Book 1 Chapter 1023

1032.

After the fragment of Erebus went to the past and its effects manifested.

Leo quickly gathered information to assess the situation.

Before the Age of Calamity.

The northern part of the continent was the homeland of the elves.

Unlike the severely cold land it is now, it was the most fertile land on the entire continent.

Instead, the frozen land, just like now, was the eastern part of the continent.

During the Age of Calamity, Erebus appeared at the eastern edge.

Even after Erebus was subjugated, ice spirits influenced by it migrated en masse and settled in the northern part of the continent, thus completing the present-day North.

'Is he seriously trying to change the past now?'

Thinking so, Leo heard the story from Melina, who had rushed over.

"I urgently checked the continent's history, but nothing has changed."

Fortunately, those who knew of Lena's existence were aware that the past had changed.

However, everyone else was affected.

As Leo fell deep in thought over Melina's report, Lunia cautiously asked.

"Um… what if we can't perceive that things have changed?"

"That won't be the case."

It was Seirun who answered Lunia's question instead.

"I clearly remember everything before it changed. One way or another, we are free from the influence of the past being altered."

Seirun gazed out the window, where snow had piled up.

"Perhaps Erebus tried to change the past and failed."

Leo nodded at his words.

"There isn't much time. We need to complete the magic to go back to the past as quickly as possible. How are things looking?"

At Leo's question, Seirun wore a smug expression.

"Thanks to Lady Luna, it's going smoothly!"

At that, Leo stared fixedly at Seirun.

Then he looked at Lunia and said.

"Lunia, you can go now too."

"Understood."

"I'll help too."

Melina also followed Lunia to help with the interpretation of the magic spell formula.

Just as Seirun was about to follow them, Leo called out.

"You, let's have a private talk for a moment."

"Pardon?"

At Leo's words, Seirun made a puzzled expression.

Leo brewed coffee and placed it in front of Seirun.

"Ah, thank you."

Seirun took the coffee and took a sip.

Leo, sitting opposite him, watched him before speaking.

"Hey, you adulterous elf."

"Ouch! Hot!!"

Seirun, who was drinking coffee, jumped up and burned the roof of his mouth.

After struggling in pain, Seirun barely calmed down and then flared up.

"Why are you calling me by such a disgraceful name!"

"You said you loved someone who was already taken, didn't you? Isn't that adultery then?"

"I mean, I never loved Lumern…!"

"Never? Are you going to deny it now?"

"…"

Seirun's face turned beet red.

"Okay! I admit I had feelings! But I didn't show my emotions, nor did I seduce Lumern, so why is it adultery?!"

"Despite clearly showing your feelings to the other person."

"Still! It's not adultery!"

Seirun, who had been yelling, took a deep breath.

"No matter what anyone says, you are Luna's successor."

Leo said to Seirun, who was like that.

At his words, Seirun paused, then gave a bitter smile.

"Lord Leo, you've changed so much compared to your days as Lord Kyle."

Seirun had encountered Kyle countless times in the world of heroes.

"He even warmly encourages and comforts the heroes of this era so they can grow."

Seirun looked at Kyle as if it was a new discovery.

"I thought I raised Berkia and Bihard quite well too."

"You did indeed. But, how should I put it? Lord Kyle back then was a very strict and cold person, wasn't he?"

Leo looked at Seirun.

"I thought you might hit me if I frustrated you… it's a bit surprising."

"Oh? So, can I hit you then?"

"Pardon?"

"I was wondering. Should I treat you like kids these days? Or like the old-timers?"

"Um…? Lord Leo?"

"But when I think about it, you're not a kid, are you? Which means there's no need to be kind to you."

"No. Still, compared to Lord Leo, I'm much younger…"

"Clench your teeth. I'm going to fix that rotten mentality of yours."

"No, no violence! No violence! Hiiiiiiiiii!"

Seirun tried to escape but was caught by Leo.

Leo firmly pinched Seirun's screaming cheek.

"Well, if you were Lumern, I would've beaten you up, but you're not my direct junior, are you? If Luna were in her original form, she would've beaten you half to death. A pity."

"The benevolent Lady Luna would never do such a violent thing!"

"…Isn't the world of the Great Hero you conquered the most, Luna's world?"

"It is, so what?"

"And yet you don't know Luna?"

Seeing Leo dumbfounded, Seirun chuckled, "Hmph."

"I know her well! About Lady Luna, who has such a kind heart!"

"…"

'All the elves' fantasies about Luna… didn't they all originate from this guy?'

With a reasonable suspicion, Leo spoke.

"Anyway, have a little more confidence. The fact that you're a Hero of Genesis hasn't changed."

"…"

At those words, Seirun's expression became slightly clouded.

Leo sighed as he looked at Seirun.

'It seems unlikely that he'll be able to break out of that state just by Luna or me doing something next to him.'

What Seirun needs now is stimulation.

Stimulation that can reignite his fire.

And regrettably, the ones who can reignite it are not Leo and Luna, who are distant seniors from Seirun's perspective.

Nor is it Lunia, his junior.

'The guys who shared the same era.'

The other Heroes of Genesis who risked their lives together, entrusted their backs to each other, and elevated one another.

Only they would be able to reignite Seirun's flame.

'If we go to the past… will things change a little?'

Leo gazed out the window and let out a small sigh.

***

Cold northern winds were raging.

Normally, a blizzard wouldn't be unusual in this weather.

However, while the northern weather was cold, it was quite warm compared to usual.

And that was absolutely not a good sign.

The high-piled city walls.

A dragoness with pure white scales and orange eyes narrowed her gaze.

"It's strange."

"Pardon?"

At the dragon's murmur, a Beastkin warrior standing next to her made a surprised expression.

In the eyes of that Beastkin warrior, there was nearly infinite respect.

The dragon before him was considered the successor to the King of Wisdom who led the Great Hero who saved the world 2000 years ago.

She was also a great hero who actually discovered the potential of Hero Records, found countless heroes, saved a world heading towards crisis, and earned the title 'Dragon of Genesis' from the gods.

"What is strange, Dragon of Genesis?"

The Beastkin warrior asked in a polite voice.

Like all Beastkin, he held infinite respect for the great Beastkin hero, the valiant Arion.

He was also a Beastkin who wished to follow in the footsteps of the Great Warrior who inherited Arion's will.

Although he had not yet received the title of hero, he was a man filled with the desire to be recognized by the Dragon of Genesis and conquer Arion's world.

The selector of heroes and the being who grants permission to conquer Hero Records.

Rhodea was someone anyone who dreamed of being a hero wanted to make a good impression on.

"I have an ominous feeling about something."

Rhodea clicked her tongue softly.

At her words, an elf nearby pricked up their ears.

"An ominous feeling, you say?"

Annelie Berkia.

She was praised as the most noble elf among those currently alive.

"Didn't you say that Tartarus's forces can no longer continue the fight?"

Annelie was right.

As the fragment of Erebus revived, Tartarus, which had been silent for a long time, also stirred.

The world faced the return of calamity, and countless worlds were engulfed in flames before Tartarus's advance.

The flames consuming the world seemed to grow uncontrollably.

But at a certain moment, the atmosphere changed with the sudden appearance of the Dragon of Genesis, Rhodea.

Led by the hand of Rhodea, the Dragon of Genesis, from the Comet Mage, the Great Warrior, the Indomitable, and to the Knight of Twilight.

The successors of the Great Heroes who saved the world 2000 years ago appeared and began to block Tartarus.

The biggest war since the Great War 2000 years ago.

And as countless heroes emerged, led by the Heroes of Genesis, the world once again achieved victory in the great war against Tartarus.

That was the great war later named the [War of Genesis].

Tartarus's forces were largely annihilated.

They failed to subjugate the Necromancer King, the Monster Queen, and the Giant King, who had existed since the Age of Calamity, but all legion commanders except them disappeared.

'The source of Erebus's power is the unquenchable flame of calamity.'

It was Rhodea's plan to confine Erebus to the frigid northern continent to prevent the flame of calamity from intensifying even slightly.

And the heroes succeeded in confining the revived Erebus to the northern region.

'During this time, we must thoroughly prepare for its subjugation.'

Although many heroes have been born, only the Heroes of Genesis can properly fight the fragment of Erebus.

'Furthermore, we must prepare for any potential attacks from Tartarus.'

Although they were said to be annihilated, the three legion commanders, who could be considered core forces, were still threatening.

If many heroes were to leave their posts to defeat Erebus and be ambushed, it would be a huge problem.

Time was needed to prepare for the subjugation of the Erebus fragment.

To buy that time, Erebus was confined to the frigid North.

And a massive encirclement was formed to prevent contact between the Erebus fragment and Tartarus.

Of course, it was not easy.

Countless elves rebelled at the idea of confining a calamity named Erebus in their homeland.

It was Annelie, the head of the Ersar family, who struggled to persuade her race against such opposition.

Anyway, the tide had turned in favor of the world.

'Of course, if we fail to subjugate the Erebus fragment, the situation will spiral out of control, so it's merely a default victory for now.'

Even Rhodea could not guarantee victory.

In such a situation, she suddenly felt uneasy.

And the source of that unease was not the North before her eyes…

It was right behind her.

'Is Tartarus possibly making a move? The Necromancer King surely knows it would be suicide as long as we hold our ground, doesn't he?'

An encirclement and a fortress to trap Erebus.

This place would not fall even if Tartarus brought its full might.

As Rhodea frowned.

Gooooo-!

Suddenly, a massive dark magic began to surge far above.

"Enemy!"

"It's Tartarus's attack!"

An alarm was raised among those guarding the city walls.

Rhodea's face stiffened.

It wasn't because her unease had become a reality.

It was because of the 'identity' of the dark magic she clearly felt.

"This is…?"

Rhodea's face was painted with shock.

"King Jiam?"

A legion commander who uses deep subterranean dark power.

King Jiam, Zikris.

The one who attacked was a legion commander who had been subjugated three years ago.