KakaoPage Originals
The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student
[Original — Yerona]
[TL — MiT7]
[PR — Spades]
[QC — Lumi]
Chapter 5 — The Flame of Worth
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Leaving the unconscious Celia behind, Leo returned to the estate.
In the living room, Reina and Zis were deep in conversation.
Zerdinger knights stood guard around them.
Spotting her son, Reina smiled.
"Finished training for the day?"
"Yes, Mother."
Answering Reina, Leo glanced at Zis.
'All that talk about Zerdinger this, Zerdinger that. He's impressive.'
Even in his past life, warriors of this caliber were rare.
'The title of heroic family isn't just for show.'
"Leo, this is Zis Zerdinger, our guest from the family," Reina said.
"Leo Flove," Leo introduced himself.
"Zis Zerdinger. You probably know, but I'm your uncle. Feel free to be at ease."
"Can I ask what you mean by 'at ease'?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Zis asked.
"I may have Zerdinger blood, but I'm not a Zerdinger."
Leo's firm boundary-drawing made Zis's eyes gleam, while Reina shook her head.
'My son has no cute side.'
Zis Zerdinger.
Deputy patriarch of the Zerdinger family and second in the official power hierarchy.
Most kids Leo's age would be thrilled to be called 'nephew' so warmly by such a figure.
But blood ties aside, they were strangers by lineage.
Zerdinger's family laws were strict.
That's why Reina hadn't introduced Zis as an uncle.
Leo, sensing this, had asked for clarification.
"In formal settings, I won't call you my nephew," Zis said.
"Understood."
Leo's crisp response made Zis burst into laughter.
"He doesn't seem like your son, Sister."
"Hohoho. Care to explain?" Reina asked, stepping on Zis's foot with a smile.
"Leo, did you see a girl named Celia at the training grounds?" Reina asked.
"That girl?"
Leo glanced toward the estate's entrance.
Celia, foaming at the mouth, was being carried in on a stretcher.
"Gasp! M-Milady!"
"What happened?!"
Zerdinger knights cried out in shock.
"Hm."
Zis let out a sound of admiration.
'He defeated Celia without using aura?'
"Sir Wheaton, what happened?" Zis asked.
Wheaton recounted the events at the training grounds.
Zis shook his head.
The cause of her defeat was clear.
'Arrogance.'
Celia had underestimated Leo solely because he couldn't use aura.
By common sense, that wasn't unreasonable.
The gap between aura users and non-users was vast.
But her loss due to complacency was undeniable.
'And that's not the Zerdinger way.'
Zis stepped before Leo.
"Beating Celia? Impressive."
"She underestimated me."
"True. But it seems you and Celia made a bet."
"Yes. We agreed the loser would serve the winner."
"What?!"
"That's absurd!"
Zerdinger knights bristled, outraged.
A Zerdinger direct descendant as a servant?
They glared at Leo.
But Leo didn't flinch.
"For the next week, Celia Zerdinger is my maid."
Reina stifled a laugh.
Her son was the type to follow through.
Still, she hadn't expected him to say that so boldly in front of Zerdinger's glaring knights.
'Who's going to rein in that personality?'
Zis, meanwhile, smiled gently.
"Celia is a Zerdinger. She can't be made to do maid work."
He continued in a soothing tone.
"I'd like you to let the bet slide. In return, I'll offer another reward. For example…"
Zis stroked his chin.
"How about our family's advanced Aura Art?"
"I decline."
"What?"
"The bet was between me and Celia Zerdinger."
Leo glanced at Celia.
"You called her a 'Zerdinger.' As someone bearing a heroic family's name, she should take responsibility for her words."
Shifting his gaze, Leo met Zis's eyes.
"Any negotiation should be between me and her. And…"
Leo drove the point home.
"If an Aura Art is just an excuse to spare your niece's humiliation, I don't think it's worth learning."
The knights ground their teeth, sparks flying from their eyes.
"Unacceptable!"
"How dare you insult Zerdinger!"
Outraged, the knights shouted.
Wheaton, furious, rebuked them.
"Who do you think you're raising your voices at?!"
"But, Captain!"
"How can we stay silent after such words?!"
"It seems…"
Reina, watching with a blank expression, shook her head.
"Zerdinger's standards have fallen since I left."
"Even if you were once a Zerdinger, that's crossing a line!" a knight warned.
Wheaton's eyes flashed with killing intent.
"Insolence!"
As Wheaton prepared to unleash his anger, Reina raised a hand to stop him.
She stepped before the knights.
"Crossing a line? Then let me ask you. Who do you think you are, interrupting the deputy patriarch's conversation?"
Her icy question left the knights flustered.
"W-Well…"
"I may have left the family, but Zerdinger remains my pride. So I'll say what needs to be said."
A chilling aura radiated from Reina.
"Mere knights daring to interrupt the deputy patriarch? Are you knights, or beasts yapping without regard for the situation?"
"Gasp!"
The knights held their breath.
Reina's presence.
It was strikingly akin to the patriarch's.
Watching quietly, Zis spoke in a calm voice.
"Sir Wheaton."
"Yes, Deputy Patriarch."
"These men lack the qualifications to be Zerdinger knights."
"Understood."
The knights paled.
"Stripping them of knighthood is a bit harsh, don't you think?" Reina said, knowing how grueling it was to become a Zerdinger knight.
"There's no falsehood in what you said, Sister. Beasts don't deserve a knight's title."
Zis smiled gently.
He was forgiving of his subordinates' mistakes.
But repeated errors met his cold judgment.
The knights should've backed down when Reina warned them.
The storm passed.
Zis turned to Leo.
"Leo Flove. You declared you'd make a Zerdinger direct descendant your maid and said our Aura Art lacks value. Correct?"
"Yes."
"Do you think those words were reckless?"
Zis asked in a gentle tone.
Reina watched silently.
Zis oversaw the education of Zerdinger's bloodline.
A master at discerning children's potential.
'He's gauging Leo's capacity right now.'
By Zis's standards, Leo had likely already passed.
Yet he pressed further.
Because he hadn't yet grasped the full depth of Leo's potential.
Leo, sensing Zis's intent, smirked inwardly.
"If you took it as an insult to Zerdinger, I apologize. But I didn't mean to disrespect the family."
"Calling a direct descendant a maid and deeming our Aura Art worthless isn't an insult?"
"The issue with Celia Zerdinger is, as I said, a matter between her and me. If she's truly a Zerdinger, she should honor her word."
"Hmm?"
Zis nodded.
"And saying the Aura Art lacks value wasn't about its quality."
"Then?"
"If you'd offered the Aura Art as a reward for defeating Celia, I'd have accepted gladly."
Zis's lips slowly curved upward.
"But you offered it to cover Celia's mistake, didn't you?"
"Correct."
"You think Celia wouldn't have lost if she hadn't been careless."
Leo lifted his chin confidently.
"But even if she'd fought seriously, I'd have won."
'So, in short… he refused because he didn't like my reasoning? Haha, what a guy!'
Zis couldn't help but laugh.
Glancing at Reina, he saw her smiling as if to say, 'Told you so.'
'I get what you meant, Sister.'
Looking at the brazen Leo, Zis chuckled.
'What a vessel. If he were a Zerdinger!'
The family would gain another hero.
'I need to talk to Brother.'
This was a child the family should embrace.
"Send Celia to the maid's quarters."
"D-Deputy Patriarch!"
Servants tending to Celia on the stretcher looked panicked.
"That's an order."
Hesitantly, they carried Celia to the maid's room.
"I understand your stance. I'll respect your wishes."
"Thank you, Zis."
"Leo, when I said I wouldn't call you my nephew in formal settings, I also meant I'd treat you as one in private."
Zis smiled warmly.
Leo, recognizing his sincerity, complied.
"Yes, Uncle."
"You must be tired from training. Go rest."
"Good night."
Leo bowed slightly.
"Good night to you too, Mother."
"Rest well, Leo."
Leo left, leaving the two alone.
"Sister."
"What?"
"I'll try to convince Brother to let Leo learn Phoenix Breath."
"Phoenix Breath?"
Zerdinger's symbol was the blazing flame.
Their aura took the form of fire.
Among their arts, Phoenix Breath was unique.
Crafted by the first patriarch after drinking phoenix blood.
All Zerdinger Aura Arts stemmed from it.
Its power was enough to cement Zerdinger as a heroic family.
Only the most worthy blood kin could learn it.
Reina was stunned that Zis would suggest Phoenix Breath.
"Of course, whether Brother, the patriarch, approves is uncertain," Zis said seriously.
"But Leo is more Zerdinger than anyone."
His swordsmanship talent in defeating Celia.
His immeasurable potential.
"Still, I'll need a reason to convince Brother."
"You don't mean…?"
"Yes."
Zis nodded.
"Entering Lumern."
"That's dangerous."
Lumern was the dream of every hero aspirant.
But it demanded immense resolve.
They say every Lumern student is a genius.
Yet few graduate.
The academy didn't expel those who fell behind.
It supported their progress.
But if they still couldn't keep up, two choices remained.
Drop out, or die.
Lumern's school life was that harsh.
The entrance exam was no different.
Conducted like real combat, it claimed lives every time.
That's why Reina wanted Leo to learn an Aura Art before taking the exam.
"Leo may excel in spars, but real combat has its limits."
"He has more than enough potential. It's the only way to convince Brother."
Zis clenched his fist.
"What kind of person do you want Leo to become, Sister?"
"What do you mean?"
"A hero, no?"
"If that's the path he chooses."
"Then he can't always take the safe road. Facing trials isn't a bad thing."
"…"
"What will you do?"
Reina closed her eyes and sighed deeply.
"I'll follow Leo's wishes."
'Knowing him, he'll say yes.'
Zis was certain.
'That boy has eyes that don't hesitate to move forward.'
Recalling Leo's gaze, Zis smiled.
'This'll be interesting.'