Book 1 Chapter 238
238
The duty of a Shadow is a task someone has no choice but to undertake.
Those who seek out traitors in the darkness and protect heroes.
One of the pillars upholding the era of peace established by the great heroes.
However, since the advent of the Hero Record, Shadows have never been acknowledged by the gods.
“I cannot know what the will of the gods is, but,”
Riina said calmly.
“It is also true that many Shadows, in their later years, become pessimistic about their situation.”
“Is that true for the principal as well?”
“Me?”
Riina brought the glass to her lips and let out a small laugh.
“I became a Shadow out of personal vengeance. I have no interest in having my name recorded in the Hero Record.”
Riina shrugged.
“However, I do wish that the generations that follow would be acknowledged by the gods.”
Riina spread her hand.
“I also wish for Shadows to live in a bright world, not one of darkness.”
That was the reason Riina transferred Shadow cadets into Hero cadets.
Watching Riina, Leo sighed inwardly.
‘I can pretty much guess why Shadows can’t get their names on the Hero Record.’
It must be because, as Riina said, the gods do not acknowledge the Shadows' achievements.
‘Gods are inherently self-centered anyway.’
During the Age of Calamity, the gods disappeared from the mortal realm.
Expelled from the earth by Erebos, the gods could no longer descend to the mortal realm even after the Age of Heroes arrived.
However, they left the Hero Record for the inhabitants of the earth, and the residents of the earth came to praise the gods for the legacy of the great gods.
‘In that process, there's been a tendency for them to be overly deified.’
It's a funny story to say that gods have been deified, but as Leo, who had experienced the Age of Gods, he couldn't think otherwise.
It is true that gods are transcendental beings with absolute power.
However, they were not as wise and noble as people thought.
Leo recalled what Dweno had said previously.
‘You should not even approach those things called gods. If they ever speak to you, it’s best to run away with all your might.’
At his words, Arion wore a bewildered expression.
‘Gods aren’t some plague, why treat them like that?’
‘They are a plague.’
Dweno clicked his tongue.
‘Do you think only one or two people have had their lives ruined by being associated with gods?’
At his words, Luna said.
‘Still, gods are beautiful, aren’t they? From your perspective, aren't they beings to be praised?’
At Luna's words, Dweno became serious.
‘Do not attach the adjective “beautiful” to gods. That is a desecration of beauty.’
Even Dweno, who called himself an aesthetician and praised beauty, considered gods to be beings that made him deny beauty itself.
That was precisely what the race of gods was like.
‘Although sometimes there are gods like Pibwa.’
The guardian deity of the elves he had met in the Hero Record.
Recalling Pibwa, Leo shook his head.
‘That’s a very special case.’
In Leo’s opinion, who knew the gods well, the reason Shadows couldn't receive divine acknowledgment was clearly a matter of simple preference.
However, people of the current era, who do not know about the existence of gods, seem to have come to believe that the gods have a special intention.
‘Is that why a rift of emotion has formed?’
From the Shadows' perspective, it couldn't help but feel hollow.
It was at that moment that Leo sighed deeply inwardly.
“If the principal’s intention is for Shadow cadets to also get their names on the Hero Record, then I understand even less. Why is Chen Xia withdrawing?”
“Because Chen Xia is the princess of the Shan Empire.”
“The princess of the Shan Empire?”
Leo, who had never expected her to be a princess, looked surprised.
Looking at Leo, Riina said.
“They are the oldest and most traditional Shadows. As such, they thoroughly live the life of a Shadow.”
“What does that have to do with withdrawing?”
“The Shan Empire purely wants to get their names on the ‘Hero Record’ as Shadows.”
Riina frowned.
“Their goal is to receive acknowledgment from the gods as Shadows, not as heroes. That’s why they don't want to keep Chen Xia at the Hero Academy.”
Even if Chen Xia, educated as a Hero cadet, were to get her name on the Hero Record, it would be worthless from the Shan Empire’s perspective.
Leo’s eyes narrowed.
Kyle also buried countless traitors in the darkness.
In that process, he killed countless people.
He had no regrets about it.
Because if Leo hadn't gotten his hands dirty, his friends would have.
It was something someone had to do, and he believed he was the most suitable person for that task.
It was the path he had chosen.
‘But… would Chen Xia want that?’
If she genuinely wants to walk the path of a Shadow, it doesn't matter.
If she chooses to remain in the darkness herself, there’s nothing Leo can do.
But for the past year, Chen Xia had been a more excellent Hero cadet than anyone else.
A girl who dreams of being a hero.
Such a girl is suddenly withdrawing from Lumerin.
‘Is that truly Chen Xia’s will?’
“I understand your concern for your friend. Still, it’s a family matter. It would be best not to get deeply involved with the Shan Empire.”
Riina spoke, genuinely worried about Leo.
In her eyes, Leo was the hope of the world.
‘A Hero cadet who will follow in the footsteps of the Sword Saint.’
A rough gem that needed to be further polished and shine brightly.
Riina did not want such a gem to be buried in the darkness of being a Shadow before it could shine.
‘It’s right to bear this kind of burden after you’ve matured a bit more.’
Before being a Shadow, she was currently the principal of the Hero Academy and also an adult.
She couldn't just watch a Hero cadet get entangled in matters related to Shadows and bear an unbearable burden.
The world of Shadows is deeper and darker than people think.
There was nothing good to gain from knowing about it.
Listening to Riina’s words, Leo smiled.
Seeing that smile, Riina felt a chill for a moment.
From Leo's red eyes, she glimpsed the same darkness as her own.
Riina, hailed as the best in the Shadow world, realized that Leo was the same kind of person as her.
“You… what is your true identity?”
Looking at Riina, whose expression hardened, Leo spoke without removing his smile.
“I am the student council president of Lumerin.”
“…”
“I don’t know what Chen Xia is thinking, but if she’s doing something she doesn’t want to do, I want to make her stop.”
“Why?”
“Because Chen Xia is an excellent Hero cadet who will carry the future.”
Leo said calmly.
“I don't think it matters whether it's a hero or a shadow. I also don't think the Hero Record is particularly important.”
Leo looked down at his hands.
“I believe everyone who fights for the world is a hero.”
“Even if the gods don’t acknowledge them?”
“To hell with what the gods think. They’re beings who can’t even descend to the mortal realm anyway.”
Riina’s mouth hung open at the near-blasphemous words.
However, Leo and the people of the current era had fundamentally different values.
“What does the acknowledgment of the gods matter? I say it is so.”
They were profound words.
The words of the great hero who saved the world.
But Riina, who didn't know Leo's true identity, couldn't fully understand their meaning.
However, there was only one thing she could understand.
‘This guy truly doesn’t discriminate between heroes and Shadows.’
Seeing the boy who affirmed the Shadows, who considered themselves abandoned by the gods, Riina unconsciously burst into laughter.
‘Yes, what does the will of the gods matter?’
Wasn't it the path they chose to confront Tartarus?
‘I said I didn’t care about divine acknowledgment, but in fact, I was the one who cared the most.’
“What do you want to do?”
“I will bring Chen Xia back.”
At his words, Riina nodded.
“Alright. Then, by the authority of the principal, I will assign you a mission.”
Riina swiftly wrote a mission brief on a paper on her desk.
“Go to the Shan Empire and make contact with the Emperor. Then bring Chen Xia back to Lumerin. If it's your story, Chen Xia will change her mind.”
Riina fluttered the paper towards Leo.
“Take this letter too. If you go alone, you won’t easily meet the Emperor of Shan. Even the stubborn Emperor of Shan wouldn’t openly ignore the words of Lumerin’s principal.”
“Yes.”
“And I’ll assign two individuals to assist you with the mission.”
Riina moved her pen.
Riina wrote names on the student roster and handed it to Leo.
And seeing the names on the roster, he wore a surprised expression.
[Fritz Edgon]
[El Jane]
They were familiar names.
They were the first-year students he had met earlier in the magic building.
“Edgon and El Jane. They are Shadow cadets. Although they don’t openly display their skills, they are among the top ten most skilled first-years. And regardless of their combat prowess, they are excellent children with practical experience comparable to second-years.”
“They are Shadow cadets.”
“That’s right.”
Riina smiled sweetly.
“They will be a great help to you. And I also hope these guys will be somewhat influenced by you.”
“Influence?”
“These guys, when I asked them to consider a career as a Hero cadet, strongly decided they want to follow the path of a Shadow.”
Riina grumbled.
“I thought they might change a little if they saw you. Don’t try to do anything special. Just show them your true self.”
At her words, Leo nodded.
“Understood.”
“Then I entrust this to you, Leo Flobe.”
***
That evening.
Leo left the dormitory for his mission.
‘Mission period is one week. Not exactly generous.’
As it was a sudden mission, they probably couldn't give a long mission period.
‘Well, if it’s just persuasion, will a week be enough?’
Leo muttered inwardly, waiting for his two juniors.
After a moment.
Two students appeared in front of the warp gate.
Fritz, with an expressionless face, and Jane, with a slightly sullen face, stood before Leo.
“I am Fritz Edgon, assigned to assist Lord Leo on this mission.”
“We just introduced ourselves earlier.”
“I know.”
Fritz said with a determined look.
“I will dedicate my life to Lord Leo anytime.”
“Ah~ ah~ to have to work with a stiff-headed Shadow who blindly fawns over any hero without thinking.”
Jane, who was watching from behind, clutched her head.
Looking at Jane, Fritz said.
“As a Shadow, sacrificing one’s life for a hero is only natural, isn’t it?”
“Hmph. I’m a Shadow cadet from Shan, you know? Would you mind not discussing the mindset of a Shadow?”
Jane snorted.
And glared at Leo.
“You said you were going to persuade Lady Chen Xia, right? Why are you doing such a thing?”
At Jane’s words, Leo said.
“Do you also think Chen Xia should live as a Shadow?”
At his words, Jane trembled slightly.
“Don’t make me laugh! Lady Chen Xia is more suited to be a hero than anyone else! She is more noble than anyone! I also wish she would live as a hero, and I can even sacrifice my life for Lady Chen Xia! But… but…”
Jane bit her lip.
“Lady Chen Xia giving up the path of a hero is because of you!”