Book 1 Chapter 240
240
Step- step-
The long, long corridor of the Shaan Imperial Palace.
Leo was walking there.
The one who took on the role of guide was the captain of the Imperial Guard, who had come to meet Leo a little while ago.
“It’s a Guardian.”
A shadow secretly active in the darkness to defend against Tartarus's invasion.
Of course, if one is the captain of the Imperial Guard, they can be considered overly conspicuous.
But this man's skill was too great to be merely the captain of the Imperial Guard.
‘He's as strong as the professors of Lumern.’
Most of Lumern's professors are powerful individuals with the ability to achieve feats worthy of being recorded in the Hero Records.
Seeing such a person serve as the captain of the Imperial Guard without revealing his name, it certainly felt like the country of shadows.
Thud-!
Amidst that, the captain of the guard stopped walking.
They had arrived in front of a massive door at the end of the corridor.
The door was a pitch-black color.
For a moment, it was enough to mistake it for a giant hole.
“This is it.”
Simultaneously with the captain of the guard's words, the door slid open-!
Beyond the door, complete darkness unfolded.
A darkness that made any living being feel an ominous discomfort.
As a darkness where even moonlight couldn't penetrate unfolded, Fritz's expression became wary.
But Leo stepped forward without a moment's hesitation.
“Lord Leo… no, Senior.”
Fritz wore a bewildered expression.
Jane also looked at Leo with surprised eyes.
The pitch-black darkness before their eyes was a profound darkness that instilled fear even in the two shadow trainees.
The captain of the guard gazed at Leo's receding back, his eyes gleaming.
Fritz quickly tried to follow behind Leo.
But the captain of the guard extended his hand and stopped Fritz.
“Only Lord Leo Flobe can have an audience with His Imperial Majesty.”
At those words, Leo looked back and said.
“I’ll be back.”
Step- step-
Leo disappeared into the darkness.
Slide- Thump!
The door closed with a heavy sound.
In the pitch-black darkness where nothing was visible, Leo did not hesitate to take his steps.
His keen senses were not swallowed by the darkness.
On the contrary, they became even sharper.
Humans instinctively fear darkness.
But for Leo, who had lived through the Age of Calamity, darkness was not a frightening entity.
‘Rather, it's familiar.’
Step- step-
In the silent darkness, the sound of footsteps echoed loudly.
Whoosh-!
At that moment, a flame erupted beside Leo.
A candle had been lit.
In the darkness, Leo's red eyes shone.
Whoosh- whoosh- whoosh-
Beginning with that, the candles in the room started to light up one by one.
The darkness receded, revealing the interior of the room.
The room was filled with all sorts of luxurious items.
Lavish furniture adorned with gold and all kinds of jewels.
And even all sorts of artworks lined up throughout the room.
The strong impression was that it was a chaotic jumble.
A messy room where no uniformity could be found.
To the extent that countless weapons and armaments were lined up on one side of the wall.
And in the center of that room.
Lying sideways on a gigantic bed, propping his head with his hand, was a well-built, handsome middle-aged man.
He was scratching his calf with one foot, while waving a folding fan in his free hand.
The man, dressed in traditional red Shaan attire, looked directly at Leo with his black eyes and spoke.
“Are you Leo Flobe?”
“Are you His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Shaan?”
“I am Shau, the 74th Emperor of Shaan.”
Emotionless black eyes stared directly at Leo.
That alone conveyed an oppressive aura that overwhelmed the entire gathering.
Shau's very presence pressed down on the air.
He was not a hero, but he was stronger than any hero, save for the Sword Saint.
“Would you come closer?”
At Shau's call, Leo approached him.
The distance between the two closed to about 3 meters.
Shau stroked his beard, which was so fine it could be called beautiful, and spoke.
“You have a handsome face, and you're the student council president of Lumern at such a young age… You must be popular. You. Aren't you already breaking many girls' hearts?”
To that sudden question, Leo replied calmly.
“Unhealthy romantic relationships between students are forbidden at Lumern, however.”
At those words, Shau's eyes widened.
“What kind of rule is that! Kids at the peak of their youth are in one place, and nothing happens! They must all be secretly meeting, right?!”
Leo stared blankly at the shouting Shau.
Anyone else would have made a dumbfounded expression.
The other moniker of the Emperor of Shaan, known as the Country of Shadows, was the Shadow King.
Although he hadn't made it into the Hero Records, he was recognized as having skills equal to the greatest heroes of his era.
The strongest shadow, who, despite being an emperor, rarely appeared in public.
A mysterious dark hero who exists but cannot be met.
A cruel and mighty being, characterized by a terrifying charisma.
That was the Emperor of Shaan.
Such a being was suddenly quizzing a boy he had just met about romance.
He might have been flustered, but Leo didn't bat an eye.
“Have you really not dated any girls?”
“I’ve only studied hard.”
“A boring honor student, I see. Still, that's enough to pass.”
‘Pass what?’
Shau, who smiled meaningfully, waved his folding fan.
“I apologize for asking such a difficult question. Being the Emperor of Shaan is a boring position, you see.”
He said calmly.
“Guests rarely come. Most people fear me, you see.”
Stroking his chin, Shau curved the corners of his mouth upwards.
“Therefore, it is a great pleasure for me that my daughter's friend has visited like this.”
Shau looked straight at Leo.
“So, have you come to take Sia?”
“Yes.”
“Sia chose to become a shadow of her own free will. Are you saying you intend to persuade such a Sia?”
“If that is Chen Sia's pure will, then it is none of my business.”
Leo looked directly into Shau's black eyes.
“But if it was a choice made while bearing various burdens, I will take her.”
“What is your reason for going to such lengths? You and Sia are merely school friends; there should be nothing special between you, right?”
“Because Chen Sia will become one of the heroes who will lay the foundation for Tartarus's destruction.”
“Hero candidates are plentiful in the world. And even the great heroes of history couldn't achieve the feat of Tartarus's destruction.”
Shau let out a scoff.
“But you speak of Tartarus's destruction with such certainty. Don't you think that's arrogant?”
“Not at all.”
Shau narrowed his eyes, watching Leo retort with an indifferent smile.
‘Now that I think about it, did he say he would completely destroy Erebus?’
He was said to have spoken of an utterly preposterous goal in front of all his classmates.
‘And what about this boy now, about a year later? In just one year, he rose to the position of student council president of Lumern and is now being evaluated as a hero candidate who will carry the next generation, following in the footsteps of the Sword Saint.’
Shau closed his eyes.
‘They say immature recklessness is the privilege of the young… but in this one's case, it doesn't feel like recklessness.’
“Are you saying you'll pull a child born as a shadow out into the outside world?”
“Yes. So, will you let me meet Chen Sia? If she refuses even after I persuade her, I will give up cleanly.”
“If that's the case, then I can't let you meet Sia even more.”
Leo's eyes twitched.
“Because if that child hears your words now, she will certainly choose the path of a hero.”
Shau sighed and opened his eyes.
“That child has admired heroes since she was young.”
Shau sat up.
“Leo Flobe, I have seen many heroes in the darkness. Heroes are literally special beings. They are noble souls who dedicate their lives for the world.”
Thud-
Shau, having descended from the bed, approached Leo.
Leo looked up at Shau, who seemed about one and a half heads taller than him.
Swish-
The tip of his massive finger pointed towards Leo.
“I just realized. Among them, you are very special.”
Shau's black eyes fixed on Leo.
“The world says you are a hero who will follow in Lord Kalian's footsteps… but in my opinion, that's not it.”
Shau's eyes narrowed.
“You might become equal to… or even greater than the founders of the Hero Academy 3000 years ago. You might be reborn as a great being, close to a Grand Hero.”
Leo silently looked up at Shau.
“That's why I can't let you meet Sia. To that child, who has lived her entire life only in darkness, you would be too intense a light. So she would be blinded.”
Thump-!
Shau returned to the bed, sat down, and said.
“A hero is a hero, a shadow is a shadow. Do not infringe upon that boundary.”
“Are you saying we live in different worlds?”
“Precisely.”
Shau grinned.
“Chen Sia is the talent who will fulfill Shaan's long-cherished wish.”
“To be named in the Hero Records as a shadow?”
“You know about it. Riina. Did she tell you?”
“Is that so important?”
“It is important.”
Shau chuckled.
“For our clan, not being recognized by God is a curse akin to a stigma.”
Shadows are necessary in any era.
And the imperial family of the Shaan Empire has lived as shadows for thousands of years.
Of course, they didn't live as shadows to be recognized.
It was because someone had to do the work, so they maintained their clan's legitimacy for thousands of years.
Perhaps it is precisely because they have been ignored by God during that time that they desire it even more.
God's recognition.
“Isn't there a way to break free from the duty of a shadow?”
“As a descendant of the proud Shadow King, Bihar, I cannot do that.”
“Bihar?”
At the familiar name, Leo paused.
“Yes. The great shadow who was active since the Age of Calamity… who did not leave his name in history.”
‘That Bihar?’
It was when Leo, having learned about the origins of the Shaan Empire, was surprised.
“Furthermore, keeping Sia as a shadow would also be good for your future, wouldn't it?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Sia is the child who will bear the burden of Shaan in the future.”
Shau looked at Leo with a sly expression.
“And the goal you wish to achieve aligns with another secret desire of Shaan. Sia will follow you as a shadow. The entire vast country of Shaan will become yours.”
“What does Chen Sia following me have to do with the Shaan Empire?”
“…Are you an idiot?”
Shau looked at Leo with a displeased expression.
“Did you truly not know that Sia has feelings for you?”
“Oh, really?”
Leo exclaimed as if surprised.
Seeing Leo accept it more dryly than expected, Shau's face contorted further.
“Even after knowing that fact, why are you so calm? Is my daughter really that unattractive?!”
“How can I see a child as a romantic partner?”
“Sia is older than you, you know?”
Leo shrugged his shoulders, looking at Shau who wore an incredulous expression.
What difference does it make if she's older on the outside?
‘But inside, I'm an old man.’
At Leo's nonchalant demeanor, Shau momentarily clutched the back of his neck.
‘What kind of guy is this?’
Because his daughter had to bear the aspirations of their clan, he couldn't support her dreams.
But that didn't mean he didn't love his daughter.
A daughter so precious he wouldn't feel pain even if she were put in his eye.
But such a reaction!
“Anyway, please let me meet Chen Sia.”
“I refuse.”
Shau looked at Leo and said.
“While you are in Shaan, you are an honored guest. I will treat you with the utmost respect, but you cannot meet Sia.”
“What if I try to meet her by force?”
At Leo's words, Shau curved the corners of his mouth upwards.
“Go on, try it. Though a person living in light will never be able to find one living in darkness.”