KakaoPage Originals
The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student
[Original — Yerona]
[TL — MiT7]
[PR — Spades]
[QC — Lumi]
Chapter 12 — The Oath of the Fairy King
——————
Leo dragged the polearm as he approached Talatunia.
'He's a swordsman—can he even use that weapon?'
Preparing to support Leo with magic from afar, Chelsea's face clouded with worry.
Even she could see Leo's swordsmanship was exceptional.
But a different weapon changed everything.
'He'd be better off borrowing a sword…'
As Chelsea fretted, Leo spun the polearm with his fingers, advancing toward Talatunia.
Whoosh—Whoosh—Whoosh—
The weapon's weight was palpable.
For someone his age, wielding it without aura was nearly impossible.
But Leo, who'd trained beyond human limits since childhood, was unfazed.
In fact, the weight became his weapon.
Whoosh—! Whoosh—! Whirrrrr—!
The polearm, initially spinning lightly, accelerated to a terrifying speed.
Talatunia charged, jaws wide.
Swoosh—!
Leo let the polearm slide through his hand, gripping the handle's end.
With one hand, he swung it wide.
Thwack—! Splat!
Kiaaaaaaaak!
The polearm's axe head, fueled by centrifugal force, smashed into Talatunia's skull.
The combined weight and rotational force became raw destructive power, obliterating her head in an instant.
As everyone gaped, Leo retrieved the polearm and leaped.
He drove the axe into her back with a two-handed downward strike.
Crack—!
Kiaaak!
A piercing screech.
Talatunia stabbed at her back with her long front legs.
Whoosh—!
Leo dodged with a leap, landing lightly.
'Won't last long.'
He quickly assessed the weapon.
The strike landed, but a single blow had damaged it.
Aura enhanced a weapon's power and preserved its durability.
"Chelsea!"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Use wind magic to send the other candidates' weapons to me!"
Leo shouted, evading Talatunia's attacks.
"Controlling them precisely while you're moving that fast is impossible! You could get hurt!"
"I'll catch them—just send them!"
"Uh, which weapons?"
"Anything! Hurry!"
Urged by Leo, Chelsea gathered the candidates' weapons and sent them with wind magic.
Whoosh—!
A curved saber and a hefty bastard sword flew toward him.
"Pick whichever's easier!"
Thwack—! Snap!
The polearm's axe head broke as it struck Talatunia's skull.
Leo tossed the handle back, retreating as he reached out.
'Judging by the sound, a saber and a bastard sword?'
He identified the weapons by their whistle.
Kiaaaak!
Talatunia lunged, aiming her front legs at Leo.
He spun mid-air, dodging.
Tap! Tap!
He caught both weapons precisely.
Curved saber in his left hand, bastard sword in his right.
He blocked Talatunia's legs with the bastard sword's flat.
Clang—!
The impact reverberated through his body.
"Ngh!"
Suppressing a groan, Leo was flung back, swinging his left hand.
Slash—!
Kiaa!
In that split second, he severed one of Talatunia's front legs.
Repositioning as he landed, he charged without hesitation.
Talatunia's defense wasn't high.
Even without aura, a strong enough strike could cut her.
The reason other candidates' attacks failed was simple.
Her regeneration outpaced their damage.
'The Ring of Life is *this* troublesome?'
Leo gave a wry laugh, moving swiftly.
He pushed his body to its limits, every muscle responding to his will.
Without aura, his movements were still miraculous.
The other candidates watched, jaws dropped.
Polearm.
Curved saber and bastard sword.
Claymore.
Dagger.
Longsword.
Spear.
Battle axe.
Each time a weapon broke, Leo used another, sent by the candidates.
He wielded them with uncanny skill.
It was awe-inspiring.
He moved with near-divine precision, regardless of weapon type.
As if he could master every weapon in existence.
He faced Talatunia without a hint of hesitation.
It was like watching a war god.
'He's our age, yet he fights like that with so many weapons?'
'Who *is* this guy?!'
Knight-aspiring candidates were stunned.
Chelsea, supporting him, was equally incredulous.
She'd planned to aid with magic.
But Leo moved too fast.
The chaotic melee made casting risky.
She worried constantly.
Yet Leo faced the terrifying monster alone, rendering her fears moot.
A great hero.
The man who, alongside [Champion] Aron, turned impossible battles into victories on the frontlines.
His prowess captivated all.
Even in a fight where a single mistake meant death, Leo was unshaken.
He felt at ease.
'I was worried after fifteen years, but this feeling hasn't faded.'
His breath caught.
Yet he laughed.
He pressed Talatunia relentlessly.
Her attacks grazed him, tearing flesh.
He didn't stop.
'Forward! Always forward!'
Trials? His past was a constant trial.
'If I can't handle this measly bug, they'd mock me from the afterlife!'
This wasn't even a real trial!
Crack—
"Tch!"
The longsword he held began to splinter.
Another weapon had reached its limit.
In just five minutes, dozens of weapons had broken.
As Leo signaled Chelsea for another—
"Leo! We're ready!"
Celia's shout rang in his ears.
Leo grinned.
"Hup!"
He leaped back, putting distance from Talatunia.
Whoosh—! Roar—!
In his place, Celia soared, wielding Flame Storm, radiating searing heat.
A mighty wind restrained the heat.
"Die, you filthy bug!"
Kwaaaaaaa—!
Her swing unleashed a storm of blazing fury.
The fierce tempest tore Talatunia's body apart.
Scorching flames consumed her mercilessly.
Talatunia thrashed.
The Ring of Life granted her endless vitality.
But destruction soon outpaced regeneration.
Whoosh—!
The flames died down, and Talatunia crumbled to ash.
Thud—!
A golden ring fell to the ground.
[Albi's World: Prologue—Demon Forest has been conquered.]
A message appeared before their eyes.
Celia collapsed, sitting heavily.
"It's… over."
Tilting her head back with a deep sigh, she looked at Leo.
Scarred and panting, he stood tall.
'He really held that monster for five minutes.'
It was astonishing.
Despite his immense effort, he stood proudly.
Struggling to her feet, Celia smiled and approached him.
"Leo! Great job—"
"Amazing! Truly amazing! Like a hero from a saga!"
Chelsea rushed to Leo, jumping excitedly, hands raised.
"Really?"
"Yeah! I'm aiming for Battle Mage, so I need melee training. If we get into Lumern, will you teach me?"
Inspired by Leo's combat, Chelsea's earlier grudges from the exam melted away as she chattered excitedly.
Celia, stepping closer, said, "No techniques to teach a Lewallin girl. Hmph—Hmph—"
"Why's a Zerdinger butting in?"
Celia and Chelsea bickered lightly.
Ignoring them, Leo moved.
His body screamed, but he pushed through, picking up the ring Talatunia dropped.
A small golden light burst from it.
A fairy appeared.
Leo's eyes wavered.
A familiar fairy.
Silrod, heir to the Fairy King.
He gazed at Leo silently.
"Hey… Silrod. Remember me?"
Leo's voice trembled slightly.
He hadn't seen Silrod since Luna's death.
But Silrod only smiled once and vanished.
"…"
Leo gave a bitter smile.
This was a Hero's World.
The Silrod here was a phantom.
'Looks like he became Fairy King safely.'
Albi likely defeated Talatunia, reclaimed the Fairy King's treasure, and was granted the Demon Eye by Silrod as a reward.
Leo glanced around.
Cracks began forming in the world.
The conquered Hero's World was collapsing.
'It's over.'
Leo took a deep breath.
A brilliant light enveloped them as the world shattered.
In that fleeting moment—
[Conquest Reward: Oath of the Fairy King]
"What?"
A reward that shouldn't have been granted appeared.
***
Central continent.
Lumeria City, the world's heart.
A historic city tied to Lumern for 3,000 years.
At its pinnacle, an old man stroked his chin.
"Hmm. The western exam's finished."
"Lord Albi's work is swift as ever," another voice said.
"That guy's always quick."
Heh—heh— The old man laughed.
Well over a hundred years old, none dared disrespect him.
Sword Saint Kalian Beidan.
A hero among heroes, peerless with a blade.
"Let's see… Oh? He passed quite a few!"
"Really? That's unlike Lord Albi! How many?"
"Forty."
"…"
Kalian said casually.
The woman's eyes twitched.
"That's… a lot?"
"Of course. I expected ten."
Elena clutched her head.
Forty western region entrants.
Other regions admitted a hundred, but the west only forty.
Complaints from western noble families were inevitable.
"Don't fret too much. Better than ten, right?"
"True. Better than ten. Haha."
Lumern's headmaster's secretary, Elena, gritted her teeth and laughed.
"Who took top rank? Celia or Abad?"
"Joint top rank."
"Joint?"
"Yes. Celia and Abad, tied. Couldn't pick between them."
"Impressive."
Elena's eyes gleamed.
"And one more thing."
"There's more?"
"A freshman representative nominee."
"From Lord Albi?"
Albi, notoriously critical, nominating a representative stunned Elena.
"Celia Zerdinger or Abad Lewallin?"
Typically, the nominee came from the top rank.
Curious, Elena asked, and Kalian replied, "Leo Flove."
"Not Celia or Abad, but someone else?"
Smiling at Elena's shock, Kalian glanced at the report.
Name: Leo Flove (15)
Major: Knight Studies
Reason: Heroic Potential
'For Albi to single him out as heroic potential. I'm curious about this student.'
Kalian stroked his beard, chuckling heartily.