Book 1 Chapter 391

The inn where Leo and Lyssias are staying.

The innkeeper, Tilla, wiped a bowl with a cloth and complained.

"There's no greater trouble than this."

"What is it?"

Rodia, who was helping clean dishes by Tilla's side, tilted her head.

"Kyle and Lyssias."

Tilla glanced at Leo and Lyssias, who were talking on one side of the inn.

"Because of those two, customers have stopped coming."

Kyle, the surviving hero, and Lyssias, the fool.

Both were overwhelmingly skilled individuals, and it was rare for anyone defending Gardesron not to have received help from them.

However, Kyle, who had a jinx of his companions dying, and Lyssias, who threw himself into dangerous battlefields to save the world, were a combination one would definitely want to avoid getting involved with.

Rodia smiled as she watched Tilla grumble.

"Even though you say that, I heard you're rooting for them."

"Huh?"

"Kyle said that you, Tilla, grumble but take good care of people."

"That rude fellow said that?"

Tilla looked at Kyle with a look of disbelief.

"By the way, Rodia."

"Yes."

"You're a dragon, so why do you always address me formally?"

"It's comfortable this way."

Rodia smiled.

Dragons were a race with a tradition of selecting and guiding heroes.

This tradition, which began after the age of disaster ended 5,000 years ago, continued to the present day.

Therefore, dragons were revered as sublime beings compared to other races.

However, it was nowhere near the status of dragons during the age of gods.

During the age of gods, when they were called messengers of the gods, dragons' status was comparable to that of the gods.

Thus, Tilla found Rodia's respectful attitude towards her quite unaccustomed.

But for Rodia, it was natural.

From her perspective, they were people from a distant past.

'And they provided a place for the great heroes to rest comfortably, so I can't treat them carelessly.'

Mm-hmm! Rodia nodded.

Clatter- clatter-

As she cleaned the dishes, Tilla said,

"By the way. They suit each other."

"What do you mean?"

"Those two."

Tilla glanced at Leo and Lyssias, who were discussing future matters.

"I didn't think they'd suit each other, but seeing them talk like that. They seem to get along well."

"You think so too, Tilla?"

"Yes. If it were an age of peace, I might have mistaken them for lovers."

"Right? No matter who sees them, Lyssias is the most suitable person for Kyle in the world, isn't he?"

"I didn't say 'most suitable in the world'."

"They are definitely soulmates!"

Tilla looked at Rodia, who was happily rejoicing on her own without listening to her words at all, with a look of exasperation.

After finishing cleaning the dishes, Rodia approached the two, humming a tune.

"It's impressive that so many have gathered."

"It was difficult. Your reputation was too notorious. But all the people we targeted have joined."

"What are you two talking about?"

Rodia, who had quickly sat between Leo and Lyssias, asked with a bright smile.

Leo scowled at Rodia, whose orange eyes were sparkling to an uncomfortable degree.

Lyssias stroked Rodia's head and said,

"We were talking about the expedition that will take place in two days."

These past few days.

Lyssias had come to find Rodia very cute.

Regardless of what was inside, her appearance was still that of a young dragon.

Lyssias couldn't help but find Rodia adorable.

At Lyssias's words, Rodia asked Kyle,

"How many people are going on this expedition to the Monster Forest?"

"Eleven."

"Eleven? That many?"

Rodia looked surprised at Kyle's answer.

In the original history, the expedition party consisted of eight people, including Kyle and Lyssias.

Even in this desperate age, there were those who desperately sought hope.

If there were only great heroes in this era, they would have perished long ago.

But even so, in those times, very few people remained who would join Kyle and Lyssias on their journey.

Even Rodia, who had attempted to conquer this world several times, had failed to increase the number of expedition members.

There wasn't enough time to change the reputation of Kyle and Lyssias.

Yet, the number of expedition members had increased by three.

Rodia cheered as she looked at the list.

"Amazing!"

"It was difficult because of Kyle."

"What?"

Rodia looked slightly flustered as she watched Lyssias sigh, despite having gathered more companions than in the actual history.

Leo then said calmly,

"I persuaded those who were reluctant to join the expedition because of me, and they barely agreed to participate."

"I see. Given Kyle's personality, he must be quite a jerk…"

"That's true, but it still stings, doesn't it? You've been getting too bold these past few days, haven't you?"

*Squeeze!*

"Ah, it hurts!"

Rodia made a pained expression as Leo grabbed her head.

Lyssias burst out laughing at the sight.

"You two are really close. It's like… a father and daughter."

At those words, Rodia's eyes widened, and Leo scowled.

"I'm not old enough to have a daughter this size?"

"Yes, that's true. But seeing how Rodia treats you like a great adult, and you treat Rodia like a child, it makes me think that."

"I wish Lyssias was my mother!"

At those words, Lyssias said with a troubled look,

"I'm sorry, but I'm not old enough to have children?"

"To her, you probably look old."

"It seems your true nature hasn't changed, even though you haven't said anything rude for the past few days."

Lyssias said with a smile, looking at Leo who was speaking sincerely.

Although his face was smiling softly, the tendons on his slender and beautiful forearms were clearly raised, and his hand was roughly grabbing Leo's collar.

After the commotion, Lyssias went outside to gather the expedition members.

"Dad, when are you going to marry Mom?"

"How long are you going to keep up this creepy child act?"

"Rodia, I hope you get a sibling too."

"If you keep playing around, you're going to get hit, you know?"

At Leo's words, Rodia huffed with a "Tch!"

"Why are you so excited by yourself?"

"Tilla said that Kyle and Lyssias are soulmates!"

At those words, Leo looked at Tilla behind the counter, and Tilla just shook her head expressionlessly.

"If Seirun, that stubborn fool, hears this, even she will admit it."

"Seirun what?"

"That the most suitable couple is Lyssias and Kyle!"

Rodia said, glaring.

Seeing Rodia with a very serious expression, Leo wore a look of "What is this nonsense now?".

Rodia's story was as follows.

In the world of heroes, after confirming the feelings of Luna and Lyssias, they fought over what combination would be most suitable.

"You guys play like that?"

"It's an extremely important issue! Demian was on my side, but Azonia was on Seirun's side! Lumern was slyly neutral!"

Leo let out a deep sigh, looking at his juniors who had wasted an astonishing amount of mental energy on trivial matters.

"Seirun, that girl, even exploited her good writing skills to publish strange novels and tried to brainwash people. A wicked creature."

"…Were these damn brats calling each other idiots and morons while doing that?"

Rodia struggled, her cheeks being pinched, with a tearful expression.

Meanwhile, the inn door opened, and 10 people entered.

Leo's gaze turned to them.

Familiar faces.

Faces that had marched onto the battlefield together.

And…

'The ones who lost their lives early.'

It wasn't because their strength was weak or their will was insufficient.

It was simply that the battlefield they fought on together was unimaginably difficult.

Rodia, too, shed the lighthearted atmosphere of a moment ago and wore a slightly stern expression.

Thump- thump- thump-

Nine people, excluding Lyssias, took their seats.

Most of their gazes were directed at Leo.

"It was true."

A woman sat next to Leo and smiled.

"Kyle, I heard you were joining Lyssias's journey, but I couldn't imagine it until I saw you in person."

She was Alene Freylene, a lightly armored woman with brown hair and green eyes.

"It's been a while."

"Well, since we met at the last battlefield, it hasn't been that long, but it has been a while. Kyle."

Despite her puzzled expression, Alene played along with Leo.

"Hmph, a journey with the surviving hero."

An elf mage with sharp eyes and a scar over one eye let out a cold smile.

"I wonder if we'll all end up dead."

"Hahaha! Perik, you say that, yet you sit next to Kyle. Were you moved by Kyle's words earlier?"

The beast warrior, Alok, with his massive build, plunked himself down next to Perik, the elf mage, and burst out laughing.

"Hmph. Please don't lump me in with a simple-minded beastman. I'm only here to help Lyssias. I'm only sitting next to this pessimist because I'm curious why he's changed his mind."

Rodia looked surprised at Perik and Alok.

'These are the people Lyssias tried to recruit for the expedition, but they ultimately refused!'

These were the people Lyssias had tried to persuade, but who had ultimately not changed their minds for this expedition.

"How did you persuade them?"

Rodia asked with a small laugh, and Leo replied calmly.

"These two, and Alene Freylene, I was in a party with them for a short while. Though we parted ways because our thoughts didn't align."

"Heh heh! They were so contrary, so we had no choice but to split up! Looking back now, it seems like a good decision!"

Alok put his arm around Leo.

Leo just took a sip of his drink.

"…I felt it earlier too, but you've changed."

Alok tilted his head.

Meanwhile, Lyssias said,

"First of all, this gathering is meant to strengthen our bonds before embarking on the expedition."

Lyssias smiled.

"It's also for us to drink and have fun before risking our lives."

"Sounds good!"

"We live for the sake of drinking!"

Wahaha! Laughter echoed throughout the inn, almost shaking it.

There was no one in Gardesron who wanted to get involved with Kyle and Lyssias.

But now that they had decided to fight together.

That didn't matter anymore.

The current era was one where every moment was a life-or-death situation.

Once they decided to be together, it didn't matter who the other person was.

This might be their last banquet.

For themselves.

And for the world.

Everyone raised their glasses.

"Before we begin, I want to ask the surviving hero about this expedition?"

At that moment, a slightly playful taunt was heard.

All eyes turned to Kyle at those words.

Kyle stood up from his seat.

"I don't want to rain on your parade, but…"

Leo said calmly.

"I heard information about the Glutton King earlier."

At those words, a moment of silence fell.

The Glutton King, Yormungandr.

The strongest legion commander.

"There's information that he's passing through the area between Gardesron and the Elf Forest."

At Leo's words, everyone began to murmur.

"What? Where did you get that information?"

Lyssias asked with a flustered expression.

"Through personal channels. It's likely quite reliable."

Everyone wore grim expressions.

Leo looked at them and said,

"It might be wise to postpone this expedition in case of unforeseen circumstances."

"Are you suggesting we do that?"

Alok asked, crossing his arms.

"No."

Leo said calmly.

"I'm suggesting we hunt him down."

"What?"

Everyone's eyes widened.

"The Glutton King doesn't lead a legion. Yet, it was difficult for us to face him because he was always accompanied by other legion commanders."

Yormungandr was the strongest legion commander, and his power was beyond imagination.

However, even so, moving alone was dangerous.

Even if Yormungandr wanted to move alone, there was always another legion to assist him when he intended to attack somewhere.

'That's why I didn't avoid fighting Yormungandr 5,000 years ago.'

For the expedition party, encountering Yormungandr was an immense crisis, but conversely, it was an opportunity to hunt down the strongest legion commander.

Lyssias chose to fight rather than flee, and Kyle and the others followed his will.

A battle that was even reckless.

As a result, they miraculously managed to defeat the Glutton King, and that victory became the dawn of hope.

"Therefore, I'll say it. Those who wish to back down, step back now."

At those words, everyone looked at Leo.

"If what you say is true."

Alok grinned.

"My heart is pounding!"

"This is utterly reckless."

Perik clicked his tongue, but he too did not move.

No one intended to leave.

Leo knew this as well.

That these people would not back down.

"A battle with Yormungandr! It's worth risking our lives for!"

Alok shouted energetically.

Leo looked at him and said,

'In the past, 5,000 years ago, everyone died. But… not now.'

Even if he saved them here, they would not necessarily return alive.

But those who risked their lives for the world.

Those who couldn't even see hope, in order to become the cornerstone of hope.

'I don't want to see them die again.'

Leo clenched his fist.

'This time… I will save them.'