Book 1 Chapter 243

243

After Leo left the annex.

Jane, with a flustered expression, tried to stop him.

"W-wait a moment, Lord Leo. If you wander around carelessly…"

"Didn't I tell you to call me senior?"

"That's not what's important right now!"

Jane blocked Leo's path.

"This is the Imperial Palace of Shan. No matter if Lord Leo… no, Senior is the student council president of Lumerne, wandering around carelessly could lead to big problems."

"That might be true."

Leo, who had stopped walking, nodded.

Seeing Leo like that, Jane, thinking he had given up, let out a sigh of relief.

"But retreating like this doesn't suit my nature, you see."

Leo walked past Jane and through the annex garden.

"You say something too!"

Jane urgently looked at Fritz and said.

In response, Fritz adjusted his glasses and said.

"If Senior is going to do it, I can't stop him."

Fritz followed behind Leo.

"Of course, finding Senior Chen Xia in this darkness would be impossible."

The Imperial Palace of Shan was dark despite being the center of the empire.

It wasn't that there was no light, but all areas were blacked out except for where it was necessary.

A characteristic of the Shan Empire, known as the Shadow Empire.

Shadows, as guardians of the darkness, exert their most powerful strength when they are in darkness.

As such, their ability to hide themselves in the darkness is also exceptionally good.

Jane sighed at Fritz's words.

"Of course. So shouldn't we stop him from wasting energy on useless things even more?"

Hearing their conversation, Leo stopped walking.

"It seems you both think I can't find Chen Xia?"

Fritz took a step forward and then bowed respectfully.

"I apologize if I've offended you. But heroes and shadows live in completely different worlds."

Jane, with her arms crossed, pouted.

"It's not because Senior's abilities are lacking. Shadows are beings that live in darkness. It's not easy to find a shadow in the darkness. And if it's Lady Xia, it's impossible. She's someone even other shadows have trouble finding."

At their words, Leo let out a "hmm-" and a sigh.

During Kyle's time.

When Leo punished the traitors, it was mostly a night shrouded in darkness.

The nights during the Age of Calamity were much deeper and more dangerous than now.

A time when moving at night itself was extremely difficult.

'That's why it was perfect for punishing traitors.'

The foolish traitors who thought the night was on their side showed an opening.

'So that method has continued until now, has it?'

"Are you saying you're accustomed to darkness?"

"Rather than accustomed… darkness is on the side of shadows."

Jane, with her arms crossed, pouted.

"Is that so?"

Leo chuckled and stepped into the darkness.

"Then I might find her surprisingly easily."

When punishing traitors during the Age of Calamity.

Darkness was not Leo's ally, but his enemy.

The curses and traps unleashed by various traitors and Tartarus gained even greater power in darkness.

Leo had navigated through darkness incomparable to what it was now.

Fritz and Jane looked at each other, then followed behind Leo.

Stomp- stomp-

Leo approached one of the many entrances to the Imperial Palace.

An entrance where only pitch-black darkness could be seen.

It was an entrance that one would instinctively be reluctant to approach, but Leo walked towards it without hesitation.

Shhh-

Then, a shadow appeared before Leo.

Seeing that, Leo asked.

"Can't I go in?"

"His Majesty did not command us to prevent your entry, however…"

"However?"

"His Majesty's command was to trap you in darkness if you attempt to find the Princess."

At those words, Jane's shoulders flinched.

"Trap him in darkness? That's a test!"

Fritz also narrowed his eyes.

"A test?"

"It is an ordeal for a shadow candidate to be recognized as a shadow."

"Hoo?"

Leo let out an exclamation.

"This should be interesting."

Jane and Fritz flinched and stared at Leo.

"It could be dangerous, Senior Leo. It's completely different from what Senior Leo has learned in Lumerne so far…"

Ignoring Fritz's dissuasion, Leo stepped into the darkness.

Fritz and Jane, flustered, followed behind Leo.

Thump- thump-

Footsteps echoed throughout the silent corridor.

Thump- thump- thu-mp- thu—mp-

But soon, even the sound was swallowed by the darkness.

'Is it magic?'

In the pitch-black darkness, Leo conjured magic.

'Light.'

But no light emanated.

The magic was definitely activated.

It had been swallowed by the darkness before it could emit light.

'Indeed.'

Leo stared at the darkness before him.

'Perfect darkness.'

It was a colossal labyrinth.

The darkness robbed him of sight, sensation, and hearing.

Unless one became one with the darkness and revived their senses, escape was impossible.

'Is this why they said darkness was on their side? Other guys would've had a tough time, wouldn't they?'

Darkness, like an abyss, instills fear.

But Leo walked forward without hesitation.

Within the labyrinth of darkness.

Even with all his senses taken, Leo's footsteps were unhindered.

Whoosh-!

Leo's sharp senses spread throughout the darkness.

He quickly began to overpower the entire darkness.

The exit of the labyrinth was clearly felt.

Thump- thump-

"No…!"

Breaking through the darkness, it was the palace corridor.

The shadow who had stood before Leo just moments ago wore an expression of astonishment.

"How…!"

The time it took Leo to break through the darkness was barely 10 seconds.

'I thought I got out immediately, but it took longer than I expected.'

He thought he got out as soon as he perceived the labyrinth, but it took longer than expected.

'My senses have dulled quite a bit.'

Clenching and unclenching his palm, Leo turned around and asked.

It was then, while the shadow was surprised.

Breaking through the darkness, Fritz and Jane simultaneously appeared.

And upon seeing Leo, they widened their eyes.

"Didn't you enter the Labyrinth of Darkness?"

"I went in and came out?"

"I-impossible!"

Seeing Leo break through the darkness much faster than themselves, both wore expressions of shock.

"I don't think this is the end of the test."

Leo smiled faintly.

"What should I do now?"

***

'Just what is this person's limit?'

Fritz thought as he followed behind Leo.

Jane also followed behind Leo with disbelieving eyes.

Fritz was a shadow of Lumerne.

More precisely, he was a shadow candidate of the Jeraon family.

Originally, he was a shadow meant to serve Elena, the successor of Jeraon.

As he grew as a shadow, he desired only one thing.

To become the shadow of a perfect hero.

And Elena was the person closest to the most perfect hero Fritz had envisioned.

But last year.

His mind changed after seeing Leo.

The subjugation of the Chedmothers incident.

The Gigantes subjugation.

The conquest of the Hero's World of the Progenitor of the Nebula.

Even the youngest student council president.

Truly, the appearance of the perfect hero candidate he had dreamed of.

Fritz, who immediately became Leo's devotee, instantly told Elena.

That he wanted to become the shadow of Leo Plov.

The initially surprised, noble Queen of Lumerne burst into laughter looking at Fritz.

'I knew you'd say something like that.'

Although he was a shadow raised by Jeraon, Elena willingly released Fritz.

At first, he was surprised, but he soon regarded it as an opportunity.

And the newly appointed principal of Lumerne, who was a former shadow.

He qualified for the entrance exam at Riina's suggestion and passed.

He thought he had become closer to Leo and actually met him.

He was an even more perfect image of a hero than he had imagined.

But now.

Moving in the darkness, he could not possibly be considered a hero candidate.

'A shadow candidate like us… no.'

Fritz broke into a cold sweat.

'He is the perfect shadow itself.'

What on earth does that mean?

The movements of a person closer to a perfect hero than anyone else are closer to a perfect shadow than anyone else.

Heroes who live in light and shadows who live in darkness cannot coexist.

That's what he had always thought…

'How can such a person exist?'

Fritz stared at Leo's back with a disbelieving face.

Jane was also the same.

The darkness that unfolded before them continuously blocked Leo's path.

Shadows even pointed their swords at Leo in the darkness to test his strength.

However…

Whoosh-!

"Ugh?"

The Shan shadow, subdued in the darkness, stared up at Leo with wide eyes.

And seeing Leo's eyes glowing in the darkness, he felt chills.

'I cannot escape those eyes.'

What if the hero candidate before him hunted him?

'In the darkness, I would be defenseless!'

The shadow couldn't understand.

How could a hero candidate move better than a shadow in the darkness?

When he subdued the seventh shadow, Leo murmured.

"This won't end."

Not all shadows are as powerful as heroes.

Just as only a few heroes can be listed in the Hero Record.

Only a few shadows possess power comparable to a hero.

But that doesn't mean the shadows blocking Leo's path are weak either.

"I don't know how Senior moves like a shadow, but as long as we're trapped in darkness, we can't find Lady Chen Xia."

At Jane's words, Leo wore an indifferent expression.

"I think I could find her quickly if it weren't for you two."

"What? Are you saying we're in the way right now?"

"To tell you the truth, yes."

"What!"

Jane bristled at Fritz's words.

"Admit it, El Jane. Senior Leo possesses abilities that far surpass ours, even as a shadow."

Jane gritted her teeth.

"That's… strange."

Jane clenched her fist tightly.

"Heroes are heroes… shadows are shadows… they live in different worlds. That's why Lady Xia gave up on her dream."

But a being who denies that fact is before them.

As both a hero and a shadow.

A being beyond common sense, far surpassing them.

If they acknowledge such a being, what about themselves, who have lived as shadows until now?

What would become of Chen Xia, who gave up on her dream of being a hero?

Seeing Jane hanging her head, Leo said.

"I've heard that enough times from the principal and the emperor to be sick of it."

Leo turned his gaze into the darkness.

"But to me, heroes and shadows are the same. They're just like two sides of a coin."

Fritz and Jane looked at Leo.

"All who wish to protect the world are heroes. So, in my eyes, you two are also hero candidates."

"…!"

Fritz and Jane's eyes widened.

They had never thought that way before.

"Then… then…"

Fritz's body trembled.

"The reason you told us to call you 'Senior Leo'… is it because you acknowledge us as hero candidates?"

"What have you been listening to this whole time?"

"Ah! How can such a great being exist?! To genuinely acknowledge even shadows as hero candidates!"

Fritz cried out with a face full of emotion.

And he pulled a notebook from his pocket and began to write something.

"What on earth is that?"

Jane squinted her eyes and checked the contents of Fritz's notebook.

"I've been recording Senior Leo's deeds. Especially since he just left us with some great words, shouldn't I record them, naturally?"

"Record?"

"Want to take a look?"

Fritz, who had returned with a straight face, handed the notebook to Jane.

Jane, who took it and read it, had her face change strangely.

[The Great Senior Leo said that even shadows can become heroes. Ah, how can such a great person exist? His capacity is something I dare not gauge.]

Rustle-

[I saw Lord Leo for the first time today. Lord Leo has pure white hair and fiery red eyes that seem ready to burn…]

[When I was in a skirmish with a presumptuous Shan shadow, Lord Leo grabbed my wrist. I must not wash this wrist for a while.]

[Lord Leo…]

"Are you a pervert?"

Seeing Fritz, who had recorded every single one of Leo's actions and the situations when he saw Leo with a fervor bordering on obsessive, Jane made a disgusted expression.

"What does it say?"

Leo also saw the contents of Fritz's record.

Whoosh-

And without hesitation, he burned it to ashes with his flame aura.

"Ah!"

Fritz knelt in despair before the notebook, now reduced to ashes.

'He's a strange one.'

"Is that also why you're going to bring Lady Xia? Because you think she's a hero candidate?"

"That's part of it. But she's also presumptuous. Saying she's stepped into darkness, or that she can't be a hero. How can she give up without even trying?"

Leo chuckled.

"I want to show her. That those who don't give up can become heroes."

"…That's exactly like what Lord Kyle, mentioned by the Progenitor of the Nebula who appeared in Seirun last winter, said."

Kyle was the one who never gave up when everyone else did.

The Progenitor of the Nebula had left such words at the time.

"I did say that."

Leo chuckled and disappeared into the darkness.

Seeing his retreating figure, Jane took a deep breath and kicked Fritz's backside, who was still prostrated on the floor in despair.

"How long are you going to stay like that? You need to help the senior you respect so much!"

At those words, Fritz got up and adjusted his glasses.

"I know without you telling me."

The two Lumerne students' eyes shone in the darkness.

"We'll eliminate anyone who tries to hinder Senior as much as possible."

"We must eliminate anyone who tries to hinder Senior as much as possible."

The two glared at each other.

"Don't copy me."

***

Leo, having broken through the darkness, instantly found Chen Xia.

And said.

"I've come to get you."

Leo spoke to his friend, who had turned away from him.

Shhh-

But soon, Chen Xia disappeared into the darkness.

Seeing that, Leo's eyes twitched.

For a moment, he lost her presence.

All that remained was the shadow standing beside Chen Xia.

The shadow approached to stop Leo.

At that moment, the shadow's eyes widened.

"No!"

Because Leo, too, had disappeared into the darkness.

The shadow, who had served the Shan family for a long time, knew what it was.

'Shadow Stride?'

A technique passed down only to the imperial family of Shan.

And Leo, who had no connection to Shan whatsoever, had used it.

It was also why the emperors of Shan were called the Kings of Shadows.

'Impossible!'

While the shadow wore an expression of astonishment.

Chasing Chen Xia in the darkness, Leo narrowed his eyes.

'Indeed, the imperial family of Shan are descendants of Bihar.'

Though the form had changed significantly, moving while concealing one's presence in the darkness was clearly a technique Leo had taught Bihar.

'Well, Arion created the basic framework, and I merely adapted it.'

Finding Chen Xia, who had deliberately hidden herself in the darkness, was a challenging task even for the current Leo.

'She's more accustomed to darkness than I am.'

Chen Xia was excessively specialized in assimilating into darkness.

'It's going to be a bit of a struggle to find her, isn't it?'

He understood why Shau had made such a bold claim.

But then Leo smiled.

'If she's assimilated into the darkness, I just need to subdue the darkness itself.'

Leo's senses rapidly permeated into the darkness.

It was when the darkness rapidly began to fall under Leo's perception.

Whoosh-!

A faint killing intent was felt.

At that moment, Leo tilted his head back.

Whoosh-!

"Hoo?"

Leo stopped walking.

The man who swung the sword was looking at Leo, letting out an exclamation of admiration.

He was in his late teens.

But there was a strong, subtly mature aura about him.

With black hair and black eyes, similar in height to Leo, he was looking at Leo with apparent interest.

"That face, I've seen it before."

The man's eyes sparkling.

"You're Leo Plov, aren't you? The Lumerne student called the best hero candidate."

Leo wiped the blood flowing from his cheek and narrowed his eyes.

"You, what are you?"

"My name is Chen Sian."

Sian, with a gentle smile that reminded one of someone, introduced himself.

"I am the man who will one day become a great Grand Hero."