Book 1 Chapter 143
143
Luna’s face flushed as she heard Leo’s encouragement.
Perhaps if it had been someone else, such encouragement might not have worked.
But Leo’s words definitely reached Luna.
Because even if history was twisted, the bond they had built up before that remained.
If it hadn’t been Akint’s words, who had taught Luna magic and cared for her like a daughter, they might have been taken as empty words.
‘Should I thank the original owner of this body?’
Leo chuckled inwardly.
His eyes, which had been shadowed, began to sparkle like stars.
His drooping ears perked up—twitch, twitch.
Luna, her face now full of life, wore a flushed expression.
“Right? Teacher, you think so too!”
Luna, brought back to life, puffed out her chest with an “Ahem!” expression.
‘A being that will shine like a star in the night sky.’
That was Luna’s catchphrase.
‘Everyone used to tease me, saying it was childish.’
Yet Luna wasn’t ashamed in the slightest.
She spouted those words as if it were natural.
And it truly came to be.
Leo chuckled as he watched Luna, who had regained her confidence, her eyes shining like stars.
Whether in her childhood or during the age of despair.
Luna was Luna.
Always an arrogant, immature young lady.
A beautiful elf who proclaimed herself the best, and truly was the best.
Leo smiled, recalling his unyielding friend who always, as a habit, declared she would become a great wizard.
‘Yes, this look suits you.’
Such a dejected appearance.
It doesn’t suit you at all.
If Arion’s back had guided Kyle.
Luna’s spell pushed Kyle forward.
Recalling the distant past that had now become a memory, Leo stood up.
“Shall we go to the party then?”
“Yes!”
Now it’s time to set everything right.
‘It’s certain that Tartaros is in the Hero’s world.’
Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.
‘If so, there’s only one conclusion.’
From his previous life.
And the one conclusion that would not change in the future.
‘Defeat them.’
***
The Elf King’s birthday was a commemorative day for the entire elf race.
On this night, all elves celebrated the king’s birth.
On this day, acts usually considered sinful were also forgiven.
It was also the only day when elves, who valued dignity, let go of everything.
It was no different even in the city of the High Elves.
Everyone enjoyed a time of indulgence in the streets.
The reason indulgence was permitted at night was because they believed the darkness concealed their sins.
However, to those unaware of this fact, the elves’ current appearance simply seemed peculiar.
“The old elves were quite free-spirited.”
Elena, watching the scene from an alleyway, tilted her head.
Watching her, Hardin narrowed his brows.
“Considering their appearance during the day, it didn’t seem like that.”
Though it was only a short time, the elves of this era Hardin had experienced felt much more focused on etiquette and rigid than they were currently.
Merin, who had been hesitant during their conversation, spoke up.
“Um… that, today is His Majesty the Elf King’s birthday.”
“Hm?”
“I heard that for tonight, freedom of indulgence is granted.”
Even if she was a slave, she was a slave living in Barhalrun.
As such, she received basic etiquette and cultural education.
Listening to Merin’s words, Elena wore an understanding expression.
“Anyway, you said you met Leo, didn’t you, Hardin?”
“Yes. He seems to have entered the body of a teacher named Akint.”
“A teacher, you say.”
Elena squinted her eyes.
For now, they had escaped the Barhalrun Academy.
The problem was what lay ahead.
‘I defeated a demon during the process of getting Hardin out.’
From Elena and Hardin’s perspective, they had simply done what they had to do, but it wouldn’t be so for the elves now.
An intruder had committed murder within Barhalrun. And on the Elf King’s birthday at that.
They saw knights searching for someone among the crowd, and a small commotion starting.
‘They’re looking for us.’
Elena gently twirled the ends of her hair.
‘The Age of Gods…’
A past era barely recorded in historical texts.
But it was well-known as the most peaceful era.
‘There are no particularly threatening strong individuals.’
So far, among the elves in Barhalrun, there was no one who could pose a threat to Elena and Hardin.
‘Well, it is an era of peace now, and there weren’t things like Hero Records back then.’
Elena was strong even in reality, but in this era, it would be even harder to find an opponent.
‘But that doesn’t mean I can move recklessly.’
There are strong individuals in every era.
Especially in a city of this scale, there might be someone stronger than Elena.
‘Crucially, Tartaros too.’
It was unknown how long Tartaros, who had infiltrated the hero dungeon, had been here.
But if they were willing to come directly to the underground prison to kill Hardin, it was highly likely they had deeply infiltrated Barhalrun.
‘There’s no need to needlessly make the whole city an enemy. For now, the plan is to join the two of them as quietly as possible…’
As Elena was thinking that, she glanced deeply into the alleyway.
Hardin, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, also uncrossed his arms and stood straight.
Kikigigik- Kikikik- Kikikikikik-
A strange, scraping laughter, like metal, was heard.
“Merin.”
“Yes?”
“Would you close your eyes for a moment?”
Elena smiled gently at the elf girl.
At her words, Merin closed her eyes.
Flash-!
Along with that, a giant skeleton that had appeared behind Elena swung a chipped greatsword at Renia.
Clang-! Slash-!
Boom-!
With the sound of metal clashing, a silver sword gleam flashed.
Hardin, who had already drawn his sword, bisected the skeleton with its greatsword.
Thump-! Shhh-!
The skeleton, fallen to the ground, turned into dust and vanished.
“It seems there’s a necromancer.”
Elena wore an amused expression.
Crunch- Crunch-!
Hee hee! Kiki!
At the same time as her words, a horde of undead poured out of the alleyway.
“This city is truly extreme.”
Hardin narrowed his eyes, generating an aura.
“Outside, it’s so lavish, but inside, it’s so rotten.”
“Indeed. It’s an interesting city.”
Elena smiled faintly.
No one wanted to come into the dirty alleyways.
That’s why Tartaros could run wild as they pleased.
“Seeing that these undead accurately found our location, it seems they can track us.”
“Does that mean the entire city is in their grasp?”
Hardin clicked his tongue.
It meant that even if they left the alleyway now, they couldn’t shake off the pursuit.
“Given this, there’s only one option.”
Elena generated magic.
“Let’s defeat the necromancer who has taken over this alleyway as is.”
“Aren’t we joining Leo and Lunia? Wouldn’t that cause problems for the strategy?”
“You said Leo already met Luna, right?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, let’s leave the conquest of this world to our juniors.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Even if they’re class representatives, it won’t be easy for a first-year to conquer a hero’s world. Besides, this isn’t just any other hero’s world, it’s Luna’s world. We can’t leave it to a first-year…”
“Leo will probably be better than us. He has already conquered another great hero’s world.”
“What?”
Hardin showed a surprised expression at Elena’s words.
“And… Leo is a little different from other hero candidates.”
“What’s different?”
“Hmm… it’s hard to put into words.”
Elena, after biting her index finger and pondering for a moment, let out a chuckle.
“Leo is a person with the power to make the impossible possible.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he’s not just someone with the qualities of a hero.”
Just half a year.
That was the time Leo attended the Hero Academy.
During that time, Leo had overcome countless desperate situations.
And everything Leo accomplished were feats that could truly be called miracles.
“You see, Leo…”
Elena smiled broadly.
“Is a person born with the qualities of a great hero.”
***
World Tree Plaza.
Elaborate decorations and sumptuous food.
Expensive alcohol.
A feast of soft music.
It strongly felt, in a literal sense, like a party for the chosen ones.
In that party, Princess Sergia was sitting on a luxurious chair, taking deep breaths.
Many elves came to greet the princess.
The main character of today’s party, Elf King Ergen, had not yet arrived.
In that case, the first one to make an impression on was Princess Sergia.
Amidst greeting elves for a long time.
Aether, who was attending to Sergia by her side, wore a worried expression.
“Your Highness Sergia. You’ve looked unwell for a while now.”
“No, Sir Aether. I just felt a little dizzy.”
Sergia, Lunia, smiled with difficulty.
The sight she had seen in the audience chamber a moment ago still haunted her mind.
Erebos, plunged into a deep sleep.
Just facing such an Erebos had terrified Lunia.
It was a relief she hadn’t screamed.
If she had screamed and that monster had woken up…
Just imagining it was horrifying.
‘No… it would be more accurate to say I couldn’t even scream.’
Recalling Erebos, Lunia’s hands trembled uncontrollably.
‘Just… how… how is that here? Is it because this is a past era? If so, why didn’t anyone else perceive it besides me?’
A fake within the hero’s world.
It might have been something that coincidentally appeared to her.
She could think that, but Lunia believed it wasn’t a fake.
Her biological instincts were telling her.
That it was real, just like herself.
Not a resident of this false world.
A monster from reality, just like herself.
‘I’m scared.’
Lunia unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself.
Watching Lunia, Aether’s expression grew even more solemn.
“Your Highness. You look too unwell. Perhaps you should go rest…”
Aether tried to lead Lunia towards the World Tree.
“Ah, no. I’m fine, Sir Aether.”
Lunia desperately shook her head.
Her biological instincts refused to go near Erebos.
She suddenly felt the greatness of the great heroes, whom she had only admired.
How on earth did they fight against that monster?
‘How did they defeat that monster?’
Was that even possible?
Endless fear overwhelmed Lunia.
She couldn’t process who she was greeting or talking to.
She just kept her gaze down and struggled desperately to overcome the fear.
Simply facing primordial evil had broken the elf girl’s will.
As Lunia was fighting endless fear, small feet came into her view.
They were the feet of a delicate girl.
“Um… I greet Your Highness.”
The owner of the feet knelt and bowed her head respectfully.
Her silvery hair, reminiscent of leaves, caught the eye.
Judging by her voice, she was around her age… perhaps even younger.
That youthful voice clearly captured Lunia’s ears.
It was a voice she had heard before.
No, perhaps it felt a bit younger than in her memory.
But she knew.
How could she forget?
In that fleeting moment.
The protagonist of the fairy tale she had admired and loved the most.
How could she forget the voice of that great person, whose footsteps she wished to follow every single day?
Lunia raised her head.
And she saw.
A beautiful girl with eyes shining like stars.
The progenitor, around her own age.
“My name is Luna Rubinence.”
The moment she faced her childhood admiration.
Lunia felt the fear recede, as if by magic.
***
‘…How is that hateful girl here?’
Barhalrun’s vice-principal, Cyd, contorted his face as he watched Luna, the girl greeting the princess.
Surely that girl had not been invited here.
So how could she be here?
‘Is it the work of rats?’
Cyd, wearing an unpleasant expression, curled the corners of his mouth.
‘It worked out even better. Perfect for finding the hiding rats…’
“You’re all the same, then and now. You’re really good at hiding like rats, aren’t you?”
Cyd flinched at the voice from behind him.
“What are you talking about, Teacher Akint?”
“Oh, are you going to feign ignorance? Tartaros.”
Leo smiled coldly.
“…How did you know?”
Cyd turned around with a chilling face.
Watching Cyd, Leo gave a slight chuckle.
“If I didn’t know, then maybe… but since I know you’re here, you can’t hide your scent.”
“Scent?”
“Yes. There’s a stench that feels like it’ll rot my nose off.”
Leo’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.
“You’ll have to pay the price for daring to play games in this world, won’t you?”