Chapter 462

The second semester opening ceremony had ended.

After wrapping up their department schedules, students began returning to the dormitory building.

“Come back home!”

Iliana, being the first to enter the Glory Dormitory, dove onto the couch in the lounge as if jumping into a pool and lied down.

“I missed this couch, ya know~”

Iliana rolled around on the couch as if she was in her own bedroom. Meanwhile, other students entered the lounge and casually took their seats.

“Hey, how was your training camp?”

“What was it like meeting the Hero personally? Was there a lot of presence?”

“Jealous! I wish I’d been there too!”

Students gathered around those who had attended the training camp, curious to learn about their experiences. With the opening ceremony keeping them busy, they hadn’t had the chance to properly ask about the training yet.

Among their questions, the topic that interested their peers most was about Aron.

Iliana sat up straight on the couch and leaned forward with her back stiff as a board as her dorm mates gathered around her.

“If you’re so curious, offer me cookies and tea.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the nearby students abruptly turned their backs on her and moved toward Chen Sia and Chloe instead.

“Having some snacks while sharing stories doesn’t sound so bad.”

As Chloe spoke with a smile, the gathered students cheered in agreement and headed off to the vending machine.

“Why does everyone prepare everything when Chloe asks?”

“Because you only told us to prepare enough for yourself.”

“Yeah, you’re no pig.”

“Where did you even get the idea that I’m a pig?! And what kind of insult is that to a lady?!”

Iliana swung the cushion in her hand wildly at the teasing male students.

“Everyone’s really lively.”

Leo walked into the dorm lounge and grinned.

“Leo, we were just about to start talking about what happened during the training camp. Come over here.”

Chloe patted the side of her couch invitingly. The bustling atmosphere of the lounge suddenly quieted down.

Confused by the sudden change, both Chloe and Iliana exchanged glances.

“I’m heading up early to rest for today.”

“Wow, going to bed awfully early.”

Chen Sia tilted her head, confused, as Leo explained.

“The opening ceremony was mentally exhausting so I’m a little tired.”

“True, you’re the Student Council President, so it must have been tiring. Do you need anything brought to your room?”

“No, thank you.”

As Leo went to his room, the slightly awkward atmosphere relaxed a little. Chen Sia walked into the lounge and sat down in the nearby rocking chair.

Chloe asked curiously.

“Why is everyone like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s like everyone is getting awkward around Leo.”

Watching Chloe’s perplexed face, the Glory dorm students scratched their heads.

“You guys, you’ve been spending the summer break and the training camp at Leo’s place, so you might not have noticed.”

One of the male students from Glory rubbed his cheek.

“Things are completely chaotic right now.”

Upon hearing his words, Chloe and Iliana looked at each other.

“At first, it was all about the reappearance of the Primal Evil and the story of how it was defeated by Lady Aron.”

Chen Sia explained.

“But as time passed, and renowned hero guilds around the world began to covet Lord Leo, the world’s attention gradually shifted.”

That was exactly the case.

The public, who had been distracted by the new story of the Great Hero’s world, now started focusing on Leo.

“Later, Lord Leo was entered into the Hero Record, and countless people started to admire him.”

The world always longed for the emergence of a new hero. And if that hero was stacking up a legendary and mythical hero story, it was all the more compelling.

Before, Leo was just a Hero Candidate.

In this world, only those who have been recognized by the gods and had their names entered in the Hero Record are truly revered as heroes. No matter how much Leo had previously conquered the world of the Great Hero and accomplished great deeds, he was seen as a promising hero candidate.

But now his name has been registered in the Hero Record.

It was only natural that people’s attitudes would change towards him.

“Leo has already reached the level that we can only dream of spending our whole lives aiming to achieve.”

The male student scratched his hair.

“Let’s see, we always knew this guy was amazing, but now he seems just out of reach, you know?”

Another female student sighed softly.

“Indeed, Lord Leo has ascended to a position beyond our gaze.”

Even someone like herself, who was top of the second-year Department of Knights, felt unable to gauge Leo’s abilities. For other students, it would certainly feel like an unreachable height.

“Leo’s school life will definitely change from now on,” Chloe murmured in thought.

“Those who want Leo will only become more overt in their pursuit,” Chloe added.

Hearing that, Iliana’s face slightly turned glum.

“Yeah, those who’ve been cautiously eyeing him till now will become even more blatant.”

Confused by Iliana’s muttering, Chen Sia cocked her head.

“Are you unhappy about that, Miss Iliana?”

“Yeah. That is, I guess. Starting tomorrow, you’d better avoid approaching me if you’re near Chen Sia.”

Chen Sia gave her a puzzled look because of the incomprehensible statement.

“By the way,”

Chloe blinked her blue eyes after some thought and looked at the students.

“What exactly is Leo’s title?”

*

As Leo entered his room, he was greeted by two women: Mel and her appointed successor, Enkinias.

“Alright, I understand about Mel, but why are you here, En?”

“I’ve received Lord’s command to stay here and assist you, Lord Leo.”

Hearing that, Leo looked at Mel.

“En is a capable child, and I’m sure she’ll be a great help to you, Lord Leo.”

“You can think of me as your personal secretary.”

At that, Leo chuckled.

“As a secretary, what exactly can you help with?”

“Specifically, attending lectures on your behalf, submitting assignments for you…”

“All these things violate school rules.”

“They’re exactly what students dislike the most.”

“Still, even in front of a professor, you’re so bold speaking about such matters.”

“The Lord told us it’s not a sin if we don’t get caught.”

“Good teaching indeed.”

“Thank you.”

“Not a compliment, by the way.”

Watching Mel’s bashful expression, Leo clicked his tongue.

‘How does everyone learn to deceive others so cleverly?’

Lissinas, known as the King of Wisdom and Beacon of Hope.

Though he appeared as a fair and just leader, in truth, he was a master of deception and fraud.

‘Of course, many of his deceits and tricks were based on truth, but still. You do learn from the best.’

Sighing softly, Leo turned to En.

‘This child is definitely capable.’

She had greatly contributed during the previous battle involving Erebus’s Piece.

‘With Mel choosing her as the successor, there’s no question about her competence. Decisively, this child’s unique magic will be a big help.’

En’s unique magic Mirror allowed her to perfectly mimic others’ appearances.

“Alright, if you want to help, I have no reason to refuse. Looking forward to working with you.”

At that, En bowed her head.

“Mel, have you checked the Hero Record with my name on it?”

Leo has yet to see it himself.

“Yes.”

“What exactly does it say?”

“It only has your name, Lord Leo.”

Hearing that, Leo pondered deeply.

When he heard that his name was inscribed in the Hero Record, Leo was surprised. He had worried a bit about his identity being revealed, but it seemed that wouldn’t happen.

“Why is only the name written? Were there any heroes before who had only their names written in the Hero Record?”

“There haven’t been any such cases until now. You’re the first one, Lord Leo.”

Upon hearing Mel’s answer, Leo fell into thought.

‘The name is already there in the Hero Record.’

The first hero ever recorded in the Hero Record.

‘Moreover, I’m also the owner of the Hero Record.’

Yet, there was only his name without any titles or achievements.

‘It’s written on the last page, wasn’t it?’

“Lord Leo, these are just my thoughts, but…”

“Go on.”

“Could it be that Lord Leo wished for only the name to be written?”

Mel already knew that Leo was the owner of the Hero Record.

Moreover, Leo had rewritten the Hero Record numerous times. He recorded the stories of heroes who had contributed during the Era of Catastrophe in the past, including reviving the erased records of Comet Wizard Seirun.

These were not the records of the gods.

They were the records written by Leo Flove, the owner of the Hero Record.

“Hmm, that’s a plausible theory.”

Leo stroked his chin while smirking.

“The anonymous hero, not bad.”

“Wouldn’t Lord Leo covet those splendid epithets?”

“Not really.”

“Indeed, it’s Lord Leo. Everyone else covets the epithets bestowed by the Hero Record, but…”

“I already have the prestigious title, ‘Hero of Beginning.’ It’s amusing to yearn for divine names like a child.”

Hearing the conversation, En interjected.

“Frankly, any epithet before Lord Leo’s name would feel meaningless.”

En spoke bluntly with her usual expressionless face.

“Because Lord Leo is, in his existence, noble. The most exalted being in this world.”

“You seem to know something, En!”

Mel smiled brightly.

En already knew Leo’s true identity from Mel.

“Ho.”

Hearing En’s words, Leo smirked.

“Who’s greater, me or Lissinas?”

“Of course, it’s the King of Wisdom.”

Clack!

“Why are you hitting me?”

Mel clutched her head in pain after being smacked.

“Because you’re contradicting yourself. Just now, you claimed I was the most exalted.”

“That’s because Lord Lissinas is no longer with us.”

En replied without a hint of hesitation.

Watching this, Leo clicked his tongue and asked Mel.

“Do you think I’m greater or Lissinas is?”

“Of course, it’s Lord Lissinas.”

Knowing she’d be hit but sticking to her opinion, Mel’s head was mercilessly smacked by Leo.

After talking about the Hero Record,

Leo spoke.

“Mel.”

“Yes, Lord Leo?”

“Using the Lord’s authority, dispatch dragons throughout the world.”

“Is it in preparation for a possible Tartarus invasion?”

At Mel’s question, Leo narrowed his eyes.

“Most likely, an all-out invasion by Tartarus, as you think, won’t happen.”

“Huh?”

Mel looked confused.

“The Demon King knows well the true power of heroes. Especially in the current situation where everything is lacking, he will never choose an all-out war. However, he won’t just sit idly by either. Now that a Piece of Erebus has been exterminated, the Demon King is the one who’s been most affected.”

“So…”

“The Demon King will delve even deeper into the darkness of the world. Intrigues and schemes are his forte.”

The Demon King was the one who had stolen the lands of many powerful races for Tartarus and offered them up as firewood to Erebus.

“Even now, with his abilities weakened by the seal on Erebus, his powers remain threatening.”

The Demon King’s power to dominate the dead.

“We have no idea how much this power has evolved over the last 5000 years. Moreover…”

Leo clicked his tongue.

“The resurrection of another Piece of Erebus means that other pieces could return at any time.”

It took 2000 years for the first Piece to resurrect, another 3000 years for the second one to resurrect.

The resurrection of the next fragment could take thousands of years.

But…

“It might be sooner than we think. If such a situation arises, we must subdue him before Tartarus does this time.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And one more thing.”

Leo looked down at his palm.

“I need you to find their pages.”

Mel immediately understood what pages Leo was referring to.

“Of course, the search is ongoing. But I would like you to focus more effort on it. Especially the final chapter’s pages.”

“If Tartarus finds out, they will likely become even more explicit in their movements?”

“In that case, we welcome them.”

Leo clenched his fist.

“If they move on a large scale, they are bound to leave traces. We will concentrate our forces where they stir up trouble. They will commit all their strength to that battle.”

The reappearance of the Great Hero who disappeared 5,000 years ago in this era is nothing short of a disaster for Tartarus.

“With my identity revealed and our cards on the table, there’s no need to be cautious anymore.”

Leo’s red eyes flashed.

“From now on, we will fully commence the hunt for the Demon King.”