Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 286

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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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286

“Those kids went to Berkia?”

“Yes. Master Dweno said they probably aren’t spies from Tartaros, but.”

The elf respectfully reported while looking at Dweno, who was furrowing his brow.

“Erquint was found among their belongings.”

Gardstron.

The last fortress remaining in a world heading toward destruction.

The final legacy left behind as the gods departed from the earthly realm.

It was a miraculous city that had stood firm against countless invasions from Tartaros.

Refugee cities like Reishar existed too, but Gardstron’s scale was incomparably massive compared to such cities, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the last bastion.

However, even this city would not have escaped destruction without the dwarf hero before him, Master Smith Dweno.

Not just Dweno.

Dragon King Risinass.

Genius mage Luna.

White Wolf Arron.

And even Kail, the surviving hero.

Because of these strongest heroes assembled to subjugate Erebos, Gardstron had been able to firmly maintain its prestige until now.

These five heroes who led impossible battles to victory amidst endless despair were currently the symbols protecting Gardstron.

“Those children had Erquint.”

Dweno’s face turned serious.

Erquint.

Originally a sword Dweno had made for Luna, but Luna had given that sword to her disciple Berkia.

For Berkia, Erquint was a treasure that couldn’t be exchanged for anything else.

‘If it’s really Erquint, then it can only mean they took it from Berkia.’

Dweno stroked his beard while recalling the appearances of Runia and Driana.

‘They did intrude into the forbidden zone, but they themselves seemed puzzled about being there. No, they didn’t even seem to know that place was a forbidden zone in the first place.’

Dweno narrowed his eyes.

‘Judging by their clothing, the intruders who entered the Lake of Spirits must be their companions too. But Arron also said he didn’t feel anything particularly suspicious about them.’

Rather, Arron had thought well of the intruders.

‘The cat beastman girl was scary, but still. Seeing how she had a good scent. They seemed like good kids.’

Arron, being a wolf beastman, had crisis detection abilities sharper than anyone else’s.

If such an Arron evaluated them as good people, there was almost no chance he was wrong.

‘Moreover, despite being young, they possessed extraordinary skills.’

In this era, having forces capable of fighting Tartaros was more important than ever.

Once the investigation was complete and their identities confirmed, there would be nothing more welcome for Gardstron.

After pondering, Dweno spoke.

“What did Arron say?”

“Lord Arron has forbidden their interrogation for now and left Gardstron to search for Berkia.”

The elf spoke firmly to Dweno.

“What should we do?”

Looking at the elf waiting for his decision, Dweno let out a deep sigh.

Risinass, Luna, and Kail were currently away providing support to Reishar.

Dweno and Arron remained in Gardstron, preparing for any emergency.

Therefore, the final authority over Gardstron’s security and defense currently rested with Dweno.

“Lord Depeser is currently preparing for interrogation.”

“I figured that hot-tempered fellow would step forward.”

Dweno rose from his seat.

Depeser.

A gold dragon who had assisted Risinass since childhood, like Risinass’s personal secretary.

As the one in charge of Gardstron’s internal affairs, he was an ardent devotee of Risinass.

Therefore, he held tremendous favor toward Berkia, whom Risinass had evaluated as the hope of the future.

Upon hearing that such a Berkia might be in danger, he would have rushed over with eyes blazing.

“Stop that fellow for now. If Berkia is safe, Arron will bring news soon. And bring me the Erquint that was confirmed among their belongings. If it’s fake, then it means Berkia is safe too, so there’s no reason to cause a commotion.”

“Understood.”

The elf who bowed his head brought Erquint to Dweno’s workshop shortly after.

Dweno took out his pipe, put it in his mouth, and lit it.

“Phew. The appearance really does look genuine.”

After exhaling tobacco smoke once in a long stream, Dweno reached for Erquint on the workbench.

And he began examining Erquint.

Dweno’s mana flowed into Erquint.

The elf watched Dweno’s face with a tense expression.

After a moment.

Dweno’s face began to turn serious.

“Why, why are you like that? Master Dweno. Don’t tell me it’s the real Erquint?”

The elf’s face turned pale.

Dweno took out a magnifying glass to examine the sword’s surface closely, then took out a small hammer and tapped the sword a few times.

And he nodded.

“Go to Depeser and tell him Berkia will return soon with Arron. And don’t forget to tell him to politely apologize to the child he was going to interrogate. Given his personality, how much must he have frightened them?”

The elf’s face brightened.

The Master Smith of Gardstron.

These were the words of Dweno, who had created countless legendary weapons.

“That Erquint is fake then!”

“…It’s not Berkia’s.”

“Yes!”

The elf left the room with relief.

A sense of silence pervaded the interior of the workshop.

“Hmm.”

Dweno took a long draw from his pipe.

The tobacco leaves burned rapidly.

“Phew.”

Dweno, who had looked away from the smoke being exhaled and dispersing at length, looked at Erquint on the workbench and said.

“Who made you? I don’t remember making you.”

Woong-

Erquint emitted mana as if resonating with Dweno’s words.

“Yes. You’re definitely a weapon I made. But.”

Dweno’s face turned serious.

“I don’t remember making two Erquints.”

‘What exactly are those children?’

Dweno narrowed his eyes.

‘If they possessed such skills at that young age, their names should definitely be known to some extent.’

But at least in Dweno’s memory, he had never heard rumors of anyone similar to those five.

‘Moreover… they were strangely different.’

Runia and Driana, as seen through Dweno’s eyes, were different from their peers.

Children born in the Age of Calamity basically had dark eyes.

It was like a fate for those who had never seen clear skies and had to live through dark times.

Even Arron basically had dark eyes.

But Dweno had seen it.

The eyes of Runia and Driana that sparkled brightly with hope.

Bright eyes that seemed to look toward a brilliant future, which young boys and girls should naturally have.

But eyes that could never be possessed in this current era.

‘Eyes that dream of salvation and… eyes that look toward the future are fundamentally different. Moreover.’

Dweno looked at Erquint.

This Erquint was real.

There was no way Dweno, the creator, wouldn’t recognize it.

However…

‘I can feel the traces of long years.’

Kwang-!

At that moment, the ground shook with a powerful explosion.

Dweno got up.

‘It must be those children. Did they break out to save their friend?’

‘I’ll know when I meet them again.’

Dweno took Erquint and left the workshop.

***

Leo and Berkia were walking through the forest.

“Ugh… monster blood!”

Berkia, covered in monster blood, shuddered in disgust.

Then she put her nose to her arm and sniffed, before sticking out her tongue with an “Eww-“.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen that tomboyish side of her.’

Leo recalled Berkia, the leader of the elves passed down to later generations.

A great leader who led the elves as Luna’s successor.

Berkia was often portrayed as a benevolent saint who knew how to give her own things to others with compassionate leadership.

‘Knowing how to give her own things to others, my ass.’

Leo had never once received a side dish from Berkia when they ate together.

‘Compassionate leadership? If making peers cry while learning swordsmanship or magic together counts as leadership, then I guess it’s leadership.’

The Berkia Leo remembered had no charm whatsoever.

‘She’d always argue with my words or rebel against me.’

Leo looked at Berkia with half-closed eyes.

Berkia, who had been sniffing, suddenly turned to look at Leo!

“What?”

“That look in your eyes. It’s similar to Master Kail’s.”

‘She’s always been quick to notice. Why don’t I try talking behind her back again?’

“What’s similar about it.”

“Like a father.”

“…”

Leo was surprised by the unexpected answer.

“Master Kail is strict, you know.”

Berkia basically followed Luna very closely.

That’s why Luna was very fond of Berkia.

Arron liked children.

So he took very good care of Berkia.

Only Kail was strict with Berkia.

He had to be strict.

Berkia had talent.

Therefore, she was in a position where she had to go to the battlefield soon.

He couldn’t just coddle her.

All Kail could do was teach her strictly to give her a strong heart.

Since Berkia monopolized Luna and Arron’s affection, he thought she would have disliked his strict education.

The fact that Berkia was training alone in this dangerous region was ultimately because of him.

So while he thought she was arrogant, he also thought it was inevitable that she disliked him.

But…

“Like a father?”

“Yeah. Of course, I’m an orphan, so I don’t really know what having a real father is like.”

Berkia spoke matter-of-factly.

Since orphans were common in this era, revealing that she was an orphan wasn’t even considered a particularly dark story.

Leo, who had been looking at Berkia for a moment, spoke.

“Probably a real father-daughter relationship wouldn’t be much different from how you feel.”

“Oh, really? Do you have parents?”

“I do. They’re good people.”

“I’m envious.”

Berkia looked at Leo with admiration.

Looking at such Berkia, Leo chuckled and said.

“If you go that way, there should be a lakeside where you can wash yourself. Go wash up.”

“Okay.”

Berkia nodded and was about to go in the direction Leo pointed, but hesitated.

Then she opened her eyes slightly wide and looked at Leo.

“What.”

“This forest is complicated, but you know the geography well. And…”

“And?”

“Just now you seemed a bit like Master Kail.”

Looking at Leo as if it was fascinating, Berkia put down her luggage and disappeared into the thicket.

Leo took care of Berkia’s luggage, cleaning it with magic while smiling bitterly.

‘Like a father…’

He never would have thought she was looking at him with such feelings.

There was no time to spare back then.

It was when Leo was thinking about Berkia.

Whoosh-!

Leo’s senses caught something.

‘Something’s coming.’

He could feel someone approaching Leo at tremendous speed.

Leo’s eyes twitched.

‘Arron?’

At the same time as that thought.

Thud-!

Someone appeared before Leo.

White hair and golden eyes.

Leo’s eyes widened greatly.

Last year. During the Ajonia entrance exam, Arron’s appearance was just a blurry image from distant memories for Leo too.

But the wolf beastman before his eyes now was exactly the appearance Leo remembered.

‘Arron.’

Leo, who never expected to meet Arron in Dweno’s World, felt his heart stirring.

‘Well, I met Berkia too… there’s no law saying I can’t meet Arron.’

The image of his friend apologizing even while losing his life flashed through his mind.

‘Luna… remembered me.’

Miraculously, Luna had recalled her memories from the Heroes’ World.

This wasn’t Arron’s World, but Dweno’s World.

But…

‘Maybe Arron can also recall his conquest memories from before?’

Thinking so and looking into Arron’s eyes, Leo soon smiled bitterly.

Arron was looking at him with wary eyes.

‘Miracles… don’t happen easily.’

***

“….”

Arron felt perplexed as he looked at the white-haired young boy holding his disciple’s belongings.

It was a boy he had never seen before.

But he seemed very familiar.

A somehow familiar scent.

And atmosphere.

The fact that he was feeling glad to see this boy he had never met before was perplexing.

Because his cowardly instincts made him wary of people he met for the first time.

After feeling perplexed for a moment, Arron spoke.

“What you’re holding belongs to my disciple.”

Hiding his inexplicable feelings of gladness, Arron questioned Leo.

“Would you explain why you have it?”

Looking at such an Arron, Leo thought.

‘He seems to be misunderstanding something. Does he think I harmed Berkia?’

Arron was basically very gentle with people he met for the first time.

Showing this kind of attitude was quite a stern demeanor for him.

After looking at Arron for a moment, Leo spoke.

“If you want to hear the story, how about you fight me and try to win?”

“What?”

Arron showed a slightly flustered expression.

If he told the truth, he would be able to go to Gardstron without any major trouble.

But he suddenly became curious.

‘How well can the current me fight against Arron?’

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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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