Book 1 Chapter 913

913.

The highest point of Seirun Academy.

Star Plaza.

This place, located high in the sky by magic, was a place created by Seirun, the Comet Mage, in the distant past to observe the stars.

And at that place, representatives from each Hero Academy were currently gathered, discussing.

A place where the successors of the Great Heroes officially gathered.

As such, the meeting place also had to be special, which is why the Star Plaza was permitted.

"Alright, then."

Lunia cleared her throat, "Ahem-!" and said.

"Shall we begin the meeting?"

Today's agenda was to decide the joint practical evaluation task for the first-year students.

"What kind of test would be good to conduct?"

At Lunia's words, Ar raised his hand.

"How about holding a 1:1 martial arts tournament to choose the strongest?! Since it's happening in Azonia, we could build a coliseum and let the public know about the first-year students' excellence!"

If you were to choose the academy most intimate with the public among the various Hero Academies, it would be none other than Azonia.

Azonia's students regarded making themselves known to the public as very important.

The entrance exams are also open for public viewing, and many tests are conducted in front of people.

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

If the student council presidents of Lumerin and Seirun were the implicit strongest, then Azonia's was the official strongest.

Exceptionally, in Demian's case, the most outstanding blacksmith, not the strongest student, becomes the student council president.

To Ar's enthusiastic suggestion, Lunia bluntly said.

"Dismissed!"

"Why?"

Lunia looked at Ar, who asked back with a dissatisfied expression, and said.

"1:1 duels are unfair. We can't verify all of the students' capabilities."

"Hmph. You're scared, aren't you? That Seirun's kids will lose to ours?"

"Huh?!"

"Well! You can't beat me in a 1:1 either, can you?"

"Shall we have a go?!"

"Exactly what I wanted!"

As the two people sprang up from their seats, Leo said.

"Both of you, sit down."

At his words, the two people obediently sat down.

Driana, who had been watching the situation, sided with Lunia.

"I also oppose the martial arts tournament. As Lunia said, it's insufficient to grasp all the capabilities of the first-year students."

Driana stroked her chin.

Leo mumbled to himself, seeing the diminutive and visibly cute Driana acting like an old man.

'I can't get used to that every time I see it.'

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

Driana said in a serious voice.

"The teachings that each Hero Academy pursues."

At her words, Lunia and Ar mumbled in turn.

"Believe in yourself."

"Move forward."

Following their words, Driana said.

"Pursue possibilities, and."

Finally, everyone's gaze fell on Leo.

"Overcome your limits."

Each Hero Academy, no.

The four values that the founding Heroes of Creation prioritized.

"While each school pursues different values, in fact, they are all primary virtues that a hero must possess."

A hero must believe in themselves and move forward.

And must overcome limits to make the impossible possible.

"Furthermore."

"……?"

Driana looked at Leo with a serious face.

"I believe this year's freshmen will be almost evenly divided among all Hero Academy students, don't you think?"

"Divided evenly?"

"What do you mean?"

At Driana's sudden words, Lunia and Ar looked puzzled.

"Isn't that right? Leo."

"It probably is. How did you know?"

"I am an artist, but I also work as a blacksmith as a sideline."

"No, that's your main job."

Leo corrected him at his words, but Driana didn't listen.

"As a craftsman who strikes metal, I can see why those who intend to make weapons are making them."

Driana looked directly into Leo's eyes and said.

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

Leo was impressed.

"You can tell that?"

"I can tell."

Indeed, it was a talent that Dweno admired.

A talent more specialized than anyone else in making armaments.

"This year's freshmen are evenly split, you see. Between freshmen who make weapons to subjugate demons and monsters, and freshmen who make weapons to hunt people."

Listening to Driana's words, Lunia and Ar also realized something.

"You mean half of Demian's freshmen this year are Shadow candidates?"

"No. Wait. Our school too?"

Leo said to the two surprised individuals.

"From what I saw today, about half of Seirun's students also seemed to be Shadow candidates?"

Leo looked at Ar.

"Azonia will be similar. Lumerin, too, of course."

He had already heard from the Shadow Lords of each race that Shadow candidates would be enrolling in the Hero Academy this year.

And that it was by the Shadow candidates' choice, not by command.

'It's a good phenomenon. Because they are breaking their own shells and coming out.'

Leo recalled Lumerin's representative Shadow candidate.

'Perena Hergin.'

Eliza's younger sister.

In the case of noble hero families, they sometimes cultivate shadows themselves.

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

"I had no idea……"

When Ar spoke in surprise, Leo said.

"Prejudices against shadows still remain strong. So, the first-year students naturally have to be cautious. Plus, there are still only a few who have fully embraced their identity as a shadow."

Chen Xia, who has lived as a perfect shadow since childhood, is special; shadow candidates around student age are not yet complete shadows.

"In that sense, I wonder if we should utilize the 'Book of Shadows'."

"Book of Shadows?"

At Driana's words, Leo looked puzzled.

"Indeed."

Driana nodded her head.

"Don't we often use Hero Records to become stronger? We, too, have 'inherited' the powers of various past heroes, excluding the powers of the Great Heroes themselves."

"Certainly……"

"As such, we are used to conquering the world of heroes, but not accustomed to conquering the world of shadows."

Driana, with her arms crossed, said.

"If believing in oneself, moving forward, and overcoming limits to make the impossible possible are the virtues of a hero… then experiencing the unknown would be the best way to test those virtues."

At Driana's words, Leo smiled slightly and asked.

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

"Hah. Leo. You certainly have a mischievous side. You try to test things at the slightest provocation. Of course, we should mix the teams."

"Mix the teams?"

"Indeed. If the Book of Shadows is given as a practical assignment, those from shadow backgrounds will lead the charge. However, even if they have received training as shadows, they probably haven't been trained to tackle the trials experienced by shadows, so it would be a great help. Hero candidates will also realize the importance of shadows."

Hearing those words, Lunia fell into thought.

"Certainly, because of the world of the Legion, Hero Hunters will grow even stronger. Tackling the Book of Shadows will be a great help not only for the first-year students but also for other upperclassmen."

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

Ar crossed his arms, wagged his tail gently, and looked at Leo.

"Black Rabbit! It's your turn to step up! After all, Xia has also inherited the throne of Shan!"

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

Leo calmly recalled Shau and said.

"They probably won't object."

***

That night.

Clang-! Clang-!

Whoosh-!

The weapons workshop at Seirun Academy.

True to Seirun, which prioritized magic until recently, Seirun's workshop was located in a secluded part of the school grounds.

The scale of the workshop was also small.

Nevertheless, all the tools in the blacksmith's forge were top-grade.

Those who resided there, creating and repairing armaments, also possessed exceptional skill.

With such elf artisans watching, Driana was forging a weapon in front of the hearth.

Clang-! Clang-!

The armament Driana was forging was an ordinary-looking longsword.

But it was by no means an ordinary longsword.

Clang-!

Golden flames scattered in all directions.

The elf artisans watching the scene burst into exclamations of admiration.

That was Dweno's flame, inherited by Driana.

With each strike of the hammer, Dweno's flame permeated the longsword.

Clang-!

She passionately hammered, as if hoping for a response, but the longsword did not answer.

Whoosh-!

Soon, the golden flames died down.

Driana reached out her hand to the longsword.

Her hand trembled from pouring all her strength into it.

Her hand touched the blade of the longsword.

But the blade was only cold.

'It won't awaken.'

Driana sighed deeply.

And looked back.

There, Leo was standing with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

Driana picked up the sword and approached Leo.

"Hey, Leo, I'm finished."

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

"How is it?"

"As you said, Posteritas won't awaken."

Driana gave a bitter smile.

"There's no 'awaken or not.' This sword is a fake."

The jet-black cloak Lumerin obtained by conquering Kail's world.

One of Dweno's armaments that lay dormant within it.

Naturally, they were fakes.

After greeting the elf artisans, as she stepped outside, a chilling blizzard swept in.

Driana, feeling the heat fade, said.

"Doesn't it awaken when your touch reaches it?"

Moreover, these were items that only displayed their abilities when touched by Leo.

Driana wanted to make those items capable of displaying their abilities even during normal times.

Especially, Posteritas was Dweno's last armament and the first armament Dweno recognized as a masterpiece.

She felt a strong desire to use it herself rather than just observe.

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

Unfortunately, in Driana's hands, Posteritas was merely an ordinary longsword.

That's why she attempted to restore it, hoping to revive its abilities even as a fake, but it showed no response.

"Lord Demian might be able to do it."

"Demian, you say……"

At Driana's words, Leo suddenly wore a puzzled expression.

"Now that you mention it, I don't recall ever hearing about armaments left behind by Demian?"

As Dweno's successor, he must have created many great armaments, even if not divine-grade items.

But as far as Leo knew, Demian had made no items.

"Demian Academy had a lot of Dweno's armaments stored, didn't it? Are Demian's armaments also stored there?"

Driana looked at Leo, who had a puzzled expression, and said.

"Ah, about that."

"Hm?"

"They probably don't have any."

"What?"

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

At the unexpected words, Leo showed a surprised expression.

"A fake?"

"Indeed. Well, it's just an unofficial story. Anyway, Lord Demian officially left behind no armaments."