Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 241

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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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241

Leo, having finished his audience with the Emperor, immediately left the audience hall.

Fritz and Jane, who had been waiting in front of the Emperor’s room, approached Leo as he opened the door and came out.

“How did it go?”

“He said he couldn’t arrange a meeting.”

“I knew it.”

Jane shook her head as if she had expected this.

Fritz wore a puzzled expression.

“That’s strange. To say he can’t even arrange a meeting.”

“Did you think meeting the Shadows of Shan would be that easy?”

“Hey, kid.”

“K-kid?”

Jane was flustered by Leo’s words.

“Are you calling me a kid right now?”

“Should I call him a kid instead?”

Leo pointed at Fritz, who was taller than himself, and tilted his head.

Jane bristled at seeing Leo like this.

“I’m older than you!”

Jane, who had turned 17 this year, might be Leo’s junior, but she was definitely older in age.

However, Leo, who had memories of his past life, didn’t care about such things.

“I have something to ask, so where can we rest?”

“Aren’t you even listening?!”

“Guide me.”

“…”

Jane’s shoulders drooped as she watched Leo, who paid no attention to her words at all.

‘Somehow I feel like I’d only make myself look like a fool if I argued with this person.’

“I’ll guide you.”

Jane guided Leo.

From the moment they arrived in Shan, Jane had been serving as Leo’s guide.

Following behind Jane, Fritz muttered.

“Kid, huh…”

Fritz, who had muttered quietly, laughed with a “Heh!”

“Huh? What does that laugh mean? Are you picking a fight?”

The irritated Jane didn’t hold back with Fritz.

***

After a bout of commotion, Jane guided Leo to an annex next to the Imperial Palace.

Despite the late hour, a hundred people were lined up on both sides in the annex.

“Welcome to the Shan Empire. We will do our best to ensure you have no discomfort during your stay, Lord Leo.”

A middle-aged man who appeared to be the head attendant politely greeted Leo.

‘A Shadow.’

It wasn’t just the head attendant.

Among the hundred servants and maids lined up on both sides, several also seemed to be Shadows.

Fritz also seemed to know this as he narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t say anything.

In the meantime, Leo was guided to the largest room inside the annex.

“Please call us anytime if you need anything.”

Leaving those polite words, the head attendant left the room.

Leo sat in the large, luxurious chair in the room.

“What would you like to know?”

Jane asked, standing in front of Leo.

Looking at Jane, Leo said.

“Could you tell me about the Chen Xia you know?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m curious about what kind of life the Chen Xia I don’t know lived. And how she came to Lumern. Also, why she decided to quit being a Hero Candidate.”

Shau had said that Chen Xia had admired heroes since childhood.

And that if she met Leo now, her heart would waver and she would abandon the path of Shadows to walk the path of heroes.

Conversely, Jane had said that the reason Chen Xia quit being a Hero Candidate was because of Leo.

“I’ve been serving Lady Sia from close by for 10 years.”

Shadow Candidates train to become Shadows from a young age.

Jane, who was an orphan, said she was taken in by the Shadows of Shan, recognized for her qualities as a Shadow, and became a Shadow Candidate.

“Outstanding Shadow Candidates can enter under the royal family members. I was the same.”

She said that Shadow Candidates who would lead Shan’s future gathered under Chen Xia.

“Lady Sia cherished the Shadow Candidates who followed her.”

The training of Shadow Candidates was not just harsh but cruel.

Those who lived in darkness and had to execute people, even if they were traitors.

Sometimes that harshness would destroy their humanity.

In that process, some would fall into becoming killing machines that only followed orders.

‘No, they probably deliberately raise them that way sometimes.’

Leo’s eyes narrowed.

“Everyone followed Lady Sia. So we hoped Lady Sia would become a hero.”

Jane squeezed her eyes shut.

“She was someone who suited being a hero more than a Shadow. And Lady Sia went to Lumern last year.”

“Given the Emperor’s personality, he probably didn’t give permission easily?”

“Yes. His Majesty the Emperor gave Lady Sia one condition.”

“A condition?”

“If she couldn’t become the year representative, she would cleanly give up the path of heroes.”

It meant that if she couldn’t become the best among the Hero Candidates, she should give up the path of heroes.

“So that’s why you said Senior Chen Xia quit being a Hero Candidate because of Senior Leo?”

Fritz, who had been listening to the story, frowned.

“That’s nothing but blaming others.”

“I know! I know that too!”

The agitated Jane glared fiercely at Fritz.

But soon her shoulders drooped.

“Is that the only reason she gave up becoming a hero?”

“On the day Lady Sia returned, she said she had seen people who truly suited being heroes… that such people should become heroes.”

Jane hung her head low.

“She said that someone who had set foot in darkness could no longer become a hero… That’s what she said.”

Hearing those words, Leo let out a deep sigh.

“Do you happen to know about the name Bihar?”

“No, who is that?”

“Never mind if you don’t know.”

Leo shook his head and sank deep into the backrest.

“How is it that the damn nonsense they spout is so exactly the same.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m talking to myself.”

Leo closed his eyes.

***

Whoooooosh-

On the high city walls of Gardstron, a woman was looking down at the city.

The large-scale battle that had taken place recently.

People were blessing the heroes who had returned after achieving victory in the Battle of Tarmetia.

The Great Heroes led by Risinass and the countless warriors who followed them.

After victory in the Battle of Tarmetia, they were able to reclaim many territories that had been lost.

“To the achievements of the Great Heroes! Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

“To the exploits of the heroes who saved the world! Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

“Waaahhhhh!”

The residents of Gardstron erupted in joyful cheers.

The eyes of people who had lived in despair and lamentation for decades were now filled with hope.

The depressingly gray sky remained unchanged.

But witnessing the dazzling exploits of the Great Heroes, people began to think.

That someday that gray sky would disappear and they would find the blue sky they had lost.

That the long, long time of despair was ending and they would surely be able to regain peace.

People were able to see hope.

The sounds of excited chatter and bursts of hearty laughter could be heard.

Humans, elves, beastmen, and dwarves alike all created a festival together.

Beastmen played instruments while humans sang along to the music.

Elves danced to the rhythm while dwarves built stages.

Dragons told children stories of the heroes’ great achievements.

Everyone united as one to celebrate the great victory.

Everyone smiled brightly in the radiant light.

Only the woman stood alone on the city wall shrouded in darkness, separated from the light.

Watching the festival from afar, the woman smiled.

“Acting pitiful again.”

At the voice from behind, Bihar went “Hik!” and staggered.

Then she lost her balance, flailed her arms, and fell from the city wall.

“K-Kail-nim.”

Bihar barely managed to grab the wall’s railing and climbed back up.

“I almost fell!”

“Would you really die from falling from this height?”

Kail sat down heavily on the city wall with an expression of disbelief.

Bihar knelt on both knees in front of Kail.

With his arms crossed, Kail looked down at the festival scene in the distance and spoke.

“How long are you going to avoid appearing before people?”

“Perhaps I’ll never have a reason to appear in my lifetime.”

“You’re also a hero who saved many people.”

“While others fought against Tartaros, I stained my hands with people’s blood. Even if they were traitors, I don’t want to appear before people based on the merit of cutting down humans.”

Bihar looked down at her hands.

“Moreover, among those I executed with my own hands were some that people still consider heroes. There would be many people who couldn’t accept my existence.”

Traitors were certainly beings that needed to be executed.

But if people learned that there were traitors among the heroes who gave them hope…

Those who were just beginning to harbor hope would surely fall into despair.

Now was a time when people needed someone to believe in and rely on.

Therefore, among the traitors executed by Kail and Bihar’s hands, quite a few were remembered as noble heroes.

“Someone who has stepped into darkness cannot become a hero.”

“Then what am I?”

“Kail-nim is different. You’re someone who can shine even in darkness.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Looking at Kail’s incredulous expression, Bihar could only smile.

“Don’t worry too much. In a world where Erebos has been defeated and Tartaros has disappeared… someday I’ll reveal it. The fact that someone like me existed.”

“Ah, found you! You were here!”

A drunken voice was heard.

Luna, who had come running, put Kail in a headlock.

“You! Did you run away in the middle of drinking? That means you’re admitting defeat in our drinking contest, right?”

“Don’t cling to me while talking. Your breath stinks.”

“Where does my breath stink!”

“You threw up, so of course your breath stinks.”

Luna tightened her arm around Kail’s neck and shook him vigorously.

In response, Kail pinched Luna’s cheek and shook it roughly.

Luna bit Kail’s hand, and Leo grabbed and pulled the other cheek.

“Dweno. Kail and Luna are fighting again!”

“Leave them be. Is it just today or yesterday that those idiots have been fighting?”

“Bihar. Were you here alone again?”

Arron and Dweno appeared, and Risinass smiled bitterly while worrying about Bihar.

The Elf Girl who came along, Berkia, had her shoulders drooping.

“Why does Berkia look so dejected again?”

“She lost the sword she received as a gift from Luna in battle.”

“Ah… Erquint.”

Bihar, who briefly exclaimed, approached Berkia and said with a smile.

“Don’t worry, I’ll find it for you.”

“…Really?”

Looking at her wide-eyed expression, Bihar grinned.

“Of course.”

“Hey. Don’t indulge her. She’ll develop bad habits.”

“Bleh!”

Berkia stuck her tongue out at Kail.

“This cheeky little brat…”

The once quiet city wall was now filled with commotion.

This place was another hideout of the Great Heroes.

Dweno opened the barrel of alcohol he had brought, and Kail and Luna drank merrily.

Arron played the flute while Risinass hummed songs.

Bihar, Berkia, and other disciples of the Great Heroes beamed with joy.

“…”

Leo opened his eyes.

‘In the end, Bihar never revealed her name to the world.’

She had no intention of becoming a hero.

So he had no intention of blaming her for choosing to remain in darkness for life.

It was the path she chose according to her beliefs.

But what about Chen Xia?

She wants to become a hero.

“But she can’t become a hero because she stepped into darkness? How presumptuous.”

At Leo’s words, Fritz and Jane flinched and trembled.

Leo was now glaring out the window at the Imperial Palace of Shan shrouded in darkness with frightening eyes.

Leo got up and approached the window.

“Where are you going?”

Jane asked urgently.

Looking at Jane, Leo said.

“I’m going to Chen Xia.”

“What? How do you know where she is?”

“If I search around, she’ll turn up.”

Chen Xia, coiled in the darkness of the Imperial Palace of Shan, cannot be found even by Jane, who is a Shadow Candidate.

No, even skilled Shadows would have difficulty finding her.

And yet he says he’ll find her?

“What do you plan to do once you find her?”

Leo smiled slyly as he watched the flustered Jane.

“What do you mean, what? I’ll have to forcibly drag her out of the 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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