Book 1 Chapter 8
【8】7
They kept each other in check and built friendships, among other things.
It was a time when a strange atmosphere was flowing among the test-takers.
[It seems everyone has gathered.]
A voice echoed.
Before they knew it, a man was standing on the platform.
Pale blond hair and golden eyes.
And he was a man in a roughly worn uniform.
[My name is Albi.]
The test-takers gasped.
“Surely not Albi, the mage of the evil eye?”
Celia also wore an expression of shock.
He was a mage hero whose name was recorded in the Hero Record.
‘Is this the person called a hero in this modern age?’
Leo observed Albi carefully.
To be precise, he looked at his left eye.
The power dwelling in his left eye.
‘This mana…?’
While Leo was surprised.
Albi took a piece of paper from his pocket.
[A total of 569 test-takers participated in this year's Western Region entrance exam.]
Adjusting his glasses, he continued.
[The types of tests are person-to-person combat and monster subjugation. Two types. Originally, each person would take the test one by one. To be honest, I find this method…]
Albi burned the paper with magic.
[Annoying.]
Murmuring-
People reacted with surprise to the sudden declaration.
[It takes too much time and is inefficient. So I thought, why not combine all of it?]
“What did you say?”
Celia was flustered.
Other test-takers were also the same.
[Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times. I will start the test immediately.]
Albi took out an old book from his pocket.
[Hero Record Open. Albi's World. Chapter: Prologue - Forest of Monsters.]
Vwoom-!
A massive pattern appeared on the floor.
It was the language of gods, unreadable by the inhabitants of the lower realms.
Whoosh-!
A bright light enveloped the surroundings.
After the light disappeared, the scenery changed.
A dense forest.
It was as if they had come to another world.
‘It actually *is* another world.’
[That place is the Forest of Monsters. The test content is to survive there. Other than that, anything is free. You can cooperate to defeat monsters, or you can defeat competitors, it doesn't matter. Those who wish to give up the test should break the orb in their possession.]
The Forest of Monsters.
A forest that actually exists in the southern part of the continent.
But Leo had not come to that place.
This was a hero's memory.
To be precise, it was a world materialized from the memories of the examiner, Albi.
‘But it's not some illusion, either.’
It was a virtual world, but everything that happened here was real.
A miracle gifted by God to the lower realms.
The true value of the Hero Record.
The power to reproduce a hero's trials.
‘The Hero's World.’
This power became known 3000 years ago from now.
On that day, known as the Revival of Calamity.
Until then, the Hero Record was merely a simple record.
But when it was revealed that the ‘Hero's World’ could be materialized through the Hero Record, the world faced a transformation.
Some say.
That the true age of heroes began 3000 years ago.
By conquering the trials experienced by past heroes through the Hero's World, a reward was given.
That was the inheritance of power.
Whether it was a weapon, a skill… or a special ability that only that hero possessed.
If one achieved the conquest, they could inherit the power of the protagonist of that world.
‘That's an absurd ability.’
It was also the reason why God gifted the Hero Record to the lower realms.
‘Literally, a system that can nurture heroes.’
It was a power to prevent world destruction like 5000 years ago.
It was also why the four Hero Academies, including Lumen, were special.
Lumen, the Human Hero Academy.
Seirun, the Elf Hero Academy.
Azonia, the Beastkin Hero Academy.
Damian, the Dwarf Hero Academy.
All these academies store the Hero Records of their respective races.
And Leo's goal was to see the Hero Records of the Four Great Hero Academies.
A divine miracle that could reproduce past events exactly.
‘If it's the Hero Record, it will surely tell me exactly what happened to the sealed Erebus. And what happened to Tartarus.’
Leo clenched and unclenched his fists.
‘For now, the test comes first.’
He squinted his eyes and looked around.
Celia, who had been next to him, was nowhere to be seen.
It seemed they had been scattered upon entering the Hero's World.
‘Anyway, the Forest of Monsters, huh.’
This was an existing terrain and a famous place as well.
The southern part of the continent was covered by a vast desert.
The Forest of Monsters was a huge forest situated in the middle of that desert.
If there was a huge forest in the desert, neighboring countries would naturally covet it.
However, the Forest of Monsters remained an unexplored territory.
The monsters inhabiting the forest were mostly low-level monsters like gnolls, goblins, and orcs.
The strongest individual would be a troll.
A level that could be sufficiently conquered by dispatching an army.
However, due to the endlessly increasing number of monsters, people gave up on conquering it.
‘The curse on this forest still hasn't been broken, it seems.’
Leo had been to this forest in the past.
This was the home forest of Luna, who was Kyle's companion.
Until 5000 years ago, this place was the forest of the elves.
However, under the curse of Shilathuna, the monster queen of Tartarus, the forest became corrupted.
5000 years ago.
The subjugation force defeated Shilathuna but ultimately could not kill her.
The queen's curse continued even now, thousands of years later.
Leo gave a bitter laugh, remembering Luna, who had believed that her descendants would someday kill Shilathuna and save their homeland.
‘Though that damn woman's curse seems to have weakened.’
5000 years ago, this forest was one of the greatest threats on earth.
A feast of abyss monsters that ceaselessly appeared.
All monster armies that threatened living beings were formed in this forest.
Compared to then, now is heaven.
‘First, let's think about the test. The examiner clearly said it was free, right?’
Whether defeating competitors or defeating monsters.
Everything was left to the test-takers.
‘If someone has a brain, no one would try to beat each other up in this forest.’
Even if they are low-level, one never knows when or where monsters might appear.
Fighting in such a situation could lead to danger.
‘Well, there might be some who wouldn't care about such things.’
Celia is a prime example of that.
An owner of overwhelming skill that refuses comparison with other test-takers.
A week ago, Leo had knocked her unconscious in just two blows.
However, that was entirely because she had let her guard down.
If she had fought with her full power, she would be a formidable opponent even for Leo now.
‘In a real battle, I definitely couldn't win.’
Leo, shrugging his shoulders, drew his sword.
‘Anyway, should I look for Celia now?’
Cooperation is also free.
In that case, it's easier to move together first.
Leo, having decided so, lunged forward.
Whoosh-!
A wind arrow struck the spot where Leo had been.
Glancing back, a familiar girl holding a staff stood there.
Abard's younger sister, who had been having a war of nerves with Celia earlier.
It was Chelsea Ruwallin.
“We've met before, haven't we?”
“Yes. But why the sudden attack?”
“We're competitors, aren't we? Though I didn't expect you to dodge that attack.”
Chelsea shrugged.
“To reveal yourself against a swordsman. Aren't you being too relaxed?”
“It's fine. I've prepared sufficiently.”
Chelsea wore a relaxed expression.
Indeed, she was prepared.
For wind scythes were fluttering around her.
If one carelessly approached, they would be cut.
‘A magic that didn't exist in the old days.’
Leo stroked his chin.
If one were to name a field that had changed beyond comparison with the past, it would be magic.
The broad framework of aura and summoning magic had not changed.
But magic was different.
Magic was a discipline before it was a realm of power.
All spells had been endlessly researched and improved.
Consequently, the magic system of that time and the magic system of today were completely different.
Most of the spells Leo knew were treated as ancient magic.
‘Well, the basics don't seem to have changed, though.’
Chelsea narrowed her eyes, watching Leo who exuded a relaxed aura.
“You're relaxed, even with me in front of you?”
Chelsea was a skilled individual far exceeding the average level of mages taking the Lumen entrance exam.
She was a test-taker skilled enough to go wild without caring about the situation Leo had just pointed out.
“I'll make you an offer.”
“An offer?”
“In this test, the one who survives longer gets a good score, right? So, why don't we cooperate? Since you're a mage, it would be better to have a vanguard, wouldn't it?”
At his words, Chelsea smiled faintly.
“Thanks for the offer, but I'm fine. I'm a ‘Battle Magician.’ I don't need a vanguard.”
Battle Magician.
It refers to a magician who participates in combat rather than casting spells from the back.
“Wind Sickle.”
Chelsea's eyes curved as she activated magic with a short incantation.
“And I have no intention of cooperating with someone from Zerdinger.”
“I'm not exactly a Zerdinger person.”
“Still, you were stuck by Celia Zerdinger's side, acting friendly, weren't you? So there's no reason to cooperate. Ble-!”
Chelsea stuck out her tongue.
As families in a rival relationship, she seemed to have no intention of cooperating.
“You won't cooperate?”
“Of course not.”
Chelsea, who had answered firmly, pointed her staff at Leo.
That became the signal, and the spell was activated.
Wind scythes flew at tremendous speed.
Leo thrust his sword forward.
Swish-! Crackle-!
The sound of grinding metal and sparks flew.
‘He blocked it? But there was no sign of him using aura?’
Chelsea was wary.
‘It seems to be an aura that isn't easily detected! I need to be careful.’
Chelsea mistakenly thought Leo was using aura.
It was inevitable, as blocking 2nd Circle magic without using aura was impossible.
But Leo hadn't blocked the Wind Sickle.
‘It has power and is flashy, but it's monotonous.’
He had read the magic's trajectory and deflected the attack direction with his sword.
Unless the power was overwhelming, magic with physical force could be dealt with 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 wasn't a particularly difficult technique.
“Wind Sickle! Wind Arrow!”
Whoosh-!
A gale blew around Chelsea.
With her hair fluttering, Chelsea said.
“How about you surrender before you bleed? It'll be hard to block this attack, won't it?”
“I'll admit the power of your magic.”
Leo shrugged.
“But for wind magic, your attacks are too monotonous.”
Chelsea wore an indignant expression.
“Are you lecturing *me*, a direct descendant of the Ruwallin family, about magic?”
Annoyed, Chelsea snorted.
“Hmph. I won't hold back now. I'll eliminate you with force!”
As she swung her staff, the magic that had been waiting was released.
Rushing wind scythes and arrows.
Wind magic is visually the most stealthy magic.
To the extent that it's invisible to the average person's eyes.
That's why, along with fire, it's considered a powerful offensive magic.
But to Leo's eyes, the winds of mana were vividly visible.
Leo curled up the corners of his mouth and put strength into his legs.
“I told you it was simple.”
Thwack-!
Leo's body vanished as if extinguishing.
For a moment, the spells, having lost their target, hesitated.
‘Fast! Where?’
Chelsea hurriedly used mana detection magic.
As a mage who prided herself on being a Battle Magician, her response was quick.
However, there was something Chelsea hadn't expected.
That Leo was not using aura.
Naturally, Leo had no lingering mana that should have emanated from aura.
Because of that, she instantly allowed Leo to get into close range.
“Huh?”
Seeing Leo appear before her eyes, Chelsea desperately tried to react.
Wham-!
“Gack?”
But Leo's fist was quicker, striking her abdomen.
Leo muttered, watching Chelsea lose consciousness and fall.
“Alright, shall I try to persuade her?”
Monsters like orcs were fine.
But Leo currently lacked the firepower to deal with large monsters like trolls.
‘A mage with powerful attack capabilities just appeared, after all. Wouldn't it be good to cooperate?’
Leo cut vines from around him.
Thwack-! He pulled on the vines.
“Hmm. They're sturdy.”
Satisfied with the vines' sturdiness, Leo looked down at the unconscious Chelsea and smiled wickedly.
------------------==