Book 1 Chapter 238

The mission of shadows is something that someone has to do.

They root out traitors in the darkness and protect heroes.

They are one of the pillars that uphold the era of peace achieved by great heroes.

However, since the Hero Record was created, shadows have never been recognized by the gods.

"I don't know what the will of the gods is."

Riina said calmly.

"It's also true that many shadows, in their old age, despair about their circumstances."

"Are you, Principal, like that too?"

"Me?"

Riina smiled faintly as she brought the glass to her lips.

"I became a shadow out of personal resentment. I have no interest in being listed in the Hero Record."

Riina shrugged.

"It's just that I hope the generations that follow will be recognized by the gods."

Riina spread her hands.

"I wish that shadows could also live in a bright world, not in darkness."

That was why Riina incorporated the shadow cadets into the hero cadets.

Seeing Riina like that, Leo sighed inwardly.

'I can roughly guess why shadows can't be listed in the Hero Record.'

It's probably because the gods don't recognize the achievements of shadows, as Riina said.

'Gods are always so arbitrary.'

During the era of disaster, the gods disappeared from the earth.

Banished from the earth by Erebus, the gods could no longer descend to the earth even after the era of heroes arrived.

However, they left the Hero Record for the inhabitants of the earth, and the inhabitants of the earth praised the gods for the legacy of the great gods.

'In that process, there was a tendency to deify them excessively.'

It's ridiculous to say that they were deified by seeing the gods.

As Leo, who experienced the era of gods, could only think that way.

It is true that gods are transcendent beings with absolute power.

However, they were not as wise and noble as people thought.

Leo recalled what Dwenog had said before.

'You should never go near those so-called gods. If they try to talk to you, running away with all your might is the best option.'

Arion showed a bewildered expression at that remark.

'Why are they treated like a plague for no reason?'

'They are indeed a plague.'

Dwenog clicked his tongue.

'Do you think there are only a few people whose lives have been ruined by their association with gods?'

Luna said at that remark.

'Still, aren't gods beautiful? Aren't they beings you should praise from your perspective?'

Dwenog became serious at Luna's words.

'Don't attach the adjective "beautiful" to gods. That's an insult to beauty.'

Beings that made even Dwenog, who called himself an aesthete and praised beauty, deny beauty.

Those were the gods.

'Although there are some gods like Pibua sometimes.'

The guardian deity of the elves Leo met in the Hero Record.

Leo shook his head, thinking of Pibua.

'That's a very special case.'

In Leo's opinion, who knows a lot about gods, the reason why shadows are not recognized by the gods is clearly just a matter of taste.

However, the people of the present age, who know nothing about gods, seem to have come to think that gods have a special meaning.

'Did that create an emotional rift?'

It's understandable that shadows feel frustrated.

It was when Leo let out a deep sigh inwardly.

"If the Principal's intention is for the shadow cadets to be listed in the Hero Record, it makes even less sense! Why is Chen Xia withdrawing?"

"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, showed a surprised expression.

Riina said, seeing Leo like that.

"They are the oldest and most traditional shadows. As such, they live their lives thoroughly as shadows."

"What does that have to do with withdrawing?"

"The Shan Empire purely wants to be listed in the 'Hero Record' as shadows."

Riina scrunched up her face.

"Their goal is to be recognized by the gods as shadows, not as heroes. That's why they don't want Chen Xia to stay at the Hero Academy."

Even if Chen Xia, who was trained as a hero cadet, were to be listed in the Hero Record, it would have no value from the Shan Empire's perspective.

Leo's eyes narrowed.

Kyle also buried countless traitors in the darkness.

He killed countless people in the process.

He had no regrets about it.

If Leo hadn't gotten his hands dirty, his friends would have.

It was something that someone had to do, and he thought he was the most suitable person for it.

It was the path he chose.

'But… does Chen Xia want that?'

If she wants to walk the path of a shadow herself, it doesn't matter.

If she chooses to stay in the darkness herself, there's nothing Leo can do.

But Chen Xia for the past year had been a more brilliant hero cadet than anyone else.

A girl who dreams of being a hero.

Such a girl suddenly withdraws from Lumern.

'Is that really Chen Xia's will?'

"I understand your concern for your friend. However, it's a matter of family circumstances. It would be best not to get too involved with the Shan Empire."

Riina said, genuinely concerned for Leo.

In her eyes, Leo was the hope of the world.

'A hero cadet who will succeed the Sword Saint.'

A raw stone that needs to be polished further and shine brighter.

Riina did not want such a raw stone to be buried in the darkness of shadows before it could shine.

'Such things are better left to be handled after one has grown more.'

Before being a shadow, she was now the principal of the Hero Academy, and also an adult.

She couldn't stand by and watch a hero cadet get entangled in matters related to shadows and bear an unbearable burden.

The world of shadows was deeper and darker than people thought.

There was no benefit in knowing.

Leo smiled upon hearing Riina's words.

Seeing that smile, Riina felt a chill for a moment.

In Leo's red eyes, she glimpsed the same darkness as hers for an instant.

Riina, who was praised as the best in the shadow world, realized that Leo was the same kind of person as her.

"You… what is your identity?"

Leo said without losing his smile, looking at Riina, whose complexion had hardened.

"I'm the student council president of Lumern."

"……."

"I don't know what Chen Xia is thinking, but if she's doing something she doesn't want to do, I want to stop her."

"Why?"

"Chen Xia is a brilliant hero cadet who will bear the future."

Leo said calmly.

"I don't think it matters whether she's a hero or a shadow. The Hero Record isn't particularly important either."

Leo lowered his hand and looked at it.

"I think everyone who fights for the world is a hero."

"Even if the gods don't recognize them?"

"To hell with the gods' thoughts. They can't even come down to earth anyway."

Riina's mouth dropped open at the blasphemous words.

However, Leo and the people of the current era had fundamentally different values.

"What does the recognition of gods matter? I say so."

It was a meaningful statement.

The words of a great hero who saved the world.

However, Riina, who did not know Leo's true identity, could not fully understand the meaning of those words.

But there was only one thing she could understand.

'This guy really doesn't discriminate between heroes and shadows.'

Seeing the boy affirm the shadows who thought they were abandoned by the gods, Riina couldn't help but burst into laughter.

'Yes, what does the will of the gods matter?'

Wasn't it the path she chose to confront Tartarus?

'I said I didn't care about the gods' recognition, but in the end, I was the one who cared the most.'

"What do you want to do?"

"I'm going to bring Chen Xia back."

At those words, Riina nodded.

"All right. Then, with the authority of the Principal, I will assign you a mission."

Riina quickly wrote a mission order on a piece of paper on her desk.

"Go to the Shan Empire, contact the Emperor, and bring Chen Xia back to Lumern. If you tell her, Chen Xia will change her mind."

Riina fluttered the paper to Leo.

"Take this letter too. If you go alone, you won't be able to meet the Emperor of Shan easily. Even the stubborn Emperor of Shan won't be able to openly ignore the words of the Principal of Lumern."

"Yes."

"And I'll assign you two to assist you with the mission."

Riina moved her pen.

Riina wrote the names on the student roster and handed it to Leo.

Then she looked at the names on the list and showed a surprised expression.

[Fritz Edgon]

[El Jane]

Familiar names.

They were first-year students Leo had met earlier at the Magic Academy.

"Edgon and El Jane. They are shadow cadets. They don't reveal their abilities, but they are among the top ten first-year students. And even if their combat power is unknown, they are excellent students with practical experience comparable to second-year students."

"Shadow cadets, aren't they?"

"Yes."

Riina smiled faintly.

"They will be of great help to you. And I also hope they will be influenced by you a little."

"Influence?"

"When we called them to consider a career as hero cadets, these guys are determined to go down the path of shadows."

Riina grumbled.

"I thought seeing you might change their minds a little. Don't try to do anything special. Just show them your true self."

At those words, Leo nodded.

"I understand."

"Then, please, Leo Flov."

***

That evening.

Leo left the dormitory for his mission.

'The mission period is one week. It's not much time.'

Given the sudden mission, they couldn't have given a longer mission period.

'Well, is a week enough for persuasion?'

Muttering to himself, Leo waited for the two juniors.

After a while.

Two students appeared in front of the warp gate.

Fritz, with a blank expression, and Jane, with a slightly grumpy expression, stood before Leo.

"I am Fritz Edgon, who will be assisting you, Leo-nim, on this mission."

"We've already introduced ourselves."

"I know."

Fritz said with a determined face.

"I will dedicate my life to you, Leo-nim, at any time."

"Ah~ ah~ I have to work with a stubborn shadow who just blindly follows heroes without thinking."

Jane, who had been watching the scene from behind, clutched her head.

Fritz said, looking at Jane like that.

"Isn't it natural for a shadow to sacrifice their life for a hero?"

"Hmph. I'm a shadow cadet of Shan, you know? Don't talk to me about the mindset of a shadow!"

Jane scoffed.

Then, with a sharp glance, she looked at Leo.

"You said you were going to persuade Chen Xia-nim? Why are you doing that?"

Leo said at Jane's words.

"Do you think Chen Xia should live as a shadow too?"

At those words, Jane shivered.

"Don't be ridiculous! Chen Xia-nim is more suited to be a hero than anyone else! She's more noble than anyone! I want her to live as a hero, and I'd lay down my life for Chen Xia-nim! But… but…"

Jane bit her lip.

"It's because of you that Chen Xia-nim gave up the path of a hero!"