definitely effective."

Dion also nodded with a bitter smile.

It was certainly true.

The third-year students of Azonia were physically very strong.

'These guys here are much more feral than the ones in my world.'

It must be so.

In Leo's world, the Azonia students were not inspired by the Hero.

It was the image of the Hero projected into the image of the Hero of Beginnings.

Leo could convey Arion's legacy and techniques, but he couldn't become their Hero.

'Because there's only one Hero.'

But the Azonia students in this world are different.

Just as the Lumen students were influenced by Leo and followed him.

The Azonia students here have also grown up under the direct influence of Arion, their ideal and aspiration.

They might not know it, but they are growing as the Hero's disciples.

The problem is…

'These guys are only getting as ridiculously strong as Arion.'

Leo let out a deep sigh.

As much as they engaged in this kind of practical sparring, they certainly grew physically stronger and their combat sense improved.

'If you only consider pure strength and speed, these guys here have the advantage over our guys.'

But that doesn't mean they can defeat the Azonia students from Leo's side.

'Technically, our guys are superior.'

Right now, these guys haven't awakened their super-senses.

'Crucially…'

Leo looked at Ar.

'Our cat is stronger.'

This was definitely unexpected.

He had expected that Ar here would be stronger if compared to Ar in Leo's world, given the direct influence of Arion.

But it wasn't.

'Even if Arion couldn't teach well, if they underwent such harsh training… there's no way they wouldn't get stronger.'

"Hey, cat."

"I have a name, Ar Tune!"

Ar, with hands on hips, puffed out his chest and lifted his chin.

Seeing such an Ar, Leo said,

"Compared to you in Seirun and Luna El Lunda, who is stronger?"

"Hmph! Of course I'm stronger! Who are you comparing me to, that delicate, weak elf?"

Ar snorted.

At that, Leo tilted his head.

'Delicate, weak?'

Those words didn't suit Luna.

It was true that Ar, being a Beastman and a warrior, was physically superior.

But even so, Luna was far from delicate and weak.

'Considering her fierce, thuggish personality, it doesn't suit her at all? Do personalities also change little by little? Looking at this idiot, it doesn't seem so.'

Feeling puzzled, Leo fell into thought.

'Luna isn't strong either…'

Leo, who pondered for a moment, looked at Ar and said,

"Cat."

"I told you, my name is Ar Tune…!"

"What's your goal?"

"Huh?"

Ar opened his eyes wide.

"What is your goal as a hero?"

At the sudden question, Ar looked flustered.

Seeing Leo's utterly serious demeanor, Ar was momentarily taken aback.

But a moment later.

Ar, who had been thinking seriously, said,

"To follow in Senior Karr's footsteps."

"Not the Hero?"

"Senior Karr is the Hero's successor, isn't he?"

Ar shrugged his shoulders.

Then he snorted, "Hmph!"

"Following in Senior Karr's footsteps ultimately means following in Hero Arion's footsteps!"

'Following in Karr's footsteps…'

Leo looked at Karr and said,

"Isn't it better to dream bigger?"

"What?"

"Anyway, you Azonia students are descendants of the Hero. If you're going to dream, isn't chasing the Hero's back a bigger dream than chasing his?"

"How amazing is Senior Karr!"

Ar smiled brightly.

"The unprecedented student of Azonia! Overwhelming power! And he's the second Beastman after Arion-nim to be able to use sign language freely!"

"You can do it too."

"Because I learned from Senior Karr."

"Well, you learned that part well."

"…"

Ar's face darkened rapidly.

Leo glanced at Karr, who gave an awkward smile.

'I don't even want to know what he did.'

Leo clicked his tongue.

"And after enrolling, he single-handedly conquered Arion-nim's world! All by himself! Senior Karr is a legend himself! Though he is a bit timid! But that's also charming in its own way! When necessary, he shows tremendous courage like Hero Arion-nim!"

"…Alone?"

Leo's face changed strangely.

"Didn't he give others a chance?"

"Huh? But why?"

As Ar nodded as if wondering what the problem was, Leo looked at Karr.

Karr subtly averted his gaze.

"Hey, let's talk for a bit."

"Huh? Why not talk here?"

"Follow me. You guys rest."

Leo grabbed Karr by the nape of his neck and dragged him to a secluded spot.

Once they reached a place with no one around, Leo let go of Karr and said,

"You. You understand what Hero Record is, right?"

"U-uh, yeah… It's the power that allows future generations to inherit the power of past heroes…"

"Then why didn't you give others a chance to conquer it? There must have been plenty of opportunities to conquer it together, right?"

As Leo narrowed his eyes, Karr fidgeted with his fingers.

"That… the trials I went through are dangerous for the children… and also…"

"Tell me honestly."

Leo stared with wide eyes and said,

"You deliberately conquered it alone, didn't you? Because you were afraid the fact that you were a coward would be revealed?"

"B-but… Kyle…!"

"But! What 'but'!"

"I-I can train them, can't I? Ar can actually use sign language and has also gained the ability to make other Beastmen use sign language with his howling…"

"Do you want to get those kids killed by your training?!"

"I-I couldn't shatter people's illusions."

"You were just embarrassed!"

Leo smacked Karr on the head.

Karr slumped his shoulders.

"Did any of the other guys do something like this?"

"Only me…"

"That's something to be proud of."

Leo sighed.

Just because Ar couldn't conquer the Hero's world didn't mean he was weak.

Ar's potential was astonishing even to Leo.

For Ar, whether or not he conquered Arion's world made only a very small difference.

Crucially, Ar here was said to be on par with Luna.

Karr didn't deny that fact either.

'Luna means she conquered Luna's world with Luna.'

Perhaps she was given more opportunities than Luna in Leo's world.

'But even so, compared to Luna in my world, she's weaker.'

Drina would be no different.

'…There is a crucial difference between these three people here.'

Leo, pondering, came to a conclusion.

The three people in Leo's world are the official successors of the Great Heroes.

Whether they liked it or not, they were destined to become the successors of the Great Heroes.

But this world is not.

Outwardly, the successors of the Great Heroes, besides himself, are the Great Heroes themselves.

'…The children here are not looking up to the Great Heroes.'

They are following in the footsteps of the Great Heroes' successors.

A difference in admiration.

A difference in dreams.

A difference in what needs to be done.

'They are unable to fully unleash their potential.'

It's not their friends' fault.

It's an unavoidable situation.

Leo looked at Ar, who was talking to the Azonia students in the distance, and said,

"Arion."

"Yes?"

"Ar is the child who will be your successor."

"Yes, I know. That's why I'm teaching Ar a lot…"

"He's the successor of Hero Arion, not Karr's successor."

Leo met Karr's eyes.

"Show your true self. Those children will never be disappointed."

"…"

Karr hunched his shoulders and looked at Leo.

"And… I'll train them for a little while."

"You?"

"There must be a reason why I came here."

"…"

"If so, I should convey what I can convey."