The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 223

Chapter 223

“What are we going to do?”

Aina folded her arms and frowned.

Aina Beidna.

Among the new students admitted this time, she was a standout rookie, gaining attention for both her fame and ability.

It wasn’t just because she was the great-granddaughter of the Swordmaster.

Her skills and talent had long since proven that she was one of the best.

‘But facing Leo here… That’s far too reckless.’

Aina narrowed her eyes.

The situation was extremely precarious.

Her opponent was none other than Leo Plov, a student considered one of the few monsters in Lumene’s history.

Meanwhile, Aina wasn’t even officially a Lumene student yet.

Some might say the difference of just one year was insignificant.

However, the gap between those who had spent a year at Lumene and those who hadn’t was surprisingly vast.

That’s why Lumene was known as such a strong Hero Academy.

Harrid laughed at the scene on the screen.

Seeing this, Ain asked, “Professor Harrid, what will happen if Aina Beidna is defeated by Leo?”

“Why ask the obvious? She’ll fail.”

If Sedgen were in charge of the exam, he might have given Aina a pass for her potential and future prospects.

Sedgen valued a good challenge highly.

But Harrid did not.

The situation Harrid created for the exam was already too unreasonable.

If even Carr, the lowest-ranked student in the bunch, could take down test takers, it was just stupid to face Leo, the top student in the second-year class.

Harrid’s intention was to see how test takers handle impossible situations.

Life at Lumene was harsh.

Even the most talented students who passed the entrance exams were sometimes advised to drop out during their first year.

Especially now, with the Witch Queen’s demise, it was impossible to predict Tartaros’ next move.

The first-year students, known as the golden generation, were exposed to particularly tough conditions.

There was no guarantee that this year’s freshmen wouldn’t have to face similar challenges.

That was why he prized their ability to survive so highly.

If they couldn’t survive, Harrid had no intention of admitting this year’s freshmen.

But in this context, attacking Leo Plov was not bravery or challenge—it was sheer excess.

‘Of course, if Aina Beidna had a way to escape Leo, it might be different…’

To Ain, one of Leo’s greatest strengths was his age-defying composure.

In the past year, Leo had duelled countless students in sparring sessions, never showing any signs of panic.

Despite varying levels of experience, Leo stood out starkly from his peers.

Ain crossed his arms.

‘What will you do, Aina Beidna?’

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Leo looked down at the girl who was gazing up at him.

“Reckless behavior won’t earn you favor.”

“That doesn’t matter. What matters to me is being recognized by you.”

“By me?”

Leo was puzzled by the sudden assertion that he needed to recognize her.

Schwing-!

Without answering, Aina drew her sword.

“Draw your sword, Leo Plov.”

“You’re treating me like some kind of test subject.” Leo smirked and said, “Shouldn’t you make me draw it?”

“That’s true.”

Anyone confident in their skills would have been provoked by Leo’s words.

However, Aina calmly accepted them and lowered her stance.

Boooom-!

In an instant, a flash of lightning surged towards Leo’s forehead.

Leo leaned back to dodge the attack and tried to counter by kicking Aina’s wrist with his heel.

Aina withdrew her sword, as if she had anticipated Leo’s move, and prepared for the next strike.

Woong-

A golden Aura radiated from Aina’s body.

Rumble-!

Crash-crash-crash-crash-crash-!

Leo’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘This much output?’

Mana capacity and mana output were not the same.

Simply put, mana capacity meant stamina, while mana output meant power.

Increasing both mana capacity and output allowed for stronger skills, sorcery, and summoning ability.

Even Leo was impressed by Aina’s mana output.

Among the second-year students in the Knights’ Studies Department, hers rivaled that of Celia and Duran, who were known for their immense attack power.

Although high output didn’t necessarily mean strength, it was impressive.

A fierce sword strike met Leo.

Whoosh-!

The sword didn’t just strike hard; it changed with dazzling variety.

It surrounded Leo from all sides.

Leo studied Aina’s face.

Despite her advantageous position, her eyes were chillingly cold.

‘I see. This person’s goal isn’t just to enroll.’

Whoosh-!

A gray Aura enveloped Leo’s hand.

‘I’m her target.’

Leo stepped into the whirlwind of sword strikes without hesitation.

He reached out his hand.

Snap-!

The tip of the sword, which had been fluttering wildly, was caught between Leo’s fingers.

Leo and Aina’s gazes met in mid-air.

“Are you the principal’s granddaughter?”

“I’m his great-granddaughter.”

The energy of her Aura resembled Kalian’s.

Aina answered Leo’s question calmly and released a powerful Aura from her entire body.

Leo lost his sword in the swirling storm of her Aura and quickly began to defend.

Whew! Whoom! Swoosh! Slash!

Countless sword strikes sliced through the air.

Leo dodged or blocked all of Aina’s subsequent attacks.

Rumbleeeeeee-!

In an instant, a massive Aura surged from the tip of her sword.

A sword strike of unparalleled power.

Crash-!

Leo lifted his foot as the sharp golden sword energy flared.

Boooooom-! Crash-!

“…!”

Leo stepped on Aina’s sword, forcing it into the ground.

Aina tried to shake Leo’s foot off with all her strength.

But her sword didn’t budge.

Crash-!

In an instant, Leo pressed down with force.

Crack!

Aina’s sword shattered.

For the first time, emotion appeared on Aina’s face.

“I don’t understand.”

Leo said coldly, observing Aina, who was now bleeding from her mouth and eyes, “This is the Lumene entrance exam. If you’re not interested in actually passing, please don’t waste any more of my time.” Leo, seeing through Aina’s lack of interest in the exam, spoke coldly.

Aina gritted her teeth at his words.

‘Is the gap between us really this vast?’

Aina knew better than anyone that she couldn’t defeat Leo.

Still, she hoped her skills would be recognized.

However, the boy before her offered no acknowledgement for her attempt.

The divide between Leo and Aina was hopelessly wide.

‘Great grandfather…’

By the time Aina matured, her grandparents and parents had already passed away.

They had all lost their lives fighting demons.

Thus, her great-grandfather Kalian was her sole blood relative.

Kalian was Aina’s role model.

Yet, a few months ago, Kalian also perished in battle with demons.

His death, though honorable and noble, offered no solace to those left behind.

Everything the Swordmaster had amassed was inherited by Aina, his rightful successor.

As the hero who carried his era on his back, Kalian’s legacy included immense wealth and countless weapons.

As the descendant of the Swordmaster, Aina could have lived comfortably.

And no one could have criticized her.

But instead, Aina chose to fight.

She vowed revenge against Tartaros, who had taken all her family.

There was, however, a complication.

Kalian’s will was discovered after his death.

The will’s contents were straightforward.

[I ‘conditionally’ bequeath all my wealth to my great-granddaughter, Aina Beidna. However, she is not permitted to use it in the fight against Tartaros. If she desires a life of battle, she must gain recognition from Leo Plov and become the rightful master of Clesis.]

Kalian’s will took effect right before departing for Seiren for Lumeiren.

Thus, the symbol of the Swordmaster himself, Clesis, was forbidden to her.

Due to the powerful sorcery embedded in Clesis, it became a sword Aina Beidna could never wield.

The only way to break the enchantment was to earn Leo’s approval.

Kalian had devised this measure, fearing that his beloved great-granddaughter would live solely for the sake of enacting vengeance.

Aina gritted her teeth.

Leo raised his hand, watching Aina.

Flutter-!

His flaming Aura swirled around him.

At that moment, Aina closed her eyes.

Crash-!

Someone charged at Leo’s back with incredible speed.

Leo swung his arm backward, seemingly anticipating the attack.

Bam-!

Scraaaaaaaape-!

Leo’s body, having collided with the boy aiming for his back, was pushed back through the dirt.

Leo’s eyes widened.

“I-I’m s-sorryyyyyy!”

The boy, in a panic, grabbed Aina’s wrist and fled.

“Huh?”

Leo made an amused expression at the surprising force he felt in his arm.

‘That was stronger than I expected? Is it an Aura trait?’

Leo, waving his hands, looked toward the direction the two had fled.

He snickered and took off in pursuit.

“Who was that kid?”

When Harrid asked with a blank voice, Yura quickly checked the list.

The situation just now was one where no one should have intervened.

Yet the boy had rushed into the middle of the battle without hesitation and saved Aina.

It was an extremely courageous act, but a disadvantage for the test taker.

“Let’s see, Luke Eldar. He’s just an ordinary person from the countryside. From a commoner family?”

Harrid stroked his chin at Yura’s words.

“Why are you doing that?” Len asked, puzzled.

This was the first time Harrid, who had been indifferent to the test takers, showed any interest.

Countless encounters within the Hero’s World were being relayed in the air.

Harrid was monitoring all of them.

That’s how he had seen Luke Eldar on several screens.

“He’s helped others several times during the test.”

“Oh. So he’s a good guy,” Yura exclaimed in admiration.

“He’s also an idiot,” Harrid said calmly.

“But if he just gets stronger, he’d be the most ideal type of hero.”

Someone who could be courageous while helping others.

The most basic mindset for a hero, but also the hardest to maintain.

“Oh, so you’ll pass him?” Yura asked, admiring Harrid’s rare high evaluation of a student.

Harrid looked at Yura as if he had something to ask.

“No, if he doesn’t survive, then he’ll be eliminated, too.”

Yura shook her head, as if she had expected this.

“In order for a belief to hold any value, you must have the strength to put it into practice.”

It was a cold statement, but as an educator, he couldn’t allow students to pursue only ideals.

“Let’s see if he has the strength to push beyond his limits.”