Book 1 Chapter 277

That evening.

Leo, who had gone to the meeting place early, was contemplating the magic he would teach Lunia.

'I need to teach Eiran not just how to return Erquaint, but also the magic of stars.'

Of course, he had no intention of teaching the magic of the Apocalypse.

'Eiran is not suited for the Apocalypse.'

He also planned to teach Lunia other star magic besides the Apocalypse.

Star Magic: Apocalypse.

As the magic known to externally symbolize Luna, it boasted the greatest power among the magic Luna had used.

'But there is a different magic that symbolized Luna.'

Star Magic: Stella Radius.

It was created through the star magic system, but Luna created it solely for herself.

In terms of power alone, the most potent star magic is the Apocalypse, but Stella Radius has far superior versatility.

As magic optimized for Luna's mana characteristics, in a sense, it was the most star-like star magic.

The reason Stella Radius is special.

It is because another unique magic was created based on star magic, which can be considered unique magic itself.

It's not a concept of creating another magic by simply applying unique magic.

'If unique magic is magic that symbolizes the mage's mana characteristics… Stella Radius symbolizes the mage themselves.'

Luna wanted to become a great mage who shone like a star.

Stella Radius is magic influenced by Luna's wish, imbued with beautiful starlight.

And there is one more magic like Stella Radius.

A magic of the stars that was the only one Luna could not use.

'Innocent.'

Kyle's unique magic created by Luna.

It was magic that symbolized Kyle himself.

And Luna redefined magic of the same type as Stella Radius and Innocent and gave it a name.

'Origin.'

What one wants to become.

Or magic that signifies a person's origin.

'And I created several Origins besides Stella Radius and Innocent.'

Of course, none of them were completed.

Luna only created the basic framework of those magics.

They had not reached their completion stage due to the lack of users.

'Among them is magic created for Berkia.'

Berkia, the joint disciple of Luna, Arion, and Kyle.

Magic from Luna.

Martial arts from Arion.

And the skills of a sword master from Kyle.

Through their teachings, Berkia completed the unique magic 'Armor of Animus' and it has been passed down to her descendants for thousands of years.

Magic that fuses mana and aura.

What Leo would teach Eiran was the Origin magic Luna created for Berkia.

Leo also knew it only through theory and incantations, but could not use it.

'Because it's magic created only for Berkia.'

The activation conditions for the magic were star mana, fairy mana, and aura.

'Eiran, as Berkia's descendant, has the conditions to learn magic, so she should be able to learn it.'

Luna's heart left for a disciple who admired her teachers and wanted to follow in their footsteps.

In the last expedition, all the great heroes lost their lives and failed to pass it on.

But in this era, Leo exists.

Leo had thought he needed to pass on this magic since he first saw Eiran.

Leo had an obligation to leave this magic behind.

Even though Luna, who created the magic, and Berkia, who intended to pass it on, are no longer here.

Her descendant, who inherited Berkia's will, exists.

'It is one of my roles in this era to convey that heart, even if belatedly.'

It was then that Leo smiled faintly, recalling Luna and Berkia.

*Creak-*

The sound of the great hall door opening was heard.

Leo, turning his head with a puzzled expression, found Eiran peeking through the slightly open door and wore a bewildered look.

"Eiran?"

"L-Leo-sama. You were already here?"

There was still time before midnight.

"Yes. I wanted to prepare a bit. Why are you here so early?"

"I-I also came to… prepare myself…!"

"What? Were you that excited?"

"It's not like I was that excited! I mean, I wasn't, I wasn't! I mean…!"

Eiran, her ears turning red and her hands moving around, lowered her head and replied.

"I was excited."

Seeing Eiran so embarrassed that steam seemed to be coming out of her head, Leo inwardly clicked his tongue.

'If only Berkia was half as cute as Eiran, I would have doted on her more.'

Recalling his insolent disciple who always glared with a defiant look and often rebelled, Leo shook his head.

'She's not even as good as her own descendant.'

Shaking his head as he thought of Berkia, Leo beckoned.

"Then let's start. Come here."

At his words, Eiran hesitantly approached Leo.

Seeing Eiran like that, Leo chuckled and said.

"Close your eyes."

"Close my…?"

'I-I saw it in a novel. While the male protagonist closed his eyes, he kissed the female protagonist's li-li-li-lips…!'

The former shut-in otaku, recalling the content of the novel she had seen, steadily escalated her misunderstanding.

Eiran, who didn't know what to do, finally looked at Leo's reflection in the moonlight.

'Leo-sama… has become even more gallant… and even more manly.'

Although still a boy with a lingering youthful appearance, his aura was solemn.

Mature red eyes beneath his white hair.

Beneath them, the well-defined features of a handsome young man.

'And his lips…'

Feeling a strangely stimulating sensation, Eiran looked up at Leo and quietly closed her eyes.

Thump-thump- Her heart pounded as if it would burst.

Her senses of touch and smell seemed to become even more acute.

*Rustle- rustle-*

The sound of something being taken out of fabric was heard.

As she focused on it, Eiran felt Leo's scent becoming clearer to her nose.

*Thump-thump-*

She felt Leo approaching closer.

*Thump!*

"…!"

When Leo grabbed her wrist, Eiran felt as if an electric current ran through her entire body.

Leo, holding Eiran's wrist, brought it in front of him and placed Erquaint in her small hand.

"Here, now open your eyes."

At his words, Eiran opened her eyes in surprise.

"It's a gift."

And seeing the sword in her hand, Eiran blinked her large eyes.

"From now on, I will teach you the magic of stars."

At Leo's words, Eiran, who had been silent, began to tremble.

She realized she had had an absurd delusion.

The tutoring Leo was going to give her was not something clandestine, but genuine tutoring.

Trembling with overwhelming shame, Eiran crouched down and buried her face in her knees.

Looking down at Eiran, Leo muttered.

'She seems to have had another strange delusion.'

Knowing that saying anything about this would render her unable to recover, Leo decided to let this matter slide, considering the innocent yet surprisingly knowledgeable elf girl.

***

Eiran, having barely recovered, put on the brightest possible expression.

"L-Learning the magic of stars from Leo-sama! It's truly an honor!"

Leo, looking at Eiran's excessively delighted expression with a hint of pity for a moment, said.

"Take a close look at the sword I gave you."

Eiran looked again at the strangely shaped sword Leo had given her.

"Th-this is… Erquaint?"

Eiran was surprised to see a sword that looked exactly like the sword used by the founder of her family in the distant past.

Erquaint has also been passed down in the Ersar family.

But that was in the distant past. A reward obtained by an ancestor who conquered the hero's world.

It was a replica, not the genuine article.

And since Hero Weapons lose their power when the conqueror dies, it was merely a shell.

"That one is genuine."

At Leo's words, Eiran was even more surprised.

"Bu-but! It was said that Erquaint was lost by Lady Berkia during the Age of Calamity!"

"Yes. But it was kept by the imperial family of the Shan Empire."

Leo pulled up a nearby chair and sat down.

"And it is said that the founder of the Shan Empire was also a disciple of a great hero, just like Berkia."

"Yes?"

Eiran was startled.

Although it was unknown information, Leo decided to tell Eiran this story.

'Eiran is discreet.'

He had already informed Chen Xia that he would give Erquaint to Eiran and tell her about its origin.

Chen Xia had shown no particular reaction to that news.

'Yes. Do as you please, Leo-sama.'

'Is it okay to readily give away an item that has been kept for thousands of years to another family… and moreover, another race?'

'Leo-sama is our benefactor, Shan's and mine. I have already vowed to live my entire life for Leo-sama. So, please use Shan and me as you see fit.'

"It seems the founder of Shan found the sword that Berkia lost."

"I-is that so."

Eiran looked at Erquaint in her hand with trembling eyes.

She could already feel an extraordinary mana from the sword in her hand.

Eiran, who inherited Berkia's blood, instinctively felt it.

That this sword was genuine.

"This is… the ancestor's sword."

Seeing Eiran look at Erquaint with tearful eyes, Leo said.

"Yes, first, I think you need to learn how to use that sword."

"How to use the sword?"

"Yes. Can you give it back?"

Eiran returned Erquaint to Leo.

Upon receiving the sword, Leo flowed mana into Erquaint.

*Woong-!*

Then Erquaint began to emit its sword's name.

*Jiiiing-!*

Along with that, a silvery-green blade emanated from Erquaint.

Eiran marveled at the mana blade, which had extended to the size of a longsword.

'It's just like in the texts!'

Seeing the true form of the weapon used by the ancestor she so revered, Eiran felt profound emotion.

Leo returned Erquaint to Eiran.

"Now, try using it."

At his words, Eiran gripped Erquaint with both hands.

'Certainly, Leo-sama used mana like this…'

Following the way Leo had used mana a moment ago, she flowed mana into Erquaint.

*Jiiiing-!*

Then a silvery-green blade sprang forth.

"Leo-sama! I did it!"

Seeing Eiran smiling brightly, Leo chuckled.

"Well done. Shall we move on to magic now?"

"Yes!"

Leo spread his hand.

"This is probably magic that only people from your family can learn."

"Magic that only my family can learn?"

Eiran blinked her large eyes and tilted her head.

"Yes."

Leo nodded, and a magic incantation appeared on his palm.

Eiran's eyes widened.

She instinctively realized.

This is…

'It's magic related to the Ersar family.'

And not just any family magic.

'It resembles the Armor of Animus.'

"D-did Leo-sama perhaps create this magic?"

To that question, Leo shook his head.

"No. The person who created this magic is probably Luna, the founder of the Nebula."

"What?"

"I also found this magic in an old ancient text discovered in the Shan Empire."

Eiran's jaw dropped.

The magic left by Luna, the founder of the Nebula, for her disciple Berkia.

Magic created by Luna during her final expedition to support the wish of Berkia, the little girl who admired and followed the great heroes.

Luna's last creation.

"Sword of Animus."

Leo stared intently at Eiran.

"This is the last magic left by the founder of the Nebula for your ancestor."