Chapter 376

Leo looked at Delean, who was sitting before him.

Delean looked back at Leo and said,

“I’ll be blunt. There’s a high probability that the legacy left by the Dragon of Genesis, Rodia-nim, is sleeping in the underground of this place, the Shadow.”

Sitting next to Leo, Ar’s eyes widened.

“How can you be so sure? Have you seen it yourself?”

“I’ve been in this country for a long time as a Hero Scholar, investigating many things.”

A Hero Scholar.

It referred to someone who professionally researched Hero Studies and excavated the traces of heroes.

The fields they were active in were diverse.

They might track down and find the Artifacts of heroes who were recorded in the Hero Record but whose relics were missing, making it impossible to open their Hero Record.

Or they might search for the ruins of a nation that vanished in the distant past to find traces of heroes there.

Or they might excavate lost Hero Records.

In the process, they sometimes had to clear Hero Dungeons.

Most of them were graduates of the Hero Academy who had professionally studied Hero Studies.

“Many Hero Scholars don’t pay attention to Aleham. Even though it’s a country with a long history that has produced many heroes.”

“That’s because all the records and ruins related to Aleham’s heroes are found outside Aleham’s current territory.”

Ar answered Delean’s words curtly.

Just as she said, all records of heroes from Aleham came from its former territories.

Most of them were from renowned hero families that once belonged to Aleham but were now completely independent and part of other nations.

“That’s right. Besides, no hero has been born in Aleham for the past several hundred years.”

The heroes of the past had all lost their connection to Aleham.

And for the last few hundred years, no new heroes had been born.

It was a country with nothing to attract the interest of Hero Scholars.

“However, this is the country where the Dragon of Genesis, Rodia-nim, was born. That alone makes it endlessly worth researching.”

“But isn’t most of the research on the Heroes of Genesis already finished?”

Leo said.

“Thanks to 3,000 years of research, most of the legacies of the Heroes of Genesis have been uncovered.”

“True. The Twilight Knight Lumene, the Comet Magician Seiren, the Great Warrior Azonia, and the Unbreakable Damienne. The students of the Hero Academy are carrying on their wills. I myself have inherited a small part of Lumene-nim’s legacy.”

The legacies of the Heroes of Genesis referred to the spirit and Hero Records they left for future generations.

And the ‘Artifacts’ they used.

Since the world of Genesis itself no longer existed, a true succession was impossible.

“However, you know this too, don’t you? All the Heroes of Genesis left legacies related to the great heroes, but Rodia-nim alone left no legacy related to Lysinas-nim.”

Delean smiled meaningfully.

“Isn’t it strange? Rodia-nim is the very symbol of Genesis. The Hero Academy was founded by her will.”

The ones who established the Hero Academy were the Twilight Knight, the Comet Magician, the Great Warrior, and the Unbreakable.

It was these four, but the one who first proposed establishing a school to nurture heroes was Rodia.

The four heroes who founded the Hero Academy left their own legacies for future generations.

But Rodia did not.

She left things for the dragonkin, but compared to her other comrades, it was certainly lacking.

Delean smiled meaningfully.

“Isn’t it highly probable that she left something in store for someone worthy of succeeding her? I’ve thought so for a long time and researched everything related to the Heroes of Genesis. And I came to think that what Rodia-nim left behind would be here, in her homeland. And this underground labyrinth in the Shadow is the only place in this country I haven’t been able to research.”

His reasoning was correct.

Rodia had indeed left a treasury here for the one who would become the Oathbound of Laurel.

There was also a legend that the Library of Laurel might be here.

At Delean’s words, Leo said,

“Why are you telling us this story?”

If he thought Rodia’s legacy was in the underground labyrinth, it would be right to try and clear it alone.

That way, he could monopolize the legacy.

But Delean was proposing cooperation.

Of course, Leo knew the treasury’s true nature.

But that was a fact he knew only because he had made an oath with Laurel.

“Unfortunately, although I confirmed the existence of the labyrinth beneath the Shadow, I couldn’t clear it.”

“If a graduate of Lumene failed to clear it, wouldn’t there be nothing I, a second-year, can do?”

“The youngest student council chairman of Lumene is being too modest.”

Delean, who had been smiling faintly, put on a serious expression.

“To be precise, it’s because I couldn’t even attempt to clear it. The master of this Shadow wouldn’t allow it.”

“Then if I don’t get permission either, isn’t it over?”

“That’s right. But the master of the Shadow said she would grant permission to someone she takes a liking to. I believe you’re more than capable of winning her favor. You need 100 million points to have an audience with her, right? I can help with that part. What do you say?”

‘He’s willing to hand over such a large sum to someone he’s just met, without knowing what will happen?’

Leo smiled faintly.

“I appreciate the offer, but I refuse.”

“Why is that?”

“I’m not fond of excessive favors.”

Delean’s eyes narrowed.

“Hoh. It’s one thing to refuse an excessive favor, but it’s foolish to tell the person offering it to their face. 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 Aleham royal family.”

At those words, Delean flinched.

“You know why the Lumene students came to Aleham, don’t you? Whether we become enemies here or not, we were never meant to be on the same side, were we?”

Watching Leo shrug and get up from his seat, Delean gave a benign smile.

“Let me give you some advice as your Sunbae. What Lumene is looking for isn’t in this country. So don’t waste your time and accept my offer. This is the last bit of generosity I’ll show you as a Sunbae. Wouldn’t it be better for you to have some results as the student council chairman?”

“We’ll know if it’s a waste of time or not once the investigation is over. And I can explore the labyrinth without your cooperation.”

“Huhu. Is it because you’re the youngest student council president? Your confidence has gone excessively arrogant. Know your place. You’re a second-year. From my perspective as a graduate, you’re just a snot-nosed brat. Hark Riguard or Elena Zeron would have accepted my offer.”

‘Elena would have attacked without a second thought, and Hark would have ignored him to go to sleep.’

The school seniors Leo knew were that kind of people.

Whatever the reason, both of them were from Lumene’s three great families.

They would never compromise with someone who went against Lumene’s will.

Leo clicked his tongue at Delean, who had picked the wrong person by a long shot, 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 people with eyes like that.’

The eyes of someone who would stop at nothing to achieve their goal.

And he knew all too well how far their means and methods could go.

Leo placed a hand on his temple.

Woong-!

A small ripple of magical energy pulsed.

-This is the first time you’ve called me like this.

A slightly surprised voice reached Leo’s ear.

It was none other than Chen Xia.

It was a communication using the artifact Chen Xia had given Leo.

Though Chen Xia dreamed of being a hero, she did not deny her identity as a shadow.

It was a fact unknown to the other students, 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 the playful, laughing voice.

-What orders may I carry out for you, Sir Leo?

“Can you come to the Shadow, the underground casino in Uargella?”

-I’ll be there right away.

After the communication ended, Leo looked at Ar.

“Besides you, how many Azonia students are in debt to this casino?”

“Seventeen, including me.”

Leo clicked his tongue at the rather large number.

“Can you pay back the debt?”

“Don’t worry! Everyone will have it paid off by next week and escape this godforsaken place!”

Watching Ar stand proudly with her hands on her hips and her chest puffed out, Leo sighed.

‘I hope our school’s kids aren’t as foolish as the Azonia kids.’

“What’s your method for paying back the debt?”

At Leo’s question, Ar grinned.

“The fighting arena.”

* * *

“So, let me get this straight.”

Chelsea was pressing her temples.

“You lost all your points?”

“If I had just known the class rep’s three sizes, I could have made 100 million points.”

Watching Eliana reply with a serious face, Chelsea said,

“Idiot.”

“Ugh.”

Unable to refute Chelsea’s word, Eliana flinched.

“At least I didn’t go into debt!”

“You dragged in your Hubae’s points and blew them all. If you’d gone into debt on top of that, you wouldn’t be an idiot, you’d be a moron.”

At Chelsea’s cold words, Eliana feigned ignorance.

“We can’t just blame Eliana. Most of us lost money too.”

As Chloe sighed, Carr tossed a chip into the air.

Ting!

Catching the chip that spun in the air with a clear sound, Carr said triumphantly,

“I won.”

“How much?”

“1,000 points.”

“You won a lot, but it’s nowhere near enough.”

Chelsea was letting out a small sigh.

“Looks like the only way to make money is through the events.”

Juen was sighing.

“By the way, when is Leo getting here?”

The promised time had already passed, yet Leo showed no signs of arriving. Just as everyone was looking puzzled…

[Ladies and gentlemen who have visited the Shadow today! Welcome!]

Suddenly, amplification magic blasted through the entire 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 the honorable bloody battle!]

Cheers erupted from all over at the male announcer’s words.

Seeing this, the entire group wore expressions of surprise.

Clank- Clank-

The steel bars that came down from the ceiling formed a massive fighting arena.

To ensure that whoever entered could never escape.

Flick-!

The lights inside the casino went out, and a spotlight shone on the center of the arena.

And the people who saw the boy standing there muttered,

“Oh my, is such a young boy the first challenger?”

“Ah, what a pity. What kind of story must he have.”

Women who looked like noble ladies spoke as if it were a shame.

But contrary to their worried tone, a strange excitement filled their eyes.

They were eyes that did not doubt for a second that the boy would soon let out a scream of 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!]

“Gwooooargh!”

A giant of a man wearing a mask on his face roared, holding a massive blade in his hand.

“How vulgar. A piece of trash who committed murder.”

“Are they giving a guy like that a chance to live?”

People wore disgusted expressions.

But even so, they didn’t stop placing bets with looks of interest.

A moment later, a bell signaling the end of betting rang, and a trumpet blast announcing the start of the fight echoed.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the arena.

“How should I slice you up, kid?”

Looking at Jaydon’s bloodthirsty smile, Leo said,

“Do you want to die painlessly? Or painfully?”

“You arrogant brat!”

Jaydon lifted his massive blade and charged at Leo.

Whack-!

The moment the huge blade was about to strike Leo’s neck.

Crack- Craaack!

“Kuaaaargh!”

The arm of Jaydon holding the blade was bent at a bizarre angle.

Leo kicked the knee of Jaydon, who was clutching his arm and screaming in pain on his knees.

Then his knee buckled.

Over Jaydon’s agonized scream, Leo spoke.

Leo grabbed Jaydon by the scruff of his neck and threw him to one side as if clearing away trash.

Thud-!

With a heavy sound, Jaydon’s body rolled across the floor.

Writhing in agony, Jaydon slowly died.

Everyone watched the scene with their jaws agape.

Leo’s friends were included among them.

‘If I pull out my sword, it might be a pretty big shock.’

Leo didn’t look toward his friends and flexed his fingers.

For his friends, who had only seen his proper side, his current appearance was sure to be a huge shock.

‘But I can’t always show them only my good side.’

Leo smiled bitterly.

‘My way isn’t the only right answer, but it wouldn’t be bad for them to know how to deal with filth.’