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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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The graduation competition, the final stage of the Hero Academy.
It was an important event where students were designated as successors to other heroes or given the opportunity to receive relics from the Order.
It was also the only time of the year when outsiders were allowed to enter the Hero Academy. Accordingly, heroes began to gather from all corners of the world.
They usually operated in small, independent groups, and the Order rarely summoned them unless it was a major crisis, so the graduation competition was the only time they gathered in such numbers.
Therefore, spectators eager to see the heroes also flocked to the Hero Academy.
“Look at that sword. How can anyone even swing that?”
“That’s Hugo, the one with superhuman strength.”
“The 86th ranked hero?”
The sword Hero Hugo was carrying was impossibly large for a human to wield. But he carried it with ease.
“I heard that sword is the heaviest in the world.”
“No, Gravitus is much heavier.”
“What are you talking about? I heard Gravitus is the lightest sword.”
To be precise, it was both. Gravitus, the original of the Gravitus Replicant, was the heaviest sword and the lightest sword at the same time.
“Why is he here? He’s far from retirement.”
“Many heroes come even if they aren’t retiring. It’s like a reunion for Hero Academy graduates.”
“So we can see the Saint-level heroes too?”
“They rarely come. I’ve been watching this for 10 years and have never seen them. They must be incredibly busy.”
Just like that, heroes arrived one after another.
Excluding the high-ranking heroes, there were many heroes, and since ordinary people rarely had the chance to see them, it was difficult to tell who was who.
They could only assume someone was a hero based on their identification and entry into the Hero Academy.
However, it was possible to recognize heroes with distinct characteristics and fame, like Hero Hugo with his ridiculously large greatsword, even if people hadn’t seen them in person before.
A prime example was Gwen, the Rose Hero. Long, red hair that reached her waist, and despite her small stature, she wore a cloak symbolizing her status as a hero.
She had told me before that it helped keep annoying bandits and the like away. Anyone could tell she was Gwen Lidval.
‘She hasn’t changed at all from when I saw her three years ago.’
It was because of her [Precociousness (Great)] trait. Because of that trait, while her skill proficiency increased rapidly, her physical growth was practically halted.
‘I wonder if she’s reached S+ in Swordsmanship by now.’
Her Swordsmanship rank was S when I first met her. Considering her Swordsmanship limit was close to SS, it was likely she had reached S+ by now.
‘However…’
The constellations were currently absent. So I couldn’t know what variables might have arisen.
‘Perhaps there might be areas where I need to intervene.’
Just then, Gwen suddenly turned her head. The surrounding people murmured.
“Gwen-nim looked at me!”
“She’s smiling at us, right?”
But I knew. Gwen was looking at me.
‘Hello.’
I greeted her with my eyes. She replied in the same way.
‘It’s been a while.’
That was the extent of the conversation we could have at the moment. I was simply grateful that Gwen seemed to understand.
“Isn’t Gwen-nim so pretty?”
“Are you into that? That’s a crime.”
“But even though she looks like that, her real age is… yikes.”
The surrounding chatter ended with Gwen’s chilling glare, and other heroes continued to enter after her.
Among them were several heroes I knew, including some famous ones, and even Mage Stella, whom I had met in person.
‘It feels a bit strange seeing Stella.’
I had seen her in the trial. There, she had used almost all of her life force to annihilate most of the Demon Lords, along with half of Hailen, and died.
Considering the power of the magic she displayed and her final sacrifice, it felt strange seeing her walking around like that, alive and well.
As many heroes entered the Hero Academy, the entry deadline for outsiders approached. The crowd had grown to its largest size yet. This was the time I had been waiting for.
‘I don’t really like being the center of attention, but…’
I had left the Hero Academy earlier in the morning and mingled with the crowd. Now, I stepped out of it. And I lowered the hood I was wearing. Instantly, people’s attention turned to me.
“Who is that?”
“He doesn’t look that special.”
My dull, faded blonde hair was different from Elsie’s bright, sunny blonde. My physique was nothing special compared to other heroes, and I wasn’t carrying any noticeable weapons.
They probably couldn’t even feel the pressure emanating from other heroes from me. My stats were just at the level of a strong ordinary person.
“Is he really a hero?”
“Maybe he just got lucky and graduated from the Hero Academy.”
People’s interest seemed to be waning. But I wasn’t aiming for the attention of ordinary people.
‘There will be those who recognize me.’
Mainly the Demon Lord’s spies. There was no way they weren’t monitoring this event. And the reason I was showing myself to them was to make one thing clear.
‘Allen Blake and Seo Yoo Rang are completely different people.’
‘Allen Blake’ had been lying low for quite a while.
Based on his achievements so far, it could be interpreted as him retiring in satisfaction or temporarily hiding while preparing for his next operation.
But I couldn’t be sure that the Demon Lord’s side would only consider those two possibilities.
‘I have to assume they can think of anything I can.’
With their spies planted all over the world and the existence of Demon Lord Violet, their information network wasn’t that different from mine.
No, perhaps they had a better grasp of the current world’s information, while I only had an edge in information about the future. It would be reckless to assume they wouldn’t think of what I had thought of.
‘So I need to deceive them more thoroughly using an ability they don’t know about.’
I took out the badge issued only to high-ranking heroes. It contained a jewel that reacted only to the hero’s own mana.
I showed the badge to the gatekeeper of the Hero Academy and said, “Hero Allen Blake.”
The jewel on the badge shimmered faintly.
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‘Is this a good view?’
Lyudmila, the temporary archery professor and a high-ranking hero nearing retirement, chose a seat with a good view of the competition.
Originally, Hero Academy professors were supposed to manage the candidates rather than directly observing the matches, but since she was still a temporary professor and her priority was finding a successor, she was exempt from that duty.
“Isn’t that Lyudmila?”
The people around her began to recognize her. She was famous for being a high-ranking hero, but most of the people attending the competition were also her peers, nearing retirement.
“You were here last year, and you’re here again this year.”
“Because she hasn’t found a successor yet.”
“I think you need to lower your standards.”
“What about you?”
“I’m not a high-and-mighty high-ranking hero like you. There are plenty of talented newcomers who are better than me, even without lowering my standards.”
I envied him. Just as I was about to retort with something like, “Do you think talented newcomers would be interested in an old geezer like you?” something caught her eye.
A small figure with red hair. An unmistakable person.
‘What’s Gwen doing here?’
Gwen had never attended the graduation competition before.
Many attended the graduation competition for the reunion aspect, even if they weren’t looking for a successor, but Gwen never wasted her time on such things.
She had been diligently traveling, solely focused on becoming stronger and reviving her family by reclaiming the Liedvall family’s relic.
‘Of course, at this point, she must be nearing the end of that…’
Even Gwen, with her ageless body, couldn’t be a hero forever.
Of course, it was Gwen’s choice whether to choose a successor or to burn through the rest of her life searching for the relic, but… Lyudmila had a hunch about her choice.
“Gwen.”
“Hmm? Is that Lyudmila?”
Her old-fashioned way of speaking was still the same. No, perhaps she was actually old now.
“It’s been a while since we last met in the Basil region.”
“Indeed. I’ve had a busy two years since then. I haven’t had the time to attend the graduation competition.”
“I figured as much.”
It was understandable, considering it wasn’t just the past two years that she hadn’t attended. But the important thing was why she had come this year.
“So why did you come to the graduation competition this year? Are you finally looking for a successor?”
Gwen shook her head.
“No, I’m not looking for a successor. I’ve already found one.”
She had already found a successor. Lyudmila had expected that to some extent. She already had a guess about Gwen’s successor.
“Is that successor the blonde boy from back then?”
Gwen, who had maintained a calm expression all day, suddenly turned her head.
“That’s… how did you know?”
“You were together when we met in Basil.”
At that moment, Lyudmila was inwardly certain. That Allen Blake was Gwen’s successor.
It had already been a strong possibility since Allen Blake was carrying Gwen’s Gravitus Replicant, but now it was confirmed.
“I’m envious. Where did you pick up such a monster…”
“No, he’s not my successor.”
“Huh?”
Gwen sighed and said,
“I offered him the position, but he refused. He said there’s someone who can teach him better than I can.”
“What do you…”
As far as Lyudmila knew, Gwen might have lacked in relics and physical abilities, but her swordsmanship was second to none.
It had been years since she thought that, so she couldn’t even imagine how far Gwen’s swordsmanship had progressed now.
But to refuse Gwen’s successor position, saying there was someone who could teach him better…
“Is he crazy?”
“He probably is.”
Then it couldn’t be helped… no, wait.
“Then who’s your successor?”
Gwen casually raised her short arm and pointed towards the center of the arena.
“Her.”
A female student stood there, holding a sword.
‘That’s…’
Shoulder-length black bobbed hair and a neatly worn candidate uniform. Contrary to her gentle appearance, there was a glint of fierceness in her eyes.
“Candidate Elsie?”
“Yes, that arrogant brat.”
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