Book 1 Chapter 284
284
Bubbling, bubbling, bubbling!
“……!”
Water suddenly entered Ar’s mouth and nose.
Ar, with wide-open eyes, began to struggle desperately.
“Puhwa! Cough! Cough!”
Ar, barely surfacing, coughed frantically.
“Is everyone okay?!”
A hurried voice was heard from the side.
Turning his head, Kal also had his face above the water.
“I, I’m okay!”
Eiran’s urgent voice was heard.
“Let’s get out of the water first!”
With those words, Kal used Fly magic.
Eiran also used magic to lift herself.
Ar used Aura Step to stand on the water.
The three, having escaped the water in their own ways, dried themselves.
“Where are the black rabbit, the representative of Seirun, and that dwarf with the strange way of speaking?”
Flap, flap-!
As Ar asked, shaking off water, Eiran replied while wringing out her uniform.
“W, well. They don’t seem to be around?”
Eiran, anxiously looking around, wore a serious expression.
“B, by the way, are we really inside Deweno’s Hero Record?”
“Yes. The message clearly said so.”
Ar’s expression tensed.
Seeing that, Kal opened an interdimensional space.
“First, wipe some of the water with this. Your current appearance might be a bit too stimulating for a teenage boy.”
As Kal said, Ar and Eiran’s uniforms were clinging tightly to their bodies, revealing their figures.
Blushing at Kal’s words, Eiran took Kal’s towel.
“Hmph, you’re pounding in your heart at this older sister’s appearance, aren’t you!”
“Uh, yeah.”
“What’s with that ridiculously indifferent reaction!”
Ar bared his fangs and raised his claws, glaring, but Kal couldn’t help it.
Compared to Eiran, Ar’s curves were sadly nonexistent.
He handed a towel to Ar, who was hissing.
“Wow, this towel is amazing. Just by wiping, it makes you feel dry!”
Eiran marveled at the towel, which seemed to absorb water like a sponge.
Seeing Eiran instantly return to her normal appearance, Ar also tried wiping himself with the towel Kal gave him and marveled.
“Hmph, it’s a product I made. It’s disposable. It’s very popular with the female students at our school.”
Especially in Noble, Kal’s academy, there were many young ladies from noble families, making it even more popular.
“Anyway, we need to reunite with Leo, Lunia, and Dryana quickly…”
Getting back to the point, Kal looked up at the sky.
And his face stiffened.
It wasn’t just Kal.
Eiran’s face also turned slightly pale.
A gray sky, unimaginable in the current era, stretched out before them.
Kal swallowed hard.
Naturally, since they had entered Deweno’s world of heroes.
‘The era we are in now is the era of disaster.’
A period they had heard about countless times through numerous texts.
Through the testimonies of heroes who had conquered the distant world of heroes, they could indirectly know what the sky was like in that era.
That’s why they thought they knew.
However, the gray sky they saw directly was enough to instill a primal fear in Kal.
‘This is… proof that the world is ending.’
Numerous heroes whose names were etched in history.
Among them, a landscape that only the chosen could see.
The sky seemed to be speaking.
It’s too early for you yet.
Eiran also flinched, pulling her neck in as if stunned.
“It really is… scary. That sky.”
Ar, who had experienced it once, muttered in a tense voice.
“First, let’s check the objective.”
Ar said calmly.
The two nodded at Ar’s words and turned on their consciousness to check the objective.
[Objective: -]
“Keck!”
But seeing the objective message floating before his eyes, Kal let out a scream.
The objective was blank.
Ar and Eiran also looked bewildered.
Even the three of them, who had experience in the world of heroes, had never encountered a blank objective before.
“Abnormal situation… Could it be a Hero Dungeon?”
Ar’s expression turned serious.
The objective is the key to conquering the world of heroes.
Normally, they would conquer based on the objective, but now the objective was blank.
“Come to think of it, it was strange when we entered the world of heroes, wasn’t it?”
The message mentioned it was Deweno’s world, but the specific incident was obscured.
“Let’s investigate first.”
“Agreed.”
They quickly thought of what needed to be done.
And the moment they were about to move.
Fwah-hwa-hwa-!
“……!”
Armed individuals quickly surrounded the three of them.
Consequently, the three of them naturally assumed a combat stance.
“Suspicious guys!”
“Invading the Spirit Lake! Reveal your identities!”
“Are you spies from Tartarus!”
The three were surprised to see people of various races showing wariness.
‘Is this natural if it’s the era of disaster?’
Kal quickly assessed the situation, lowered his guard, and raised both hands.
“Wait a moment. We are not suspicious people.”
“Yes, we just got lost.”
Eiran also said cautiously.
“Don’t lie! This is the city’s water source! It’s heavily guarded! It’s impossible to get lost and enter!”
A human, who appeared to be the leader, raised his voice.
Seeing that, Kal wore a perplexed expression.
“I think it’s best to just follow their words for now?”
“I think so too.”
“There’s no other choice. If we get a chance, we’ll try to escape.”
It was when the three were about to be captured.
“Put away your weapons. Those kids aren’t spies from Tartarus.”
A gentle voice was heard from behind.
Kal and Eiran looked puzzled.
However, Ar’s ears perked up.
Ar had heard this voice before.
Pushing aside the armed guards, a beastman youth appeared.
It was a white wolf beastman.
With roughly grown white hair and sharp golden eyes.
Kal and Eiran’s bodies trembled.
It was someone they knew very well.
One of the great heroes who saved the world.
‘Hero… Arion!’
‘Why is the Hero here in Deweno’s world!’
The legendary figure who led impossible battles to victory, a symbol of courage, stood before them.
As hero candidates, what greater glory could there be?
It was when Kal and Eiran were trembling with emotion.
Whoosh-!
Ar charged at Arion with incredible speed.
Before the surrounding people could react…
“Arion-nim! It’s Arion-nim!”
“Hiiieek?”
Arion’s dignified face was filled with terror.
It wasn’t just Arion.
The guards who were on alert also showed expressions of fear for a moment.
Because Ar’s eyes were wild.
“You’re so cool! Gasp! Gasp! I respect you! Hah! Hah!”
“G-get off!”
Arion, terrified, screamed as he saw Ar clinging to his legs.
“Suspicious individuals threatened Arion-nim!”
“Subdue them quickly!”
“As expected, these guys are definitely spies from Tartarus!”
“Arrest them!”
In an instant, the surroundings became chaotic.
In the end, the three were arrested due to Ar, who became excited upon seeing Arion.
***
Hwararararar-!
It was the world of fire.
The surroundings were burning.
Lunia and Dryana stood there.
“Are you okay?”
“Even if I look like this, I have excellent fire resistance.”
“You’re back to your strange way of speaking again.”
Lunia opened her eyes blearily.
Lunia and Dryana stood calmly in a place where ordinary people would struggle to even stand.
The Lund family, having wielded the flames of a phoenix since birth, meant that this much flame had little effect on Lunia.
Although Dryana had given up on the path of Smith, having been with fire since childhood, she had strong fire resistance.
This much flame had no effect on the two of them.
“By the way, what kind of flame is this?”
“……It feels like elemental flame.”
Lunia narrowed her eyes as she looked around.
‘And it’s not just any ordinary elemental spirit. It’s a great elemental spirit.’
Born with the talent of a beast tamer, Lunia, who was quite skilled in elemental magic as a summoner, easily identified the flame.
‘Furthermore… I can feel the power of a phoenix.’
Lunia crossed her arms, sensing a familiar residue from the flame.
‘What kind of space is this?’
It was when Lunia wore a perplexed expression.
Thump-! Thump-!
The ground trembled.
Lunia and Dryana stopped.
Kyuong-!
“Golem?”
A giant golem appeared from within the flames.
Lunia smiled faintly at the fire golem, engulfed in flames all over its body.
“It seems to be the guardian of this place?”
“Hmm. To get out of here, we’ll have to defeat this first.”
Golems are often used as guardians of territories.
As guardians that protect specific areas, golems are very powerful and hostile to intruders.
However, neither Lunia nor Dryana were overly concerned.
No matter how powerful it was, the two were hero candidates.
The golem was not a threat.
Dryana, standing at the front, took out her combat hammer from an interdimensional space.
Lunia naturally stood in the rear.
Although they had never coordinated before, the two naturally formed a combat formation.
Lunia, as the top honor student of Seirun’s second year, was experienced in combat.
Dryana, though not anymore, was the former class representative of Demian.
Her skills were real.
Swish-
Seeing the two in a combat stance, the golem took a step.
Crash-!
“……!”
Bang-!
At that moment, the golem’s arm, which had closed the distance at incredible speed, sent Dryana flying.
Dryana slammed into the wall.
Seeing that, Lunia’s eyes widened in shock.
‘What! This golem!’
A golem, the pinnacle of magical engineering.
However, due to its heavy mass, its movement was limited.
But this golem far surpassed the category of a simple golem.
The moment the golem aimed for Lunia.
Clang-!
Dryana, who had kicked off the wall, struck the golem’s head with her hammer.
For a moment, Dryana’s eyes twitched.
“Amazing. To be unharmed even after taking that attack.”
As Lunia marveled, Dryana adjusted her hammer and said,
“Durability is a characteristic of dwarves.”
Although she looked like a small and cute dwarf girl, her durability was exceptionally strong.
“Tough.”
Thinking of her as a reliable front-line fighter, Lunia generated magic.
“Lunia El Lundah. Unleash your full power.”
“Huh?”
“That golem is made of Orichalcum.”
Lunia’s face was filled with shock.
“Is it possible to make a golem out of Orichalcum?”
“It’s impossible. But considering whose world this is… it’s not impossible.”
“The blacksmith of the gods… Deweno’s world…”
Lunia uttered a groan.
With Deweno’s technology, it wouldn’t be impossible.
Kyuong-!
The golem’s activation sound was heard.
Seeing that, Lunia and Dryana lowered their stances.
“You’re energetic young ladies.”
Beyond the golem’s eyes.
Deweno tilted his head.
“If you’ve invaded a restricted area, there must be a reason. Shall we try to subdue you first?”
Gardsron City Guard’s forbidden zone.
Invading the flames of the spirit that provides heat and light to the city was not something to be taken lightly.
“It’s troublesome that things keep happening while the three are away from the city.”
Deweno sighed lightly and moved the golem using his magic.
***
“Who are you?”
Shush-
Berkia kept a wary distance from Leo.
Leo looked around.
‘Forest.’
It was a forest that felt somehow familiar.
‘I see. The forest around Gardsron.’
Leo had trained in this forest, not far from Gardsron.
There was no sign of anyone around.
‘Judging by your age, it’s about time for you to go into battle.’
He must have entered this forest alone to train.
‘You’re around 17? Or 18 years old now.’
Leo, who easily figured out Berqia’s age, said,
“Where are your teachers? Kyle, Luna, and Arion?”
“How did you know I was their disciple?”
Berkia’s wariness intensified.
‘Hmm. If the fact that I was his disciple isn’t public knowledge, it means it’s before he started to truly make a name for himself… So, you’re 17.’
Leo quickly gathered information from each of Berqia’s words, assessing the current situation.
“I see. You! You’re a spy from Tartarus! You’re planning to kidnap me and blackmail my teachers!”
Leo let out a light sigh, seeing a disciple as imaginative as someone else.
“Who is in Gardsron right now?”
“Would I tell you that? I’ll defeat you!”
Berkia approached Leo, seeing no need to listen further.
Being wary of suspicious individuals was natural in this era.
Even if they weren’t Tartarus demons, this was an era where traitors abounded.
Berkia’s caution was entirely justified.
‘But you see.’
Clang-!
“Huh?”
Leo, who had knocked away Berqia’s sword, tripped his disciple.
‘This little brat is being presumptuous, and it’s making me angry.’
“Kyaak!”
Seeing Leo, who could see through all her movements, Berqia was subdued without even being able to show her full strength.
It happened literally in a flash.
“Berkia.”
“Don’t call me by my name as if we’re close!”
Berkia, with a wary expression, was about to generate magic.
Seeing such Berqia, Leo said,
“I came to Gardsron looking for the surviving hero, Kyle.”
“Why Master Kyle?!”
“I’m an All-Class too.”
“What?”
Berkia froze for a moment.
Leo spread his palm.
Aura, magic, and spiritual energy converged and swirled.
Seeing that, Berqia’s eyes widened.
“I wanted to become his disciple, so I did some research. That’s why I know about you.”
Around this time, Berqia knew very well how important All-Class abilities were.
Mana trait ‘Purity’.
Although it was not publicly known, Lisinas had revealed that Kyle’s power was the key to defeating Erebus.
Therefore, Berqia knew very well what an important event it was that another All-Class had appeared.
Seeing Leo’s swirling power, Berqia, who had been frozen, said,
“I’ll tell you one thing.”
Berkia’s expression turned serious.
“Master Kyle is a rude person. So I recommend learning from someone else.”
“Mm, I see.”
Thwack-!
“Why are you hitting me!”
Leo, flicking his disciple’s head who was disparaging him without hesitation, thought,
‘You’re really asking for it.’