Book 1 Chapter 420

420.

"Hero Records?"

"The Book of Shadows? What on earth is that!"

A commotion erupted inside the conference hall.

"What do you think?"

Altech Zeron, head of the Zeron family, one of the three great families of Lumerin and chairman of Lumerin, asked his younger brother.

Albi, who had received a demonic eye from the Elf King, had the ability to see through lies.

Albi, who had been staring at the Book of Shadows, opened his mouth in response to Altech's question.

"I feel the same power as the Hero Records we know."

Altech stroked his chin at Albi's reply.

"A new Hero Record."

Altech looked at the Book of Shadows with interest.

And not just him.

Dejean Ligard, who was beside him, and Nishella Tursia also exclaimed and carefully examined the Hero Record.

Dejean Ligard.

The head of the Ligard family, who governed Lumeria City.

In other words, he was the master of Lumeria, the center of the world.

Nishella Tursia was the guild master of Twilight, the largest hero guild in the world.

The Twilight Guild began 3000 years ago.

It originated from the Knights of Twilight, led by Lumerin.

The three great families of Lumerin: Zeron, Ligard, and Tursia.

All of them were disciples who had followed Lumerin long ago.

Zeron inherited the academy he founded, according to Lumerin's will.

Ligard inherited the land Lumerin had cultivated.

Tursia inherited the knights' order Lumerin had led.

These three families were the ones who had protected and managed the Hero Records of Lumerin Academy for the past 3000 years.

Therefore, the heads of the three families knew more about the Hero Records than anyone else.

Even about the history of the Hero Records.

"Lord Altech, have you ever heard of something called the Book of Shadows?"

"No."

"Lord Dejean?"

"I haven't either, Lord Tursia."

Nishella, in her mid-20s, looked at the Book of Shadows with interest.

Nishella Tursia.

A woman who became the head of Tursia at the age of 26.

She was a young hero who had made a name for herself in the Hero Records by stopping the invasion of the Undead Legion five years ago, as a contractor with the Great Spirit of Wind and the Phoenix.

As everyone's attention was drawn to the Book of Shadows,

King Luckit said.

"The Book of Shadows? What's that?"

"It's the Hero Record where shadows have made their names."

"Such nonsense…! Even if it were true, it would be fake!"

"King Luckit. I don't think you have the right to distinguish whether a Hero Record is real or fake, do you? You are neither a hero nor a shadow, are you?"

"Tsk!"

King Luckit' showed a resentful expression at Shau's words.

While a hero earns their qualification by overcoming hardships and adversity through their own strength, a king's qualification is merely inherited by bloodline.

All existing nations today were founded by those who had made their names in the Hero Records, so they could be considered descendants of great heroes.

However, being a descendant of a hero doesn't automatically make one a hero.

Therefore, many of the kings attending the summit were not heroes, and King Luckit was one of them.

As everyone looked at the Book of Shadows with disbelief,

Melina raised her hand.

Then, one of the dragons waiting behind her approached the central platform, asked Shau for permission, and took the Book of Shadows to Melina.

Melina carefully received it and opened the Hero Record.

Everyone held their breath and watched the scene.

What was felt from the Book of Shadows was clearly the power of the Hero Records.

'A record of shadows, who have never made their names in the Hero Records for 5000 years, is being discovered now?'

'And in such a perfect condition?'

Even with the emergence of evidence, it was hard to accept, as it was a truth believed for 5000 years.

However, if Melina, the Dragon Lord, acknowledged it, they had no choice but to accept it.

That shadows, too, were beings equal to heroes who proudly made their names in the Hero Records.

In the midst of this, Melina, who had been examining the Hero Record, opened her mouth.

"…Indeed, this is a record of the shadows."

"Such…!"

"Unbelievable…!"

"You mean it's not fake?"

"This is real. Moreover…"

"Moreover?"

"The deeds of the First Hero, Lord Kyle, are recorded here."

"A record of the Great Hero?"

"L-Lord Kyle's record is there?!"

A similar,

No, an even more astonishing shock erupted than when the existence of the Book of Shadows was announced.

Everyone jumped to their feet in surprise.

"Yes."

Melina smiled gently and nodded.

"Could it be that the First Hero was a shadow?"

"If so, it's understandable why the First Hero's records haven't been known until now."

The heroes showed bewildered reactions.

In the midst of this, Melina asked Shau.

"Shau, Emperor of Shan. Where did you find this Hero Record?"

Melina already knew the identity of the Book of Shadows.

Not only that, she had already heard from Leo how this Book of Shadows came into existence.

However, she couldn't tell the truth as it was.

Shau glanced at Leo.

Then he opened his mouth.

"It was recently discovered, having been stored for a long time in the underground of Shan. After various verification processes, we determined it to be a Hero Record that had never been revealed to the world, and thus we are making it public to announce it to the world."

At Shau's words, Rune, the acting principal of Seirun, spoke.

"That's good. It's true that shadows have been discriminated against for a long time just because they couldn't make their names in the Hero Records."

Rune, who had the appearance of a handsome young man but was an elder-level figure even in elf society, said with a smile that conveyed his wisdom.

"Doesn't this prove that shadows have also protected the world for the past 5000 years?"

"Ahem."

"That may be true, but…"

Some expressed discomfort.

"The First Hero was a shadow. That's an astonishing story. So, it was hidden behind history along with the records of the shadows then."

King Luckit muttered, not concealing his discomfort.

"Ahem. Are we to equate a shadow with a Great Hero?"

"Wouldn't a discussion be necessary regarding that?"

Several kings expressed discomfort.

Even if the Dragon Lord acknowledged it and a Hero Record containing their deeds was found, the perception that had continued for thousands of years showed no signs of easily changing.

There were just as many who did not have a positive view of shadows as there were heroes who did.

It was then.

"Do you know why the First Hero is called the First Hero?"

Everyone's gaze turned to Melina.

"You may not know this fact, but…"

Melina closed the Book of Shadows and said calmly.

"The first of the Great Heroes to lose their life was Lord Arion."

At those words, everyone held their breath.

Everyone knew well the story of the Great Heroes defeating the primordial evil, Erebus.

This world was the proof.

However…

No stories remained about the final battle between the Great Heroes and Erebus.

3000 years ago.

During the process of the heroes of creation sealing the endlessly resurrecting fragments of Erebus in the Hero Records, many records were burned and disappeared.

And in the process of tearing, many more records were lost again.

Innumerable lost records were burned and disappeared by Tartarus.

In that process, the records of the Great Heroes' final journey also disappeared into the back of history.

Therefore, it was not known who ultimately defeated Erebus.

The known fact was that all Great Heroes died in the process of subduing Erebus.

As Great Heroes themselves were beings worshipped by each race, the stories of the final battle also differed among the races.

However, hero scholars and historians, in agreement, speculated that:

The final battle was where all Great Heroes united their strength to barely subdue Erebus, and in that process, all of them lost their lives.

No one knew the truth of history.

The story that had disappeared into the other side of history.

Melina, who had heard that story from the person involved, spoke of the forgotten history.

"The Brave One sacrificed himself because he was afraid of his comrades dying. And he entrusted everything he had to the First Hero."

'The reason he volunteered to be a shield was… because he was afraid to see us die.'

It was not a grand or courageous sacrifice that many people imagined.

In the most Arion-like way, as a coward…

He met an un-Brave One-like end, terrified.

'I'm sorry… I couldn't keep my promise to protect you until the end.'

Leo closed his eyes, recalling the crying, apologetic coward.

"Even after Lord Arion's sacrifice, the Great Heroes did not stop."

Everyone's mouths fell open at Melina's solemn words.

Everyone realized.

That what was coming out of Melina's mouth was the forgotten truth of history.

"The second to lose their life was Lord Dweno. He closed his eyes, leaving behind the weapons to defeat Erebus."

'Go forth, Kyle. For those who will follow… make a path. That sword is for that purpose.'

Dweno closed his eyes, leaving behind the only artifact he had created, which was the 'Beginning.'

"The third was Lady Luna."

'I'm sorry for burdening you with me too.'

Luna, who entrusted everything, saying that if it was one of them, Kyle would be better than her.

"The fourth was Lord Lysinas."

'We will save the world.'

Even Lysinas, who believed that fact without a doubt until the end.

"Lord Kyle, who defeated Erebus alone on behalf of all the Great Heroes, was the Last Hero and…"

Melina looked at the breathless heroes.

"…He was the First Hero who opened the era of heroes. That's why he's called the First Hero."

"My Lady… How do you know that fact?"

When someone asked in a trembling voice, Melina smiled gently.

"In Dragonia, the truths of various worlds lie dormant."

Melina carefully stroked the Book of Shadows and said.

"Surely in that era, there were no distinctions like hero or shadow… Someone had to do the work… So the First Hero willingly bore that burden."

Melina stood up and personally placed the Book of Shadows back on the platform.

"The world is in turmoil. The return of the First Hero and the progenitor of the nebula, followed by the return of the comet mage."

Melina looked towards Seirun, then towards Damian.

"The emergence of hero candidates who have inherited Lord Dweno's legacy."

Finally, Melina's gaze rested on Leo for a moment.

"And even the record of the First Hero."

Melina took a deep breath.

"The forgotten heritage of the Great Heroes and the heroes of creation is returning to us. Accordingly, Tartarus's movements are also unusual. How long do you intend to be bound by outdated past customs?"

"Ugh!"

"Th-That…"

"A hero is a being who brings about change, even before being a being who possesses mighty power and achieves deeds acknowledged by the gods."

Clearly-

Everyone focused on Melina's words, delivered with emphasis.

"It's not the time to care about things like 'hero' or 'shadow.' Now is the time to completely eradicate the threat of disaster that has continued for 5000 years. As the Dragon Lord, I declare."

Everyone held their breath.

"From now on, shadows are equal to heroes."