Book 1 Chapter 811

811.

Swoosh-!

Leo moved at an invisible speed.

Leo's movements, pushing off the ground, accelerated more and more.

Under normal circumstances, an opponent would be tense due to that overwhelming speed.

'But the one I'm facing now is.'

Thud-!

Leo pushed off the ground even harder.

'Not an opponent whose senses can be disturbed by speed.'

No matter how fast he moved, it was impossible to deceive Khar's super-sense.

Even if Leo had trained his super-sense, he couldn't surpass Khar's.

Nevertheless, the reason Leo pushed his speed to its limit was simple.

'Force.'

He attached acceleration to maximize his force.

He loaded all the power accumulated in his body onto the tip of his sword.

Thwack-!

Leo's body shot out towards Khar like a bullet.

'When fighting Khar, skill and technique… petty tricks, these aren't needed.'

They wouldn't work anyway.

Only purely crushing him with power was the answer.

Khar stood calmly with his eyes closed, even with Leo approaching at immense speed right before him.

It was as if only Khar was still in the eye of a raging typhoon.

When Leo finally reached right in front of him, Khar's quietly closed eyes opened.

'Of course.'

As Leo swung his sword in front of Khar, he gritted his teeth and squeezed out all the strength in his body.

'The problem is that even that pure strength won't work.'

Khar thrust the sword in his hand upwards.

KWA-AAANG-!

The clash of gray aura and golden aura.

Balhar, watching from afar, let out a 'Huh' of admiration.

Heat haze rose as if the surroundings were distorting.

The distortion of space caused by the clash of power.

"That's impossible."

At that moment, Celia, standing nearby, wore an expression of disbelief.

"How can there be no effect on the surroundings when such strong powers collide?"

Celia wasn't the only one present there.

Top-ranking third-year knight students like Chen Xia, Duran, Iliana, and Nella were observing Leo and Khar's sparring match.

It was due to Rhea's belief that it was an opportunity to broaden their horizons.

And…

'Were they said to be children who wouldn't be discouraged even by overwhelming skill?'

Balhar silently looked at the Lumern Knight Academy students.

He could feel that everyone was watching Leo and Khar's sparring match with concentration.

'They certainly aren't intimidated.'

"They are controlling their power."

"Excuse me?"

Balhar said, looking at Leo and Khar.

"They've imbued their will into their aura, concentrating power into a single point. To use power entirely, without any waste."

"Is that even possible?"

As Chen Xia made a perplexed face, Balhar said.

"They're fighting like that because it is possible."

Balhar looked at Khar.

"What you are witnessing now is one who stands at the pinnacle of martial arts."

The pinnacle of martial arts.

It was too arrogant a title to be given to someone not yet an adult.

No, it felt like a title that couldn't be permitted even to one who had ascended to the position of a hero.

However, those present here, as hero candidates… and as scions of noble families, had seen countless martial artists rise to the ranks of heroes.

That's why they couldn't easily refute Balhar's words about the 'pinnacle'.

"If Azonia's student council president is at the pinnacle of martial arts…"

Duran spoke with a heavy voice.

"What about that man?"

His gaze fell upon Leo.

At Duran's question, Balhar chuckled.

"He's a guy who never gives up and keeps moving forward."

Kiiiing-!

Leo narrowed his brows as his sword trembled.

'The sword can't hold up.'

Thinking that, Leo pushed an even stronger aura into his sword.

Clang-!

Leo's sword and Khar's sword exploded simultaneously.

As he became defenseless for a moment, Leo drew a dagger and swung it at Khar.

But Khar's fingertip reached Leo's eyes faster.

A hair's breadth difference.

But that small difference was significant.

Due to the nature of beast-folk, their entire bodies were weapons, but even if Khar had been human, Leo would have been subdued.

"Still no good, huh."

"No, I was really surprised. You've developed your skills to this extent."

Khar genuinely admired.

"If you used magic or summoning arts, you'd be truly terrifying."

He still couldn't defeat Khar with pure aura techniques alone.

Leo and Khar walked towards Balhar, talking.

"Your skill in handling flames has also increased a lot… you haven't just been idling around."

Balhar said calmly.

Before sparring with Khar, Leo had shown Balhar Dweno's flames, which he had inherited.

This was also Leo's own interpretation, not just an imitation of Dweno.

Leo's way of handling flames gave Balhar quite fresh inspiration.

It wasn't just Balhar.

Just as Leo was receiving evaluations from Khar and Balhar regarding his inherited power and setting a direction for his development.

Khar and Balhar were also being influenced by new interpretations.

While the Great Heroes conversed, the knight students fell into their own thoughts, recalling the sparring match from a moment ago.

"……"

Celia stared intently at Leo.

Iliana approached her.

"What are you staring at so much?"

"Nothing. Just…"

"Just?"

"Because it's familiar."

When Celia said that, recalling the flame aura Leo had wielded, Iliana's eyes widened.

"Did you fall for him?"

"It's not like that!"

"Hmm. I was interested in Leo too, but Celia, who had absolutely no interest in men, is interested in a man! How exciting!"

"I told you it's not like that."

"Leo! Celia here says she's fallen for you!"

"I said no!"

"Cough, cough, cough! I-I surrender! I surrender!"

"Surrender?! You already said something weird!"

Celia, with a flushed face, choked Iliana.

Watching Celia, Balhar grinned slyly.

"It must be nice to be so popular."

"Popularity, my foot."

Khar's eyes sparkling as he chuckled.

Perhaps thinking it was a golden opportunity to tease Leo, his eyes were rarely filled with mischief.

"We're teenagers now, so it doesn't matter much, does it?"

Watching Khar smile a little slyly, Leo spoke to Balhar.

"Hey, I can't get used to him like this."

"Isn't it all because of you?"

"Me? What did I do?"

"You've corrupted your innocent friend like this."

"Is that my fault? It's Luna's fault."

"Hmm… Is that so? Anyway, Rhea was lamenting. Saying Khar had changed."

"Tsk."

Chen Xia, who had been listening to the three's conversation from afar, spoke.

"It might sound a bit strange to say this, but."

"Hm?"

Celia, who had been punishing Iliana for a while, made a puzzled expression.

"Those three aren't much different from us."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Hmm… How should I put it?"

Chen Xia, who had been pondering for a moment with her index finger on her chin, said.

"Should I say they're human-like?"

"Of course they're human. What else would they be if not human?"

At Duran's words, Chen Xia shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, Miss Rhea, for example, is so perfect sometimes that she doesn't seem human. And those three are also very perfect people in their respective fields. So, I used to think they were like heroes from legends."

"From legends?"

"Yes. The Great Heroes."

"……"

Indeed, it was true.

Balhar was the Divine Blacksmith.

Khar was the Brave One.

Rune was the progenitor of the Nebula.

They were worthy of being called their reincarnations.

"But seeing them like that, I feel like they're people just like us. The Great Heroes must have been like that too, right?"

Chen Xia smiled gently.

That evening.

The Lumern students, finished with their daily tasks, enjoyed their sweet after-school activities.

Rhea, who had remained alone in the Hero's Tower student council office, watching the scene, sat down at her office desk.

On the desk was an immense amount of documents regarding all Lumern students.

'To help the children grow further, a complete re-evaluation is necessary.'

Rhea, admitting that she had suggested a wrong path, repeatedly reviewed the growth directions for the hero candidates.

It was a terrifying amount of work, almost impossible for one person to handle alone.

However, Rhea's knowledge and insight were turning that impossibility into possibility.

As Rhea was about to look at the next document.

Creak-

The door opened.

Rhea, seeing Leo holding mug cups in both hands, made a sullen expression.

"What? You haven't shown your face for a week, and now you appear?"

"Shouldn't you be happy to see me then?"

Leo shrugged, then approached Rhea and placed the mugs down.

He then sat perched on the desk and picked up one of the documents Rhea was looking at.

"This is about Celia, isn't it?"

Leo, who quickly skimmed through it, clicked his tongue in admiration.

"It's certainly impressive."

"What is?"

"Because it perfectly matches the growth direction I envisioned for our Celia."

"'Our' side, you say…"

Rhea smiled bitterly.

"You… are planning to go back, aren't you?"

To that question, Leo didn't answer and just sipped his coffee.

"Yes. That's right. Because it's a divided world."

"Even if I go back, the fact that I was Kyle and you were Lycinas, Luna, Arion, and Dweno remains unchanged."

Leo said calmly.

"It's just… the direction we have to go has split."

"Yes. That's right."

Rhea smiled gently.

"If you go back, be sure to defeat Erebus on that side. Because we will definitely defeat Erebus on this side too."

Saying that, Rhea leaned back deeply in her chair and smiled.

"Wanna bet? Who defeats him first?"

"It's 4-on-1, isn't it? I think I'd be overwhelmingly disadvantaged."

"Oh? You don't seem confident?"

Rhea propped her chin and giggled.

"Lycinas."

"Right now, I'm Rhea."

"I can't get used to that name, Rhea. Of all things, there's a kid in the year below Sayrun who has the same name as you."

"You mean Rhea Tingel, right? Rune teases me a lot because of her anyway."

"No doubt he'd tease in a childish way."

"Yeah."

Rhea, having grumbled lightly, looked up intently at Leo.

Leo, who was sitting on the desk looking at the outdoor scenery, made a puzzled expression.

"Why?"

"Leo. In your final moment… how did you feel?"

"Why are you suddenly asking that?"

"I suddenly became curious. You know our end, but we don't know yours, do we?"

"……"

It's still unforgettable.

No, even now, it's so vivid that he still dreams of it.

Every single image of his friends dying was etched into his mind.

'Feeling sorry, feeling regretful… And… they gave me their trust.'

This memory would probably not be forgotten until the day his second life ended.

"What was it like? Was there a sense of relief that you had kept your promise to us?"

He had achieved a feat close to impossible.

No matter that the Hero of the Beginning was Erebus's natural enemy and had inherited all the power of the Great Hero.

The final battle was a fight where victory was impossible.

Yet, Kyle ultimately won.

Rhea was incredibly proud of such a Leo.

It wasn't just Rhea.

All the other Great Heroes were proud of their friend, the savior of the world.

They felt more grateful than anyone to Kyle, who had repaid their trust.

"To be honest…"

"Yes."

"I despaired."

"Hm?"

At the unexpected answer, Rhea wore a slightly flustered expression.

Leo looked at Rhea with a bitter face.

He hadn't wanted to tell her honestly.

But he needed to be honest in front of Rhea.

"Because I couldn't end it completely and left a lingering threat for future generations."

"But that was…"

"Right. Even that was a miracle at the time. And it would have been okay to give trust to future generations. Just as you trusted me."

"……"

"But… I couldn't do that. So I despaired. Even until the moment I died."

"……"

"It's fortunate that I got a second chance. This time, I can finally put an end to it."

"The burden we passed on is still tormenting you."

Rhea bit her lip tightly.

Seeing Rhea, Leo waved his hand.

"Not at all."

"Hm?"

Rhea made a bewildered expression.

"At first, it was because of you all."

Leo chuckled.

"But not anymore."

Leo looked up at the night sky without a word.

"It seems you've found a reason to move forward."

"Yeah."

"I hope you achieve it."

"I will achieve it. It's nothing grand, really."

Leo looked out the window.

Rhea, who had been watching Leo, cleared her throat.

"Ahem! So? What are you doing tonight?"

"I'm going to review the parallel world theory."

"I'll help you."

"You?"

"Yeah. So."

Rhea propped her chin and smiled gently, looking up at Leo.

"Why don't we go to my room in a bit?"

"Smiling like that isn't good for my heart, you know?"

"Heh heh."

"Are you serious?"

"Did you think only Rune would be proactive?"

"Even so, to this extent…"

Bang-!

Before he could even finish speaking, the student council president's office door was roughly thrown open.

The one who opened the door and entered was none other than Rune.

Outside the door, Khar and Balhar were looking their way with excited expressions.

Rune, who approached directly in front with an expressionless face, raised his eyebrows.

"Isn't this just a lewd dragon?!"

"Haa. Why do you have to come now of all times?"

Rhea openly showed an annoyed expression.

As Leo stealthily tried to distance himself from the two, not wanting to get involved.

"Leo."

Khar approached Leo.

"How many children are you going to have?"

Rune, with a red face, screamed back.

"What do you mean 'have children'?!"

At Rune's words, Khar tilted his head.

"Why? I think a pretty child resembling Rhea and Leo would be born."

"Heh heh. Khar knows a thing or two."

"Knows a thing or two, my foot!"

Rune flared up.

"You! You darn beast! You've been pretending to be innocent until now, haven't you? Huh?"

Rune grabbed Khar by the collar and shook him wildly.

Leo, who had escaped from the student council office turning into chaos, spoke seriously.

"Old man. Don't call me an idiot or oblivious anymore."

"Those words suit you perfectly, but seeing Khar, I can't quite say that. Is he an idiot or just innocent?"

Balhar shook his head.

"Ugh! I cherished you like a younger brother, and you stab me in the back like this? Fine! You support Rhea and Leo, do you? Good! From today, you and I are enemies."

"Hm? I'm not specifically supporting only Leo and Rhea, though?"

Khar tilted his head.

"Can't Rune also have children with Leo? I think babies born between the two of you would be pretty too?"

"What?"

"You know I love babies, right? I hope both of you have many of Leo's children!"

Rhea and Rune's mouths hung open as they watched Khar smile brightly with an innocent face.

Leo, who had been watching the scene, mumbled blankly.

"To be able to say something like that so calmly with a smile. He's truly a Brave One."

"At that point, it looks like something beyond courage, doesn't it?"

Balhar let out a hollow laugh.

Rhea pressed her temples and asked Khar.

"So, you're saying Rune, Leo, and I should all live together?"

"Yeah! Is there a problem? Everyone did that 5000 years ago, didn't they? It was common for people to live like that if their hearts aligned, wasn't it?"

"That's true, but that was 5000 years ago. It couldn't be helped back then, but from today's perspective, it's a bit…"

Because no one knew when the world might end, there was a strong tendency to leave no regrets in relationships between men and women.

As such, it didn't align with the common sense of the present era.

"But we're people from 5000 years ago."

When Khar said that as if it was no big deal, Rhea's brows furrowed.

"You're not wrong, but… Ah… Seriously. My head hurts."

Rhea gave up on thinking deeply.

Rune's anger also subsided at Khar's sudden bombshell remark.

Then.

Crackling-

Suddenly, a sound of something freezing began to be heard right behind Leo.

Everyone's gaze turned to that spot.

What was formed there was none other than an ice mirror.

At that moment.

Thrust-!

A hand shot out from the mirror.

Grab-

The hand grabbed Leo's hand.

But it was only for a moment.

The hand from the ice mirror soon faded and disappeared along with the mirror.

Leo, who had been looking at the spot where the mirror disappeared, turned his head.

Rune and Khar were each holding Leo's arm and leg.

Seeing the two with anxious eyes, Leo looked at Rhea.

Rhea's eyes were also trembling.

Leo looked at Balhar last.

To that, Balhar muttered bitterly.

"It seems the allotted time won't be long."