Book 1 Chapter 385

385.

Gardsron.

Humanity's last fortress, and where the flame of hope began.

A magnificent, impregnable fortress literally called the land of hope.

But Gardsron, too, was not great from the start.

"No, it was a mess at first."

Leo, settled in a tavern in Gardsron, gave a wry smile.

This Gardsron was no different.

The reason it was able to survive even on the verge of ruin was not due to any special reason.

"It was just good luck."

The fact that Tartarus's footsteps did not reach the end was literally due to extreme luck.

Though called by many glorious titles, at this time it was not much different from other final cities.

The public order was at its worst, and countless refugees had flooded in.

Resources were limited.

Crucially, the 'fear' of impending doom was palpable.

But even so, it was a place where people lived.

There were taverns where those who fought on the battlefield could quench their thirst and fill their stomachs.

In an era where no one knew when the fortress would fall and everyone would perish.

Drinking might have seemed like a ridiculous act.

"But it was also an era where it was hard to endure each day sober unless you got thoroughly drunk on alcohol."

To that extent, not a sliver of hope remained in this world.

Literally, the edge of a cliff.

The era Leo had entered was such an era.

The great offensive of Tartarus had ended.

Afterward, it would be a time when any tavern would be crowded.

But the tavern and inn where Leo was now, was empty.

Only Leo sat at a table.

The elf running the tavern placed two large, rough mugs on the table and went to the counter, crossing her legs.

This was also the regular haunt of Kyle, the hero who survived.

"He was indebted to me even before his last journey."

Leo offered a faint smile, remembering a acquaintance from the depths of his memory.

"Sorry, sorry."

At that moment, Lysinas descended from the second floor.

"I was just doing something."

Lysinas, with an inexplicably relieved smile, sat down in front of Leo.

"Did he finish writing his memoirs?"

Lysinas had recorded everything about the age of calamity in his memoirs.

And today was the day he joined the party.

Recalling the memoirs of that day, Leo let out an internal chuckle.

"Today is the historic day we founded the extermination party, so let's drink to our heart's content. I wish I could treat all the customers, but…"

Lysinas looked around.

"Because you and I are here, no customers are coming to this tavern."

"The hero who survives is a symbol of misfortune, and the foolish are shunned for spreading useless hope."

"Not now. But soon, people's perceptions of us will change. This city will change too."

Lysinas, speaking with a voice filled with strong will, raised his mug.

"Well then, before we have a serious talk. It's time to begin."

Lysinas smiled faintly.

"It's the end now."

"A toast to bless our future and the hope of the world."

5000 years ago.

When he shared his last drink with his friends.

Leo silently watched Lysinas deliver the same celebratory toast as then.

"…Kyle?"

Lysinas looked at Leo, who was staring at him silently, with a puzzled expression.

"Cheers."

Thump-!

The wooden mug made a rough sound.

"I never imagined that after everyone died, after thousands of years, I would return to the moment we shared our first drink."

"Kyle?"

Lysinas, taking a sip of alcohol, asked in a slightly bewildered voice.

"Is something good happening? Why are you smiling like that?"

Leo, whose eyes widened at the question, then rested his chin on his hand and smiled.

"Just because it's good."

Lysinas looked bewildered.

"He's not like this."

Lysinas knew Kyle's personality well.

He had experienced his twisted personality enough after chasing him for weeks to persuade him to join the party.

"Until now, he's called me foolish, a lizard, and said all sorts of rude things."

He wanted to punch him in the face, but he held back to make a good impression.

But a little while ago.

Since defending Gardsron's defenses and joining the party, he felt strange.

"Well, whatever it is, the fact that he's a member of the extermination party I formed doesn't change."

Kyle, the hero who survived.

His strength was already world-renowned.

Demons felt fear from him.

"A true powerhouse who has survived countless battlefields."

Lysinas wanted such companions.

After seeing Kyle in person, his determination to recruit him into the extermination party grew even stronger.

"An unprecedented all-rounder. He will surely be a great help in the battle against Erebus."

Thinking so, Lysinas cleared his throat.

"Alright, Kyle. Shall we have a serious talk then? About what lies ahead."

Lysinas put down his mug and crossed his arms.

With a serious expression, Lysinas said.

"As you know, my goal is to defeat Erebus and save this world. For that, I absolutely need you. That's why I recruited you into the party."

"Yes."

"However. You and I alone are not enough to save the world."

Lysinas took a deep breath and said firmly.

"So we need strong companions to join us on our journey."

"Do you have any candidates in mind?"

"Of course, first, we need a mage."

Lysinas opened a subspace and spread out a map.

A world map from 5000 years ago.

Most of the land was blackened.

The areas burned away by Erebus.

Among them, Lysinas pointed to one area that had not yet burned.

"This is it. The homeland forest of the southern elves. A land cursed by the Demon Queen. There is an Elven genius mage named 'Luna Luminescence' here. You've heard her name, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"I've heard she's a more noble elf than anyone."

"…Come to think of it, that kind of rumor was circulating back then too."

"If we convey our intentions, the noble her will surely accompany us on our journey."

"What did Luna say when I first met her?"

"'Are you crazy? What did you eat to think like that?'"

Leo had simply conveyed Lysinas's intentions to Luna.

But it was he, not Lysinas, who was called crazy.

He felt indignant anew.

And he saw Lysinas looking at the terrain, now called the Demon Forest, with a serious face.

At this point.

No, right before meeting Luna, Lysinas had high expectations for Luna.

It was understandable.

Because the first member Lysinas recruited into the party was himself, with his twisted personality.

"He wouldn't have known then. That Luna was the most stubborn person in our party."

"Your eyes look strange."

"What's wrong with my eyes?"

Lysinas continued, looking somewhat displeased.

"The next member we need to recruit is 'The Guardian of the Azure Sky,' Argon, in Leysar."

Argon, the Guardian of the Azure Sky.

He was the master of Arion and already had a reputation as a powerful hero before the age of calamity.

He was called 'The Guardian of the Azure Sky' for protecting the blue sky for so long.

But when Lysinas, Kyle, and Luna went to find him, he had already lost his will.

Arion joined the party in Argon's stead.

"The Guardian of the Azure Sky is a great hero who has repelled countless demons. He is always proud and brave. He will be a reliable vanguard."

"Instead, Arion joined. In big battles, he played the role of a reliable vanguard as Lysinas hoped, but in small battles, he was the most unreliable."

His overwhelming skill and courage in crisis situations were undeniably perfect for the extermination party's vanguard.

"Lysinas's face during the first battle was priceless."

Arion hid behind Lysinas in fear.

He was still a young boy with immense power but was not yet mature, so it was understandable.

However, having seen the rambunctious Luna, Lysinas, whose expectations for the next party member had become even more desperate, had a tearful expression when he saw the frightened Arion for the first time.

"Luna laughed so hard when she saw that."

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Don't look at me with pity."

"I never did."

At Leo's words, Lysinas narrowed his brow and said.

"The next thing we need is a blacksmith who can forge powerful weapons. Of course, since we are outnumbered, he must also be a warrior with overwhelming skill. There is only one man who fits that description. There are rumors he's a bit eccentric. But they say he's a great person."

"It wasn't just 'a bit eccentric'."

"'Dwenno, your strength is needed. I implore you to join our journey.'"

Dwenno, who had been staring intently at Lysinas, who was offering his plea with the reverence of a dragon, said while looking at Leo, who had accompanied him.

"'You.'"

"'Why?'"

"'Are you and this Dragon maiden lovers?'"

"'She and I are not lovers.'"

"'Really?'"

"'Absolutely.'"

"'Hmm.'"

Dwenno, who was stroking his chin while looking at Lysinas with suspicion, nodded.

"'I understand. But there is a condition, Black Dragon.'"

"'Speak, blacksmith Dwenno.'"

Dwenno said with a face that was almost sublime.

"'Become my nude model.'"

"'Did I hear that correctly?'"

"'You heard correctly. Your beauty needs to be passed down to future generations.'"

At that moment, Lysinas's expression was clearly that of someone who had seen it all.

"'Let's go, Kyle. This guy is not right.'"

Kyle said, picking up a sword lying around like garbage in Dwenno's workshop.

"'Why is such an amazing sword left here like this?'"

"'That's a failed work. It's not beautiful.'"

"'If a failed work is this good, it seems like it would be very useful!'"

"'Let's go! A person with a twisted personality! A wild one! A coward is enough! I absolutely cannot have a pervert like this join!'"

Lysinas desperately tried to stop Leo.

"'Hey, old dwarf. We have an elf in our party as beautiful as this one. Do you want to join?'"

"'Oh? If that's the case, it's worth joining!'"

"'Kyle!'"

Dwenno joined the party, leaving Lysinas to wail as if screaming.

Leo looked at Lysinas with pity.

"So why do you keep looking at me like that?"

"…Because I thought saving the world wouldn't be easy."

"Of course. Stop thinking nonsense and what do you think about the potential companions we will have in the future?"

"…They seem like amazing people."

"Right? They won't be like you, who has a dirty personality."

Lysinas, holding a grudge against Leo, said with some emotion.

"…Yes. They certainly won't be like a person with a dirty personality like me."

Later, Lysinas confessed over drinks.

The person he had been most certain had the worst first impression actually had the most decent one.