This World Needs a Hero

Chapter 88

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After the return of the hero.

It was the day of the first lecture.

Children walked with blurry eyes toward their destination.

“A meeting with the blacksmith….”

Confused.

Certainly, something was off.

The crisis detection skills developed during extreme training were sounding the alarm.

“…It’s definitely not a simple meeting.”

“Of course. Who holds a meeting for 24 hours straight?”

“I thought it was a typo when I checked the lecture schedule.”

“And they told us to come armed… haha.”

“Hehe!”

The shivers ran down the spines of the children as they recalled the notice posted a few days ago.

The only consolation was that the specified location for the lecture was just an ordinary indoor training ground.

“Yeah, it’s not a dungeon….”

“Don’t let your guard down; has it happened only once or twice when you felt relieved and something happened?”

“….”

With that, the children headed to the exam venue without relaxing their tension.

Surprisingly, the first person they encountered was Pia.

“Oh? It’s the assistant.”

Alone, she was standing at the entrance of the indoor training ground, waving at them.

“Good morning, everyone! Please line up in order of arrival!”

The hero was nowhere to be seen.

‘Why is the assistant alone? Where is the professor? And the blacksmith?’

While the children were puzzled, they followed her instructions.

It didn’t take long for thirty-one people to line up in a row.

Pia handed out numbered tickets to them without hesitation.

“Go inside and wait in your seats according to the numbers.”

Evergreen, who got number 1, asked cautiously,

“Um, Assistant… Do you happen to know what today’s lecture is about? There was no explanation in the notice.”

“Hahaha… Shall we go inside first?”

Pia wasted no time and opened the door to the training ground.

Creak-!

If it were the beginning of the semester, the children might have nervously fidgeted, but now it was different.

The children immediately assumed a defensive posture, scanning their surroundings.

However, it didn’t take long for their expressions to change to confusion that day.

‘Huh?’

Inside the training ground.

In addition to the hero, two more people were waiting for them.

Upon closer inspection, one of them was a familiar face.

‘Professor Kasim?’

‘Why is Professor Kasim here?’

Some of the children were familiar with his Fine Arts class, ‘The Joy of Swordsmanship,’ so they had a friendly connection with Kasim.

Being generally popular in the academy, others knew his name and face to some extent.

“Wow, two handsome guys.”

Karen muttered with a face Ban-relaxed.

“I knew it would be that kind of meeting.”

“Thanks for 24 hours, really.”

Tall and handsome enough to rival the hero.

His slender figure seemed even more elongated due to his slender physique.

As his golden hair, extending down to his shoulders, emitted a dazzling light, small sighs followed.

“Well, that’s something.”

“Shut up, Gerald.”

Kasim, leaning against a pillar with a gentle smile, observed the children.

Not many noticed the rapier with a silver-blue hue hanging from his waist.

The children turned their gaze to another observer.

…He was somewhat enigmatic.

A small and petite silhouette sharply contrasting with the others.

One finger protruding from the robe sleeve was surprisingly thick, not matching the overall petite appearance.

“Well, he must be the blacksmith.”

“But he doesn’t look like a blacksmith?”

“Don’t they usually look rugged?”

“If the professor called him, he must be incredibly skilled.”

“Hmm… Among the famous craftsmen, was there one with such an impression?”

While no one could accurately guess his identity, only Nyhill paused for a moment, looking at him.

In response, a faint smile appeared on the wrinkled mouth beneath the robe.

It was a moment when Nyhill, taken aback by unfamiliar emotions, blinked her eyes in surprise.

“Well, well. Everyone, please take your seats.”

Pia urged from behind.

The children, who had been stiff, finally moved hesitantly.

‘…Take our seats?’

Upon closer inspection, grid lines were drawn on the floor of the training ground.

Inside each square, numbers corresponding to the tickets they received were visible.

“Well, everyone, have a good time!”

Thunk-!

With that awkward farewell, the door closed.

The interior of the training ground fell so silent that the sound of each other’s breathing felt disturbingly loud.

The children hesitated as they headed to their respective positions.

From 1 to 31.

The children stood at equal intervals, like chess pieces on a board when viewed from a distance.

Until they were in a perfect military alignment, the hero didn’t say a word.

‘What’s going on?’

…This is where some explanation about the lecture should be given.

But the hero just stared at them without any explanation.

The other observers were the same.

“……”

“……?”

Thus, the silence continued without any sign of breaking.

After being quiet for a while, weighed down by the atmosphere, the children slowly began to get bored.

Even though they were far away from each other, it wasn’t so much that they couldn’t hear each other.

Evergreen, number 1, subtly spoke to Gerald, number 2.

“What is this… some kind of patience test?”

“Well, isn’t there a point to it? There must be moments when we have to do something dishonorable, like lurking when fighting against demon guys.”

Aidan, number 3, unexpectedly joined the conversation.

“What does a patience test have to do with a blacksmith meeting? Just because she’s a girl, you always have to agree with her opinion?”

“W-What nonsense…”

Unfortunately, Gerald couldn’t prove his innocence until the end.

Swoosh-!

It was because a rapier suddenly appeared right in front of his nose.

The pointed blade emitted a chilling light.

Swaah-

Gerald quickly dodged the sudden thrust by bending backward.

The boy’s blue pupils shook as if experiencing an earthquake.

“Wha-what is this!”

Kasim attacked out of the blue.

However, there was no response from him.

Instead, another thrust followed, this time from below.

“Ugh, Uwack!”

Gerald, screaming, managed to evade the attack but had no choice but to parry with his spear.

‘They said it was a blacksmith meeting!’

Why me again?

After being embarrassed by the hero during orientation, now it was Kasim.

‘Ugh, it’s different from last time!’

Gerald suppressed his sense of injustice and readied his spear.

It was a spear bearing the mark of the hero, cherished and meticulously cared for despite the scratches it had endured over time.

However…

‘If it’s a professor, it shouldn’t be unfair like this, sending surprise attacks!’

The boy swung his spear confidently.

The sturdy thrust cut through the numerous sword images.

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—————

But then, unexpectedly, as the exchange of blows that seemed like a few exploratory moves continued, the momentum of the rapier gradually diminished.

“…Huh?”

Swoosh.

Gerald, drenched in sweat, stared blankly as Kasim moved away.

He didn’t realize how flashy and fast Kasim’s steps were, and the distance between them had widened.

“No! Where are you going!”

In the moment when the boy, fueled by adrenaline, was about to give chase, the hero finally articulated the first rule of the ‘Day of Exhibition.’

“Stop, Gerald.”

“…Yes?”

“You must not leave your assigned square for the next 24 hours. Regulate bodily functions using mana. If you declare surrender or step outside the square during the process, you will be penalized.”

“…What!?”

The group was shocked, and some began to contemplate very ominous possibilities.

‘Is this… like that test?’

* * *

Ban of them sat hesitantly on the floor, then abruptly stood up as if propelled by a spring.

‘Absolutely must not relax.’

They couldn’t afford to let their guard down, not knowing when or where an attack might come.

Kasim was a problem, but compared to the hero, he was nothing.

He even used ‘Nova’ during the practical exercises.

The moment the children saw the crimson aura rising from the dark corners of the training ground, they momentarily doubted their eyes.

‘There’s no way he’s going to use techniques like this on us…’

But that wasn’t the end of it.

The hero even employed the powerful invisibility technique of ‘Bucks,’ testing them to their limits.

To feel safe was to face the irregular and unpredictable assaults that followed.

It was like confronting a ghost that left no presence.

Bang-

Even the lights went out at one point.

The only remaining light source in the training ground was the faint light filtering in from the windows near the ceiling.

Using mana to brighten their field of vision was brief; considering the exam time was 24 hours, they had to conserve their mana.

‘…Securing visibility is too difficult.’

Clang-!

Clang-!

Sparks were flying up ahead.

Judging by the location, it was probably Luke.

However, the rest couldn’t afford to relax because there was only one clanging sound.

They didn’t know when another person might aim for him from the darkness.

Even with a 1 in 30 chance, the moment they revealed a vulnerability, the probability would skyrocket in an instant.

They didn’t want to be the first to fail.

‘A Day of Exhibition.’

Thump…

Thump-!

Excitement at experiencing a test once faced by legendary heroes of the past.

And along with that came the tension that refused to subside.

The heartbeats were relentless, as if the lungs were wrapped in flames.

‘I can’t give up.’

With determination, Ban wiped the sweat from his forehead and eyelids, fiercely fighting against the gripping tension.

That’s when it happened.

“Snap out of it. It seems like there’s none on this side.”

A murmur came from the back seats.

Ban turned his head slowly, and then the smooth, flowing red hair came into view.

Leciel.

She, who had received the most attacks since the test began, looked the most unscathed.

“L-Leciel, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. You can sense the mana flow well. Don’t be distracted; concentrate.”

“Yeah…”

Leciel’s calm voice brought an odd sense of calm to Ban.

The breath slowly steadied.

The scattered nerves became sensitive again.

“Do you feel it?”

“I-I feel it!”

Ban couldn’t help but exclaim loudly.

At that moment, the hero was approaching him.

Bwoong!

As soon as he sensed the attack, a giant greatsword swept past him.

The force of the sword wind was enough to ruffle his bangs.

In response to the follow-up diagonal slash, Ban rolled to the side with all his might.

“Ban, it would have been better to deflect rather than avoid just now.”

“Heuk, heuk.”

After the advice was given, the hero fortunately didn’t continue attacking.

His pitch-black shining eyes shifted to Leciel in the back.

“Seems like you have some spare capacity to help your peers, Leciel.”

Leciel confidently replied.

“I have no burden with Professor Pierre’s surprises.”

The hero chuckled at her bold statement.

“Kasim would be upset if he heard that.”

“That’s why Professor, please come more often. You said you’d take responsibility.”

Remembering the conversation in the ‘Dreamscape,’ the hero nodded without much thought.

However, Ban, who didn’t know the details, widened his eyes, puzzled.

‘Hmm.’

Leciel belatedly realized that her words might sound a bit strange.

And with that realization came her choice…

Clang!

It was a sharp preemptive strike.

The hero, blocking the incoming blade at his neck, blinked as he was dumbfounded for a moment.

If this had happened a few months ago, his throat would have been cut in half.

“What are you doing?”

“…I’m sorry.”

When Leciel slowly sheathed her sword, there was a moment of confusion.

The sound of an unusual noise came from one side of the training ground, and everyone’s attention was drawn there.

There…

“Hahaha.”

Cuculli was riding an ice pillar rising vertically from the ground, reaching up towards the ceiling.

She seemed quite pleased with herself.

“Hahaha! If it’s like this, you can’t attack! You can’t do anything! What can you do!”

She appeared as if she had made a great discovery.

The hero sighed unknowingly and rubbed his forehead.

Kasim hurriedly approached her.

“Cuculli, come down right now!”

“Why?! I’m still in the safe zone, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Without thinking, the hero decided to break the annoying ice pillar himself and rushed towards it.

A blue afterglow remained where he had left.

Cuculli continued to laugh triumphantly.

“Uh-huh!”

.

.

.

Wearing night vision goggles, Noubelmag calmly observed the situation.

His arms, once tightly closed, had relaxed.

“Hmm.”

‘This is better than I thought… .’

Aren’t they monsters?

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