The National Hero Academy
The National Hero Academy served as the primary stage for Chronicles of the Academy Heroes. It was the largest academy in all of South Korea, situated on an island that had appeared right next to Incheon in the West Sea. When the Liberin Kingdom revealed itself to the world, several new islands had emerged across the globe, and the one beside Incheon was one of them. Hero Island, located southwest of Yeongjong Island in Incheon, boasted a size exceeding half of Seoul itself. Connected to Yeongjong Island by a bridge, Hero Island allowed easy access by car. Its elongated shape meant more than half of its land was dedicated to the academy, with various commercial districts forming around it. Because the neighboring island housed Incheon International Airport, foreigners were a common sight, especially those seeking admission to the National Hero Academy.
"My lord, congratulations on your admission."
A seductive beauty with deep crimson hair offered her congratulations. Even in a women's suit, her explosively curvaceous figure was impossible to ignore. Most men would have been utterly captivated by her allure. Her name was Lilith, the demon of lust among my subordinates. Publicly known as Liliana, CEO and president of Yucheon Beauty under the Yucheon Group, she had established a store on Hero Island. While it wasn't unusual for Yucheon Beauty to have outlets in the local department store or even inside Incheon Airport, her personal presence here was solely to congratulate me.
"Since my lord has now turned twenty-two and is entering the academy, as a celebration... how about a passionate round of sex with me... Gyah!"
She had slipped in a suggestive invitation, so I immediately punished her with a sharp flick to the forehead.
"Didn't I warn you not to try any unnecessary tricks?"
Aside from Baalzebul, all my subordinates seemed to have some kind of flaw, but Lilith was by far the most exhausting to deal with. She was too valuable to dismiss, and she performed her role as CEO of Yucheon Beauty flawlessly, which was why I kept her summoned. Still, there were moments when I seriously considered reversing the summon for a good two seconds.
"M-My lord's touch... Ahh~ I love it so much~"
Even after being struck, Lilith wore an excited expression. I issued a firm command.
"This is an order, Lilith. Return and reflect on your actions. Until I summon you again, you are forbidden from coming to Hero Island."
"Yes..."
She obeyed without question, though her reluctance was obvious as she departed. I took a deep breath of the island air, rich with mana.
Hero Island. This is where the story truly begins... and where a hidden time bomb quietly ticks away. I wonder if anyone realizes that.
South Korea's terrain was remarkably well-suited for accumulating mana. The phrase "abundant natural energy" fit perfectly. Like academies worldwide, the Korean ones were built on artificially enhanced lands designed to make mana accumulation easier, allowing students to grow rapidly. This advantage was evident in the fact that the majority of heroes ranked within the global top 1,000 were either Korean or had attended academies in Korea.
The academy on Hero Island produced the highest number of exceptional students. Admission required extraordinary talent or connections, though the institution prioritized raw ability over background. As I gazed at the massive campus that resembled a small city, the reality that this would be my home for the foreseeable future slowly sank in.
This is where I will finally reveal myself.
Until today, I had hidden my face and name as much as possible while acting as the heir to the Yucheon Group. While the name Seo Moon-jin circulated in rumors, my face had been meticulously concealed. Both the academy and those with sharp information networks would be intensely curious about the long-rumored heir finally stepping into the light.
Well, I might as well take a look around first.
Life at the academy was just beginning, and the first order of business was establishing rankings. I focused my mana-enhanced vision toward the academy grounds, searching for Seo Moon-hyun and Lee Se-na.
* * *
Seo Moon-hyun had come to Hero Island to complete the final stage of the entrance exam. His exam number was 187. With so many applicants, the last exam stretched across five days. This morning, from 8 a.m. to noon, applicants numbered 1 through 80 had taken their tests. From 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., another 120 applicants from numbers 81 to 200 would be tested. Seo Moon-hyun's turn was scheduled for 7 p.m.
Out of countless candidates, only the top 1,000 were selected.
In truth, the real entrance exam had already concluded. After individual evaluations confirmed each applicant's abilities and background, those ranked within the top 1,000 received invitations for this final test. Receiving the invitation essentially meant acceptance into the National Hero Academy; from that point on, they were treated as students. This last exam was merely a formality to determine their internal rankings. It consisted of a simple five-minute assessment conducted in groups of ten.
Therefore, Seo Moon-hyun felt no tension. He had already passed. All he needed to do was demonstrate the skills he had honed.
"Se-na, calm down."
Lee Se-na, standing beside him, trembled visibly with nerves. Her exam number was 188, so they would be tested together.
"Y-Yeah... Hyun-ah... Sorry. Haha... I'm just a little nervous."
Unlike Seo Moon-hyun, Lee Se-na's face was tense. Her power was that of a healer, capable of restoring others, including herself. While she could also block enemy attacks, her direct combat ability was inevitably lower than that of other awakeners. Since she always moved with Seo Moon-hyun in dungeons, she had never truly faced danger alone, leaving her uncertain about the true extent of her abilities.
"I told you there's nothing to worry about. Se-na, I know your strength well. As a healer, your abilities are exceptional. Especially in team play, your true value shines."
Even as a healer and mana awakener, she wasn't completely without combat power, though it was naturally inferior to others. However, when working in a team, a healer's ability to support and protect allies became indispensable.
"Yeah... Thanks, Hyun-ah."
Lee Se-na offered a small smile.
"Applicants 181 through 200, please enter!"
Seo Moon-hyun and Lee Se-na stepped through Gate C of the academy and onto a vast open field where roughly ten men and women stood waiting—the academy instructors serving as examiners. One of them, the chief examiner, rose from his seat. He was a tall man with sharp features and the highest rank among the instructors.
"Welcome, applicants 181 through 200! You have already essentially passed, which means you are now proud students of the National Hero Academy! However, to gauge your approximate levels one final time, we have prepared this assessment. Those confident in offensive abilities, stand on the left. Those whose talents lie elsewhere, stand on the right!"
Following his sharp command, the twenty applicants moved accordingly. Most, including Seo Moon-hyun, went left, while only three, including Lee Se-na, moved right.
"We'll begin with the left side. Who wants to go first?"
"I'll do it."
Seo Moon-hyun stepped forward. The chief examiner nodded and checked his phone.
"Twenty-one years old, Seo Moon-hyun. Very well. Let's see how you fare against this."
Rumble—
A massive metal golem over five meters tall suddenly materialized in the empty field. Crafted from mithril—a metal stronger than titanium found only in dungeons or the Liberin Kingdom—and further enhanced by Leviathan, president of Yucheon Artifact, the golem was a monstrous construct. Even most instructors would struggle to damage it. Though designed as a one-time-use testing tool for assessing student levels, it could serve in combat during emergencies. Its creation and enhancements alone had cost several trillion won.
Its exterior is mithril, but the interior is filled with steel, right?
Mithril surpassed steel in strength while being far lighter. Building an entire five-meter humanoid golem purely from mithril would have cost hundreds of trillions, an absurd waste. Even so, the mithril exterior alone made it immensely durable. With all the additional enhancements, Seo Moon-hyun had no confidence in damaging it. But the test wasn't about destruction—it was about demonstrating his capabilities. All he needed to do was give it his all.
With that thought, Seo Moon-hyun drew his sword and assumed his stance.
"Hup!"
After a deep breath, he channeled his mana into the blade and prepared his attack.