Book 1 Chapter 211

"I knocked him down."

Leo caught his breath and looked at the spot where Silathuna had disappeared.

The end of a hateful, inescapable fate.

One of Tartarus's three most fearsome beings, whom even great heroes had repeatedly failed to subdue.

When the subjugation force gained the power to confront Erebos, the legion commanders began to avoid direct combat with the great heroes and target other heroes instead.

Although the subjugation force had grown stronger, their numbers were still only five. It was impossible to simultaneously defend against legion commander airstrikes launched from multiple locations at once.

Convinced that the subjugation force alone could not defeat both Erebos and the legion commanders, they focused on defeating Erebos.

"That was the best we could do at the time."

They couldn't dedicate their forces to the legion commanders while leaving Erebos, a massive calamity, unchecked.

Leo took a deep breath and turned his head.

And before Leo returned from the world of heroes.

He walked towards Kalian, who had stopped Silathuna.

Stomp- Stomp-

His whole body cried out in pain.

But Leo paid it no mind.

After a moment, Leo reached Kalian and closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh.

Kalian was standing.

His body must have already reached its limit.

He was a man hailed as a hero who carried the era, but ultimately, an old hero who had lived for a century.

Even with the help of Reben the dragon, stopping Silathuna was a feat that could rightfully be called a miracle.

Kalian, leaning on his sword like a cane, looked at Leo and smiled faintly.

"As expected of a great hero. To defeat the demon queen…"

Leo's eyes darkened.

The life of the Sword Saint, who praised the hero of beginnings, was slowly fading.

He had stopped the demon queen by burning his own life.

"I didn't do it alone."

Leo turned around.

"Oh… Luna…"

"…Who are these people?"

Luna asked cautiously.

"These are the ones who stopped Silathuna before we arrived."

"All we could do was endure."

Kalian bowed his head.

"With our strength, we could do nothing."

Kalian's eyes darkened.

"If it weren't for you… many heroes… many students would have died. As one responsible for an era, I was insufficient."

Seeing Kalian blaming himself with trembling hands, Leo said,

"No, because you held back by stopping Silathuna, we were able to endure. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to hold on until Luna arrived."

"You have every right to be proud as a hero."

Luna approached Kalian, took his trembling hand, and said with conviction,

"So lift your head."

Kalian, who raised his head at Luna's words, said,

"I have admired you all since I was young. The peace you have passed down to us… I wanted to protect it."

Kalian's voice trembled.

"As one who carries the era… it is natural to use one's life for future generations… the words you spoke to me… are an honor far beyond my deserts."

His voice gradually lost strength.

"I have one request. Hero of beginnings."

Kalian, mustering his last strength, looked at Leo.

"Can you not show this old man… some hope?"

The Sword Saint expressed his earnest wish.

"What is your relationship with Leo Flov?"

At that question, Leo took a deep breath.

Then he dispelled Luna's magic.

Under the setting sun.

Kalian's eyes widened as he saw the great hero transform into the form of a boy.

Then, as if relieved, he smiled brightly… and then closed his eyes.

Luna, who carefully caught the falling Sword Saint, whispered softly to him as he met his end,

"You worked hard. May your story be remembered forever…"

Blessing the hero's end, Luna gently laid Kalian down and watched Leo's retreating back as he approached Reben.

Reben was also nearing his end.

Leo, with the sunset at his back, looked down at Reben and said,

"Don't worry, follow the Sword Saint."

"Yes."

"The hero you chose was the best. Lisinas will also be proud of you for choosing the best hero to follow his will."

"That is… such a great honor."

Reben smiled weakly and slowly closed his eyes.

Looking at the two heroes who had breathed their last, Luna said,

"I have witnessed the deaths of countless people… but I still can't get used to it."

Luna closed her eyes, clasped her hands, and prayed for them.

Leo silently watched her noble demeanor.

After a moment, Luna opened her eyes and smiled at Leo.

Luna's body began to glow faintly.

The end of the miracle was approaching.

Leo gritted his teeth.

"Luna."

He called out to Luna in a trembling voice.

"Shh."

Luna put a finger to her lips and whispered softly,

"Can't you send me off with a smile? Like back then."

Remembering Leo, who had shown her the magic of blooming flowers once before, Luna smiled brightly.

"We will meet again someday. Of course, there's no guarantee that another 'me' will hold onto this memory as I do now…"

Luna gently closed her eyes.

"But we will be able to meet again."

As if meeting a friend again tomorrow.

Luna approached Leo with light steps.

"So, Kyle."

Luna reached out and stroked Leo's cheek.

The light emanating from Luna's body grew brighter and brighter.

"Please don't give up."

Luna kissed Leo's cheek.

"It's because I fell for that wonderful, unyielding look of yours."

Smiling shyly, Luna stepped back.

"We will definitely… meet again."

Whoosh-!

Luna's body turned into light particles and disappeared.

Feeling the warmth left on his cheek, Leo unconsciously brushed his right cheek.

And looking at the spot where Luna had disappeared, he smiled bitterly.

"Does it hurt to show a little emotion?"

By then, the sun had set and darkness had fallen.

His gaze fell upon the battlefield, growing cold.

Thus, the Battle of Seirun, which would be etched into the pages of history, came to an end.

***

News of the subjugation of the demon queen shook the entire world.

The end of a disaster that had threatened the world for so long.

What excited people even more was the return of the 'Great Heroes.'

Luna, the progenitor of the constellations.

And Kyle, the hero of beginnings, whose existence had recently been confirmed.

When they first heard the news that great heroes from the distant past had appeared in the present world, many did not believe it.

But when Lumen and Seirun officially acknowledged it, the world stirred.

The subjugation of the demon queen, who had threatened the world for many years.

And the appearance of great heroes.

It was, quite literally, a festive atmosphere.

However, the atmosphere in Lumen was somber.

Lumen's Erek Grand Parade Ground.

All the students stood in formation, dressed in black.

Amidst the solemn atmosphere, flowers were laid before Kalian's portrait in the Erek Grand Parade Ground.

It wasn't just the students.

Numerous graduates from all over the world had come to Lumen.

Among them were those who wept.

A great hero who had served as Lumen's principal for a long time, guiding and inspiring many heroes.

The death of such a Sword Saint was enough to cause a tremendous ripple effect.

After the flower offering, as everyone mourned the Sword Saint,

Halind stepped up to the microphone on the podium.

"A letter left by our principal during his lifetime has been found."

All eyes turned to Halind.

"As he wished for it to be read in front of everyone here, I will read the principal's final words."

With his characteristic expressionless face, Halind held up the letter and began to read.

[I hoped this letter would never be revealed to the world, but I am leaving my final words in this form.

I sincerely hope that no students have lost their lives tragically.

Do not grieve excessively for this old man's death.

It is natural for a hero to draw his sword for the sake of future generations.

I simply did what was natural.

Do not attach great significance to my death.

I am merely a person disappearing into history.

Move forward.

As I did.

As countless past heroes did.

Always remember these words.

Overcome your limits.

I hope that everyone who hears this will become great heroes who will lead the world.

I believe in you.]

Kalian's letter was finished.

Afterward, heroes gathered to pay their final respects to the departing Sword Saint, and the funeral concluded.

Thus, the era of the Sword Saint was coming to an end.

***

Lumen Hero Tower.

From the principal's office at the very top, someone was gazing down at the panoramic view of Lumen.

"He was a playful person. But he was still a respectable one."

The man said in a heavy voice.

"Whenever I visited, he would look down on Lumen from here, as if he were watching over each and every student."

The man let out a bitter sigh and turned around.

"But as his last will stated, we cannot grieve forever. The positions of Principal and Vice Principal of Lumen cannot remain vacant."

"I agree with that, Chairman."

Halind said calmly.

"Then, who do you think is suitable to be the Principal? Many people are recommending Professor Halind and Professor Sedjen as candidates."

The hero called an Infinity Speller.

Altec Zeroun, the master of the Zeroun family and Chairman of Lumen, asked the two professors.

Halind and Sedjen.

Neither of them had their names recorded in the Hero Record.

However, they were renowned professors at Lumen who had produced countless heroes.

It was clear that not only the current professors of Lumen but also countless graduates would support one of them becoming the Principal.

But Halind and Sedjen shook their heads.

"I am not cut out to be Principal, Chairman."

"I agree with Halind's opinion."

"This is troublesome. I had hoped one of you two would become Principal."

Altec showed a disappointed expression.

"Then, may I entrust the matter of Principal candidates to you two?"

Originally, the authority to appoint the Principal belonged to the Chairman.

However, Altec intended to delegate this immense authority to Halind and Sedjen.

The two professors had been serving on the faculty since before Altec became Chairman.

Therefore, Altec trusted them and relied on them as much as he had Kalian.

"Understood. We will look for candidates."

As Sedjen nodded, Altec nodded.

Then he said earnestly,

"Then I would like to discuss the academic schedule with you two."

At those words, Halind let out a sigh, as if troubled.

"It is not yet in a state where we can finalize the academic schedule."

The Sword Saint had died.

People were excited about the subjugation of the demon queen and the appearance of great heroes, but…

They would soon realize.

How immense the Sword Saint's absence was.

Of course, Tartarus had also lost the demon queen.

That was undoubtedly a devastating blow.

However, the death of the Sword Saint was an equally immense loss.

It was no exaggeration to say that the peace of this era was maintained by the Sword Saint, a great deterrent.

A precarious balance had been struck.

The axis of that balance had collapsed.

Then, it was impossible to know what provocations Tartarus would make.

"I understand that there are unusual movements within Seirun as well."

All academic schedules in Seirun were currently halted.

"The identity of that unknown legion commander is still unknown… but it is highly likely to be a legion commander from the distant past. Scholars, after researching the literature, have concluded that it might be 'Poison King Zerdiaq.'"

With the great heroes having revealed themselves, there was no reason why a legion commander from the past wouldn't appear in the present world.

The question then became how that past legion commander appeared in the heart of Seirun.

"Great heroes… legion commanders from the past… it seems there is only one possibility. The Hero Record."

Sedjen nodded at Altec's words.

"That's right. And it's highly probable that traitors within Seirun brought forth the legion commander from the past. In Lumen, a legion commander subjugated by the Sword Saint also appeared, and in fact…"

Altec spoke with a firm voice.

"It is said that one of Luna's Hero Records has been completely erased."

Upon hearing Altec's words, Halind and Sedjen wore serious expressions.

"Therefore, I request a faculty meeting to discuss this matter."

"What is the agenda?"

"To move the vacation forward. First, we should send the students home, and Lumen also needs to reorganize for future situations."