Chapter 655

Book 1 Chapter 655

655.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Ain Erlandu, and I shall be directing the joint combat studies course.”

Following Ain’s greeting, the freshman students belonging to the Knight Department responded with immense enthusiasm.

Ain Erlandu.

Among the faculty currently residing at Lumern, he was recognized as the warrior who stood nearest to the rank of a legendary hero.

His sole motivation for dedicating himself to academia was to nurture the potential of the upcoming generation.

When evaluating his sheer martial prowess, he was considered an absolute grandmaster, widely believed to outmatch the majority of established knight heroes.

“I was told he was previously instructing the third-year upperclassmen!”

“I can’t believe we get to enroll in Professor Ain’s lecture!”

The first-year pupils from the Knight Department were practically buzzing with excitement.

“That’s great for them, however…”

“Doesn’t this benefit only the youths in the Knight Department?”

On the flip side, the freshmen hailing from the Magic Department and the Summoning Department wore crestfallen looks on their faces.

Noticing their downcast expressions, Ain offered a soft laugh.

“There is no need for concern. I am not single-handedly managing this joint combat studies course.”

Right then, the first-year pupils opened their eyes wide in surprise at his revelation.

A pair of figures stepped into view from the entryway of the training grounds.

The third-year upperclassmen appeared caught off guard upon recognizing the arrivals.

“Is that Professor Albi and Professor Artian?”

Albi Zerion, famously designated as the Mage of the Demonic Eye.

Not only had he attained the prestigious status of a hero, but he was also regarded as the most powerful academic within the Magic Department, having slain an innumerable number of demonkin throughout his career.

“Good heavens! I thought Professor Albi rarely conducted standard lessons?”

“Could this be an extraordinary lecture?!”

The morale of the Magic Department students instantly skyrocketed.

Conversely, those enrolled in the Summoning Department looked utterly perplexed.

“Does Professor Artian possess expertise regarding battle tactics as well?”

The first-year class had already experienced firsthand how terrifying Artian could be during their admissions examination.

Nevertheless, when stacked up against individuals like Ain and Albi, it was undeniable that doubts existed regarding her direct engagement capabilities.

The sophomores and juniors shared this exact skepticism.

While the second and third-year cohorts understood Artian’s frightening reputation better than anyone else, there were no renowned historical engagements where Artian had taken a prominent, active role.

Even Professor Ranzo from the Magic Department, who routinely isolated himself inside his laboratory to focus exclusively on arcane scholarship, possessed celebrated achievements on the battlefield.

“Karl. Do you happen to know anything regarding Professor Artian’s background?”

When Eliza inquired with a puzzled expression, Karl simply gestured in the negative.

“No. Nothing that comes to mind.”

“Oh?”

Eliza narrowed her eyes inquisitively.

If Karl, who was incredibly knowledgeable about internal Lumern affairs as well as global current events, possessed no information, it was highly probable that Artian had never participated in public warfare.

Granted, as an educator at Lumern, Artian was undoubtedly a person of exceptional capability, yet her actual proficiency in a combat-oriented setting—given her specialization in heroics—remained a mystery.

Once all the instructors assigned to the joint combat studies class had presented themselves, Celia raised her hand to speak.

“What is on your mind, Celia Zerdinger?”

“I would like to know what our objectives are for this introductory session.”

Responding to her query, Ain explained,

“Our primary task today is to ‘form parties’.”

Upon hearing those words, every single student blinked in astonishment.

“Parties?”

“Correct. As indicated by the notices distributed this morning, the joint combat studies class will operate strictly as a mandatory course for the duration of this term.”

Ain’s statement was entirely accurate.

It was a newly implemented core curriculum requirement designed to bring the first, second, and third-year students together into a single environment.

“To elaborate further, the groups established today will effectively serve as your core classrooms.”

“Does that imply we will attend our lessons alongside our party members?”

“Indeed. Naturally, because you belong to different academic tiers, you will not share core requirements or specialized electives. However, for any synchronized classes designated for the same year, you will operate collectively as a party.”

It essentially meant a massive, unified course structured around the concept of a grand party.

Chloe raised her hand next.

“How many total parties are going to be created?”

“Six.”

Hearing Ain’s response, Chloe began calculating the logistics mentally.

‘The entire freshman class consists of 500 individuals. The sophomores total 224. The juniors comprise 163. That means each massive unit will consist of roughly 150 members.’

“Additionally, every single mock engagement scheduled for this semester’s joint combat studies will be carried out on a party-wide scale. Practical quest assignments will similarly be executed by these same parties.”

“Does this mean the first and second-year students will accompany the third-years on their actual assignments?”

When Duran voiced this concern, Ain shook his head in disagreement.

“No. That arrangement applies strictly to practical quest simulations.”

The moment students advance to their third year, Lumern mandates that they take responsibility for resolving genuine requests submitted to the academy.

There remained a strict distinction between simulated practicals and actual quests.

For the simulations, Lumern intentionally curates and prepares specific assignments that underclassmen are capable of handling safely.

On the other hand, real-world requests possess wildly unpredictable danger levels.

Some assignments might turn out simpler than school drills, while others could present an overwhelming degree of peril.

The field simulations experienced during the initial two years were fundamentally designed as preparatory exercises for the challenges awaiting them in their third year.

Chelsea, who had been analyzing the explanation carefully, raised her hand to ask a question.

“What exactly demands that we prepare for such massive military engagements requiring this level of large-scale coordination?”

“Leo Flove will shed light on that topic. He is arriving at this very moment.”

Answering Chelsea’s question, Albi, who had remained silent while assessing the room, spoke up.

Every student turned their attention toward Leo.

Chen Xia was currently walking beside Leo as they approached.

“Student Leo! Over here!”

Artian beamed warmly, signaling for Leo to join them.

At that gesture, Chen Xia departed to find a seat among the Knight Department cohort, while Leo took his position alongside the faculty members.

“Moving forward, Student Leo will outline the necessity behind organizing this joint combat studies curriculum, beginning with its connection to our residential housing system.”

Observing Artian’s uncharacteristically solemn expression, the student body locked their gazes onto Leo with visible apprehension.

“Over the winter interim, I stumbled upon a significant irregularity within the Hero Record.”

“A major irregularity? Chelsea, Abad. Weren’t you two operating alongside Leo during that period? Do you know what he is referring to?”

When Karl inquired with a confused look, both Chelsea and Abad simply shook their heads.

“Miss Celia, are you aware of this?”

“This is completely news to me as well.”

Over on the Knight Department’s side, Chen Xia cast a bewildered glance at Celia, who merely responded with an uncomfortable shrug.

“What sort of irregularity are we talking about?”

Luke raised his hand and posed the question carefully. Leo offered an explanation.

“I uncovered an entity known as the ‘World of Legions’.”

“The World of Legions?”

“You cannot mean the Legion stemming from Tartarus?!”

“What on earth is that supposed to be? Some kind of Tartarus equivalent to the Hero Record?”

“Is such a phenomenon even conceivable?”

Outcries of pure astonishment rippled through the gathered crowd.

An immediate uproar threatened to consume the students.

“Hush now.”

A gentle but firm voice sliced through the noise.

The entire assembly fell silent, tracing the source of the utterance.

Standing there, Chen Xia placed her right index finger against her lips, offered a playful wink, and smiled while speaking.

“The student council president has not concluded his explanation yet, has he? Everyone should be paying close attention, right?”

Spurred by her comment, the startled onlookers redirected their full focus back to Leo.

The memory of the recent training match against Leo flashed vividly in their minds.

Noticing that the student body had settled down to listen, Leo continued.

“As the terminology suggests, the World of Legions functions as the historical realm belonging to the champions of Tartarus. In the same manner that we inherit the legacy of previous champions via the Hero’s World, it has come to light that they similarly inherit the attributes of deceased demonkin through this World of Legions. Celia, Abad, Chelsea. The three of you witnessed this phenomenon firsthand back then, correct?”

“Ah…!”

“Those Hero Hunters who manifested demonic properties?”

“So that was the underlying cause.”

Prompted by Leo’s explanation, they remembered the adversarial Hero Hunters encountered during the Hero Slayer crisis.

The specific combatants who had physically transformed into monstrous entities.

Revisiting the memory of that crushing, monstrous power, the trio’s expressions turned grim.

“Did you actually cross over into the World of Legions during that incident, big brother Leo?”

“Yes. The specific realm I entered belonged to Shilatu.”

“The notorious Monster Queen?”

“How terrifying…!”

Two winters prior.

The source of five millennia of dread, the Monster Queen Shilatu, had unexpectedly manifested in Seyrun and was ultimately struck down through the combined efforts of Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, and Luna, the original ancestor of the Nebula.

The mere mention of the Monster Queen Shilatu caused collective groans of anxiety to echo across the field.

Amid the mounting tension, Wareden asked a question.

“What was the historical backdrop?”

“The Age of Calamity, specifically the epoch when Luna was present.”

“What role did you fulfill within that simulation?”

“I acted as an interloper. I was an unrecognized anomaly within that specific history.”

“Leo. Back during your freshman year, you engaged demonkin who had infiltrated the Hero’s World within Luna’s reality, didn’t you?”

Chloe asked with a grave expression, looking back on the operational exercise from their first year’s second semester when Leo had entered Luna’s domain.

“Are you implying you found yourself in the exact same position as those invading demonkin?”

“Precisely.”

Leo nodded, his expression turning exceedingly stern.

“It is highly probable that the manifestation of a World of Legions is an uncommon occurrence. If it could be manifested effortlessly, the geopolitical equilibrium between our domain and Tartarus would have collapsed long ago. However, that does not mean we can afford to overlook its existence.”

The Hero’s World had served to preserve reality.

By that same logic, there was no guarantee that the World of Legions would not ultimately orchestrate the annihilation of reality.

“Whether we fail to clear a World of Legions, or Tartarus successfully navigates one, our struggle against Tartarus is bound to escalate drastically. The sheer complexity of these encounters will be entirely distinct from the Hero’s World operations we have managed up to this point.”

In a standard Hero’s World clearance, there are no competing external factions.

Yet the World of Legions operates on entirely different rules.

The World of Legions transforms into an active, contested warzone.

As Leo spoke, the expressions of the listening students darkened with gravity.

“Furthermore, there is an immense likelihood that these Worlds of Legions are intrinsically linked to the Great Heroes.”

“For what reason?”

“The records of the Legion appear to be generated utilizing the structural framework of the Hero Records. Assuming that is true, their faction would naturally desire to claim the legacies of the most potent demonkin available.”

Leo softly shut his eyes.

“Because, regardless of individual opinions, the period where their collective strength reached its absolute peak was during the Age of Calamity, when the Great Heroes were actively waging war.”

Sifting through ancient recollections, Leo reopened his eyes.

“As everyone is well aware, the engagements of that era were predominantly large-scale military conflicts. That reality is precisely why this joint combat studies curriculum was established. The decision to categorize these groups as parties rather than conventional classrooms stems from that exact line of thinking.”

Leo flashed a subtle, knowing grin.

“An environment where you must depend on one another for survival is far more effective at forging unbreakable camaraderie than a simple academic classroom. That concludes my briefing.”

Having finished his presentation, Leo offered a polite bow to the faculty and stepped back into the ranks of the students.

Observing his retreat, the freshman class looked on with gleaming eyes.

‘If I can manage to get assigned to the same group as Senior Leo…’

‘My entire academic career would be absolutely golden, wouldn’t it?’

‘It goes far beyond mere school life. Senior Leo is destined to ascend as the sovereign of a kingdom in the near future, isn’t he?’

The first-year pupils indulged in their personal musings.

‘If I can just make a positive impression on Senior Leo, my future success is practically guaranteed!’

While the freshmen indulged in optimistic daydreams about their futures, the sophomores and juniors were occupied with entirely different mental scenarios.

Naturally, in stark contrast to the newcomers, their thoughts were consumed by pure dread.

‘Landing in the same party as Senior Leo means my personal torment begins, doesn’t it?’

‘The exact second that terrifying guy fixes his attention on me, absolute misery is going to unfold.’

The inaugural joint combat studies session concluded after the faculty outlined the general trajectory of what the curriculum would entail.

Following the lecture, a designated block of time was provided for the first, second, and third-year cohorts to interact before finalizing their party assignments.

This introductory phase was essential, as the students lacked sufficient mutual familiarity to organize balanced groups immediately.

This was particularly true for the newcomers.

While the second and third-year demographics had developed strong connections through the established upperclassman-underclassman mentorship programs over the prior year, the freshmen had been excluded from this network.

Given that these parties were meant to remain intact for the duration of the academic year, the selection process required meticulous deliberation.

Consequently, during the recess following the conclusion of the first class, Chloe made her way over to Leo.

“Leo, I wanted to discuss something regarding the information you shared earlier.”

“What are you looking to clarify?”

Taking a seat directly beside Leo, Chloe asked her question with a focused, serious demeanor.

“Is there a possibility that a World of Legions could suffer a destabilizing surge, similar to what happens within the Hero’s World?”

A Hero’s World that collapses due to an anomalous surge is formally designated as a Hero Dungeon.

When that occurs, the simulated reality bleeds into the physical world, causing tangible distortions.

“Hmm… Let’s see. At present, my theory is that the World of Legions is already inherently a manifested surge in its own right. Therefore, I doubt a secondary collapse resembling a Hero Dungeon would manifest from it.”

“Is that your assessment?”

“However, it does make me wonder. If an incident equivalent to a Hero Dungeon actually came to pass, would the resulting fallout work in our favor, or would it ultimately empower Tartarus?”