Chapter 262
Chapter Title: The Will of Kyle
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Leo stared down at the dwarf looking up at him, an incredulous expression on his face.
‘A nude model?’
It was absurd.
“What nonsense is this? Who are you?”
“My name is Driana! The greatest artist born of Dweronia!”
‘It’s Dweno.’
From a dwarf's perspective, being told they were just like Dweno—the companion of the Great Hero Kyle, who saved the world—could be an honor of near-infinite proportions.
But to Leo, the name Dweno was synonymous with ‘pervert.’
It was inevitable.
A self-proclaimed bard who praised beauty.
An eccentric who was far more interested in creating beautiful works of art than forging weapons.
This dwarf, who introduced herself as Driana, bore a striking resemblance to Dweno in her disposition.
Driana spread her arms wide, extending the index fingers and thumbs of both hands to form a rectangle.
Then, with one eye closed, she peered at Leo through the frame.
“Pure white hair, like fresh snow. And eyes like rubies. A boy of outstanding looks, yet within him, I can somehow sense a certain maturity.”
Driana wore a satisfied expression.
“If I create a work of art with you as my model, it will surely be a masterpiece.”
Leo nodded at Driana’s words and, without hesitation, turned to leave.
It was best not to associate with perverts.
Besides, if this dwarf was the same type as Dweno, there was no point in even trying to talk to her.
At Leo’s merciless reaction, Driana scurried over to his side.
“Wait, hold on. Of course, I’m not asking you to do it for free.”
Thanks to the height difference between humans and dwarves, Driana had to scurry to keep up with Leo’s long strides.
“You’re a student from Lumerne, aren’t you? You must have come to Damian for an exclusive smith.”
Driana grinned.
“I’ll be your exclusive blacksmith! Despite my appearance… Hey! Hey, you! Stop!”
Driana shouted desperately at the back of Leo, who was now fleeing at full speed.
But her cries merely echoed in vain.
Having shaken off Driana, Leo stopped in the middle of the street and looked back.
‘I’ve gotten tangled up with a strange one.’
Leo clicked his tongue, recalling the unusual look in Driana’s eyes.
‘From the way she spoke, she seemed to be a student at Damian.’
While her skills as a smith were questionable, the aura she exuded suggested Driana was incredibly talented.
“She looked about my age, too. A dwarf of that skill at my age must be a student at Damian.”
Just as Leo surmised Driana’s identity, thinking he would meet her again at Damian.
“Leo!”
Karl’s urgent voice called out.
“What’s wrong?”
As Leo made a quizzical face, Karl shouted, his face pale.
“It’s a disaster! A disaster! There’s a fight between our school and Azonia right now!”
“What? Why?”
“They said those bastards kidnapped Chloe!”
At those words, Leo’s face hardened.
“Why would the Azonia guys kidnap Chloe?”
“How should I know?! Anyway, as soon as they heard the news, Celia, Chen Xia, and Duran stormed the Azonia kids’ temporary lodging and are raising hell!!”
Leo’s eyes narrowed.
Each of the Hero Academies had a school rule that symbolized it.
Lumerne: Challenge your limits and surpass them.
Seirun: Be nobler and more virtuous than anyone else.
Damian: An unbreakable will, like steel.
And finally, Azonia…
‘Struggle.’
To obtain ultimate strength through struggle.
That was the school rule of Azonia.
Ar had once told Leo about it.
‘Azonia never scoffs at defeat. Even if you lose, as long as you fight again, it’s not a loss. You’re praised as a courageous warrior.’
Ar had crossed her arms and snorted.
‘On the other hand, if you run from a battle just because you lost once, you’re condemned as a coward.’
Having said that much, Ar’s eyes had sparkled.
‘Lord Ar-on never ran away, not even once!’
‘Ar-on ran away more than anyone else, though.’
Having thought that far, Leo spoke.
“I guess we should find Chloe first.”
“Yeah. But finding Chloe in this huge Dweronia won’t be eas…”
*Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-!*
Just then, not far from where Leo and Karl stood, a massive pillar of ice shot high into the air.
Seeing it, Karl’s mouth hung open.
“Found her.”
Leo chuckled and headed toward the spot where the ice pillar had risen.
A large crowd had gathered in the vicinity.
“What in the world is going on?”
“Isn’t this the inn where those beastmen were going in and out of earlier?”
The dwarves wore expressions of curiosity.
Despite a spell of this magnitude being cast in the middle of the city, the onlookers were unfazed.
“They did say this place never has a quiet day because of all the weapon crafting.”
Karl, who had rushed to the scene, was dumbfounded by the dwarves’ calm reactions.
This floating city of Dweronia was also the world’s largest producer of magical tools.
The dwarves, often regarded as a race of artisans, were always trying new things, so incidents and accidents caused by magic were a common occurrence.
‘No wonder Professor Ren was begging to come here.’
Karl pushed his way through the crowd of dwarves while thinking of Ren.
“Excuse me. Pardon me.”
Pushing through the crowd of dwarves, who at their tallest only came up to his chest, was surprisingly difficult.
‘Damn, it’s like trying to move through a pile of rocks.’
Dwarves were gifted with considerable innate strength, and Karl’s lower body was starting to ache.
“What are you doing?”
Karl looked up.
He saw Leo floating in the air with the Fly spell and wore a gloomy expression.
“Sometimes, I’m sad because I think Chelsea is right.”
“About what?”
“She’s always calling me an idiot.”
With a bitter look, Karl used the Fly spell to move to the front.
*Creak— Swish— Swish—*
*Crack—*
Just then, the inn door opened, and Chloe emerged.
“Hmph! Don’t mess with me.”
“Would you mind returning my worry? If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have been worried.”
Seeing her, Karl grumbled, and Chloe smiled sweetly.
“Want me to turn you into a frozen popsicle like those guys?”
At Chloe’s question, Karl instantly hid behind Leo.
“I was worried when I heard you were kidnapped, but I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Kidnapped? What a joke. I only went along quietly because I didn’t want to cause a scene.”
Chloe scoffed.
Leo smiled warmly at her.
“Still, I was worried.”
Seeing Leo’s smile, Chloe looked flustered for a moment before turning her head away.
She then fanned her face.
“Ooh? Ooh? Our cold Ice Queen has become a shy princess…”
“Are you asking to be frozen?”
*Crrrack—*
“Aaaahhh! Forgive me!”
As a menacing frost formed on Chloe’s hand, Karl yelped and begged for forgiveness.
Leo looked at the two of them and said.
“Karl, hurry and tell our school’s students. Chloe is safe.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to the Azonia students’ lodging.”
“No, Leo. You, of all people, can’t go near the Azonia school for a while. It’ll be a huge problem.”
“Why?”
“Azonia has put a prize on your head.”
“A prize?”
“Yes.”
The reason Chloe had let Wern capture her so easily wasn’t just to avoid causing a scene in the middle of the street or to infiltrate their base and wipe them out.
‘Those Azonia bastards were even using bait to lure Leo in.’
The simple-mindedness of Azonia’s students was famous even at Lumerne.
Chloe, too, had heard a lot about Azonia’s students from her seniors in the magic department and was well aware of their tendencies.
But no matter how simple-minded they were, using bait to target the second-year representative was no ordinary matter.
It was an issue that could escalate from a simple student duel into a problem between schools.
‘Though it’s already become a big problem.’
Chloe glanced at the inn she had just left.
‘I did nothing wrong.’
She had just turned some arrogant beastmen into frozen statues.
‘Yes. Anyone would see this as self-defense.’
In any case, they were willing to take such risks just to fight Leo.
And when Chloe had prodded Wern a little, he had spilled everything about why the Azonia students were targeting Leo.
“The headmaster of Azonia promised to grant the student who defeats you first the privilege of conquering the ‘World of the Brave Hero’.”
“World of the Brave Hero?”
Karl looked horrified.
“At this point, they’re probably more interested in you than in their exclusive smith contracts, aren’t they?”
“I still have to go. Three people from our side are on a rampage over there right now. I have to bring them back.”
“Three people?”
Chloe tilted her head.
“Celia, Chen Xia, and Duran went to the Azonia kids’ lodging to save you.”
“Ah…!”
Chloe looked flustered.
“Then I’ll go!”
“It’s fine. You go show your face to our students and calm them down first.”
“Will you be okay on your own?”
Karl asked worriedly, and Leo let out a chuckle.
“Don’t worry. I know how to handle beastmen.”
“How to handle beastmen? What’s that?”
At Karl’s question, Leo raised his left hand and clenched it into a fist.
“Don’t tell me…”
“That’s right.”
Leo smiled coldly.
“My fists.”
***
*Crackle—!*
An aura of lightning raged around Duran’s body.
A beastman with a massive build swung a greatsword at Duran.
*Flash—! Craaaack—!*
The lightning that erupted from Duran’s longsword electrocuted the Azonia student.
“Hoh? For a human, you’ve got some spirit! It seems the rumors about Lumerne’s golden generation aren’t just for show!! Haha! This is exciting!”
The tiger beastman, half a head taller than Duran, swished his large tiger tail.
“But you know, it’s a shame. You and I are a bad match-up.”
Borman, ranked 5th among Azonia’s second-years, grinned.
“My aura’s specialty is Armament.”
Borman’s body turned to steel.
“If your friends’ auras were fire or water, it might be different, but lightning will just be absorbed by me.”
*Crackle—*
Lightning swirled around Borman’s greatsword.
Like a lightning rod.
The lightning that had been flowing through Borman’s body gathered in one place.
Borman redirected that attack back at Duran.
*Crackle—!*
Golden sparks enveloped Duran’s body.
*Sizzzle—*
Smoke rose from Duran’s electrocuted body.
With a blank expression, Duran aimed his sword.
Borman watched him with admiration.
“It’s been a while since my blood boiled like this.”
Resting the greatsword on his shoulder, Borman narrowed his eyes.
“But you’re already at your limit. Plus, we’re a bad match-up. Why don’t you leave the rest to your friends?”
“Who said they’re my friends?”
Duran gave his characteristic cynical smile.
“What?”
“Those two are enemies I must defeat.”
At Duran’s words, Borman looked utterly confused.
“Does Lumerne also practice ‘Struggle’ like us?”
“Hmph. Do you think we’d do something so utterly brainless?”
Duran scoffed.
An Azonia female student watching the scene spoke up.
“Shouldn’t we stop them?”
The female student, who approached with her fox tail swishing, pulled it between her legs, brought it forward, and used it as a seat before preening the tip of her tail.
“That oaf is simple-minded and brutish. If he gets excited and fights for real, that handsome man with the bad aura match-up will be in danger, won’t he?”
At her words, Celia swept her hair back.
“A good match, then. Two simple-minded brutes.”
“That handsome man doesn’t seem simple-minded or brutish to me.”
Rwen tilted her head at Celia’s remark.
At that, Chen Xia smiled.
“Duran is the most brutish among our Knight Department classmates.”
“If his opponent is being foolishly reckless, he could just cut him down and take an easy victory, but he insists on being just as reckless. Pathetic.”
Celia scoffed.
At her words, Rwen looked at Duran.
Borman, ranked 5th in Azonia.
A student whose bloodline trait allowed him to turn his entire body into steel with his aura ability.
And for Duran, who wielded lightning, he was quite literally a natural enemy.
‘Where’s the recklessness in this?’
Borman also narrowed his eyes.
“You’d be better off accepting help, even from a rival.”
“Hmph. Chen Xia might meddle and offer help. That girl is annoyingly condescending, acting like an elder.”
“My, but I am actually older than you, Duran.”
Chen Xia muttered quietly.
“But even if I were in real danger, that one wouldn't help me.”
Duran smiled coldly.
“Because my pride won’t allow it.”
“Magnificent.”
Borman was impressed.
“That makes you all the more worth defeating. I’m glad to have met a good opponent before facing Leo Flove.”
“Foolish words.”
“What?”
Borman looked dumbfounded.
“It seems you lot have eyes for no one but Leo Flove.”
Borman considered Duran nothing more than an appetizer before his fight with Leo.
Normally, that would have been offensive.
But…
“I understand. He is worthy of such attention.”
Duran didn't feel offended.
It was just…
“That’s why I’m looking forward to it.”
With his characteristically arrogant eyes, Duran looked at Borman.
“To see just how far into the abyss you fools, who know nothing of Leo Flove, will fall.”
Duran scanned the Azonia students.
“Hmph. If he is that strong, then we welcome it. We are the descendants of the Brave Hero Ar-on.”
Borman scoffed.
“An overwhelmingly strong opponent is always welcome. But it seems you’ve felt despair from Leo Flove. For a moment, I held you in high regard, Duran Moira. I thought you might be a warrior like us. But to think you were a coward, frightened by overwhelming strength. How pathetic!”
Duran felt no offense at Borman’s ridicule.
Nor did he get worked up.
‘Yes. I did feel despair.’
*Crackle—*
‘I can see it.’
*Crackle-crackle—*
‘I can see it clearly. The more I struggle.’
*Flash—!*
‘The gap between him and me only grows wider.’
“You’re a man who doesn’t listen.”
*Grab—!*
“…?”
At Borman’s taunt, Duran reached out and grabbed his face.
‘I may never be able to surpass him. But.’
*Crackle-crackle-crackle!*
‘I’ll be damned if I give up.’
“Guaaaargh!”
Intense sparks erupted from Duran’s body.
The veins on his arm stood out sharply.
But Duran smiled.
“It would have been extremely simple to cut you down while you were full of openings from your arrogance. Do you know why I bothered to face you with my ‘aura’?”
Duran spoke to the unconscious Borman, whose eyes had rolled back in his head.
“To show you the difference in our class.”
*Thud—! Thump—!*
Borman collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
Had he fought seriously, he wouldn’t have suffered such humiliation.
But Borman paid a heavy price for underestimating his opponent.
“Courage and recklessness are different. Self-proclaimed descendant of the Brave Hero.”
Just as Duran scoffed.
“That guy is really something else. He doesn’t know how to give up. So persistent.”
Celia scoffed as she looked at Duran.
“Duran won’t give up. And you’re the same, Celia, you’ll keep chasing, won’t you?”
“Of course.”
“When you say ‘chasing,’ you’re talking about Leo Flove, right?”
Rwen tilted her head.
“Is he really that amazing?”
“That expression isn’t enough to describe him. Just watching him from the side is enough to make you feel overwhelmed. It might be impossible even if we try for our entire lives.”
Chen Xia said with a bright smile.
“Still, to not give up, your wills must be incredible.”
Just looking at Duran was enough to know.
How strong they were.
‘Leo Flove must be a monster beyond our imagination.’
“I thought the Brave Hero’s courage was a monopoly of the beastmen, but seeing you all, it seems that’s not the case.”
At Rwen’s words, Chen Xia smiled sweetly.
“Wouldn’t you say our mindset is a little different from courage?”
“Yes.”
“The Brave Hero is the Great Hero of you beastmen. I’ve respected him since I was young and still do, but I believe there is someone else we humans should learn from.”
“Ah.”
Rwen realized who Chen Xia was talking about.
“The Hero of the Beginning.”
“Yes. The Progenitor told us herself.”
Chen Xia looked at Duran and said.
“When an impossible battle began, the one who showed the most courage was Lord Ar-on. In an endless fight, the most reliable things were Lord Dweno’s weapons. The one whose wisdom led an impossible battlefield to victory was Lord Lisinas, and the one who turned the tide of a disadvantageous battlefield was herself.”
Rwen’s eyes widened.
The Advent of the Progenitor.
A major event that still had the entire continent buzzing.
“And.”
Celia glanced back and said teasingly.
“She said the one who never gave up was Lord Kyle. You didn’t get to hear it then, did you?”
“Luna said that?”
Rwen looked surprised at Leo, who had appeared out of nowhere.
‘When did he get here?’
“Yep. We all heard it. Jealous?”
Celia giggled, teasing Leo.
At the sight, Leo gave a wry smile.
‘So that fool said something like that?’
“If Azonia’s hero candidates are to inherit the will of Lord Ar-on, then we, Lumerne’s hero candidates, must inherit the will of Lord Kyle.”
Chen Xia turned to Leo and smiled sweetly.
“We will never give up. On chasing after you, Young Master Leo.”