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Chapter 83




【83】82.
Aura.
It is the term used to describe the power that emerges when the mana accumulated in the body is ignited.
The most basic use is to enhance physical strength.
And once you become adept at handling aura, you can imbue weapons and other items to increase their strength and make them even sharper.
At that stage, you can infuse attributes based on individual traits.
A prime example was Selia's flames.
While all students were focused on Ein's lecture, Leo thought to himself.
‘[Breath of the Hero], huh. It’s got an incredibly impressive name. Aron just called it breathing.’
But considering Aron's status in later generations, it wasn’t strange for it to have such a name.
Hero Aron.
The most courageous and greatest warrior in history who turned the impossible into the possible.
‘...or so it’s known.’
Leo let out a hollow laugh.
In later generations, only Aron's immense courage was highlighted, but in reality, Aron was a very timid werewolf.
‘Timid to the point of being an incredible coward.’
Compared to other werewolves, Aron was also physically small, so when he looked terrified, it was hard to believe he was a hero.
‘But in the end, he was the bravest in battle.’
Aron's courage to stand up to enemies and overcome his fear was the driving force that turned the impossible into the possible time and time again.
‘The biggest coward, who always said he would protect us, took on the greatest risks.’
Thinking of Aron, Leo smiled.
‘[Breath of the Hero]... it’s a fitting name.’
While Leo was reminiscing about his past life, Ein was explaining the principles of the new technique to the students.
Everyone was extremely focused on the concept of aura amplification.
“I’m teaching you a version of [Breath of the Hero] that is different from the original. After all, [Breath of the Hero] is a technique exclusive to werewolves. Using it as is, humans can hardly achieve the proper effect.”
Professor Ein was lecturing with a makeshift blackboard in the training ground, explaining in detail how to breathe and how to control aura in sync with the breathing.
Seeing this, Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘This is fundamentally different from Aron’s breathing.’
It wasn’t surprising.
In his past life, Aron tried to teach his breathing technique to other werewolves.
But no one managed to master it.
Ironically, the only one who learned Aron’s breathing was Leo, a human.
‘Now, let’s control the mana.’
Leo’s aura stirred.
‘Now, just manifest it...’
As he tried to manifest the aura at his fingertips, it dispersed.
Leo looked puzzled.
‘What is this?’
He tried [Breath of the Hero] several times.
But he couldn’t use aura with the [Breath of the Hero] as Ein taught it.
‘What is this? Is my method wrong?’
It was rare for Leo to struggle in class.
Whoosh!
Swoosh!
Crackle!
Aura manifested simultaneously in three directions.
“Hmm, this is the feeling.”
“I managed to do it, but the aura amplification effect is really minimal.”
“It’s not that difficult.”
Exclamations of amazement erupted from various places.
“Did they really do it on the first try?”
“Sure enough, the monsters of the Knight Department...!”
“Hey! I told you not to call me a monster! Who called me a monster?”
Selia flared up.
Ein, who watched this, curled his lips.
‘Selia, Chen Xia, Duran... indeed, they are exceptional talents.’
It was rare to see such talents in a single year.
‘This first-year class is truly blessed.’
Thinking this, Ein glanced at Leo.
‘On the other hand, Leo is unexpectedly struggling.’
Ein was surprised that Leo, who always had a high understanding of the lessons, couldn’t even manifest the aura.
‘It’s inevitable. While other students are solely focused on training, Leo is handling both magic and summoning.’
Ein couldn’t help but feel regret that Leo, who possessed talents comparable to or even surpassing Selia, Chen Xia, and Duran, was taking on multiple departments.
As an hour passed, most students managed to successfully manifest aura using [Breath of the Hero].
Ding dong dong-
When the class bell rang, Ein folded his arms.
“I will proceed with the next class after the break. In the next class, we will test various aura amplification effects using [Breath of the Hero]. We will measure the results, so everyone take a good rest.”
The students gathered in groups to rest.
While Leo was drinking water at the sink, Selia approached him.
“You’re human after all. Seeing you struggle in class is a surprise.”
Leo was the only student who couldn’t manifest aura using [Breath of the Hero].
“Master Leo, would you like me to teach you the knack?”
Shaking his head at Chen Xia’s question, Leo replied.
“No, I’ll practice a bit more on my own.”
Leo smiled and shook his head.
Watching this from a distance, Duran said with his usual arrogant expression.
“Leo Flaubert. Even this simple thing is beyond him. Disappointing.”
“Hey, Duran? This isn’t simple at all.”
“Can you at least consider our feelings? It hurts. Sob sob sob.”
A female Knight Department student clutched her chest and made a sad face.
“Cut the ridiculous act.”
“Tch.”
Most of the students following Duran were from the central region.
“Anyway, Leo Flaubert is taking three departments. There’s bound to be a limit. By the second semester, he won’t be able to compete with you in Knight Department grades.”
As one of the male students said this in a calm tone, Duran narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t care about that.”
“Huh?”
“Whether or not he performs better than me in Knight Department grades, I won’t be satisfied until I knock him down.”
Duran gritted his teeth.
“My goal is to become the class representative by defeating him.”
The other students shrank back at the menacing aura Duran was emitting.
Meanwhile, Leo was deeply engrossed in his thoughts during the break.
He tried to control his aura again as Ein had taught.
But as expected, the aura dispersed just before manifestation.
‘Hmm... right, that’s it. This doesn’t suit me.’
Ein had said that he modified [Breath of the Hero], originally a werewolf technique, for human use.
But Leo had already learned Aron’s breathing.
‘In the end, my method is the original. My aura is already adapted to my way.’
It was a fundamental issue.
‘This technique simply isn’t compatible with me.’
Finding the cause, Leo’s eyes lit up.
‘Then I should incorporate the necessary parts from what Professor Ein taught into my breathing.’
Regardless, the breathing technique Ein taught was optimized for humans.
The newly reborn hero’s breath was also appealing to Leo.
‘If I can get the power to maximize aura efficiency, it will be attractive to me too. Plus, it might help me overcome the aftereffects.’
Leo’s aftereffects.
They were the backlash from aura amplification.
Although Kail and Aron used the same breathing technique, there was a crucial difference between them.
‘The fundamental difference... species.’
Leo looked down at his hands.
When he exerted power beyond his limits, Aron would transform and enhance his vessel, but Leo, being human, had to bear the backlash with his body.
The burns he received when using Zerdenge’s aura were also due to this.
“Now, we will start the measurements. Students, come forward when called.”
While Leo was lost in his own world, the measurements began.
There were three types of measurements: attack, speed, defense, and evasion.
Crackle!
“Faster!”
“Although I lost to Leo in the aura step duel at the beginning of the semester... now, there’s probably no one faster than me in our year.”
Duran, who received the highest score for speed, snickered and looked at Leo.
Duran was the fastest in the Knight Department.
Next were Selia and Leo, who had roughly the same speed.
But due to [Breath of the Hero], Selia took second place today.
Next were defense and evasion.
This was essentially Chen Xia’s solo stage, given her water attribute.
The second-place battle in defense and evasion was between Leo and Duran.
“Duran won!”
“Ah, as expected, the gap is widening.”
“After all, it’s only natural. It was unusual for him to keep up until now, wasn’t it?”
The Knight Department students murmured.
“Leo, what are you doing?”
Seeing Leo unable to keep up with the class, Selia was slightly flustered.
While the 5th class students watched Leo with worried eyes,
“Finally, the attack power measurement.”
One by one, the maximum attack power was measured.
Boom! Whoosh!
When it was Selia’s turn, a massive wall of flames erupted.
“Definitely stronger than before, right?”
“It seems to be the effect of [Breath of the Hero].”
The students were amazed.
Although the change wasn’t immediately noticeable, Selia’s flames were indeed stronger than before.
Sheathing her sword, Selia looked at Leo, who was last.
Selia was clearly the first in attack power.
And second was Leo.
‘This is what happens when you neglect Knight Department classes.’
While Selia grumbled about her cousin’s poor performance,
It was Leo’s turn.
Seeing this, Ein glanced at the measurement board.
‘Leo Flaubert. Perhaps this is a turning point in your school life.’
Leo still ranked in the top tier in all measurements.
But today, he fell behind his competitors.
More precisely, he was the only one who didn’t improve.
‘No matter how talented you are, there’s a limit to handling three departments simultaneously.’
Ein looked at Leo’s back.
‘Make your choice now.’
Just as Ein was watching Leo closely,
‘Phew! Done.’
Leo finally managed to adjust the technique during the class.
‘I’ve optimized it for myself.’
He could now manifest aura more naturally than before.
Leo took a deep breath.
‘Let’s try it out.’
Whoosh!
Leo, who had imbued his sword with the maximum amount of aura, took a deep breath.
The mana in the air was compressed and sucked into Leo’s body.
‘Swing the sword!’
Swish!
As Leo swung his sword while breathing, the mana inside his body was strongly compressed.
‘Wait, why is this effect so good?’
Leo was surprised.
A much stronger aura amplification effect was generated than usual.
‘Wait! If this happens, the backlash will be even...!’
Whoosh! Boom!
A wall of flames shot up high.
Everyone’s mouths dropped at the firepower that far surpassed Selia’s.
Thud!
Ein dropped his fan without realizing it.
‘What is he...?’
He felt goosebumps all over his body.
‘How do I even describe this?’
The only question in his mind was:
What word could appropriately evaluate the student in front of him?
Now, calling him a genius was far too inadequate.
‘Right. This is like... a monster.’
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