Chapter 437

Seven days had swiftly gone by since the initiation of the training camp.

True to its nature as a remote border estate, the mountainous territory of the Flobe family was filled with treacherous and uneven landscapes.

In one particular spot, positioned high above a sheer cliff, the turbulent waters of a valley surged far beneath.

The trainees swallowed hard, staring down at the barely discernible rushing water.

Turning back, they questioned their instructor.

“Alright, what is the plan for today?”

Illiana inquired, her face showing signs of growing exhaustion.

In response, the graduate from Azonia, a rabbit beastman named Banir, replied with total composure.

“You want to know what the schedule is?”

Without a single trace of emotion on her face, she tilted her chin toward the edge of the drop-off.

“Plunge.”

Hearing her command, every single student under her tutelage, including Illiana, turned completely pale.

“Didn’t you claim that today’s exercise was just a simple assessment of our bravery?!”

A second-year from Azonia, the fox beastman Ruen, shouted out in desperation.

“This is exactly what the bravery assessment entails,”

Banir stated placidly.

“Valor is a fundamental requirement in combat. As everyone here should know, this isn’t merely a trait prized by beastmen, but an absolute prerequisite for anyone aspiring to be a hero.”

Hearing this explanation, Illiana raised her arm.

“I fail to see how hurling ourselves off a precipice with absolutely no protection relates to that.”

“Where do you think genuine valor originates?”

“It stems from one’s inner spirit.”

When Illiana offered her answer, Banir shook her head sideways.

“Incorrect.”

Watching Banir reject the answer without hesitation, Tirena, a trainee representing Seirun, raised her hand next.

“I believe it arises from meticulous preparation.”

“Wrong again.”

Following that, various students shared their hypotheses, but Banir did nothing but reject them one after another.

Knitting his brows, Ruen demanded.

“Then where exactly does this genuine valor you speak of come from, Senior Banir?”

“True valor is born from terror.”

“What?”

“It is only when you confront overwhelming terror and force out your resolve that it transforms into genuine valor. This exercise of leaping from a precipice unprotected serves that exact purpose.”

Banir stepped closer to Ruen.

“Living things possess an inherent dread of plunging from immense heights. The objective of this regimen is to master that primitive dread.”

“If this method is so primitive, why aren’t the other beastman trainees subjected to it? Why am I the solitary beastman student assigned to this group?”

Ruen countered testily.

Faced with the outburst, Banir replied smoothly.

“The rest of the Azonia trainees lack depth, so they would readily leap off the edge without a moment’s hesitation the instant someone mentioned ‘genuine valor’.”

“Well, fools would certainly act that way.”

“However, you are not like them.”

Banir swept her gaze across the countenances of the trainees assigned to her, focusing on Ruen, and remarked.

“None of you are simpletons who would be swayed by grand words into blindly leaping.”

“Hmph, you certainly possess sharp perception, fitting for a former student council president. I do pride myself on evaluating circumstances with a level head.”

Observing Illiana respond with a boastful demeanor, Banir countered.

“Every one of you belongs to the category of people who overanalyze situations unnecessarily. Consequently, you are the sort who will experience unceasing dread while overthinking such an unconventional training method. To be perfectly blunt, you are simply narrow-minded and faint-hearted.”

As these biting remarks struck a nerve, the trainees’ expressions contorted with irritation.

“Looking at it from that perspective, this highly inefficient, irrational, and reckless training regimen is absolutely ideal for your group.”

“If you are fully aware that it is inefficient, irrational, and reckless, then you shouldn’t be forcing us to participate!”

Ruen yelled out in frustration.

Grab-!

With a completely blank expression, Banir snatched Ruen up and pitched her straight over the edge of the cliff.

“Aaaaahk!”

The frantic shriek of the fox beastman pierced the air.

Banir, calmly tracking Ruen’s descent down the steep drop, commanded.

“Up next, take the leap. Move out.”

Yet, despite her order, not a single trainee made a move to jump.

Banir then took hold of Illiana.

“Hold on! This could actually kill us! There must be a more logical way to train than this…!”

“Do not worry, you will survive.”

“How can you possibly promise that?!”

“If you perish from a minor thing like this, you can lay the blame on your own frailty.”

“That is incredibly reckless…! Kyaaaaaaahk?!”

The moment Banir’s chilly declaration concluded, Illiana’s frantic screaming reverberated across the mountain peaks.

“Is it just me, or can you hear Illiana screaming from somewhere nearby?”

When Nella posed the question with a wry grin, Chloe adjusted her posture and shook her head.

“No, I don’t catch any sound.”

“I must have imagined it.”

“It makes sense that we would start hallucinating noises.”

Chloe ground her teeth together.

“Considering how severely we are being pummeled right now.”

“Hahahahaha! Chloe Mueller. For someone belonging to the magic department, your endurance is quite impressive.”

Zamua walked over, rolling her shoulders to loosen up.

However, a menacing intensity lurked behind her pleasant grin.

The objective given to the trainees under Zamua’s supervision was incredibly straightforward.

It was a defensive exercise where they were required to endure Zamua’s strikes without launching any counteroffensives.

The issue lay in the sheer ruthlessness of Zamua’s strikes.

She was demonstrating exactly why she was recognized as the most formidable individual among the previous year’s graduates based entirely on raw physical capability.

Even without channeling aura or brandishing weapons, Zamua generated destructive power comparable to high-level wide-area sorcery using nothing but bare-knuckle combat.

‘If this were conventional sorcery or a summoning technique, I would have specific defensive barriers prepared… but Senior Zamua’s strikes consist entirely of raw physical power, which makes resisting them far more difficult.’

As a traditional spellcaster, Chloe possessed methods to handle situations where she was left exposed.

However, those techniques were primarily designed to shield companions in close proximity or to prepare for a counterstrike.

When her sole objective was reduced entirely to enduring impacts, her standard defensive spells fell short.

Regardless of circumstances, Chloe remained a mage who specialized in offensive spellcasting.

Right at that moment, Driana advanced forward.

“Oh?”

The corners of Zamua’s mouth curved upward.

“Are you attempting to hold me back all by yourself?”

“Correct. Long before I consider myself a blacksmith, I serve as the vanguard shield for my companions.”

“Quite fitting for the individual representing Damian’s class.”

Driana stood firmly in front of Zamua, adopting a serious tone that contrasted with her usual demeanor.

Her expression was entirely earnest.

Witnessing this, Chloe forced herself to stand up.

“I will assist you.”

Rrriiiip-!

While continuously deflecting Zamua’s incoming strikes, she ripped the frayed bottom of her skirt up to her knees, since the fabric was restricting her agility.

Gazing at Chloe, who had altered her attire to allow for freer movement, Zamua smirked with apparent approval.

“You have quite the spine, don’t you?”

Driana fixed her gaze squarely on Chloe’s exposed legs.

“Indeed, shaping an ice sculpture would turn out beautifully as well.”

“Pardon?”

“Your lower limbs are practically a masterpiece. It’s Chloe, correct? Would you have any interest in posing for an artistic creation?”

“I absolutely refuse to do nude modeling.”

“There is no need to worry about that. It would be semi-nude. We don’t require the entire figure. Only the lower portion is needed.”

“Out of the question.”

Chloe turned down the offer in a frosty tone.

“Are you capable of sensing the summon’s internal feelings at this stage?”

Lunia’s eyes flickered with uncertainty as she gazed at Ultar, the previous year’s graduate from Rumerun, who stood before them with his arms thrown wide open.

Lunia wasn’t the only one struggling.

Right beside her, Eliza bore an identical look of bewilderment.

“No, I cannot.”

“Tsk tsk.”

Ultar peered upward toward the sky, sighing in disappointment.

The trainees assigned to Ultar, who held a pact with the Pegasus, numbered only two.

Just Lunia and Eliza.

“Why are you failing to grasp this! I have explained this to you multiple times already—your natural compatibility with divine creatures surpasses my own! So why are you unable to manage such a basic task?”

“How am I supposed to discern the thoughts of a summon belonging to someone else, when it isn’t even my own partner?”

“I am in agreement with Lunia El Rundia, Senior Ultar.”

Hearing Eliza’s remark, Ultar let out a heavy sigh.

“Fiora, this is exactly what you are craving, correct?”

Ultar extended a pastry topped with sweet cream to Fiora, who was perched neatly on the back of his hand.

Peep-!

Fiora ruffled her wings in delight as she eyed the sweet treat Ultar presented to her.

The exercise Ultar was forcing Lunia and Eliza to undergo involved training themselves to comprehend a summon’s inner state.

For a practitioner of summoning arts, reading the mind of their own bound creature is a completely instinctive skill.

Because of this, Ultar had brought along Fiora, who was contracted to Leo.

“Hold on a moment! I offered her that very same pastry just a short while ago, didn’t I?”

Lunia spoke up, sounding completely slighted.

Lunia, who had originally been chosen to form a pact with Fiora, had that role usurped by Leo.

Nevertheless, she continued to shower Fiora with genuine care and affection.

As a result, she took pride in believing she understood Fiora better than anyone.

“The one you offered lacked the cream topping, completely lacked it.”

Peep- peep-

“Ugh-!”

As Fiora chirped along in agreement with Ultar’s reprimand, Lunia’s face twisted in sheer indignation.

“Do you grasp the concept now? This is precisely what I mean when I say ‘you are devoid of affection’! With that in mind, drop to your knees and shut your eyes. From this moment forward, you will deeply reflect on the true meaning of affection.”

Ultar, after delivering his grand speech, turned on his heel and zipped away instantly.

Left behind, Lunia and Eliza dropped to their knees and shut their eyes.

They had spent the entire week assuming this meditative posture.

“Eliza Hergin.”

“What is it, Lunia El Rundia?”

“What sort of ‘affection’ do you suppose he is actually referring to?”

“Do not look to me for answers.”

For the two young women, trying to comprehend the logic of Ultar—who was just as renowned for his bizarre behavior as he was for his brilliant summoning talent—felt like trying to decipher an entirely different reality.

—

“Leo Flobe is here.”

“The evening meal is ready!”

“Form a queue! Form a queue!”

It was time for dinner.

Every student residing at the training site gathered in lines, their faces bright with anticipation.

Before long, a makeshift cooking area of substantial size had been assembled right in the center of the camp ground.

Since a week had already elapsed, these future heroes were adjusting remarkably well to their environment.

They were now capable of repelling the nightly ambushes without suffering significant setbacks.

Despite being subjected to grueling conditions, they had managed to find a certain level of comfort within their rigorous daily routines.

“We pushed through the entire day just to enjoy this moment!”

“Leo! What do you have prepared for us this evening?”

Leo, who had been appointed as the chief coordinator of meals by a collective agreement among all the participating academies, answered.

“Roasted meat.”

“A barbecue!”

“Ooooh!”

Shouts of joy erupted from all corners of the camp.

Observing the wild celebration, Leo’s face took on a look of mild pity.

“Are they truly this delighted over a meal?”

“Well, this happens to be the singular source of joy they have left.”

Chelsea, who was helping Leo with the food distribution, let out a weary sigh.

Soon enough, the meal preparation concluded and the food was handed out to everyone.

It was the time of evening when close companions huddled together in small clusters, chatting and enjoying their food.

“Leo oppa! Over here!”

Chelsea, who was seated beside Kal, gestured dynamically toward Leo.

“No, I think I will find a spot further away to eat.”

After offering that reply, Leo picked up his food portions and strolled a short distance away from the main camp area.

Over there, Arion was resting his back against the trunk of a massive tree, watching the fading sunlight in quiet contemplation.

“Here is your dinner.”

“Much appreciated.”

Watching Leo present the meal, Arion offered a gentle smile and took the plate.

Without shifting his gaze away from the colorful evening sky, he remarked.

“The view is stunning. I can finally comprehend why Lisinas sacrificed everything to win back this horizon.”

Arion swallowed a bite of meat and murmured.

“Kael, did you also harbor a desire to reclaim this exact view?”

“Who knows. I never gave it much thought.”

Leo let out a soft chuckle and took a seat right beside Arion.

“Kael.”

“What is it?”

“If you hadn’t stepped in to rescue me back then, I would have met my end at the hands of Erebus, wouldn’t I?”

…

Faced with Arion’s inquiry, Leo chose to remain silent.

Noticing Leo’s quiet response, Arion stated softly.

“It is perfectly fine. I am fully aware of the truth.”

“What do you mean?”

“Right before the clash began, I had a premonition that I was going to perish on that battlefield.”

“You foresaw it?”

“Indeed. You know how heightened instincts can occasionally reveal truths you would prefer not to discover, right?”

Seeing the astonishment written on Leo’s face, Arion continued in a level voice.

“I had already reconciled myself to the prospect of dying. And given that I am now aware that the world was successfully preserved, I am content. There is no reason for you to shoulder remorse over my passing.”

Arion offered Leo a warm smile.

From the very moment his companion from the future transported him into this current timeline, Arion had perceived the lingering guilt Leo carried regarding his fate.

Arion wanted nothing more than to ease that burden from Leo’s shoulders.

“Because under the same circumstances, you would have made the identical choice I did. As things stand, I remain uncertain of how much time I am permitted to spend in this era. Do not torment yourself with these thoughts. Even if the time comes for me to return, I am fully prepared to face my demise.”

‘This person claims he has accepted his end… yet did his expression back then not betray a desperate longing to survive?’

Just as Arion was capable of reading Leo’s internal conflicts, Leo could similarly read the underlying emotions Arion tried to conceal.

“In that case, you should rest.”

Arion had not managed to sleep properly ever since his arrival in this current era.

The reason was sheer anxiety.

He was terrified that the moment he shut his eyes, Erebus would be waiting for him upon waking.

“If you persist in keeping your senses wound so tightly, it becomes impossible for others not to worry about you, regardless of your intentions.”

“…I suppose so.”

Arion smiled gently at Leo’s admonition.

Allowing his eyelids to droop closed, he attempted to drift off to sleep.

Right at that moment, Ar approached Leo’s position.

“Black Rabbit! Instructor Arkan is currently…!”

“Keep it down, he is resting.”

Eiran, who had accompanied Ar, widened his eyes in surprise.

“Instructor Arkan is actually sl—mooooooo! Oop-! Oop-?!”

Just as Ar was about to grow boisterous upon noticing Arion asleep, Driana clamped her palm tightly over Ar’s mouth while locking her other arm around his throat to keep him restrained.

“If I deliver a swift blow to his solar plexus to knock him unconscious, he will stop making a scene, right?”

As Lunia balled her hand into a fist and spoke in a low tone, Ar began to thrash around wildly in an effort to break free.

Following closely behind Kal, Chelsea squatted down near Arion and let out a soft murmur of astonishment.

“My goodness, his resemblance to Hero Arion is uncanny. I could easily be convinced that they are the exact same individual.”

“That is true.”

Kal crouched down beside her, offering his agreement in a casual manner.

—

Whoosh-!

The moment his consciousness returned, the sight that greeted his eyes was an expanse of dark, swirling embers.

‘Ah, this is merely a nightmare.’

Arion instantly recognized that he was trapped in a dream state.

His attention naturally shifted down to the shattered weapon held tightly in his grip—his treasured sword, ‘Brave’.

The blade that embodied valor had finally reached its breaking point.

Its existence had concluded during the brutal clash against Erebus.

‘No, that is not it…’

Arion was fully aware of the underlying truth.

The fracturing of the blade was not due to the weapon’s durability giving out.

Nor was it caused by any deficiency in the craftsmanship of Dweno, who had forged it.

‘It happened because my own resolve faltered before the end.’

He had stepped forward independently to act as a barrier against Erebus to safeguard his companions.

Yet, midway through the confrontation with Erebus, Arion had abandoned the struggle internally.

Because he realized death was inevitable.

‘Dweno… Luna… Lisinas… Kael… they will manage the rest of the burden once I am gone.’

He had simply resigned himself to his fate.

‘Because Kael is someone who would never abandon the fight.’

Up until the very instant of his expiration, he had relied heavily on the strength of his companion.

‘I have no desire to go back.’

He discovered a profound dread of dying within himself.

‘I haven’t even uncovered a purpose that belongs entirely to me yet.’

The virtue of valor, which had shattered when confronted by the terror of his own mortality, caused the hero to falter.

Kwoooong-!

Suddenly, the entire surroundings began to shudder violently.

—

Kwoooong-!

“Is this a tremor?”

Chelsea’s eyes went wide as she glanced down at the shifting dirt.

A faint vibration was radiating from deep within the earth.

Flash-!

Simultaneously, Arion’s eyes snapped open.

Woosh-!

Within a fraction of a second, a physical metamorphosis overtook Arion’s frame.

‘Ah?’

Witnessing this display, Kal caught his breath sharply.

Eiran similarly panicked.

While Chelsea was temporarily distracted by the unexpected seismic activity, Arion had abruptly triggered his beastman transformation.

The moon had not yet ascended into the sky.

Furthermore, even if the moon were visible, tonight did not mark a full moon.

For Arion to undergo a transformation under these specific conditions was unprecedented.

“What is causing this sudden earth tremor…!”

“Ch-Chelsea! Watch your step, you might lose your balance!”

“Hey there, Chelsea, make sure you stay upright!”

Eiran and Kal immediately shifted their bodies to obstruct Chelsea’s line of sight.

“What are you talking about? It is barely a minor vibration, how could I possibly fall over? More importantly, why are you two blocking my view? Are you trying to conceal something from me?”

Chelsea narrowed her eyelids, peering at them with deep skepticism.

“Conceal something? Absolute nonsense!”

Kal shook his head back and forth, attempting to look completely nonchalant.

“Kwooooorrrg-!”

Right at that second, Ar forcefully dislodged Driana’s hand from his face and let out a thunderous bellow.

Startled by the abrupt roar, Chelsea winced and pressed her hands over her ears.

“What is the reason for that sudden shouting!”

“Kyaaaaang! Ahem! Cough… I was simply practicing my howling technique.”

“…All of you are acting incredibly fishy.”

As Chelsea’s gaze grew increasingly distrustful, Arion, who had been sitting with a blank expression, finally regained his bearings.

Kal and Eiran silently gestured with their lips to signal Arion.

Leo leaned in close to speak quietly to the bewildered Arion.

“Revert your appearance.”

Grasping the urgency of the situation, Arion dissolved his beastman attributes and returned to human form.

Unfortunately, the reaction came a moment too late.

“A beastman transformation?”

Chelsea’s eyes grew wide as she managed to catch the final vestiges of Arion’s beastman features.

“H-how was he able to transform? I thought that feline fellow was the solitary individual capable of transforming outside of a full moon?”

Observing the stunned expression on Chelsea’s face, Ar crossed his arms confidently.

“Hmph! It appears that Instructor Arkan achieved his transformation as a direct consequence of echoing my magnificent howl!”

Ar puffed out his chest with an air of immense self-importance.

Taking their cue from Ar’s behavior, Lunia and Driana chimed in to smooth over the slip-up.

“Did you finally manage to succeed in that technique?”

“Truly remarkable. As expected of my personal muse.”

“Who exactly are you calling your personal muse?”

The three of them carried on a superficial conversation to gloss over the anomaly.

Hearing their explanation, a look of sudden realization dawned on Chelsea’s face.

“Come to think of it, Ar Tun possessed the unique ability to trigger transformations in other beastmen through his howling, didn’t he?”

Seeing that Chelsea appeared to accept this cover story, Kal and Eiran quickly added their support.

“That is truly incredible, Ar!”

“Oh, wow, perfectly expected of the individual representing Azonia.”

However, Kal, who had been exerting every effort to minimize the damage, ended up burying his face in his palms when he noticed Chelsea watching him with an amused, knowing smirk.

Being a close companion of hers, he knew better.

This clever girl, who consistently maintained an innocent and endearing demeanor whenever Leo was around, had undoubtedly deciphered the entire truth from the start.

“Do you honestly take me for a fool? Did you truly believe I would be deceived by such terrible performances?!”

Chelsea narrowed her eyes to thin slits.

Stepping forward, she bypassed the panicked group, walked directly up to the flustered Arion, and demanded.

“Instructor Arkan! I want you to give me an honest answer! You are actually Hero Arion, aren’t you?!”