Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 560
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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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560
Whoooooo—!
A dry wind blew.
Risinass silently clenched his fists as he gazed at the ruins spread before his eyes.
Arron squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head away from the devastation before him.
Dragonnia.
From time immemorial, this place had been the domain and sacred ground of the Dragons.
The Age of Calamity began.
Due to the invasion by Erebos and Tartaros, the Dragons were driven from their homeland.
And as time passed, they drove out Tartaros and were able to set foot in Dragonnia again.
But the Dragonnia they had struggled to reclaim had been thoroughly destroyed by the Demons.
On that land where thousands, no, perhaps tens of thousands of years of Dragon history lay sleeping, only ashes remained.
Even in the age of the Gods, Dragons were the most powerful race.
In particular, Dragons were also the guardians of the earthly realm as agents of the Gods.
Erebos hates the world.
Naturally, he stands in opposition to the Gods who are the administrators of the world.
And the Demons born from such Erebos cursed the Dragons, who were agents of the Gods, more than any other race on earth.
That’s why the Tartaros Demons, after occupying Dragonnia, thoroughly destroyed it and captured Dragons to torture and kill them cruelly.
At the entrance, the corpses of Dragons who had been brutally murdered could be seen scattered everywhere.
Blood flowed from Risinass’s mouth as he bit his lips tightly.
His clenched fists trembled violently.
Dweno spoke to such a Risinass.
“Risinass, I understand your feelings, but… right now, collecting their bodies should be the priority.”
“Right.”
Risinass nodded with difficulty at Dweno’s words and collected the corpses of his kin.
In front of the gathered Dragon corpses, Luna knelt and clasped her hands together.
“Great agents of the Gods, may you return to nature and rest in peace.”
Whoosh—
Dragon funerals involve burning all the bodies and returning them to nature.
Originally, this should have been Risinass’s duty, but Luna took charge of the funeral in place of Risinass, whose mental strength was exhausted just from collecting the countless corpses of his kin.
Luna, who had received High Elf education as a candidate for Elf King, was well versed in the funeral rites of Dragons, who were agents of the Gods.
Though Luna was usually far from ceremonial etiquette, she now mourned the Dragons with a solemn atmosphere.
Kail, Dweno, and Arron stood behind such Luna and observed a moment of silence toward the blazing flames.
Risinass sat in a daze, watching the scene.
After that, when the sun set and everyone was asleep at night.
Risinass sat silently in the middle of the ruins.
In Risinass’s hands was a small box.
“What’s that?”
“Ah…”
At the voice from behind, Risinass turned his head in surprise.
“Kail? What are you doing instead of sleeping?”
“What about you? What were you doing away from the campsite?”
Between the fingers of Kail, who asked indifferently, several bottles were wedged.
“What’s that?”
“Alcohol. I found it in the ruins.”
Kail bit the cork stopper at the mouth of the bottle and pulled it out.
Pop—!
With that sound, the aroma of alcohol spread in all directions.
Kail, who drank gulp by gulp with the bottle to his mouth, wiped his lips once and handed the bottle to Risinass.
“…”
Though Risinass didn’t touch alcohol during expeditions, today he took the bottle Kail offered.
Gulp gulp—
“Hah.”
Kail let out a hollow laugh seeing that sight.
“Why?”
Looking at Risinass who wiped his mouth with his shoulder while asking, Kail said.
“You drink just like Luna. I wondered if you also drink like that.”
“I just wanted to drink without thinking. Though it’s too expensive alcohol to drink thoughtlessly.”
Risinass handed the bottle back to Kail as he spoke.
“As expected, since it’s alcohol made by Dragons, it must be good alcohol.”
Kail poured the remaining alcohol into his mouth.
And while opening the next bottle, he asked.
“So what is this place?”
“The house I lived in when I was young.”
“I see.”
Kail picked up a burnt leather cover lying on the ground.
Currently, this place was such a mess that you could only vaguely tell it had been the site of a house.
Things that appeared to be furniture were so damaged their forms were hard to recognize.
But the arrangement was strangely familiar.
“Was it a study?”
“More precisely, my room.”
Though the form had disappeared, this place reminded him of Risinass’s study.
Kail silently drank his alcohol.
Risinass had a strong attachment to his homeland, Dragonnia.
That wasn’t just Risinass.
It was a characteristic of all Dragons.
That’s why Risinass had made his study similar to the house in his hometown.
To soothe his longing even a little.
Most of those born before the Age of Calamity had lost their hometowns.
But since Kail and Luna were orphans, they had no feelings beyond where they were born.
Dweno always wanted to see a wider world.
Though the destruction of his hometown was regrettable and sorrowful, he still had no feelings beyond that.
Even if he saved the world, he had no intention of returning.
But Risinass was different.
He always talked about definitely returning and rebuilding his hometown.
When talking about Dragonnia, he truly looked happy.
That’s why the shock of this devastation must have been great.
Risinass, sitting in place, drew both knees to his chest.
“I knew it. That it would turn out like this.”
Risinass buried his face in his knees.
“But seeing it in reality, I can’t control my emotions.”
Dragonnia had been a beautiful place.
The sight of that beautiful hometown destroyed without leaving a trace was enough to shake Risinass, who had maintained composure as the expedition force leader until now.
“Just how much more do we have to lose before it ends?”
“…”
“Is there even such a thing as an end?”
Risinass’s voice trembled.
“What if… what if we fail?”
At that voice filled with anxiety, Kail said coldly.
“Don’t show weakness.”
Risinass’s shoulders flinched and trembled.
“You’re the one who brought so many people here while crying out for invisible hope.”
“….”
“If you show weakness, who are those people supposed to rely on?”
“….”
Risinass bit his lips tightly.
It wasn’t wrong.
‘Kail is right. I can’t become weak over something like this.’
Many people had lost their homeland.
They had grown accustomed to despair.
If he showed them a wavering appearance while trying to comfort them and show hope.
Nothing could be more irresponsible than that.
Risinass raised his head and stood up.
“Sorry, I showed you weakness….”
“That’s why.”
“…?”
“I didn’t see you today.”
Kail said as he brought the bottle to his mouth.
“I won’t tell Arron, Luna, or Dweno about this either.”
Gulp- Gulp-
The alcohol flowed down Kail’s throat without pause.
“Luna and Arron rely on you a lot, knowingly or unknowingly. If they saw you like that, they wouldn’t be able to pass their emotional burdens onto you anymore.”
Kail wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Dweno, that old man is different from the other two, but he’ll try to shoulder your burden.”
Risinass stared blankly at Kail.
“If that happens, this party will eventually shake. You inevitably have to carry the most for our party to be maintained.”
Kail stared intently at Risinass.
“So just show weakness for one day. I’ll drink and forget everything.”
“…Kail.”
Risinass looked at Kail with trembling eyes.
Then he tightly- gripped the box he held in his arms.
“Could you come here for a moment?”
Risinass patted the spot next to him.
When he went and sat beside him, Risinass leaned his face against Kail’s shoulder and said.
“While I’m leaning on you, can I ask for one favor?”
“If it’s something I can do.”
“It’s something you can do. Remember what you said? That when everything’s over, you’d live with me in Dragonnia.”
“I learned dragon etiquette until it became second nature because of that, how could I forget?”
When Kail frowned and grumbled, Risinass burst into laughter.
“When everything’s over, won’t you help rebuild Dragonnia?”
“Rebuilding this entire massive city would take more than a lifetime, wouldn’t it?”
“You said you’d lean on me today, didn’t you? And you said you’d have nothing to do after the world regains peace?”
“Fine, I understand.”
Risinass burst into laughter seeing Kail give up, then opened the box he had been holding.
Click-!
Inside the box was a fragment of something about the size of a palm.
Kail tilted his head looking at the fragment that resembled obsidian.
“What’s that?”
“The eggshell I hatched from.”
“Oh ho.”
Kail made an expression of curiosity.
Seeing such Kail, Risinass narrowed his eyes.
“You just had a rude thought, didn’t you?”
“I just realized anew that you’re a lizard.”
At those words, Risinass used his elbow to directly jab Kail’s temple.
Risinass handed his eggshell to Kail, who was rubbing his temple and frowning.
“Write your name on it.”
“Why my name?”
“It’s dragon culture. A kind of contract made when making important promises.”
Risinass made a slightly wicked smile.
“You said you’d help rebuild Dragonnia, didn’t you?”
“You’re making me write a contract for that?”
“Hmm? Isn’t it your fault for showing an opening to a swindler?”
“Tsk.”
At Risinass’s words, Kail clicked his tongue and carved his name.
Taking it back, Risinass put the egg fragment back in the box and said.
“Now you’re mine.”
“You’re treating me like pure labor.”
“Well.”
Risinass stuck out his tongue slightly with a somehow mischievous smile and looked around at the scenery.
“With you, Dragonnia will surely regain its former appearance, right?”
“Yes.”
At Kail’s answer, Risinass smiled brightly.
***
“….”
Leo silently stared at the entrance of Dragonnia before his eyes.
Chelsea made a puzzled expression beside such Leo.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
“I suddenly remembered the old days.”
Leo burst into a chuckle and shook his head.
This wasn’t the first time he had come to Dragonnia in this life.
But this was the first time he had properly seen Dragonnia’s scenery.
During his first visit, he met Mellina through the Forbidden Library and couldn’t see the external scenery at all.
His second visit was the overall scenery he saw in Rodia’s world.
Other than that, he had only seen what was passed down in literature.
That’s why revisiting Dragonnia like this brought new emotions.
After that, neither Risinass nor he could return to Dragonnia.
‘It seems the later dragons faithfully rebuilt it, inheriting Risinass’s will.’
The appearance of Dragonnia’s entrance wasn’t much different from what Risinass had described.
‘Come to think of it, is the box with my name written on it buried here now?’
It was when Leo was recalling the fragment of the egg Risinass was born from, on which he had written his name.
“You were here first! Black Rabbit!”
At the familiar voice heard from behind, Leo turned his head.
There stood Ar with her arms crossed, wagging her tail.
Beside such Ar stood a burly Ajonia student.
“It’s been a while, Leo.”
“It’s been a while. Dorve-man Kalian.”
Dorbeman, Ajonia’s student council president, extended his hand to Leo.
Leo grasped that hand and said.
“You brought interesting news. An inter-school competition.”
Dorbeman curled up the corners of his mouth.
“What did you decide to do about Ajonia?”
“Ajonia’s students worship strength. They won’t refuse any opportunity to prove their strength. Of course.”
Dorbeman’s eyes flashed.
“That’s under the premise that it’s a suitable stage to announce our arrival.”
“You won’t need to worry about that.”
Leo chuckled.
“I’ll prepare a stage befitting the Heroes.”
Leo’s red eyes gleamed ominously.
For a moment, Ar and Chelsea who saw that expression unconsciously shuddered.
‘This human! What kind of scheme is he plotting again!’
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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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