Book 1 Chapter 143

Luna's face flushed upon hearing Leo's encouragement.

Perhaps if it were someone else, such encouragement might not have worked.

However, Leo's words reached Luna precisely.

This was because, even though history had been distorted, the bonds built from before still remained.

If it hadn't been for Akint, who taught Luna magic and cared for her like a daughter, his words might have been dismissed as mere empty promises.

'Should I thank the original owner of this body?'

Leo burst into laughter inwardly.

His eyes, once shrouded in darkness, began to sparkle like stars.

Her drooping ears perked up, twitching back and forth.

Luna, her face regaining its color and life, wore a flushed expression.

"Right? Teacher, you think so too!"

Revived, Luna puffed out her chest with a proud "Ahem!" expression.

'A being who will become like a shining star in the night sky.'

That was Luna's catchphrase.

'Everyone used to tease me, calling it childish.'

Yet, Luna was never ashamed.

She'd blurt it out as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

And so it truly became.

Leo chuckled as he watched Luna, her eyes sparkling like stars, regain her confidence.

Whether in childhood or during the era of despair.

Luna was Luna.

An eternally arrogant, spoiled young lady.

A beautiful elf who declared herself the best and truly was.

Leo smiled, recalling his unyielding friend who always boasted of becoming a great mage.

'Yes, this is the look that suits you.'

Not this dejected one.

It suited her not at all.

If Arion's back had guided Kyle.

Luna's spell pushed Kyle's back.

Recalling a distant past that had now become a memory, Leo rose from his seat.

"Shall we head to the party then?"

"Yes!"

It was time to set everything back to rights.

'Tartarus is definitely in the world of heroes.'

Leo clenched and unclenched his fists.

'Then there's only one conclusion.'

From his past life.

And the one conclusion that would not change in the future.

'Defeat them.'

***

The Elf King's birthday was a festival for the entire Elf race.

On this night, all elves blessed the King's birth.

On this day, even acts normally considered sins were forgiven.

It was also the only day when the usually dignified elves let go of everything.

This was no different even in the city of the High Elves.

Everyone indulged in a night of revelry in the streets.

The reason revelry was permitted at night was because they believed the darkness would conceal their sins.

However, to those unaware of this fact, the elves' behavior at this time seemed merely strange.

"Old elves seem quite free-spirited."

Elena, watching from a back alley, tilted her head.

Hadin frowned upon seeing her expression.

"Considering how they were during the day, that doesn't seem to be the case."

Though it was a short period, the elves of this era that Hadin had experienced felt much more formal and rigid than they were now.

Merin, who had been hesitating at their conversation, spoke up.

"Um… well, today is the Elf King's birthday."

"Huh?"

"I heard that for tonight only, freedom and revelry are permitted."

Although a slave, she was a slave living in Barharun.

As such, she had received basic etiquette and cultural education.

Upon hearing Merin's words, Elena nodded in understanding.

"Anyway, you said you met Leo, right, Hadin?"

"Yes. It seemed he possessed the body of a teacher named Akint."

"A teacher."

Elena narrowed her eyes.

For now, they had escaped the Barharun Academy.

The problem was what came next.

'In the process of bringing Hadin out, I defeated a demon.'

From Elena and Hadin's perspective, they had merely done what they had to do, but it wouldn't be seen that way by the elves now.

An intruder had committed murder within Barharun. And on the Elf King's birthday, no less.

Amidst the crowd, the figures of knights searching for someone and a small commotion could be seen.

'They must be looking for us.'

Elena fiddled with the ends of her hair.

'The Age of Gods…'

A past era with almost no records left in historical texts.

However, it was well-known as the most peaceful era.

'There aren't any particularly threatening powerhouses.'

So far, among the elves in Barharun, there was no one who posed a threat to Elena and Hadin.

'Well, it is an era of peace, and there weren't Hero Records back then.'

Elena was strong in reality, but in this era, it would be even harder to find a worthy opponent.

'But that doesn't mean I can move recklessly.'

There were strong individuals in every era.

Especially in a city of this scale, there might be someone stronger than Elena.

'Crucially, Tartarus is also here.'

It was unknown when Tartarus, who had infiltrated the Hero Dungeon, had arrived.

However, given that he would come to kill Hadin himself in the underground prison, there was a high probability that he had infiltrated Barharun very deeply.

'There's no need to make the entire city our enemy unnecessarily. For now, let's try to quietly rendezvous with the two of them…'

As she thought this, Elena glanced towards the depths of the back alley.

Hadin, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, also uncrossed his arms and stood straight.

*Screeeech- Kikikik- Kikikikik-*

A strange, metal-scraping laughter was heard.

"Merin."

"Yes?"

"Could you close your eyes for a moment?"

Elena smiled gently at the elf girl.

Merin closed her eyes at the words.

*WHOOSH-!*

Along with it, a giant skeleton appeared behind Elena and swung a chipped greatsword towards Lenia.

*CLANG-! THWACK-!*

*WHOOOSH-!*

With the sound of metal clashing, a silver sword light flashed.

Hadin, who had unsheathed his sword, bisected the skeleton with the greatsword.

*CRUMBLE-! SIZZLE-!*

The skeleton that fell to the ground turned to dust and disappeared.

"It seems there's a necromancer."

Elena wore an amused expression.

*CRUNCH-! GRIND-!*

*KIIIHIK! KIKIK!*

Simultaneously with her words, a horde of undead poured out from the back alley.

"This city is truly extreme."

Hadin's eyes narrowed as he manifested his aura.

"Outside is so flamboyant, yet inside is so rotten."

"Indeed. It's an interesting city."

Elena smiled faintly.

No one dared to venture into the filthy back alleys.

That's why Tartarus could run wild.

"Given that these undead came directly to our location, it seems they can track us."

"So the entire city is in their grasp?"

Hadin clicked his tongue.

This meant that even if they escaped the back alley now, they couldn't shake off pursuit.

"Given the circumstances, there's only one option."

Elena manifested her mana.

"Let's seize this back alley and defeat the necromancer here."

"Aren't you going to rendezvous with Leo and Lunia? That will disrupt the conquest, won't it?"

"You said Leo had already met Luna, right?"

"Yes."

"Then let's leave the conquest of this world to our juniors."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Even as class representative, it won't be easy for a first-year to conquer the world of heroes. Especially since it's Luna's world, not some other hero's. We can't leave it to a first-year…"

"Leo is probably better than us. Leo has conquered the world of another great hero before."

"What?"

Hadin looked surprised at Elena's words.

"And… Leo is a little different from other hero candidates."

"How is he different?"

"Hmm… it's hard to put into words."

After biting her index finger and pondering for a moment, Elena chuckled.

"Leo is someone who possesses the power to make the impossible possible."

"What does that mean?"

"It means he's not simply someone with hero potential."

Just half a year.

That's how long Leo had attended the Hero Academy.

During that time, Leo had navigated countless perilous situations.

And what Leo accomplished could all be called miracles.

"Leo, you know."

Elena smiled faintly.

"He's someone born with the potential of a great hero."

***

World Tree Plaza.

Lavish decorations and exquisite food.

Expensive liquor.

A feast of soft music.

It gave a strong impression of a party solely for the chosen.

Within that party, Princess Sergia sat in a luxurious chair, taking a deep breath.

Numerous elves came to greet the Princess.

The true protagonist of the party tonight, the Elf King Ergen, had not yet arrived.

In that case, the Princess, Sergia, was the one who needed to make the first impression.

As she was greeting elves.

Ether, who was attending Sergia, wore a worried expression.

"Princess Sergia. You haven't looked well since a while ago."

"No, Sir Ether. I just felt a bit dizzy."

Sergia, Lunia, forced a smile.

The scene she had witnessed in the audience chamber moments ago still lingered in her mind.

Erebos, who had fallen into a deep slumber.

Just facing such an Erebos was enough to terrify Lunia.

It was fortunate she hadn't screamed.

If she had screamed, and that monster had woken up…

The mere thought was horrifying.

'No… perhaps I couldn't even scream.'

Recalling Erebos, Lunia's hands trembled.

'How… how in the world is that here? Is it because this is the past era? If so, why did no one else notice it but me?'

A fake within the world of heroes.

It could have been something that coincidentally caught her eye.

She could think that, but Lunia didn't believe it was fake.

Her instincts as a living creature told her.

It was real, just like her.

Not a resident of this false world.

A monster from reality, just like her.

'I'm scared.'

Lunia unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself.

Seeing Lunia like that, Ether's expression grew more resolute.

"Princess, you look very unwell. Shall we go inside to rest…"

Ether tried to lead Lunia towards the World Tree.

"Ah, no. It's alright, Sir Ether."

Lunia desperately shook her head.

Her creaturely instincts refused to approach Erebos.

She was anew impressed by the greatness of the great heroes she had only admired.

How did they fight against that monster?

'How did they defeat that monster?'

Was that even possible?

Endless fear washed over Lunia.

She couldn't process who she was greeting or whom she was talking to.

She merely kept her gaze lowered, desperately trying to overcome her fear.

Her will as an elf girl was already broken by merely facing the primordial evil.

As Lunia battled her endless fear, a small pair of feet entered her vision.

The feet of a delicate girl.

"Uh… I pay my respects to the Princess."

The owner of the feet knelt and bowed her head respectfully.

Her pale green hair, reminiscent of leaves, caught the eye.

Her voice sounded like someone her own age… or perhaps younger.

That youthful voice definitely captivated Lunia's ears.

It was a voice she had heard before.

No, perhaps it sounded even younger than she remembered.

But she knew.

How could she forget?

That fleeting moment.

The protagonist of her childhood fairy tales, whom she admired most and loved most.

How could she forget the voice of the great one whose every step she yearned to follow?

Lunia raised her head.

And she saw.

A beautiful girl with eyes that shone like stars.

A poet of her own age.

"My name is Luna Rubinence."

The moment she met her childhood idol,

Lunia felt her fear vanish as if by magic.

***

'…How is that hateful woman here?'

Sid, the Vice Principal of Barharun, scowled as he saw the girl Luna, who was greeting the Princess.

Surely that girl wasn't invited here.

Then how could she be here?

'Is this the work of rats?'

Sid, with an unpleasant expression, curled his lips.

'It's rather fortunate. It's perfect for finding hidden rats…'

"You are all the same, as always. You're really good at hiding like rats, aren't you?"

Sid froze at the voice from behind.

"What are you talking about, Teacher Akint?"

"Ah, you're going to play dumb? Tartarus."

Leo smiled coldly.

"…How did you know?"

Sid turned around with a cold expression.

Leo chuckled as he looked at Sid.

"If you didn't know… once I know you're here, you can't hide your stench."

"Stench?"

"Yes. A foul odor that makes your nose rot and fall off."

Leo's eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

"You will pay the price for daring to meddle in this world, won't you?"