Book 1 Chapter 913

The highest point of Seirune Academy.

The Plaza of Stars.

Located high in the sky by magic, this place was created in the distant past by Seirun, the wizard of comets, to observe the stars.

And in that place, representatives from each Hero Military Academy were currently gathered, conversing.

A gathering of the successors of great heroes, officially assembled.

The meeting place had to be equally special, hence the Plaza of Stars was permitted.

"Well then."

Runia coughed –! And said.

"Shall we begin the meeting?"

The agenda for today was to decide on the joint practical evaluation assignment for the first-year students.

"What kind of test would be good?"

At Runia's words, Argo raised his hand.

"To choose the strongest, how about a 1v1 free-for-all tournament?! Since it's happening in Azonia, we can build a coliseum and let the public know how outstanding the first-years are!"

If one were to pick the school most familiar with the public among the Hero Military Academies, it would be none other than Azonia.

Azonian students considered making themselves known to the public very important.

Their entrance exams were also open for the public to watch, and they held many tests in front of crowds.

In fact, the student council president of Azonia was also the champion of the student coliseum.

If the student council presidents of Lumern and Seirun were the unspoken strongest, Azonia was the officially recognized strongest.

As an exception, at Demian, the blacksmith with the greatest talent, not the strongest student, becomes the student council president.

To Argo's enthusiastic proposal, Runia flatly said.

"Rejected!"

"Why?"

Seeing Argo ask back with a displeased expression, Runia said.

"A 1v1 duel is unfair. It doesn't allow for the full assessment of the students' capabilities."

"Hmph. Are you afraid? Afraid that the Seirun kids will lose to ours?"

"What?!"

"Indeed! You can't beat me in a 1v1 either, can you?"

"Want to fight one round?"

"As you wish!"

As the two stood up abruptly, Leo said.

"Both of you, sit down."

At his words, the two obediently sat down.

Driana, who had been observing the situation, sided with Runia.

"I am also against a free-for-all. As Runia said, it's insufficient to grasp all of the first-years' capabilities."

Driana stroked her chin.

Seeing the small and seemingly cute Driana act like an elder, Leo muttered inwardly.

'I never get used to that, no matter how many times I see it.'

"First, there are four things we need to pay attention to."

Driana said in a serious voice.

"The teachings pursued by each Hero Military Academy."

At her words, Runia and Argo mumbled one after another.

"Believe in yourself."

"Move forward."

Continuing their words, Driana said.

"Pursue possibilities, and."

Finally, all eyes fell on Leo.

"Surpass limits."

Each Hero Military Academy, no.

The four values that the founding Heroes of Creation pursued most importantly.

"Although the values pursued by each school are different, they are, in fact, the most important virtues that a hero must possess."

A hero must believe in themselves and move forward.

They must surpass limits to turn the impossible into the possible.

"Furthermore."

"……?"

Driana looked at Leo with a serious face.

"I believe that this year's freshmen are almost evenly divided between the students of all Hero Military Academies, wouldn't you say?"

"Divided in half?"

"What do you mean?"

Runia and Argo looked puzzled at Driana's sudden remark.

"Isn't that right? Leo."

"It is. How did you know?"

"I am an artist, but I also work as a blacksmith on the side."

"No, that's your main job."

Leo corrected her, but Driana didn't listen.

"As a craftsman who works with metal, I can see what those who intend to make weapons are making them for."

Driana said, looking directly into Leo's eyes.

"And weapons for subjugating demons and monsters are fundamentally different from weapons for hunting people."

Leo was impressed.

"You can tell that?"

"I can."

It was indeed a talent that Dweino marveled at.

A talent specialized in crafting weapons like no other.

"This year's freshmen are split in half. Students who make weapons to subjugate demons and monsters, and students who make weapons to hunt people."

Upon hearing Driana's words, Runia and Argo also realized something.

"Half of Demian's freshmen this year are Shadow Candidates?"

"No. Wait. Our school too?"

To the two who were surprised, Leo said.

"Looking at it today, about half of Seirun seem to be Shadow Candidates as well?"

Leo looked at Argo.

"It's probably similar for Azonia. And Lumern too, of course."

The story that Shadow Candidates had enrolled in this year's Hero Military Academies had already been conveyed to the Shadow Lords of each race.

It was also conveyed that it was by the choice of the Shadow Candidates, not by order.

'It's a good phenomenon. They are breaking out of their shells on their own.'

Leo thought of a representative Shadow Candidate from Lumern.

'Perena Hergin.'

Eliza's younger sister.

In the case of hero families, they also nurture shadows independently.

Among them, there are cases where the position of shadow is entrusted to the most trustworthy person to protect the successor.

"I had no idea…"

Argo said in surprise, and Leo replied.

"There's still a lot of prejudice against shadows. So the first-years can't help but be cautious. Besides, there aren't many who have an identity as a shadow yet."

Chen Xia, who lived as a perfect shadow from a young age, is special; Shadow Candidates of student age are not yet complete shadows.

"In that sense, I think using the 'Book of Shadows' would be good."

"Book of Shadows?"

At Driana's words, Leo looked puzzled.

"That's right."

Driana nodded.

"To become stronger, don't we often use Hero Records? Even we have 'inherited' the power of many past heroes, excluding the power of the Great Heroes."

"Indeed…"

"To that extent, we are accustomed to navigating the world of heroes, but we are not accustomed to navigating the world of shadows."

Driana said, crossing her arms.

"If believing in oneself, moving forward, and surpassing limits to make the impossible possible is the virtue of a hero… then experiencing the unknown would be the best way to test that virtue."

At Driana's words, Leo smiled and asked.

"Wouldn't that be advantageous for those from shadow backgrounds?"

"Hah. Leo, you certainly have a mischievous side. You're always testing things. Of course, we should mix the groups."

"Mix the groups?"

"That's right. If we assign the Book of Shadows as a practical assignment, those from shadow backgrounds will lead the conquest. However, even though they have been trained as shadows, they have never been trained to conquer the trials that shadows have faced, so it would be of great help. Hero candidates will also realize the importance of shadows."

Hearing that, Runia fell into thought.

"Indeed, due to the world of legions, the Hero Hunters will further increase their strength. Conquering the Book of Shadows will be of great help not only to the first-years but also to other upperclassmen."

"Hmm! The problem is whether the Shan Empire will allow it or not…!"

Argo crossed his arms, wagged his tail, and looked at Leo.

"Black Rabbit! It's your turn to step in! Besides, Xia has inherited the throne of the Shan Emperor!"

"It hasn't been completely abdicated yet, but I'll still ask the Emperor of Shan."

Leo said nonchalantly, thinking of Shau.

"I don't think they'll object."

***

That night.

Clang-! Clang-!

Hwa-reureuk-!

The weapon workshop at Seirune Academy.

Fitting for Seirune, which prioritized magic until recently, Seirune's workshop was located in a remote part of the school grounds.

The workshop's scale was also small.

However, the tools in the forge were all top-notch.

The individuals who resided there, crafting and repairing weapons, were also highly skilled.

Under the watchful eyes of the elf artisans, Driana was striking a weapon in front of the furnace.

Clang-! Clang-!

The weapon Driana was striking was a seemingly ordinary longsword.

But it was by no means an ordinary longsword.

Clang-!

Golden flames leaped in all directions.

The elf artisans watching the scene let out exclamations of admiration.

It was Dweino's flame, inherited by Driana.

With every swing of the hammer, Dweino's flame permeated the longsword.

Clang-!

She struck it passionately as if expecting a response, but the longsword did not answer.

Hooook-!

Eventually, the golden flames subsided.

Driana brought her hand to the longsword's blade.

Her hands trembled from exerting all her strength.

Her hand touched the sword's blade.

But the blade was only cold.

'It's not coming to life.'

Driana sighed deeply.

Then she turned around.

There, Leo stood with his arms crossed, his eyes closed.

Driana, after packing up her sword, approached Leo.

"Hey, Leo, it's over."

At her words, Leo opened one eye and stood up.

"How was it?"

"As you said, Fosteritas is not coming to life."

Driana smiled bitterly.

"Whether it comes to life or not is beside the point. This sword is a fake."

The pitch-black cloak that Lumern obtained by conquering Kyle's world.

Among Dweino's weapons slumbering within it, one of them.

They were, of course, fakes.

After bidding farewell to the elf artisans, they went outside, and a cold blizzard blew in.

Driana, feeling the heat dissipate, said.

"Doesn't it come to life when your hand touches it?"

Moreover, these were items that only displayed their abilities when Leo's touch was upon them.

Driana wanted to make these items capable of displaying their abilities even under normal circumstances.

Especially Fosteritas, which was Dweino's last weapon and the first weapon he acknowledged as a masterpiece.

She felt a strong desire not just to witness it from the sidelines but to use it herself.

She believed that even if she couldn't fully draw out the sword's power, using it would provide great inspiration.

But sadly, in Driana's hands, Fosteritas was merely an ordinary longsword.

That's why she attempted to restore it, hoping to activate its abilities even as a fake, but it didn't respond.

"Perhaps Lord Demian could make it happen."

"Demian…"

At Driana's words, Leo suddenly looked puzzled.

"Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever heard about any weapons left behind by Demian?"

As Dweino's successor, he must have created many great weapons, even if not divine-class items.

But as far as Leo knew, there were no items made by Demian.

"There were many of Dweino's weapons stored at Demian Academy, weren't there? Are Demian's weapons also stored?"

Seeing Leo's puzzled expression, Driana said.

"Ah, that is."

"Yes."

"There probably aren't any."

"What?"

"There's a rumor that Lord Demian, who founded Demian Academy, is a 'fake'."

Leo looked surprised at the unexpected words.

"A fake?"

"That's right. Well. It's just a legend, but still. In any case, there are no officially recorded weapons left by Lord Demian."