Book 1 Chapter 138
138.
“Zera. Did you just shout at me? Are you insane?”
Hirkyian asked with a look of disbelief.
The student with a petite appearance, thought to be possessed by Hardin, spoke as if retorting to the cold expression.
“Aren’t you the one who’s insane? What are you to insult Lady Luna?”
“Hah, this is unbelievable. Some insignificant nobody is getting angry at me? And for insulting that low-status girl? Are you crazy?”
The surrounding students made bewildered expressions.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Is there something wrong with his head?”
The Vesron family was a massive family that controlled Varharun.
As an heir to such a family, the usual Zera was someone who couldn't even make eye contact with Hirkyian and lived in suppressed fear.
For such a Zera to suddenly get angry and shout at Hirkyian, the students couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.
Moreover, Hirkyian was one of the top students in the class, while Zera was one of the lowest-ranking students.
“This is ridiculous. I want to teach you a lesson right now, but according to school rules, we can’t duel without the teacher’s permission. Be thankful that Akint is the teacher for this class…”
“I grant permission for the duel.”
“Pardon?”
Hirkyian looked surprised at Leo’s words.
“It seems he also wants to duel you, so there’s no reason not to grant permission.”
“Teacher Akint, you’re not acting like yourself today. To so readily grant permission for a duel.”
Hirkyian, smiling contentedly, walked to the center of the training ground as if he had nothing to fear.
“Stand before me, Zera. I will show you what true class is.”
At those words, Zera stood before Hirkyian.
“He’s really determined to die today.”
“Hirkyian! Expel that bastard at this opportunity!”
The students clinging to Hirkyian shouted and snickered.
A duel between the class’s top student and the class’s last-place student.
Anyone could see the obvious outcome.
“How should I deal with you?”
Hirkyian smirked coldly and unleashed his magic power.
Gooooooooh-!
Greenish-yellow magic power, clearly visible to others, flickered.
Seeing that, a sense of tension enveloped Zera’s face.
‘Overwhelming magic power.’
But Leo had an unconcerned expression.
‘A waste of magic power.’
Zera—or more precisely, Hardin—saw Hirkyian as an unknown opponent, but to Leo, he didn't seem like a significant threat.
In the future, Hirkyian would become infamous, but now he was just a fledgling.
‘Shall I see the skills of Seirun’s third-year representative?’
Hardin had experienced all sorts of hardships as Seirun’s third-year representative.
‘Such a skilled individual couldn’t possibly lose to a hothouse flower that grew up in an incubator.’
Many students at the Hero Academy possessed skills superior to the heroes of this era.
It wasn't for nothing that all Hero Academy students were called geniuses in their respective fields.
‘Even at this time, it’s before the Age of Calamity.’
The reason why the noble and honor-conscious High Elves had fallen was because they had been steeped in peace for too long.
‘Stagnation brings corruption.’
After the Age of Calamity, the Age of Heroes was also called an age of peace, but it wasn't perfect peace.
Tartarus was still strong, and the war with them had lasted for 5,000 years.
Moreover, there was the fear that the Calamity might revive at any time.
Compared to the Age of Heroes, the Age of Gods was an era of great peace with no threats whatsoever.
‘At most, it was just wars between races and nations.’
Even that was a huge event, but to Leo, who had experienced the Calamity, it didn’t feel particularly threatening.
While Leo was lost in thought, Hirkyian began to chant a spell.
Hearing that spell, Zera’s—Hardin’s—eyes twitched.
‘I’ve never heard this spell before? What is he trying to do with that immense magic power?’
As Leo expected, Hardin had no knowledge of this current timeline.
Therefore, he couldn't help but feel wary of the unfamiliar, unknown spell.
It was when Hardin was tense.
Wheee-shhh-shhh-!
As the spell was completed, a powerful wind blew.
Seeing that, Hardin made a tense expression.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak-!
Seeing the wind magic that caused a powerful gust, Hardin took a deep breath and activated his aura.
Wooong-!
Seeing that, the surrounding students’ eyes widened.
“Oh, aura?”
“That Zera! When did he learn aura?!”
Exclamations of shock burst out from all over.
Seeing that, Leo stroked his chin.
‘It seems Zera doesn’t usually use aura. Well, judging by his attire, he’s a mage.’
Seirun students, claiming to be the successors of Luna, were required to learn Star Magic.
‘No. All elves try to learn Star Magic.’
Star Magic was a source of pride for elves.
That's why elves were called the race of magic.
However, elves being called the race of magic was something that happened after Luna, the ‘Progenitor of the Nebula.’
For elves of this time, magic was not a necessity.
Naturally, they were not called the race of magic either.
‘Dual classes were extremely rare to begin with.’
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak-!
A storm erupted from Hardin’s sword.
Ku-ga-ga-ga-gak!
“Hah!”
Hardin’s storming sword strike split Hirkyian’s magic.
Not only Hirkyian but also the surrounding students watched with wide eyes.
“W-what in the world!”
Hardin frowned, looking at Hirkyian's shocked expression.
“Your magic power is immense, but it’s nothing special.”
At those words, Hirkyian’s face flushed red.
“W-what did you say!”
“How dare you mock the Progenitor with such crude skill? Can you even call yourself an elf like that? Unbelievable.”
“What are you babbling about? Luna, that girl, a progenitor? Did you really eat something wrong today?”
“It seems you need a punishment.”
Hardin pointed his sword tip at Hirkyian.
“Be prepared.”
“W-wait… Kaaack!”
Hardin’s one-sided beating began.
Hardin unleashed cold fury upon the opponent who insulted Luna, who could be called the pride of their race.
It was at the moment Hardin had nearly rendered Hirkyian comatose.
Hwaaak-!
Leo quickly intervened between the two.
And grabbed Hardin’s wrist with his hand.
Thump-!
At that, Hardin’s cold gaze turned to Leo.
“Don’t stop me.”
“I’d like to let you beat him up more, you know.”
Leo said softly, just loud enough for Hardin to hear.
“If you hit him any more, it might hinder the strategy for the Heroic World.”
At those words, Hardin’s eyes widened.
“Are you Leo Plov?”
“Yes. I’ll explain the information I’ve gathered for now, so please follow my lead for the moment.”
At that, Hardin nodded.
Leo, releasing Hardin’s wrist, said.
“I told you to duel, but your actions are excessive, Zera.”
“I apologize.”
Zera bowed his head deeply at Leo’s angry voice.
Seeing that, the surrounding students thought.
‘He’s definitely expelled now.’
Even if it was a fair duel, to reduce someone from the Vesron family to that state.
Anyone could see that expulsion was unavoidable.
“Class is dismissed. You all take Hirkyian to the infirmary.”
“Yes, yes sir.”
“Zera. You follow me.”
Leo, playing the authoritative teacher, spoke to Hardin as if giving an order, and Hardin followed Leo’s words.
The class was dismissed.
Leo spoke to the elf who appeared to be the assistant who had brought him to class earlier.
“You there.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Let’s go to my room.”
“Your room… are you referring to Professor Akint’s private study?”
‘A private study? That would be good.’
Leo quickly assessed the situation and nodded.
“Yes.”
The male assistant stood beside Leo.
“You lead the way?”
“Pardon?”
“I will lecture student Zera.”
“Ah, I understand.”
It was a slightly odd conversation, but the assistant didn't harbor any particular suspicion.
Zera’s actions certainly warranted a stern word from the teachers, so it wouldn't have been strange.
The assistant shivered, hearing Leo’s sharp voice from behind him.
Meanwhile, other students helped Hirkyian.
Among them, a female student stared intently at Hardin’s back.
Soon, the female student flicked her tongue.
‘It seems a little rat has snuck in.’
The female student scoffed and disappeared into the crowd of students.
***
Led by the assistant, Leo and Hardin entered Akint’s study and were finally able to catch their breath.
Once inside the study, the two exchanged glances and thoroughly searched the interior of the study.
This was so they could have a comfortable conversation.
Soon, concluding that there was nothing that could leak their conversation, they both sat down comfortably.
In the midst of this, Hardin revealed his killing intent.
“I don’t understand! What kind of scum would dare to insult Lady Luna in such a way! He’s a disgrace to elves!”
Unlike Hardin’s usual calm personality, he was incredibly emotional.
He had insulted Luna, the Progenitor of the Nebula.
That alone made Luna a special being to elves, enough to evoke immense anger.
Furthermore, he didn’t precisely know what era this was.
Seeing such a Hardin, Leo spoke.
“Please understand. It’s the nature of the times.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Listen carefully. The world we are in right now is the world before the Age of Calamity.”
At Leo’s words, Hardin momentarily wore an expression of incomprehension.
“What are you talking about? Before the Age of Calamity? Records of heroes before the Age of Calamity aren’t in the Hero Record.”
Kael, Lisinas, Luna, Duweno, Arion.
The reason these five are called the Progenitor Heroes is not simply because they ushered in a new era.
They were called the Progenitor Heroes because they were the first heroes recorded in the Hero Record.
But before the Age of Calamity?
Seeing Hardin’s perplexed expression, Leo said seriously.
“Yes. But aren't there heroes recorded in the Hero Record who lived before the Age of Calamity?”
Hearing that, Hardin’s face hardened.
“Wait. So, what you’re saying is… this world is the world of the Great Heroes?”
“Yes.”
“No way…”
“Yes. This is Luna’s world.”
Hardin’s body trembled.
“P-proof that this is the Progenitor’s world.”
“I just met her in person a little while ago.”
“What?! You met the Progenitor in person!”
Hardin’s eyes widened, and he lunged at Leo.
“What does the Progenitor look like! Is she like a single blossoming flower as described in the texts? She must be incredibly benevolent! And does she scatter an aura so beautiful that even the stars bow down? Ah! The day has come when I can meet Lady Luna in person! What an honor this is!”
Hardin, whose calm demeanor had completely vanished, made an expression filled with emotion.
Seeing him, Leo thought.
‘He’d probably weep if he saw her real appearance.’
Of course, those tears would clearly be tears of shattered fantasy, not joy.
“Rather than beautiful, she was cute, wasn’t she?”
“What?”
“What I saw was Luna in her childhood.”
“…!”
Hardin’s body stiffened.
“C-childhood, you say…? How young exactly?”
“Around Lunia’s age, or even younger.”
“I can witness the Progenitor in her maiden years…!”
Seeing Hardin trembling with joy, Leo thought to himself.
‘Is this elf a pervert?’
If Luna saw him, she might kick him away, thinking he was disgusting.
Leo shook his head repeatedly.
“No wonder our conversation was at cross-purposes.”
Hardin recalled his conversation with Hirkyian a moment ago.
“But what kind of person is that guy to insult Lady Luna in her childhood?”
“There must be a reason.”
Leo knew the reason.
All elves attending Varharun were from good families.
But as far as Leo knew, Luna was an orphan.
Despite that, she entered Varharun, where one could become a High Elf purely based on talent.
As such, her abilities overwhelmed other elves even during her school days.
‘That’s why she was targeted by other students.’
“Anyway, the information I have right now is that much. First, this is Luna’s world. Second, it’s before the Age of Calamity, so Tartarus doesn’t exist yet.”
Hearing that, Hardin fell into thought.
“If so, what is the objective of conquering this world? Since it’s a feat established by the Progenitor, it wouldn’t be an ordinary feat, would it?”
Hearing that, Leo fell into thought.
‘Luna’s feat…’
“There are too many, so I can’t guess.”
“Indeed, the Progenitor of the Nebula is a being who is a feat in herself.”
Hmm-hmm-! Hardin nodded and said.
“For now, we’ll have no choice but to slowly figure out the conquest objective. First, reuniting with Lunia and Elena is important. And if it’s before the Age of Calamity…”
Hardin looked down at his palm.
“It would be best to refrain from using Star Magic. As it’s a magic system that doesn’t exist in this era, it would cause great confusion.”
Due to the wall of 5,000 years, the magic of this era and the magic of the current era are different.
However, it is still magic that has been passed down through generations.
No matter how much it has changed, there must be many similarities.
So it could be vaguely explained as a slightly special magic, but not Star Magic.
‘As it’s a magic system Luna created as if creating something out of nothing, it will surely cause chaos if it becomes known.’
While it was natural for elves of the current era, when Luna first used Star Magic, everyone was shocked.
As Hardin said, carelessly using Star Magic could lead to unknown repercussions.
Indeed, as a dungeon conqueror from Seirun, his experience in such matters was evident.
‘Wait. Star Magic?’
Leo, who had been contemplating Star Magic, recalled something.
‘Luna researched Star Magic since her student days.’
It felt like a clue was within grasp.
The moment he thought that.
Knock-knock-
Someone knocked on the study door.
Leo opened the door.
There stood knights with cold expressions.
“Professor Akint. The Headmaster is calling for you.”
“Why does the Headmaster want to see me?”
“He’s calling you because of what happened in class a little while ago.”
The elf knights then glared at Hardin inside the study and said.
“And orders have come from the Varharun superiors to detain student Zera.”
At that, Leo glanced at Hardin.
Hardin sighed deeply and gestured with his eyes as if to say, ‘I’ll comply for now.’
“Take him.”
Hardin was detained by the knights and dragged away.
‘Things are getting complicated in many ways.’
Leo clicked his tongue and followed the knights to meet the Headmaster.
‘Who was the Headmaster of Varharun again?’
Leo tried to recall his past memories.
But even for Kael, it was a long time ago, so his memory was hazy.
Leaving the campus, Leo headed towards the outskirts of Varharun, guided by the knights.
And then, standing before a tower, Leo paused.
Leo had never been to Varharun even in his time as Kael.
But the architectural style of this tower was familiar.
A tall tower, as if reaching for the sky.
An architectural style created to glorify great beings.
‘The Tower of Gods.’
“Please enter.”
The knights waited at the entrance as if they couldn't enter the tower.
As Leo approached the tower entrance, the door slid open.
Kwoong-!
As he stepped inside, the door closed with a heavy sound.
Leo surveyed the interior of the tower.
Various portraits of elves hung on the walls.
And in the center, a staff was displayed.
Leo approached the staff.
A staff in the shape of a smooth tree trunk.
At its tip hung a large, pale blue, leaf-shaped gem.
‘Folium.’
Luna’s symbol.
No, a staff that was also a symbol of elves before the Age of Calamity.
And the treasure of the elves, made from the primordial World Tree, which shattered along with Luna’s life.
It was a powerful magic staff imbued with immense magic power, usable only by the chosen one.
The moment Leo stood before it.
Wooong-
The magic staff resonated for a moment.
It was then that Leo was surprised.
“How interesting.”
Leo looked up at the voice from above.
“Folium, which even the Elf Kings have turned away from for so long, has reacted to you.”
Leo narrowed his eyes, looking at the man’s eyes, which gazed at him with a benevolent voice.
The man’s eyes were different from a human’s.
Ring-shaped pupils.
Wise eyes that saw through everything.
‘That’s right… This is before the Age of Calamity.’
Leo accepted it, looking at the transcendent’s eyes that he had met countless times but could never get used to.
‘It wouldn’t be strange for a god to exist.’