The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 259
Chapter 259
After the weekend, all the second-years gathered in front of the warp gate.
“Everyone’s excited.”
“It can’t be helped. It’s an event we’ve been looking forward to.”
Chen Xia smiled at Leo’s words.
Weapons were generally considered consumables.
No matter how well you maintained them, they would eventually break down.
Last year, Leo received a longsword as a gift from the headmaster of Seiren, but it was rendered useless in the battle against Sillatna.
Of course, the issue wasn’t with the sword’s performance but rather with the strength of the opponent.
“Well, you might not be interested since you will receive one of the Zerdinger family’s heirlooms. Still, all of Damienne’s students are excellent craftsmen, so having a dedicated smith would be a great help. Damienne’s students will also surely be interested in you, Leo.”
The students of Lumene had grown somewhat accustomed to Leo, who was an unprecedented all-class talent.
While still interesting, it was no longer surprising.
But that wasn’t the case for other hero academies.
Especially in Damienne’s case, where the craftsmen who made weapons before becoming hero candidates were particularly intrigued by an all-class talent.
“Come to think of it, Leo. What weapon will you receive from the Zerdinger family?”
“I decided to take a while to choose carefully.”
“They say knights get excited when they see good weapons, but you’re not like that? Of course, you’re not a pure knight. But if it were me, I’d be so excited that I’d choose a weapon immediately.”
After all, any Zerdinger family’s heirloom would definitely be something extraordinary.
While others might have been excited and quick to choose, Leo was in no rush.
It wasn’t because Leo lacked desire for weapons.
‘I’m just so used to weapons made by Dweno.’
In the past, Leo had used Dweno’s weapons as if it were a given during expeditions.
‘He was a quirky artist who boasted of being the best blacksmith in history, but even I and the others agreed with that assessment.’
Since Leo’s standards were set by Dweno’s weapons, he didn’t feel the urge to quickly acquire anything new.
“You seem to be quite excited?”
Chloe nodded at Leo’s question. “Of course! The sorcery staff made by a dwarf craftsman is amazing, isn’t it?”
Chloe’s eyes sparkled.
Instead of her usual book, she held a bundle of papers.
‘These are the sorcery spells I want to be engraved on my staff.’
Of course, she wouldn’t be able to fit them all in.
There was a ‘capacity’ for a sorcery staff.
A dwarf who made a sorcery staff needed extensive knowledge of sorcery, so they would select the spells through discussion.
Creating your own sorcery staff was something wizards eagerly anticipated.
Chen Xia covered her mouth and laughed as she looked at Chloe, who clasped her hands together with sparkling eyes.
“Miss Chloe, do you know you’re absolutely adorable right now?”
As the students buzzed with excitement, each with their own expectations, a new arrival caught their attention.
“Gentlemen! What an elegant morning!”
“Hello! Good morning! Professor Sedgen!”
“Hmm! Okay!”
Sedgen nodded, linking hands at the bright greetings of the students.
Behind Sedgen stood the professors responsible for this event.
These included the professors in charge of each dormitory and those overseeing the second-year departments.
All of them were familiar faces to the second-years, except for one professor.
“Huh, huh?”
“Professor Len…?”
A flustered voice erupted among the students of the sorcery department.
The other students also looked at the professor between Ain and Yura with puzzled expressions.
The professor in question was Mel, who was in charge of the special heroics class for all grades.
Everyone was doubtful.
“I can’t believe it!”
Len’s voice rang out.
“Principal! Please reconsider! How can I miss this crucial department schedule?”
The students were shocked by the scene unfolding before them.
Principal Leena was walking toward them, while Len clung desperately to the hem of Leena’s pants.
Leena, becoming the center of attention, pressed her temples and said, “Professor Len, I’m sorry. This decision was made by the board of directors, and I can’t change it on my own.”
“I understand! But as the principal, can’t you add me to the list?”
“Then who will teach the first-year sorcery theory class for two weeks?”
“You can have Assistant Professor Anna do it!”
Len pointed to Anna, who had followed him.
“These are the students I’ve taught for a year! I know the second-year students better than anyone else! They’ll definitely need my advice on the Exclusive Smith Contracts!”
“Headmaster, Professor Len is indeed very knowledgeable about the second-year sorcery students.”
Len’s face brightened at Anna’s words.
“But I also know the second-year students well, so I can offer any advice Professor Len could.”
“Assistant Professor Anna! Are you betraying me?”
Anna, Len’s assistant professor, remained unfazed despite Len’s anger.
Finally, Leena, unable to tolerate any longer, said, “What are you all staring at? Hurry up and drag this nuisance out!”
Ain and Yura promptly grabbed Len and dragged him away.
Len’s desperate screams faded as he disappeared from view.
“What a mess,” Anna muttered softly, while Mel scratched her cheek.
“I feel sorry for Professor Len.”
“It’s the board’s decision, so Professor Mel, you don’t need to worry about it.”
In truth, no one understood why Mel, a first-year sorcery professor, was suddenly replacing Len.
However, since it was the board’s decision, they had no choice but to comply.
Once the commotion died down, Leena stood in front of the second-years.
“Did you all sleep well, students?”
The students looked nervous at Leena’s words.
Having revealed herself as someone from the Shadows, the new principal weighed heavily on their minds.
At that moment, Duran raised his hand.
“What is it, Duran Moira?”
“Are you the one in charge of this expedition?”
“The one in charge of this event is Professor Sedgen. I’m merely attending a meeting of the headmasters of the hero academies in Damienne.”
“The principal’s meeting is being held in Damienne?”
“All the principals of the hero academies are gathering there. What a surprise.”
The students murmured among themselves.
Looking at the students, Leena said, “It’s not just the principals who are gathering.”
“Huh?”
“Damienne sent an official letter instructing us not to announce it until departure, which is why we’re only revealing it now.”
Leena crossed her arms.
“It’s not just Lumene students going to Damienne this time.”
The second-years looked at her with surprise.
“The students of Seiren and Azonia will also be heading to Damienne.”
“Why?”
“Don’t you usually adjust the contract periods for Smiths between schools to avoid overlap?”
“Usually, that’s the case.”
Damienne students have long been making weapons for Lumene, Seiren, and Azonia students.
In some ways, it could be seen as a service.
But it was never a loss for Damienne.
Damienne’s students were craftsmen before they became hero candidates.
For dwarf craftsmen, the greatest honor was to see their weapons make history.
To achieve that, they needed future heroes to use their creations.
That was why they made Exclusive Smith Contracts with hero academy candidates.
In that sense, the Exclusive Smith Contract was never a loss for Damienne.
It was an opportunity to meet future heroes.
That’s why they made contracts on equal footing.
Damienne’s relationship with other hero academies was always one of equality.
The craftsmen were never in a position to evaluate hero candidates from other schools.
But they broke that convention.
The faces of the second-year students hardened.
It was uncomfortable to be openly compared to students from other hero academies.
“Well, it’s unpleasant, but I can understand why Damienne would think that way.”
Leena clicked her tongue.
“Why do you understand?”
Emio from the Noble Dormitory voiced his displeasure openly.
“Our class is clearly evaluated as being ahead of the second-year students from other hero academies. Don’t you think the principal or someone like that doesn’t know that?”
‘Wow, that rascal.’
‘Are you blatantly ignoring her authority just because she’s from the Shadows?’
‘How can he say that to the principal?’
‘If Professor Harrid were here, he wouldn’t let it slide.’
The second-year students clicked their tongues inwardly.
But on the other hand, they sympathized with his words.
“Of course, you’re considered ahead of the second-year students from other schools.”
At Emio’s words, Leena’s lips curled into a smirk.
“But the reason you’re seen as ahead is because of that outlier, isn’t it?”
When Leena pointed to Leo, the Lumene students’ expressions shifted.
“Gentlemen, you are undoubtedly part of the most distinguished Golden Generation in Lumene’s history.”
Sedgen stepped forward.
“But you’re not the only Golden Generation. Coincidentally, the second-year students from other schools are also referred to as the Golden Generations of their schools.”
“That’s true for Seiren as well. Were they not on par during last year’s Lumeiren? The top second-year student from Seiren is already being considered for the student council presidency in that strict school. The second-place student rivals the top student, and the third-place student is formidable too.”
Leena spoke with conviction.
“The five warriors led by Azonia’s Ar Tune are definitely not to be underestimated. As for Damienne, since they’re often secluded in their rooms, there’s no standard for evaluating them. But it’s clear that they must be confident if they can boldly claim to assess the students of all three schools.”
Leena’s tone was blunt.
“Seiren and Azonia might view Lumene as the best among the second-year students of the hero academies, but that’s only because of Leo Plov. Without Leo, they’d consider themselves superior to you.”
The faces of the second-year students twisted with concern.
“Of course, I don’t.”
Leena’s smile was bright.
“I think you’re all the best, but.”
The students watched her expectantly.
“Aren’t you being arrogant? Who are you to think we’re irrelevant except for Leo Plov?” a student muttered.
Veins throbbed on Leena’s forehead.
“This is the time to show the elves, beastmen, and dwarves who truly stands at the top! Understood?”
“Yes! Principal!”
The second-years responded in unison.
Yura watched, muttering, “Wow, her skill at managing these students is impressive.”
“In the Shadow world, she’s considered a legend.”
In the Shadow world, she was seen as equal to the Emperor of the Xian Empire, known as the King of Shadows.
“There’s a reason Professor Harrid and Professor Sedgen recommended her as principal.”
“Alright! Let’s head to Damienne!”
“Yes!”
The extreme cold of the northernmost continent defied seasonal changes.
Despite it being spring, Seiren was enveloped in a harsh chill.
A student, gathered with the second-years in front of the warp gate amid a blizzard, spoke with a frigid tone.
“Listen, descendants of the Poet.”
The cold voice, surpassing even Seiren’s extreme weather, carried the elven sense of authority.
“Other races foolishly debate who is the best while ignoring Seiren. It’s a regrettable reality, but there’s nothing we can do since they’re so foolish.”
More than half of Seiren’s second-year students nodded in agreement.
Herdium sighed deeply upon witnessing this.
‘Lehagen took Benit’s place as acting principal.’
A few months ago, after Seiren was invaded by the Demon Queen, there were many personnel changes within Seiren.
The most significant change was that Headmaster Benit stepped down from the front lines.
Benit, already elderly, suffered from poor health due to overwork during the Demon Queen’s invasion.
He appointed Lune Ersar as his successor.
However, there had been major changes in elven society since last year.
‘I never thought the arrival of the Poet would cause such upheaval.’
Herdium wore a worried expression.
“But there is one thing that cannot be tolerated.”
Lehagen’s eyes flashed with intensity.
“That is, the foolish gossip that Leo Plov is the Poet’s successor.”
It was well-known in the sorcery world that Leo restored the sorcery that Luna had ultimately pursued—[‘the sorcery of blossoming flowers.’]
The sorcery of blossoming flowers.
This story had become famous among humans, beastmen, and dwarves.
In the world of sorcery, there was a joke that Leo was the true successor of Luna.
Of course, this was said among humans, beastmen, and dwarves, not among elves.
The elves, with their strong racial tendencies, could not tolerate such claims.
Additionally, Lumene recently announced a basic technique for other races to learn the Sorcery of the Stars.
This announcement angered some elven sorcerers.
“The Sorcery of the Stars is the legacy of our ancestors. And the legacy of our ancestors is the legacy of the elves. It is not a realm that other races dare to invade.”
“That’s right!”
“So prove it. Show that other races cannot invade our great legacy!”
“Yes!”
Eiran looked on, perplexed, as her classmates shouted resolutely.
‘Leo.’
Eiran thought of the boy she admired with a worried expression.
Meanwhile, Lunia let out a deep sigh.
‘I hope I don’t embarrass myself for nothing.’
In the middle of a desert under the scorching sun, the tail of a tiger beastman swished.
“Leo Plov. He’s incredibly famous, right? I admit it. He’s an unprecedented all-class and the first-year student council president. He must be incredibly strong. But.”
Zephia, the principal of Azonia, glared fiercely.
“Have we ever lost to students from other schools in a simple fight?!”
“No!”
“But the world says he’s better at fighting than us! Do you think that’s acceptable?!”
“Not at all!”
“I don’t care if he’s all-class or what! Our beastmen are the best at hand-to-hand combat! Let’s prove it!!”
“Yeah!”
The second-year students of Azonia roared.
Their original goal was to sign a contract with outstanding smiths, but this time, the simple-minded Azonia students had a different goal.
They aimed to defeat Leo Plov through rigorous martial arts training.
Ar would have normally shouted along, but this time was different.
Ar knew very well what a monster Leo was.
Ar’s white tail twitched.
‘This time, many people will end up in the hospital.’