Book 1 Chapter 115
115.
Leo stared blankly at Elsie, who cleared her throat and shrugged her shoulders.
He almost doubted if this spirit was indeed Elsie, the shadow spirit who had made a contract with him.
‘She’s so different, isn’t she?’
“So, where is Licinius?”
Leo asked, looking at Elsie, who had her hands clasped together and her eyes sparkling.
“She’s coming to Leysar now.”
“Ah! Then I don’t need to go look for her, do I?”
“That’s right.”
“That’s a relief! I was thinking of going to find Licinius today or tomorrow! So our paths won’t cross!”
Hearing that, Elsie began to straighten her clothes and fix her hair, like a job seeker preparing for an interview.
Leo asked her,
“Why do you want to make a contract with Licinius? There are plenty of people making a name for themselves, aren’t there?”
“Because I heard she was chosen by the spirit of splendor.”
“Just for that?”
“That’s not all. I heard stories from the wind spirits! That you defeated Commander Yomenghard! Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“See that!!”
Elsie spun around in place, placed her hand on her hip, and said,
“Someone who defeats a commander in this day and age and declares that they will subdue Erebus! Isn’t she the perfect person to be my contractor!”
‘She’s so different, I can’t adapt.’
“Why do you want to save the world?”
“I am a spirit born in the Age of Calamity. That’s why I really want to see the stars in the night sky! I heard they are so beautiful it’s dazzling!”
Elsie’s eyes sparkled as she lost herself in imagination.
In the nights of the Age of Calamity, when a terrifying red moon rose, even the starlight hid itself.
‘That’s a fact I never knew.’
Though they had a contract, Leo knew almost nothing about Elsie.
That was because Elsie never answered him, even when he tried to talk to her.
‘Come to think of it, she showed a little interest when we talked about the night sky.’
The always silent Elsie had shown interest only when he spoke about the starlight before the Age of Calamity.
“So! When is Licinius coming?”
“It’s still a long way off.”
“Then!”
Leo asked Elsie, who looked very disappointed, with a serious expression.
“I have one last question. When exactly have you been in this region?”
“I’ve been here for ten years. This is a secret from Agon, though.”
The sword that devours darkness, Shatten, that’s me.”
Elsie revealed her identity with a smile and winked one eye.
***
“Did Agon refuse my request?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Lord Rodian’s hand trembled as he looked at Rebaiton, who was bowing his head.
“Agon! Why do you refuse the request of your comrade!”
Rodian, a dwarf, expressed his anger, but it was utterly pathetic.
Short in stature but stout in build, each dwarf was an excellent warrior.
If beast-men were brave warriors utilizing their wild strength, dwarves were skilled warriors utilizing superior technology and weapons.
However, in Rodian’s haggard and gaunt appearance, no trace of a warrior’s demeanor could be found.
He too was once a warrior who had distinguished himself on the battlefield and a celebrated hero.
It was because of such achievements that the people of Leysar had acclaimed him as their lord.
In an age of chaos, it was only natural for a hero to ascend to power.
But Rodian changed after gaining power.
To be precise, he lost his will to fight after embarking on his first expedition as lord.
He ascended to the position of lord ten years ago.
It was when a heroic alliance of unprecedented strength in history was formed.
At that time, people thought that the heroic alliance would subdue Erebus and bring peace to the world.
‘The result was a crushing defeat.’
Erebus’s power was terrifying, and countless heroes were slain.
Even those who survived had their spirits broken.
Rodian was one such hero.
Terrified, Rodian later retreated deep into his inner keep, becoming a figure who only looked out for his own safety.
“It seems he still cares about the orphans in the cursed land!”
“Foolish! To refuse the greater good to protect those worthless things!”
“Isn’t he a fool utterly consumed by ideals?”
Rebaiton bowed his head.
“Especially now, it is said that a plague is rampant in that cursed land.”
“Plague?”
Rodian’s face turned pale.
If a plague were to break out in Leysar, where countless refugees had gathered, the entire city would surely falter.
If that happened, there would be problems with the city’s defenses.
“Oh, what should I do! Rebaiton!”
“We must nip the plague in the bud before it spreads.”
Rodian inhaled sharply, looking at Rebaiton’s resolute expression.
“If the plague spreads, the entire city will be in danger. If we prevent it beforehand, the citizens will also be pleased. Of course, it pains me to cut down the homeless orphans, but…”
Rebaiton bit his lip, a distressed expression on his face.
“For the greater good, there’s nothing we can do. The citizens will also follow our will.”
“B-but Agon won’t stand by, will he?”
“Lord Agon is your old friend, my lord. If we say we want his advice for the future of Leysar, he won’t be able to refuse to come to the inner keep.”
“Taking Agon away from there isn’t the problem! If we deal with all those orphans, Agon will surely rampage!”
Even if he was old and past his prime, Agon was still considered one of the strongest heroes of his generation.
If he were to get angry and point his spear at Leysar…
The entire city would surely suffer immense damage.
“As I said a moment ago, the greater good lies with you, my lord.”
Rebaiton spoke unhesitatingly.
“Rumors of the plague have already spread throughout the city. Stopping the plague is also what the public wants. No matter how foolish Agon may be, he won’t do something as foolish as putting a city with many people in danger.”
Rebaiton curled up the corners of his mouth.
“After all, he is still a ‘hero’.”
“C-certainly…”
“Moreover, if any problem arises, I will take responsibility.”
Looking at Rebaiton, who spoke firmly, Rodian wore a relieved expression.
“I will entrust it to your judgment, as I always have!”
“That is a wise decision, my lord. And, my lord. If things go well, Shatten…”
“You shall have it. Who else but you, who cares for me so much, would possess that mighty sword?”
“I will do my best to repay your lord’s kindness.”
Rebaiton, with an emotional face, bowed his head and left the lord’s chambers.
‘Even a mighty warrior once called a hero is now just an old, corrupted loser.’
A sneer appeared on his face.
Rebaiton.
He was the true power in this city, manipulating Rodian, the lord of Leysar, from behind.
The people of Leysar city praised him as a hero.
Even though he had never once been on the battlefield, people thought he was a young hero who had saved the city multiple times.
The reason that was possible was simple.
Rebaiton was a human utterly unfit to be a hero, greedily seeking achievements.
The achievements attributed to him were exaggerated or fabricated, taking advantage of the chaotic times.
‘Stupid fools. They’re just busy praising once you wave hope in front of their eyes.’
The rumor of this plague was the same.
‘I’ve been spreading rumors about the cursed land for a long time now.’
The southern tip of Leysar is not a cursed land.
It was unclear why it had changed that way, but it didn’t cause any problems either.
It was merely a stratagem to thoroughly isolate Agon, who lived there.
The public easily forgets. Even if it was a hero who once protected them at the risk of their lives.
‘Rumors of the plague have already grown rampant. This gives us the justification and cause to sweep away that messy place. Hehehe.’
It didn’t matter if the plague was real or fake.
‘If I can just relieve their anxiety, people won’t care at all. And they’ll praise me. ‘As expected of Rebaiton!’”
Ambition flashed in his eyes.
A hero who saves the world?
‘I’m not interested in impossible things anyway. I just need to protect Leysar and live a comfortable life. Even in the Age of Calamity, if you have power, you can enjoy everything!’
Rebaiton burst into laughter and thought.
‘The day I get my hands on this land is not far off!’
***
After talking with Elsie, Leo immediately left the southern region of Leysar and gathered information.
He visited streets, pubs, and other places to confirm rumors about the area where the orphanage was located.
“A cursed place? It’s driving me crazy! A plague!”
“What is the lord doing? What if the plague spreads here too! He should take action!”
‘The city is already filled with rumors of a plague breaking out.’
Leo, returning to the orphanage, frowned and fell into thought.
‘Elsie is a spirit residing in Shatten, and she settled here ten years ago after the sword broke.’
She said she had been waiting here for a hero who would save the world.
And then today. She said she was planning to leave for Gardsron to meet Licinius.
Leo’s eyes caught sight of Elsie in the clearing, taking care of the other orphans.
Her appearance was similar to the elf girl Lia, so her position among the orphans was like an older sister, like Lia.
Elsie was smiling brightly as she took care of the children.
Seeing that, Leo recalled Elsie’s appearance when he would meet her a year later.
‘She was disillusioned with the world, and Agon.’
Agon, whose will was broken when they first met.
Licinius said he harbored hatred.
Leo’s face hardened at that thought.
‘These children didn’t die of the plague.’
His fist clenched tight.
‘Rebaiton, that bastard killed them!’
Leo, who knew the man Rebaiton intimately enough to be disgusted by him, had an idea of the reason for plotting such a thing.
It must have been to get his hands on Shatten.
He had been armed with numerous weapons.
Of course, his skill was a pathetic piece of trash compared to the weapons he possessed.
He only sought achievements to stand above the masses.
And when his life was in danger, he abandoned his comrades without hesitation.
He mocked and defiled those who claimed to save the world.
‘He was eventually exposed for colluding with Tartaros and executed by the public.’
A false hero.
A renegade.
Recalling Rebaiton’s face, screaming that it was unfair and begging for his life even in his dying moments, a look of disgust appeared on Leo’s face.
‘In my past life, I couldn’t understand how that bastard became lord…’
Leo looked at the orphans.
To Arion, these children were like siblings.
He recalled Arion, who hated himself because he was a coward and couldn’t protect the children.
A murderous glint appeared in Leo’s eyes.
“Black Rabbit, there you are? Help with dinner prep.”
“Before that. Mr. Agon?”
“Mr. Agon? The lord called him a while ago, and he went to the lord’s castle?”
“What?”
By then, the sun was already setting.
Clang- clang- clang-
Then, the sound of metal friction began to be heard.
The sensitive Ar pricked up his ears, and his eyes sharpened.
A moment later, the knights Leo had seen earlier appeared in the clearing.
The children began to tremble at the fierce aura of the knights.
The elf girl Lia nervously stepped forward.
“Sirs, Uncle Agon went to the lord’s castle a short while ago.”
“Get away, you filthy plague-ridden wench!”
One of the knights bellowed and swung his sword at Lia.
Lia squeezed her eyes shut at that moment.
“Are you crazy?”
Ar said in a cold voice.
The knight who had swung his sword turned pale at his intimidating presence.
Leo, stepping back, caught Lia from behind as she almost lost her balance and fell.
Leo, setting the trembling Lia upright, said,
“Don’t worry.”
“Huh?”
“Because we’ll protect you.”