Book 1 Chapter 241

Leo, having finished his audience with the Emperor, immediately left the audience chamber.

Fritz and Jane, who had been waiting in front of the Emperor's room, approached Leo as he emerged from the door.

"How did it go?"

"He said he couldn't let me meet him."

"I knew it."

Jane shook her head as if she had expected this.

Fritz wore a bewildered expression.

"That's strange. He can't even let you meet him?"

"Do you think meeting Shan's shadow is that easy?"

"Hey, kid."

"K-kid?"

Jane was flustered by Leo's words.

"Are you calling me a kid right now?"

"Then should I call him a kid?"

Leo tilted his head, pointing at Fritz, who was taller than him.

Seeing Leo like that, Jane bristled.

"I'm older than you, you know?!"

Jane, who had turned seventeen this year, was older than Leo, even if she was his junior.

However, Leo, with memories from his past life, didn't care about such things.

"I have something to ask, so where can I rest?"

"You're not even listening?!"

"Show him the way."

"……."

Seeing Leo completely ignoring her, Jane's shoulders drooped.

'Somehow, if I argue with this person, I'm the only one who ends up looking like an idiot.'

"I'll show you the way."

Jane led Leo.

From the moment they arrived at Shan, Jane had been assigned as Leo's guide.

Fritz, following behind Jane, muttered.

"Kid…"

Fritz, who had muttered softly, let out a "Hmph!" and laughed.

"Huh? What's that laugh supposed to mean? Are you picking a fight?"

Irritated, Jane didn't hold back against Fritz.

***

After a brief commotion, Jane led Leo to a separate annex next to the imperial palace.

Despite the late hour, a hundred people stood lined up on either side of the annex.

"Welcome to the Shan Empire. We will do our best to ensure there are no inconveniences during Leo-nim's stay."

A middle-aged man, who appeared to be the head butler, bowed respectfully to Leo.

'A shadow.'

It wasn't just the head butler.

Among the hundred servants and maids lined up on both sides, several also looked like shadows.

Fritz, as if he knew this, narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

Amidst this, Leo was led to the largest room inside the annex.

"Please call us anytime if you need anything."

The head butler left after offering polite words.

Leo sat down on a large, luxurious chair in the room.

"What is it you wish to know?"

Jane asked, standing before Leo.

Looking at Jane, Leo spoke.

"Can you tell me about the Chen Xia that you know?"

"Yes?"

"I'm curious about the life Chen Xia lived that I don't know about. And how he came to Lumern. And why he decided to quit being a hero candidate."

Shau had said that Chen Xia had admired heroes since he was young.

And that if he met Leo now, his heart would waver, and he would abandon the path of a shadow and walk the path of a hero.

Conversely, Jane said that the reason Chen Xia quit being a hero candidate was because of Leo.

"I have served Siya-nim closely for the past 10 years."

Shadow candidates train from a young age to become shadows.

Jane, an orphan, had been taken in by the shadows of Shan and, recognized for her potential as a shadow, became a shadow candidate.

"Outstanding shadow candidates can be placed under the royal family. I was like that too."

The shadow candidates who would lead Shan's future gathered under Chen Xia.

"Siya-nim cherished the shadow candidates who followed him."

The training for shadow candidates was harsh, even brutal.

They lived in darkness and, even as traitors, had to eliminate people.

Sometimes, that harshness could extinguish their humanity.

Some degenerated into killing machines who only followed orders.

'No, they probably raise them that way on purpose.'

Leo's eyes narrowed.

"Everyone followed Siya-nim. That's why we wished for Siya-nim to become a hero."

Jane squeezed her eyes shut.

"He was more suited to be a hero than a shadow. And Siya-nim went to Lumern last year."

"Given the Emperor's personality, he wouldn't have easily allowed it?"

"Yes. His Majesty the Emperor gave Siya-nim one condition."

"Condition?"

"If you cannot become the top of your class, then completely give up the path of a hero."

It meant that if he couldn't become the best among the hero candidates, he should give up the path of a hero.

"So, you're saying that Chen Xia-senpai quit being a hero candidate because of Leo-senpai?"

Fritz, who had been listening, frowned.

"That sounds like blaming others."

"I know! I know that too!"

Jane, flustered, glared fiercely at Fritz.

But soon, she slumped her shoulders.

"Is that the only reason he gave up on becoming a hero?"

"The day Siya-nim returned, he told me. He said he saw people who were truly worthy of being heroes… that people like them should become heroes."

Jane lowered her head deeply.

"He said he could no longer become a hero because he had stepped into the darkness…"

Hearing that, Leo let out a deep sigh.

"Do you happen to know a name called Vihar?"

"No, who is that?"

"It's fine if you don't know."

Shaking his head, Leo sank deep into the back of the chair.

"Why is their damnable nonsense so similar?"

"Yes?"

"Just talking to myself."

Leo closed his eyes.

***

Whooosh—

From the high walls of Gardsron, a woman gazed down at the city.

The large-scale battle that had occurred some time ago.

People were celebrating the heroes who had returned victorious from the Tarmethia battle.

Great heroes led by Lisinas, and countless warriors following them.

After their victory in the Tarmethia battle, they had been able to reclaim many lost territories.

"To the achievements of the Great Heroes! Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"To the deeds of the heroes who saved the world! Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

"Woooooo!"

The residents of Gardsron cheered with joy.

The eyes of people who had lived for decades in despair and lament were now filled with hope.

The sky, a depressingly grey hue, remained the same.

But with the dazzling exploits of the Great Heroes, people thought.

One day, this grey sky would disappear, and they would find the lost blue sky.

They would surely regain peace after the long period of despair had ended.

People were able to see hope.

The sounds of boisterous chatter and hearty laughter could be heard.

Humans, elves, beastmen, dwarves – all created a festival.

Beastmen played instruments, and humans sang along.

Elves danced to the music, and dwarves built a stage.

Dragons told stories of the heroes' great deeds to the children.

Everyone, with one heart, celebrated the great victory.

Everyone laughed brightly in the light.

Only the woman stood on the wall, shrouded in darkness, far from the light.

Watching the festival from afar, the woman smiled.

"Still putting on a pathetic show."

At the voice from behind, Vihar gasped—! and stumbled.

Losing her balance, she flailed her arms and fell from the wall.

"Ka, Kael-nim."

Vihar, barely clinging to the wall's railing, pulled herself up.

"I almost fell!"

"Would you die falling from this height?"

Kael, with a look of disdain, slumped down on the wall.

In front of Kael, Vihar knelt on both knees.

Kael, with his arms crossed, looked at the festival scene unfolding below and said.

"How long will you refuse to appear before people?"

"I don't think I'll ever have to appear."

"You are also a hero who saved many people."

"When others fought Tartarus, I stained my hands with people's blood. Even though they were traitors, I don't want to appear before people for the merit of having cut them down."

Vihar looked down at her hands.

"Besides, among those I executed, there are some who are still remembered as heroes. There will be many people who cannot accept my existence."

Traitors must undoubtedly be executed.

But if people knew that a traitor was among the heroes who gave them hope…

Those who had just begun to embrace hope would undoubtedly fall into despair.

Now was a time when people needed someone to believe in and rely on.

Therefore, among the traitors executed by Kael and Vihar, there were not a few who were remembered as noble heroes.

"I cannot become a hero after stepping into darkness."

"Then what am I?"

"Kael-nim is different. Kael-nim is someone who can shine even in the darkness."

"What nonsense is that now?"

Seeing Kael with a bewildered expression, Vihar simply smiled.

"Don't worry too much. In a world where Erebus has been vanquished and Tartarus has disappeared… someday, I will make it known. That a person like me existed."

"Ah, found you! You were here!"

The sound of drunken slurring could be heard.

Luna, who had run over, put her arm around Kael's neck.

"You! You ran away while drinking, didn't you? That means you admit defeat in our drinking match!"

"Don't cling to me. You smell like bad breath."

"Where do I smell like bad breath!"

"You probably smell because you threw up."

Luna tightened her grip on Kael's neck and shook him vigorously.

In response, Kael pinched Luna's cheeks and shook her.

Luna bit Kael's hand, and Leo pulled the other cheek.

"Dwe'no. Kael and Luna are fighting again!"

"Let them be. Is it the first or second time those fools have fought?"

"Vihar. Were you here alone again?"

Arion and Dwe'no appeared, and Lisinas, with a gentle smile, expressed concern for Vihar.

Berkia, the elf girl who had accompanied them, drooped her shoulders.

"Why is Berkkia looking so dejected again?"

"She forgot the sword Luna gave her as a gift during the battle."

"Ah… Erquint."

Vihar let out a small sigh and approached Berkkia, stroking her head.

"Don't worry, I'll find it for you."

"…Really?"

Seeing her eyes widen, Vihar smiled.

"Of course."

"Hey. Don't accept it. She'll get spoiled."

"Bea!"

Berkkia stuck out her tongue at Kael.

"You insolent brat…"

The once quiet wall had become noisy.

This was another hideout for the Great Heroes.

Dwe'no opened a barrel of liquor he had brought and drank merrily with Kael and Luna.

Arion played his flute, and Lisinas hummed a song.

Vihar, Berkkia, and the other disciples of the Great Heroes laughed heartily.

"…"

Leo opened his eyes.

'In the end, Vihar did not make her name known to the world.'

She had no intention of becoming a hero.

So he had no intention of blaming her for choosing to remain in darkness her entire life.

It was the path she chose according to her beliefs.

But Chen Xia?

He wanted to become a hero.

"But he says he can't become a hero because he stepped into darkness? How arrogant."

At Leo's words, Fritz and Jane flinched.

Without realizing it, Leo was glaring with fearsome eyes out the window at the darkened Shan imperial palace.

Leo rose and approached the window.

"Where are you going?"

Jane asked urgently.

Looking at Jane, Leo said.

"I'm going to Chen Xia."

"What? You know where he is?"

"I'll find him if I search."

Chen Xia, coiled in the darkness of the Shan imperial palace, is undetectable even by Jane, a shadow candidate.

No, even by the most skilled shadows.

And yet, he intended to find him?

"What are you going to do once you find him?"

Seeing Jane's flustered expression, Leo smiled.

"What else? I'll forcibly drag him out of the darkness."