Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 246

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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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246

Archduke of Funeral Rites, Atkan.

He is a close confidant of Hel Kaiser, the Commander-in-Chief.

A monster who survived despite engaging in several decisive battles with the Great Heroes.

Leo had also fought against Atkan before.

‘Was he still alive?’

However, Leo couldn’t hide his surprise at the fact that he had revealed himself before his eyes.

He was certainly a notoriously evil demon.

But Leo hadn’t expected that he would still be alive even after thousands of years had passed.

After his reincarnation, Leo had identified the high-ranking demons of Tartaros that were on record.

Atkan’s name was not among them.

Even though he had survived the Age of Calamity, since he hadn’t appeared in any records for thousands of years, Leo had thought that he must have been subjugated by others long ago.

Yet now he was right before his eyes.

Leo broke out in a cold sweat as he remained wary of Atkan.

‘In some ways, he’s a more troublesome opponent than the new legion commanders.’

The experience and skills accumulated over 5,000 years of life were certainly threatening.

‘That bastard possesses power comparable to the top-tier heroes of the current era.’

Right now, he was an opponent too difficult for Leo to handle.

On top of that, Atkan knew Kail, the Hero of the Beginning.

‘If he realizes that I’m Kail, things will get complicated.’

Even while thinking this, Leo didn’t let his guard down.

The fortunate thing was that this place was the stronghold of the Shan Empire.

If they could just detect Atkan’s presence, this was a place that had enough military power to stop him.

It was when Leo was keeping his senses sharp and staying wary of Atkan.

“Ho. Indeed.”

Atkan looked at Leo with gleaming eyes.

“You’re worthy of being called the greatest Hero Candidate of this generation. Moreover, an All-Class. Yes. It’s like seeing Kail, the Hero of the Beginning. Huhuhuh.”

Atkan burst into laughter.

Looking at such an Atkan, Leo spoke.

“Archduke of Funeral Rites? Judging by the name, you’re certainly a high-ranking demon, but I’ve never heard such a name before?”

He feigned ignorance while asking about his identity.

“Huhuhuh. I’m just an insignificant demon who goes around collecting corpses.”

One of the sources of Hel Kaiser’s powerful strength was precisely corpses.

And Atkan was in charge of the mission of collecting those corpses.

At first glance, it might seem like trivial work.

But his mission was by no means light.

The stronger the power someone had in life, the more powerful undead could be created from their corpse.

Therefore, the targets of the corpses he collected included the bodies of heroes as well.

In some cases, there were instances where he would ‘kill’ to create corpses.

“Recently, I’ve also been assigned the mission of assisting collaborators who help Tartaros.”

At those words, Leo’s eyes twitched.

“In that sense, Leo Flobe.”

Atkan politely took something out from his chest and threw it to Leo.

Whirr-! Thud-!

Leo spread his index and middle fingers to catch what Atkan had thrown.

It was ordinary paper.

‘A business card?’

“How about receiving our sponsorship? I’m confident we can support Leo better than the Hero Academies. If it’s Leo, who is All-Class, you’ll surely rise to the ranks of heroes in an instant.”

Leo checked the contents of the business card.

‘Hero Supporter? Are they collecting Hero Records influenced by Erebos to cultivate useful pawns? It seems my guess was correct.’

And it seemed that Atkan was the one overseeing all of this.

‘He’s still good at scheming behind the scenes.’

The reason Hero Academies wield powerful influence in this era is precisely because they possess Hero Records.

The Commander-in-Chief was doing this from the shadows.

Of course, they probably didn’t possess Hero Records as extensive as the Hero Academies.

But even so, it was certain that many would fall for the temptation of being allowed to conquer Heroes’ Worlds like Sian.

Whoosh-

Leo burned the business card without hesitation.

“Oh my. How unfortunate.”

Atkan made a regretful expression.

‘What’s the reason for telling me this information? Does it mean he can kill me easily even if I refuse?’

But if Atkan failed to eliminate Leo, this story would surely become known to the world.

‘I see. It doesn’t matter if it becomes known.’

Currently, Tartaros had lost the Monster Queen.

It was certainly the biggest loss of military power for Tartaros since the end of the Age of Calamity.

Conversely, the world showed stronger unity than ever due to the return of the Great Hero and the disappearance of one of their long-standing fears.

In such a situation, what if it became known that Tartaros could use Hero Records to open Heroes’ Worlds and provide those rewards?

There would certainly be those who desired it.

And large-scale movements to root out traitors who secretly cooperated with Tartaros would also occur.

While showing strong unity on the surface, internally each race had been experiencing long-standing conflicts.

It wasn’t just problems between races.

Factional disputes existed within the same race as well.

‘There are plenty of bastards who would use this fact as a means to eliminate political enemies.’

Tremendous social chaos could result.

But he couldn’t choose not to reveal it either.

‘Destroy from within? Cunning bastard.’

Thinking of Hel Kaiser, the Commander-in-Chief, Leo gritted his teeth and unleashed his aura.

Whoooosh-!

Seeing such Leo, Atkan raised his hand.

“Well then, shall we take a look at the skills of an All-Class?”

With a gentle smile, skeletons began pouring out from all directions.

They weren’t ordinary undead.

Each and every one was undead enhanced by Atkan’s dark magic power.

While Leo was tied up with the undead, Atkan approached Sian with light steps.

“Oh my, you’ve been beaten up quite badly. Sian.”

Sian looked up at Atkan with trembling eyes.

Atkan looked at such Sian with a bright smile and then extended his hand.

The right arm that had been severed by Leo flew over and was caught in his hand.

“How fortunate. Leo’s swordsmanship skills are excellent, so it was cut cleanly. It seems it can be reattached without much difficulty.”

Having said that, Atkan used dark magic to heal Sian’s arm.

Seeing his severed arm recovered, Sian ground his teeth.

‘Leo Flobe.’

“The current Leo easily overwhelms Sian.”

“What did you say?”

Murderous intent flashed in Sian’s eyes.

Looking at such Sian, Atkan laughed.

“It can’t be helped. While both of you have equal talent, Leo is a Hero Candidate that Lumern seriously cultivated. On top of that, he conquered the World of the Great Heroes. There’s bound to be a difference between you and Sian, isn’t there?”

“Kuk!”

“If you obtain the sword of Kail, the Hero of the Beginning, who sleeps in Shan, and conquer Kail’s world that we’re keeping, you’ll surely be able to surpass Leo.”

“Right. That would be the case.”

Sian stood up from his seat.

“If only I can inherit the power of the Hero of the Beginning….”

‘I’ll take you down along with him.’

Sian looked at Atkan with contemptuous eyes before disappearing into the darkness.

Atkan, who had been watching him, laughed.

‘He’s no match for Leo Flobe. He won’t even be able to inherit that man’s world in the first place.’

Atkan’s gaze turned toward Leo.

‘What a monster.’

Any ordinary Hero Candidate would have already lost their life to the enhanced Undead.

But Leo had turned the enhanced Undead to ash in an instant.

He had shattered the Skeleton Knight’s sword and neutralized the Skeleton Mage’s magic with Dispel.

Crack-! Thud- Roll roll roll-

Just as Atkan was thinking this.

The head of a skeleton rolled to Atkan’s feet.

Leo, whose breathing hadn’t even been disturbed despite his intense movements, pointed his sword at Atkan.

“Indeed. You’re on a different level from other Hero Candidates.”

Atkan clapped his hands.

“I’d love to continue watching your performance, but unfortunately I have things to do.”

Soon the Emperor and the Shadows of Shan would surely notice the disturbance in the Imperial Palace and make their move.

They were powerhouses too strong for Sian to handle.

He had to prevent them from dealing with Sian.

‘Only the imperial family can enter the underground of the Imperial Palace.’

Since Shan’s founding, Tartaros had known that Bihar’s descendants had established Shan.

Tartaros, who also knew that Bihar was Kail’s disciple, had long coveted the items related to Kail that Shan would be keeping.

Finally, that opportunity had come. He couldn’t let it slip away.

‘Leo Flobe is certainly a dangerous element for us. But he’s still just a greenhorn.’

Atkan organized his priorities in his head.

Currently, his priority was dealing with the Shadows of Shan.

“Still, rest assured. I’ll definitely leave a gift for you before I go.”

Atkan grabbed at the air as if opening a door.

Creeeeak-!

A massive stone gate was generated in the air.

Along with it, a crimson space opened.

People walked out from that place.

Pale skin.

Eyes devoid of life.

Pointing at them, who looked like marionette dolls, Atkan smiled.

“Shadows are the natural enemy of Hero Killers, but conversely, they’re also the natural enemy of heroes. And these are all Shadows.”

He politely bowed his head to Leo.

“They lived insignificant lives, serving heroes their entire lives but never once being recognized, dying meaningless deaths. They deny it, but they died resenting heroes. That’s why they became such perfectly useful corpses. They hold tremendous grudges against you, the finest Hero Candidate.”

At those words, the Shadows charged toward Leo.

Clang clang clang-!

Sharp sounds of weapons clashing rang out.

Shadows endlessly emerged from the open gate.

They were all mindless dead.

Retaining only their skills from when they were alive, they raised their blades to slaughter Leo.

Whoosh-!

Flames of aura erupted from Leo’s entire body.

“I hope you have a pleasant time.”

Atkan smiled and turned around.

Watching Atkan’s retreating figure, Leo spoke.

“You know what? Among the Legion Commanders, I hate the Overlord King the most.”

“That’s usually the case. He is the most terrifying Legion Commander, after all.”

“It’s not for that reason.”

Leo burned his aura even stronger with a low voice.

“It’s because he mocks the dead.”

It was natural for Demons to regard life as worthless.

But Hel Kaiser, the Overlord King who ruled over death, had this tendency even more severely.

He would deny, ridicule, and mock the lives of those who had lived their best in any way possible.

The same was true for the Demons under his command.

That’s why Leo hated the Overlord King the most.

Whoosh-

“These people’s lives are never worthless.”

Even if they weren’t recognized.

Even if they despaired of their own lives.

The reason they fought to the end was one thing.

“They were people who fought for the peace that their predecessors had protected, in their own way. They’re worthy of being called heroes.”

“What difference does it make if you alone affirm those whom even the Gods turn away from?”

“What do I care about the Gods’ recognition?”

Whoosh-

Even more fierce flames erupted from Leo’s body.

The movements of the Shadows touched by those flames stopped completely.

They had been freed from the bonds of necromancy.

Watching them find peace, Atkan’s eyes narrowed.

‘Indeed, is that the flames of the Phoenix?’

Whoosh-

Before he knew it, a pair of wings had spread behind Leo’s back.

“Whether they became heroes or Shadows. The will they carried has been passed down to future generations unchanged.”

The hope to reclaim peace.

The hope that Risinass wanted to convey was passed to Kail.

And that hope was passed to Luna, then to Arron… and then again to Dweno.

Eventually, it bore fruit when Kail defeated Erebos.

The Great Heroes disappeared 5000 years ago.

But the will of the Great Heroes continues even now.

‘The heart we received from Risinass continues unchanged even now.’

The heart to reclaim peace and the heart to protect peace are ultimately the same.

From Leo’s perspective, both heroes and Shadows are those who seek to carry on their will.

‘That will eventually bore fruit in the defeat of Tartaros.’

But the Overlord King was one who ridiculed and mocked their lives.

That’s why Leo hated him the most.

Swish-

Leo lowered his stance.

Seeing Leo like this, Atkan summoned dark magic.

‘He’s just a greenhorn anyway. Leo Flobe’s sword won’t reach me….’

Whoooosh-!

Crack!

“…!”

Atkan’s eyes widened as he saw Leo pierce through his barrier and penetrate his throat.

Whoooosh-

Atkan’s body crumbled into black sand.

Thud-!

Atkan grabbed Leo by the throat.

But soon even that hand turned to sand and disappeared.

“You… what are you?”

For the first time, the composure vanished from Atkan’s face as he asked with a pale expression.

Because he felt fear.

“Me?”

Leo looked at the disappearing Atkan, his red eyes flashing.

Leo spoke as if declaring war to the being beyond Atkan’s dark red pupils.

“The one who will subjugate you.”

Crack-!

Leo put strength into his hand and severed Atkan’s neck.

Crumble-!

Atkan’s body that fell to the ground scattered into sand.

‘So it was a clone after all.’

The main body would have taken damage too, but this much wouldn’t kill it.

‘If it were something that could die from this much, I would have been able to kill it 5000 years ago.’

Leo dragged his burned body and looked at the Gate of the Deceased that continued summoning the dead.

One fatal strike.

He had exploited a small opening while Atkan was off guard and landed a blow.

His main body was probably blocking the Shadows of Shan.

‘He probably won’t realize it’s me, but I’ll likely be more heavily guarded from now on.’

Leo took a deep breath and spoke while looking at the undead.

‘First, I need to give these people rest… and dealing with that bastard Sian is the priority.’

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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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