Chapter 224
Chapter Title: Prove Your Worth
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224
‘Four of them have escaped me so far.’
Leo narrowed his eyes.
Shasha, Habiden, Aina, and Luke.
They were the students who had encountered Leo and survived.
All the others had failed to get far and were eliminated by Leo’s hand.
Of course, even those four hadn't completely escaped his pursuit.
*Thud- Thud-*
Leo approached the center of the forest, Mount Eddien, with a somewhat leisurely gait.
His red eyes scanned the traces left in the woods.
‘All four are fleeing toward the center of the forest. Not a bad choice.’
*Krrraaaaaaah-!*
Leo swung his sword at the monster charging him.
*Squelch-!*
The troll, split open by Leo’s sword, sprayed blood as it collapsed to the ground.
Even for a monster with exceptional regenerative abilities, a blow like that was fatal.
Mount Eddien was a monster-infested area.
And the monsters grew more numerous the closer one got to the center of the mountain.
Moreover, the forest became denser and more complex, offering plenty of places to hide.
Therefore, taking refuge in the heart of the forest to escape Leo’s pursuit was the best possible choice.
‘Well, that’s only if they can survive against the monsters… but considering their skills, it should be possible. Now, the question is what these kids will do from here.’
In Leo's eyes, the four were skilled enough.
The mere fact that they had succeeded in escaping from him was qualification enough to enter Lumerne.
‘If it had been Celia, Abad, Duran, Woreden, or Eliza, they would have been eliminated without mercy.’
Those five were thorough. They would have failed the students without a moment’s hesitation.
In Leo’s case, he had allowed them to escape because he was curious to see how they would respond.
Everyone other than those four had already been eliminated by his hand.
‘But there won’t be a second time.’
The next time they met, he planned to eliminate them without mercy, no matter who it was.
“Hm?”
Leo, who had been tracking their trail, paused as he saw the figures that appeared before him.
The four people he had expected to be running away had appeared right in front of him.
***
Luke, who had fled with Aina, shouted.
“Hurry, run!”
“First, let go of this.”
“Ah!”
At Aina’s words, Luke released her wrist with a flustered expression.
“Sorry.”
As he watched Luke, Aina rubbed her wrist and said.
“Don’t worry about me. Just run on your own.”
“Why? We have to get away from that person…”
“Neither you nor I can escape from him anyway.”
“What? Who is he?”
“Leo Flove.”
“*Gasp!*”
Luke sucked in a sharp breath at Aina’s words.
Leo Flove.
He was currently the most famous hero candidate in the world.
Not only was he an All-Class, but he was also a legendary figure who became the first-ever first-year student council president at Lumerne!
Luke, who had been panicking, eventually calmed down and said.
“Still, we have to run.”
“Did you not understand me? He’s much stronger than you think.”
She said in a resigned voice.
“It’s a waste of effort.”
“But we have to try our best!”
“You try your best. I have no intention of doing so.”
‘To earn his acknowledgment, I need to start training again from tomorrow.’
Aina lowered her head slightly.
‘To be acknowledged by Leo Flove, I have no choice but to build up my skills by conquering my grandfather’s world.’
The Sword Saint’s Hero Record.
Its rightful owner was Aina.
She could enter the Sword Saint’s Hero Record whenever she wished.
‘I have to get stronger, fast.’
Just as Aina’s eyes grew somber.
“Do you not want to enroll in Lumerne?”
“Right.”
To Aina, slaying one more demon was more important than studying at Lumerne.
She had taken this exam with the attitude that it didn't matter whether she got in or not.
“Why not? It’s such a waste! With your incredible skills, you’d be guaranteed admission!”
Watching the genuinely regretful Luke, Aina wore a strange expression.
“Why do you want to get into Lumerne?”
“Well… because I want to become a hero.”
“Why?”
At Aina’s question, Luke scratched his head.
Then he smiled awkwardly.
“You see, it’s a somewhat embarrassing reason…”
*Fwoosh-!*
In an instant, Aina grabbed Luke by the collar and yanked him aside.
*Craaack-!*
A flash of light shot through the spot where Luke had been standing.
“Huh?”
Luke wore a bewildered expression.
“And you were thinking of taking him on with skills like that?”
Aina shook her head and looked toward where the magic sniper shot had come from.
“Phew~ That’s some great reaction time, missy.”
A girl emerged from the bushes, a magic weapon designed for sniping slung over her shoulder.
Black hair, brown eyes, and healthy, tanned skin.
“You’re from the Southern Magic Tower.”
Aina muttered, spotting the emblem on the girl's shoulder.
“Correct.”
The girl grinned and aimed her magic weapon at Aina.
“Given your skill with sniping magic, you must be Juen Torvina?”
“So you’ve heard of me?”
The girl asked with a belligerent smile.
“Then what’s your name?”
“Aina Veydna.”
“The Sword Saint’s great-granddaughter? Wow~ That’s amazing~”
“Huh?”
Juen let out a cry of admiration, and Luke’s expression turned to one of shock.
He never imagined this girl was that famous person.
“But you’re traveling with a dead weight.”
Juen grinned, and Luke scratched his head in response.
He couldn't really argue, since it wasn't untrue.
Aina and Juen.
Both were top prospects for this entrance exam, examinees who were famous worldwide.
“Anyway, I can’t believe I ran into someone I’ve been wanting to test my skills against. I’m lucky.”
“I have no intention of fighting you.”
“Not my problem.”
Juen looked at Luke and said.
“Run away, quickly. If you don’t want to get caught up in this.”
“…I think we should probably run away together.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re being chased right now.”
“Chased? By whom?”
“By Mr. Leo Flove.”
At Luke’s words, Juen’s face stiffened.
“Why are you only telling me that now!”
Juen tore at her hair.
“I barely escaped being frozen to death after messing with the Ice Witch, and now it’s that monster?”
Just as Juen was shuddering.
“Why are you following me?”
“Hmph. You’re the one following me, you know?”
The sound of bickering voices was heard.
Shasha and Habiden emerged from the bushes.
Seeing the three of them, Shasha and Habiden narrowed their eyes.
“The Sword Saint’s great-granddaughter, Aina Veydna. And the daughter of the Southern Magic Tower’s Master, Juen Torvina.”
Shasha took out a folding fan from her sleeve, snapped it open, and covered the lower half of her face.
“And one person I’ve never heard of.”
“Hahaha.”
Luke laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
“Hmph. If it weren’t for the situation, I would have taken you down. You’re lucky.”
“Hmph. Don’t be ridiculous. That’s my line. We need to get out of here before the student council president arrives.”
At Juen’s words, Habiden paused.
“The student council president? Are you guys also being chased by Leo-sunbae?”
At Habiden’s question, Aina said.
“You too?”
Shasha snapped her fan shut and muttered.
“It seems all the candidates for freshman representative have become Leo-sunbae’s targets. What bad luck.”
Shasha shrugged her shoulders.
“Since we’re in the same boat, shall we try to figure out a way to shake Leo-sunbae together?”
“You guys do it. I’m good at erasing my presence. As long as it’s not wide-area magic, I won’t get caught.”
“Your techniques won’t work on Leo-sunbae.”
“What?”
“And Leo-sunbae can easily use wide-area magic.”
“Have you seen it? I’ve heard rumors that Leo Flove’s magic ability is incredible, but I’ve never heard anything about him using wide-area magic.”
“Because.”
Shasha crossed her arms, her eyes sparkling.
“There’s nothing Leo-sunbae can’t do!”
At Shasha’s reaction, Juen shook her head.
It was then.
“You all should run.”
Aina opened a subspace and drew out a new sword.
“I’m going to fight.”
At her words, Shasha, Habiden, and Juen frowned.
“Why would you do something so reckless?”
“I don’t run.”
Those words were more than enough to provoke Shasha, Habiden, and Juen.
They had been thinking of running away, yet Aina, whom they considered their biggest rival before the exam, was thinking of fighting back.
Their childish pride, suppressed by the fear of Leo, began to rear its head.
“You think you’re the only one with courage? I have it too!”
“Being chased doesn’t suit my temperament.”
“Even if it is Leo-sunbae, running away like this is a blow to my pride.”
Juen, Habiden, and Shasha bristled.
Watching them, Aina tilted her head in confusion.
“You can run away. It would be better.”
“As if!”
Her words, spoken out of genuine concern, had magnificently succeeded in provoking the three of them.
Seeing this, Aina wore a look of incomprehension.
“Why are they being so stubborn?”
“I think that might be because of you, Aina-ssi.”
“Because of me? What did I do?”
As Aina furrowed her brow, Luke let out an awkward laugh, “Hahaha.”
“What are you going to do?”
At Habiden’s question, Luke was conflicted.
Luke was different from these four.
He wasn’t even confident he would be accepted into Lumerne.
He was just an ordinary boy who had trained alone in the countryside his whole life.
But…
‘I want to try fighting him.’
The youngest student council president in Lumerne’s history.
A person who, despite being a first-year, had achieved feats comparable to a hero.
To Luke, Leo was an object of admiration.
It was after hearing Leo’s story that he had decided to challenge the Lumerne entrance exam.
‘Will I ever have another chance to see him in my entire life besides today?’
This might be his last chance.
If so, he felt a desire to challenge Leo at least once.
“I don’t know if I’ll be of any help, but I’ll help too.”
***
“Rather than being picked off one by one, you’ll join forces to stop me, is that it?”
Leo watched the examinees burning with fighting spirit and let out a smirk.
“Not a bad choice.”
Shasha, Habiden, and Juen winced inwardly.
The three of them had simply reacted to Aina’s actions.
Hearing Leo’s words, Luke’s eyes shone as he looked at the three with admiration.
“Ah, so that was your intention? I thought you were just provoked by what Aina-ssi said.”
“O-of course.”
“We’re joining forces to fight against sunbae.”
“That’s right.”
Facing Luke’s sparkling eyes, the three decided to be shameless.
Just then, Aina stepped forward.
“Draw your sword.”
At her words, the other four tensed up and lowered their stances.
The moment Leo drew his sword and entered a combat stance.
They had to move according to their respective roles.
Even as a hastily formed party, they had discussed a strategy to take on Leo.
At Aina’s words, Leo smirked.
“Draw my sword? Why should I do that?”
“Pardon?”
Leo raised his hand.
“I don’t think I need to draw my sword to deal with you.”
“…!”
If it had been one-on-one, they might have accepted that.
But now, it was five against one.
Even if their opponent was Leo Flove, hailed as one of the greatest hero candidates in Lumerne's history.
They, too, were considered candidates for freshman representative.
“Shouldn’t we make him draw it, then?”
The corners of Juen’s mouth curled up.
“I suppose you’re right.”
*Chk-!*
Juen aimed her sniper-exclusive magic weapon at Leo.
“I’ll make you regret this!”
*Whoooosh-!*
A powerful surge of mana swirled around her.
This wasn’t a stealthy attack, but an all-out frontal assault.
Naturally, its power was far greater than when she suppressed her mana to keep the spell hidden.
*KABOOOM-!*
A sound closer to a cannon blast than a gunshot rang out.
A magic bullet, imbued with potent mana, flew toward Leo.
*Claaang-!*
“…!”
With a stoic expression, Leo infused his hand with mana and batted the magic bullet aside.
Seeing this, Juen’s face hardened slightly.
“Show me.”
Leo’s eyes glinted.
All five of them felt a chill run down their spines.
It was the unmistakable gaze of someone looking down on them from an impossibly high place.
They were overwhelmed by that gaze.
“Prove your worth to me.”