Book 1 Chapter 203
203
“Distinguished guests in the audience, please evacuate quickly into the Seyrun Academy grounds! I repeat! Distinguished guests in the audience, please evacuate quickly into the Seyrun Academy grounds….”
A hurried voice echoed through the academy.
Those who had visited Seyrun to watch the Luce battle quickly evacuated into Seyrun’s main building, guided by students.
“That foolish monster queen.”
Before the monster queen arrived.
The first to speak at the gathering of heroes and guild members belonging to the Hero Guild was none other than Virius.
The man who was active on the front line against Tartarus, a duty Seyrun had taken on.
Although he had not yet made it into the Hero Records, his skill was known to be comparable to active heroes.
“It’s an unprecedented situation, but it’s actually for the best.”
Virius looked around at the assembly and said with vigor.
“This is Seyrun, the Hero Academy. A place where not even a legion commander would dare to invade. Since she walked in here on her own two feet, shouldn’t we be grateful?”
Virius curled the corners of his lips.
“Crisis is opportunity! Let’s subjugate the Monster Queen Silatuna here today!”
Although it wasn’t receiving much attention due to its name, Hero Academy, there were many hidden powers within the Hero Academy, beyond just students and educators.
Combining all of them, the permanent military strength within the school was so formidable that it could wage war against the world.
On top of that, a hero mobilization had also been organized this time in preparation for Tartarus’s provocation.
Virius expressed his confidence, and it was then that some people nodded in agreement.
“It might be possible for an ordinary legion commander, but… our opponent is the Monster Queen Silatuna.”
At that moment, from Lumerne’s side, Undine Knight Jin spoke.
“If we hastily attempt subjugation, we might be the ones defeated, don’t you think?”
“Oh, oh. To be so afraid even with this much power, it’s not what I’d expect from someone whose name is in the Hero Records.”
As Jin frowned at the rude remark, Nerjia said coldly.
“Virius. Is this the time to stir up discord with such words?”
“I apologize.”
Virius bowed deeply towards Nerjia, and seeing him, Nerjia sighed.
Watching that, Jin shook his head inwardly.
‘That’s why those racial supremacists are….’
Jin, familiar with this type of elf, knew that ignoring them was the best policy.
Then, Seyrun’s principal, Bennett, opened his mouth.
“It is true that our current strength is formidable. But our opponent is a legion commander who has existed since before the Age of Calamity.”
Bennett looked at the assembly with his characteristic expressionless face and said.
“She is a being we should never try to understand with our common sense. For now, it would be right to aim not for subjugating the Monster Queen, but for holding her back.”
“I agree with Bennett’s words.”
Nerjia nodded.
At that, a few elf heroes showed dissatisfaction.
However, no one dared to argue with the words of Seyrun’s principal and vice principal, who could be considered the overall supervisors.
“What are your thoughts, Kalian?”
Bennett asked Kalian.
Everyone held their breath and focused on Kalian.
Sword Saint Kalian.
The strongest hero of the current generation, who had subjugated a legion commander.
“I also agree with your words.”
At Kalian’s words, Bennett nodded.
“Then let us each divide the duties.”
At Bennett’s words, one elf hero raised his hand.
“Principal. Then who will… face the Monster Queen Silatura?”
“Silatura will be held back by me and the heroes I have selected.”
Kalian said calmly.
“You all will hold back Silatura’s ‘legion’.”
***
“First and second-year students, go to the rear!”
“We’ll fight too!”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Does this look like a game? This is real combat! Don’t act so brave and prepare for support from the rear!”
Lumerne’s professors and Seyrun’s teachers quickly led the students.
“Vice Professor Sena! Leo is not to be seen!”
At that moment, Karl urgently shouted.
At Karl’s words, Sena showed a flustered expression.
“Leo student?”
“Yes! I can’t find him anywhere!”
The students of Class 5 stamped their feet, looking anxious.
“What on earth should we do….”
“Don’t worry about Leo Flobe.”
“Vice Principal?”
Sena’s eyes widened at Reiben’s appearance.
The students of Class 5 asked Reiben.
“Vice Principal! Do you know where Brother Leo went?”
“I’ve assigned him a task. He’ll join the first-year students soon, so don’t worry.”
“Ah.”
“Thank goodness.”
The students of Class 5 breathed a sigh of relief.
“Vice Professor Sena, lead Class 5.”
“Ah, yes!”
After calming down the students of Class 5, Reiben looked at the audience stands where Leo had disappeared earlier.
‘…I don’t know why, but it’s certain that Leo Flobe is in the world of heroes right now.’
When Leo disappeared in front of him earlier, the phenomenon was clearly the same as when entering the world of heroes.
Reiben took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.
Heavy rain was still pouring down.
But the ominous monster queen’s crest that had been visible in the sky was gone.
‘She must have already descended to the ground.’
And she was undoubtedly summoning her legion and slowly invading Seyrun.
‘What are you up to, Tartarus?’
***
Outside Seyrun’s towering fortress walls.
A hero alliance of Lumerne and Seyrun stood.
“I agree with building an outer defense line here, but… how do they plan to do it?”
As the elf hero, Rubeche Teigra, made an inquisitive expression, Ellen Lundar said calmly.
“Just watch.”
It was Sedjen who stepped forward to construct the defense line.
Thud- Thud-
Sedjen, holding a staff in his hand, had advanced alone.
It was when some elves looked on with puzzled expressions, seeing Sedjen stop walking far from Seyrun’s walls.
Thud-!
Rumble rumble rumble-!
Sedjen struck the ground with the tip of his staff.
The earth began to shake, and a massive wall began to rise.
Rumble rumble!
“……!”
Many elves’ eyes widened, seeing Sedjen create a high wall in an instant.
“Professor Sedjen’s alchemy is as impressive as ever.”
Cheide Rwalin, who was holding a staff behind him, exclaimed in admiration, and Aine nodded.
“Both Professor Sedjen and Professor Halind would have had their names in the Hero Records long ago if they had been active on the front lines instead of in academia.”
Although not a trait specialized in combat, Sedjen’s alchemy boasted such formidable power that it could literally change the tide of battle with ease.
Once the wall was complete, the mages quickly imbued it with enhancement and defense magic.
The hero alliance, having instantly created a new fortress, finished preparations for the legion’s attack.
Kalian, sitting on the wall, asked Halind.
“Professor Halind, is contact with the outside still cut off?”
“Yes.”
“Tsk. They’ve prepared thoroughly.”
Teleportation was also impossible.
It was literally a situation where outside support was completely cut off.
But the eyes of the hero alliance burned with fighting spirit.
Everyone here knew.
No matter how terrifying the Monster Queen’s legion, existing since the Age of Calamity, a single legion could never overcome the hero alliance of Lumerne and Seyrun.
It was when the hero alliance was waiting for the Monster Queen.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The sound of the earth shaking began to be heard.
At the very front, a unit of Gigantes was visible.
On the head of the largest of them, a woman sat on a gruesome throne made of flesh.
Everyone who saw her swallowed dryly.
‘Monster Queen, Silatuna.’
Thump-!
The demon legion, led by the Gigantes, stopped.
At a considerable distance, the hero alliance and the Monster Queen’s legion faced each other.
Swaaaaah-!
The heavy rain still showed no sign of stopping, and Silatuna, sitting cross-legged on her throne, spoke.
“Hello there, you little bugs.”
Silatuna’s eerie voice echoed throughout Seyrun.
That voice was heard not only by the hero alliance, who had established the defense line, but also by civilians within Seyrun and the waiting lower-grade students.
“My name is Silatuna, the trusted servant of the great calamity Erebus.”
The enormous voice had the power to terrify people.
“I have personally come to hunt you, so consider it an honor to….”
“Shut up! You filthy demon!”
At that moment, Virius shouted.
“How dare you invade this place! This is Seyrun! Today, I will subjugate you and avenge our progenitor… Cough!”
“What an insolent worm.”
Grooooooowl!
Dark red black magic wrapped around Virius’s body.
Those around him frantically tried to dispel the dark red black magic to save Virius.
Virius also raised his resistance to counter Silatuna’s power.
But he could not resist Silatuna’s curse.
“Who said you could interrupt me?”
Silatuna scoffed without even looking at Virius.
“So what if you conquer a few hero worlds? Do you think you’ve become a great hero?”
“Cough cough-!”
Virius let out a suffocated sound.
And just as his body was about to swell up.
Fwoosh-!
His body was enveloped in crimson flames.
Thump!
“Huff! Gasp-! Th-thank… you, Ellen-nim.”
Ellen, who had ignited the phoenix flames, burned away Silatuna’s power.
Virius, who had narrowly saved his life, expressed his gratitude.
“Don’t provoke the enemy rashly.”
Ellen warned Virius in a cold voice.
It was then that Virius bowed his head deeply.
“You talk too much, Monster Queen.”
“Sword Saint.”
Kalian stepped forward, and Silatuna narrowed her eyes.
“Did you like my gift?”
“Indeed. Your impudent gift caused us quite a bit of trouble.”
At Silatuna’s provocative words, Kalian chuckled and nodded.
“In the end, we were able to eliminate all the spies you planted within the school, though. Monster Queen, it’s a good thing you’re ignorant. If it had been the Lich King or the Giant King, they wouldn’t have planned such a sloppy scheme.”
Seeing Kalian laughing as if enjoying himself, Silatuna smiled with murderous intent.
“This damn old man.”
“So, did you invade Seyrun to vent your anger?”
“What if I did?”
“That works out well for us.”
Kalian gave a murderous smile.
Grooooooooooowl-!
The hero alliance also flinched at the Sword Saint’s formidable murderous intent.
Grrrooooww?
Keeek?
The Monster Queen’s legion began to stir.
“Because your infamous reputation, called the ‘most fearsome,’ will now become a ‘legend’.”
At those words, Silatuna burst into insane laughter.
Rumble rumble rumble-
The wall Sedjen had built began to shake with just her laughter.
The hero alliance felt a shiver at that formidable power.
Silatuna’s frantic laughter suddenly stopped.
“You dream too big.”
Silatuna raised her hand.
“I’m tired of talking, so shall we begin?”
At that, Kalian also drew his sword.
“Go ahead and struggle. Just like your ancestors, the heroes, did.”
Silatuna flicked her finger.
Grrrooooooowww!
Thump-! Thump-! Thump-!
The Monster Queen’s legion charged all at once.
“Everyone, prepare for battle.”
At Kalian’s low voice, the hero alliance gripped their respective weapons.
“Attack!”
Simultaneously with Kalian’s shout, the mages’ spells adorned the sky.
Kwang-ga-ga-gang-!
Brilliant magic exploded on the ground.
Countless monsters began to be obliterated by the magic.
The black magic fired by the demons hit the wall, causing explosions.
Watching that scene, Silatuna rested her chin on her hand and laughed.
“It’s about time.”
***
Swaaaaaah-
It was raining.
Leo, realizing this, opened his eyes.
“…Black rain…?”
He mumbled blankly.
The black rain, symbolizing the Age of Calamity.
‘Right, I entered the hero’s world.’
As soon as he realized that, Leo noticed he was lying spread-eagled and got up.
Then he looked around.
The surroundings were ruins.
A devastated castle ruin.
It looked familiar.
‘The Battle of Zerdiaq.’
Poison King Zerdiaq.
A legion commander who wielded terrifying poison.
The most dangerous monster among the legion commanders that the great heroes had successfully subjugated.
The Battle of Zerdiaq was where Zerdiaq was subjugated.
‘History records that other great heroes fought Zerdiaq’s legion, and Luna subjugated him alone, but….’
The actual history was different.
‘Luna and I combined our strengths to subjugate him.’
Recalling that time, Leo looked around.
‘The Hero Record I touched then was this record. But why did it activate now, of all times?’
Leo felt a question.
‘Moreover… why isn’t battle happening?’
In the battle against Zerdiaq, Kyle and Luna fought without rest.
This was the castle ruin where Zerdiaq was subjugated.
Normally, a fierce battle should have been raging.
But there was no sign of it anywhere.
‘What on earth happened? Did those Tartarus guys tamper with this too?’
Previously, in Luna’s world, it was clearly different from actual history.
There’s no law saying it couldn’t be the same now.
‘Unlike Lumerne, who expelled all traitors, Seyrun still has traitors. If so, those Tartarus guys might have invaded Luna’s world again….’
“You…?”
Leo was deep in thought when a slightly surprised voice was heard.
He hastily turned his head, and there stood a very familiar elf woman.
Not the girl he had seen before, but a mature form.
Seeing her looking at him with a surprised expression, Leo unconsciously called her name.
“Luna.”
Leo, who had instinctively called Luna’s name, fell into thought.
From Luna’s perspective, it would surely feel like a boy she was seeing for the first time had called her name.
But, defying his worries, Luna smiled and responded to Leo’s call.
“Yes, Kyle.”