The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 218
Chapter 218
“Go easy on him?”
Austin looked bewildered.
It wasn’t just Austin; the other trainees shared his confusion.
Garris, the trainee Austin was facing, was exceptionally skilled.
Austin had never won a single match against him.
How could he afford to take it easy against someone of Garris’ caliber?
‘What kind of confidence does Master Leo have in me?’
Austin, who inwardly laughed at the situation, felt his tension ease.
‘Yes, I’ve endured Master Leo’s harsh training for the past month.’
Having survived Leo’s grueling regimen, Austin felt ready to face any challenge.
He took a deep breath and gripped his wooden sword, matching his own size.
Garris sneered and leveled his sword at Austin.
“Cheeky bastard.”
While Austin wielded his bastard sword with devastating force, Garris used a sharp sword with precision and speed, defying his size.
Austin had always struggled to keep up with Garris’ swift movements, losing by an overwhelming margin.
As the two faced off in the center of the training ground, Garris lightly hopped from his stance and began to advance.
“I’ll teach you the basics, Austin.”
With that, Garris rushed at Austin with incredible speed.
Hwaak-
Austin swung his sword at Garris, who was charging in.
Whoosh-!
“Huh! Still a messy attack!”
Whoosh-!
Garris sidestepped Austin’s swing and struck to the left with dizzying speed.
Despite the rapid movements, Austin’s sword tracked Garris accurately.
Garris, trying to dodge and counterattack, swung his sword in defense.
Thunk-!
A heavy thud echoed as their wooden swords clashed, more resonant than expected.
Garris grimaced at the pain in his wrist.
Austin’s strength alone was remarkable.
“It seems you’ve improved somewhat. If that’s the case…”
Garris activated his Aura.
Whooom-!
Austin watched, puzzled, as Garris’ speed increased even further.
His confusion wasn’t due to the speed but to his own reaction to Garris’ agility, which had once been overwhelming.
Whew-!
Garris was taken aback when Austin dodged his thrust.
“What?”
Garris then intensified his attacks.
Whew! Thunk-thunk-thunk!
A flurry of dazzling stabs and cuts ensued.
Other trainees, who had expected Garris to dominate, whistled and cheered.
However, the expressions of the higher-ranked trainees shifted suddenly.
‘Garris’ attacks aren’t effective?’
Garris’ swordsmanship relied on speed to overwhelm opponents.
The fact that speed wasn’t working meant he couldn’t subdue his opponent.
While Austin had no opportunity to counterattack, the duel had come to a stalemate.
It was shocking that Austin, a middle-ranked trainee, was holding his own against Garris, a consistently upper-ranked one.
‘From the start, his ability to handle his strength and his Aura was sufficient. What was lacking was technique.’
Leo, observing the sparring match, snickered.
All of Leo’s knights were from lower-class nobles or commoner families.
As a result, they had some shortcomings compared to other trainees who had trained systematically in swordsmanship from a young age.
Nonetheless, their talent was impressive enough to place them in the middle ranks among the trainees.
Leo had identified the crucial aspects of swordsmanship that his knights needed to improve and focused their training accordingly.
The results of that focus were now becoming apparent.
‘Kids grow up so fast,’ Leo mused, knowing others might have found his thoughts laughable.
“Ugh! This brat!”
Garris’ eyes flashed with frustration.
‘What the hell!’
He aimed to join Leo’s knighthood, but he struggled against Austin, whom he considered inferior?
It was infuriating for Garris, who had seen this as an opportunity to showcase his skills to Leo.
As Garris’ composure faltered, Austin saw an opening to press his advantage.
Boom-!
“Huh?”
Garris stepped back in surprise.
The momentum of the sparring match shifted instantly.
Austin, now accustomed to the speed, began to press Garris aggressively.
Sparks flew from Garris’ eyes.
“You bastard!”
Rumbleeeeee-!
A powerful Aura formed around Garris’ sword.
Austin focused even more upon seeing this.
Whooooooom-!
Austin’s bastard sword also began to glow.
Garris quickly lunged, keeping a close watch on Austin.
The power of Garris’ Aura clearly surpassed Austin’s.
“Hut!”
Austin yelled and swung his sword.
At that moment, a spell appeared atop Austin’s sword.
“What?!” Garris screamed in shock.
Crash-!
“Gasp?”
Austin’s sword, enhanced by both Aura and a strengthening spell, sliced through Garris’ sword.
Whoosh-!
Austin’s sword stopped inches from Garris’ neck.
Garris’ wide-eyed expression twisted in disbelief.
“That’s cheating! What are you using, some sorcery charm?” Garris shouted.
Austin sheathed his wooden sword and responded, “I used sorcery myself.”
“Lies! Did you become a magical knight in just a month?”
“Yes.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Garris protested harshly.
Given their years as trainees together, he had never suspected Austin of having sorcery abilities.
Leo snickered as the other trainees looked on in disbelief.
“That spell Austin used just now.”
“Yes?”
“I taught him sorcery over the past month because of his potential as a sorcerer.”
“W-wh- That’s ridiculous…! No! Even if it makes sense, it’s cheating! This was supposed to be a swordsmanship duel! And we are Zerdinger’s knight apprentices! Sorcery is unacceptable!”
“What does using sorcery have to do with being a Zerdinger apprentice?”
“As someone who aims to be a proud Zerdinger knight, how could you resort to sorcery?”
“Then you’re saying I’m unacceptable too?”
“…!”
At Leo’s indifferent question, Garris’s face turned pale.
His excitement over the possibility of losing to Austin had led him to speak carelessly.
Leo clearly also used sorcery.
“Uh! Uh, that’s why! I misspoke…!”
“That’s okay. Just continue with the next duel.”
Leo spoke without even glancing at Garris.
The subsequent duels featured Julan, Carin, and Valerie.
In each match, Leo’s knights emerged victorious.
Julan and Carin demonstrated their skills as spirit knights with precision.
Valerie used the Aura techniques Leo had taught him and won convincingly.
“Great! An overwhelming victory!”
“Is it because we were tormented by Master Leo for a month? I could see all of his movements so clearly!”
Julan and Carin high-fived each other, thrilled by their evident growth.
“Valerie! You too?”
Valerie nodded in response to Carin’s eager question.
“Yeah. At least it hurt a lot less than being struck by Master Leo.”
“…”
Julan and Carin exchanged sympathetic looks with Valerie.
Meanwhile, Martina stepped onto the training ground.
On the other side, Endian stood ready.
Martina tightened her grip on her wooden sword.
‘Everyone else won, so I can’t afford to lose.’
Endian was currently among the top five skilled trainees of their age group.
He adjusted his wooden sword while observing Martina.
‘Judging by the others, Martina must have gained new abilities as well.’
Though he wasn’t sure what type of training Leo had employed, it was clear that Leo’s knights had achieved top-level skills through dual-class training or Aura awakening.
‘I can’t let my guard down.’
Endian, gripping his sword with both hands, lowered his stance and took a deep breath.
Martina mirrored his stance.
Whoosh-!
Without a word, they both charged at each other.
Endian employed defensive swordsmanship to test Martina’s abilities.
Whoosh-! Thwack-!
Endian’s eyes narrowed at the heavy sword imbued with Aura.
Both began with activated Auras and moved swiftly.
However, as the match progressed, doubt began to cloud Endian’s expression.
To Endian, Martina’s skills didn’t seem to have changed much.
He could see that her skills have improved.
However, she did not use sorcery like Austin, nor had she made a contract with a spirit like Carin and Julan.
She didn’t have any special Aura characteristics awakened like Valerie.
She just swung her sword as usual.
“It seems that you haven’t developed any special abilities like the others.”
Endian curled the corners of his mouth.
“Then this will be simple.”
Having completed his assessment, Endian immediately switched to attack.
Flutter–Fwoosh!
Blue flames erupted from Endian’s sword.
The Terriers, Endian’s family, had been one of the Zerdinger’s vassal families for generations.
That’s why he had been taught the Zerdinger Aura method long ago.
Martina tightened her grip on her sword.
The Aura method the trainees were learning was ultimately flames-related.
Only by mastering the complex method could one produce flames.
It was the final step in completing one’s training and being recognized as a true apprentice knight.
The red flames symbolize the Zerdinger knights.
Once an apprentice knight, one would learn a new Aura method.
In that sense, Endian, who learned the Aura method from his family, had a different starting point from other trainees.
Though his flames were blue, flames were still flames.
Normally, one would be intimidated by a flaming Aura.
However, Martina was not afraid to face Endian’s flames.
She had seen a boy who couldn’t even use Aura defeat a monster like a hero in a story.
And that boy truly displayed heroic behavior.
‘Master Leo said it. We can also enter Lumene.’
What was a knight for?
Weren’t they those who followed their lord’s commands?
‘I will remain Master Leo’s knight.’
Rumbleeeeee-!
‘I will enter Lumene and become a knight worthy of Master Leo!’
Fueled by that single desire, she had worked tirelessly in Leo’s training for a month.
And that effort bore fruit.
Flutter-!
A red flame, signifying the graduation of a trainee, formed along Martina’s sword.
“No…!”
Endian’s expression turned to shock.
Martina was also surprised to see her own flame, but she soon regained her composure and swung her sword calmly.
Thwack-!
Endian’s sword broke and soared into the sky.
Chuck-!
Martina’s wooden sword, now engulfed in flames, stopped just under Endian’s chin.
“I won, Endian.”
“Hah!”
Endian gritted his teeth.
Then he bowed his head and said, “…I… lost.”
At those words, Martina put away her sword.
“Martina!”
Carin ran to Martina with a bright smile and hugged her.
All the trainees looked on in disbelief.
Five of them, who were only mid-level, had each defeated a top-level student in just one month!
“That’s what I was saying,” Leo snickered. “Now they have proven it with their skills. If there’s any talk about my knights in the future, I won’t stand idly by.”
In fact, issues related to his knights were matters Leo could easily handle with his authority.
However, the reason he allowed and observed this situation was simple.
He wanted to give them the chance to resolve it themselves.
And they proved themselves worthy of being Leo’s knights in a remarkable way.
“Now, go about your own business.”
The trainees dispersed at Leo’s command.
Emotions among the trainees varied.
While some gritted their teeth and headed to further training, others still struggled to accept the outcome.
However, they no longer voiced their dissatisfaction openly.
They couldn’t help but acknowledge the skills of Leo’s knights, including Martina, who had just qualified as an apprentice knight before their eyes.
“This is all thanks to Master Leo!”
Austin bowed his head.
Carin also smiled brightly and said, “That’s right! We became stronger thanks to Master Leo!”
The month of grueling training had been like hell, but the reward for those challenging days was clear.
Leo, watching the happy knights, said, “I merely pushed you.”
The knights had endured the harsh training to the point where giving up would have been understandable.
“You became strong on your own. Don’t thank me; be proud of yourselves.”
The knights were moved by Leo’s words.
“Well then, since there will be no more arguments about your status as my knights, shall we decide on a name for the order?”
The moment a name was chosen, they would be officially recognized as Leo’s knights.
Leo spoke as everyone held their breath.
“Slayer.”
The knights looked puzzled at Leo’s choice.
“Slayer?” Martina asked, confused.
The name of a “slaughterer” didn’t seem fitting for knights.
Leo looked at Martina.
“We will be fighting against Tartaros from now on.”
His gaze swept over the knights.
“If you follow me, you will inevitably continue to fight them.”
“I see. From now on, we will be Leo’s swords. If this is the path we are taking, then the name “Slayer” suits us.”
Martina smiled brightly.
She then knelt down.
The others followed suit and knelt as well.
“The five of us swear to be your sword, your shield, and the knights who will forge the path for you.”
Martina recited the knightly oath on behalf of the group and then raised her head.
“Please allow us to serve you for the rest of our lives.”
“I grant it.”
Leo smiled at the knights who would be his steadfast allies for life.
After the oath, the Slayer Knights stood up.
Leo, observing their newfound dignity, said, “Oh, and since we’ve completed the first stage of training, shall we move on to the second stage?”
Pause.
At those words, the entire group froze.
“Two-two stages? Were there always two?”
Leo crossed his arms as Karin asked, her voice trembling.
“Of course. Your goal is to make it into Lumene. You still have a long way to go.”
Leo watched the knights’ faces turn pale.
“We’ve been to the mountains, so next time…”
Typically, a trip to the mountains was followed by a trip to the sea.
“Sea of fire?”
The entire group felt overwhelmed by their next stage of training.