Book 1 Chapter 239
"My fault?" Leo narrowed his eyes.
"Don't talk nonsense."
Fritz adjusted his glasses and squinted.
His purple eyes fixed on Jane.
"Walking the path of a hero is one's own will. So why is it Leo-nim's fault?"
At Fritz's cold words, Jane turned her head sharply.
"There must be a reason for saying that."
As if unbothered by Jane's reproach, Leo walked ahead and said.
"In any case, what's important now is that we have to bring Chen Xia back to Lumern."
"How?"
Jane gritted her teeth and asked.
As much as she thought Chen Xia was suited to be a hero, she seemed to agree that she should be brought back to Lumern.
At Jane's words, Leo crossed his arms.
"First, we have to meet Chen Xia."
"It won't be easy."
Jane's shoulders drooped.
"The imperial family of Shan cannot engage in public activities. They must live strictly behind the shadows of the palace."
"I suppose so. Still, Chen Xia is still a student of Lumern."
Leo said as he walked calmly towards the warp gate.
"If we can't meet her, we'll have to negotiate with the Emperor of Shan."
At that, Jane shivered.
"With His Majesty the Emperor?"
"Yes."
Leo tapped his chest and said.
"We have the Headmaster's letter, after all."
Leo grinned.
"I don't think he can ignore it?"
Leo stepped into the warp gate.
Fritz followed behind Leo.
Jane hesitated, then had no choice but to step into the warp gate with them.
The wizards stationed at the warp gate wore slightly strange expressions.
A warp gate on a mission at this late hour.
Of course, this wasn't unheard of.
But with Leo, a second-year student, and Fritz and Jane, who looked like freshmen, it was understandable that they felt something was off.
'Already on a mission with the student council president.'
The gatekeepers wore expressions of curiosity but opened the warp gate without showing it.
*Woosh-!*
With a bright light, the three disappeared.
***
Leo and his party arrived in the outskirts of Sing, the capital of Shan, through the warp gate.
Leo stopped when he saw the warp gate.
The unique architectural style of the Shan Empire caught his eye.
Looking at the exotic architecture, Leo muttered.
"It really feels like we've arrived in a different culture."
Jane, who had exited the warp gate first at his mutter, neatly adjusted her uniform and said.
"Welcome. This is Sing, the capital of Shan."
Although slightly sharp-tongued, Jane's demeanor was very polite.
It was the same as Fritz, who stood next to Leo.
Leo looked at Jane with a puzzled expression.
"Your attitude is completely different from a moment ago."
"From now on, I will guide you, Leo Flob, the hero candidate, not as a student of Lumern, but as a shadow candidate of Shan."
"Hmph."
Fritz narrowed his eyes.
"You speak well, considering you were so insolent just a moment ago."
"Are you picking a fight?"
Jane glared at Fritz with sharp eyes.
Fritz smiled coldly at Jane.
"I am the one who serves Leo-nim."
Leo glanced at Fritz.
Fritz, who was taller than Leo, bowed his head to Leo with an elegant gesture.
"Leo-nim. I will serve you without any discomfort during the mission."
Seeing Jane's sudden change in attitude as soon as they arrived in Shan and Fritz trying to compete with her, Leo looked up at the sky and sighed.
'I see why the Headmaster assigned these two to me.'
Just as there are different types of heroes, there are also different types of shadows.
They can be broadly divided into three types.
The Reaper, who tracks down and eliminates hero killers and traitors.
The Guardian, who protects a specific region to defend against Tartarus's invasion.
And the Shadow, who serves and escorts heroes from their side.
The characteristic of a Shadow is that they can readily sacrifice their lives for their hero.
Reapers and Guardians are often scouted among hero candidates, but Shadows are mostly trained as Shadows from birth.
And Fritz and Jane were Shadows.
Especially Lumern.
Fritz, the shadow of the Zerone family, and Jane, the shadow of the Shan Empire, had a peculiar sense of rivalry.
'Both are top-tier in skill among first-year students. They must be the top two among the shadow candidates who entered this year.'
When it comes to shadows, the Shan Empire is the most famous.
However, the shadows of Lumern, which possesses Hero Records and nurtures hero candidates, are no less than those of Shan.
In terms of skill.
In terms of background.
They couldn't help but compete.
'The problem is that they are trying to compete as shadows.'
Riina accepted first-year students because she wanted to show them the path of a hero.
But these two have no interest in being heroes at all.
Whether they are heroes or shadows doesn't matter.
However, their lives, which have been lived valuing others' lives more, did not sit well with Leo.
"Let me be clear. You are not shadow candidates right now, but hero candidates."
At that, Fritz and Jane looked at Leo.
"Our relationship is that of school seniors and juniors."
"But Leo-nim, I have lived my life aiming to become a hero's shadow since I was young…"
"Do you think I need the escort of brats like you?"
"……!"
"……!"
Fritz and Jane's eyes widened at Leo's indifferent words.
"Hmph! Understood. If you insist on calling me that, I will treat you as a senior."
Jane responded with a sharp tone.
Fritz placed a hand on his chest, closed his eyes, and trembled.
Jane scoffed at his appearance.
"What? Are you offended because you were ignored…?"
"Leo-nim! No, I have well understood Senior's great intention!"
"Huh?"
Jane let out a dumbfounded sound at Fritz's impressed expression, and Leo wore an expression of 'Here we go again…'.
"You mean I am insufficient as a shadow and must strive harder? Understood! I will strive until the day I am recognized by Senior as a shadow!"
"Don't you feel any pride after hearing words like that?!"
Jane exclaimed in disbelief, and Fritz looked bewildered.
"Why should I feel proud?"
Leo looked bewildered, watching Fritz shed his cold image and unconditionally react positively to his words.
'Seriously, why is this guy following me like this when he's never even seen me before?'
Leo looked at Fritz with a bewildered expression.
Then, shaking his head, he stepped out of the warp gate.
"Where do we need to go to get to the Shan imperial palace?"
"We can't go today."
"Why?"
"Sing is divided into four major districts."
Jane explained.
Sing was one of the oldest cities in the world.
As such, the city was immense.
"The first district, where the imperial palace is located, cannot be entered after sunset. This is a law for everyone, regardless of status."
She said the place where the warp gate was located was the third district.
"Really?"
"Yes. Today we will stay at an inn near the warp gate, and we must go to the imperial palace early tomorrow morning."
Leo nodded at Jane's words.
"Guide me."
"Yes."
Jane led the way towards a nearby inn.
Leo and Fritz followed behind.
Leo looked at the exotic streets of Sing.
Most of the people had exotic appearances and wore clothes with full sleeves.
There were also foreigners visiting for trade, but not in large numbers.
Most of the people walking the streets looked at Leo and his party in their Lumern uniforms with curiosity.
As the three walked through the crowd.
*Clack-!*
Suddenly, three people appeared in front of Jane.
Jane flinched and lowered her stance.
*Rustle- rustle-*
Seven more men appeared around Leo.
Seeing that, Fritz raised his right hand and exerted force.
*Crack-!*
A chilling sound came from his knuckles.
*Thud- thud-*
The leader of the group blocking their path stepped forward.
And bowed respectfully towards Leo.
"Leo Flob-nim. I am the captain of the Shan imperial palace guard. I have come to escort you, Leo Flob-nim, by order of His Majesty the Emperor."
Jane's expression turned surprised at the question.
While Fritz remained on guard, Leo asked.
"I believe the school did not mention that we would be going to Shan?"
At Leo's question, the man in front bowed even lower and said.
"Leo-nim. Shan is a country of shadows. Shadows exist everywhere."
Leo narrowed his eyes at the blatant remark.
'So they know my purpose for coming here too.'
Leo let out a chuckle and said.
"I guess I don't need to wait until tomorrow."
***
*Splat-!*
Blood splattered.
*Thump- thump-*
A man in pure white clothes swung a long sword.
"As expected, the shadows of Shan."
The man with black hair and black eyes smiled as he walked past the corpses lying at his feet.
Even though he had piled up corpses, not a single drop of blood stained his clothes.
"They're unnecessarily persistent."
The man shook his head and flicked his wrist slightly.
*Swish-! Whoosh-!*
"Gurgle?"
A sword energy extending from the tip of the sword severed the neck of a shadow who was stealthily waiting for an opportunity.
"Do you think that kind of trick will work? I've learned all of that."
The man with a sinister smile stopped in his tracks.
*Squelch-*
The man, standing on a blood-soaked earth, took something out of his pocket.
He took out a black crystal ball and infused it with mana.
*Goo goo goo-*
A black space opened in the air.
Along with it, a giant black pupil flashed.
[Is that Cyan?]
"Long time no see, Giant King."
Cyan bowed respectfully towards the black pupil.
[Yes, what is it?]
"I heard something interesting from the Commander King. I contacted you for confirmation."
Cyan stroked his chin.
"There is an old sword that the Emperor of Shan has inherited from generation to generation."
Cyan's eyes sparkled.
"I heard that sword is related to the First Hero."
[That's an unpleasant name I haven't heard in a long time.]
"A long time? Wasn't the Queen of Monsters subjugated by the First Hero and the Progenitor of Constellations who descended to the mortal realm just a few months ago?"
[Those rude individuals who came to deliver that news all died before mentioning that name.]
Seeing the Giant King displaying strong displeasure, Cyan nodded.
"I see."
[That old sword is indeed an item related to the First Hero. Why are you asking about it? Didn't you cut ties with Shan?]
"I did cut ties. I have no intention of returning."
Cyan laughed nonchalantly.
"But an item related to the First Hero, that's a tempting item, isn't it?"
[A tempting item… Yes. Do you wish to inherit the power of the First Hero now?]
"Yes. That's why I'm using you all."
[You're insane.]
Disgust flickered in the Giant King's giant pupils.
[No matter how foolish the gods are, you will never be inscribed in the Hero Records.]
"What does that matter? I just need to become a great hero myself."
Cyan laughed.
"I will become a hero recognized by history by conquering all of you, so don't worry about that."
Seeing Cyan displaying blatant hostility, the Giant King severed the communication as if disgusted.
Although the Giant King possessed immense size and cruel strength, his personality was more reserved and cautious than anyone else's.
To such a Giant King, Cyan, who claimed to betray the world and use Tartarus to become a hero, was nothing more than a rabid dog that could turn at any moment.
But Cyan was unfazed.
"I'll be meeting my father after a long time."