Chapter 083
Chapter Title: Brave Hero's Breath
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“Is that even possible?”
“That’s beyond aura amplification… it’s on a whole other level, isn’t it?”
All the students stared at Leo, completely dumbfounded.
‘Leo Flove…!’
Duran gritted his teeth, and Celia felt goosebumps break out all over her skin.
‘Those are Leo's flames?’
Everyone was shocked, but the most surprised person of all was Leo himself.
‘This is way too effective!’
Leo had been using Ar-on's breathing technique freely, but since it was a beastman's skill, there were parts that didn't quite suit him.
As a result, the actual aura amplification effect was lacking compared to Ar-on's.
And this was the result of tailoring the technique to his own body, based on the method Ain had taught him.
*Sizzzle-!*
Smoke rose from his hand as if it were being flash-cooled.
He had suffered burns before when drawing out firepower beyond his limits.
‘This is on the level of my entire arm being burned off.’
Leo endured the pain and sheathed his sword.
“That’s insane!”
“Hey! Leo, how’d you do that? Is there a trick to it?”
“Teach me too!”
Just as the Knight Department students were excitedly clamoring with questions.
*Thud- Thud-*
Ain hurried over, checked Leo's arm, and narrowed his eyes.
“Nella. Come and heal Leo's hand.”
“Huh? Ah! Yes!”
Nella, who possessed healing aura, rushed over.
“I'm taking him to the infirmary. The rest of you, continue your individual practice.”
***
“It was more effective than I thought.”
“Your arm is in this state, and you're laughing?”
As Leo let out a hollow laugh in the infirmary, Nella glared at him.
Nella used her healing aura to treat the burn on Leo's arm.
“Thanks, Nella. Your skills have improved.”
“It's not completely healed. I just gave you first aid, so make sure you get it properly treated in the infirmary.”
“Good work, Nella.”
“Not at all. This is my job, after all.”
Nella shook her head, offering her characteristic, languid smile.
“Leo.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Did you already know about the [Brave Hero's Breath]?”
Nella was surprised by the sharp question, while Leo smiled knowingly to himself.
‘He figured that out just by seeing it once?’
“Yes.”
“Where did you learn it?”
“I read about it in a book when I was young.”
“You learned it on your own?”
“Yes.”
“And you modified the technique based on what I taught you today?”
“That's right.”
Watching Leo speak so calmly, Ain felt a cold sweat run down his back.
‘Truly, there's no telling the depths of this boy. It's astounding enough that he self-taught the Brave Hero's Breath, which humans normally can't use, but to then modify it to suit himself...’
“Was the backlash from aura amplification an existing problem?”
“Yes. Though not to this extent.”
The newly adjusted breathing technique was so effective that the backlash had also grown larger.
“Did the method I taught you not manifest your aura?”
“That's correct.”
“It seems your method of aura manipulation is similar to that of beastmen. That's why the version tailored for humans was actually a poor fit for you.”
Just as Ain said, the person who had first taught Kyle about aura was a beastman mercenary.
Normally, he wouldn't have been able to learn it properly, but thanks to Kyle's talent and intuition, he picked it up without much difficulty.
‘A Lumerne professor, as expected. He grasps the problem quickly.’
“Leo.”
“Yes.”
“From now on, it would be best for you not to use the [Brave Hero's Breath].”
“Is it because of the side effects?”
“Yes. It's not good for you to use power that injures yourself.”
Ain let out a deep sigh.
“I know someone who lost their power by pushing themselves too hard.”
Watching Ain mutter bitterly, Leo spoke.
“I'll try to restrain myself, but I can't make any promises.”
Leo grinned.
“‘Surpass your limits.’ Isn't that our school's motto?”
Ain looked into Leo's eyes.
‘This isn't simple bravado.’
Leo's eyes were like those of someone who had overcome all sorts of adversities.
Ain burst out laughing as if to say he was helpless.
“If you're that confident, then I expect you to show me with results.”
***
After the Knight Department class ended.
Leo headed straight for his Magic Department class.
Since it was a practical skills day, he headed not to the classroom building, but to the magic training grounds.
As Leo was walking out of the training yard, he ran into a female student.
“Chloe? What are you doing in the classroom building at this hour?”
“I left something in the classroom, so I just stopped by.”
Chloe, who was, as always, hugging two thick grimoires to her chest, approached him.
“Is your Knight Department class over now?”
“Yeah. Perfect timing. Let's go together.”
“Sh-should we?”
‘Hyaa! It's been so long since I've walked alone with Leo!’
Feeling a little nervous for some reason, Chloe took a deep breath.
‘Chloe! Don't be nervous! What's the big deal about walking with Leo?’
As Chloe tried to calm herself down, Leo asked.
“Isn't it heavy carrying two of those? Here, let me carry one for you.”
“They are heavy, are you sure?”
“It's nothing.”
“Then I won't refuse.”
The moment she handed over one of the grimoires with a smile, her hand brushed against Leo's.
‘Aah! Our hands touched!’
Her face flushing red, Chloe whipped her head away in a fluster.
‘Ugh! Really! Why am I being so stupid! I'm getting even more flustered because I'm overthinking it!’
Muttering to herself, Chloe clenched her fists.
‘Right! I just need to make some casual conversation to break this awkward atmosphere!’
“The weather is really nice today, isn't it?”
“No, it's pretty hot.”
“...”
As Leo squinted up at the sky under the blazing sun, Chloe smacked her own forehead with the grimoire.
‘Why did I talk about the weather!’
Just as Chloe was floundering, feeling the atmosphere had become even more awkward.
“Quite the atmosphere you've got there, my dear juniors.”
Startled by the voice from behind, Chloe glanced back.
There, Torua was lying prone on a floating carpet.
“S-Senior Torua?”
“Hello, Chloe.”
“You know me?”
“Of course, Chloe Müller! This senior remembers the names of all the outstanding juniors.”
“I'm honored!”
“Mhm! Just as I thought, you're a good junior.”
Torua smiled brightly and reached out to pat Chloe's head.
“Compared to a cute junior like Chloe, you, Leo...”
Torua made a very displeased face.
‘What's this? Does she dislike Leo?’
Chloe tensed up slightly at the unusual atmosphere.
“When are you ever going to commit to the Magic Department? You're being ostracized because you're stuck in the middle.”
“I'm the one ostracizing the entire grade, I tell you.”
“You don't have any friends, do you?”
“No, I have lots. I'm good friends with Chloe right here.”
Watching the two bicker, Chloe laughed awkwardly.
“Senior Torua. You seem to be close with Leo?”
“Yep. Of course, he's my junior from the Magic Department.”
“Who says I'm in the Magic Department?”
“You.”
“Isn't forcing a department on someone against school rules? And it just so happens my homeroom professor is Professor Halind.”
“Tch. You clever brat.”
Torua clicked her tongue.
Even the ever-bold she was just a week student in front of Halind.
“Anyway, I heard you deciphered the magic of the Progenitor of the Nebula? How on earth did you do it? I tried to decipher it myself but gave up halfway.”
“I want to hear about that, too. It's a famous magic formula that the Magic Tower has been researching for a long time.”
“Chloe, you're from the Northern Magic Tower, right? I've seen the northern interpretation, and it was interesting how different it was from the south's. Would you like to have a discussion about it?”
“I'd love to!”
“Yes, yes. That's how mages should be. Here, get on.”
Torua gladly offered a spot on the carpet, and She and Chloe began to excitedly chatter about magic.
Since both had an immense thirst for knowledge, their conversation flowed easily.
‘Mages never change, do they?’
Lost in conversation, the two soon realized they had nearly arrived at the class location.
“Hmm. We've arrived before I could even hear Leo's interpretation. So, what kind of magic was it? The Seirun Society hasn't made an announcement yet, and this senior is dying of curiosity, junior.”
Torua poked him in the side with her magic staff.
Chloe, too, was looking at Leo, her eyes shining with curiosity.
Seeing this, Leo conjured magic in his hand.
Torua and Chloe blinked blankly at the single flower that bloomed from Leo's hand.
“It was a spell to create a flower.”
Leo smiled, handed the flower and the grimoire to Chloe, and walked into the training grounds.
“He's surprisingly bold, isn't he?”
Torua chuckled and winked at Chloe, whose ears had turned bright red.
“Go for it, cute junior.”
***
The Magic Department students gathered at the training grounds all wore tense expressions.
The reason was none other than Torua, who could be called a grand senior.
“Leo. Did Senior Jamua come to the Knight Department class?”
“No. He didn't come today.”
While Chelsea looked puzzled.
“It's so hot today. Feels like the weather in the south.”
Torua, still on her magic carpet, grumbled quietly.
As soon as he heard this, Karl quickly stepped forward.
“I have a parasol right here, Senior!”
“Hm?”
“And here, have some orange juice.”
Having created some shade with the parasol, Karl pulled a bottle of orange juice from his coat and offered it to Torua.
“You came well-prepared.”
Torua, looking impressed, brought the straw to her lips.
Then Karl rubbed his hands together and said.
“That'll be 5 silver.”
“Here.”
Torua, smirking as if she'd expected it, obediently paid the price for the service.
“Sometimes I'm so jealous of Karl's shamelessness.”
As Chelsea spoke with her arms crossed, and Leo chuckled, Torua tilted her head.
“Hmm. Still, something's missing. Chelsea, could you come here for a moment?”
“Me?”
Chelsea approached Torua.
“How about you create a cool breeze for me?”
“Huh?”
“Here, 5 silver.”
*Cling~*
With a reluctant expression, Chelsea snatched the 5 silver coin that flew into her palm.
“Your errand fee. Now, hurry up and make a cool breeze.”
Chelsea had no choice but to conjure a cool breeze.
After that, Torua started throwing 5 silver coins around and working her juniors to the bone.
“I couldn't bring myself to work the first-years so hard because of guilt, but now that I'm paying an errand fee, I can do it without any hesitation.”
At the words of a smilingly satisfied Torua, everyone turned to glare daggers at Karl.
‘This is all your fault for doing something so unnecessary!’
Suffering and expending mana under the scorching sun was the last thing any magic student wanted.
Karl winced and turned his head away.
Torua's demands grew more and more bizarre.
she had them draw incomprehensible magic circles on the ground or create statues of strange shapes.
Just as the rampage of Torua, known as one of the most peculiar students in the entire grade, was about to reach its peak.
“What is the meaning of this, Torua Yan.”
Everyone flinched and looked toward the source of the voice.
And they all looked surprised.
The professor who had appeared at the training grounds was not Ren.
Even Torua's eyes widened at the appearance of this unexpected person.
The person who had shown up for class.
Was none other than Professor Albi.