Chapter 444
Chapter Title: Heir to the Hero
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444.
“Wow. Wow.”
Ar-on held the book, full of admiration.
“This novel is really fun.”
Leo rested his chin on his hand, watching Ar-on speak with sparkling eyes.
“That’s a history book.”
The book Ar-on was reading was none other than a history book recording the deeds of the Great Heroes.
Of course, it was also true that many of the Great Heroes’ deeds had become fictionalized by this era.
But since it was written by renowned scholars, the book Ar-on was reading was like a textbook on the history of the Great Heroes in this world.
*Well, I also thought it was a novel, not a history book, when I first read it.*
“I like the beastkin in this book the most.”
“Hey.”
Leo narrowed his eyes at the beaming Ar-on.
Just as Ar-on and Leo were reading a book about their own stories.
Chelsea was lost in thought.
*Come to think of it, there were more than a few strange things about Leo.*
From the entrance exam, Leo had stood out.
When they first met, he had easily overpowered Chelsea without even using Aura.
That wasn't all.
He had single-handedly faced a monster that Celia and Abad had barely managed to defeat by joining forces.
Of course, he hadn’t been able to use Aura at the time, so he couldn’t defeat the monster.
*But even back then, he possessed overwhelming skill, incomparable to his peers.*
He was like a hero from a fairy tale, and Chelsea had been moved watching him fight.
*Even after enrolling, Leo was always the center of attention.*
The biggest topic was, of course, the fact that he was an unprecedented All-Class.
*An All-Class, just like Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.*
The existence of the All-Class, once thought to be a myth, was proven because of Leo.
Moreover, he didn't just wield all three powers; he showed incredible prowess in every field.
Leo was a seasoned knight, an overwhelming mage, and an amazing summoner.
If he had only excelled in the Knight Department, it would have been understandable.
His maternal family was Jerdinger, and his mother, Reina, had been a famous knight in her youth.
But his display of magic and summoning was so exceptional that it even hinted at a veteran's experience.
*He was already beyond the realm of mere talent back then.*
And now, a year after enrolling.
He had obtained power so great that it was impossible to compare him to his peers.
*Until now, I'd thought he was just an incredible person on par with a Great Hero.*
Shaking herself from her thoughts, Chelsea crossed her arms and looked at Leo and Ar-on.
*The more I think about it, the more strange things there are.*
Once the doubt arose, things she had taken for granted began to chain together, one after another.
*Leo has conquered an unusual number of Worlds of Heroes. And wasn't he the one who first revealed that Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, actually existed?*
Chelsea stared intently at Leo's face.
*Besides, even before that fact was revealed, Leo showed a deep interest in the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle. His club activities were meant to research him, right?*
At the time, she thought he was just interested because he was an All-Class, and Kyle was the only other All-Class to have left his name in history.
But thinking about it now, it was strange.
*Leo definitely has some secret related to the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle.*
Chelsea racked her brain.
*A descendant... or a successor, that can't be it. Don't tell me... he's Kyle himself?*
Her thoughts reaching that point, Chelsea's eyes widened.
If that were true, then everything she'd been thinking about made sense.
*No way, is it real?!*
Just as Chelsea was reeling in shock.
“Chelsea, let's go.”
“Ye-Yes!”
At Ar-on's words, who had come up behind her, Chelsea shot up from her seat and answered loudly.
The sharp glares of everyone in the library focused on them.
Ar-on bowed his head apologetically, and Chelsea hurriedly apologized to the other patrons.
“What's wrong? This isn't like you.”
Leo approached and asked, and Chelsea laughed awkwardly.
“Ah, it's nothing.”
With that, she stared intently at Leo's back as he walked ahead.
Ar-on tilted his head, watching her.
***
In the evening, after their tour.
Leo settled into their lodging in Delan.
And in that lodging were those who knew Ar-on's identity.
In other words, the students who had previously conquered Dweno's world were gathered.
“Why are you here instead of at home?”
Lunia asked Leo with a puzzled expression.
Since the Flove family mansion was in Delan, Lunia had thought Leo would be staying there.
Leo answered Lunia's question.
“We're still in the middle of the training retreat. Besides, if I went, my mother would definitely make a huge fuss.”
“So even you can't help but be a son in front of your parents, huh?”
Lunia smiled brightly.
“By the way, where did Lord Ar-on and the stupid cat go?”
They had rented out an entire small hotel for Ar-on.
So it was strange to Lunia that Ar-on and Ar were nowhere to be seen.
“They went to the bathhouse together.”
Driana answered while eating an entire whipped cream cake.
“Th-The bathhouse together?!”
Eiran jumped in surprise, her face flushing slightly.
“What are you thinking? They just needed a place with water for howling practice.”
“Th-That's right! I thought they were practicing howling too!”
Driana spoke with narrowed eyes, and Eiran answered with a start.
Driana looked at Eiran with a displeased expression.
“Eiran. Do you view every situation with such a lewd gaze?”
“L-Lewd? I-I've never thought anything like that!”
“If your head is so full of naughty thoughts, then why do you refuse to be a nude model!”
“I told you, I haven't thought anything like that!”
Eiran, on the verge of tears, grabbed Driana's neck and shook her violently.
Watching Driana being shaken, Karl said.
“It's okay, Eiran. During puberty, everyone is like... Gak!”
“I didn't!”
Eiran, eyes squeezed shut with tears welling up, grabbed Karl's neck and shook him.
“S-Save... Gak! Keck!”
Karl struggled, but the agitated Eiran had no time to spare for him.
Watching the scene, Driana muttered.
“Karl, that guy is brave sometimes.”
“Isn't it because you're so calm even when you're being choked?”
“Aren't I sturdy?”
Eiran's hands looked delicate, but they were incredibly vicious.
Seeing Karl go limp and foam at the mouth, Eiran screamed.
***
“Blublublublub—! Pwah!”
Ar, who had been howling in the bathtub, hurriedly lifted his head.
Watching the panting Ar, Ar-on said.
“Yes. You've improved a lot. It doesn't seem like the power to transform other beastkin has manifested yet, but shall we stop here for today?”
At a glance, it looked like simple water torture, but thanks to Ar-on's special training, Ar's howling was definitely getting stronger.
On top of that, with Ar-on explaining things by his side, Ar's skills improved remarkably.
“You did well too, Chelsea.”
Chelsea had been using wind to prevent the sound of the howling from escaping outside.
“Not at all. It's what I should be doing, isn't it?”
Chelsea shook her head, sneaking glances at Ar-on.
Watching her, Ar-on smiled brightly.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“Ah, it's nothing! I'll be leaving first!”
Shaking her head hastily, Chelsea left the bath.
*Should I ask Lord Ar-on or Leo? No. It's just my speculation, after all. Leo being Lord Kyle himself... it's absurd, isn't it? Besides, even if my guess is true, this is something that should be kept secret. It'd be awkward to pretend I know.*
Ar-on watched Chelsea's retreating back as she struggled with her inner turmoil.
Seeing that, Ar's ears and tail drooped.
“Lord Ar-on, you think Chelsea is cuter, don't you?”
“Hmm?”
Ar-on looked at Ar.
Ar lowered his head slightly and spoke.
“You're so kind to Chelsea. Of course, you're kind to me too, but... you take the best care of Chelsea.”
He said it with a slightly disappointed look.
“Of course, it's an undeserved honor to meet you, talk with you, and receive your guidance on howling. Still, I wanted to be more helpful to you and be praised by you. I guess I'm not good enough.”
The fact that Chelsea had been Ar-on's guide today instead of him had been a big shock to Ar.
Seeing Ar's disappointed expression, Ar-on scratched his cheek.
“Ar and Chelsea are different. Of course, I think of you both like younger siblings. But I receive a lot of comfort from Chelsea.”
“Am I not a comfort to you?”
“For you, I have more expectations than comfort.”
“Huh?”
At Ar-on's words, Ar's eyes went wide.
Ar-on patted Ar's head and said.
“Whether you like it or not, whether you wanted it or not, Ar, you've inherited a lot from me.”
Ar-on smiled bitterly.
“Even more than what I passed on to Berkia. You received it.”
Taking his hand away, Ar-on bent his knees to meet Ar's eyes.
“I never wanted children to go to the battlefield. I wanted kids like you and Chelsea to live lives untouched by combat. I squeezed out courage I didn't have for that.”
“Lord Ar-on...”
“But because I was lacking, we couldn't end it all, and in the end, we left the flames of disaster for future generations.”
“You're not lacking at all, Lord Ar-on!”
Ar shot up from his seat, indignant.
Ar-on smiled at him.
“Thank you for saying that. In any case, the black flames still remain in this world.”
Ar-on said.
“That might be why I'm so strict with you.”
*He hasn't been strict with me, though.*
Ar muttered to himself.
But Ar wasn't clueless.
He gave a cat-like smile at the gentle hand patting his head.
He felt that if he said anything unnecessary, Ar-on would stop petting him.
Unaware of Ar's selfish intentions, Ar-on spoke.
“Because one day, you will stand on the battlefield in my place. You can't end up like me.”
“But I want to be like you, Lord Ar-on.”
Ar-on shook his head at Ar's words.
“If you become a coward like me, you'll just be a burden again.”
“You're not a coward, Lord Ar-on! You're not a burden! You're the great hero who saved the world!”
To that, Ar-on didn't reply, only offering a gentle smile.
“I want you to become a true Brave Hero, Ar. So you can create a world where the children of the future can laugh without worry. Because you are my heir.”
At the word “heir,” Ar's eyes widened.
Then he bowed his head low, his body trembling.
“Are you sick?”
Ar-on asked with a surprised face, and Ar lifted his head.
“Nyaaaaaaak!”
“Whaaaaaa?!”
“Heir! Heir! Heeeeeeir!”
“Hiiiiiek! S-Save me!”
Ar, with a crazed look in his eyes, shrieked and lunged, while Ar-on screamed and fled from the bath.
***
*Ruuuuuumble-!*
“An earthquake?”
The Flove family's territory.
A small tremor occurred deep in the mountains, and Luke wore a puzzled expression.
Juen spoke to him.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Yeah.”
“So! Why don't we get any free time!”
Juen grumbled while roasting skewered meat over a campfire.
“The upperclassmen said they had a really tough time. Maybe that's why?”
Luke said with a smile, and Juen pouted.
“We're having a tough enough time too.”
“You can say that after seeing the state the upperclassmen were in yesterday?”
At Aina's words from beside him, Juen said sharply.
“I wasn't asking you.”
“Didn't you two make up?”
Luke asked with an awkward laugh, and Aina nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Make up? Who made up? And we never fought in the first place.”
As Juen narrowed his eyes.
Luke was about to eat the skewered meat.
*Whoosh-!*
Just then, something snatched the skewer from Luke's hand.
*Scurry-!* After putting some distance between them, the one tearing into the meat and glaring askance at Luke was none other than Leah, the first-year representative of Seirun.
Looking at Leah, Luke smiled brightly and said.
“Miss Leah, would you like some more?”
At his words, Leah furrowed her fine brow, clicked her tongue, and left.
“Luke Elda.”
“Yes, Mr. Habidden.”
“What's with the 'would you like some more' while smiling?! She's picking a fight with you, isn't she? As the first-year representative of Lumerne, you shouldn't be so soft!”
“Eek?”
Habidden's eyes bulged as he shouted, and Luke let out a yelp.
Watching this, Shasha, covering her mouth with a folding fan, narrowed her eyes.
“Seirun's second-year, Lunia El Lundua, was formidable. Their first-year representative picking a fight with Luke is no different from a thug.”
“Why is that elf so eager to pick on Luke?”
Just as Betty tilted her head, unable to understand.
*Woooooosh-!*
A faint killing intent was felt.
The first-years, who were eating dinner by the campfire in front of their lodging, looked up.
“This presence... it's a monster.”
Habidden said, tearing meat off a skewer.
“It seems to be a sudden event prepared by the retreat organizers.”
“I knew it was too peaceful.”
Juen scoffed.
Students from the other schools had similar reactions.
Even if they were first-years, they were hero candidates.
They were all too familiar with such sudden situations.
“Well then, shall we have a light digestive exercise after dinner?”
Shasha smiled brightly.
***
The summit of a mountain in the Flove territory.
Melina, who had her eyes closed, twitched and opened them.
Her face hardened slightly at the sudden development.
“...A monster?”