Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 240

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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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240

Thud- Thud-

The long, long corridor of the Imperial Palace of Shan.

Leo was walking through it.

The one serving as guide was the captain of the imperial guard who had come to meet Leo earlier.

“A Guardian.”

A shadow that operates secretly in the darkness to defend against Tartaros’s invasion.

Of course, if someone was the captain of the imperial guard, they could be considered far too conspicuous.

But this man’s abilities were too precious to waste on being captain of the imperial guard.

‘He’s as strong as Lumern’s professors.’

Most of Lumern’s professors were powerhouses with the ability to achieve feats worthy of the Hero Record.

Seeing such a person serving as captain of the imperial guard without making a name for himself, it truly felt befitting of the nation of shadows.

Thud-!

In the midst of this, the captain stopped walking.

They had arrived in front of a massive door at the end of the corridor.

The door was pitch black like darkness itself.

For a moment, it could be mistaken for a giant hole.

“This is the place.”

With the captain’s words, the door opened with a swoosh-!

Beyond the door, pitch-black darkness spread out.

Darkness that made the living feel uneasy.

As darkness where even moonlight couldn’t penetrate spread out, Fritz wore a wary expression.

But Leo stepped forward without the slightest hesitation.

“Leo-nim… No, Senior.”

Fritz wore a flustered expression.

Jane also looked at Leo with surprised eyes.

The pitch-black darkness before them was deep darkness that made even the two Shadow Candidates feel fear.

The captain watched Leo’s retreating figure with gleaming eyes.

Fritz quickly tried to follow behind Leo.

But the captain extended his hand to stop Fritz.

“Only Leo Flobe-nim may have an audience with His Imperial Majesty.”

At those words, Leo looked back and said.

“I’ll be back.”

Thud- Thud-

Leo disappeared into the darkness.

Swoosh- Rumble!

The door closed with a heavy sound.

In the pitch-black darkness where nothing could be seen, Leo didn’t hesitate to move forward.

His keen senses weren’t devoured by the darkness.

Rather, they became even more sharply honed.

People instinctively fear darkness.

But for Leo, who had lived through the Age of Calamity, darkness wasn’t something to fear.

‘Rather, it’s familiar.’

Thud- Thud-

In the quiet darkness, his footsteps echoed loudly.

Whoosh-!

Then a flame ignited beside Leo.

A candle had been lit.

In the darkness, Leo’s red eyes gleamed.

Whoosh- Whoosh- Whoosh-

Starting with that, the candles in the room began lighting one by one.

The darkness lifted and the interior of the room was revealed.

The room’s interior was filled with all sorts of luxurious items.

Lavish furniture decorated with gold and all kinds of jewels.

And various types of artworks lined throughout the room.

It gave a strong impression of being haphazard.

A messy room where no unity could be found.

There were even numerous weapons lined up along one wall.

And in the center of that room.

A middle-aged man with a sturdy build was lying on his side on a massive bed, supporting his head with his hand.

He was scratching his calf with one foot while waving a fan with his free hand.

The man wearing traditional red Shan clothing looked directly at Leo with black eyes and said.

“Are you Leo Flobe?”

“Are you His Imperial Majesty of Shan?”

“I am Shau, the 74th Emperor of Shan.”

Black eyes devoid of emotion stared directly at Leo.

That alone created an overwhelming sense of intimidation that dominated the atmosphere.

Shau’s very existence was pressing down on the air itself.

He wasn’t a hero, but he was stronger than any hero except the Sword Saint.

“Would you come closer?”

At Shau’s call, Leo approached him.

The two came within about 3 meters of each other.

Shau stroked his beard, which could be called beautiful without shame, and said.

“You have a pretty face and you’re the Lumern Student Council President at such a young age… You must be popular. You. Aren’t you already making several women cry?”

At that unexpected question, Leo answered calmly.

“Lumern prohibits unhealthy romantic relationships between students.”

At those words, Shau’s eyes widened.

“How can that be! Kids at the peak of their vigor are in the same space and nothing happens! They must all be meeting secretly!”

Leo stared blankly at Shau who was shouting loudly.

Anyone else would have worn a dumbfounded expression.

The other title of the Emperor of Shan, called the nation of shadows, was the Shadow King.

Though he hadn’t gotten his name on the Hero Record, he was recognized as having equal abilities to the greatest heroes of the age.

The strongest shadow who rarely showed himself publicly despite being emperor.

A mysterious dark hero who existed but couldn’t be met.

An existence represented by cruel, mighty, and fearsome charisma.

That was the Emperor of Shan.

Such a being was suddenly questioning a boy he’d just met about romance.

It would have been reasonable to be flustered, but Leo didn’t bat an eye.

“You really haven’t dated any women?”

“I’ve only studied diligently.”

“A boring honor student. Still, I suppose that’s passing.”

‘What’s he saying is passing.’

Shau smiled meaningfully and waved his fan.

“I apologize for the troublesome question. The position of Emperor of Shan is quite boring, you see.”

He spoke calmly.

“Guests rarely come. Most people fear me.”

Stroking his chin, Shau curled up the corners of his mouth.

“That’s why my daughter’s friend visiting like this brings me great joy.”

Shau looked directly at Leo.

“So, have you come to take Sia?”

“Yes.”

“Sia chose to become a shadow of her own will. Are you saying you’ll persuade such a Sia?”

“If that’s Chen Xia’s pure intention, then it’s none of my business.”

Leo looked straight into Shau’s black eyes.

“But if it’s a choice made while carrying various burdens, I’ll take her with me.”

“What’s your reason for going that far? You and Sia should have nothing special between you other than being school friends, right?”

“Because Chen Xia will become one of the heroes who will serve as a cornerstone for destroying Tartaros.”

“The world is full of Hero Candidates. And even the great heroes in history couldn’t achieve the great feat of destroying Tartaros.”

Shau let out a scoff.

“Yet you speak of Tartaros’s destruction as if you’re certain. Don’t you think that’s arrogance?”

“Not at all.”

Watching Leo respond with a nonchalant smile, Shau narrowed his eyes.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t he say he would completely destroy Erebos?’

He had spoken of an utterly absurd goal in front of all his classmates.

‘What about this boy now, about a year later? In just one year, he’s risen to the position of Lumern’s Student Council President and is evaluated as a Hero Candidate who will carry the next generation following the Sword Saint.’

Shau closed his eyes.

‘They say immature recklessness is the privilege of young people… but in this one’s case, it doesn’t feel like recklessness.’

“You’re going to drag a child born as a shadow into the outside world?”

“Yes. So will you let me meet Chen Xia? If she refuses even after I persuade her, I’ll give up cleanly.”

“Then all the more reason I can’t let you meet Sia.”

Leo’s eyes stirred.

“If I listen to your words now, that child will surely choose the path of a hero.”

Shau sighed and opened his eyes.

“That child has admired heroes since she was young.”

Shau got up.

“Leo Flobe, I have seen many heroes in the darkness. Heroes are truly special beings. They are noble souls who would sacrifice their lives for the world.”

Thud-

Shau, who had gotten down from the bed, approached Leo.

Leo looked up at Shau, who seemed to be more than a head and a half taller than himself.

Swoosh-

His giant fingertip pointed toward Leo.

“I realize now. Among them, you are very special.”

Riu’s black eyes captured Leo.

“The world says you’re a hero who will follow in Lord Kalian’s footsteps… but I don’t think so.”

Riu’s eyes narrowed.

“3000 years ago, equal to the founders of the Hero Military Academy… or perhaps even greater. You might be reborn as a great being close to a Great Hero.”

Leo silently looked up at Shau.

“That’s why I can’t let you meet Sia. To that child who has lived only in darkness her entire life, you would be too intense a light. So she would be blinded.”

Thump-!

Shau, who had returned to the bed, sat down and said.

“Heroes are heroes, shadows are shadows. Don’t cross that boundary.”

“Are you saying we live in different worlds?”

“Exactly.”

Shau smiled wryly.

“Chen Xia is the material who will fulfill Shan’s long-cherished wish.”

“Getting her name on the Hero Record as a shadow?”

“You know about it. Riina. Did she tell you?”

“Is that so important?”

“It is important.”

Shau chuckled.

“For our clan, not being recognized by God is a curse close to a stigma.”

In any era, shadows are necessary beings.

And the royal family of the Shan Empire has lived as shadows for thousands of years.

Of course, they didn’t live as shadows to gain recognition.

Because someone had to do it, they maintained the clan’s legitimacy for thousands of years.

During that time, having been ignored by God, they might want it even more.

God’s recognition.

“Isn’t there a way to escape from the duty of shadows?”

“As a descendant of Bihar, the proud king of shadows, I cannot do that.”

“Bihar?”

Leo paused at the familiar name.

“Yes. Active since the Age of Calamity… a great shadow who didn’t leave her name in history.”

‘That Bihar?’

It was when Leo, who had learned about the origins of the Shan Empire, was surprised.

“Besides, leaving Sia as a shadow would be good for your future too, wouldn’t it?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Sia is a child who will carry Shan in the future.”

Shau looked at Leo slyly.

“And the goal you want to achieve has the same direction as Shan’s another secret wish. Sia will follow you as a shadow. The entire huge country called Shan will become yours.”

“What does Chen Xia following me have to do with the Shan Empire?”

“…Are you stupid?”

Shau looked at Leo with a displeased expression.

“Did you really not know that Sia has feelings for you?”

“Ah, is that so?”

Leo exclaimed as if surprised.

Watching Leo accept it more dryly than expected, Shau’s face became even more distorted.

“Even knowing that fact, why are you so calm? Is my daughter that unattractive!”

“How can I see a young child as a romantic interest?”

“Sia is older than you though?”

Watching Shau make an incredulous expression, Leo shrugged his shoulders.

What was he supposed to do if she was older on the outside?

‘Inside, I’m an old man.’

At Leo’s indifferent appearance, Shau momentarily grabbed the back of his neck.

‘What kind of guy is this?’

Because his daughter had to carry the clan’s aspirations, he couldn’t support his daughter’s dreams.

But that didn’t mean he didn’t love his daughter.

She was a daughter so precious he wouldn’t hurt even if he put her in his eyes.

Yet this kind of reaction!

“Anyway, please let me meet Chen Xia.”

“I refuse.”

Shau looked at Leo and said.

“While you’re in Shan, you’ll be an honored guest. I’ll treat you with utmost care, but you cannot meet Sia.”

“What if I insist on meeting her by force?”

At Leo’s words, Shau curled up the corners of his mouth.

“Go ahead and try. Someone who lives in the light can never find someone who lives in darkness.”

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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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