Chapter 376
Chapter Title: The Arena
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376.
Leo looked at Delian, who was sitting in front of him.
Delian looked back at Leo and said.
“I'll get straight to the point. Deep beneath this place, the Shadow, there's a high probability that a legacy left by the Dragon of Creation, Lord Rodia, lies dormant.”
Ar, who was sitting beside Leo, widened his eyes.
“How can you be so sure? Have you seen it yourself?”
“I've been investigating many things in this country for a long time as a hero scholar.”
A hero scholar.
Someone who professionally studies heroics and excavates the traces of heroes.
The fields they operate in are diverse.
They might track down and find relics of heroes who are recorded in the Hero Records but whose worlds cannot be opened because their artifacts are missing.
Or they might search the ruins of nations that vanished in the distant past, looking for traces of heroes there.
Or they might even excavate lost Hero Records.
In the process, they sometimes even clear hero dungeons.
Most of them were graduates of hero academies who had professionally studied heroics.
“Many hero scholars pay no attention to Elehem. Even though it's a nation with a long history that has produced many heroes.”
“That's because all records and ruins related to Elehem's heroes are found outside its current territory.”
Ar replied curtly to Delian's words.
Just as he said, the records of heroes from Elehem all come from its former territories.
Most of these are now renowned hero families who once belonged to Elehem but have since become completely independent and affiliated with other nations.
“Exactly. Besides, no heroes have been born in Elehem for the past few hundred years.”
The heroes of the past have all lost their connection to Elehem.
And for the last few hundred years, no heroes have emerged.
It was a country with nothing to attract the interest of hero scholars.
“However, this is the nation where the Dragon of Creation, Lord Rodia, was born. That alone makes it worth endless research.”
“But hasn't most of the research on the Heroes of Creation already been concluded?”
Leo said.
“Thanks to 3,000 years of study, most of the legacies of the Heroes of Creation have been uncovered.”
“That's right. The Knight of Twilight, Lumerne; the Sorcerer of the Comet, Seirun; the Great Warrior, Azonia; and the Indomitable Damian. The students of the hero academies carry on their wills. I myself have inherited a small part of Lord Lumerne's legacy.”
The legacies of the Heroes of Creation refer to the spirit and Hero Records they left for future generations.
And the 'armaments' they used.
Since the World of Creation itself no longer exists, a true succession is impossible.
“But you know, don't you? All the Heroes of Creation left legacies related to the Great Hero, but Lord Rodia alone left no legacy related to Lord Lisinas.”
Delian smiled meaningfully.
“Isn't it strange? Lord Rodia is like the symbol of Creation. The hero academies were founded by his will.”
The ones who established the hero academies were the Knight of Twilight, the Sorcerer of the Comet, the Great Warrior, and the Indomitable.
It was these four, but the one who first proposed establishing schools to nurture heroes was Rodia.
The four founding heroes of the academies left their own legacies for future generations.
But Rodia did not.
He left something for the dragonkin, but compared to his comrades, it was clearly lacking.
Delian smiled meaningfully.
“Isn't it highly likely he left something behind for someone worthy of succeeding him? I've long believed so and have researched everything related to the Heroes of Creation. And I came to think that what Lord Rodia left behind would be here, in his homeland. This labyrinth beneath the Shadow is the only place in this country I haven't been able to investigate.”
His deduction was correct.
Rodia had indeed left a treasury here for the one who would become Laruel's contractor.
There was also a legend that Laruel's library might be here.
In response to Delian's words, Leo said.
“Why are you telling us this?”
If he thought Rodia's legacy was in the underground labyrinth, it would make sense to tackle it alone.
That way, he could have the legacy all to himself.
But Delian was proposing cooperation.
Of course, Leo knew the treasury's true nature.
But he only knew that because he had made a pact with Laruel.
“Unfortunately, although I've confirmed the existence of a labyrinth beneath the Shadow, I haven't been able to clear it.”
“If a Lumerne graduate failed to clear it, what could a second-year student like me possibly do?”
“Lumerne's youngest-ever student council president is being far too modest.”
Delian, who had been smiling faintly, put on a serious expression.
“To be precise, it's because I couldn't even attempt it. The master of this Shadow wouldn't allow it.”
“Then wouldn't it be over for me too if I don't get permission?”
“That's right. But the master of the Shadow said she grants permission to those she takes a liking to. I'm sure you could win her favor. You need 100 million points to get an audience with her, right? I can help with that. What do you say?”
'He's willing to hand over such a huge sum for someone he can't even be sure what will happen with?'
Leo smiled faintly.
“I appreciate the offer, but I refuse.”
“Why?”
“I'm not particularly fond of excessive favors.”
Delian narrowed his eyes.
“Hoh. It's one thing to refuse an excessive favor, but it's foolish to tell the person offering it that's the reason. Is it because you still lack experience?”
“You said you've been researching in this country for a long time, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then that must mean you belong to the Elehem royal family.”
At those words, Delian froze.
“You know why the Lumerne students came to Elehem, don't you? Whether we become enemies here or not, we were never meant to be on the same side, were we?”
Seeing Leo shrug and get up from his seat, Delian gave a benign smile.
“Let me give you some advice as your senior. What Lumerne is looking for isn't in this country. So don't waste your time and accept my offer. This is the last bit of leniency I'll show you as a senior. Wouldn't it be better for you to have some results as student council president?”
“We'll see if it's a waste of time after the investigation is over. And I can explore the labyrinth just fine without your cooperation.”
“Huhu. Is it because you're the youngest student council president? Your confidence borders on arrogance. Know your place. You're a second-year. From my perspective as a graduate, you're just a wet-behind-the-ears brat. Hark Ligard or Elena Jer-on would have accepted my offer.”
'Elena would have attacked him on the spot, and Hark would have ignored him to take a nap.'
The upperclassmen Leo knew were that kind of people.
Whatever the reason, both of them were from Lumerne's three great families.
They would never compromise with someone who went against Lumerne's will.
Leo clicked his tongue at Delian for barking up the wrong tree and left with Ar.
“He suddenly got so high-and-mighty. His eyes looked a little crazy, too.”
Ar muttered with a strange expression.
At that, Leo's eyes narrowed.
'I know guys with eyes like that.'
The eyes of someone who will stop at nothing to achieve their goal.
And he knew all too well how far their methods could go.
Leo touched his temple.
Vwoom-!
A small ripple of magical power pulsed.
-This is the first time you've called me like this.
A slightly surprised voice echoed in Leo's ear.
It was none other than Chen Xia.
It was a communication using the artifact Chen Xia had given him.
Chen Xia dreamed of being a hero, but she didn't deny her identity as a shadow.
The other students didn't know it, but after being saved by Leo, Chen Xia had been following him as his shadow.
And there was only one reason to use this artifact.
-Please give me your orders, Master.
“Cut it out with that title. It makes me feel like some kind of weirdo.”
-But I like it.
Leo shook his head at her playful, laughter-filled voice.
-What orders should I follow, Young Master Leo?
“Can you come to the Shadow, the underground casino in Uargela?”
-I'm on my way.
After the communication ended, Leo looked at Ar.
“Besides you, how many other Azonia students are in debt to this casino?”
“Seventeen, including me.”
Leo clicked his tongue at the rather large number.
“Can you pay off the debt?”
“Don't worry! Everyone will have paid it all off by next week and can escape this wretched place!”
Leo sighed, watching Ar speak confidently with his hands on his hips and his chest puffed out.
'I hope the kids from our school aren't as foolish as the ones from Azonia.'
“What's your method for paying off the debt?”
Ar grinned at Leo's question.
“The arena.”
*
“So.”
Chelsea pressed her temples.
“You're telling me you lost all your points?”
“If I'd just known the class president's three sizes, I could have earned 100 million points.”
Chelsea looked at Iliana, who answered with a serious face, and said.
“Idiot.”
“Ugh.”
Unable to refute Chelsea's words, Iliana flinched.
“At least I didn't go into debt!”
“You blew through the underclassmen's points too. If you'd gone into debt on top of that, you wouldn't be an idiot, you'd be a moron.”
Iliana feigned ignorance at Chelsea's cold remark.
“We can't just blame Iliana. Most of us lost money too.”
As Chloe sighed, Karl flicked a chip into the air.
Ting!
Karl caught the chip as it spun in the air with a crisp sound and said triumphantly.
“I won.”
“How much?”
“1,000 points.”
“You won a lot, but it's still not nearly enough.”
Chelsea let out a small sigh.
“It seems like the only way to make real money is through the events.”
Juen sighed.
“Anyway, when is Leo getting here?”
It was already the appointed time, but Leo was nowhere to be seen, leaving everyone puzzled.
[Ladies and gentlemen who have graced the Shadow with your presence again today! Welcome!]
Suddenly, an amplification spell boomed throughout the casino.
The eyes of everyone in the casino turned toward the center.
The floor split open, and a steel cage descended from the ceiling.
[Welcome once again to the stage of honorable bloodshed!]
Cheers erupted from all around at the male announcer's words.
The entire group watched this unfold with surprised expressions.
Clank- Clank-
The steel bars descending from the ceiling formed a massive arena.
Ensuring that whoever entered could never escape.
Fwip-!
The casino lights dimmed, and a spotlight shone on the center of the arena.
And the people who saw the boy standing there began to mutter.
“Oh my, is such a young boy the first challenger?”
“Ah, how pitiful. I wonder what his story is.”
Women who appeared to be noble ladies spoke with pity.
But contrary to their concerned tone, a strange excitement glinted in their eyes.
Eyes that held no doubt the boy would soon be screaming in agony.
[Today's first challenger has declared his bold ambition to defeat the champion! Now! Will the challenger be able to reach the champion? The long-awaited first match begins now!]
With that, bunny girls appeared.
[The challenger's first opponent is the trash of the slums who brutally murdered seven boys and girls! Jaydon!]
“Gwoooaaaargh!”
A masked giant holding a massive blade in his hand let out a roar.
“How vulgar. To think he's a murderous piece of trash.”
“Are they even giving a guy like that a chance to live?”
The people wore expressions of disgust.
Yet, they didn't stop placing bets, as if finding it all very interesting.
A moment later, a bell signaled the end of betting, and a trumpet fanfare announced the start of the fight.
All eyes turned to the arena.
“How should I carve you up, brat?”
Leo looked at Jaydon, who was grinning murderously, and said.
“Do you want to die without pain? Or with it?”
“You arrogant little brat!”
Jaydon raised his massive blade and charged at Leo.
Thwack-!
The moment the huge blade was about to strike Leo's neck.
Crack- Craaack!
“Gyaaaaaargh!”
The arm of Jaydon holding the blade was bent at a bizarre angle.
Leo kicked the knee of Jaydon, who was screaming in agony, clutching his arm and kneeling.
His knee buckled.
As Jaydon screamed in agony, Leo made his move.
He grabbed Jaydon by the collar and threw him aside like trash.
Thud-!
With a heavy sound, Jaydon's body tumbled across the floor.
Thrashing in agony, Jaydon slowly died.
Everyone watched, their mouths agape.
Leo's friends were among them.
'Except for Karl, they might be quite shocked.'
Without looking toward his friends, Leo flexed his fingers.
For his friends, who had only ever seen his righteous side, his current appearance was surely a great shock.
'But I can't always show them only my good side.'
Leo smiled bitterly.
'My way isn't the only right way, but it wouldn't be bad for them to know how to deal with filth.'