Chapter 33

【33】32

The entire first-year class had gathered in the grand hall.

The bustling noise of teenage students chatting filled the entire grand hall.

In the midst of this, associate professors and teaching assistants emerged to prepare for the class.

Soon after the preparations were completed, one associate professor spoke.

“Everyone, please quiet down. Class is about to begin!”

“Yes.”

The students responded to the teaching assistants.

The noise decreased somewhat but did not disappear entirely.

Teenagers, who loved playing with their friends, weren’t the type to be silenced by just one adult’s request.

The associate professors knew this but chose not to reprimand further.

This was because today’s class would be conducted by none other than Professor Artian Nier.

“Everyone! I’m sorry for being late!”

Professor Artian entered the grand hall, ascended the podium, and apologized.

Thud!

“Ahk!”

She tripped over her feet and stumbled.

At this moment, all the students straightened their postures and became quiet.

Professor Artian, who looked embarrassed, rubbed her knee as she headed to the center of the podium.

Artian Nier.

Currently, the most feared professor among the first-year students.

The reason was simple.

If anyone talked during her class, they would immediately receive physical punishment.

Of course, it wasn’t by her intention but rather the doing of the impetuous spirits contracted to Professor Artian.

Because of this, students would tense up just at the sight of Professor Artian.

With her mere presence controlling the students, Artian clapped her hands and smiled brightly.

“Indeed, our students are good! To be so quiet in front of the professor like this!”

The optimistic Artian simply believed the students were good.

“Last class, we spoke about the history of hero families. Before today’s lesson, let’s review some of the content we’ve learned.”

Artian began her lesson.

“Can anyone explain why hero families were able to form after the emergence of Hero Record?”

Several hands shot up in response.

Beyond her fearsome reputation, she was a good professor.

She explained complex concepts clearly and gave scores generously.

Compared to some professors who were overly strict and even deducted points, Artian’s lessons were worth participating in.

Even Kal enthusiastically raised his hand.

“Kal from Class 5?”

“Yeah!”

Kal cheered silently as he stood up.

“Hero Record requires an object deeply related or tied to a hero’s history to open their Hero’s World. The descendants of heroes naturally inherit relics from their ancestors, making it easier for them to access the Hero’s World!”

“You’re correct. Five points for Kal.”

Kal grinned happily as he sat back down.

“Though having the key to open the Hero’s World, the records of heroes are stored in the Hero Record preserved at Lumeran Academy. This is also one of the reasons for their deep connection.”

“For heroes without any relics before the emergence of the Hero’s World, items related to the heroes can be obtained through the excavation and exploration of ruins.”

The Hero Record, existing since the Era of Catastrophe, has pages that only exist without the ability to open a Hero’s World.

“Not all relics of the same hero can open all their pages. Therefore, excavation is one of the most important activities in today’s world after the strategic approach of Hero Dungeons. Moreover, hero dungeons created by rampant forces provide rewards but often lead to unstable inheritances of power. Now, here’s another question.”

Artian turned to the students again.

“Besides what I’ve explained, can anyone discuss the importance of hero studies?”

Once again, many students enthusiastically raised their hands.

“Durand from Class 1?”

“Clues for conquering Hero Worlds.”

“That’s right. Five points for Durand.”

Durand calmly sat back down.

“Hero Worlds represent the trials faced by past heroes. Even knowing the history of a hero, these worlds can present insurmountable challenges. Many have lost their lives here. That’s why even small hints or stories can be crucial keywords for conquest.”

Students studied heroology primarily for this reason.

“When you reach the upper years, each of you will choose a hero to inherit their power and challenge their page. It would also be wise to find a hero who matches your disposition by then.”

Iliana gave a light round of applause.

“Now, let’s proceed with the homework presentations.”

Last week, Artian had assigned homework to all the first-year students.

Of course, the homework wasn’t particularly difficult.

They were to think about what they wanted to do as a hero and present it during the next heroology class.

Although it seemed simple, for those who dreamed of being heroes, it was crucial to establish their ideal image of heroism.

Since everyone had entered Lumeran with serious intentions, the first-years had spent their weekends deeply considering this assignment.

“Now, let’s start with Class 1.”

The students from Class 1 hesitantly glanced at each other.

It was embarrassing to speak about their heroic goals in front of hundreds of people.

“Class 1, no need to be shy! Your goals are your guides! Declaring them proudly in front of others is something to be proud of… urgh!”

“Now it’s Artian’s class. It’s not your time to speak.”

“Professor Sedgen! Please! Artian is already timid enough!”

Unable to bear watching Class 1 hesitate, Professor Sedgen enthusiastically cheered, only to be stopped by other homeroom professors.

At that moment, Celia stood up.

Upright and confident, she brushed her hair back smoothly and declared boldly.

“I wish to surpass the knights of previous generations of our house.”

For a member of a hero family, there could be no greater or weightier aspiration than this.

“Wow! That’s a truly admirable goal!”

Next, Chloe stood.

“I want to create an original magic book with my personalized spells.”

“An ambitious goal befitting a mage.”

Starting with Celia, students one by one shared their goals.

Though hesitant at first, once they started speaking, there was no stopping them.

Homeroom professors observing from behind carefully listened to their students’ presentations.

They well understood that this short speech revealed the path each student intended to pursue.

Eventually, it was Class 5’s turn.

“I want to support heroes.”

Upon hearing Kal’s declaration, Artian looked surprised, but quickly smiled in understanding.

“Kal wants to be the one supporting heroes, it seems.”

“Yes.”

While most students did not understand his decision to become a supporter early on, most professors viewed Kal’s choice positively.

As Kal sat down, Leo’s turn came.

Leo stood calmly and declared,

“My goal is the complete eradication of Erebus.”

A sudden silence filled the grand hall.

Artian was shocked, and the students looked perplexed as they stared at Leo.

The complete eradication of Erebus.

This was no personal ambition, but a long-standing desire of the world that began during the Era of Catastrophe.

Yet, even the Great Heroes had failed, and uttering such hopes aloud was considered foolish and earned ridicule.

It was understandable then, that Leo had revealed this without hesitation.

“Ah um…! That’s an impressive goal!”

Artian managed to regain her composure and gave him a smile.

“Isn’t that dream too far-fetched?”

“Long ago, there was a foolish guy who had a dream like that.”

Leo, resting his chin on his hand, smirked.

“At some point, I was moved by those foolish words and decided to take up this dream.”

Listening to Leo’s incomprehensible words, Kal looked perplexed and then chuckled.

“Someone aiming for such a great endeavor needs an excellent supporter, right?”

“I’m counting on you, Kal.”

*

“The ambitions of the grade representative seem extraordinary.”

One of the homeroom professors muttered as they watched the first-year presentations.

“Isn’t it too much like a joke?”

“Isn’t Leo under the guidance of Professor Halind? I doubt he’d joke around in such a setting.”

“Still, isn’t this ambition far-fetched?”

The professors were divided in their opinions.

Watching this, Sedzen asked Halind,

“Do you think it’s a joke?”

“No, he’s not the kind to speak nonsense.”

Halind frowned.

“In fact, it makes me a little uneasy.”

For thousands of years, since Erebus was defeated by the Great Heroes and divided into pieces for sealing.

During this time, there have been several revivals.

Even with the revival of a single fragment, the world was plunged into great disaster.

For a student to dream of the complete eradication of Erebus…

‘Is he simply foolish or immensely talented?’

Even after a month, Halind couldn’t fully gauge Leo.

As Halind was observing Leo’s seated figure intently,

“Professors.”

Secretary Eleena appeared, carrying a box towards the professors.

“Here are the pages of the Hero Record that will be used as textbooks this time.”

“Thank you, Secretary Eleena.”

Professor Sedzen took the box and stood up.

Other homeroom teachers also stood up.

This combined lesson required the participation of professors.

Precisely, it was a precautionary measure.

In the past, recovered pages from hero dungeons have gone rampant during lessons several times.

Though infrequent, it wasn’t unheard of. Hence, professors were always present to ensure student safety whenever the Hero Record was used in class.

By the time the professors made their way to the podium, the other class presentations had wrapped up.

“Students. We will now proceed with our heroology lesson using the Hero Record retrieved from the dungeon raid this time.”

Professor Artian took the box containing the sealed Hero Record from Sedzen and announced.

“Finally!”

“I’ve never touched the Hero Record before!”

“I’m nervous!”

Excited reactions spread among the students.

“Today, we will analyze the hero’s page by reading the pages of the Hero Record and then plan a strategy for conquering the hero’s world as a class activity.”

This lesson didn’t necessarily require the Hero Record to be used, but since students would undoubtedly encounter it in real situations later, the use of an unknown Hero Record added gravity to the lesson.

“Please have the class leaders of each group come forward.”

“You’re lucky, Leo. You’re getting to touch the Hero Record.”

Iliana said with a smile, while Nella laughed.

“Once class ends, everyone will get to touch it anyway.”

“Still, being able to touch it earlier is a privilege!”

Iliana envied this privilege as a class leader.

In this way, ten class leaders ascended the podium.

“Oh ho, the class leader of Group 5 is Lord Leo?”

Chen Sia from Group 10 greeted him warmly.

“It was decided hastily today.”

“Hastily?”

Chen Sia tilted her head curiously.

With the strongest students in the first year gathered, an unusual tension formed.

Artian opened the sealed box.

“This time, two Hero Records were recovered. Only one will be used as teaching material. The other is a fragment of a page… I brought it to show that there are such things too.”

Artian held up the fragment page and handed it to Leo, who was closest.

Without hesitation, Leo reached out.

Instantly, the fragment page emitted a faint light.

The moment it touched Leo’s hand,

[Hero Record Open. ■■’s World. Chapter: ■■-■■■]

A familiar message appeared in front of Leo’s eyes.

Not only Artian and the class leaders but also the professors, prepared for any contingencies, were shocked.

Wooong—!

Light emerged from the podium floor.

A mysterious language known only to the lower realms.

“Is it going rampant?”

In confusion, Prof. Sedzen’s voice echoed as a bright light engulfed the podium.

When the light faded, the professors, class leaders, including Leo, found themselves standing in the middle of a battlefield.

Bizarre corpses of monsters rolled across the ground.

“Everyone, stay alert! This is a hero dungeon!”

At Halind’s cry, the class leaders’ faces turned pale.

“Halind! Look, there’s the castle wall!”

Sedzen pointed to the castle wall Leo was staring at.

This wall was familiar to Leo.

A place that no longer existed in the current era.

During the Era of Catastrophe, it was the last line of defense and the final city.

The Castle Wall of Guardstron.

The corpses of monsters, beasts, and demons burned, and the stench filled the air.

This scene was impossible for Leo to forget.

If this time was correct… If his memory was not mistaken, he had then said,

“Yes, Kyle. My hope is indeed a foolish one.”

“Yes, ■■. My hope is indeed a foolish one.”

At a voice from behind, the professors and class leaders were startled and turned around.

The figure standing there was no less than the extremely famous.

Leo turned dumbly toward the voice.

That woman spoke with the same confident tone as she did back then.

“But ■■, we will save the world.”

Known in the current era as the King of Wisdom, the black dragon.

The great and noble Great Hero who shot a ray of hope during the desperate era when the world was at the brink of destruction.

Her, once ridiculed as a foolish friend in those days.

His throat tightened as Leo called out her name,

“Rissinas.”

At the invocation, Rissinas smiled faintly.

Whoosh!

At the same moment, the world crumbled.

In the blink of an eye, they were back in the grand hall.

“What…!”

“Professors, what just happened?”

Startled, the students trembled and asked with quivering voices.

Halind made a calm judgment.

“The lesson is canceled. Everyone, calm down and exit the grand hall orderly.”

At these words, the associate professors guided the students out.

Leo stood dazed, staring at the fragment page of the Hero Record in his hand.

He knew whose page this was.

‘Kyle’s page. This is my record.’