Book 1 Chapter 291

Late at night.

Everyone in the party had fallen into a deep sleep.

It wasn't strange that they fell asleep as if they had fainted, having spent a frantic time since entering the hero's world.

Berkia, who had just returned from training, was also exhausted and slept as if she wouldn't wake up even if carried away.

Tak-!

Leo, who had been sleeping in the same room as Kal, opened the door and came out.

He sat at the dining table in the living room and looked out the window.

A serene darkness had settled.

'This silence is also welcome. I used to hate it so much I was sick of it.'

Recalling the past, Leo fell into thought.

'The Hero Record we've entered now is the Battle of Guardsron.'

[Objective: Stop the Giant King.]

Leo's eyes sank as he looked at the objective that appeared before him.

The Battle of Guardsron.

The world had ignited a spark of hope by achieving victory several times in battles against Tartarus and defeating numerous legion commanders.

However, it suffered immense damage in the Battle of Guardsron.

'Tartarus also took quite a blow.'

The world, which had barely grasped hope, encountered great despair once again.

The Giant King's invasion at that time was that formidable.

'Even though they are called legion commanders, the strength of the legion commanders then and now is different.'

The Age of Calamity.

When Erebus was still alive.

Tartarus was on a completely different scale than it is now.

The period when the world was heading towards destruction was also, in other words, the heyday of Tartarus.

The power of the legions led by the legion commanders was incomparably stronger than it is now.

'There were many powerful demons too. Crucially, the scale was different.'

When one legion commander moved, endless demon legions would pour in.

Last year, when Silathuna invaded Seirun.

The scale of the legion led by Silathuna was laughably small compared to now.

'Crucially… the legion commanders had divine powers.'

Legion commander's divine power.

It was a unique ability bestowed by Erebus upon the legion commanders.

A divine power that turned legion commanders, already terrifying monsters, into even more dreadful calamities.

The legion commanders of this era did not possess that divine power.

'Because Erebus disappeared.'

Divine power was not the legion commander's strength, but Erebus's strength.

Now that Erebus has been defeated and sealed by Kyle.

The legion commanders could no longer use their divine powers.

But now it's different.

'The Giant King lost his entire army when he invaded Guardsron.'

However, Guardsron nearly perished at that time.

'If Guardsron had fallen… I don't even want to imagine it.'

Leo shook his head.

The current era has the miracle of Hero Records.

A gift from the gods that passes down the power of heroes to create new heroes.

Because of this, there are far more heroes in this era than in the Age of Calamity.

But the Age of Calamity was different.

There were great heroes, but there was a severe lack of heroes to support them.

'In a sense, our situation and the legion commanders' situation have been reversed.'

In the current era, legion commanders still possess immense power.

At most, only Melina can fight a legion commander alone.

However, the legions following the legion commanders have lost their strength.

'The true power of a legion commander is their army. Individual heroes are not a threat to them, but… countless heroes are an undeniable threat.'

The Giant King's invasion, exploiting the power vacuum created by Kyle, Lisinas, and Luna's absence.

And that invasion was imminent.

'Many will die.'

Leo looked at the cityscape with a troubled expression.

Depesere also lost his life in this battle.

'He died trying to save Berckia.'

For the people of this era, it was a painful history.

But for Leo, it was an event where many people he knew lost their lives.

'And… the situation is even more dire now.'

Leo's face hardened.

The course of the upcoming Battle of Guardsron would be different from reality.

'There are two Giant Kings in this era.'

Leo clenched his fist.

The Giant King has entered the hero's world to destroy Dwenno's Hero Record.

It was barely stopped in the past.

But what if there are two Giant Kings?

'Guardsron… will fall.'

Leo clenched his fist.

The aftermath of defeat was clear.

Dwenno's Hero Record would undoubtedly burn to ashes.

A chilling killing intent flickered in Leo's eyes.

'I can't let that happen.'

Looking at the scenery outside the window, Leo made a resolve.

'I will stop it, no matter what.'

If there was a Giant King on Tartarus's side.

Guardsron had Leo.

'I won't repeat the same tragedy as the past.'

"What are you thinking so deeply about?"

Puff- puff-

Arion asked Dwenno, who was holding a pipe.

"I'm thinking about the children who came to Guardsron today."

"Ah, them?"

Arion smiled faintly.

"Isn't it a good thing? If there are children like them, they will surely be of great help in fighting Erebus in the future."

"I suppose so."

Tak-!

Dwenno said, flicking off the ash.

"But that Leo kid was amazing. He reminded me of Kyle."

"Isn't it because he's an all-rounder?"

"There's that, but… there's something about his aura, or something, that's similar to Kyle's."

"……"

Dwenno paused.

Then he recalled Leo.

'The essence of fire isn't destruction, is it?'

Recalling Leo's words, Dwenno curled his lips.

"How interesting."

Dwenno stroked his beard and said.

"Arion."

"Yeah?"

"Have you thought about teaching those children?"

At those words, Arion's eyes widened.

"There are a few children I'd like to teach."

Seeing Dwenno smile meaningfully, Arion fell into thought and nodded.

"Yes, I will."

"Good. Then I'll be busy for a while too."

"Why?"

"I think I'll have to make some artifacts."

Dwenno stood up.

"Artifacts to gift to those children of hope."

***

The next morning.

"Leo, you'll definitely be a good husband."

Kal said, and Berckia nodded.

"Yeah. He's a good cook."

"Berkia-nim also helped."

"That's true!"

Berkia puffed out her chest.

"But Eiran also helped. She's a good girl. Good girl."

Berkia patted Eiran's head and looked towards Driana.

"Driana's stew is also delicious, even though the vegetables were cut in a strange way."

"Thank you for the compliment. And that's art."

"Art? Is it shaped like minced monsters?"

Kal picked up a potato from the stew with his spoon and narrowed his eyes.

Driana playfully hit Kal's back with her small hand.

"You tell good jokes."

"Gulp?!"

Kal rolled on the floor, overwhelmed by the unimaginable pain.

Kal, who barely escaped the pain, got up and looked at Lunia and Ar.

"You two also worked hard."

Kal suppressed his laughter.

"Of course, just staying put was a level of help."

"Kal. Shall I teach you just one thing?"

Lunia smiled faintly and elegantly extended her hand.

Then she grabbed Kal by the collar and made a fierce expression.

"I've quit pretending to be a model student, you know? If you provoke my temper any further, you know what'll happen."

"It's weird that quitting being a model student turns you into a gangster!"

"Huh? Do you have a problem with my true nature?"

"Hiiik?"

Kal screamed at Lunia, who exuded a chilling aura.

Seeing such a Kal, Ar sharpened her claws.

"My claws are itching, can I scratch you instead of a tree?"

"I'm soft and squishy, so there's no point scratching me!"

It was when Kal was screaming.

"Stop it and eat."

Leo, who had finished cooking, sighed as he placed the food on the table.

Berkia was the first to quickly grab a plate of food and said as she ate,

"It's a familiar taste, somehow."

Seeing Berckia eat Leo's food with a look of wonder, the others also satisfied their hunger.

Just then, there was a knock.

"Yes, I'm coming."

Kal opened the front door.

"Good morning."

Upon seeing Arion, who entered after opening the door, Ar jumped up from his seat.

Eiran and Kal, who remembered yesterday's events, forcibly sat Ar down by pressing his shoulders.

Arion looked at Ar with a slightly frightened expression.

As Ar, who was like a cat that had spotted prey, tensed up while seeing Arion, who was in such a state.

Whack-!

"Eeyyahh?"

Ar leaped up from the pain he felt in his rear.

"How many times have I told you not to grab a lady's tail so rudely!"

"Then don't tense up like you're about to pounce in excitement."

Leo said indifferently and pulled Ar's tail.

After calming Ar down, Leo offered food to Arion.

"Ah, thank you."

Arion ate it, and his face softened.

"It's a remarkably familiar taste."

Seeing Arion and Berckia eating the delicious food, Leo chuckled and asked.

"What brings you here so early in the morning?"

"Yes. I wanted to make an offer to you all."

"An offer?"

Leo tilted his head.

Seeing such a Leo, Arion nodded.

"Yes, I want to teach you martial arts."

At Arion's words, everyone's eyes widened.

"You two. I can't say I'll teach you well, but would you like to learn from me once?"

Arion said, looking at Ar and Eiran.

"Yes! I'll learn! Please let me learn!"

Ar shouted excitedly, and Eiran also said in a trembling voice.

"It is an infinite honor."

Seeing the two of them, Kal looked envious.

"That's nice."

Seeing such a Kal, Arion smiled faintly.

"You're Kal, right? Lunia, Driana. The three of you were told that Dwenno would teach you directly."

"Yes?"

"From Dwenno-nim?"

Kal looked bewildered, while Driana looked excited.

Lunia also looked dumbfounded.

'Is this the trial Leo mentioned?'

To be able to learn from a great hero.

For aspiring heroes, there could be no greater honor.

"Then what about Leo?"

At Lunia's question, everyone's gaze turned to Leo.

Leo, receiving their gaze, chuckled.

"I have something else to do. So don't worry about me."

"Something else to do?"

Ar tilted his head.

"Yes. I'll be doing the preparations."

Upon hearing Leo's words, everyone's expression changed.

They realized what Leo meant by preparation.

'He's going to prepare for the objective alone?'

"So you all learn as much as you can."

***

As the morning ended, everyone except Leo left the house.

The party members looked at Leo with a little worry.

They knew they had to fight against legion commanders in this hero's world.

Especially Lunia, Eiran, and Kal, who had actually experienced the terror of legion commanders, had grim expressions.

'It's an opportunity for them. There's a lot to learn from Arion and Dwenno.'

Their teachings could be a stepping stone for a great leap as heroes.

Leo left the house.

'For now, strength to counter Giass, who entered the hero's world, is the priority.'

If there are two Giant Kings, it is impossible for Guardsron's current strength to repel the invasion.

'But Giass, who has come to burn the hero's world now, also has a weakness.'

Leo narrowed his eyes.

'He cannot reveal himself to his past self now.'

The true terror of a legion commander is when they are accompanied by their obedient army.

It's no exaggeration to say that a legion commander's true power is displayed when they move with their army.

Two Giant Kings in this era.

But the Giant King's army remains unchanged from before.

'He can't even join forces with his past self. He moves alone.'

Leo narrowed his eyes.

The Giant King Giass, despite his terrifying physique, is a very cautious and suspicious personality.

What if the past Giass met another Giass?

'He would undoubtedly try to kill him.'

Coming from the future to the past is impossible.

If an illogical event occurs, the Giant King's method is to eliminate that illogicality.

The past Giass would undoubtedly refuse to trust his future self.

'This means individual annihilation is possible. Then the objective is not impossible.'

Thump- thump-

He walked through the streets of Guardsron.

The faces of the people were dark, but hope flickered in their eyes.

After a while, Leo turned onto a less-trafficked road.

The streets of Guardsron were easily navigable.

After a while.

Leo, with no one around, stopped in front of a dilapidated mansion.

'Lisinas's mansion.'