章 29: I am number 3
[Hero's Legacy community post]
[Character Description]
[Name: Lucas]
[Race: Half Angel]
[Description: Lucas is the young hero and protagonist of Hero's Legacy, fated and destined to save the world from its oncoming end. Born and raised on the outskirts border and rural town of the empire, Lucas always dreamed of becoming a knight ever since he was rescued by one. This experience inspired him to train and nourish his skills, aiming to become the best swordsman in the world.]
[Personality: Lucas is known for his just, brave, kind, and honest nature. He possesses a stubborn streak and can be dense at times, but these traits only serve to reinforce his unwavering determination. Lucas values honor, justice, and honesty above all else, and he is dedicated to upholding these principles in every aspect of his life.]
[Likes: Swords, knights, honor, training, honesty, justice, meat]
[Dislikes: Lies, dishonor, squids, snakes]
[Note: When planning a certain build, please take note of Lucas's character, as it will help develop his upcoming skills in the future. Every decision you make throughout the game will not only affect the story but also your play style as well.]
In the game, numerous descriptions highlighted Lucas's traits and personality, but one aspect always stood out: his extreme level of stubbornness, all in the name of justice. He'd go to great lengths to uphold what he believed was right, even if it meant risking his own life.
He'd leap into danger without a second thought, whether it meant facing down a monster or challenging an opponent, all to protect others or achieve a single victory. And while this stubbornness did contribute to his growth and strength over time—after all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger—it also posed a significant challenge for me in the present situation.
There were many ways I could have approached this dilemma, but I knew that direct confrontation was not the answer. If I simply turned my back on him without explanation, he'd likely charge at me, turning a tense situation into an all-out brawl—a fight that I knew I couldn't win.
That's why, in this moment, I had to outsmart Lucas. Despite his stubbornness, his inherent kindness made him predictable. By refusing to engage in combat and instead challenging his preconceptions, I could avoid a potentially fatal confrontation.
Lucas, you're too kind for your own good….
If only you realized that sometimes, being kind means knowing when to hold back.
If his sword actually went for the kill, he would've gotten what he wanted.
Brimming with anger, his eyes flashed with indignation, his hands trembling with barely contained fury. To him, my words weren't just a slight against his friend; they were a direct affront to the very honor of knights—the highest standard of virtue for those who wielded swords.
But I couldn't bring myself to adhere to such archaic notions of chivalry.
While Lucas idolized the noble ideals of knights who followed the dictates of their hearts, I found such concepts impractical and naive. For me, mages held a far greater appeal. They were logical, their actions guided by reason rather than sentimentality.
In the game, I gravitated towards heroines who wielded magic romancing them first as I found their rationality and independence far more attractive than the emotional volatility of other character classes.
Emotions didn't cloud their judgment or gameplay, making them reliable allies and fascinating companions.
For someone like me, who valued logic and pragmatism above all else, mages were the obvious choice for a viable party.
Although there were exceptions to this rule as not all mages were logical and cunning by nature, like Alice and Clara who followed what their hearts desired, as it suited their personality better, it made sense as to why they were that way so I didn't really care.
"THAT'S ENOUGH! TIME'S UP!" Professor Ferdinand's booming voice echoed across the entire area, signaling the end of the exam.
"CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU! COME UP FRONT AND REST UP. THERE ARE BOTTLES OF MID-GRADE POTIONS HERE. I WANT YOU ALL TO TAKE ONE EACH AND WAIT FOR OUR ASSESSMENT TO BE DONE!" he announced, his words carrying authority and finality.
"It seems I was wrong about you..." Lucas muttered, withdrawing his sword from my neck.
I shrugged inwardly.
What did his expectations matter to me anyway? And how badly did he actually want to fight me? I didn't have the time or inclination to dwell on it.
With a relieved sigh, the pressure of Lucas's glare dissipated as the cold sensation of his aura released my neck. He didn't spare me a second glance as he walked away, heading towards the confused Janica who stood nearby.
Observing the slight bruises on her, it was clear that the two of them had engaged in a fierce battle with each other just a while ago… I guess Lucas also didn't hold his punches huh, how could he bruise a girls face just like that.
Janica, upon recognizing me, offered a small bow before hastening after the dejected Lucas.
Her confused expression hinted that she might not have witnessed the altercation between him and me.
Did she pass out during the chaos?
Surveying the aftermath, I observed most of the students lying on the ground, either unconscious or writhing in pain.
Some were bleeding profusely, their bodies bearing the marks of intense combat. But what caught my attention the most was the dwindling number of survivors.
Only nine of us remained standing amidst the carnage.
Of course, Janica and Lucas were among the survivors, but there were also other familiar faces scattered among the group.
One of them being Kagami Kento
Standing tall throughout the field, his imposing presence accentuated by his short brown buzz cut and the unique open-sleeved uniform he wore.
He also sported a specialized wooden weapon—a wooden glove, perhaps tailored specifically for this exam. Judging by his relatively unscathed appearance, it seemed most students wisely avoided direct confrontation with him—a smart decision, given that he was probably the strongest student here right now, well if you don't count Seo into the mix that is, in terms of strength stat he's probably around a Low A rank to a high B.
Among the 9 remaining survivors, there were also the twins, Lily and Lillian, each wielding a pair of twin daggers. They both had the look of seasoned assassins, their demeanor exuding deadly precision.
In the game, these two petite-looking girls were arguably the best assassin-type supporting characters, capable of dealing devastating critical damage.
As for the other three survivors, I had no idea who they were, but they had evidently proven themselves as top contenders to have lasted this long.
Overall, all of these individuals were essentially the supporting cast of the storyline, some of whom could even be romanced if you played the DLC.
Except for me, I supposed. The overall contenders for the upcoming Class A students seemed to remain consistent with the game's main scenario, which was a relief.
I didn't want to alter things too much; after all, I still needed to rely on my knowledge of the future.
Exiting the stage, I was immediately greeted by Seo, who handed me a potion.
"Good job, Riley,"
"Thank you"
Ignoring the curious stares directed at me once again, I opened the mid-grade healing potion and drank it. Surprisingly, its cold, liquid taste had a hint of strawberry, different from the low-grade ones back at the infirmary. It was a refreshing change.
Honestly, I didn't really need a potion since I hadn't sustained any injuries, but since it was offered, I figured I might as well. Plus, I couldn't afford to draw too much attention by refusing the bottle Seo gave me. I had a hundred percent feeling that if I denied it, all eyes would be locked on me.
"…. Riley you—"
Seo seemed like she wanted to ask me something, but she ultimately chose to remain silent, merely staring at me instead.
"HAHAHA! WASN'T THAT FUN, YOU LOT? HOW DID YOU ALL FEEL EXPERIENCING THE INTENSE THRILL OF A REAL BATTLE?" Professor Ferdinand's booming voice echoed across the field, filled with amusement.
"YOU LOT MIGHT SAY THAT YOU FOUND IT UNFAIR, AS IT WAS A BATTLE ROYAL. BUT TRUST ME, A REAL BATTLE DOESN'T DICTATE RULES. THE WORLD OUT THERE ISN'T ALL ABOUT DUELS; IT'S ABOUT SURVIVAL, ADAPTING, AND BEING STRONG! ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE THOSE CERTAIN SKILLS WILL MAKE IT AND RISE TO THE TOP. AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR YOU LOT, MOST OF YOU ARE LACKING! HAHAHAHA!"
I wasn't sure if Professor Ferdinand was being genuine or merely mocking us at this point, but everything he said made sense.
Considering the privileges A-class students enjoyed, it made sense that only the strongest and best made it to the class.
"WE HAVE MADE OUR DECISION SINCE THE FIGHT STARTED AND SAW THE BEST OF EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. CERTAINLY, AMONG ALL OF YOU LOT, THERE WERE 9 THAT STOOD OUT FROM THE REST. AND RIGHT NOW, PROFESSOR YUKI AND I ARE DONE RANKING EACH OF THEM. SO, AS PROFESSOR YUKI CALLS OUT YOUR NAME, PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND APPROACH THE FRONT."
Finally, all this can be done. Honestly, the day is getting tiring now. I didn't notice this at first, but using mana actually takes up a lot of your stamina.
Although I only used the Tears of Chronos maybe once or twice throughout the entire battle, it was still draining. I should train more when classes finally start.
Suddenly, Professor Yuki approached us at the front and looked at the note she was making.
I guess they really properly assessed us in real-time.
There were many aspects of evaluation during this exam, but overall they probably assessed it in terms of overall strength.
Finally, Professor Yuki's voice cut through the tension as she announced the names, confirming what I had already anticipated.
The overall ranking for the first-year Knight Department A-Class was now determined:
1. SEO
2. LUCAS
3. RILEY
4. JANICA
5. LILY
6. KAGAMI
7. THEO
8. LILLIAN
9. GILBERT
10. SUSAN
Haha... to think I would be number 3... Were my acting skills really that convincing?
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