A powerful person in grand society could easily frame someone, especially if they were helpless against the public’s scrutiny and imperfect law. That’s why countless individuals who were truly innocent were in prison... or lost their lives due to ruthless self-preservation.
In the same way, the events that had transpired prior to my transmigration, which peculiarly I had no memories of, unlike the usual transmigrator’s privilege of absorbing every fragment of memory the original owner of the body experienced, turned out to be the basis of my execution.
Lugh was guilty, undoubtedly so.
That’s how it’s supposed to be, according to the original story.
However, after confronting the Imperial Princess and receiving an apology this early in the morning, as though I hadn’t committed something labeled by the holy empire as treason, and when I returned to the Hero Academy’s official classes on the same day, my sin was miraculously erased.
It was gone with the wind.
What the hell happened? Surely, the ones who were chasing me would not share the same sentiment of letting me walk freely in these wide premises?
I didn’t know what was scarier—being chased as a criminal, accepting that it was my fate based on the original Lugh’s story... or being discreetly pardoned without knowing the reason why.
Without me in this academy, the story would flow without much distortion from what was fated.
Maya would numerously bully whom she called the Imperial bitch, whose [Talent] was not explicitly mentioned in the entire story for some reason because...
The destined True Hero would inevitably grow against all odds, though I had to stop the ’Helix’ from being triggered when the time came... I wonder how she’s doing right now...?
The significant characters, major allies and deceitful villains, would go neck to neck given the opportunity.
’I mean, I could stand by and watch everything unfold... That’s indeed an option, which at the same time is a suicide.’
Looking around, I am back in a wide classroom; there was a platform with an intricately designed pulpit, which seemed to boast that it was crafted from expensive materials.
On the other hand, the seats were neat lecture hall desks.
The style was similar to most universities on Earth, but the vibe was entirely different.
Thinking back, unanswered questions flooded my mind.
’I need to find out why.’
"Oh, the fallen noble trash is early. You savoring some peace?"
It was then that a masculine voice cut off my thoughts.
Glancing in the direction of the voice, I saw a well-built man, short blonde hair, fair skin, and a brute-like body.
’Of course, this world isn’t all different when it comes to this crap.’ I muttered inwardly.
"What the fuck are you staring at, huh?"
It was then that the bear-like man suddenly lunged forward and bam!
I was kicked from my seat without much resistance.
"Keuk! Cough, cough!"
However, I endured the pain. I had no time to think about extras like these. Not that the original Lugh was any different.
"You think you can stare at me just ’cause you started hanging out with that eastern bitch, Maya, of Class Alpha?!"
Gazing at this person, I used one of the talents granted to me as a privilege.
[Talent, Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell, has been activated!]
[Talent, Plunder, has resonated with the Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell!]
To make it simple, this [Talent] lets me inspect the other’s [Status], at least that’s what its [Passive Effect] was for. Including this body’s main talent, I inspected the man’s real-time information.
Soul Order: Luminous Soul
Main Talent: Summon Hellbeast (Growth); Flame Manipulation (Growth)
Plundering Conditions:
[1] Summon Hellbeast (Growth)
Permanent Plundering: [Survive being dipped in an active volcano in the presence of this talent’s owner.]
Temporary Plundering: [Utilize an Earth-Type Hellbeast and win against this talent’s owner in a duel.]
[2] Flame Manipulation (Growth)
Permanent Plundering: [The talent owner’s death in your hands through flames.]
Temporary Plundering: [Set the talent’s owner’s ass in flames.]
Plunder Reminder: [You cannot plunder more than one talent from the same target.]
Observation: [Irritated because of someone’s stoic demeanor.]
’Agnus... he’s from one of the renowned noble elemental families, huh.’
"How dare you stare at me?! You son of a bitch!"
His raging voice echoed, along with his fast-approaching footsteps, as I was gaining my footing.
However, before he could land another hit, several students simultaneously arrived in the classroom, including a female student with deep blue eyes donning a silver-rimmed eyeglasses.
"You never change, do you? Still preying on the weak? Not that I’m surprised. After all, you’re not fit to become a hero." The female student’s sharp words cut through, causing Zion to stop swinging his arm towards me.
"Shut your trap, Morgan. Want to go at it?!"
"Pfft." The one called Morgan chuckled, almost bursting into laughter as she found her seat. "I’ll have to pass on that. Who wants to waste time against someone like you?"
Hearing them bickering, I returned to my seat.
Morgan’s word... about being a Hero.
This world was as cliché as Heroes vs. Villains.
Every student in the Hero Academy, after passing numerous circumstances, would have the right to be called a ’hero.’
However, the only True Hero would be someone directly blessed by the heavens.
’What a nauseating sight. It’s fitting that these bastards aren’t written in the system as heroes, but talent owner instead.’ Mumbling such words in my mind, the classroom began to quickly be occupied.
Every student finally arrived, as well as the gorgeous homeroom teacher, Professor Hong, an inhabitant from the east whose facial features were similar to a Japanese model, giving off mother vibes.
While the attendance was being checked, I individually inspected each of my classmates’ information through ’Eye That Witnesses Heaven and Hell’ and ’Plunder.’
After some time, Miss Hong addressed the class, "Class Mu, in case it slipped out of your minds, I want to remind you that you will be conducting joint exercises with Class Zenith today after classes. It’s for the introduction of your Hero Practical Education, so be prepared."
’Well, I didn’t know about that. Maya...’
No, she couldn’t care less about this class about cats and dogs determining who the best were.
’Anyway... Class Zenith, huh? That’s where some monstrous ones belong. I guess it’s time for me to see the true protagonist of this story.’
After sleeping through every class and getting an earful from almost every professor, the expected joint exercise with the Class Zenith arrived.
In a roofless, spacious training ground with all sorts of wooden weapons as mana mediums, eighty students gathered—40 from Class Mu, and 40 from Class Zenith.
This time around, the facilitator of the class was a bulky man with a scar lining from his brown-hued right eye down to his cheek—it was an evidence of being a veteran hero.
His gaze was deep and aloof; he was the type to not have any favoritism. But he was also the kind of person who was willing to mold the worthy in his eyes.
’One of my favorite characters in the Hero’s Apocalypse.’
"I am Ragnar of Cetera."
The only survivor of the sunken island of Cetera, who fell against the invasion of the Unseen Apostle.
I subconsciously swallowed my saliva, recalling a bit of his story from the novel... that also reminded me that the ones behind that tragedy... were beings that I would inevitably face.
"Let’s begin with the joint exercise."
With his words, the hell on earth began.