Book 1 Chapter 1034

1034.

Even Luna had difficulty finding similarities between Leo and Lena.

'Well. They do look alike, being blood relatives.'

That was all.

In terms of talent, he didn't resemble Leo either.

But there was one thing.

The refusal to give up was exactly like the hero of the beginning that Luna knew.

The reason Luna thought so was extremely simple.

'After coming to the past, all this child must have experienced was endless despair.'

Lena is not a hero.

A sprout just beginning to bloom.

Moreover, it's uncertain whether that budding potential will ever fully blossom.

'Perhaps she might not achieve heroic feats.'

It's common.

Those who disappear without fully realizing their potential.

And from that perspective, Lena had a high probability of disappearing before fully blossoming.

'This child clearly has great talent, but it's not special.'

The most tragic aspect of a dying world is that the weak die first.

A world where even the strong, who should protect the weak, find it difficult to save themselves.

If you don't have the talent to fight, it's hard to survive.

As such, in the Age of Calamity, naturally, those with outstanding talent survived.

Luna, who lived in that era, saw countless talents on the front lines of the war against Tartarus.

And compared to them, Lena's talent was not special.

A talent lacking even when compared to the students of Lumen Knight Academy in the current era.

It was, in a way, natural for her to be so timid.

Yet, Lena never gave up in desperate situations beyond her control.

The once childish Lena matured at some point because she experienced endlessly repeating loops.

'I don't know how many loops this child has experienced… but it must have been an unbearable level.'

She's just a young girl in her mid-teens, at best.

This girl, who had never experienced hardship, had fought alone against a foolish dragon trying to bring the world to ruin.

It would have been a harsh battle that would normally break one's spirit and lead to surrender.

But Lena did not give up.

Luna, who watched Lena for a moment, let out a chuckle.

'Well, even if I told her that, it wouldn't reach this child now.'

There's nothing to say to someone who doesn't give up even while frustrated with themselves.

No matter what anyone around them says, it won't be a comfort.

'One thing is clear: this child will someday find the answer and move forward.'

Just as Kyle did, no one else.

Thinking that, Luna said.

[You don't necessarily have to be like Kyle.]

"I don't have to be like Leo?"

Young Luna looked puzzled.

Lena also looked bewildered.

"Grandfather is practically a hero himself, so I don't need to be like him?"

Though not publicly known, he was a hero who saved the world twice.

A being like the origin of all heroes.

The idea that she didn't need to be like such a Leo was incomprehensible to Lena.

[Yes. You don't really need to be like anyone.]

Luna turned her head and gazed beyond the horizon.

Erebos would be somewhere beyond that.

5000 years ago.

Leo, as the last hero, subjugated Erebos and brought peace to the world.

And in the near future.

Complete peace would come.

That's why Leo became the perfect hero himself.

However…

'Kyle himself thinks he's far from being a hero.'

The ideal hero Kyle looks up to is Lysinus.

Luna agreed with that thought.

That's why the image of Leo known to those in the present and future is not like Leo in Luna's opinion.

Because Leo's current actions are imitating Lysinus.

'That scoundrel, acting perfectly like a leader.'

Luna chuckled.

Then should all heroes be like Lysinus?

'That's not it either.'

Ultimately, there is only one answer.

'If you can fight against malice. Anyone is a hero.'

You don't necessarily have to be like someone.

[After all, a hero is someone who doesn't give up.]

In that respect.

Lena was more heroic than anyone.

'Should I tell Lena that?'

Young Luna cautiously asked, but Luna shook her head.

[No, it's something she needs to realize herself.]

Having said that, Luna approached Lena.

And Luna reached out and stroked Lena's head.

Of course, Lena couldn't see Luna like that.

Even if she didn't have special talent.

Even if she was wandering now.

[You will definitely become a hero in the future. I guarantee it.]

"Huh?"

At that moment.

Lena's eyes widened, and she rubbed them.

[Hm?]

Their eyes met for a moment.

"Did I… see wrong?"

Young Luna asked, watching Lena mumble blankly.

"What?"

"Isn't adult Luna-nim in front of me?"

"How did you know?"

"I think I saw her for a moment."

It was when Lena was flustered.

Leo came up onto the city wall.

"We're moving in an hour, so get ready."

"Where are we going?"

Young Luna asked with a puzzled face, and Leo said calmly.

"To God."

"What?"

***

'The best way to know what Erebos is thinking would be to ask the one who knows him best.'

Among the inhabitants of the earth, Leo would probably be the one who knows Erebos best.

From the Age of Calamity to the present life.

Because he had only researched to subjugate Erebos.

However, there was someone in this world who knew Erebos better than Leo.

The gods of heaven, not the inhabitants of earth.

And currently on earth, there was someone who was a former god.

'My ears are going to hurt, so I don't really want to meet him.'

Recalling Ryan, Leo clicked his tongue quietly and looked at the small city in front of him.

3000 years later.

This was the land where Lumeria City, which would become the most prosperous center of the world, would be built, but now, compared to future prosperity, it was a city so small as to be humble.

'No. Is it more like a slightly larger village?'

As he felt the passage of past and future time anew.

Luna, who was behind Leo, her eyes sparkled.

"It looks like a festival is being held."

"It is noisy."

"Aren't you going to look around?"

"I'm busy."

"You have to rest anyway since it's evening."

Unlike the future, this entire area was a remote region, making the term "center of the world" meaningless.

As such, there was no warp gate that could take them directly.

"Do you want to play?"

"Yes. Yes."

Luna's eyes sparkled brightly as she clung to Leo's arm.

"Aww~"

Seeing young Luna act cute with a sweet voice, Leo let out a wry laugh and nodded.

"Let's stay here for the evening."

Anyway, to meet Ryan, they had to go to the school grounds where Lumen would be established.

'This area was originally said to have many monsters.'

Even now, with Lumeria City's prosperity, not all monsters in Lake Lumeria had been subjugated.

Partly maintained for student training, the monster ecosystem persisted despite Lumen students actively subjugating them every year.

Monsters become more ferocious at night.

Moreover, they were now even more frenzied due to the resurrection of Erebos's fragment.

If they carelessly ventured into a monster den late at night, a great commotion would ensue.

'At least it's quiet during the day.'

From Leo's perspective, who needed to finish things as quietly as possible, moving in the evening was not a good option.

Thus, the group entered the city and immediately headed for the nearest inn.

"Today is a festival day, so there's only one room left."

As Leo was about to leave the inn at those words, the innkeeper said.

"Other inns will likely only have one room too."

At that, young Luna said.

"We're family anyway, so we'll share a room."

"Haha. It seems you siblings are traveling together. That's remarkable in these turbulent times."

The innkeeper said, sounding surprised by Luna's words.

"Because we're mercenaries."

Leo, who answered calmly, rented the inn room.

They went up to the second floor and entered the room.

It was a single room with only one bed.

Fortunately, the bed was quite wide, so it seemed two people could sleep in it.

"You two sleep on the bed. I'll sleep on the floor."

"No. Forget that and let's go to the festival. Lena, aren't you excited?"

"Yes?! Ah… I mean…"

Lena hesitated, averting her eyes.

"I want to investigate more about what I experienced earlier."

"What happened earlier?"

"Lena said she momentarily saw another me in an astral state."

"What?"

"It, it might be a misunderstanding… but if it's true, I might have talent as a summoner."

"It would have been better if you had magical talent."

[Indeed.]

Young Luna and adult Luna smacked their lips.

"Anyway! You can study anytime! Now is the time to make memories with Grandpa in his younger days!"

Young Luna pushed Lena's back.

"What kind of grandmother in the world interferes with her granddaughter's studies?"

"Who's a grandmother!"

"You."

Young Luna, with blazing eyes, punched Leo's shoulder repeatedly.

Leo, completely ignoring young Luna, said.

"I can teach you a certain amount about summoning."

Having said that, Leo looked at Lena, whose eyes were darting around, and said.

"So, when it's time to enjoy, enjoy."

The reason Leo stayed in the festival city was not simply to avoid the commotion that would arise from fighting monsters.

Leo also knew that his granddaughter, who would be born in the future, was carrying a harsh burden unfitting for her age.

That's why he wanted to help her relax a bit.

At Leo's words, Lena cautiously asked.

"Can I play?"

"There's no reason why not."

At Leo's words, Lena's gaze turned to the street outside the window.

Her face momentarily changed to that of someone her age.

Seeing her, Leo burst out laughing.

'Even pretending to be mature, she's still a child.'

***

Crunch- Crunch-

Rhodea was chewing a cookie with a somewhat uncomfortable expression.

In front of Rhodea sat her comrades and close friends, Lumen and Seirun.

"Oh? Did the two of them have a fight?"

Annelie tilted her head.

Currently, Lumen was smiling and looking at Seirun, while Seirun, conversely, was avoiding Lumen's gaze.

Watching them, Annelie glanced at Rhodea and secretly wore a mischievous smile.

'Aha? She's jealous?'

The quick-witted Annelie had already noticed that Rhodea also had feelings for Lumen.

'Actually, Seirun and Rhodea. Everyone knows but them.'

Annelie clicked her tongue secretly, tsk-tsk-, looking at her smart but oblivious friends.

'What's so good about that pervert.'

Annelie looked at her friends with a pitiful expression, then tilted her head.

'By the way, why is Lumen looking at Seirun as if he's going to devour him?'

"Is something going on with you two?"

Just then, Rhodea asked with a slightly sullen face.

"Nothing's going on."

"Yeah."

Lumen said with a smile, and Seirun agreed.

"Suspicious."

It was when Rhodea, with folded arms, furrowed her brow.

Boom-!

The entire fortress shook.

Rhodea's complexion changed drastically.

Dong-! Dong-! Dong-!

Along with it, the sound of bells rang throughout the fortress, signaling danger.

Annelie frantically looked out the window.

And seeing the giant demon far away, she shouted.

"Jörmungandr has invaded again!"

"Tsk!"

Rhodea, Lumen, and Seirun clicked their tongues and entered battle posture.