The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 249
Chapter 249
“Book of Shadows…?”
Xiau stared at the Hero Record before him, disbelief etched on his face.
It was not just a page or fragment but a complete Hero Record, one of only five known to exist.
Three thousand years ago.
After the second great disaster, the Hero Record had been divided into five parts.
Since then, each race had filled these pages with their own records.
Then, a sixth Hero Record had appeared.
The Shadow Hero Record.
For a moment, Xiau wondered if it was a fake.
However, as the Emperor of Xian, he had seen the Hero Record many times.
He could not deny the authenticity of the one before him.
He turned the page with trembling hands.
When he saw the name on the first page, he couldn’t help but hold his breath.
[The Hero of the Beginning, Kyle]
On the first page of the Hero Record, labeled as the Book of Shadows.
Written was the name of the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle.
Xiau touched Kyle’s name with his finger.
A ripple appeared on the page, and Kyle’s record unfolded.
‘This is…’
Xiau’s eyes widened.
‘The first Shadow… was the Hero of the Beginning?’
Five thousand years ago.
After the Hero Record first arrived to the world.
The first Hero Record of Shadows was extracted by and entrusted to Bihar’s descendants.
That Record had belonged to Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.
“The Great Hero… was a Shadow?”
Leo looked at Xiau, who was still in shock.
“There probably wasn’t a distinction between heroes and Shadows back then.”
Xiau glanced at Leo.
“Someone had to take on that role, and I think the Hero of the Beginning did it.”
“…”
Xiau closed Kyle’s record and turned the page.
When he saw Bihar’s name, his grip tightened.
The name Book of Shadows was astonishing.
‘This is… the Hero Record of the Shadows.’
It wasn’t just Bihar.
It was the record of all Shadows who lived in darkness.
Those who had sacrificed themselves for the world.
The actions of the Shadows that Xian had long recorded were now part of the Hero Record.
“Why now…?”
“It’s a small whim of the gods. If not…”
Leo looked at Xiau and smiled.
“It might be a sign for you to stop being so pessimistic about yourselves.”
“…”
“Because the gods don’t acknowledge those who don’t believe in themselves.”
“Hehehe… hehehe.”
Xiau covered his face.
“Woohahahahahaha!”
He couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
The sarcastic remark of the hero candidate, who believed they didn’t understand their own darkness, was too much.
Shadows stepped into the darkness for their own reasons.
Some, like Xian’s Shadows, were born into it.
Others chose to become Shadows for their own purposes.
They all waded into the pool of blood with unwavering convictions.
None regretted their choice.
But…
‘In the end, they all lament not being recognized by the gods.’
Some blamed the gods.
Many closed their eyes in despair at their shadowed fate.
Even those who claimed that they didn’t care that Shadows were separated from divine glory.
Xiau was no different.
‘Of course. The gods would not recognize such people.’
The Xian Empire, with their thousands of years of history, clung to this inherited obsession with the Hero Record, deeply rooted in the belief that they could never become heroes.
They couldn’t release their fixation on having their names recorded in the Hero Records, even as Shadows.
‘It’s too much of a contradiction.’
He knew it, but he denied it.
He could finally admit it after seeing the Hero Records.
“I was foolish.”
Xiau clenched his fists and looked at Leo.
“Leo, what is your true identity?”
He had already received reports about Leo.
‘They said you moved like a Shadow in the darkness. And you were the one to release our ancestors’ seal.’
He had broken the Aura seal that only the legitimate successor of Bihar could release.
‘The first Shadow was Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning. And Leo Plov is the second known all-class after Kyle.’
Xiau’s eyes narrowed.
‘Furthermore, the blank Hero Record regained its contents when Leo Plov touched it, finally recording the Shadows’ names in the Hero Record. Was this merely a coincidence?’
Since the dawn of the era of heroes, this boy was unprecedented.
Xiau, gazing into Leo’s red eyes, noticed the corners of Leo’s mouth curl into a smile.
Xiau perceived that smile as playful.
But it wasn’t the playful smile of Leo’s peers.
It was an adult-like smile.
Somehow oppressive in its maturity and wisdom.
“…!”
Xiau’s eyes widened.
But he quickly closed them.
He took a deep breath and rose from his seat.
He bowed his head as if accepting a profound destiny.
“You are… the benefactor of Xian’s… no, all the Shadows.”
Xiau’s voice trembled.
“If you need the power of the Xian Empire, just tell me. We will risk everything to aid you.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Leo bowed his head and left the audience room.
Thud-
Xiau, sitting down, looked at his sweaty hands.
He had learned a monumental secret.
‘…he’s like a god himself. The god of the Shadows.’
Xiau burst into laughter.
He realized why the times had begun to shift.
‘The world will face a great upheaval.’
The subjugation of the Witch Queen.
And the birth of the Shadow Hero Record.
‘And the resurrection of one of the Great Heroes.’
If this fact were revealed to the world, it would undoubtedly lead to great chaos.
‘For now, it’s best to keep the Book of Shadows a secret.’
Even with a Hero Record, realizing the Hero’s World through the Book of Shadows would be extremely challenging.
Many Shadows vanished from the world without leaving descendants or relics behind.
Thus, few would be left with the keys to unlock the Hero’s Worlds and inherit their ancestors power.
‘But the number of those who may inherit the skills of their predecessors will gradually increase.’
Xiau’s eyes brightened.
‘Until Leo Plov makes his move, Xian will remain his support as Shadows.’
Xiau lifted his head with this thought.
Step-
Xiau smiled bitterly as he looked at Chen Xia bathed in moonlight.
“I’ve done something terrible to you.”
“Though it was my choice?”
Xiau gazed at his daughter, who smiled softly, and set down the Book of Shadows.
“That isn’t something you should say to your foolish father… Now, follow your dreams.”
“I intend to.”
“But remember this.”
Xiau looked directly into his daughter’s eyes.
“One day, Xian will be yours. Don’t forget that.”
“Yes.”
Chen Xia smiled brightly and disappeared into the darkness.
Xiau watched her retreating figure and gazed at the moonlight.
“Is dawn coming to the Shadows too?”
“Ah! I couldn’t witness Senior Leo’s performance with my own eyes! How heartbreaking!”
“Shouldn’t you stop being so overbearing?”
Fritz banged his head on the floor in Leo’s room, while Jane looked at him with sympathy.
He had heard that after Xyan died at Leo’s hands, Tartaros’ forces had disappeared.
‘Since Xyan had died, staying longer would have done more harm than good for them.’
Leo opened a subspace and retrieved a bandage and potion to treat his wound on the desk.
Fritz saw this and jumped up from his seat.
“Senior Leo, may I have the honor of treating your wounds…!”
As Fritz adjusted his glasses, his eyes sparkled.
Knock-knock-
The door opened with a light knock, and Chen Xia entered.
“Princess!”
Jane approached Chen Xia with a bright expression.
“I’m glad you’re safe!”
“I’m glad you’re safe too, Jane.”
Chen Xia patted Jane’s head as she sobbed, then turned to Fritz.
“You’re safe too.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Senior.”
Fritz bowed his head.
Chen Xia looked at both of them, smiled, and then turned to Leo.
“Your expression is much more pleasing.”
“Thanks to you, Leo.”
Chen Xia smiled brightly and addressed Fritz and Jane.
“You two, I’d like to speak with Leo alone for a moment… Is that alright?”
“Yes, Princess!”
“I have a duty to help Senior Leo heal his wounds…”
“When did you get so cheeky! Follow me!”
Jane grabbed Fritz by the collar and dragged him away.
Fritz tried to wriggle free, but as a sorcery student, he couldn’t escape the strength of Jane, a knight.
“What incredible strength.”
“Are you done talking?”
“You haven’t finished yet?”
Jane’s eyes widened as she exclaimed, and Fritz responded with a cold laugh.
Thump-
When the door closed behind them and the room was left in silence, Chen Xia blinked and asked, “Would you like me to help treat your wounds?”
“Would you?”
Leo removed his top.
After the incident, Chen Xia had been promptly healed by the palace healer, but Leo hadn’t had the chance due to his meeting with Xiau.
The Grand Duke of the Dead, the undead Shadows, and even Xyan—
Leo’s body was battered from continuous battles.
His skin was covered in wounds and bruises.
Seeing this, Chen Xia used her water Aura to thoroughly wash Leo’s wounds.
As Leo sat in the chair, Chen Xia opened a potion bottle, soaking a towel in it.
“I wish I had a healing Aura like Miss Nella.”
“I’m not one to regret lacking abilities.”
“That thought just occurred to me. Water seems like a good Aura attribute for awakening healing abilities.”
Chen Xia smiled bitterly as she carefully tended to Leo’s back wounds.
“I think Leo will get hurt a lot in the future.”
“I will. There will be many fights. It would be nice to have you around, but you don’t need to worry too much. You are you, after all.”
‘I always want to stand right behind Leo.’
Chen Xia smiled inwardly, touched by Leo’s words.
“Thank you for stopping Xyan, Leo.”
“I just did what I had to do.”
If left unchecked, Xyan might have become a villain threatening many heroes.
And no matter how villainous the opponent, it was painful to see blood relatives kill each other.
“You don’t need to be grateful.”
“No, there are many things to be grateful for.”
Chen Xia’s voice wavered slightly.
“Thank you. For affirming a dream I even denied myself.”
Chen Xia’s hand paused.
“Thank you. For showing me the light to move forward.”
It might not have seemed significant to Leo, but he had pulled Chen Xia from darkness.
“Leo, I’m in your debt.”
“I’ll decline such grand words. “Debt” is just burdensome,” Leo responded indifferently.
Chen Xia couldn’t help but laugh at his words.
Despite knowing each other for a year, Leo remained as indifferent as ever.
Chen Xia resumed her work, carefully wiping Leo’s wounds with the potion-soaked towel.
She then applied the potion to a bandage and wrapped it around Leo’s body.
‘When I first met him, there wasn’t this much of a difference.’
A year ago, Leo had seemed like a young boy.
But now, seeing him like this, Chen Xia realized how much he had grown in a year.
‘Why did Leo come to save me?’
The question lingered in her mind.
Was it because they were friends?
‘That must be the biggest reason.’
Thinking this, her heart pounded slightly.
‘Or maybe he sees me as something more special than just a friend?’
She had been very close with Leo over the past year.
“Leo, why did you come to get me?” she asked with a hint of anticipation.
Leo turned at her words.
Chen Xia, meeting Leo’s gaze, smiled brightly.
“You were being too arrogant.”
“Huh?”
Chen Xia was taken aback by the unexpected response.
“How long have you been alive, thinking you have the authority to say you can’t be a hero?”
Chen Xia’s expression grew tense.
“But, I’m older than you, Leo?”
“What does age matter? You’re acting like a child.”
Leo, who had been laughing, stood up.
“Is that why you came to get me?”
Leo nodded at Chen Xia, who looked bewildered.
Chen Xia sighed at Leo’s sly smile.
“Your reasoning is even more ridiculous than I thought. I’m losing strength.”
Chen Xia rose with a sullen expression.
Leo looked back at her and tapped her forehead lightly.
“A child should dream like a child.”
Chen Xia, startled by the unexpected touch, stepped back.
At that moment, dawn had passed, and daylight began to break.
Leo, silhouetted against the brightening sky, smiled like an adult.
Chen Xia blushed as she watched Leo, younger than her, treat her like a child.
“Leo, do you know you’re acting like an old man right now?!”
“Yeah, I guess I must look like an old fart right now.”
“No… that’s not what I meant…”
‘It’s like the scent of maturity or sophistication. He feels like that a lot…’
For some reason, Chen Xia laughed on the inside, finding Leo, who had turned his back on the dawn, incredibly intriguing.
‘Is it because I like older guys?’