Book 1 Chapter 370

370

Leo looked at the spirit in front of him.

It hadn't taken him long to reach the top of this city of pleasure.

The illusions spread out here were clearly dangerous, each capable of even taking lives.

But they had no effect on Leo.

Step- Step-

Leo approached Laruel.

Laruel watched Leo with an expressionless face.

"How did you manage to arrive here so quickly?"

Laruel's illusion wasn't something that could be overcome just because the being who stepped into it was strong.

It was a "test" fair to everyone, regardless of strength.

Yet, Leo had passed such a test ridiculously easily.

To Laruel's question, Leo replied.

"Because I've already experienced all of it."

At Leo's answer, Laruel's eyes twitched.

"Experienced… it?"

"Yes. It's a bit much for me to say it myself, but."

Leo chuckled and opened his mouth.

"Overcoming your own limits."

Leo's red eyes looked straight at Laruel.

"Trusting myself to the very end."

Step- Step-

"Having the courage to move forward in the face of endless despair."

Thud-

"Pursuing possibility in the face of impossibility."

Leo, standing before Laruel, said.

"I've done it so much it's sickening. That's why I won't be broken by mere illusions."

"Don't be ridiculous. It's not as easy as you say it is!"

Laruel shouted.

"There are those who have sacrificed themselves for thousands of years because they couldn't do that! Don't speak so carelessly!"

"Are you referring to the Heroes of the Genesis?"

"…!"

Laruel's eyes widened.

Leo had never met the Heroes of the Genesis, except for Seirun.

But he knew what they felt when they left behind mottos for the schools they each founded.

Overcome your limits.

Trust yourself.

Move forward.

Pursue possibilities.

Later generations thought these mottos were the values the Heroes of the Genesis pursued.

But in reality, it wasn't so.

Lumerun eventually believed he had failed to overcome his limits.

Seirun thought he had given up, unable to trust himself to the end, and Azonia blamed herself for not moving forward with courage.

Damian ultimately lost faith in his own possibilities and put down his hammer.

The mottos of each hero academy were things they themselves believed they had ultimately failed to accomplish.

Words left behind with the earnest wish that heroes of later generations, unlike themselves, would overcome limits, trust themselves to the end, move forward, and realize possibilities.

'Foolish fellows.'

Leo sighed inwardly.

Leo vaguely understood what the Heroes of the Genesis were feeling when they thought that.

The only Hero of the Genesis Leo had met was Seirun.

But Seirun couldn't even meet Leo's eyes when he realized Leo's true identity.

He just bowed his head in guilt, his shoulders trembling.

The Heroes of the Genesis saved the world.

'But they themselves couldn't believe it.'

They succeeded in defeating Erebus, but failed to subjugate him.

'Because the flames of calamity with immortal power burn endlessly.'

Seeing the endlessly burning black flames, the Heroes of the Genesis had no choice but to confine Erebus to their world.

And to prevent him from escaping, they destroyed the Hero Record.

The Heroes of the Genesis believed they had failed by entrusting the fate of the world to later generations.

'If they hadn't overcome their limits, they wouldn't have endured thousands of years of repeating loops. If they hadn't trusted themselves, they would have collapsed in desperate situations. If they hadn't had courage, they wouldn't have chosen to sacrifice themselves. And because they pursued possibilities, they were able to deliver hope to the future.'

After meeting Seirun.

Leo began to want to meet the Heroes of the Genesis as soon as possible.

'What did those guys even see while trying to conquer our Hero Record?'

Even Grand Heroes were no different.

How many times had they run into limits? Not just once or twice?

How many times had they despaired, unable to trust themselves?

They had been scared many times and countless times had failed to believe in possibilities.

They probably saw their pathetic selves countless times.

Yet, the Grand Heroes saved the world.

'Because they didn't give up.'

The Heroes of the Genesis were also the same.

To belittle themselves despite accomplishing such great deeds.

'If I get a chance, I'll have to scold them a bit.'

Leo clicked his tongue and said to Laruel.

"So, what are you? How do you know the Heroes of the Genesis, and why are you testing what they pursue?"

"My name is Laruel. I am the Great Spirit of Radiance who oversees light."

"The Great Spirit of Radiance?"

Leo tilted his head.

"But you're the spirit contracted with Rodia, the Dragon of the Genesis, aren't you?"

There have been countless contractors of Great Spirits throughout the world.

But since 3000 years ago, no one had formed a contract with the Great Spirit of Light.

In fact, the Spirit of Light was special in history.

That specialness dated back to the distant past.

It was a saying that was common since the Age of Gods.

The Great Spirit of Light was only eligible for a contract if they possessed not just the qualities of a spirit user, but also the qualifications to lead the world generation after generation.

Luminus, the Great Spirit of Radiance who had contracted with Lysinas, had chosen her as a contractor because she believed Lysinas was the one to lead the world.

As such a pure being only made contracts with such noble individuals, the Great Spirit of Light's existence was only known in history.

Actual appearances were very rare.

Therefore, it was not impossible for there to be no contractor for thousands of years.

But…

"I didn't realize there hadn't even been a generational change?"

"Rodia left me a request."

Laruel's eyes turned cold.

"To find the hero who would save the world."

"Indeed, so that's why you created those illusions."

Leo understood why such powerful illusions had blocked his way.

"Was it a test?"

"…It used to be."

A deep shadow fell over her pale golden eyes that seemed about to shine brilliantly at any moment.

Watching Laruel, Leo crossed his arms.

"Then, having broken through all the illusions, am I qualified to be your contractor?"

"…Don't you think you're too arrogant? Leo Flof."

Laruel sneered.

"Illusions are only part of the test. There are many other trials remaining besides illusions."

"Really? What are these trials?"

"I never actually said I would test you."

Laruel's body floated gently.

Crossing her legs and sweeping back her golden-tinted white hair, Laruel narrowed her eyes.

"For the past several millennia, heroes incomparable to you—incomparably great heroes, not like you, a mere hero candidate—came seeking to form a contract with me. With perfect preparations."

-A hero greater than Leo… That sounds like an impossible story.

"What are you?"

-My name is Elsie.

"A dark-attribute spirit?"

-Yes. Nice to meet you, Laruel, Spirit of Radiance.

Elsie slightly lifted her skirt and bowed gracefully.

Watching Elsie, Laruel narrowed her eyes.

"I dislike dark spirits. They're unnecessarily gloomy."

-Dark spirits dislike light spirits too. Because they're unnecessarily bright. Though I do like that brilliance.

Laruel thought Elsie was a strange spirit.

Great Spirits possess the power of dominion, allowing them to lord over lesser spirits.

Even if they are not of the same lineage, lesser spirits cannot dare to rebel against a Great Spirit.

But Elsie retorted Laruel's words without hesitation.

Only another Great Spirit could do that.

The current Great Spirit of Darkness Laruel knew was Ignit, the Spirit of the Abyss.

'I've never heard that the Spirit of Darkness has undergone a generational change.'

Laruel lost interest in Elsie.

Seeing Laruel turn away from her, Elsie smiled faintly wryly.

"It's unfair to not be tested just because I showed up unannounced. I already passed one of the trials, didn't I?"

"It seems you covet the title of my contractor? You're quite greedy. Aren't you already a contractor of the three great mythical beasts? Or what? Do you have a desire to collect summoned beings? Unfortunately, I've given up on this world a long time ago."

Laruel curled up the corners of her lips.

"If you covet the title of the Great Spirit of Light's contractor like other heroes, then wait for the next Great Spirit of Light."

At Laruel's scoff, Leo and Elsie looked at each other.

Leo burst into giggles, and Elsie covered her mouth, stifling laughter.

At their reaction, Laruel's eyes twitched.

"What's so funny?"

-Of course, it's funny, isn't it? For the Great Spirit of Light, who is nobler than any other spirit, to act as the ruler of such a dark city and say, 'I've given up on this world.'

At Elsie's words, Laruel's eyes filled with fury.

"Do you even know how I feel? How I feel after searching for a contractor for thousands of years and seeing all the ugliness of the world?"

An unusual light emanated from Laruel's body.

Watching Laruel, Elsie showed a slightly disappointed expression.

Elsie had a strong longing for light.

A yearning for light, born as the darkest being and living through the darkest era.

Naturally, she yearned for the Great Spirit of Light, who held so much light that she herself could never possess or see.

In the Age of Calamity, when Elsie opened her eyes, the Great Spirit of Light did not exist.

Therefore, she had continually yearned to meet the Great Spirit of Light of this era.

But Laruel was different from the Great Spirit of Light Elsie had imagined.

Being the Great Spirit of Darkness, Elsie could feel the deep darkness entrenched in Laruel's heart.

"Why would a Great Spirit of Light give up on the world?"

Watching Leo ask, seemingly unable to understand, Laruel shouted.

"I searched for thousands of years! For my contractor! For a hero who would save the world! But these so-called heroes become absorbed in their achievements and refuse to move forward!"

Laruel shouted in frustration.

"I haven't seen a proper hero in 3000 years! Only those who harbor only the desire to become my contractor and elevate themselves, rather than striving towards the light on their own! Do you know how I feel, having watched for 3000 years those who boast they can do anything, absorbed in their petty vanity just for having their name on the Hero Record!"

Laruel's voice trembled roughly as she expressed her anger.

She was disgusted with herself for having to eventually give up on the world… and her precious contractor, as the Great Spirit of Light.

"Yes! There were those who challenged the world of Genesis! But! None of them were spirit users who could contract with me! And even the great and noble heroes ultimately just repeated failure!"

When frustration continues, one becomes trapped in darkness.

"Those who might be worthy of contracting with me are busy running away just by seeing a part of the darkness I've witnessed!"

Laruel shouted in exasperation.

"It's not just heroes! Look at this country! The land where the Dragon of Genesis was born has become so ugly. Is there any value in saving such things?!"

Knowing what future awaited the world, her pain was amplified.

"Don't speak so carelessly! Humans who live for barely a hundred years! And you, a rookie spirit! Do you even know what true despair is?!"

Laruel, having spewed out her pent-up emotions, hung her head low.

Watching Laruel, Leo and Elsie spoke simultaneously.

"Wouldn't we know much better than you?"

-Wouldn't we know much better than you?

"What?"

"I understand your feelings, but do *you* know?"

Leo said indifferently.

"What it feels like to watch a world perish."

"What are you…."

"Ugh, tsk tsk. That Spirit of the Abyss or whatever I met before was acting all dramatic like they'd seen all the world's ugliness. And now even the Great Spirit of Light is doing this? What's wrong with people these days?"

-Leo, do you realize how old-fashioned that sounds right now?

Elsie shook her head and stepped towards Laruel, saying.

-Want to see? The era I had to live through?