Chapter 519

519.

Thud-thud.

A monotonous sound of footsteps echoed through the grand lecture hall used by the second-year students.

None other than Halind, known as the Weeping Wall of Lumeran, had arrived.

The entrance of Halind caused all the second-years to tense up.

Today was the day of the special Hero Studies class.

And the instructor conducting that class was none other than Professor Halind.

Since moving up to the second year, the students had definitely seen less of Halind.

But even so, Halind was still a figure of terror for the second-years.

As the entire second-year group sat with strained expressions, Halind called out,

“Kal Thomas.”

“Yes, sir!”

Kal shot up from his seat.

“At once, Halind’s quiet words made Kal glance beside him, where Eliza Hergin was nodding off like a sick chick.

Eliza normally wouldn’t bother attending classes of other professors, whether by skipping or even sleeping in class, but she always attended Halind’s classes diligently.

Even Eliza feared Halind.

“Eliza. Wake up.”

Kal gently addressed Eliza.

But Eliza showed no sign of waking.

“I’ll give you three seconds.”

Kal, startled at Halind’s words, put his hands on Eliza’s shoulders and shook her.

“Eliza! Wake up!”

Eliza startled at the shout and opened her eyes, then froze as she locked eyes with Halind, her face turning completely pale.

Halind coldly smiled at this reaction from Eliza.

“What exactly were you doing last night that you’re sleeping during class?”

“Erm, that’s…”

“There won’t be a next time.”

“Yes, sir!”

As Eliza shot up from her seat, Halind stepped to the middle of the platform and spoke.

Eliza, sitting back down, covered her face with her hands.

‘It’s been days since I’ve had a proper sleep. I can’t focus anymore.’

Five days had passed since Leo’s training had begun.

Ever since then, Eliza had hardly slept.

Staying up all night enduring the power of the Lightning Essence.

Following that with meditation to refine her spiritual energy.

Then she’d train her physical strength.

The lectures were non-negotiable.

Even though skipping class to sleep had happened occasionally, Eliza knew she couldn’t keep missing lectures forever.

Regardless of how fatigued she was from training, her character couldn’t accept a decline in her grades.

If it were merely a matter of studying and sleeping less in order to train, Eliza wouldn’t be pushed into such fatigue.

But handling the Lightning Essence was incredibly draining both spiritually and physically.

Truly, she was pushed to the brink in both mind and body.

Yet, Leo hadn’t offered any advice during this process, but Eliza didn’t mind.

This was what she wanted to do, and she intended to proceed as she wished.

While Eliza pressed her temples to banish fatigue, Kal handed her a fatigue recovery potion.

“Drink it. I specially made it. It might help with your sleepiness?”

“Thank you. I’ll pay you back later.”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s a service.”

Kal grinned.

“You’re my regular customer after all, and also a friend. I should help when you’re struggling.”

“Friend?”

Eliza furrowed her brow.

“Do you consider me a friend?”

“If we’re in the same school, same year, same dormitory, we’re friends, aren’t we? And you’re a valuable customer of the future!”

When Kal cheerfully gestured with his thumb, Eliza smirked disdainfully.

“Kal Thomas, if I see you gossiping again, I’ll assume you’re looking to d*e.”

“I, I didn’t mean to!”

Halind’s remark made Kal’s complexion pale.

Eliza, glancing at Kal momentarily, fiddled with the potion bottle in her hand and sneered.

Meanwhile, the lecture hall remained silent.

Every student was focused on Halind.

Today’s special Hero Studies lecture had been announced suddenly.

All major, minor, and general education classes had been canceled, and all second-years gathered in the lecture hall.

Such unusual circumstances sparked much curiosity.

As everyone watched attentively, Halind began speaking.

“Regarding the recent developments in the world…”

Bam!

“There is a situation everyone is aware of! Though many are trying to hush it up, a critical situation has emerged!”

Sedgen barged in roughly and interrupted Halind mid-sentence.

Halind responded, addressing Sedgen.

“This is my class, but, Professor Sedgen.”

“The second-years are within my jurisdiction! It’s more appropriate for me to conduct this class. You should be handling the first-years!”

“But, as far as I know, I’m in charge of this session, regardless of year level.”

“I already made a formal complaint regarding this!”

“You can come back after the professors’ meeting concludes.”

“Celia Zerdinger, Duran Moira.”

Halind called upon two top students from the Department of Knights sitting in the front row.

“Escort him out.”

“Professor Sedgen, this isn’t fitting.”

“We’ll respectfully escort you outside.”

Celia and Duran courteously bowed but then firmly led Sedgen out.

“What nonsense is this! Aren’t you my beloved students? You’d rather be henchmen for Halind now! Ugh! Let go! Don’t you dare! How could you do this to me!?”

This scene had become so familiar that the second-years weren’t phased this time.

As Sedgen was escorted out and the lecture hall returned to silence, Halind resumed the class.

“In this situation, what is the most serious issue?”

At Halind’s question, students raised their hands.

“Kal Thomas.”

“Sedgen professor is going to burst back in.”

“Come forward then, kneel and prostrate yourself.”

“I am sorry, sir.”

“Come forward.”

Kal approached Halind with a dejected expression and received his punishment.

“Kal, as always, is entertaining us.”

Eiran laughed at Chelsea, who widened her eyes.

“Kal? Who’s he? I don’t know any such person.”

Chelsea openly acted as though Kal was a stranger.

Among this interaction, Halind called on the next student who raised their hand promptly.

“Nella Kaven.”

“The resurrection of former heroes as undead is significant.”

“Understood. Do you know why this is serious?”

“Because it could undermine the foundation of the Era of Heroes, which has lasted for five thousand years.”

Halind nodded solemnly as Nella answered gravely.

“Correct.”

Halind narrowed his eyes.

“Fifty centuries ago, the Great Heroes defeated Erebus and ended the Era of Catastrophe, allowing the world the obtain peace. During that process, the gods gifted humanity the Hero Record upon leaving earth. From then on, those who accomplished great deeds recognized by the gods became heroes, maintaining peace and order in the world.”

At this narrative, all the students nodded, as it was something everyone was familiar with.

“A hero is someone who has been sanctified and recognized by the gods. Is there anyone who denies this?”

At Halind’s question, the entire second year shook their heads.

This was an absolute truth.

“Then, why are past heroes, sanctified by the gods, rising again through the power of the Demon King to point their swords at us?”

“…”

At this question, everyone fell silent.

When someone divinely chosen to defend the world becomes a weapon for the Demon King, seeking destruction,

Can they truly be called sanctified?

The foundation of the Era of Heroes is the ‘hero’.

A hero is a divine agent chosen by the gods.

This belief only got stronger after the Rebirth of Catastrophe was thwarted.

The leaders of the world.

But what if such individuals were, in fact, unworthy to be the divine agents?

The current era might appear glorious at a glance.

The appearance of the brave Aron and the ancestor of the star clouds, Luna.

The eradication of the fragments of Erebus and victory against the Demon King.

Miracles from the Hero Record have captured the world’s attention.

But beneath the surface, there is a growing doubt: ‘Are heroes truly agents of the gods?’

Doubt causes a crack in belief.

And a crack can lead to collapse.

“The reason for this special Hero Studies class is related to these matters.”

At Halind’s words, the students looked very serious.

At that moment, Abad raised his hand.

“Ask ahead, Abad LeWalyn.”

“Professor Halind, what is your opinion on the current situation?”

“You all know that heroes are not necessarily absolutely good and righteous figures.”

Halind clicked his tongue.

“Yet, many still believe that heroes carry noble ‘convictions’ worthy of divine recognition, regardless.”

“So that’s why they were chosen by the gods.”

“Yes. But through my long experience as a professor of Lumeran, I’ve harbored doubts.”

Halind, sweeping the students with his gaze, said,

“Is the divine choice truly correct?”

“Excuse me?”

“Students who seemed incapable of becoming heroes have become heroes. Students who shouldn’t have risen to the status of heroes have gained their titles.”

“…”

This was a dangerous statement to make as a professor of Lumeran, even if the gods were absent from this age.

The gods still existed, and heroes who claimed to embody the will of the gods were very present.

Blasphemy against the divine.

This amounted to blasphemy against the ‘heroes’ who lead the world.

Even for a professor of the Hero Academy—someone who has cultivated countless students—it was a statement that would be perilous if leaked outside.

The students swallowed hard.

“There are also foolhardy ones who proclaim that undead status is part of divine will.”

Halind stated coldly.

“Recently, though, there has been a change in the Hero Records.”

“What kind of change?”

“It has been revealed that there are individuals whose records in the Hero Records have been erased, thereby stripping them of their hero status.”

“…!”

“…!”

Everyone reacted with shock.

The deletion of records from the Hero Record—a scandal never heard of or seen before.

“Does anyone want to explain what this might mean?”

The students looked at each other, hesitant.

This was too impactful.

Then a hand was raised.

“Leo Flove.”

As Halind called the name, everyone’s eyes turned to Leo.

“The rights that were enjoyed because one was a hero. The sins that went unaddressed because one was a hero. The responsibilities not shouldered because one was a hero will now have to be faced.”

Leo declared.

“The choice of the gods has been overturned. People will lose trust in them. The old system may collapse, and a new order may rise. And…”

“And?”

“Only the ‘true’ heroes will remain.”

Halind smirked at Leo.

“You seem confident, Leo Flove.”

“I’ve had little interest in the will of the gods from the start.”

*

Squeak-squeak.

In the dark basement.

An indistinct figure, difficult to discern as either boy or girl, clad in dazzling white, was diligently writing in a massive book.

They carefully filled every blank space.

Once the recording was finished, the child took a step back.

Whoosh!

And the words in the book vanished as if they had evaporated.

The child idly scratched their gray hair.

“I don’t get it. Why is the record being erased again and again?”

The child looked perplexed, then twisted their face in frustration.

“Stop whispering in my ear so annoyingly! What? Are you asking why you only listen to Pibua’s request? Lunia El Rundah! That wasn’t me who recorded her like the successor of the star cloud’s ancestor! The record was automatically generated by the Record System! You know it! Because of that blasted monstrosity, the Record System is going berserk!”

The child shouted at the air.

“What? Leo Flove? Who’s that? I don’t recognize any hero with a name like that!”

The child slammed the book in frustration and started pacing.

The space around the child was peculiar.

It resembled a gigantic library.

“Seriously! If it’s so troublesome, why don’t they become Librarians of the Record System themselves?”

Just as the child was about to leave the library, their steps stopped.

At the very first bookshelf of the Record System.

Certainly, the bookshelf that should’ve been burned away now held a few new books.

“Huh?”

The child’s eyes widened in shock.

“How is Kyle’s story still continuing?”