Book 1 Chapter 419

419.

"There are many good shops in Rumern."

"That's right. Every single cake is delicious!"

Eiran, who had a fork in her mouth at Lunia's words, covered her cheeks and smiled happily.

Seeing the two of them, Luca, another representative from Seyrun's second year, smiled.

"I wish our school were like this too."

"Right. Right."

Despite being one of the top three skilled individuals in the second year, Luca was stripped of his representative position from the first semester of the second year due to the Pureblood Council's policy.

However, as Seyrun returned to normal, he was reinstated to his representative position.

As they had been called the "best trio" since their first year, the three of them were currently sightseeing in Rumern together.

As the three of them were enjoying Rumern for a while.

"Hey, hey."

Kal ran up panting.

"What's wrong?"

"Your first-year junior! Leah Tingel, you know her."

"What about Leah?"

Eiran tilted her head and asked, and Kal said urgently.

"She's been caught by Professor Halind and dragged to his lab!"

"Professor Halind?"

"Halind is one of the most famous professors in Rumern."

Halind and Sedjen.

The two renowned professors of Rumern were naturally highly esteemed among different races.

Therefore, Lunia and Eiran knew them.

"Why was Leah caught by him?"

Kal said, looking at Lunia, who asked after putting down her teacup.

"How would I know? Maybe she made a commotion in the corridor of the first-year classroom building!"

"Ah~ she's the type to do that. She sometimes goes on inexplicable rampages."

"Certainly, Leah has her eccentricities."

"Before, she wrote a lot of Leo's mentees' names in red ink. She called it a curse, or something like that."

"Heh heh. It seems she considers that child Luke a rival."

Eiran covered her mouth and laughed at Lunia's words, while Luca shook his head.

"It's scary to just consider her a rival."

Kal scratched his head, looking at the Seyrun representatives chatting carelessly.

"You guys don't seem to understand the seriousness of the situation at all. Don't you know what kind of person Professor Halind is?"

"What kind of person is he?"

"He's called the 'Wall of Lamentations' of Rumern. He's the scariest professor in our school!"

At Kal's explanation, Lunia rested her chin on her hand.

"We have scary teachers at Seyrun too."

"The level is different! The level! Not only the seniors from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, but also the professors from Rumern! Even the seniors who have graduated and have their names on the Hero Records tremble in front of Professor Halind!"

The reason Halind is scary.

It's not simply because he's called the 'Wall of Lamentations' of Rumern.

Before being the professor who creates the most dropouts in Rumern, Halind was simply a frightening person.

Eiran said urgently.

"B-but Leah is a Seyrun student! Even if he's such a scary person, he's lenient with students from other schools…"

"Lenient? That's a word that doesn't suit Professor Halind at all."

It was when Kal murmured seriously.

"What's going on?"

Iliana, who happened to be passing by, asked with a confused expression.

"There's someone with experience here."

Iliana had been dragged to Professor Halind's office once in her first year for violating school rules.

Although Kal had also broken school rules several times, he had narrowly avoided crossing the line with his cleverness.

But Iliana hadn't, and she had crossed the line just once.

"Hey, I heard a first-year Seyrun student was dragged to Professor Halind's office?"

"Ah."

Iliana exclaimed.

Then, she smiled and said.

"If it were me, I'd choose to die with my face in a plate rather than be dragged to Professor Halind's office."

'What on earth is happening to her?'

Lunia's expression turned serious.

"W-what should we do?"

Eiran said urgently.

"For now, all we can do is pray for her safe return."

Lunia sighed deeply, looking at Kal, who said with his arms crossed.

"Can you at least lead the way to him?"

At that, Kal and Iliana pretended not to hear.

"Are you scared to go? Is that how you are as hero candidates?"

"Not me."

"What can you do if you're scared?"

Seeing the confident Kal and Iliana, Lunia grabbed Kal by the nape of his neck.

"Lead the way."

"Why me!"

Kal screamed as if wronged, but Lunia didn't listen.

***

Summit Hall.

A place called the Hall of Twilight, located in the upper levels of the Rumern Hero Tower.

The summit meetings held in Rumern have always taken place here.

On the wall in the center of the meeting hall hung five portraits.

They were none other than the portraits of the heroes of the Great Creation.

And beneath them stood statues.

Arion with a sword.

Dweono with an axe.

Luna holding a staff.

Lisinas holding a book.

And finally, Kael.

These were the statues of the greatest heroes who ended the era of disaster and brought a future to the world.

Kings and heroes entering the Hall of Twilight paid their respects to the portraits of the Great Creation heroes and the statues of the great heroes before taking their seats.

Beside Leo, who was attending the summit as the student council president, sat the student council presidents of other schools.

As everyone took their seats.

The most honored seat.

They looked at the empty chairman's seat.

Thump- thump-

A moment later, Melina appeared in the Hall of Twilight.

Melina, still veiled, appeared as a small girl.

Although she exuded a gentle aura, her mere presence overwhelmed the audience.

Standing before the portraits of the Great Creation heroes and the statues of the great heroes, Melina clasped her hands and paid her respects for a moment.

Then she sat in the highest seat and looked around.

"I thank everyone gathered here for the sake of the world, despite their busy official duties."

Everyone focused on Melina.

"The reason we are gathered here is simple. We are here to discuss the recent unusual movements of Tartarus. Is there anyone who wishes to speak on this matter?"

As soon as Melina finished speaking, a dwarf with tanned skin raised his hand.

"King of Neberum. You may speak."

"First, may there be infinite blessings upon the great Dragon Lord."

The King of Neberum, who had obtained permission to speak, bowed to Melina and opened his mouth.

"I have a question for Zephia, the principal of Azonia."

"What is it?"

"Recently, many beastfolk hero hunters have started appearing in my kingdom. Our Kingdom of Neberum tried to eliminate those wicked traitors."

The King of Neberum's face turned fierce.

"However, the detestable traitors were strong and showed no signs of being suppressed. So I sent forth the proud warriors of our kingdom, the 4th Iron Fist Brigade."

The hall began to murmur at the King of Neberum's words.

Neberum, being a dwarf kingdom, was rich in mines.

Therefore, it could produce high-quality weapons and armor, and based on that, it was one of the pillars of the five dwarf kingdoms representing their race.

The warrior unit representing Neberum was the 'Iron Fist'.

"The 4th Brigade was annihilated."

Gasps of shock erupted from various places.

The King of Neberum's eyes gleamed.

"And just before attending this meeting, there was testimony from a survivor who had barely regained consciousness. They said there were beastfolk who used sign language even though it wasn't a full moon night!"

He glared at Zephia with his eyes wide open.

"Tell me, Zephia. I heard Azonia knew about this fact long ago! Then why! Why did you conceal that fact and lead our kingdom's young talents to their deaths!"

At the King of Neberum's cry, Zephia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I apologize for not disclosing that fact. Your Majesty. However, Azonia also needed to properly ascertain the facts."

"To properly ascertain the facts! You hid it for the honor of Azonia, didn't you! Because traitors, who couldn't do what beastfolk couldn't do for 5,000 years, did it! You were ashamed of that fact!"

"Watch your words! King of Neberum!"

The king of another beastfolk kingdom raised his voice.

"The King of Neberum is speaking the truth! By what right do you tell him to stop speaking!"

"The truth? You were hunted because you were weak! How dare you defile the honor of us, the descendants of heroes, with that!"

"What!"

Shouts of anger were exchanged between the agitated beastfolk and dwarfs.

It was a sensitive issue.

For the beastfolk, it involved the prestige and honor of their entire race.

Conversely, the dwarfs had their promising young talents killed.

The fire, once lit, could not be easily extinguished.

"Shhh-!"

Then a small voice was heard.

The voice was very quiet, but it carried an undeniable majesty.

The arguing beastfolk and dwarfs stopped and looked at Melina.

"We are not here to fight or to argue about right and wrong."

Melina looked at the beastfolk side.

"Azonia Academy's action of not announcing the fact, despite knowing it, is certainly regrettable. However, on the other hand, it could have shaken the entire beastfolk race with the resulting chaos… and since it was a matter related to the honor of the beastfolk… I can understand it."

Next, she looked at the dwarfs.

"The deaths of the promising Iron Fists are a most tragic event. I offer my condolences. However, there is also one regrettable point. Hero hunters are beings who hunt heroes, or those equivalent to them. Countless powerful heroes have lost their lives to the cunning traps of those detestable traitors."

Melina's voice was filled with sorrow.

"However, there are those who can hunt those hero hunters."

Melina looked at a certain spot in the hall.

The only unique existence in this place.

The one who should be there the most, yet the most out of place.

It was Shau, the Emperor of the Shadow Nation, the Shan Empire.

"I believe the reason the young Iron Fists lost their lives was… a lack of communication. It's an unavoidable matter."

Melina looked around the assembly.

"We are entangled by vested interests, and the information we need from each other can become each other's shame."

Some people coughed and avoided Melina's eyes.

"But I believe now is the time to forget such things and cooperate."

Melina said forcefully.

"King of Neberum, why didn't you ask for help from the Shan Empire?"

"…We solve our own problems. That is our pride."

"That pride… I think it's commendable. But is that all there is?"

At Melina's words, the King of Neberum lowered his head and remained silent.

"I know many people feel ashamed of receiving help from the shadows. It shouldn't be like that. Shadows are beings equal to heroes."

At those words, a person from the human side raised their hand.

"King of Luckitt. You may speak."

He, the king of Luckitt, a human kingdom located in the northern continent, said.

"I understand what the Lord is saying. Shadows are certainly specialized in hunting hero hunters. However, by working in the dark, they also commit many terrible deeds that can hardly be spoken of. They are like a necessary evil."

"Shadows are not evil."

"I misspoke. But regardless, receiving help from shadows is a disgrace for a hero."

The King of Luckitt narrowed his eyes.

"They are beings who thoroughly assist heroes. They can never be equal to heroes."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because they can never have their names recorded in the Hero Records. They are never recognized by the gods."

At the King of Luckitt's words, everyone held their breath and looked at Shau.

Meanwhile, Shau stood up.

"That's fortunate. Regarding the Hero Records, I have something to show you all."

"What is it?"

Shau looked at Melina.

When Melina nodded, Shau took out a small chest from his embrace and approached the center of the Hall of Twilight.

And he placed the chest on the display table made of orichalcum in the center and opened it.

All eyes turned to it.

At that moment.

"Hero Records?"

Someone muttered in a bewildered voice.

"Impossible! Even the Hero Records kept by each Hero Academy are not in such perfect condition!"

"A fake?"

"But this power is definitely…!"

As everyone was astonished, Melina opened her mouth.

"Emperor Shan, what is that?"

"It is the Hero Record, the Book of Shadows."