Book 1 Chapter 8

【8】7

They eyed each other, deepening their friendships.

A strange atmosphere hung among the examinees.

"It seems everyone has gathered."

A voice echoed.

Before they knew it, a man stood on the podium.

He had light blonde hair and golden eyes.

And he wore a casually dressed uniform.

"My name is Alby."

The examinees gasped.

"No way, Alby the Magic Sword user?"

Celia also wore a look of shock.

He was a magic hero whose name was recorded in the Hero Record.

'Is this the person called a hero in this era?'

Leo observed Alby intently.

More precisely, he looked at his left eye.

The power dwelling in his left eye.

'What is this mana?'

As Leo was surprised,

Alby pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

"The total number of examinees participating in this year's Western region entrance exam is 569."

He adjusted his glasses and continued speaking.

"There are two types of exams: one-on-one combat and monster subjugation. Originally, the exams would be conducted one by one in order. To be honest, this method is…"

Alby burned the paper with magic.

"Troublesome."

Murmurs-

People reacted with surprise to the sudden declaration.

"It takes too much time and is inefficient. So I thought, why not combine all of this?"

"What?"

Celia was flustered.

So were the other examinees.

"Seeing is believing. I will start the exam right now."

Alby took out an old book from his pocket.

"Hero Record Open. Alby's World. Chapter: Prologue - Forest of Monsters."

Rumble-!

A huge pattern appeared on the floor.

It was divine language that the inhabitants of the lower realms could not read.

Flash-!

Bright light enveloped the surroundings.

When the light disappeared, the landscape had changed.

A dense forest.

It felt like being in another world.

'It's actually another world.'

"That is the Forest of Monsters. The exam is to survive there. Anything else is free. You can cooperate to defeat monsters, or you can defeat your competitors. Those who wish to give up the exam should break the orb in their pocket."

Forest of Monsters.

A forest that actually exists in the southern part of the continent.

But Leo was not there.

This was the hero's memory.

More precisely, it was a world materialized from the memories of the examiner, Alby.

'But it's not an illusion.'

Although it's a virtual world, everything that happens here is real.

A miracle gifted by God to the lower realms.

The true value of the Hero Record.

The power to recreate the hero's trials.

'The Hero's World.'

This power became known 3000 years ago.

On that day, which was called the revival of disaster.

Before that, the Hero Record was just a record.

But as the fact that the 'Hero's World' could be realized through the Hero Record was revealed, the world underwent a transformation.

Some say.

That the true hero era began 3000 years ago.

By conquering the trials faced by past heroes through the Hero's World, rewards were given.

That was the inheritance of power.

Whether it was a weapon, a skill… or a special ability that only that hero possessed.

Upon achieving the conquest, one could inherit the power of the protagonist of that world.

'It's an unbelievable ability.'

It was also the reason God gifted the Hero Record to the lower realms.

'Literally a system for nurturing heroes.'

It was a power to prevent a world-ending event like 5000 years ago.

This was also the reason why the four hero academies, including Lumern, were special.

Lumern Human Hero Academy.

Seirun Elf Hero Academy.

Azonia Beastman Hero Academy.

Demian Dwarf Hero Academy.

These academies all kept their respective races' Hero Records.

And Leo's goal was to see the Hero Records of the four great hero academies.

A divine miracle that can recreate past events exactly.

'If it's the Hero Record, it will accurately tell us what happened to the sealed Erebus and Tartarus.'

Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.

'The exam is the priority now.'

He narrowed his eyes and looked around.

Celia, who was next to him, was nowhere to be seen.

It seemed they had been separated upon entering the Hero's World.

'Anyway, the Forest of Monsters.'

This was a real geographical location and a famous one at that.

The southern part of the continent is a vast desert.

The Forest of Monsters is a giant forest located in the middle of that desert.

If there is a giant forest in the desert, neighboring countries will covet it.

However, the Forest of Monsters remains an undeveloped area.

Most of the monsters inhabiting the forest are low-level monsters like goblins and orcs.

The strongest individual would be a troll.

If an army were dispatched, it would be at a level that could be conquered.

However, people gave up on conquering it because the number of monsters, no matter how many were killed, did not decrease.

'The curse of this forest has not been lifted yet.'

Leo had been to this forest before.

This was the home forest of Luna, a companion of Kyle.

Up to 5000 years ago, this was an elf forest.

However, the forest became corrupted after receiving the curse of Shylatuna, the monster queen of Tartarus.

5000 years ago.

The expeditionary force had defeated Shylatuna, but they could not kill her in the end.

The queen's curse had continued even after thousands of years.

Leo chuckled bitterly, remembering Luna, who believed that her descendants would one day kill Shylatuna and save her homeland.

'That damned bitch's curse seems to have weakened.'

5000 years ago, this forest was one of the greatest threats on earth.

A feast of abyssal monsters that appeared endlessly.

Monster armies that threatened living beings were all formed in this forest.

Compared to then, it was heaven now.

'Let's think about the exam first. The examiner clearly said it was free, right?'

Whether you defeat a competitor or a monster.

Everything was left to the examinee.

'If that person has any sense, they wouldn't be trying to fight each other in this forest.'

Even if they are low-level, you never know when and where monsters will appear.

You could be in danger fighting in that situation.

'Well, there might be some who don't care about that.'

Celia is a prime example.

A user of overwhelming skill who refused to be compared to other examinees.

Leo had knocked her out in just two hits a week ago.

However, that was only because she was caught off guard.

If she had fought with full power, even Leo now would have a difficult opponent.

'Even more so in a real fight.'

Leo shrugged and drew his sword.

'Anyway, should I look for Celia now?'

Cooperation is also free.

So, it would be more convenient to move together for now.

With that judgment, Leo lunged forward.

Whoosh-!

Arrows of wind struck the spot where Leo had been.

Glancing, he turned his head and saw a familiar girl with a staff standing there.

Chelsea Lewallin, Abad's sister, who had been exchanging glares with Celia earlier.

"We've met before, haven't we?"

"Yes. But why did you attack me so suddenly?"

"We're competitors, aren't we? I didn't expect you to dodge that attack, though."

Chelsea shrugged.

"To reveal yourself to a swordsman. Aren't you too relaxed?"

"It's okay. I'm well prepared."

Chelsea had a relaxed expression.

Indeed, she was prepared.

Wind scythes were swirling around her.

If you approached carelessly, you would be cut.

'This is a magic I didn't have in the old days.'

Leo stroked his chin.

If there was one area that had changed beyond recognition compared to the past, it was magic.

The broad framework of Aura and Summoning had not changed.

But magic was different.

Magic was a field of study before it was a domain of power.

All spells have been endlessly researched and improved.

As a result, the magical system of that time and the magical system of the present were completely different.

Most of the spells Leo knew were treated as ancient magic.

'Well, the basics seem to be the same.'

Chelsea squinted at Leo, who exuded a relaxed atmosphere.

"You're still so relaxed even with me in front of you?"

Chelsea was a highly skilled individual, far exceeding the average level of mages taking the Lumern entrance exam.

She was an applicant with enough skill to go wild without worrying about the situation Leo had just described.

"I have a proposal."

"A proposal?"

"This exam gives better scores to those who survive longer, right? So why don't we cooperate? As a mage, you'd want a front-liner, wouldn't you?"

Chelsea smiled at that.

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm fine. I'm a 'Battle Mage'. I don't need a front-liner."

Battle Mage.

A mage who participates in combat rather than casting spells from behind.

"Wind Scythe."

Chelsea's eyes curved as she activated the magic with a short incantation.

"And I have no intention of cooperating with someone from Zerdinger."

"I'm not exactly from Zerdinger."

"But you were close to Celia Zerdinger, staying by her side. So there's no reason to cooperate. Bye-!"

Chelsea stuck out her tongue.

As a family in a rival relationship, she seemed to have no intention of cooperating.

"You refuse to cooperate?"

"Of course."

Chelsea replied firmly and pointed her staff at Leo.

That served as a signal, and the spell was activated.

Scythes of wind flew at incredible speed.

Leo extended his sword forward.

Whoosh-! Clash-!

The sound of metal grinding and sparks flying.

'Did he block it? I didn't sense any Aura.'

Chelsea was wary.

'It seems to be an Aura that's hard to detect! I need to be careful.'

Chelsea mistook Leo for using Aura.

It couldn't be helped, as blocking a 2nd circle spell without using Aura was impossible.

However, Leo had not blocked the Wind Scythe.

'It has power and is flashy, but it's monotonous.'

He read the magic's trajectory and deflected the attack direction with his sword.

Unless the power was overwhelming, magic with physical force could be countered this way.

Of course, it wasn't a simple technique.

One had to perfectly read the trajectory of mana.

But for him, a great hero, it was not a difficult technique.

"Wind Scythe! Wind Arrow!"

Roar-!

A gust of wind blew around Chelsea.

Her hair fluttering, Chelsea said,

"Why don't you surrender before you see blood? It'll be hard to block these attacks."

"I admit the power of your magic."

Leo shrugged.

"But for wind magic, your attacks are too monotonous."

Chelsea looked upset.

"Are you lecturing me about magic, me, a direct descendant of the Lewallin family?"

Angry, Chelsea scoffed.

"Hmph. I won't hold back anymore. I'll eliminate you by force!"

She swung her staff, unleashing the magic waiting in the air.

Charging wind scythes and arrows.

Wind magic is the most stealthy magic visually.

It's invisible to the eyes of ordinary people.

Therefore, it is considered a powerful offensive magic along with fire.

However, to Leo's eyes, the wind of mana was extremely clear.

Leo curled the corners of his lips and put strength into his legs.

"I told you it was simple."

Thump-!

Leo's body disappeared as if sinking.

The magic, which had momentarily lost its target, faltered.

'Fast! Where?'

Chelsea hastily used mana sensing magic.

As a mage who prided herself on being a Battle Mage, her reaction was swift.

However, there was an aspect Chelsea had not anticipated.

Leo did not use Aura.

Naturally, there was no lingering mana from Aura on Leo.

Therefore, Leo was able to approach him at close range in an instant.

"Huh?"

Seeing Leo appear before her eyes, Chelsea tried to react quickly.

Thwack-!

"Ack?"

But Leo's fist hitting her abdomen was faster.

Watching Chelsea collapse unconscious, Leo muttered,

"Now, shall I try to persuade you?"

Monsters like Orcs were fine.

But Leo currently lacked the firepower to deal with large monsters like Trolls.

'Since a mage with powerful offensive capabilities has appeared, it would be good to cooperate, wouldn't it?'

Leo cut down some vines around him.

Thwack-! He pulled on the vine.

"Hmm. It's really strong."

Satisfied with the sturdiness of the vines, Leo looked down at the unconscious Chelsea and grinned evilly.

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