Book 1 Chapter 285

"It seems this golem has strong fire resistance."

Driana grunted, swinging her battle hammers with both hands.

The sight of her using her strength, like a small girl, was quite cute.

*CRASH-!*

Of course, what happened before their eyes was far from cute.

The giant golem flew back and slammed into the ground.

*THUD-!*

The golem, seemingly unfazed by the heavy blow, began to rise, but Driana didn't flinch.

Her role was to be the vanguard, to block enemies.

And to defeat them…

*WHOOSH-!*

Flames blazed in Runia's hands.

The flames soon took the shape of a giant spear.

As she spread her palm, a spear appeared above it.

*SWISH-!*

With a flick of Runia's wrist, the spear flew towards the golem at incredible speed.

*BOOM-!*

The spear struck the golem, creating a massive firestorm.

Seeing this, Driana muttered, "That's terrifying magic."

While she was overshadowed by Leo, the youngest student council president of Lumen, Runia was also a genius who was expected to become student council president by the end of the year, or at the latest, next year.

*FLICKER-!*

The temperature around Runia soared.

Her eyes shone as if they were burning.

'If this were Dweno's world… perhaps I could meet them again?'

Remembering the person she had admired since childhood, Runia grinned.

The flames flickering around her intensified.

*SWISH-!*

Wings of fire appeared behind Runia.

The flames burned mana and spirit power, becoming even more ferocious.

The fire of the Rundua family.

"Sacred Flame."

The flames erupting from Runia's body engulfed the surrounding flames, growing even stronger.

The flames burned Runia's body.

But Runia didn't care.

'Stronger.'

Runia's eyes blazed.

'Like Luna…'

She recalled the admiring look, the gentle smile.

'Like Leo!'

Recalling the mature back of the boy walking ahead, Runia unleashed her magic.

*RUMBLE-!*

The Sacred Flame engulfed the golem.

*CRASH-!*

The golem's body collapsed.

Seeing this, Driana exclaimed, "To subdue a golem with fire resistance using flames… you're like a monster."

Just as the golem's movements stopped.

"Excellent."

A voice of admiration was heard from within the flames of the Sacred Flame.

At the voice, Runia and Driana exchanged wary glances.

"But they are dangerous flames."

*THUMP- THUMP-*

As a dwarf emerged from the flames, the eyes of the two girls widened.

"My name is Dweno."

Dweno said, stroking his beard with a benevolent expression.

"You have infiltrated one of Gardsron's sanctuaries. Trespassing here is a serious offense. Are you perhaps spies from Tartarus?"

"Ah, no!"

"We are…!"

Seeing the bewildered two girls, Dweno smiled.

"Then I will give you two options. First, will you follow me peacefully for investigation? Or will you be subdued by me and investigated?"

His smile was gentle, but it held firmness.

The natural aura of intimidation made Runia and Driana tremble.

Both Runia and Driana came from prestigious families.

Thanks to that, they had grown up seeing not only the renowned adults of their families but also many heroes since childhood.

However, the dwarf before them was different from the heroes the two girls had seen.

The natural intimidation emanating from his body.

The charisma of a veteran hero who had saved the world from destruction pressed down on the two girls.

Runia and Driana withdrew their strength.

Seeing this, Dweno stroked his beard.

"Good."

***

Half a day had passed since Ar, Eiran, and Karl were imprisoned.

In the now dark underground prison, Karl ran his hands through his hair.

"What are we going to do now?! We could have cleared up the misunderstanding and gone our separate ways, but you messed it up!"

"Ugh?!"

Ar flinched and hunched his neck.

Seeing Ar with his cat ears and tail drooping, Eiran calmed Karl.

"Don't be too harsh, Sir Karl. You met the Hero, didn't you? It's just that Miss Ar couldn't control her emotions because she met someone she really wanted to meet among the beastfolk. And even so, didn't Lord Aron tell us that she's not a spy from Tartarus?"

At Eiran's words, Karl slumped onto the prison floor.

"Yeah, that's true."

"As expected! Lord Aron! He's so kind!"

"Yeah. The problem is that you scared him."

'Still, it seems right to lock me up because I'm scary.'

Thinking of Aron, who looked disgusted at Ar, Karl said,

"But it's a bit shocking."

"What do you mean?"

"About Lord Aron. It's like… didn't he seem a little timid?"

Aron's appearance was exactly as described in the literature.

White hair and golden eyes.

However, the initial impression Eiran and Karl had of Aron was different from what was written in the literature.

The vanguard of the Erebus subjugation force, possessing courage that never backed down.

A hero akin to a god of war who had slaughtered countless enemies on the front lines.

A symbol of courage.

That was Aron's image.

But the Aron they saw earlier was quite different from the literature.

Of course, Ar had charged at him with crazy eyes, but even so, he shouldn't have been that scared.

Upon hearing Karl's words, Eiran also nodded.

"Yes. He certainly looked scared when he saw Miss Ar."

"What are you talking about? Lord Aron wouldn't be scared of anything."

Ar blinked his blue eyes, looking puzzled.

"I see why Leo called you a foolish cat."

As Karl let out a deep sigh.

*CREAK-!*

The prison door opened, and someone entered.

"It seems to be other prisoners."

"Security must be tight. It's the Age of Calamity."

Eiran muttered softly, and Karl sighed.

"Eiran?"

A surprised voice was heard.

Eiran turned his head beyond the bars and his eyes widened.

"Miss Runia!"

It was Runia and Driana who were there.

"You came to rescue us!"

As Eiran smiled brightly.

"Walk faster, faster!"

Guards appeared behind Runia and Driana.

The guards threw the two into the cell opposite where the three were imprisoned.

*CREAK-! BANG-!*

After the guards left, Runia answered Eiran's question a little later.

"No, we were captured too."

At Runia's answer, Eiran's shoulders slumped.

"Where is Leo Flub?"

Driana asked, crossing her arms.

Karl tilted his head at the question.

"Weren't you with them?"

"No. He wasn't where we were."

"Then it seems we've been separated from them."

Karl stroked his chin and glanced around.

There were no guards inside the prison.

'They must be guarding outside.'

Karl recalled the strict security beyond the door and took a deep breath.

"Since we're all here now, let's put together the information we've gathered."

"Alright. We'll talk first."

Runia nodded and crossed her arms.

"We fell into a restricted area. It was a place filled with the power of fire spirits. That's where we were captured by Lord Dweno."

At Runia's words, Karl paused.

"We started in a place called the Spirit Lake. And it was Lord Aron who captured us."

"Lord Aron?"

Runia looked surprised.

"They said this place is Gardsron. Then it wouldn't be strange to have other great heroes besides Lord Dweno. Perhaps we can meet all five great heroes."

At Driana's words, the entire party looked surprised.

All five great heroes in one place!

Hero records of the great heroes were so fragmented that no hero record had ever been found where great heroes gathered in one place before this.

"This is a huge scale."

Karl broke out in a cold sweat.

The King of Wisdom, the Progenitor of Constellations, the Hero, the Divine Blacksmith. And the Hero of Beginnings.

A world of heroes where those who saved the world gathered in one place?

That meant it would be incredibly difficult to clear.

"Well, it's just a guess. And fortunately, this hero's world is not an possession-type hero's world."

Possession-type hero's world.

A hero's world where one could become one of the characters recorded in the hero record, or the hero themself.

"Yeah. It's fortunate that it's not a possession-type world."

Karl let out a deep sigh.

What if it were a possession-type world and he had to play the role of a great hero?

The thought alone made him shudder.

"However, it's not a normal hero's world, but a hero dungeon. We can't let our guard down."

Runia said seriously.

At her words, Ar said,

"Let's set a top priority and move. The immediate goals are to rendezvous with the Black Rabbit and figure out the conquest objective."

"I agree."

In their first year, they might have been flustered, but now, with their extensive experience, they calmly prepared to conquer the hero's world.

"First, we're being treated with suspicion, so let's start by clearing that up. Lord Dweno said he'd investigate us, so there will be movement soon. Until then, don't do anything that could arouse suspicion."

*CREAK-! BANG-!*

The door creaked open.

The five tensed up.

*THUMP- THUMP-*

A man with blonde hair and golden eyes appeared.

His sharp gaze, like that of an investigator, surprised the five.

'Dragon!'

The dragon opened his eyes, scanned the five, and then took out an object wrapped in cloth from his pocket.

"A very interesting object was found among your belongings."

*SWISH-!*

He revealed the cloth, and there was a dagger of unusual shape.

"Ah! That's mine."

Eiran looked bewildered.

Seeing Eiran, the dragon's eyes gleamed.

"Yes. You are the culprit."

"What?"

"This dagger was a gift from Lady Luna to her disciple, Lady Berkia."

"……!"

"The appraisal concluded it's genuine."

At the mention of an ancestor's name, Eiran was startled.

"And Lady Berkia left the castle a week ago for training."

The dragon's expression turned cold.

"Why do you possess the dagger that Lady Berkia cherishes more than anyone else? What have you done to Lady Berkia?"

Eiran's face turned pale.

Not only Eiran.

The faces of the other four also stiffened.

The dragon was exuding a ferocious aura.

'This is bad.'

Runia swallowed dryly.

Given the circumstances, it was natural to be suspected.

The Erquinte, which should not exist in two in this era, was found among Eiran's belongings.

Things had gone terribly wrong.

"Lady Berkia… is a precious disciple of Lord Kyle, Lady Luna, and Lord Aron. And she is also the future of the world. To her… dare to…"

"N-no! I didn't… to Lady Berkia!"

"Silence!"

The dragon roared and pointed at Eiran.

"Drag this woman out immediately! I will interrogate her myself!"

"W-wait! Please listen to us!"

Karl shouted urgently, and Ar growled at the guards entering the prison.

Runia and Driana shouted, gripping the bars.

However, the five, whose mana had been sealed while imprisoned, could do nothing.

As Eiran was dragged away, she said,

"Ev-everyone! Don't worry! We'll… we'll definitely clear up the misunderstanding!"

Eiran reassured her worried companions and followed the guards.

After Eiran left the prison, the dragon's cold gaze turned to the remaining four.

"Once that woman's interrogation is over, it will be your turn."

*CREAK-! BANG-!*

Silence fell upon the prison.

Runia clenched her teeth.

The situation had become serious.

They had been terribly misunderstood.

However, she couldn't think of any counter-arguments.

'This is dangerous.'

This era is the Age of Calamity.

Their attitude towards demons would undoubtedly be far harsher than in their own time.

'And Fairy Knight Berkia is a disciple of Lady Luna and Lord Aron! Not to mention Lord Kyle!'

Seeing the dragon use honorifics for the three, it was clear they were already the hope of the world.

They were suspected of harming the disciple of such three individuals.

And there was evidence.

It was dangerous.

Runia's shoulders trembled as she gritted her teeth.

'I have to save them!'