Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 288

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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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288

Everyone wore bewildered expressions as they looked at Katariou, wreathed in surging white flames.

‘Why was this guy summoned?’

But the most flustered was Leo, who had summoned Katariou.

He had only used spiritual power to draw out more of Fiora’s strength.

But Katariou had been summoned.

And in a contracted form, no less.

Leo had never made a contract with Katariou.

That was true even during his time as Kail.

A contract he knew nothing about had been formed.

‘Is this… even possible?’

Leo looked at Katariou with shocked eyes.

[I’ll ask again, human. Why do you possess the seal of my contract?]

At Katariou’s words, Leo said.

“I don’t know either. I only used spiritual power to draw out my contractor’s strength.”

[Contractor?]

Katariou glanced at Leo’s sword.

Whoosh-

The flames that had been surging from the sword soon took the form of a small bird.

“Chirp.”

[…]

Looking at the round chick about the size of an adult man’s fist, Katariou made an incredulous expression.

[A young phoenix. But why is it so fat?]

“I wouldn’t know.”

It was the aftereffect of indiscriminately accepting snacks from other students, but Leo was shameless.

‘It’s not my fault.’

After briefly looking at Fiora, Katariou looked at Leo and narrowed her eyes.

[You, are you an All-Class?]

Having instantly seen through Leo’s abilities, Katariou’s body was enveloped in flames.

Thud-!

What landed on the ground was a woman with pure white hair and red eyes.

“To think there was another All-Class ability user besides that rude Kail. How surprising.”

After briefly looking at Leo, Katariou narrowed her eyes.

“I ask. Is your family perhaps one with deep ties to phoenixes?”

Katariou saw through the Jerdinger family blood flowing in Leo’s body.

“That’s right.”

“Hmm. Indeed. It’s not common, but is this hereditary contract succession? It seems a contract made by a previous Phoenix King has been passed down through your family and awakened in you.”

Katariou was deducing in her own way why Leo, who hadn’t made a contract, could summon her.

Leo also thought internally about the reason he could summon Katariou.

‘I see… is it because I obtained Risinass’s dragon heart?’

Just before the final battle with Erebos.

Leo received the dragon heart of the dying Risinass and inherited her power.

It wasn’t forcibly taken, but inherited by Risinass’s will.

In that process, he also inherited the contracts with spirits and magical beasts that Risinass possessed.

Risinass’s magic disappeared as Kail’s body was consumed.

But the mark of inheritance was engraved on the soul, not the body.

‘Mel said so. That Risinass’s magic inherited from the Heroes’ World follows my control.’

The same goes for contracts.

The contracts that this era’s Risinass made clearly recognize Leo as ‘Risinass’.

Leo looked down at his hands.

“Still, to contract with a phoenix at that age, even if you’re young.”

Katariou made an amused expression.

“And there’s even a phoenix I don’t know that seems to have been born not long ago. How curious.”

Chirp- Chirp-

Fiora flapped her wings curiously and circled around Katariou.

A slightly warm emotion rose in Katariou’s eyes, which had been filled with arrogant light.

Though Katariou was basically ill-mannered, she was a gentle phoenix to her pact makers and kin.

“I love those with talent.”

The last Phoenix King extended her foot to Leo with an elegant face.

“I’ll give you the honor of kissing the top of my foot and paying respects. Young phoenix’s pact maker. Of course, don’t forget to sever the contract after that’s done.”

Katariou tilted her head slightly.

“Though I say you’re talented, I have no desire to maintain a contract with a mere human. Especially one I didn’t make myself.”

Chirp- Chirp!

Fiora, who had walked in front of Leo, chirped as if urging him to hurry.

Though it didn’t exist in Fiora’s era, she instinctively realized Katariou was the Phoenix King and took her side.

“Whose side are you on anyway.”

Leo sighed and knelt down.

Seeing Leo like this, Katariou made a smug expression.

Chirp?

Leo grabbed Fiora from the ground and pressed her against Katariou’s face.

“Mmph?”

Chirrrrrp!

Katariou flailed and Fiora screamed.

“Rude fool! Do you know who I am! Do you want to become ash!”

“Risinass must have told you not to harm people, right?”

“You! How do you know the conditions of my pact with Risinass!”

Chirp chirp chirp chirp!

Even so, this was the first time she’d met such a crazy phoenix contractor who fearlessly rubbed his pact maker against the Phoenix King’s face.

While Leo and the two phoenixes were making a commotion.

“Oh! Master Arron! What brings you all the way here?”

“You’re safe, Berkia.”

“Of course I’m safe. But anyway…”

Berkia, who had returned at some point, looked toward Leo and furrowed his brow.

“Why is that annoying phoenix here and why is she fighting with him?”

“…There seems to be a complicated reason.”

Arron scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.

Then he looked at Leo, who was even grabbing Katariou by the collar, and muttered.

“He’s really like Kail.”

Looking at the boy he’d met for the first time today who reminded him of his friend in many ways, Arron smiled gently.

***

Crash-!

“Guhk?!”

The beastman who took Ar’s powerful kick to the stomach rolled his eyes back and fainted.

Thud-!

Landing on the ground, Ar bent her left knee and stretched out her right leg.

Then she spun rapidly like a top with her left foot as the central axis.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh-!

“Ugh?”

“Guk?!”

The soldiers surrounding Ar lost their balance and fell to the ground from the lightning-fast low attacks.

Ar’s white ears perked up.

Crash-!

A massive battle axe embedded itself where Arga had been standing.

“Impressive body techniques.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“And even Arron’s beast transformation ability. What exactly are you?”

The massive bear beastman retrieved his battle axe and his eyes gleamed.

Watching the bear beastman, Arga extended her claws.

“Beautiful women are supposed to have many secrets.”

“Heh. I’d like to test our skills more, but I can’t let suspicious individuals run wild any longer.”

Roooooar-!

Ominous aura and fighting spirit poured out from the bear beastman’s body.

‘This beastman is strong.’

Seeing this, Arga’s expression grew tense.

He was different from the small fry she had faced until now.

For Ar, who had been relentlessly blowing away everyone in front of her to rescue Eiran, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Just as she reached right in front of the charging bear beastman.

“Flame Explosion.”

Along with the incantation, crimson sparks flew right in front of Ar’s nose.

As soon as she saw this, Ar threw herself away in shock.

Kwagagagagagagang-!

“Graaaaaaah!”

The bear beastman, hit directly by Runia’s magic right in front of him, was sent flying and crashed down.

“What are you doing!”

When Ar brought her face right up close in protest, Runia said calmly.

“It’s fine, he won’t die from that much.”

Sizzle-!

As Runia calmly pointed at the bear beastman lying there charred black, Ar bared her fangs with a growl!

“That’s not the point! I almost got caught up in it too!”

“Surprise attacks should be done when the opponent is off guard, right? When you reached right in front of him, I wasn’t paying attention to you, so a magic attack would be effective. I thought with your reflexes, you could definitely dodge it.”

“If that was your calculation, then fine.”

“Even if you got hit, you would have been fine since you’re enhanced by beast transformation.”

“So in the end, you used it thinking it didn’t matter if I got caught up in it!”

Ar got excited.

“We’re pressed for time right now! And if we just go up those stairs, we’ll reach the 1st floor!”

With their mana seals released, the two breaking through the underground prison was literally instantaneous.

If she had fought the bear beastman who was quite skilled just moments ago, even Ar would have struggled, but with Runia’s magic, they quickly broke through even the final gatekeeper.

‘Eiran! Just hold on a little longer!’

Just as Runia, gritting her teeth, stepped onto the stairs to the 1st floor.

“You’re making quite a flashy rampage.”

“…!”

Seeing the dwarf who appeared before them, despair filled Runia’s face.

Ar also realized that the dwarf was Dweno and raised her tail straight up.

The area around the underground prison entrance was a vast open field.

No one existed there except Dweno.

But Runia felt overwhelming despair.

The one before them was none other than a legendary great hero.

No matter how much Runia and Arga struggled, he wasn’t someone they could handle.

‘First, I need to escape…!’

The moment Runia quickly rolled her eyes thinking of an escape route.

Whiiiing! Thud-!

A massive axe flew and embedded itself in a spot where Runia thought there might be an opening.

“I wouldn’t think about running if I were you.”

Dweno, who had accurately sensed Runia’s intentions, blocked the path.

Just as Runia gritted her teeth.

“Representative of Seirun. Go ahead.”

Ar stepped forward.

“I’ll try to hold off Dweno!”

“You can’t do it alone!”

At Runia’s urgent cry, Ar smiled grimly.

“Even together would be impossible, since our opponent is Dweno.”

“…!”

“But creating an escape route for you is possible.”

Arga stepped forward.

Watching Ar like this, Dweno tilted his head.

“A reckless little kitten.”

“If it were Arron, he would never run away in this situation…”

“What are you talking about? He would run away immediately.”

“…”

Ar, who had tried to talk about the Arron she knew, was refuted before she could even finish and became speechless.

“Arron isn’t such a cowardly man…!”

“He’s more cowardly than anyone.”

“Don’t insult Arron!”

Excited, Ar puffed up her fur and hissed!

“That idiot…!”

Watching Ar like this, Runia covered her face with her hands.

“What an interesting young lady!”

Even while laughing heartily, Dweno’s eyes turned sharp.

‘Beast transformation even when it’s not a full moon?’

Dweno glanced up at the sky and looked at Ar charging toward him.

Though Ar appeared to be recklessly charging at Dweno, she was actually moving along a calculated path.

‘She’s keeping me in check so I can’t interfere with that elf girl.’

Seeing Ar’s sharp eyes observing his movements, Dweno curled up the corners of his mouth.

‘That elf girl was impressive too, but this beastkin girl is also remarkable.’

She was truly worthy of being called hope.

Flash-!

Ar’s movements changed rapidly.

She moved unpredictably, confusing Dweno’s eyes.

‘I need to create even a small opening!’

Ar broke out in cold sweat.

She knew the gap between herself and Dweno without being told.

He wasn’t a great hero simply because he made divine-grade weapons.

He was one of the strongest legends who had stood at the very front of Arron and the expedition force as a true warrior.

Crack-!

Ar’s fist aimed for Dweno’s face.

And just as she tensed her body in preparation for Dweno’s counterattack.

Kwaaaang-!

Whoosh!

“…!”

Along with a tremendous sound, powerful wind pressure arose and all the surrounding dust was blown away.

Ar’s eyes widened in shock.

Surprisingly, Ar’s powerful punch had landed precisely on Dweno’s cheek.

But Dweno didn’t budge like a rock.

Seeing Dweno not even blink at an attack containing all her strength, Ar felt goosebumps rise all over her body.

And another nickname of the Divine Blacksmith Dweno flashed through her mind.

If Hero Arron was the warrior who slaughtered and blocked enemies at the front lines.

Then the Divine Blacksmith Dweno was…

‘The one who blocked any attack… the Absolute Shield…!’

The pillar of the Great Heroes who took on the most difficult tasks in battle.

He didn’t budge at all even from Ar’s desperate strike.

“Excellent.”

Dweno praised Ar’s attack and grabbed her wrist.

Crash-!

“Kugh!”

And he slammed Ar straight into the ground.

While Ar writhed in pain.

Whoosh-!

Sacred flames flickered.

‘This magic formula is?’

Dweno showed a surprised expression, sensing familiarity in the magic formula.

Craaaash-!

Phoenix flames engulfed Dweno.

Whoooosh-!

But golden flames bursting from Dweno’s hands devoured Runia’s magic.

“How delightful. A natural flame user.”

Dweno smiled warmly while gritting his teeth and looking at Runia.

“Elves have strong kinship bonds. Weren’t you going to rescue your captured friend?”

“I’m going to rescue him. Taking her with me.”

Runia gritted her teeth and shouted.

“That’s impossible. It’s true that you’re remarkable. But by my standards, you’re nothing but chicks. You might have had a chance if you’d given up on one of the two.”

Dweno said coldly.

Dweno kicked Ar at his feet with his toes while speaking.

“You’ll be caught by me anyway, but wouldn’t it be better to give up on this friend?”

“Don’t be… ridiculous!”

Flash-!

Fragments of light appeared around Runia.

‘My flames don’t work on Dweno! Then…!’

She had to face him with Star Magic.

Seeing the light fragments that reminded him of starlight in the night sky, Dweno’s expression changed.

‘As expected, this magic is…’

The starlight fragments flew toward Dweno.

“Huu.”

Dweno took a deep breath.

“Wah!”

With an ear-splitting shout, Runia’s magic formula was destroyed.

“Crude.”

Seeing Dweno destroy the magic formula with his battle cry, Runia’s face was colored with fear.

‘This is… a Great Hero… the power of one who saved the world.’

It was strength that far exceeded common sense.

“It would be better for you to give up and be captured quietly.”

Dweno said coldly.

***

When the commotion outside quieted down, Cal carefully headed outside with Driana.

Cal, who had escaped to the 1st floor, was stunned by the scene before his eyes.

Ar was hanging limply with her collar grabbed by a dwarf’s hand.

Runia was breathing heavily with her back stepped on by that dwarf.

The dwarf who had subdued the strongest 2nd years of Seirun and Ajonia as if handling children had not a single wound on his body.

“Did you two escape as well?”

Dweno’s emotionless gaze turned toward Cal and Driana.

Both their eyes were filled with terror.

Dweno’s single word carried powerful pressure.

The power to make one lose the will to fight.

Their mana was suppressed, unable to resist, facing absolute fear.

But Cal gripped the crossbow he had obtained while escaping from jail.

Driana was paralyzed with fear, not knowing what to do.

‘Normally, that girl’s reaction would be correct.’

When encountering overwhelming despair.

People collapse.

That’s normal.

Dweno’s eyes narrowed.

And he looked at the shabby human mage boy.

‘But how can he think of fighting even in this situation.’

Thud-!

Then Ar, who had completely lost her strength, grabbed Dweno’s wrist.

Ar’s blue eyes flashed.

Groooo-!

Runia, stepped on by Dweno’s foot, also squeezed out her mana.

‘Is this reckless courage born from ignorance?’

Do these children not know his strength?

He thought that but soon shook his head.

‘No, these children seem to know my strength better than anyone.’

When they first met in the Fairy’s domain, Runia and Driana surrendered immediately without any resistance.

It was the same during the escape.

The moment they encountered him, both girls felt deep despair.

These boys and girls knew Dweno’s strength far better than he thought.

Yet they don’t give up and gather their will to fight.

“It would be easier if you gave up. Foolish stubbornness.”

Dweno made a pathetic expression.

“I know someone… who never gives up.”

Then Runia, crushed under Dweno’s foot, spoke with difficulty.

Her eyes flashed with determination.

“I don’t want to be ashamed in front of that guy.”

Dweno looked down at Runia quietly.

And looked at Ar who was gripping his wrist.

‘Girls who remind me of Arron and Luna… but…’

Dweno’s eyes narrowed.

‘Their eyes resemble Kail. Even that mage boy over there.’

Just as Dweno was curling up the corners of his mouth.

“That’s enough.”

A cheeky voice was heard.

Runia, Ar, Cal, and Driana widened their eyes and turned their heads.

Dweno realized that the human boy who had revealed himself was dressed exactly the same as Cal.

“So they’re companions of the escaped prisoners. It seems they’ve come to rescue their friend.”

Leo stood in front of Dweno.

“Berkia has returned to Gardstron with Arron.”

Even at Dweno’s murderous voice, Leo didn’t bat an eye.

“And since you like beautiful things, it wouldn’t be very pleasant for you to mess up those kids, would it?”

“You speak as if you know me well.”

Dweno tilted his head and raised his mana.

Whoooosh—!

Golden flames blazed up to turn Leo into ashes.

“Leo!”

Cal shouted urgently.

But Dweno’s flames did not burn Leo.

“Is this enough for a test?”

“…Aren’t you afraid?”

When Dweno asked with a hollow laugh, Leo shook his head.

“Not particularly.”

From within Dweno’s flames, Leo spoke.

“The essence of flame isn’t destruction, is it?”

At those words, Dweno narrowed his eyes.

“You… who are you?”

“I’m Leo Flobe.”

At Dweno’s question, Leo calmly introduced himself.

Dweno, who had been staring intently at Leo, pointed to the other party members.

“Then what are these children?”

At Dweno’s question, Leo smiled slightly.

“Hope.”

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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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