Book 1 Chapter 286

"Did they take Berkyia?"

"Yes. Though Dweno said he doesn't think they're Tartarus spies."

The elf reported politely, watching Dweno furrow his brow.

"Erkint was among their possessions."

Gardesron.

The last fortress left in a world heading towards ruin.

The final legacy left behind as the gods departed the earth.

It was a miraculous city that stood firm against countless Tartarus invasions.

While refugee cities like Rhysar existed, Gardesron's scale was incomparably larger than such cities, a colossal city that could be called the last bastion.

However, this city too would not have escaped destruction if not for the dwarf hero before him, Master Smith Dweno.

Not just Dweno.

Dragon King Lisinas.

Genius Magus Luna.

White Wolf Arion.

And even Kyle, the survivor.

Gardesron was able to maintain its status steadfastly thanks to the strongest heroes who banded together to subdue Erebus.

These five heroes, who led impossible battles to victory amidst endless despair, were now the symbols protecting Gardesron.

"Erkint… by those children."

Dweno's expression turned grave.

Erkint.

It was originally a sword Dweno made for Luna, but Luna gave the sword to her disciple, Berkyia.

For Berkyia, Erkint was a treasure beyond compare.

'If it truly is Erkint, it can only have been taken from Berkyia.'

Dweno stroked his beard, recalling the images of Lunia and Dryana.

'They trespassed into the forbidden zone, but they themselves seemed bewildered to be there. No, at first glance, they didn't even seem to know it was a forbidden zone.'

Dweno narrowed his eyes.

'Judging by their attire, the intruders who entered the Spirit Lake must be their companions. But Arion also said he didn't sense anything suspicious.'

In fact, Arion viewed the intruders favorably.

'Though the cat-beast girl was scary. Still, judging by the pleasant scent… they seemed like good people.'

Arion, a wolf-beastman, possessed unparalleled keenness in sensing danger.

If such an Arion evaluated them as good people, it was almost never wrong.

'Moreover, despite their youth, they possessed extraordinary skills.'

In this era, a force capable of fighting Tartarus was more crucial than ever.

If their identities could be confirmed after an investigation, Gardesron would have no greater cause for celebration.

After pondering, Dweno spoke.

"What did Arion say?"

"Arion-nim has forbidden their interrogation for now and has left Gardesron to search for Berkyia."

The elf said resolutely to Dweno.

"What shall we do?"

Looking at the elf awaiting his decision, Dweno let out a deep sigh.

Lisinas, Luna, and Kyle were currently providing support in Rhysar.

Dweno and Arion remained in Gardesron, preparing for any contingencies.

Therefore, Dweno held the final decision-making power for Gardesron's security and defense.

"Lord Tepeser is preparing for the interrogation."

"I figured that hot-blooded friend of ours would step up."

Dweno rose from his seat.

Tepeser.

A gold dragon who had served Lisinas since childhood, acting as Lisinas's personal secretary.

As the one in charge of Gardesron's internal affairs, he was an ardent devotee of Lisinas.

Therefore, he held immense favor towards Berkyia, whom Lisinas had evaluated as a future hope.

Upon hearing that Berkyia might be in danger, he would have rushed out with bulging eyes.

"Stop him for now. If Berkyia is safe, Arion will soon send news. And bring me Erkint, which was confirmed among their possessions. If it's a fake, it means Berkyia is also safe, so there will be no reason to cause a commotion."

"Understood."

The elf bowed his head and soon brought Erkint to Dweno's workshop.

Dweno took out his pipe, placed it in his mouth, and lit it.

"Hoo. The exterior truly looks like the real thing."

Dweno exhaled a long stream of smoke and reached for Erkint on the workbench.

Then, he began to examine Erkint.

Dweno's mana flowed into Erkint.

The elf watched Dweno's face with a tense expression.

A moment later.

Dweno's face began to turn serious.

"Why, why are you like this? Lord Dweno. Could it be the real Erkint?"

The elf's face turned ashen.

Dweno took out a monocular and examined the sword's surface closely, then took out a small hammer and tapped the sword a few times.

Then, he nodded.

"Go to Tepeser and tell him that Berkyia will return with Arion soon. And don't forget to apologize politely to the children who were about to be interrogated. Knowing his personality, how much would he have scared them?"

The elf's face brightened.

Gardesron's Master Smith.

These were the words of Dweno, who had forged countless legendary weapons.

"That Erkint is a fake!"

"…It's not Berkyia's."

"Yes!"

The elf left the room with a sigh of relief.

Silence filled the workshop.

"Hmph."

Dweno took a long draw from his pipe.

The tobacco leaves burned quickly.

"Hoo."

Dweno shifted his gaze from the dissipating smoke he exhaled long and spoke, looking at Erkint on the workbench.

"Who made you? I don't remember making you."

*Hummm-*

Erkint emitted mana, as if resonating with Dweno's words.

"Yes. You are indeed a weapon I forged. But…"

Dweno's expression turned grave.

"I don't remember making two Erkints."

'Who were those children?'

Dweno narrowed his eyes.

'With such skill at such a young age, they would surely be somewhat renowned.'

However, at least in Dweno's memory, he had never heard rumors of anyone resembling them.

'Moreover… they were strangely different.'

Lunia and Dryana, as seen by Dweno, were different from children their age.

Children born in the age of calamity were generally somber-eyed.

It was as if it were their destiny to live in dark times, having never seen a clear sky.

Even Arion fundamentally had somber eyes.

But Dweno had seen.

The eyes of Lunia and Dryana, shining with hope.

Bright eyes that seemed to look towards a radiant future that young boys and girls should naturally possess.

But eyes that were impossible to possess in the current era.

'Eyes that dream of salvation… and eyes that look to the future are fundamentally different. Moreover…'

Dweno looked at Erkint.

This Erkint was real.

There was no way Dweno, its creator, wouldn't recognize it.

However…

'I feel the traces of many years.'

*Klang-!*

At that moment, the ground shook with a powerful explosion.

Dweno stood up.

'It must be those children. Did they break out to save their friend?'

'We'll know when we meet again.'

Taking Erkint, Dweno left the workshop.

***

Leo and Berkyia were walking through the forest.

"Ugh… monster blood!"

Berkyia, covered in monster blood, shivered in disgust.

Then, she sniffed her arm and stuck out her tongue, gagging.

'It's been a while since I've seen her in that tomboyish appearance.'

Leo recalled Berkyia, the leader of the elves recorded in later generations.

A great leader who led the elves as Luna's successor.

Berkyia was often depicted as a saintly figure who shared what she had with others through benevolent leadership.

'Share what she has with others? Bullshit.'

Leo had never once yielded a side dish when eating with Berkyia.

'Benevolent leadership? If making kids who learned swordsmanship or magic with you cry is leadership, then it's leadership.'

The Berkyia Leo remembered had no cuteness.

'She always argued with me or rebelled.'

Leo looked at Berkyia with half-closed eyes.

Berkyia, who had been sniffing, suddenly turned and looked at Leo.

"Why?"

"That look in your eyes. It's similar to Master Kyle's."

'She's always quick-witted. Are you badmouthing again?'

"Similar how?"

"Like a father."

"……"

Leo was surprised by the unexpected answer.

"Master Kyle is strict."

Berkyia was fundamentally very attached to Luna.

Therefore, Luna doted on Berkyia immensely.

Arion liked children.

So he took great care of Berkyia.

Only Kyle was strict with Berkyia.

He had no choice but to be strict.

Berkyia had talent.

Therefore, she had to go to the battlefield in a short period.

He couldn't just indulge her.

All Kyle could do was teach her strictly to harden her heart.

He thought she must have disliked his strict training, as Berkyia was the object of affection for Luna and Arion.

Berkyia's solitary training in this dangerous area was ultimately because of him.

So, even while thinking she was impudent, he thought it was unavoidable that she disliked him.

But…

"Like a father?"

"Yeah. Of course, I'm an orphan, so I don't really know what a real father is like."

Berkyia said flatly.

Orphans were common in this era, so revealing she was an orphan wasn't even a sad story.

Leo looked at Berkyia for a moment and said,

"Perhaps a real father-daughter relationship wouldn't be much different from how you feel."

"Ah, is that so? Do you have parents?"

"Yes. They are good people."

"I'm envious."

Berkyia looked at Leo with admiration.

Seeing such Berkyia, Leo chuckled and said,

"There's a lake where you can wash yourself over there. Go wash up."

"Okay."

Berkyia, who nodded and started to head in the direction Leo pointed, paused.

Then, her eyes widened slightly, and she looked at Leo.

"Why."

"This forest is complicated, and you know the terrain well. And…"

"And?"

"You just seemed a little like Master Kyle."

Looking at Leo with a sense of wonder, Berkyia put down her luggage and disappeared into the bushes.

Leo, carrying Berkyia's luggage, washed it with magic and gave a bitter smile.

'Like a father…'

He never imagined she would see him with such feelings.

At this time, there was no room for such thoughts.

It was when Leo was recalling Berkyia.

*Whoosh-!*

Something was caught by Leo's senses.

'Something's coming.'

He felt someone approaching him at tremendous speed.

Leo's eyes twitched.

'Arion?'

At that very thought.

*Tap-!*

Someone appeared before Leo.

White hair and golden eyes.

Leo's eyes widened.

Last year, Arion's appearance during the Asonia entrance exam was a hazy memory even for Leo.

But the wolf-beastman before him now was exactly as Leo remembered.

'Arion.'

Leo, who hadn't expected to meet Arion in Dweno's world, felt his heart flutter.

'Well, I met Berkyia… there's no reason I shouldn't meet Arion.'

The image of his friend apologizing for their death even while losing their life flashed through his mind.

'Luna… remembered me.'

Miraculously, Luna had regained her memories from the hero's world.

This was not Arion's world, but Dweno's world.

But…

'Perhaps Arion could also recall his past conquest memories?'

As he thought this, Leo looked into Arion's eyes and soon gave a bitter smile.

Arion was looking at him with wary eyes.

'Miracles… don't happen easily.'

***

"……"

Arion felt a sense of bewilderment as he looked at the white-haired boy holding his disciple's belongings.

It was a boy he had never seen before.

Yet, he looked strangely familiar.

A scent that felt somewhere familiar.

And an atmosphere.

The fact that he felt a sense of familiarity towards a boy he had never seen before was bewildering.

His timid instinct would be wary of strangers.

After a moment of bewilderment, Arion spoke.

"What you're holding belongs to my disciple."

For some reason, suppressing the feeling of familiarity, Arion interrogated Leo.

"Can you explain why you have that?"

Looking at such Arion, Leo thought.

'He seems to be misunderstanding something. Does he think I harmed Berkyia?'

Arion was fundamentally very gentle with strangers.

This attitude itself showed a very strong stance.

After looking at Arion for a moment, Leo said,

"If you want to hear the story, how about you fight me and win?"

"What?"

Arion's expression showed slight bewilderment.

If he told the truth, he could go to Gardesron without major trouble.

But he suddenly became curious.

'How much can I fight against Arion with my current strength?'