Chapter 262

262

Leo looked down at the dwarf who was staring up at him with an expression of utter bewilderment.

“n*de model?”

He was at a loss for words.

“What nonsense is this? Who are you?”

“My name is Driana! I’m the greatest artist ever born in Dweronia!”

‘Dwenno.’

To dwarves, the idea that Leo was the reincarnation of the great hero Kyle, who had saved the world alongside Dwenno, was almost an infinite honor.

But to Leo, the name Dwenno was synonymous with perversion.

It couldn’t be helped.

Dwenno, who claimed to praise beauty, was more interested in creating beautiful works of art than in making weapons.

This dwarf, who introduced herself as Driana, resembled that strange Dwenno in many ways.

Driana spread her arms wide and formed a rectangle with her thumb and forefingers.

Then, with one eye closed, she looked at Leo through it.

“Snow-white hair. Ruby-like eyes. A boy with an outstanding appearance but one who carries an air of maturity.”

Driana wore a satisfied expression.

“If I were to use you as a model, I am certain a magnificent work of art would be created.”

After hearing Driana’s words, Leo nodded and left without hesitation.

It was best to keep your distance from perverts.

Moreover, it was clear that communication with dwarves of Dwenno’s kind wouldn’t work.

At Leo’s merciless reaction, Driana hurriedly approached him.

“Wait, listen. Of course, it’s not for free.”

Due to the height difference between humans and dwarves, as Leo walked briskly, Driana had to trot along behind.

“You’re a student of Lumeran, aren’t you? You must have come here to Demian for your exclusive blacksmith.”

Driana smiled faintly.

“I’ll become your exclusive blacksmith! Despite appearances… hey! Stop there!”

Driana desperately shouted towards Leo, who was fleeing at full speed.

However, her cry only echoed uselessly.

Having shaken off Driana, Leo stopped in the middle of the street and turned around.

“What a strange guy I’ve got myself involved with.”

Recalling Driana’s peculiar gaze, Leo clicked his tongue.

“Judging by what he said, he must be a student of Demian, right?”

While it was questionable what kind of skills this person possessed as a smith, based on his demeanor, Driana was undoubtedly a highly skilled individual.

“He seems to be around my age. Considering his skill at that age, he must definitely be a student of Demian.”

As Leo speculated about Driana’s identity, he thought he’d likely meet her again in Demian.

“Leo!”

Kal’s urgent voice was heard.

“What’s up?”

As Leo wore a puzzled expression, Kal cried out with a pale face.

“It’s bad! Very bad! Right now, our school is in a fight with Azonia!”

“What? Why?”

“They kidnapped Chloe!”

At this, Leo furrowed his brow.

“Why would Azonia kidnap Chloe?”

“That I don’t know! Anyway, after hearing the news, Celina, Chen Sia, and Duran immediately stormed into the temporary dormitory of Azonia kids and are causing chaos!!”

Leo’s eyes narrowed.

Each hero academy has its own emblematic motto.

Lumeran strives to challenge and surpass limits.

Seirun stands tall and noble above all.

Demian, unyielding with a will of steel.

Lastly, Azonia……

‘Struggle.’

Through struggle, ultimate strength is attained.

That is Azonia’s motto.

Ar once told Leo something like this:

“Azonia never mocks failure. Even if they lose but continue the fight, they aren’t truly defeated. They’re praised as brave warriors.”

Ar crossed his arms and let out a proud snort.

“Conversely, if someone runs away after losing just once, they are criticized as cowards.”

Ar continued with a gleam in his eye.

“Lord Aron never fled even once!”

“Lord Aron fled more than anyone else, actually.”

Having thought this far, Leo said:

“For now, we should find Chloe.”

“I agree. But finding Chloe in this vast Dweronia won’t be so……”

At that moment, a colossal ice pillar surged high not far from where Leo and Kal were standing.

Kal’s eyes widened.

“Found her.”

Leo smirked and headed toward the ice pillar.

A large crowd had formed around it.

“What the heck is going on?”

“Isn’t this the inn where beastmen frequently pass through?”

The dwarves looked around in amazement.

“Despite this city facing constant accidents from weapon forging, they seem calm.”

Kal stuck out his tongue at the serene reaction of the dwarves upon arriving at the source of the commotion.

This floating city, Dwenoria, was also the largest producer of magical artifacts in the world.

Given that dwarves, known for their master craftsmanship, constantly seek innovation, magical mishaps were incessant.

‘It’s no wonder why Professor Ren begged to come here.’

As Kal recalled Ren in his mind, he made his way through the crowd of dwarves.

“Excuse me, let me through.”

Pushing through a group of dwarves who only reached his chest was unexpectedly tough.

‘Isn’t it like going through a field of boulders?’

Given the tremendous natural strength of dwarves, Kal’s legs ached significantly.

“What are you doing?”

Kal looked up.

Seeing Leo floating there using the Fly magic, Kal wore a gloomy expression.

“Sometimes, Chelsea’s words feel true, and it’s sad.”

“What?”

“She often calls me an idiot, doesn’t she?”

Kal expressed his melancholy and approached the front using the Fly magic.

Crash—Crack—Crack—

The inn door opened, and Chloe stepped out.

“Hmph! They were being unruly.”

“If you had told me, I wouldn’t have worried.”

As Kal grumbled at the sight, Chloe smiled.

“Would you like me to turn you into a frozen person like them?”

At Chloe’s question, Kal quickly hid behind Leo.

“We heard you were kidnapped, so we were worried, but I’m glad you’re safe.”

“There was no such thing as a kidnapping. I just followed them smoothly to avoid unnecessary commotion.”

Chloe snorted.

Seeing this, Leo smiled faintly.

“Still, I’m worried.”

Upon seeing Leo’s smile, Chloe momentarily looked flustered and turned her head, fanning her face.

“Ho? Ho? Did our ice queen turn into a bashful princess?”

“Do you want to be frozen?”

Chloe’s hand shimmered with a terrifying frost, causing Kal to beg for mercy.

“Hehehe! I’m sorry!”

Observing them, Leo stated:

“Kal, inform the other students from our school that Chloe is safe.”

“And what about you?”

“I’ll head to the temporary dormitories of the Azonia students.”

“No. Leo, of all people, you shouldn’t go to the Azonia side anytime soon—it’ll cause major trouble.”

“Why?”

“Azonia has put a bounty on you.”

“A bounty?”

“Yes.”

The actual reason Chloe willingly let herself be captured by Wern wasn’t just to avoid causing a commotion in the middle of the street or to infiltrate their base—it was because the Azonia students were luring Leo using her as bait.

‘The Azonia students actually tried to lure Leo using a decoy.’

The simplicity of Azonia students was well-known even in Lumeran.

Chloe, having heard a lot about Azonia students from her seniors in the Department of Magic, was very aware of their nature.

Even if they were simple, the fact that they went as far as to capture someone who was aiming to be a representative of the second year was no small matter.

It wasn’t simply a duel between students; this could escalate into a problem between the schools.

‘The situation is already bad enough.’

Chloe glanced at the inn she had been in.

‘But I didn’t do anything wrong.’

She had merely frozen some arrogant beastmen.

‘Yeah, anyone would agree it was self-defense.’

Regardless, they took such risks to fight Leo.

When Chloe slightly nudged Wern, he spilled everything about why the Azonia students were targeting Leo.

“The Principal of Azonia has promised the privilege of conquering ‘The Hero’s Realm’ to the student who defeats you first.”

“The Hero’s Realm?”

Kal wore a shocked expression.

“That means they’re probably more interested in you than in forging contracts with a smith, right?”

“Still, I have to go. There are three of them causing chaos over there, so I need to bring them back.”

“Three people?”

Chloe tilted her head.

“Celina, Chen Sia, and Duran rushed to the Azonia students’ dormitory to save you.”

“Ah…!”

Chloe wore an alarmed expression.

“In that case, I’ll go!”

“No need. You should show your face to the students from our school and calm them down first.”

“What if I go alone?”

Kal asked worriedly, and Leo smirked.

“Don’t worry. I’m quite capable of handling beastmen.”

“How exactly do you handle them?”

At Kal’s question, Leo raised his left hand and clenched it into a fist.

“Are you serious…?”

“Yes.”

Leo grinned coldly.

“It’s the fist.”

*

Crackling electrical energy swirled around Duran’s body.

The towering beastman swung an enormous greatsword at Duran.

Flash! BOOM!

The thunder emitted from Duran’s longsword shocked an Azonia student.

“Ho? You humans actually have spirit! It’s no wonder Lumeran is known as the golden generation of heroes!! Haha! I’m thrilled!”

The tiger beastman, who was nearly half a head taller than Duran, flicked his enormous tiger tail.

“But alas, our elements are incompatible.”

Borman, ranked fifth among the second-year Azonia students, smirked.

“My aura specialty is armament.”

Borman’s body turned into steel.

“If your friends’ auras were fire or water, it might have been different, but lightning is simply absorbed by me.”

Crackle!

Lightning surged through Borman’s greatsword.

Like a lightning rod.

The lightning flowing through Borman’s body converged into one point.

He then redirected the attack back at Duran.

Crackling electrical energy surged through Duran’s body.

Smoke rose as he was electrocuted.

With an unchanging expression, Duran held his sword steady.

Impressed by this, Borman muttered.

“It’s been a while since I’ve felt this excited.”

Leaning his giant sword on his shoulder, Borman narrowed his eyes.

“But you’ve already reached your limit. Moreover, with our incompatible elements, it’s best to leave things to your friends. How about it?”

“Who considers them friends?”

Duran smirked in his characteristic cynical manner.

“What?”

“They’re enemies that need to be felled.”

At Duran’s statement, Borman looked confused.

“Is Lumeran also about ‘struggle,’ just like us?”

“Tch. Do we look like we’d stoop to your kind of ignorance?”

Duran sneered.

Meanwhile, an Azonia girl spoke up.

“Do we need to stop them?”

Swinging her fox tail lightly as she approached, she pulled it between her legs and sat on it like a chair, grooming its tip.

“That fool is simply brutish. If he goes overboard in his excitement, that handsome idiot is in danger.”

At this, Celina flipped her hair.

“What a perfect match among simpletons.”

“Does that handsome guy really look like a simpleton to you?”

Celina’s comment made Ruwen tilt her head in question.

At this, Chen Sia laughed.

“Duran is the most unintelligent among our classmates in the Department of Knights.”

“And yet, whenever there’s an opportunity, rather than simply defeating the opponent with efficiency, he indulges unnecessarily. Pathetic.”

Celina snorted.

At this, Ruwen turned her gaze to Duran.

Fifth-ranked in the second-year Azonia class, Borman possessed the aura ability to turn his whole body into steel, making him a perfect counter to Duran, who wielded lightning.

‘Where exactly is Duran overreaching himself?’

Borman also narrowed his eyes.

“Even rivals should appreciate help when it’s offered, no?”

“Tch. Chen Sia might help with her overbearing ways. She acts like an elder.”

“Excuse me, but I am older than Duran.”

Chen Sia muttered under her breath.

“Even if it’s genuinely dangerous, he won’t help.”

Duran smirked coldly.

“Because it would be beneath my pride.”

“Magnificent.”

Borman was impressed.

“This duel tastes even better now. Before facing Leo Flove, I’m pleased to have such a worthy opponent?”

“Foolish talk.”

“What?”

“You Azonia students seem to value no one but Leo Flove.”

Borman only considered Duran as an appetizer before facing Leo.

Under normal circumstances, Duran would have felt irritated.

But…

“I understand. The guy is worth it, after all.”

Duran felt no irritation.

Rather…

“There’s a growing anticipation.”

Duran looked at Borman with his characteristic arrogant gaze.

“How far down will you people fall, who have no knowledge of Leo Flove?”

Duran glanced at the Azonia students around him.

“Tch. A truly formidable opponent would be welcome. We are the descendants of the great hero Aron.”

Borman snorted.

“An overwhelming opponent is always welcome. But it seems you’ve become disheartened by Leo Flove. I held you in a bit higher regard before, Duran Moira, thinking perhaps you might be a warrior like us. But it seems you’re just a coward frightened by overwhelming strength. Pathetic!”

Duran felt no irritation at Borman’s mockery.

Nor did he get angry.

‘So, you were desperate.’

Crackle…

‘Let it be visible.’

Crackle-crackle-crackle…

‘Let the gap between us be clearly visible the more you struggle.’

Flash!

‘The gap, the distance.’

“Idiot.”

Snap!

“…?”

At Borman’s mockery, Duran reached out and gripped Borman’s face.

‘It may be something I’ll never overcome in my lifetime. But…’

Crackle-crackle-crackle-crackle!

‘Will I give up?’

“GGGGGGGGG!”

Intense sparks surged from Duran’s body.

His veins were prominently visible.

But Duran smiled.

“Cutting you down for being overconfident is quite simple. But do you know why I’m using ‘aura’ to deal with someone like you?”

With his eyes rolled back, Duran spoke to the unconscious Borman.

“It’s to show you a glimpse of the difference in our levels.”

Clang! Thud!

Borman fell unconscious, foaming at the mouth.

Had it been a proper battle, he wouldn’t have suffered such a disgrace.

But Borman paid the full price for underestimating his opponent.

“Courage and recklessness are different. Self-proclaimed descendants of the hero.”

Just as Duran mocked them,

“That guy is truly remarkable. He doesn’t know the meaning of giving up. He’s tenacious.”

Celina smirked as she looked at Duran.

“Duran will never give up. Neither will you, Celina, as you will continue to pursue him, right?”

“Of course.”

“Are you referring to Leo Flove?”

Ruwen tilted her head in question.

“Is he really that remarkable?”

“That kind of praise is inadequate. Watching him makes me feel inferior. Maybe it’s something we might never achieve in a lifetime.”

Chen Sia smiled faintly as she spoke.

“Still, the will not to give up is admirable.”

Looking at Duran alone was enough to understand their strength.

‘Leo Flove appears to be even more of a monster than we imagined.’

“The courage of the hero is the exclusive trait of beastmen, isn’t it? But watching you all, it seems otherwise.”

Ruwen’s comment made Chen Sia smile faintly.

“Isn’t our mindset slightly different from courage?”

“Yes.”

“The Great Hero of the beastmen is respected, even now, since we were young. But I feel humans must follow a different role model.”

“Ah.”

Ruwen realized who Chen Sia was referring to.

“The Hero of Beginning.”

“Yes. The Ancestor has told us.”

Chen Sia looked at Duran and spoke.

“In the impossible battle, the one who showed the most courage was Lord Aron. And the trust that held through endless battles was in the unbreakable armaments of Lord Dwenno. The wisdom that led impossible battles to victory came from Lord Lissinas. And the one who turned the tide of impossible battles was our ancestor himself.”

Ruwen’s eyes widened.

The Descent of the Ancestor.

An event that still makes the entire continent buzz even now.

“And.”

With a sly look back, Celina teased,

“They say Lord Kyle never gave up. Didn’t you hear that?”

“Didn’t Luna say that?”

At the sudden appearance of Leo, Ruwen wore an astonished expression.

‘When did he arrive?’

“Yes, we all heard it. Are you envious?”

Celina giggled and teased Leo.

At this, Leo gave a bitter smile.

‘Did that idiot actually say that?’

“If the hero candidate of Azonia carries on the legacy of Lord Aron, then the hero candidate of Lumeran must carry on the legacy of Lord Kyle.”

Chen Sia smiled faintly as she looked at Leo.

“We will never give up. In following Lord Leo.”