Book 1 Chapter 344
344
Tap- Tap- Tap-
Leo tapped his fingertips on the desk.
‘Indeed. There was a reason Shylod couldn’t move in Fairy Land until now.’
A fragment of Erebus sealed by Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.
The endlessly burning flames of disaster.
-Kyle, not long after you brought an end to the Age of Calamity, I discovered one of Erebus’s fragments.
Shylod let out a deep sigh and said.
-I was the only one in this world who knew of that Erebus fragment’s existence.
Shylod wouldn't have been able to neglect the Erebus fragment.
Because if that fragment were ever discovered in Tartarus, this world would surely once again be engulfed in the flames of disaster.
-I moved Fairy Land and found a new home. I sealed the Erebus fragment deep underground in Fairy Land and have been suppressing it so it doesn't awaken.
That's how it had endured for 5000 years.
“Are there any signs of that fragment awakening?”
-Not at the moment.
Leo nodded at Shylod’s words.
That, at least, was a relief.
‘But it's still a bomb that could explode at any time.’
Leo narrowed his eyes.
5000 years ago, during the final battle, sealing Erebus was the best Kyle could do.
‘Now, it’s possible to find each divided fragment and annihilate it.’
The first was Erebus, which the Heroes of Creation were holding back.
“Someday, Erebus will be completely destroyed, and peace will be obtained. The world they wished for will come.”
Leo looked at Shylod.
“It must have been hard for you to bear alone for 5000 years… Thank you.”
The progenitor of the nebula, Luna’s pact-maker.
But back then, just a young fairy.
Leo could imagine how mentally difficult those 5000 years must have been for this kind-hearted little fairy.
Having directly faced Erebus himself.
That fear must have been even greater.
Shylod replied to Leo’s words.
-Kyle, I… I still regret having left Luna alone 5000 years ago.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
-Yes. But if I had been a little braver. If I, an immature one, had stepped forward instead of Luna… I lived thinking if Luna might have lived.
“……”
-After all, I was the only survivor among those who went to subjugate Erebus. Therefore, it was my duty, and something I naturally had to do.
Shylod said seriously.
-I hope you don’t say thank you. You are the one who should be thanked, not the one giving thanks, aren’t you?
Shylod smiled brightly.
“Because you are the great hero who saved the world.”
“…5000 years seems like a long, long time.”
Leo rested his chin on his hand.
“To think that little fairy could become so mature.”
“When you rule as king for about 5000 years, you gain experience.”
Leo said to Shylod’s words.
“Yes, you’ve become strict enough to boldly kick out even a problem child son.”
“Problem child son?”
Seeing Shylod’s puzzled expression, Leo reached out his hand into the air.
A summoning circle opened.
Normally, Kiruan would have eagerly jumped through as soon as the summoning circle opened, but not this time.
Leo forcibly put his hand into the summoning circle and grabbed something he could feel.
Grab-!
‘A cotton ball?’
As Leo pulled it out, a red chick popped out.
-Peep.
Leo placed Piora on the desk, then put his hand back into the summoning circle.
Grab-!
“Ah, Master’s rough touch~”
A voice that was somehow happy.
Leo roughly pulled Arti out of the summoning circle and then flung her onto the floor.
It was then that annoyance flashed across Leo’s face.
-Let go! Let go of me!
-What familiar in the world refuses the summons of its pact-maker?
With a click of her tongue, Elsi, who had tightly bound Kiruan with shadows, came through the summoning circle.
-Miss Elsi?
Shylod looked at Elsi with surprised eyes.
Elsi, seeing Shylod, slightly lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed politely.
-It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty, the Fairy King. I am Elsi, a shadow spirit.
-My goodness, how did Miss Elsi come to the present world?
Elsi, who had been tilting her head while looking at Shylod flying toward her with a surprised face, smiled brightly.
-Ah, you know another me?
-Another me?
A flustered Shylod once again examined Elsi carefully.
She was clearly Elsi, the shadow spirit who had made a contract with Kyle 5000 years ago.
The spirit who had perished in the battle against the Necromancer King.
But there was a difference.
The Elsi Shylod remembered had an overall dark aura.
She questioned the journey to save the world and exuded a gloomy atmosphere that made it difficult to approach her.
But the Elsi before him was different.
-I came to the present world through the Hero Record.
-Hero Record?
-Yes, I was Leo’s capture reward.
Shylod looked surprised.
To be able to summon a past figure existing in the Hero Record to the present world.
-Indeed, worthy of being the last legacy left by the gods.
Shylod, who remembered the era when the gods lived, exclaimed in admiration and understood.
And then he glanced at Kiruan, who was subdued by Elsi.
Kiruan quickly averted his gaze.
-I didn’t know you would become Kyle’s contractor, Kiruan.
Seeing Shylod revealing the dignity of the Fairy King, Elsi released Kiruan.
Thump-!
Kiruan hastily approached Shylod and knelt.
And said.
-Father, have you been well? This Kiruan. It has been a long time since I have seen your esteemed face, and I don't know what to do with myself.
Leo rested his chin on his hand, watching Kiruan prostrate himself with a deep bow.
-In that regard, Father. I am truly regretting my actions greatly!
Kiruan clenched his fists and shouted.
-I don’t play pranks anymore! Every day, I help Leo and devote myself to the future of the world.
-…He’s lying without even wetting his lips.
Elsi whispered softly into Leo’s ear.
Leo let out a hollow laugh.
-Is that true?
-Yes! I also helped defeat the Monster Queen!
Shylod looked at Leo, seeing Kiruan confidently shouting.
“Well, it’s true that he achieved great feats while with me.”
Kiruan smiled kindly at Leo’s words.
-Pewk!
Seeing Kiruan, Piora, in the form of a chick, made a retching motion.
-Surprisingly, he helps Kiruan without resistance.
Elsi tilted her head.
To that, Leo said indifferently.
“Even if it wasn’t me, there are plenty of others who would tattle.”
-Peep. Peep.
Piora waddled up to Leo and chirped towards Elsi.
Piora was curious about this situation where the mischievous fairy was acting good in front of Shylod.
Elsi replied to Piora’s reaction.
-Right now, Kiruan is asking the Fairy King for forgiveness, saying that he has turned over a new leaf and lived well.
Piora’s eyes widened, and she rushed to Shylod’s front as if rolling.
-Peep! Peep! Peep! Peep! Peep!
And she wildly flapped her small wings, crying out loudly to convey something to Shylod.
Kiruan’s face trembled.
Shylod used magic to transform Piora into her human form.
Piora greeted Shylod politely.
“I am Piora, the Phoenix. Elder. I wish to report this fairy’s misconduct.”
-Tell me, young Phoenix.
“This wicked fairy’s day begins with stealing my snacks! And then, he contemplates how to tease the diligent hero academy students of Lumerne!”
Shylod’s face grew colder, and Kiruan’s face turned pale.
“Finally, he is a vicious fairy who ends his day by stealing the Lumerne students’ snacks late in the evening!”
Piora, who had reported every single detail of Kiruan’s day, wore a relieved expression.
“And also…!”
“Yes, yes. That’s enough, Piora.”
Arti put her hands under Piora’s armpits, lifted her, and took her to one side of the room.
Piora struggled, wanting to say more, but when Arti gave her a lollipop, she quieted down.
-It seems he still has a long way to go to mature.
-Ah, Father…!
-I will maintain the Fairy Land expulsion order.
Kiruan was distraught.
Seeing that, Elsi sighed.
-That’s why you should behave well normally.
Elsi, leaving a sharp remark, flew over to Piora, who was eating candy, and said.
-Piora, you were bad too.
While Elsi was scolding the familiars.
Shylod flew over to Leo.
-You won't be bored.
“No, I won't be bored.”
Leo chuckled softly and said.
“You can’t be away from Fairy Land for long, can you?”
-Yes. I wish to talk more… but that will have to be put off until later.
Leo nodded at Shylod’s words.
-Kyle, I’m happy to be able to meet you again.
“Me too.”
-Do you have a goal in this life?
Shylod knew.
That when he was Kyle, Leo didn't have any particularly clear purpose.
Leo smirked at Shylod's question.
“I don’t know how I reincarnated and was reborn. But there must be a reason.”
Leo looked at Shylod.
“You and I both experienced the 5000-year Age of Calamity. Seeing this era where I’ve been reborn and peace has been restored, it made me realize something anew. That the journey without purpose, just following Rishinas… the journey with my friends, was never meaningless….”
-It was the greatest feat in the world.
“So, in this life, I have set a clear goal.”
Leo looked at Piora, Kiruan, Arti, and Lea lying on the bed, then gazed at the scenery outside the window.
“I’ve decided to settle the past bad karma, by any means necessary, in this life.”
Leo smiled gently.
“The horror of primordial evil… I’ve resolved not to leave any more of it behind after this era. That is my goal.”
***
The next morning.
Lea’s eyes snapped open.
‘Here is… Huh?!’
Lea sprang up.
Then she clutched her cheeks, not knowing what to do.
‘I summoned the Fairy King, then fainted from mana exhaustion… and slept in Senior Flov’s room?!’
Lea got out of bed, flustered.
Then she paused, seeing Leo asleep in the window-side chair.
“S-Senior Flov… So.”
“Are you awake?”
Leo opened one eye, got up, and stretched.
“I apologize for pushing you too hard.”
“Oh, no. I’m the one who fainted so unbecomingly…”
Leo spoke, seeing Lea scratching her head with an awkward smile.
“I tried to wake you, but you couldn’t get up, so I had you sleep here. I didn’t know where your room was. Don’t worry, nothing else happened.”
“Yes, sir!”
Lea replied with precision.
Still, the fact that she had slept in a man’s room gave her a strange flutter.
‘Phew! This is a huge violation of school rules!’
Judging the time by the scenery, it was still early morning before wake-up time.
“I’ll quickly head back.”
“Ah, you might not want to go now…”
Before Leo could finish his sentence, Lea, without even putting on her socks, hastily left Leo’s room.
Click- Creak-
As Lea cautiously exited the room and was about to return to the dormitory.
“Lea?”
She turned around at the voice behind her.
And Lea was flustered, seeing the girl whose eyes met hers.
“I… Um… This is…”
There, Éclair, the 3rd ranked first-year, the class representative, and a close friend, was gaping.
“Lea… You… stayed out all night? And in a male student’s room?”
“So… just come here! I’ll explain!”
Lea grabbed Éclair’s wrist and hastily rushed back to the room.
Creak-
Leo, who had opened the door, shook his head.
“I told you not to go out.”
Leo clicked his tongue and glanced over.
“Are you going to keep hiding there?”
At his words, a rustling sound was heard, and Anr peeked her face out from the end of the hallway.
“You… you… What’s your relationship with Lea Tingel?”
Leo looked at Anr, who asked with a flushed face, with an unenthusiastic expression.
“We just talked about summoning studies, that’s all?”
Seeing Leo speak so calmly, Anr smiled awkwardly.
“R-Right?”
“What on earth are you imagining? Why are elves so audacious these days?”
“I-I’m not audacious!”
Anr retorted angrily.