KakaoPage Originals
The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student
[Original — Yerona]
[TL — MiT7]
[PR — Spades]
[QC — Lumi]
Chapter 3 — The Weight of Forgotten Glory
——————
"Oh, imagine if the heroic family visited our house!"
"Our family's already finished preparing a party for them!"
After class, Delran students buzzed with excitement.
Today marked the start of the Lumern Academy candidates' visit to Delran.
Delrad's nobles were frantic to host members of the heroic families.
Heroic families.
A prestigious title bestowed upon clans that consistently produced heroes across generations.
Naturally, their chances of entering Lumern were high.
"Galivan, which heroic family visiting our kingdom do you think is the most renowned?"
"Hah, obviously Zerdinger."
Galivan's words sparked a flurry among his friends.
"Zerdinger's bound to visit the Tradun family, right?"
"Of course! Galivan's the only talent in our kingdom worthy of Lumern's entrance exam!"
Basking in his friends' flattery, Galivan preened.
"Hmm… just thinking about discussing heroism with Zerdinger's people already has me thrilled."
"Ugh, so jealous!"
"Galivan, can I visit your house later?"
"No reason you can't."
"Wow, thanks!"
"Galivan, that's what real friends do! Count me in!"
Galivan Tradun.
Heir to the Tradun marquess family and hailed as Delrad's greatest magical prodigy.
At fifteen, he'd reached the 2nd Circle.
The public eyed him as a prime candidate for Lumern.
Delrad hadn't produced a Lumern student in twenty years.
Thus, the kingdom itself was fixated on Galivan.
Amid the fervor, a student by the window gasped.
"Guys! Isn't that Zerdinger's crest?"
"What? Where?"
"They're here already?"
Students swarmed the window.
Meanwhile, Leo slipped out of the classroom, uninterested.
He nearly bumped into Galivan's clique heading out.
"Hah! Off to make an impression? Zerdinger's people won't care about someone like you," Galivan sneered.
Galivan was hailed as the top student in every subject.
Yet he envied Leo.
There was one class where he could never best him.
Combat training.
Though professors blatantly favored Galivan, avoiding pitting him against Leo in practical exams, the outcome was obvious.
Leo replied flatly, "I'm just heading home."
"Hmph, good. You know your place."
"Yeah, go grovel to Zerdinger elsewhere."
"Watch your mouth. I'm only going to scope out Celia Zerdinger as a rival."
Sparks flew from Galivan's eyes.
Tension crackled between them.
[Attention from the faculty office. All students, assemble in the banquet hall immediately. No exceptions.]
A magical broadcast echoed through the school.
The reason was obvious.
To welcome the Zerdinger delegation.
'This is why I wanted to leave early,' Leo grumbled inwardly.
Galivan snorted and left.
The other students rushed to the banquet hall.
Scratching his head, Leo muttered, "Screw it. I'm out."
"Leo, you're not going?" a classmate asked.
"Heading home."
"What? It's a rare chance to see Zerdinger's people!"
"Not interested."
Waving dismissively, Leo headed in the opposite direction, leaving his stunned classmate behind.
---
"Thank you for gracing us with your visit, Lord Zis Zerdinger!"
Professor Jayden's face flushed with excitement.
Students gazed at Zis with awe.
"Such a warm welcome, I'm almost embarrassed," Zis replied.
"This is Galivan Tradun, a candidate for Lumern's entrance exam!"
"Is that so? My niece is also taking the exam this year."
All eyes turned to a girl standing among Zerdinger's knights.
Celia Zerdinger.
Daughter of the Zerdinger patriarch.
Known worldwide as the Sword Princess.
Celia squared her shoulders under the students' stares.
Galivan gawked, entranced.
'She's… beautiful!'
Jet-black hair, ruby-red eyes.
A sharp nose, crimson lips.
He'd seen many noble daughters, but none rivaled Celia's beauty.
"Celia, come here," Zis called.
Celia strode forward confidently.
Smiling at Galivan, she said, "You're taking the exam too? Let's do our best."
"Y-Yeah! Let's have a good rivalry, haha!"
Galivan grinned confidently, extending his hand.
Celia stared at it briefly.
Zis nudged her elbow, and she reluctantly shook hands.
Galivan beamed goofily.
"We'll give you a tour of the school. Perhaps share some wisdom with our students?"
"Haha, I'm not sure my words will help much."
"Words from Zis Zerdinger, the Flame Blade, are invaluable!"
Nicknamed Flame Blade, Zis was among the empire's top knights.
His exploits were legendary worldwide.
Many believed he'd soon earn the title of hero.
His words carried immense weight.
"As for your accommodations…"
"We've already arranged a place to stay."
"I see," Jayden said, his face falling.
"And one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I'd like to meet Leo Flove."
"What?"
Jayden looked baffled, and Galivan's eyes widened.
He couldn't believe his ears.
'How does he know Leo Flove?'
Zis seemed unaware of Galivan, Delrad's supposed top talent.
So how did he know Leo?
"How do you know Leo?" Jayden asked cautiously.
"I heard from someone that he's exceptional."
"There must be a misunderstanding," Galivan interjected, bristling at Leo's name.
"Misunderstanding?" Zis raised an eyebrow.
"Leo Flove's in my class. He's talented, sure, but…"
Galivan shook his head.
"He can't even wield aura properly."
"Is that so?"
Delran's faculty marveled at Galivan's boldness before Zis.
Galivan himself trembled with pride.
'Zis Zerdinger's listening to me!'
Mistaking Zis's nod for agreement, Galivan smirked smugly.
But Zerdinger's delegation scoffed.
Zis oversaw the training of the family's kin.
Even the patriarch deferred to his judgment on their potential.
For a wet-behind-the-ears kid to disparage another in his presence was laughable.
"So, where is Leo Flove?" Zis asked, ignoring Galivan.
Galivan faltered, and Jayden hurriedly called, "Leo Flove, step forward!"
"…"
"Leo?"
A student timidly raised their hand.
"Professor, Leo left for home earlier."
"What?" Jayden's jaw dropped.
"I said all students were to assemble!"
"He… said he wasn't interested in Zerdinger's people…"
The students murmured.
Celia's face twisted in disbelief.
Zis chuckled.
'Just like his mother.'
---
After their visit to Delran Royal Academy, Zis and Celia boarded their carriage.
Those seeing them off flinched at the sight.
'A griffon?'
A carriage pulled by a mythical beast!
As onlookers gaped, the carriage set off.
"Which family are they staying with?"
"So jealous."
While students muttered, Galivan watched the departing Zerdingers, clenching his fists.
'Once I enter Lumern, I'll study alongside girls like her!'
That was the stage for a talent like him.
With that conviction, his eyes gleamed.
'The entrance exam in a week, I'll pass no matter what!'
Meanwhile, inside the griffon-drawn carriage, Zis asked, "What did you think of Delran's students?"
"Pathetic," Celia said, disappointed.
She'd briefly observed Delran's Heroics curriculum.
To put it bluntly, it was worthless.
Heroics, the study of past heroes, was vital for aspiring heroes, regardless of nation or race.
But Delran's lessons were utter nonsense.
"And that Galivan? No sense of his place, daring to argue with you."
"The family we're visiting will be different."
"The Flove family, right?"
Celia recalled the earlier incident.
Someone had dismissed interest in Zerdinger.
'Hmph. Arrogant jerk.'
Proud of her family, Celia disliked that attitude.
'And a knight aspirant who can't wield aura at his age?'
Leo sparked no interest in her.
She had no idea she was heading to her cousin's home.
Zis, meanwhile, pulled a letter from his coat.
'If she hadn't left the family, she'd hold a high position.'
The current patriarch, Seld Zerdinger.
Zis and Reina.
The three siblings were once hailed as the family's future.
Though Reina left due to an accident, Zis knew her skill.
And her son, whom she called a 'genius.'
'Can't wield aura, huh?'
Aura was essential for noble children aspiring to knighthood.
Most mastered it young.
Yet Leo supposedly couldn't.
'I'm curious to meet him.'
---
Evening.
Alone in the training grounds, Leo closed his eyes, focusing.
Fresh from training, his body glistened with sweat.
"Hoo."
He exhaled deeply.
'The vessel is complete.'
Why hadn't he learned aura yet?
Partly to follow his mother's lessons.
But the main reason was to forge his vessel.
In terms of martial talent, his current body surpassed his past life as Kyle.
But his aptitude for magic and summoning was near zero.
Thus, he'd been cautious about learning aura.
In his past life, Kyle was a battle-hardened warrior, a mighty mage wielding grand spells, and a contractor of spirits and mythical beasts.
One by one, his friends fell.
Yet the crusade never collapsed, thanks to Kyle, who mastered every ability.
'I managed to fill their voids, more or less.'
Before the final battle.
Alone, Kyle held the essence of his comrades' powers.
Their will, their hope, entrusted to him.
'I couldn't wield them fully last life, but this time, I'll master them perfectly.'
The moment aura was accepted, the body became specialized for it.
That would eliminate any chance to build mana or spiritual energy.
So he'd been laying the foundation.
To carry on his comrades' will.
Leo clenched his fist.
'First, aura!'