Book 1 Chapter 370

Leo looked at the spirit before his eyes.

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

The illusions spread out here were clearly dangerous, capable of taking a life.

But they had no effect on Leo.

Thump- thump-

Leo approached Laruel.

Laruel looked at Leo with a blank expression.

"How were you able to arrive here so quickly?"

Laruel's illusions were not something that could be overcome by the strength of the being who stepped into them.

Regardless of power, it was a 'trial' that was fair to all.

And he had passed such a trial with absurd ease.

To Laruel's question, Leo replied,

"Because I've already experienced it all."

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

"Experienced… it?"

"Yes. It's a bit awkward to say it myself."

Leo grinned and opened his mouth.

"Overcoming one's own limits."

Leo's red eyes stared directly at Laruel.

"Believing in oneself until the very end."

Thump- thump-

"Courageously moving forward in the face of endless despair."

Thud-

"Pursuing possibility in the face of impossibility."

Standing before Laruel, Leo said,

"I've done it countless times, to the point of exhaustion. That's why an illusion, no matter how powerful, won't break me."

"Don't make me laugh. It's not as easy as you say!"

Laruel shouted.

"There are beings who sacrifice themselves for thousands of years because they can't do it! Don't speak so carelessly!"

"Are you talking about the heroes of the Great Opening?"

"……!"

Laruel's eyes widened.

Leo had never met the heroes of the Great Opening, except for Seirun.

However, he knew what kind of spirit they had left behind as lessons in the schools they founded.

"Overcome your limits."

"Believe in yourself."

"Move forward."

"Pursue possibility."

Later generations thought these lessons were the values pursued by the heroes of the Great Opening.

But in reality, it was not so.

Lumerne ultimately believed he had not overcome his limits.

Seirun thought he couldn't believe in himself until the end and gave up, and Azonia blamed himself for not having the courage to move forward.

Demian ultimately gave up his hammer, unable to believe in his own potential.

The lessons of each hero academy were the things they themselves felt they had failed to achieve.

The heroes of later generations left these words with a plea for their successors to overcome limits, believe in themselves until the end, move forward, and realize their potential, unlike themselves.

'Foolish bastards.'

Leo sighed inwardly.

He could vaguely understand the spirit with which the heroes of the Great Opening had thought such thoughts.

The only hero of the Great Opening Leo had met was Seirun.

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

He merely bowed his head with a guilty heart and trembled.

The heroes of the Great Opening saved the world.

'But they didn't think so themselves.'

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

'The endlessly burning flame of disaster with immortal power.'

Seeing the black flames that burned again and again, the heroes of the Great Opening had no choice but to seal Erebus in their world.

And they destroyed the Hero Records so that he could not escape.

The heroes of the Great Opening believed they had failed, entrusting the fate of the world to later generations.

'If they hadn't overcome their limits, they wouldn't have endured the loop that repeated for thousands of years. If they hadn't believed in themselves, they would have collapsed in a desperate situation. If they hadn't had the courage, they wouldn't have made the choice to sacrifice themselves. And because they pursued possibility, they were able to pass on hope to the future.'

After meeting Seirun.

Leo began to think he wanted to meet the heroes of the Great Opening as soon as possible.

'What on earth did they see when they were analyzing our Hero Records?'

The Great Heroes were no different.

How many times had they faced their limits?

How many times had they failed to believe in themselves and become frustrated?

They had been afraid countless times, and they had been unable to believe in possibility countless times.

They had probably seen their own pathetic selves countless times.

Yet, the Great Heroes saved the world.

'It's because they didn't give up.'

The same applied to the heroes of the Great Opening.

To be so pessimistic about themselves despite achieving such great deeds.

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

Leo clicked his tongue and said to Laruel,

"So, what are you? How do you know the heroes of the Great Opening, and why are you testing what they pursued?"

"My name is Laruel. I am the Grand Spirit of Radiance, who governs light."

"The Grand Spirit of Radiance?"

Leo tilted his head.

"You're a spirit contracted with Rodia, the Hero of the Great Opening?"

There had been countless contractors of Grand Spirits in the world.

However, since 3000 years ago, no one had contracted with the Grand Spirit of Light.

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

This was a saying that had been common since the distant past, the Age of Gods.

The Grand Spirit of Light was not only granted the qualification to contract based on one's aptitude as a spirit user, but also the right to lead the world for generations.

Luminous, the Grand Spirit of Radiance who contracted with Lisinas, also chose her as a contractor because she believed Lisinas was the one who would lead the world.

As it only contracted with such noble individuals, the existence of the Grand Spirit of Light was known only in history.

Actual appearances were extremely rare.

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

But…

"I didn't expect there to be no generational change!"

"Rodiah left me a request."

Laruel's eyes turned cold.

"To find a hero who will save the world."

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

He finally understood why such powerful illusions had blocked his path.

"Was it a test?"

"…It used to be."

Darkness shrouded Laruel's faint golden eyes, which seemed ready to shine brilliantly at any moment.

Seeing Laruel like that, Leo crossed his arms.

"Then, having overcome all the illusions, am I qualified as a contractor?"

"…Don't you think that's too arrogant? Leo Flove."

Laruel scoffed.

"The illusions are only a part of the trial. There are still many other trials besides the illusions."

"Is that so? What kind of trials are they?"

"I haven't exactly said I'm going to test you."

Laruel's body floated gently.

Laruel, crossing her legs and brushing back her golden-tinged white hair, narrowed her eyes.

"For the past few thousand years, great heroes, incomparable to you, a mere hero candidate… heroes incomparable to you have come seeking to contract with me. They came fully prepared."

"A hero greater than Leo… that sounds impossible."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Elsie."

"An underworld spirit?"

"Yes. Nice to meet you, Laruel, the Spirit of Radiance."

Elsie lifted the hem of her skirt slightly and greeted her demurely.

Laruel narrowed her eyes as she looked at Elsie.

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

"Underworld spirits also dislike light spirits. They're just pointlessly bright. But I like that radiance."

Laruel thought Elsie was a strange spirit.

Grand Spirits possess the authority of dominion that can rule over lesser spirits.

Even if they are not of the same lineage, lesser spirits dare not resist a Grand Spirit.

But Elsie responded to Laruel's words without hesitation.

Only another Grand Spirit could do that.

The Grand Spirit of Underworld that Laruel knows of now is Ignis, the Spirit of the Abyss.

'I haven't heard any talk of a generational change among the underworld spirits.'

Laruel lost interest in Elsie.

Elsie smiled wryly as Laruel ignored her.

"It's unfair that I won't be able to take the trial just because I showed up unannounced. I passed one of the trials, didn't I?"

"You seem to covet the title of my contractor? You're quite greedy. Aren't you already a contractor of the Three Great Divine Beasts? Or what? Do you have a desire to collect summons? Unfortunately, I gave up on this world a long time ago."

Laruel curled the corners of her lips.

"If you desire the title of contractor of the Grand Spirit of Light like other heroes, then wait for the next Grand Spirit of Light."

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

Leo burst into laughter, and Elsie covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles.

Laruel's eyes twitched at their reaction.

"What's so funny?"

"Of course, it's funny, isn't it? The Grand Spirit of Light, said to be more noble than any other spirit, acting as the ruler of this dark city and saying, 'I've given up on this world.'"

At Elsie's words, Laruel's eyes were filled with rage.

"Do you 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.

Elsie looked slightly disappointed as she watched Laruel.

Elsie had a strong yearning for light.

Born as the darkest being and living in the darkest era, she had gained a desire for light.

She longed for the Grand Spirit of Light, who was full of light, something she could neither possess nor see.

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

Therefore, she had always wished to meet the Grand Spirit of Light of the current era.

However, Laruel was different from the Grand Spirit of Light that Elsie had imagined.

As a spirit of darkness, Elsie could sense the deep darkness residing within Laruel's heart.

"Why did someone as great as the Grand Spirit of Light give up on the world?"

Laruel shouted at Leo, who asked as if he couldn't understand.

"I searched for thousands of years! For a hero who would save my contractor! Who would save the world! But the so-called heroes are so engrossed in their own achievements that they don't try to move forward!"

Laruel shouted as if frustrated.

"I haven't seen a proper hero in 3000 years! They only desire to become my contractor and elevate themselves, not to move towards the light on their own! I've seen these guys, who think they can do anything with a little bit of pride just because their names are on the Hero Records, for 3000 years. Do you know how I feel?"

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

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

"Yes! There were also those who challenged the world of the Great Opening! But! Among them, there was no spirit user who could contract with me! And even great and noble heroes only repeat their failures!"

If frustration continues, one is trapped in darkness.

"Those who could contract with me would run away just by seeing a fraction of the darkness I've witnessed!"

Laruel shouted as if she was fed up.

"It's not just the heroes! Look at this country! The land where the Hero of the Great Opening was born has become so corrupt. Is this worth saving?!"

Knowing what future awaited the world, the pain was even greater.

"Don't speak so carelessly! You humans who live for barely a hundred years! And you fledgling spirits! Do you truly know despair?"

Laruel, having vented her pent-up emotions, lowered her head.

Leo and Elsie opened their mouths simultaneously as they looked at Laruel.

"Perhaps we know it much better than you."

"Don't we know it much better than you?"

"What?"

"I understand how you feel, but do you really know?"

Leo said indifferently.

"How it feels to watch a world perish."

"What are you talking about…"

"Tsk, tsk. The Spirit of the Abyss you met before also put on a show like they'd seen all the ugliness in the world. Now even the Grand Spirit of Light is like this? What's wrong with the younger generation these days?"

"Leo, do you know that what you're saying sounds incredibly like an old person lecturing?"

Elsie shook her head and approached Laruel.

"Do you want to see? The era I had to live in?"