Book 1 Chapter 1019
1019.
Among the existing elf families,
No, among all races, the family with the longest history was undoubtedly the Eisar family.
The family of Berkia, who, as a Fairy Knight and a disciple of the Great Hero, led the reconstruction of the world after the era of catastrophe.
The Shan Empire is also a family that carries on the name of Bihard, who strived to rebuild the world from the darkness, but it remained unknown to the world due to its history in the dark.
The history of the Shan Empire was re-evaluated long after the era of heroes ended.
It was in the era when Lena lived.
Excluding the Shan Empire and the Eisar family, if one were to pick the family with the most history and tradition, it would undoubtedly be the elf family, Tinggel.
Tinggel's history dates back 5,000 years, to the early days of the era of heroes.
After Tartarus waged a great war against the world that was beginning to be rebuilt.
Berkia, along with six elves who fought honorably by his side, created seven seed families.
The seed families had but one purpose.
The revival of <Star Magic>.
It was Seirun of the Tinggel family who fulfilled that wish after 2000 years.
Among the heroes of genesis, Seirun was recognized as a special hero, as much as Lodia, the Dragon of Genesis.
The power of the Hero Record was not used in <Star Magic>.
She restored Star Magic with Seirun's power alone.
Dragon of Genesis, Great Warrior, Unyielding.
And to the Knight of Twilight.
While other heroes of genesis, excluding Seirun, ascended to the position of successor to the Great Hero with the power of the Hero Record, Seirun was called the successor of the Progenitor of the Nebula solely through her own abilities.
Among the heroes of genesis, Seirun was the first to have her name inscribed in the Hero Record, recognized by the gods.
For other races, the period of genesis is considered to be after the discovery of the world of heroes.
However, for elves, genesis arrived after Seirun restored <Star Magic>.
Seirun was the pride of the elf race.
That is why they were praised as noble and special, surpassing any other race's family after leaving the elves.
"That's how it's known."
Seirun said as she threw a stone towards the lake in the deserted garden behind the school.
Splash-!
A lake that never freezes, even in the bitter cold.
It was a lake Seirun created with magic 3,000 years ago.
This garden was cultivated by Seirun and is still maintained to this day.
Lena watched the ripples on the lake and said,
"Isn't it like that, rather than just how it's known?"
Seirun gave a wry smile as she looked at Lena tilting her head.
"Unfortunately, restoring <Star Magic> was not my sole achievement."
"Then…?"
"Anelli's help was significant."
"Anelli?"
"She was the head of the Eisar family 3,000 years ago."
"Ah… I'm not very interested in history…"
Lena shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.
'I should have studied history more.'
Seeing Lena like that, Seirun burst into laughter.
"I only knew of Luna and Berkia among the previous elf heroes. I didn't even know the names of the ancestors of the Tinggel family who were inscribed in the Hero Record."
"Why?"
"Because I was a rude elf."
"What?"
"Surprising, isn't it?"
Seirun burst into laughter as she saw Lena's surprised reaction.
Lena rolled her eyes as she watched Seirun.
"My grandfather told me something when I was young… I was surprised because it was true."
"…What did Lord Leo say?"
"That you were impolite…"
"You can say it bluntly. What did Lord Leo say?"
"…"
Lena hesitated for a moment and then answered honestly.
"He said you were a pointy-eared brat who ate manners for breakfast…"
A vein bulged on Seirun's forehead.
'Should I just punch him?'
She thought that, but there was no benefit in rebelling against a senior.
As Seirun sighed deeply, Lena added,
"But he also said that your existence was a blessing to Luna."
"…That's far too generous a評価."
Seirun gave a wry smile.
"Actually, I did nothing."
"What?"
"I only completed the magic formula of Anelli and the Eisar family. I stole the credit."
"That's just because you played a decisive role, so history recorded it that way."
"No."
Seirun shook her head.
"At that time, due to my greed, I did not reveal Anelli's help to the public."
Seirun said with a self-deprecating expression, as if hating herself.
"And then I acted like a great hero."
"…"
"Perhaps I was not fit to be a successor to a Great Hero."
Seirun looked at the lake where the ripples were subsiding.
"As a magician, I'm good at imitating others, but I lack the ability to create new things."
"What?"
"Simply put, I'm good at stealing others' things and making fakes."
The reason she was able to reconstruct Star Magic was also because she had an excellent talent for imitating the magic of others.
Seirun did not have the ability to create something new from the beginning.
'I cannot shine alone.'
The Magician of the Comet.
Like Luna, the Progenitor of the Nebula, she received a title related to stars.
That also meant she was a magician who shone like a star, like Luna.
But Seirun knew.
'A comet cannot shine alone.'
It only appears to shine by the help of surrounding stars.
The gods gave her the title of comet with that meaning.
A magician who appears to shine alone like Luna, but in reality, cannot shine alone.
That's why Seirun feared the title of genesis.
The heroes of genesis established academies and left behind lessons from what they failed to achieve.
Lumern: Overcoming limitations.
Azenia: Moving forward.
Demian: Pursuing possibilities.
And Seirun: Believing in herself.
'Lumern and Azenia… Demian endlessly strived to realize their individual ideals.'
It was just that time was insufficient.
To overcome limitations through effort…
To move forward with determination…
To find new possibilities…
There was an absolute lack of time.
In contrast to those companions, Seirun did not try to believe in herself.
Seirun's admiration for the Great Hero was different from that of other heroes of genesis from the start.
'While the others… tried to follow the path created by the Great Heroes… I just wanted to be like Luna.'
At that time, Seirun did not care about the spirit with which Luna 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 ran away from responsibility and duty.
'…Perhaps that's why Lodia didn't come to find me.'
When Lodia, the Dragon of Genesis, found new possibilities in the Hero Record, the first elf she sought out was not anyone else but Anelli of the Eisar family.
And Seirun was jealous of Anelli.
She believed herself to be a more outstanding elf.
She was clearly the successor of the Progenitor of the Nebula.
"…"
Seirun's eyes sank.
Seeing Seirun silent, Lena picked up a stone rolling around nearby.
Splash-
"Seirun, for some reason, you resemble me a lot."
"…"
Seirun looked at Lena.
"I am the least talented among the bloodline of the King of Beginnings."
"What?"
"It's at a pathetic level."
Lena's face blurred.
She came to the past to stop Velian.
However, Lena's skill was no match for Velian.
She was trapped in an endless loop, repeating for an immeasurable amount of time that she lost track of how much time had passed.
It was agonizing, but there were definitely good parts.
Thanks to that, she was able to improve her skills.
Her mind matured beyond her age, and her swordsmanship improved dramatically through accumulated combat experience and battles.
But…
'That was all.'
"In the end… I couldn't help at all."
She was just caught in an endless loop.
In the end, it was Leo who broke the loop.
"Even though I'm this pathetic… 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. That I am the bloodline that resembles my grandfather the least."
Lena gave a self-deprecating smile.
"However… my mother always tells me. That I resemble my grandfather the most. She's comforting me so I don't get disappointed."
The lake where ripples had formed became calm.
"I also feel the weight of being a descendant of the King of Beginnings. Just like you, Seirun."
"…Still, Lena, you are different from me."
"What?"
"You are not as repulsive as I am."
Saying that, Seirun stood up.
Lena, following Seirun, got up reflexively.
"We've been outside for too long. Leo will worry."
"Grandfather doesn't worry about things like that."
"That's true."
It was when Seirun burst into laughter.
[Seirun.]
"Ah, Laruel."
[Lord Leo is looking for you.]
Seirun nodded as she saw Laruel, the Great Spirit of Light, the oath-bound of Lodia.
[Lord Leo said he was surprised about Lena.]
"What? I want to help too…"
[He said to leave adult matters to adults.]
At those words, Lena's shoulders drooped.
"…"
[I'll go first.]
Laruel disappeared with a flash of light, and Seirun, along with Lena, left the garden.
"Ah…! Seirun! Lena!"
Just then, Eiran, who was passing by, spotted them and approached with a bright smile.
"Eiran… you said your name was Ersar, right?"
"Yes!"
"…"
A bitter expression appeared on Seirun's face.
"You resemble Anelli a lot."
"What? Really? I'm honored!"
Eiran was overjoyed to hear that she resembled an ancestor from 3,000 years ago.
Seirun smiled faintly as she looked at Eiran.
"Yes. You also seem to resemble Lumern."
"…What?"
Eiran tilted her head at the sudden remark.
"Ah! It must be because I'm a magic swordsman!"
Her cheerful smile resembled Anelli's perfectly.
'Lumern… maybe not so much.'
Thinking that, Seirun entrusted Lena to Eiran and headed for Leo's room.
Then she turned back and looked at Eiran.
Looking at Eiran brought back old memories.
'Anelli also smiled like that when we first met.'
They met as the successor of the Eisar family and the successor of the Tinggel family.
Her first impression of Anelli was the worst.
At that time, Anelli kept a human slave close by.
It was an era when humans were considered insignificant.
How much more so for a human slave?
'That slave saved my life several times.'
Seirun smiled wryly, recalling Lumern of that time.