Book 1 Chapter 1029

It was around noon the next day when Leo and his party reached the fortress guarded by Seirun.

Heroes from many races and their followers were defending the fortress walls.

The only difference from Lodias' side was the higher proportion of elves.

"The atmosphere feels off," Luna murmured, looking at the fortress through her telescope.

"Of course it does. News of what happened on Lodias' side must have reached them."

'Judging by the atmosphere, the information about the vanquished legion commander being revived hasn't gotten out yet.'

If that fact were known, it would undoubtedly have a massive impact on the entire world.

It also affected morale, with the decisive battle against Erebus' Shards looming.

Therefore, Lodias had been cautious with its announcements, only conveying the fact that Tartarus had attacked.

'Seirun must have been subtly persuading them from the side.'

"Let's head inside the fortress first."

"Yeah. Huh? Wait a moment."

Luna, who had been observing the fortress with her telescope, said urgently.

"Someone seems to be coming towards the fortress?"

At her words, Leo took the telescope from Luna.

The telescope was a very useful item, crafted by Kal.

Leo, looking in the direction Luna had been observing, clicked his tongue.

"This is going to be troublesome."

"Huh? Why?"

"Is something the matter?"

"Lumir is here."

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

"Lumir, you mean…?"

"That's right."

Leo took his eyes off the telescope.

"My successor."

It was clear he had come to meet Seirun.

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

Even for Leo, it wouldn't be easy to abduct one person while the two heroes of the Primal Age were together.

Rustle- Rustle- Rustle-

Seirun, with a hollow look, was scribbling with a pencil, holding his head.

"Don't you have any better ideas?"

He scratched his head with the tip of his pencil.

Seirun was a mess.

He had been shut away in a small room for a month, isolated from the outside world.

'Lodias would surely fly into a rage if they knew.'

But there was no other choice.

It might seem irresponsible, but magical research was extremely important at this point, with the battle against Erebus approaching.

'I don't want to lose anyone.'

Seirun thought of the Primal Age heroes.

Honestly, their first meeting hadn't been pleasant.

'No. I was too picky and self-willed.'

As a member of the Tingel family, Seirun was the hero with the best bloodline among the Primal Age heroes.

And in the past, Seirun had been that arrogant.

'Ah, how embarrassing.'

Recalling those days, Seirun covered his face.

Seirun back then didn't like Lodias.

He was intoxicated by the fact that he was a rare genius who restored the magic of the stars and fulfilled the elves' long-cherished dream. At that time, he was upset at being pushed to second place.

Then, after the meeting with Lodias was arranged.

This time, he was upset by the people Lodias chose.

The arrogant human monarch, Tamus.

'Honestly, Tamus was tolerable up until then.'

The problem was the beast warrior, Azonia.

Especially since rumors of Azonia's promiscuity had spread among the elves at the time.

Naturally, a free-spirited beast girl and an elf girl from a noble family were bound to clash.

'I fought with Azonia endlessly.'

But at some point, the resentment disappeared, and they became friends.

And she became as close a friend as Lodias.

'Well, we still fight.'

After Azonia, Demian joined.

As a dwarf with a connection to Azonia, Seirun was mesmerized when he first saw him.

However, after realizing Demian's twisted personality, they often clashed.

There were times when he cried out of anger after arguing with Demian.

Fortunately, he no longer cried during arguments these days.

According to Demian, he was going easy on him.

'He's joking. I've just gotten used to him.'

Despite their bickering, Demian was as precious as his life to Seirun.

'And the last to join was… Lumir.'

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

How could they accept someone who was a former slave?

Recalling himself at that time, Seirun buried his head in his desk.

After Lumir joined, Tamus, who had persistently rejected Lumir, left the party.

After that, during the Primal Age war, Lumir became an irreplaceable existence to Seirun.

As Seirun thought of Lumir, his eyes wavered.

'Anelli.'

His precious friend.

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

However, Anelli was currently with Lodias.

The reason was simple.

Scandal was circulating about Anelli in elven society.

Anelli, who was not married, had given birth to a child.

And the child was a half-blood with a human slave.

"…"

Seirun bit his lip tightly.

The source of the rumor was none other than himself.

And the rumor was true.

Anelli had indeed given birth to a child.

Though Seirun had never met him.

Years ago, during the height of the war.

Anelli had become pregnant and left the battlefield.

And when the surrounding elves asked where Anelli had gone, Seirun, without thinking, blurted out that she had left the battlefield to give birth.

'Why did I do that?'

Seirun covered his face.

In fact, he felt burdened by Anelli.

More precisely, he was jealous.

Anelli, who always smiled warmly, was fundamentally different from him.

And after restoring the magic of the stars.

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

'How ugly.'

Recalling that time, Seirun bit his lip.

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

'No, to be precise, I was pretending to be friends.'

Time flowed by.

One day, Anelli introduced Lumir to Lodias.

Seirun, who had initially distanced himself from Lumir because he was a former slave, quickly grew close to him.

Then he saw it.

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

Not long after, Anelli became pregnant.

Anelli only informed Seirun of her pregnancy.

It was then.

The dark emotions he thought had disappeared resurfaced.

What he said to the elves searching for Anelli quickly became an open secret.

Later, during the war, Anelli saved Seirun's life countless times.

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

He wanted to tell the truth and beg for forgiveness.

But he couldn't muster the courage.

He was now 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.

'Am I really worthy of being Luna's successor?'

Self-reproaching, Seirun slapped his own cheek.

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

Seirun looked at the magic circle.

'I must ensure no one dies.'

That was what the magic research was for.

Then.

Knock-knock-

"Seirun-nim."

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

"Um… that is… the Knight of Twilight has come to see you, Seirun-nim."

"…Lumir?"

Thinking of Anelli's situation, Seirun naturally hunched his shoulders.

He wanted to avoid meeting Lumir as much as possible.

But if Lumir, who was guarding the fortress like himself, had come, there must be a problem.

"Tell him I'll be ready to go out."

Saying so, Seirun got up.

Then, he stopped, looking at a mirror in a corner of the laboratory.

He sniffed his arm, and Seirun sighed.

"Surely, I can't meet him like this, can I?"

Thinking so, Seirun returned to his room.

"First, I'll wash…"

Creak-!

As Seirun was about to enter the attached shower room, he instinctively reacted to someone entering the room silently from behind.

Magic was completed in an instant.

However, the intruder who entered the room was faster than the magic's activation, twisting Seirun's neck.

Crack-!

"Gurgle?!"

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

"He reacted faster than I expected."

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

Of course, he dispelled the magic, but residual mana remained in the magic that had reached its activation point.

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

However, at this fortress, there was another hero beyond the 'normal' category, besides Seirun.

Leo slung Seirun over his shoulder and jumped out the window.

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

Reuniting with the two, Leo immediately left the fortress.

However, someone who could be detected by Leo's hypersenses was faster.

'Lumir.'

Realizing the abnormal situation, he was chasing after them.

If he left it as is, the news of Seirun's abduction would spread.

'That Seirun. He said there would be no visitors at the fortress at this time of day.'

Muttering inwardly, Leo sighed.

'No. It might be the influence of Erebus' Shards causing chaos by coming to the past.'

Thinking that far, Leo stopped.

"Aren't you going?"

"Grandfather?"

As Luna and Lena looked at him with confused expressions, Leo threw Seirun to them.

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

Luna and Lena scrambled to their feet in a fluster.

Seeing their reaction, Leo turned around.

More precisely, he turned in the direction Lumir was running from.

'Lumir.'

Skill and conviction.

A junior who couldn't be faulted in any aspect.

However, Leo had never properly seen Lumir fight.

Therefore, now that the opportunity to fight had arrived, curiosity arose.

Lumir's true strength.

Swoosh-!

Leo drew his sword.

And seeing Lumir, who had started to appear in the distance, he smiled.

"Since things have gotten complicated, shall we see how skilled you are?"