Book 1 Chapter 1029

1029.

It was around noon the next day when Leo and his companions arrived at the fortress supervised by Seirun.

Heroes of many races and their followers were guarding the walls.

One difference from the Rodia side was the high proportion of elves.

"The atmosphere is unusual."

Luna muttered, looking at the fortress through the telescope.

"Of course, it would be unusual. Because the story from Rodia's side must have been conveyed."

'Judging by the atmosphere, the information that the subjugated Legion Commander has been revived doesn't seem to have reached them.'

If that fact were known, it would surely have a huge impact worldwide.

As they were facing the decisive battle with the Erebos Shard, it also affected morale.

That's why Rodia was cautious in its announcement and had only conveyed the fact that there had been an attack by Tartaros for now.

'Seirun must have subtly persuaded them from the side too.'

"First, let's go inside the fortress."

"Yeah. Huh? Wait."

Luna, who was examining the fortress with the telescope, said urgently.

"It looks like someone has arrived at the fortress?"

At her words, Leo took the telescope from Luna.

The telescope was an item made by Cal and was very helpful.

Leo clicked his tongue as he looked in the direction Luna had been looking.

"This is troublesome."

"Huh? Why?"

"Is something wrong?"

"Lumerin has arrived."

At those words, Luna and Lena's eyes widened.

"Lumerin, you say…?"

"That's right."

Leo took his eyes off the telescope.

"My successor."

Apparently, he had come to meet Seirun.

"Let's hurry. If the two of them meet, it will get complicated."

Even for Leo, kidnapping one person when two Heroes of Genesis were together was not an easy task.

Scratch- Scratch- Scratch-

Seirun was fiddling with a pencil, clutching his head with a haggard face.

"Isn't there a better idea?"

He scratched his head with the tip of his pencil.

Seirun's appearance was a mess.

He had been holed up in his room, cut off from the outside world, for a month now.

'If Rodia finds out, he'll go wild.'

But he couldn't help it.

It might seem irresponsible, but at this point, on the eve of the battle with Erebos, magic research was very important.

'I don't want to lose anyone.'

Seirun thought of the Heroes of Genesis.

Honestly, his first meeting with the Heroes of Genesis wasn't what you'd call good.

'No. I was too picky and headstrong.'

As a member of the Tingel family, Seirun was the hero with the best lineage among the Heroes of Genesis.

And the past Seirun was that arrogant.

'Ah. How embarrassing.'

Recalling those days, Seirun covered his face.

Seirun of that era didn't like Rodia.

At that time, Seirun, who was caught up in the euphoria of being a rare genius who restored star magic and fulfilled the elves' long-cherished wish, was upset at the thought of being relegated to second place.

After the meeting with Rodia was arranged.

This time, he was upset seeing those Rodia chose first.

The arrogant human monarch, Tamus.

'Honestly, until then, Tamus was tolerable.'

The problem was the beastkin warrior, Azonia.

Especially at that time, rumors were circulating even among elves that Azonia was promiscuous.

Naturally, a free-spirited beastkin lady and a noble elven lady were bound to be incompatible.

'I really fought with Azonia until I was sick of it.'

But at some point, their animosity disappeared, and they became close.

And she became as close a companion as Rodia.

'Well, we still fight now, though.'

The one who joined after Azonia was Damian.

As a dwarf connected to Azonia, Seirun stared at him lost in thought when he first saw him.

But after realizing that Damian had a twisted personality, they often clashed.

He even cried once, unable to contain his anger during an argument with Damian.

Fortunately, he doesn't cry during arguments these days.

According to Damian, he is going easy on him.

'How ridiculous. It's just that I've gotten used to it.'

Though they bicker, Damian is as precious as life itself to Seirun.

'And the last one to join was… Lumerin.'

It was the first and last time the Knight of the Underworld, Tamus, and Seirun saw eye to eye.

How could they accept someone who was a former slave?

Seirun, recalling his past self, slammed his head on the desk.

Tamus, who had denied Lumerin until the end after Lumerin joined, left the party.

Later, during the War of Genesis, Lumerin became an invaluable presence to Seirun.

Seirun's eyes wavered as he thought of Lumerin.

'Annelie.'

His precious friend.

Originally, she should have been here, guarding the fortress with Seirun.

But Annelie is currently with Rodia.

The reason was simple.

A scandal involving Annelie was circulating in elven society.

Annelie, who was not married, had a child.

And that child was a half-breed with a human slave.

"…"

Seirun bit his lip tightly.

The source of the rumor was none other than himself.

And the rumor was accurate.

Annelie had indeed given birth to a child.

Though Seirun had never met the child directly.

A few years ago, when the war was in full swing.

Annelie became pregnant and left the battlefield.

And when other elves asked where Annelie had gone, Seirun inadvertently blurted out that she had left the battlefield to give birth to a child.

'Why did I do that?'

Seirun covered his face.

Actually, Annelie was a burden to him.

To be precise, he was jealous.

Annelie, who always smiled warmly, felt fundamentally different from him.

And after restoring star magic.

Seirun was filled with a sense of superiority, thinking he had surpassed Annelie.

'How ugly.'

Seirun bit his lip, recalling his past self.

But it was only then that Seirun could become friends with Annelie.

'No, to be precise, I pretended to be friends.'

So time passed.

One day, Annelie introduced Lumerin to Rodia.

Seirun, who had initially kept Lumerin at a distance because he was a former slave, quickly grew close to Lumerin.

Then he saw.

One night on the battlefield, Lumerin entering the same tent.

Not long after, Annelie became pregnant.

Annelie only told Seirun about her pregnancy.

It was then.

That the dark emotion he thought had disappeared resurfaced.

What he said to the elves looking for Annelie instantly became an open secret.

Later in the war, Annelie saved Seirun's life countless times.

Because of that, Seirun cursed himself for tarnishing Annelie's honor.

He wanted to tell the truth and beg for forgiveness.

But he just couldn't muster the courage.

Now, he was afraid of being hated by his friend.

'How pathetic. To borrow Azonia's words… I'm a complete bitch.'

Seirun gave a self-deprecating smile.

'Do I, someone like me, really deserve to be Luna-nim's successor?'

Seirun, who was blaming himself, slapped his cheek.

'Yes. I'll beg for forgiveness after the final battle. To do that.'

Seirun looked at the magic circle.

'I must ensure no one dies.'

That was what the magic research was for.

Just then.

Knock-knock-

"Lady Seirun."

"What is it? I told you not to disturb me unless it's urgent!"

"I… that is… the Knight of Twilight has come to see you, Lady Seirun."

"…Lumerin?"

Seirun, reminded of Annelie's situation, instinctively hunched his shoulders.

He wished to avoid meeting Lumerin if possible.

But if Lumerin, who also guarded the fortress, had come to find him, surely a problem had arisen.

"Tell him I'll prepare and come out."

Saying that, Seirun stood up.

Then he paused, seeing a mirror on one side of the lab.

Seirun buried his nose in his arm and sniffed, then sighed.

"Even so, meeting him like this wouldn't do, would it?"

Thinking that, Seirun returned to his room.

"First, I'll wash…"

Slam-!

Seirun, who was about to enter the shower attached to his room, instinctively reacted to the sound that suddenly came from behind him without a trace of presence.

Magic was completed in an instant.

But the intruder who broke into the room was faster in breaking Seirun's neck than the magic's activation.

Crack-!

"Gurgle?!"

Leo, who had knocked Seirun unconscious mercilessly, clicked his tongue.

"His reaction is faster than I thought."

He hadn't expected him to complete the magic in such a short time.

Of course, he dispelled the magic, but residual magic power remained from the spell that was on the verge of activating.

Normally, one wouldn't be able to react to this residual magic power.

But currently, in this fortress, there was another hero beyond the 'normal' range, besides Seirun.

Leo hoisted Seirun onto his shoulder and jumped out the window.

And at an invisible speed, he stealthily left the fortress and headed to where Luna and Lena were waiting.

Leo, who had reunited with the two, immediately left the fortress.

But even faster than him, there was one person detected by Leo's supersenses.

'Lumerin.'

He realized the unusual situation and was tracking them immediately.

If left like this, the news of Seirun's kidnapping would spread.

'Seirun, that guy. He said no one visits the fortress at this time.'

Leo grumbled inwardly, then sighed.

'No. It might be the effect of the Erebos Shard causing trouble by coming to the past.'

Thinking that far, Leo stopped in his tracks.

"Aren't we going?"

"Grandfather?"

As Luna and Lena looked puzzled, Leo threw Seirun to the two of them.

"Lumerin is chasing us. So take him and get far away."

Luna and Lena scrambled away from the spot.

After confirming their departure, Leo turned around.

Precisely, it was in the direction Lumerin was running from.

'Lumerin.'

Skill and conviction.

He was a junior beyond reproach in every aspect.

However, Leo had never properly seen Lumerin fight.

Because of that, now that an opportunity to fight like this had come, he felt curious.

About Lumerin's true skill.

Clang-!

Leo drew his sword.

And he smiled, looking at Lumerin, whose figure was beginning to appear in the distance.

"Since things are already messed up, shall I see your skill for once?"