Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 394

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

394.

 

The expedition’s journey continued.

 

And they arrived near the location where Leo had said the Devouring King Jormungandr was expected to be.

 

Accordingly, the expedition also wore noticeably tense expressions.

 

“Let’s rest here today.”

 

Risinass spoke while there was still time before sunset.

 

They couldn’t recklessly enter a danger zone where they might encounter Jormungandr during nighttime hours.

 

Thus the expedition made camp and prepared their meal.

 

‘The atmosphere is heavy.’

 

Rodia lit a campfire with magic while surveying the surroundings.

 

Soon they might battle Jormungandr, who was evaluated as the strongest legion commander.

 

So it was natural for them to feel tension.

 

‘In this era, not a single legion commander has ever been defeated.’

 

Though they had set out on an expedition to defeat Jormungandr at the cost of their lives.

 

It was natural to tremble with anxiety.

 

After lighting the campfire, Rodia approached Leo who was looking at a map on one side.

 

“Kail-nim.”

 

“What.”

 

When Leo answered indifferently without even taking his eyes off the map, Rodia spoke.

 

“Shouldn’t we inform the expedition about the strategy for defeating Jormungandr soon?”

 

At Rodia’s words, Leo spoke calmly.

 

“There’s no such thing as a strategy.”

 

“What?”

 

“Jormungandr is a legion commander that strategies don’t work on.”

 

Leo took his eyes off the map and looked at Rodia.

 

Rodia made an incredulous expression.

 

“How can that be?”

 

“How can it be? It just is. You should know since you’ve fought against the Devouring King.”

 

Rodia recalled the Devouring King.

 

A legion commander with overwhelmingly powerful strength that could only be described as such.

 

Even Rodia, the leader of the Heroes of the Cataclysm, felt a shudder.

 

‘Excluding the fragments of Erebos, it was the most formidable enemy.’

 

Literally the strongest demon.

 

“Unfortunately, that guy isn’t someone you can make strategies or countermeasures against.”

 

Leo let out a small sigh.

 

“Certainly compared to my previous life, the expedition’s current strength has increased. And while back then we couldn’t make proper preparations because we suddenly encountered Jormungandr, now we’ve definitely prepared to defeat that guy. But.”

 

Leo spoke with emphasis.

 

“The fact that the expedition will be annihilated the moment we slip up even slightly remains unchanged. The victory 5000 years ago was truly close to a miracle.”

 

Gaining the power to overwhelm Jormungandr came at a time when he had achieved complete growth both physically and mentally.

 

It was only when he reached that period called the King of Wisdom and Hero of the Beginning.

 

“Then how exactly did you defeat Jormungandr?”

 

“By surpassing our limits.”

 

Leo chuckled.

 

“While I drew that guy’s attention, Risinass pierced through its heart.”

 

“As expected of Risinass-nim!”

 

Rodia clasped her hands together and her eyes sparkled.

 

“It’s the same now. While I draw that guy’s attention, the others will attack.”

 

“Will Jormungandr obediently target only Kail-nim?”

 

“I’ll make it target me. It’s true that guy has overwhelming power among all legion commanders. But do you know why that guy couldn’t play a central role in Tartaros despite that?”

 

“…Well. I’ve never thought about it.”

 

“Because that guy is stupid.”

 

“What?”

 

For a moment, Rodia made a dumbfounded expression.

 

Every legion commander she knew was a demon with tremendous power and cunning to match.

 

That’s what made legion commanders frightening.

 

But the Devouring King, called the strongest legion commander, was just a strong fool.

 

“If that guy had even half the brains of the Overlord King, the world would have been destroyed long ago. If I insult Erebos, it’ll go crazy and only target me.”

 

“Alright. I understand the plan for Kail-nim to concentrate Jormungandr’s attention and create an opening. But is it possible for Kail-nim to withstand Jormungandr’s concentrated assault with your current power?”

 

“It’s possible. That’s why I made a pact with Albus.”

 

Leo showed the contract seal on the back of his hand.

 

“That guy’s recklessness is a terrible disaster in itself, but it also becomes a fatal weakness.”

 

Leo’s red eyes flashed.

 

“I’ll create the opportunity.”

 

Leo unhesitatingly declared he would take on the most dangerous role.

 

“You just need to pierce through that guy’s heart full of openings.”

 

The moment he said that.

 

Rumble rumble rumble rumble-!

 

The ground began to shake as if an earthquake had occurred.

 

“Wh-what?”

 

“Something’s coming!”

 

The moment the expedition panicked.

 

Crash crash crash crash crash-!

 

Something enormous shot up from a place far from the campsite.

 

A giant serpent.

 

-Kuooooooooooo!

 

A spine-chilling roar echoed from the mouth of the serpent that shot up high as if to pierce the sky.

 

“Jormungandr!”

 

***

 

“What?”

 

“It really appeared!”

 

“Everyone prepare for battle! Prepare for battle!”

 

The expedition fell into panic at Jormungandr’s appearance.

 

They hastily formed ranks and prepared for battle.

 

Knights and warriors gripped their weapons.

 

Mages chanted spells and summoners summoned their respective familiars.

 

Until this very moment, most of the expedition had been uncertain about Leo’s words that they would face Jormungandr.

 

So when Jormungandr appeared, everyone was struck with terror.

 

But though they were terrified, they weren’t completely intimidated.

 

All of them were veteran warriors who had weathered the Age of Calamity and protected Gardstron for a long time.

 

Though they couldn’t leave their names in history, they were heroes who laid the foundation for opening the age of heroes.

 

Even though they were terrified, they didn’t neglect what they had to do.

 

Among them, the most surprised were Leo and Rodia, who had been certain of Jormungandr’s existence.

 

“This is quite far from where the original battle took place!”

 

When Rodia spoke urgently, Leo clicked his tongue.

 

“You know that just because actual history happened that way doesn’t mean the same thing will occur in Hero Record! Unexpected situations can happen anytime!”

 

“But… this deviation is too large!”

 

“Nothing will change. You prepare for battle too!”

 

At Leo’s words, Rodia also formed ranks with the expedition.

 

Meanwhile, Risinass came running.

 

“Kail! It’s just as you said!”

 

“Right.”

 

Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.

 

Meanwhile, the expedition party that had formed their formation, Alocks spoke.

 

“The vanguard – me, Kail! And Alene will advance to the front!”

 

“No.”

 

Leo shook his head.

 

“I’ll block that thing alone. Alocks, Alene. You two aim for its openings.”

 

“What?”

 

Alocks’ expression changed drastically.

 

“Kail! Even for you, that’s too reckless a strategy! To block that thing alone!”

 

“Alocks is right! Kail! What on earth are you thinking!”

 

Risinass grabbed Leo’s sleeve with a pale face.

 

“No one in this expedition party can match my mobility, since I’ve contracted with the King of Pegasus.”

 

Leo looked at Jormungandr.

 

“That monster can’t be killed with ordinary attacks. Everyone except me needs to give their all to deal a fatal blow.”

 

“Even so, blocking Jormungandr alone is nearly impossible.”

 

“Unfortunately, that’s the kind of thing we’ll have to do from now on.”

 

“What?”

 

Leo looked at the expedition party.

 

“To save the world, we have to make the impossible possible.”

 

Everyone wore blank expressions.

 

“And subjugating that damn snake here is the first step toward saving the world.”

 

Leo spoke seriously.

 

“Don’t worry about me. I’m a hero who survives. Even if everyone here dies, I’ll survive until the very end.”

 

“What an ominous thing to say.”

 

Perik let out a hollow laugh.

 

“Can you really block it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then I’ll leave the front to you.”

 

“If you show even the slightest sign of weakness, I’ll help you immediately.”

 

“Please, Kail.”

 

Alocks and Alene patted Leo’s shoulder.

 

“Everyone, take your positions.”

 

Rodia organized the formation.

 

The heroes moved quickly.

 

In the midst of this, Leo spoke to Risinass, who was still gripping his sleeve.

 

“Don’t worry too much.”

 

Leo gently removed Risinass’ hand from his sleeve.

 

“This battle will be the beginning of a great journey.”

 

At Leo’s words, Risinass nodded heavily.

 

***

 

Kuguuuuuuung-!

 

-Are you the vermin that crawled out of Gardstron!

 

Crawling along the ground, Jormungandr sneered at the presence it felt in the distance.

 

-I smell dragons. Their meat is a delicacy!

 

Sniff sniff-

 

Jormungandr, who had followed the ominous scent here, flicked its tongue.

 

Befitting its name as the Devouring King, a ravenous appetite surged up.

 

In the midst of this, the Devouring King spotted someone flying toward it.

 

-Hmph, a flying insect fearlessly coming alone…

 

Jormungandr’s body suddenly stiffened as it sneered at the human who dared fly toward it alone.

 

It carries on the wind.

 

An ominous scent of blood.

 

It wasn’t an actual smell.

 

A scent deeply embedded in the soul of that human flying toward it.

 

‘What is… this stench.’

 

It was a smell it desperately didn’t want to approach.

 

But before that…

 

Kuguuuuuuung-!

 

The earth shook.

 

More precisely, Jormungandr’s body was trembling.

 

A legion commander called the strongest.

 

‘What on earth is… this fear.’

 

Its instincts were telling it.

 

Jormungandr felt an indescribable fear toward that mere human.

 

Another scent hidden beneath Erebos’ smell.

 

‘The scent of my blood?’

 

The primal fear of not wanting to face the human before its eyes made him, the strongest legion commander, feel utterly pathetic.

 

But before that.

 

It felt hatred that overwhelmed everything else.

 

‘This cannot be!’

 

Jormungandr’s sense of smell, which had even caught the soul’s fragrance, was telling it.

 

That human had killed itself and even killed the great god it worshipped endlessly.

 

That its very existence was something that desecrated everything about itself.

 

As if having a seizure, Jormungandr began to rampage.

 

Primal fear and hatred made it lose its reason.

 

-Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

 

Jormungandr rolled back its eyes and let out a shriek mixed with screams toward the sky.

 

“It’s been a while, Jormungandr.”

 

Leo, who had reached the rampaging Jormungandr, spoke.

 

-Deicide! I don’t know such a filthy existence like you!

 

“I suppose so. But I know you.”

 

Dense killing intent poured out from Leo’s body.

 

“By the way, Deicide? I’ve never killed a god though?”

 

-Shut up! You cannot reach god! Today, here! Your existence will be erased!

 

The reason-paralyzed Jormungandr spat out incoherent, hatred-filled curses.

 

Watching such Jormungandr, Leo narrowed his eyes.

 

‘This bastard, I don’t know why, but it seems to know what I did in the future.’

 

Leo narrowed his eyes.

 

‘But nothing changes.’

 

The fact that he had to defeat Jormungandr here and now remained unchanged.

 

Woong-!

 

Leo unleashed his spiritual power.

 

Along with it, pure white lightning swirled.

 

Pajijijijijik! Flash-!

 

Leo summoned Albus and mounted it as he spoke.

 

“Albus, fly up.”

 

Saying so, Leo pulled the reins made of spiritual power.

 

Kwagagagagagang-!

 

At that moment, Jormungandr’s destructive breath engulfed Leo.

 

But Leo was not there.

 

Jormungandr’s six eyes stared directly at the dizzyingly high skies.

 

-…. It’s finally beginning.

 

Albus muttered while looking down at Jormungandr.

 

“Right. I need to finish off that worm.”

 

Leo gently stroked Albus’s mane.

 

“Please understand if I handle you a bit roughly in our first battle, miss.”

 

-Kail, you’re the one who shouldn’t be swept away by my power.

 

Leo grinned at Albus’s words.

 

-But you said your goal was to block that hateful existence alone, right? Is that possible?

 

“It’s possible, but…. Seeing that guy has gone mad, I think I need to play my trump card sooner.”

 

-Trump card? Was there another trump card besides me?

 

Leo burst into laughter seeing Albus speak in a slightly sulky voice.

 

“Right. I was going to summon them later since it might raise unnecessary suspicion.”

 

-Suspicion?

 

The moment Albus made a puzzled expression.

 

Leo spread both arms to the left and right.

 

Whooom-!

 

At that moment, spiritual power swirled around the backs of Leo’s hands.

 

Golden and black contract circles appeared.

 

Albus’s eyes widened greatly as she realized that power.

 

-This power is…!

 

Albus asked as if she couldn’t believe it.

 

-Kail, what exactly are you? How on earth…!

 

“My identity…. People do call me that.”

 

Leo burst into laughter and forcibly executed the ‘unmade pact.’

 

“The Hero of the Beginning.”

 

A summoning circle appeared.

 

Leo called the names of the Pact Makers.

 

“Elsi, Silorod.”

 

At his call, the Pact Makers revealed themselves.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————