Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 238

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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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238

The mission of the Shadows is something that someone must inevitably do.

Those who root out traitors in the darkness and protect heroes.

One of the pillars supporting the age of peace that the Great Heroes achieved.

However, since the Hero Record was created, the Shadows have never been recognized by the gods.

“I don’t know what the gods’ intentions are, but.”

Riina spoke calmly.

“It’s true that many Shadows become pessimistic about their situation in their later years.”

“Are you like that too, Principal?”

“Me?”

Bringing the wine glass to her lips, Riina chuckled.

“I became a Shadow for my personal vendetta. I have no interest in getting my name on the Hero Record.”

Riina shrugged her shoulders.

“However, I do hope that the generations that follow will receive recognition from the gods.”

Riina spread her hand.

“I wish the Shadows could live in a bright world instead of darkness.”

That was the reason Riina had transferred the Shadow Candidates to become Hero Candidates.

Watching such a Riina, Leo sighed inwardly.

‘I can roughly guess why the Shadows can’t get their names on the Hero Record.’

As Riina said, it would be because the gods don’t acknowledge the Shadows’ achievements.

‘Those bastards called gods are selfish by nature anyway.’

During the Age of Calamity, the gods disappeared from the earthly realm.

The gods, banished from the earthly realm by Erebos, could no longer descend to earth even after the age of heroes arrived.

But they left the Hero Record for the inhabitants of the earthly realm, and the earthly inhabitants came to praise the gods for this great divine legacy.

‘In that process, they became excessively deified.’

It’s ridiculous to say that gods became deified, but.

For Leo, who had experienced the age of gods, that was the only way he could think of it.

It’s true that gods are transcendent beings with absolute power.

However, they weren’t as wise and noble as people think.

Leo recalled what Dweno had said before.

‘You shouldn’t even go near those things called gods. If they try to talk to you, running away with all your might is the best option.’

Arron had made a bewildered expression at those words.

‘Gods aren’t some kind of plague, so why treat them like that?’

‘They are a plague.’

Dweno clicked his tongue.

‘Do you think there are only one or two people who ruined their lives by getting involved with gods?’

At those words, Luna said.

‘But gods are beautiful, aren’t they? From your perspective, shouldn’t they be beings to praise?’

At Luna’s words, Dweno became serious.

‘Don’t attach the modifier “beautiful” to gods. That would be blasphemy against beauty.’

Beings that made even Dweno, who called himself an aesthete and praised beauty, deny beauty.

Those were the tribe called gods.

‘Though there are gods like Pibua sometimes.’

The guardian deity of the elves he had met in the Hero Record.

Thinking of Pibua, Leo shook his head.

‘That’s a very special case.’

In Leo’s opinion, who knew gods well, the reason Shadows didn’t receive recognition from gods was surely a simple matter of preference.

But people of this era, who don’t know about the nature of gods, seem to think gods have some special intention.

‘Is that what created this emotional rift?’

From the Shadows’ perspective, it must be frustrating.

It was when Leo was sighing deeply inwardly.

“If the Principal’s intention is for Shadow Candidates to also get their names on the Hero Record, then I understand even less. Why is Chen Xia withdrawing from school?”

“Chen Xia is a princess of the Shan Empire.”

“A princess of the Shan Empire?”

Leo made a surprised expression, not having expected that she would be a princess.

Seeing such a Leo, Riina said.

“They are the oldest and most traditional Shadows. As such, they live thoroughly as Shadows.”

“What does that have to do with withdrawing?”

“The Shan Empire wants to get their name on the ‘Hero Record’ purely as Shadows.”

Riina frowned.

“Their goal is to receive recognition from the gods as Shadows, not as heroes. That’s why they don’t want to keep Chen Xia at the Hero Academy.”

Even if Chen Xia, who was educated as a Hero Candidate, gets her name on the Hero Record, it would have no value from the Shan Empire’s perspective.

Leo’s eyes narrowed.

Kail had also buried countless traitors in darkness.

In that process, he had killed many people.

He had no regrets about that.

If Leo hadn’t gotten blood on his hands, his friends would have gotten blood on theirs.

It was something someone had to do, and he thought he was the most suitable person for that job.

That was the path he had chosen.

‘But… would Chen Xia want that?’

If she wanted to walk the path of Shadows herself, that would be fine.

If she chose to stay in darkness herself, there was nothing Leo could do about it.

But during the past year, Chen Xia had been a more excellent Hero Candidate than anyone else.

A girl who dreams of being a hero.

Such a girl suddenly says she’s withdrawing from Lumern.

‘Is that really Chen Xia’s will?’

“I understand your concern for your friend. Still, it’s a family matter. It would be better not to get deeply involved with the Shan Empire.”

Riina spoke with pure concern for Leo.

In her view, Leo was the hope of the world.

‘A Hero Candidate who will follow in the Sword Saint’s footsteps.’

A gemstone that needs to be further refined and shine brightly.

Riina didn’t want such a gemstone to be buried in the darkness called Shadows before it could shine.

‘This kind of burden should be carried after growing more.’

Before being a Shadow, she was now the principal of a Hero Academy and also an adult.

She couldn’t just watch a Hero Candidate get involved in Shadow-related matters and carry an unbearable burden.

The world of Shadows was deeper and darker than people thought.

There was nothing good about knowing it.

Hearing Riina’s words, Leo smiled.

Seeing that smile, Riina felt a chill for a moment.

In Leo’s red eyes, she glimpsed the same darkness as herself for an instant.

Riina, who was praised as the best in the Shadow world, realized that Leo was the same type of human as herself.

“You… what is your identity?”

Looking at Riina, whose expression hardened, Leo said without withdrawing his smile.

“I’m the student council president of Lumern.”

“…”

“I don’t know what Chen Xia is thinking, but if she’s doing something she doesn’t want to do, I want to make her stop.”

“Why?”

“Chen Xia is an excellent Hero Candidate who will carry the future.”

Leo spoke calmly.

“I think it doesn’t matter whether she’s a hero or a Shadow. I don’t think the Hero Record is particularly important either.”

Leo looked down at his hand.

“I think anyone who fights for the world is a hero.”

“Even if the gods don’t acknowledge them?”

“The gods’ thoughts can go to hell. They can’t even come down to the earthly realm anyway.”

Riina’s mouth fell open at words that bordered on blasphemy.

But Leo and the people of this era had fundamentally different values.

“What does the gods’ acknowledgment matter? I’m the one saying it.”

It was a meaningful statement.

Words from the great hero who saved the world.

But Riina, who didn’t know Leo’s true identity, couldn’t fully understand the meaning of those words.

However, there was one thing she could understand.

‘This guy really doesn’t discriminate between heroes and shadows.’

Watching the young boy affirm the shadows who considered themselves abandoned by the gods, Riina burst into laughter without realizing it.

‘Right, what does God’s will matter?’

Wasn’t this the path she chose to stand against Tartaros?

‘I said I didn’t care about God’s acknowledgment, but I was actually the one who cared about it the most.’

“What do you want to do?”

“I’ll bring Chen Xia back.”

At those words, Riina nodded.

“Alright. Then I’ll assign you a mission with my authority as headmaster.”

Riina quickly wrote out a mission order on paper at her desk.

“Go to the Shan Empire and make contact with the emperor. Then bring Chen Xia back to Lumern. With your words, Chen Xia will change her mind too.”

Riina fluttered the paper toward Leo.

“Take this letter as well. If you go alone, you won’t be able to meet the Shan emperor easily. Even Shan’s stubborn emperor won’t openly ignore the words of Lumern’s headmaster.”

“Yes.”

“And I’ll assign two kids to assist you with the mission.”

Riina moved her pen.

After writing names on the student roster, Riina handed it to Leo.

And seeing the names on the list, he showed a surprised expression.

[Fritz Edgon]

[Elle Jane]

Familiar names.

They were the freshmen he had met at the Magic Hall earlier.

“Edgon and Elle Jane. They’re shadow candidates. They don’t show their abilities, but they’re among the top ten in skill among the current freshmen. And while I don’t know about their combat power, they’re excellent kids with practical experience comparable to second years.”

“They’re shadow candidates.”

“That’s right.”

Riina smiled slightly.

“They’ll be very helpful to you. And I also hope these kids will be influenced by you a little.”

“Influence?”

“These kids are the type who, when I called them to consider becoming hero candidates, firmly want to walk the path of shadows instead.”

Riina grumbled.

“I thought they might change a little after seeing you. Don’t try to do anything special. Just show them who you are as you are.”

At those words, Leo nodded.

“I understand.”

“Then I’m counting on you, Leo Flobe.”

***

That evening.

Leo left the dormitory for his mission.

‘The mission period is one week. That’s not very generous.’

Since it was a sudden mission, they probably couldn’t give him a long mission period.

‘Well, if it’s just persuasion, would one week be enough?’

Leo, muttering to himself, was waiting for his two juniors.

After a while.

Two students appeared in front of the warp gate.

Fritz with an expressionless face and Jane with a slightly sullen face stood before Leo.

“I’m Fritz Edgon, assigned to assist Leo-nim in this mission.”

“We already introduced ourselves earlier.”

“I’m aware.”

Fritz spoke with determination in his face.

“I will sacrifice this life for Leo-nim at any time.”

“Ah~ Ah~ To think I have to work with a stubborn shadow who blindly follows around just because someone’s a hero.”

Jane, who had been watching from behind, grabbed her head.

Seeing Jane like that, Fritz said.

“As a shadow, sacrificing one’s life for a hero is natural, isn’t it?”

“Hmph. I’m a shadow candidate from Shan, you know? Could you not lecture me about a shadow’s mindset?”

Jane snorted.

And she glared at Leo.

“You said you’re going to persuade Chen Xia-nim, right? Why are you doing such a thing?”

At Jane’s words, Leo said.

“Do you also think Chen Xia should live as a shadow?”

At those words, Jane’s shoulders trembled.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Chen Xia-nim is someone who suits being a hero more than anyone! She’s the most noble person! I also want her to live as a hero and I could sacrifice my life for Chen Xia-nim! But… but…”

Jane bit her lips.

“Chen Xia-nim gave up the path of a hero because of you!”

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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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