Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 253

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 253

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Leo’s journey, carried out with stubbornness that even Belinda couldn’t break, was accompanied by four talented individuals he had selected.

When they finally gathered together on the morning of their departure to the North, an awkward silence flowed between them.

Coincidentally, with Leo at the center, nobles from the Academy’s summer class stood on the right, while commoners from the winter class stood on the left in opposition.

Leo, reading the subtle current flowing between the two groups, stepped forward.

“Let’s start with simple introductions. I’ll go first.”

After clearing his throat a few times, he looked around at everyone and continued his introduction.

“I’m Leo Blanche. I graduated from the Academy’s swordsmanship department, and I alternated between summer and winter classes for my studies. I mainly handle swords, my aura attribute is light, and as an unofficial divine power awakener, I can heal simple wounds. Oh, and I can handle magic up to the 6th circle.”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Leo, then fixed on the holy sword hanging at his waist.

Though they had never exchanged a single word before, in that moment everyone shared the same thought with one heart and mind.

Truly dazzling abilities befitting a hero who had drawn the holy sword.

“That guy’s crushing people’s spirits right from the start.”

Asillia, grumbling sullenly, stepped up as the next batter.

“I’m Asillia Hereios. Currently affiliated with the Royal Knight Order, graduated from the summer class swordsmanship department. As you can see, my main weapon is a sword, and my aura attribute is…”

Ting. When Asillia flicked the sword at her waist with her fingertip, sparks flew like lightning flickering.

“Fire.”

Ian, who had been standing next to Asillia, stepped back and spoke, perhaps fearing sparks might fly.

“Ian Rechel. I’m the representative of the emerging Adelia Trading Company. Graduated from the summer class academic department. In this party, I’m in charge of establishing emergency communication networks using Baluashten Castle as our base camp and moving supplies.”

With the summer class introductions finished, what remained was the winter class. Asillia and Ian’s gazes turned to the man and woman standing across from them.

The first to speak was the only female party member.

“Elsa White, chosen as the next owner of Comet’s Lance and a saintess candidate affiliated with the Temple. I studied in the Academy’s winter class swordsmanship department but dropped out due to personal circumstances. I handle a whip as my weapon.”

Elsa, who finished speaking with an ice-cold attitude, nodded toward the man beside her with a face that said she wouldn’t allow questions.

Pushed by that momentum, a gentle and small-framed man stammered as he began to speak.

“E-Edmund Collin. I’m currently affiliated with the Merchant Guild… I graduated from the Academy’s winter class academic department… My weapon is a b-bow… and… actually, I… have…”

His already small voice grew smaller and smaller until it became barely an ant’s voice, hardly audible.

Asillia frowned and bent toward Edmund.

“What?”

“Eek! I, I have n-n-noble phobia! So please stay away from me!”

“What the… what kind of damn phobia is that?”

At Asillia’s words, Edmund became even more terrified and pressed himself toward Elsa, the only other commoner like himself.

Then Leo smiled brightly and pulled Edmund toward himself, patting his shoulder in comfort.

“Leo, is that guy really useful?”

Asillia thought she was asking secretly, but her voice was so booming that everyone present heard it.

Leo answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Of course, Edmund is amazing. Since childhood, he’s traveled all over the continent following his father’s trading company, so he has the most travel experience among us. He’s also skilled with his hands and good at most tasks, with extensive miscellaneous knowledge. And most importantly…”

Leo glanced at the bow and quiver Edmund carried on his back.

“He shoots a bow incredibly well.”

“L-Leo…!”

Edmund looked up at Leo with a tearful face. This was indeed the kindness befitting the only noble he didn’t fear.

Before the group boarded the carriage after finishing their introductions,

Ian, who had been examining the party members, asked worriedly.

“Leo, do you really think this is the best choice?”

A saintess candidate who wielded a whip.

A supporter with noble phobia.

A monkey with muscles for brains as a party member.

Would this party be okay?

To Ian, who couldn’t hide his reluctance, Leo answered with a confident face.

“Yes, it’s a perfect party.”

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Leo’s party decided to travel to Baluashten Castle using only their own strength to practice for the night travels they would encounter during their journey.

And contrary to Ian’s worries, they were quite a well-coordinated party.

Under Edmund’s command, who was accustomed to camping and sleeping outdoors, they each silently fulfilled their roles and continued northward without rest.

Their journey stopped only once, when Leo asked to stay briefly at a place where he wanted to spend some time.

Upon arriving at a clearing surrounded by a small forest, Leo stood there for a long time as if reminiscing about something.

Elsa, who had been watching Leo the whole time, seemed to hesitate for a moment before carefully speaking to him.

“Is this a place with memories?”

Leo’s eyes widened in surprise that she had spoken to him.

“Oh, yeah. That’s right. People who briefly took care of me in the past… um… this is where they passed away.”

Elsa hesitated at the unexpected answer.

The atmosphere grew heavy as the price for answering honestly without thinking.

Leo inwardly imagined pinching his mouth repeatedly while pretending to smile as if nothing was wrong.

“Since I was relying only on old memories, I’m not even sure if this is really the right place.”

“…I see.”

Leaving only that awkward comment, Elsa hurriedly left.

Left alone, Leo sat down on the spot, pulling at his hair.

“You idiot.”

He was so happy that Elsa had spoken to him that he blurted out the truth without reading the atmosphere.

Leo sighed and hung his head low.

After the Second Bongma War ended, Leo often had dreams.

Like crumpled illustrations in an old fairy tale book, they accumulated in Leo’s mind one page at a time until one day they suddenly painted a vivid picture.

“He has stained his hands with his parents’ blood. There’s no turning back now.”

The back view of a slender woman with brilliant blonde hair.

When she drew a sword from the scabbard hanging on the wall, the door where they were hiding shook as if it would break.

“I’ll buy time, so escape through the secret passage during that time. I’m counting on you, Nanny.”

Finally, the woman turned around. But unfortunately, his vision was blurred with tears, making it hard to see her face clearly.

“Endymion, don’t look back and run forward. I love you, my baby.”

“Madam!”

The crying of the child held in the nanny’s arms had somehow become Leo’s crying.

The nanny bit her lips tightly and escaped through the secret passage while holding Endymion in her arms.

Behind them, the sound of a door being roughly opened could be heard.

Even so, the nanny didn’t look back. She only cherished the child in her arms and ran and ran.

But soon she realized they had become rats trapped in a jar.

Flames blocked their path ahead, and screams could be heard from behind.

There was no choice. They had to break through the flames.

“Young master, from now on, don’t listen to or see anything. You must cover both ears and close your eyes. Do you understand?”

Saying that, she wrapped the child tightly in a blanket, held him in her arms, and broke through the flames.

When Endymion’s face turned red from the suffocating heat, the nanny released the child.

She pressed down firmly on the child’s shoulders to prevent him from turning back to look at Nanny.

“Nanny?”

“Young master, like this, listen to me, cough. From now on, you must go alone. On your way, you must not show your eyes to anyone. Do you understand?”

“B-but… I’m not supposed to leave the separate castle… Mom and Dad said…”

“It’s alright. You remember the secret place where Prince Cesar used to secretly take you at night, don’t you?”

“Mm-hmm.”

The watchtower built near the castle walls.

Cesar would often hide the child in his arms so no one could see him and climb the watchtower to show the child the scenery outside the castle.

“Go there. If you wait there, I will… no, Prince Cesar will come to get you.”

“What about Nanny?”

“This nanny is… too old now and finds it difficult. I’ll go slowly. After resting a little, slowly, I’ll follow behind.”

Nanny pushed the child’s back. Wearing the half-burned blanket, the child ran off.

Endymion couldn’t understand what was happening. However, the final words of the Marquess’s Daughter and Nanny became the child’s guide.

The path to the watchtower was truly hellish. Still, without stopping his feet, while pushing through the crowd of people running to put out the fire in the separate castle and heading toward the watchtower.

“You little brat! Watch where you’re going!”

The blanket was pulled off. Terrified that people might see his eyes, the child squeezed his eyes shut.

And not knowing what to do, he was swept up by the people and pushed around here and there until finally…

“Ah!”

Being roughly pushed, he ended up hitting his head against something hard.

And when he opened his eyes again.

“Oh my goodness, his eyes are red!”

“Such a young child is a demonic beast!”

His mind went completely blank and he couldn’t remember anything.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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