The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 238

Chapter 238

The mission of the Shadows was a task meant for only a select few.

They hunted down traitors and protected heroes in the darkness, serving as one of the pillars that supported the era of peace achieved by the Great Heroes.

Yet, since the creation of the Hero Records, the Shadows had never been acknowledged by the gods.

“I don’t know what the gods’ will is, though,” Leena said calmly. “It’s true that many Shadows become disheartened later in life.”

“Is that the case for you, Principal?”

“Me?”

Leena smirked as she lifted her glass to her lips.

“I became a Shadow due to my own grudges. I have no desire for my name to be on the Hero Records.”

Leena shrugged.

“However, I do hope that future generations will be recognized by the gods.”

Leena spread her hands.

“The Shadows also wish to live in a bright world, not just in darkness.”

That was why Leena had integrated the Shadow Candidates into the Hero Candidates.

Leo sighed inwardly as he observed Leena.

‘I can understand why Shadows can’t have their names in the Hero Records.’

As Leena mentioned, it was likely because the gods didn’t acknowledge the Shadows’ achievements.

‘The gods are as capricious as ever.’

During the Age of Disaster, the gods vanished from the surface of the world.

The gods, banished by Erebos, could no longer descend even after the Age of Heroes began.

Yet, they left behind the Hero Records for the people of the surface, who began to revere the gods for their great legacy.

‘In the process, the gods have been overly deified.’

It’s almost ironic how the gods became deified.

Leo, who had experienced the age of the gods, could think of no other explanation.

While the gods were indeed transcendent beings with immense power, they weren’t as wise and noble as people imagined.

Leo recalled Dweno’s words.

‘You should avoid the gods altogether. If they speak to you, it’s best to flee with all your might.’

Arron had been puzzled by these words.

‘Why treat the gods like the plague?’

‘They are a plague.’

Dweno clicked his tongue.

‘Do you think that countless lives have not been ruined by association with a god?’

Luna had responded to that.

‘But the gods are beautiful. From your perspective, shouldn’t that be praised?’

Dweno had become serious at Luna’s comment.

‘Don’t call the gods beautiful. That’s an insult to beauty.’

Even Dweno, who prided himself as an aesthetician and praised beauty, found the gods lacking in it.

That was the nature of the gods.

‘Though, there are sometimes gods like Fiva.’

Fiva, the guardian deity of the elves that Leo met inside the Hero Records.

Leo shook his head, recalling Fiva.

‘That’s a very special case.’

Leo, who knew a lot about gods, thought the reason Shadows didn’t receive the gods’ approval was simply a matter of preference.

However, people in this world who didn’t know much about gods seemed to believe that divine approval held special significance.

‘Is that why there are emotional rifts?’

From the Shadows’ perspective, disappointment was inevitable.

Leo sighed deeply inwardly.

“If your intention is for the Shadow Cadets to also have their names included within the Hero Record, then it’s even more baffling. Why is Chen Xia dropping out?”

“Chen Xia is the princess of the Xian Empire.”

“The princess of the Xian Empire?”

Leo, who hadn’t expected her to be a princess, looked surprised.

Observing Leo’s reaction, Leena said, “They are the oldest and most traditional Shadows. As such, they live their lives as Shadows to the fullest extent.”

“What does that have to do with her dropping out?”

“The Xian Empire only wants their name on the ‘Hero Record’ as Shadows.”

Leena frowned.

“Their goal is to be recognized by the gods as Shadows, not as heroes. That’s why they don’t want Chen Xia to remain in the Hero Academy.”

Even if Chen Xia, trained as a Hero, had her name on the Hero Record, it would be of no value to the Xian Empire.

Leo’s eyes narrowed.

Kyle had also dealt with many traitors in the shadows.

He had killed many in the process.

He had no regrets about it.

If Leo hadn’t gotten blood on his hands, his friends would have.

Someone had to do it, and he believed he was the best person for the job.

It was the path he had chosen.

‘But… does Chen Xia want that?’

If she wished to walk the path of a Shadow, that was her choice.

If she chose to stay in the dark, Leo couldn’t change that.

However, Chen Xia had been the best hero candidate of the past year.

A girl who dreamed of becoming a hero.

That girl had suddenly left Lumene.

‘Is that really Chen Xia’s will?’

“I understand you care about your friends, but this is a family matter. It’s best not to get too involved with the Xian Empire,” Leena said, her concern evident for Leo.

In her eyes, Leo was the hope of the world.

‘A hero candidate who will succeed the Swordmaster.’

A raw gem that needed to be polished and made to shine brighter.

Leena didn’t want such a gem to be buried in the shadows before it could shine.

‘This kind of thing should be dealt with after maturing a bit more.’

She was now the principal of a hero academy before anything else, and also, an adult.

She couldn’t simply watch a hero candidate become entangled in shadows and bear an unbearable burden.

The world of the Shadows was deeper and darker than most people realized.

There was nothing good to uncover.

Leo laughed after hearing Leena’s words.

Leena felt a chill at his smile.

For a moment, she saw the same darkness in Leo’s red eyes that she herself harbored.

Leena, acclaimed as the best in the Shadow world, realized that Leo was of the same kind as herself.

“You… what is your true identity?”

Leo, still smiling, observed Leena’s face harden.

“I’m the student council president of Lumene.”

“…”

“I don’t know what Chen Xia is thinking, but if she’s forced to do something she doesn’t want to, I want her to stop.”

“Why?”

“Chen Xia is a great hero candidate who will shoulder the future,” Leo said calmly. “I don’t think it matters whether she’s a hero or a Shadow. And I don’t think the Hero Records are particularly important.”

Leo looked down at his hands.

“I think anyone who fights for the world is a hero.”

“Even if the gods don’t recognize her?”

“Forget the gods’ approval. They’re the ones who can’t even come down to Earth anyway.”

Leena’s mouth fell open at the words that bordered on blasphemy.

However, Leo and the people of this era had fundamentally different values.

“What does the gods’ approval matter? We’re the ones who are taking the task upon ourselves.”

These were meaningful words.

The words of a Great Hero who saved the world.

However, Leena, who didn’t know Leo’s true identity, couldn’t fully grasp the meaning of those words.

But one thing was clear.

‘This kid really doesn’t discriminate between heroes and Shadows.’

Leena laughed without realizing it as she watched the boy affirming the whole of the Shadows, who thought they had been abandoned by the gods.

‘Yeah, what does the will of the gods matter?’

Isn’t that the path they chose on their own to take against Tartaros?

‘I said I didn’t care about the gods’ approval, but it turns out I’m the one who cares the most.’

“What do you want to do?”

“I’ll bring back Chen Xia.”

Leena nodded at those words.

“Okay. Then I’ll send you on a mission, with the authority of the principal.”

Leena scribbled a mission on a piece of paper on her desk.

“Go to the Xian Empire and contact the emperor. Then bring Chen Xia back to Lumene. If it’s you, perhaps Chen Xia will change her mind.”

Leena flung the paper at Leo.

“Take this letter too. If you go alone, you won’t be able to meet the Xian Emperor easily. Even the Emperor of Xian, a completely isolated country, won’t be able to openly ignore the words of the Principal of Lumene.”

“Yes.”

“And I’ll assign two people to help you with your mission.”

Leena wrote names on a student list and handed it to Leo.

He looked surprised when he saw the names on the list.

[Fritz Edgon]

[El Jane]

They were familiar names.

They were the first-year students Leo had met earlier.

“Edgon and El Jane. They’re Shadow cadets. They don’t show their skills, but they’re among the top ten first-year students. And even though they may not have refined combat skills, their actual combat experience is on par with that of the second-year students.”

“Shadow cadets.”

“That’s right.”

Leena smiled brightly.

“They’ll be of great help to you. And I also hope that they can take on a little of your influence.”

“Influence?”

“These guys, even though I called them to consider their career paths as hero candidates, are determined to follow the path of Shadows,” Leena grumbled. “I thought they might change a little when they see you. Don’t try to do anything special. Just show them who you are.”

Leo nodded.

“Understood.”

“Then please, Leo Plov.”

* * *

Reaper Scans

[Translator – Aine]

[Proofreader – Ash]

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* * *

That evening.

Leo left the dormitory for his mission.

‘I have a week for this mission. That’s not enough.’

Since the mission was established so suddenly, he probably couldn’t be given a longer time frame.

‘Well, if it’s just persuasion, a week might be sufficient.’

Leo muttered to himself and waited for his two juniors.

A moment later.

Two students appeared in front of the warp gate.

Fritz, with a stony, expressionless face, and Jane, with a slightly annoyed face, stood in front of Leo.

“I am Fritz Edgon, who will assist Leo on this mission.”

“We met earlier.”

“I know,” Fritz said with a determined face. “Mr. Leo, I would sacrifice my life for you at any time.”

“Come on, now. Leo, if you’re a hero like you say you are, then just go ahead and shout some commands to a rigid Shadow who doesn’t think about the consequences and just keeps talking.”

El Jane, who was watching from behind, grabbed her head.

Fritz glanced at Jane.

“It’s only natural for a Shadow to sacrifice their life for a hero, right?”

“Huh. I’m a Xian Shadow candidate. Can you stop discussing my mindset as a Shadow?”

Jane snorted.

Then she looked at Leo.

“You said you were going to persuade Chen Xia, right? Why are you doing something like that?” Leo asked Jane.

“Do you think Chen Xia should live as a Shadow?”

Jane’s shoulders shook at those words.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Chen Xia is the most worthy hero of all! She is the most noble of all! I wish she could live as a hero, and I would sacrifice my life for Chen Xia! But… But…”

Jane pursed her lips.

“It’s because of you that Chen Xia gave up the path of a hero!”