Book 1 Chapter 1026

1026.

Rhodia gazed silently at the handsome young man before her, arms crossed.

Snow-white hair and crimson eyes.

There was still a hint of youthfulness on his face, making it seem a bit much to call him a complete young man.

However, despite this, the reason Rhodia felt Leo was like a young man was because of his aura.

'He's very mature.'

Rhodia, who was staring intently at Leo, who had a more precocious aura than his age, opened her mouth.

"Right, Seirun. So what you're saying is… you found someone with the power of 'All Class,' the power of purity?"

"Yes."

Seirun nodded.

"Someone with the same power as Lord Kyle… That's good timing, with the battle against Erebus not far off!"

Rhodia's eyes sparkled.

Despite the sudden appearance of an All Class, there was no great suspicion regarding Leo's existence.

That was because the one who vouched for Leo's identity was none other than Seirun.

One of the Heroes of Genesis personally chosen by Rhodia.

A comrade with whom they risked their lives fighting during the Genesis War, and one of her closest friends.

"You said your name was Leo, right?"

"Yes."

"Really? Oh, reaaally?"

Rhodia narrowed her eyes at Leo's words.

Then she let out a deep sigh.

"I understand you have great power at a young age. Since you possess the same power as Lord Kyle, I can understand why you might be a bit arrogant."

Rhodia crossed her arms.

"But the one before you is Rhodia, none other than Rhodia. The Dragon of Genesis, Rhodia."

Rhodia smiled faintly.

"I am the successor to Lord Lycinas, the King of Wisdom. You wouldn't be unaware, would you?"

"I know well. And you saved the world."

"We haven't saved the world yet. But we will soon."

Rhodia shrugged her shoulders.

"Anyway, if you know that fact well, shouldn't you show me some respect?"

'Kyaaaaaaaaaak!'

Seirun screamed inwardly upon hearing Rhodia's words.

When he first met Leo before.

He had been rude, unable to control his temper, but that didn't mean Seirun thought of Leo casually at all.

On the contrary, Seirun truly respected Kyle, the Great Hero.

Even then, Leo had accepted it as the cute grumbling of a junior, and Seirun was truly grateful for that.

That's why a scream involuntarily erupted from him at the sight of Rhodia treating Leo like a mere youngster and demanding respect.

He felt like hitting Rhodia's head with his staff right then and there, then making her apologize with her forehead on the ground.

Rhodia probably would have turned pale and bowed her head if she knew Leo's true identity was Kyle himself.

But he couldn't do that.

The current situation was that they had traveled 3000 years into the past.

When they returned to their original timeline, their perceptions would be altered by magic, and they would forget about the beings from the future.

However, they couldn't act in a way that excessively influenced the past.

And the reincarnation of a Great Hero in the future was a major event that could profoundly affect the past.

Crucially…

'At this time, Rhodia… no, we thought we could subjugate the fragments of Erebus.'

The Heroes of Genesis, including Seirun, believed they could end the sparks of disaster that had continued since the Age of Calamity.

They knew that the power of purity was needed to completely subjugate Erebus.

'But it was only one fragment.'

One of six fragments, not a complete being.

They believed that if they had enough power to overwhelm a fragment of Erebus, they could completely annihilate a fragment that had achieved an incomplete resurrection.

Indeed, in their first decisive battle against Erebus, that thought seemed to hold true.

Afterward, the Heroes of Genesis planned to find the remaining fragments.

'But it wasn't.'

The fragment of Erebus resurrected again.

In the state of a faint flame.

Of course, it resurrected in a state incomparably weaker than when five people combined their strength to defeat it.

It was none other than Seirun alone who dealt with the resurrected fragment again.

But even after that, the fragment of Erebus, which they thought had been annihilated, resurrected.

Eventually, realizing the need for the power of purity, Rumerne tried to somehow inherit the characteristic of purity through Kyle's world, but it was impossible.

'In the end, we chose sealing.'

While Seirun reminisced about the past.

"We will soon subjugate the resurrected fragment of Erebus."

Rhodia smiled broadly.

"And then we'll find all the fragments of Erebus and subjugate them."

The Dragon of Genesis smiled confidently.

Leo wore a slightly surprised expression.

This was a little different from the Rhodia he knew.

She was full of confidence and seemed to shine brightly.

"Lord Lycinas… we will fulfill the unfulfilled wish of the Great Heroes on their behalf."

"Oh-ho?"

Leo let out an exclamation of admiration.

"The people of the world praise our achievements recorded in the Hero Record as magnificent… but even those achievements will soon be just the beginning, won't they?"

Doria smiled brightly, showing her confidence.

Watching her, Seirun wore a bitter expression.

'Yes, at this time, we thought this way.'

We would fulfill the unfulfilled wishes of the Great Heroes and usher in a new era.

They were filled with such dreams and ambition.

That's why Seirun didn't want to tell the Rhodia of this time… didn't want to tell themselves about the future.

Perhaps the future might be shaken.

The failure to subjugate Erebus was that shocking.

'No. Perhaps I don't want them to know the pain we will suffer.'

The Heroes of Genesis ultimately chose to be sealed in the World of Genesis along with Erebus.

And the Heroes of Genesis regretted their choice countless times.

An inconceivably long loop.

They had long forgotten which loop it was.

The only emotion when everything was remembered after subjugation was despair.

How many times would they have to repeat it?

Would it ever end?

No, how long could they hold it back?

A terrible time when only anxiety and distrust filled their hearts.

He didn't want to ruin this shining time when they had no doubt about their failure.

That's why Seirun wanted to hide the fact that he came from the future.

'Somehow, I want to hide that fact and resolve it.'

With such feelings…

"That's truly amazing."

When Leo said that with a faint smile to Rhodia, Rhodia made a displeased expression.

"Oh? Look at this? Why is your reaction so dry? Do you often get told you're rude?"

"Something like that."

"I knew it."

Seirun trembled his shoulders, watching his friend commit rudeness as easily as breathing.

"Anyway, learn a lot from Rumerne. Rumerne knows a lot of Lord Kyle's techniques."

"Learn from Rumerne?"

"Yes. I know you defeated the Earth King easily. But that's because you possess a power that's a natural enemy to the Earth King."

'Please… Rhodia, stop!'

Seirun pleaded inwardly.

"That's true. It was too easy for a Legion Commander."

Leo agreed with Rhodia's words.

"Oh my? You're more humble than I thought. That's good. You're more willing to learn than I expected."

"Am I?"

"Yes. You have great power, but you still lack a lot of experience, so you need to learn more. Trust my words."

'Please stop!'

Rhodia looked at Leo, her eyes sparkling.

"By the way, I thought we would be the greatest heroes of our generation… but in a few years, you might become the greatest."

As a Selector of Heroes, Rhodia predicted that Leo would become an absurd monster.

"Speaking of which, the same mana characteristics as Lord Kyle… did you also have trouble with social cues?"

A vein popped out on Leo's forehead.

"Hey! You damned lizard!"

At the same time, Seirun, unable to watch any longer, lunged at Rhodia.

"What are you doing! You damned ear-wearing… *cough*!? *Cough cough cough*?!"

If it were a simple hand-to-hand fight, Seirun, an elf, couldn't defeat Rhodia, a dragon.

But Seirun genuinely used magic to subdue Rhodia.

"W-what suddenly… *cough cough*!"

Rhodia, choked by Seirun, thrashed about.

She had never in her wildest dreams expected Seirun to make such a surprise attack, so she was helplessly caught.

"W-what did I do wrong… *gasp*!? *Guh-huh-huhk*?!"

"You'll thank me later!"

"Shut your mouth, you're full of… *gasp*."

In the end, Rhodia rolled her eyes and fainted.

"*Gasp*! *Gasp*!"

Seirun gasped for breath, fell away from Rhodia, and sat down with a thud.

"You're being too much, considering I didn't know."

"Not knowing is also a sin."

Saying that, Seirun slapped Rhodia on the forehead.

Just then, the parlor door opened with a knock.

"Rhodia, Seirun… the refreshments… oh my?"

Annelie covered her mouth and gasped, seeing the unconscious Rhodia.

"Did you fight again?"

"Yes."

"Seirun and Rhodia are really close. I envy your lack of pretense."

Annelie looked at Rhodia with a hint of envy, then put down the refreshment tray and left the room.

"You said it was an important conversation, right? Wake her up and talk while you eat."

After saying that, Annelie waved to Leo and left the room.

Leo poked a fruit with his fork and said,

"She's kind. Even takes care of the women who are after her husband."

"It's not an affair!"

Seirun shouted back, his face bright red.

Then he covered his face with his hands.

"By the way… Lord Leo, do you know why the Earth King and the Gluttony King appeared?"

"I have a guess."

"What is it?"

"It seems the fragments are from the future… the Legion's Record."

"What? The Legion's Record?"

Seirun's face showed surprise at the unfamiliar term.

To Seirun, Leo explained the Legion's Record.

"Because of us, the Hero Record…"

"It's not because of you. If it weren't for you, the next generation wouldn't have continued."

Leo said definitively.

"Although I tore apart the fragments of Erebus, the sealing isn't perfect."

Leo crunched on a fruit.

"Perhaps if we had dragged out the time, other fragments might have resonated and resurrected. If that had happened, the world might have truly ended."

At those words, Seirun gave a bitter laugh.

"Anyway, put those thoughts aside. Let's talk about now."

"Yes."

"If we're going to hide the fact that we came from the future… what are you going to do about the you of this timeline?"

"The me of this timeline probably won't know that an emergency has occurred."

"Why?"

"Looking at the date, this is when I was holed up in an underground room, engrossed in magic research."

"Rhodia doesn't know that?"

"No. I did it secretly because I thought she'd nag."

"Hmm."

"So the solution is simple."

Leo chuckled at Seirun's words.

Looking at Leo, Seirun said,

"It seems Lord Leo has similar thoughts to me."

"Right. We just need to kidnap her and lock her up somewhere?"

"I ask this of you."

"You really are Luna's junior. How can you think exactly the same?"

"Hehehe."

Leo sighed, looking at Seirun who was genuinely happy.

"That wasn't a compliment."