Book 1 Chapter 1019
1019.
Among the existing Elf families,
No, among all races, the family that boasted the longest history was undoubtedly the Eissar family.
The family of Berkia, who, as a Fairy Knight and a disciple of a great hero, led the reconstruction of the world after the Age of Calamity ended.
The Shan Empire also inherited the name of Bihar, who worked for the reconstruction of the world in the darkness, but because it was a history in the darkness, it was not known to the world.
It was long after the Age of Heroes ended that the history of the Shan Empire was reevaluated.
It was in the era Lena lived in.
If one were to pick the family that boasted the most history and tradition, excluding the Shan Empire and the Eissar family, it would undoubtedly be the Elf family, Tingel.
Tingel's history dates back 5000 years, to the early days of the Age of Heroes.
After Tartaros waged a great war against the world that had begun to rebuild.
Berkia, along with six elves who fought nobly with him, created seven Seed Families.
The purpose of the Seed Families was only one.
It was the revival of <Star Magic>.
It was Seyrun of the Tingel family who fulfilled that wish after 2000 years.
Among the Heroes of Genesis, Seyrun was recognized as a special hero, as much as Lodhia, the Dragon of Genesis.
The power of Hero Records was not mobilized for <Star Magic>.
Star Magic was restored solely by Seyrun's power.
The Dragon of Genesis, the Great Warrior, the Indomitable.
And up to the Knight of Twilight.
While other Heroes of Genesis, excluding Seyrun, rose to the position of successor to the Great Hero with the power of Hero Records, Seyrun was called the successor of the Progenitor of the Nebula solely by his own ability.
It was also Seyrun who was the first among the Heroes of Genesis to be recognized by the gods and have his name inscribed in the Hero Records.
For other races, the period evaluated as Genesis was after the discovery of the World of Heroes.
But for the elves, Genesis came after Seyrun restored <Star Magic>.
Seyrun was the pride of the Elf race.
That is why he was praised as more noble and special than any family of any other race, even leaving the elves.
"That's how it's known."
Seyrun said, throwing a stone into the lake in the secluded school backyard garden.
Splash-!
A lake that never froze, even in bitter cold weather.
It was a lake Seyrun created with magic 3000 years ago.
This garden was cultivated by Seyrun and was still maintained even now.
Lena said, looking at the rippling lake.
"Isn't it that way, rather than just being known that way?"
Seyrun gave a bitter smile, looking at Lena who tilted her head.
"Unfortunately, restoring <Star Magic> wasn't my sole achievement."
"Then…?"
"Annelie's help was significant."
"Annelie?"
"3000 years ago, she was the head of the Eissar family."
"Ah… I'm not interested in history…"
Lena shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.
'I should have studied history more.'
Seeing Lena, Seyrun burst into laughter.
"I also only knew Luna and Berkia among the previous Elf heroes. And I didn't even know the names of the ancestors of the Tingel family who had their names on the Hero Records."
"Why?"
"Because I was a rude elf."
"Huh?"
"Surprising, isn't it?"
Seyrun giggled, watching Lena's surprise.
Lena rolled her eyes, watching Seyrun.
"My grandfather told me something when I was little… I was surprised it was true."
"…What did Leo say?"
"That you were disrespectful…"
"You can be blunt. What did Leo say?"
"…"
Lena pondered for a moment, then answered honestly.
"He once said you were a 'pointy-eared creature who ate manners for breakfast'…"
A vein popped out on Seyrun's forehead.
'Should I just slam into him?'
She thought about it, but there was nothing good to come from rebelling against a great senior.
Lena added, watching Seyrun sigh deeply.
"Still, he said your existence, Seyrun, was a blessing to Luna."
"…That's an undeserved compliment."
Seyrun gave a bitter smile.
"Truthfully, I didn't do anything."
"Huh?"
"I merely completed Annelie and the Eissar family's spell formula. I stole the credit."
"But isn't it just that you, Seyrun, played a decisive role, so it was recorded that way in history?"
"No."
Seyrun shook his head.
"Back then, because of my greed, I didn't reveal Annelie's help to the public."
Seyrun, with a self-deprecating expression, spoke as if she loathed herself.
"And then I bragged as if I were a great hero."
"…"
"Someone like me might not have been suitable as the successor to a great hero."
Seyrun looked at the lake as the ripples calmed.
"As a magician, I'm good at imitating others' work, but I lack the ability to create something new."
"Huh?"
"Simply put, I'm good at stealing others' things and making counterfeits."
Reconstructing Star Magic was also because she had an excellent talent for imitating others' magic.
Seyrun never had the ability to create something new from scratch.
'I can't shine alone.'
The Sorceress of the Comet.
She received a title related to stars, like Luna, the Progenitor of the Nebula.
That also meant she was a sorceress who shone like a star, like Luna.
But Seyrun knew.
'A comet cannot shine alone.'
It only appears to emit light with the help of surrounding stars.
That was the meaning behind the gods giving her the title of Comet.
A sorceress who appears to shine alone like Luna, but in reality, cannot shine alone.
That's why Seyrun was afraid of the title of Genesis.
The Heroes of Genesis established the academy and left what they could not achieve as lessons.
Lumern: to overcome limits.
Azonya: to move forward.
Demian: to pursue possibilities.
And Seyrun: to believe in oneself.
'Lumern and Azonya… Demian tirelessly strived to realize their respective ideals.'
They simply lacked time.
To overcome limits through effort…
To move forward by strengthening their will…
To find new possibilities…
There was absolutely not enough time.
In contrast to her comrades, Seyrun did not try to believe in herself.
From the beginning, Seyrun's yearning for the Great Hero was different from that of other Heroes of Genesis.
'If others… if the Great Heroes tried to follow the path they created… I just wanted to be Luna.'
At that time, Seyrun did not try to understand what kind of heart Luna had when she created Star Magic and fought Erebus.
And when she couldn't become like Luna, she agreed with Lumern's opinion to leave it to later generations and escaped from responsibility and duty.
'…Knowing this, Lodhia must not have come to find me.'
When a new possibility for Hero Records was found, the Elf that Lodhia, the Dragon of Genesis, sought out first was none other than Annelie of the Eissar family.
And Seyrun was jealous of Annelie.
She thought she would be a more excellent Elf.
She was clearly the successor of the Progenitor of the Nebula.
"…"
Seyrun's eyes sank.
Watching the silent Seyrun, Lena picked up a stone lying nearby.
Splash-
"Seyrun… for some reason, you resemble me a lot."
"…?"
Seyrun looked at Lena.
"I am the least talented among the bloodline of the King of Beginnings."
"Huh?"
"My level is terrible."
Lena's face blurred.
She had come to the past to stop Bellian.
But Lena's skill was no match for Bellian.
Trapped in an endlessly repeating loop, she repeated an unimaginable amount of time, not even knowing how much time had passed.
It was agonizing, but there were definitely good parts too.
Thanks to it, she was able to improve her skills.
Her mind matured beyond her age, and her sword skills dramatically increased through accumulated real-world experience and battles.
But…
'That was all.'
"In the end… I couldn't help even a little."
She was merely caught in an endless loop.
In the end, it was Leo who ended the loop.
"Even though I'm this terrible… people call me the successor of the King of Beginnings. Do you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I resemble my grandfather the most."
"…"
"But now people know too. That I am the bloodline least resembling my grandfather."
Lena gave a self-deprecating smile.
"But… my mother always says. That I resemble my grandfather the most. She's just comforting me so I don't get disappointed."
The rippling lake calmed down.
"I also feel the fact that I am of the King of Beginnings' bloodline to be heavy. Like you, Seyrun."
"…Still, Lena, you are different from me."
"Huh?"
"Because you're not as ugly as I am."
Saying that, Seyrun stood up.
Lena, following Seyrun, also stood up, taken by surprise.
"We've been outside for too long. Leo might worry."
"My grandfather doesn't worry about such things."
"That's true."
It was then that Seyrun chuckled.
[Seyrun.]
"Ah, Lar'ael."
[Leo is looking for you.]
Seyrun nodded, looking at Lar'ael, the Great Spirit of Light who was Lodhia's covenantor.
[Leo said Lena should play.]
"Huh? I want to help too…"
[He said to leave adult matters to adults.]
At those words, Lena's shoulders slumped.
"…Yes."
[I'll go first.]
Lar'ael disappeared with light, and Seyrun left the garden with Lena.
"Ah…! Seyrun! Lena!"
Just then, Eiran, who was passing by, spotted the two and approached with a bright smile.
"Eiran… you said your name was Eisar, right?"
"Yes!"
"…"
A bitter expression crossed Seyrun's face.
"You resemble Annelie a lot."
"Huh? Really? It's an honor!"
Eiran was overjoyed, as if he could jump, at Seyrun's words that he resembled his ancestor from 3000 years ago.
Watching Eiran, Seyrun smiled faintly.
"Yes. You seem to resemble Lumern too."
"…Huh?"
Eiran tilted his head at the sudden remark.
"Ah! Is it because I'm a magic swordsman!"
His positively smiling face was exactly like Annelie's.
'Lumern… perhaps not so much.'
Thinking so, Seyrun entrusted Lena to Eiran and headed for Leo's room.
Then she turned back and looked at Eiran.
Seeing Eiran brought back old memories.
'Annelie also smiled like that when she first met me.'
They met as the successors of the Eissar family and the Tingel family.
Her first impression of Annelie was terrible.
At that time, Annelie kept a human of slave status close to her.
Those were the days when humans were considered lowly.
How much worse would it have been for a human of slave status?
'That slave saved my life several times.'
Seyrun gave a bitter smile, remembering Lumern from that era.