Book 1 Chapter 472

472.

Chirp-chirp.

Birds announced the dawn.

"Ugh."

Ril stirred in his blanket, groaning in discomfort.

His head throbbed from a terrible hangover.

"Water…"

"Here you go."

I sat up, clutching my throbbing head, and mumbled. Someone next to me handed me water.

"Ah, thank you, Leo."

Ril managed a weak smile and gulped down the water.

"Puhp?! Kekk?! Cough! Cough!"

He choked and started coughing violently.

"Wh-wh-wh-why is Leo here?!"

Seeing Ril frantically asking with a panicked expression, Leo sipped his water and replied.

"This is my room. Yesterday, Senior Ril was so drunk he didn't go back to his room and slept here."

At those words, Ril fell into thought and then covered his face with one hand.

"I made a fool of myself. I'm sorry, Leo."

Ril, whose ears were redder than usual, took a deep breath, got off the bed, and said.

"Leo, if something like this happens again, please forcefully escort me out of your room."

"I didn't have any strange intentions."

"I know you're not the type to do something like that. What I mean is, it would be troublesome if rumors started."

"Indeed, it could be quite difficult for you in many ways, Senior."

"It would be more difficult for Leo than for me."

Ril said with a small sigh.

"Leo has been the focus of global attention since last year. Now you're even a hero. Many people must admire and look up to you. But conversely, there are countless people who are jealous and envious."

"That's true."

"Yes. Those people will try to find any flaw in Leo. A promiscuous love life is easy prey."

Ril sighed.

"Of course, if you look at history, there are many heroic womanizers. There are many heroes who break moral codes. Even the Justice Guild itself is not exactly a proper organization. People know that too. Nobody is perfect."

*Swish-*

Ril walked to the window and opened the curtains.

Morning sunlight streamed in.

Basking in the sunlight, Ril scrunched his eyes up happily and turned around.

"But still, people want an ideal hero. Right now, in people's minds, Leo is that kind of hero."

"I don't particularly care about others' opinions, so you don't have to worry."

"Hmm. Indeed, Leo's mental fortitude is amazing. But for Leo to remain a flawless hero is also my personal wish."

"Why?"

"Because I like Leo."

With the sunlight behind him, Ril grinned.

"I've admired you since the first time I saw you. Even though you're my junior, I thought you were amazing. I've been a fan since the first moment I saw you."

"That's an honor."

"In that sense, I will ask you seriously again."

Ril approached Leo and knelt before him.

"I want to become your disciple. Please accept me, Leo."

Ril said with a reverent expression.

"……"

'I will learn well. Please accept me as your disciple.'

He remembered a young elf girl, her eyes sparkling with hope for an unseen future.

'Make me your disciple.'

He also remembered a human girl, her eyes burning with hatred for the present she saw before her.

Born in the darkest era, the two disciples pursued vastly different things.

But.

'What will you do if you become strong?'

Kyle asked the two disciples as if annoyed.

'I want to contribute to this world, even a little.'

'I want to dedicate my life to the world.'

'Your personalities are completely different from Berkeana and Biharu.'

"I want to be someone who can contribute to the world."

'Why are your eyes so similar?'

Unwavering eyes.

A heart that cared for the world more than oneself.

Leo opened his mouth, feeling a strange resemblance to Lisinas.

"I won't be lenient."

"That's what I was hoping for!"

"You can speak casually too."

"It's fine! In the first place, Leo… no, Master, you felt like an older brother."

Ril, who had been smiling brightly, paused for a moment and then asked an odd question.

"Come to think of it, wouldn't it be strange if I, your senior, called you Master in front of others?"

"Just call me as usual. How about dropping the formal address when we're with others?"

"That's not possible. Regardless of age, I cannot carelessly use titles for those above me."

Ril shook his head stubbornly.

He was from a military family and was very strict about hierarchy.

"Hmm. If Master feels burdensome, should I call you Oppa?"

"Wouldn't you be looked at with even stranger eyes?"

"Would that be the case?"

Ril pondered and then said abruptly.

"Then… Hyung?"

'Why are all the people who want to become my disciples mentally abnormal?'

Leo pondered seriously.

If Luna were here, she would have answered, 'Because you're not normal,' but Luna wasn't here.

***

That morning.

Leo and Ril changed into their uniforms and headed to the audience chamber to meet the king.

The king had proposed postponing the meeting to the evening, citing the aftereffects of the banquet.

Leo felt absurd at the proposal to postpone it to the evening, not even the afternoon, but he also understood.

'If he's someone who would spend the national treasury on a massive banquet when the country is in crisis, then it's not surprising.'

"If you don't wish to see us now, we will consider it as you have no need for our help and return to Lumern. Do as you please, whether the kingdom perishes or not."

At those words, the panicked officials moved frantically, barely managing to secure a morning audience.

"Your Majesty, Duke Leo Flov and Duke Lil Luce have arrived."

"Let them in."

*Creak-*

The door opened.

Along with it, Leo and Ril entered the conference room where state affairs were being discussed.

The most striking figure was, as expected, King Canel, seated in the highest seat.

He looked at Leo and Ril with eyes clouded by drink, appearing displeased.

"Welcome, Duke Flov, Duke Luce. However, before the fatigue from the banquet has even subsided… you seek me out so urgently. Is there pressing business?"

His words and demeanor did not suggest he was the king of a kingdom in crisis.

'He's a person who thinks it's natural to be above others.'

Such people existed even during the Age of Calamity.

People who did nothing but were born into good families and took their privileges for granted.

Of course, their ends were all the same, and none of them were good.

'In times of peace, they simply watch.'

During times of peace, the incidental benefits of one's bloodline can protect them.

However, in a world without laws and with vanished lands, bloodline held no value.

Yet, their greed to enjoy more than others could not be extinguished.

That is why countless royalty and nobles were slaughtered during the Age of Calamity.

'Well, after that, many capable scumbags seized power.'

When Lisinas ruled Gardsron, the city was managed strictly based on merit.

'Lisinas' administrative skills were excellent, and his judgment of people was chilling.'

In fact, Lisinas' abilities played a significant role in preventing the invasion of Tartarus, not just the subjugation of Erebus.

Leo narrowed his eyes and watched.

Ril seemed on the verge of saying something in anger but held back because of Leo.

Leo opened his mouth.

"Is there a reason why the Justice Guild intends to destroy the Kingdom of Canel?"

"I don't know that either. Why would the Justice Guild, which proclaims justice, help Fetimann, which has no pedigree and was a weak nation, instead of our Canel, which boasts history and legitimacy."

He scoffed.

"There must be a reason, though."

"Hmph. Seeing as they've been digging up hero tombs lately, they must be coveting the legacy of the Kingdom of Canel."

"Is there something in Canel that the Justice Guild would covet? If so, what does that have to do with digging up hero tombs?"

At Leo's question, King Canel flinched and then clutched his head.

"Ugh- my head hurts so much! Guards!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

A servant behind him bowed his head.

"My head hurts terribly from drinking!"

"Yes. I will prepare food and drink that are good for hangovers immediately."

'He has no intention of telling me.'

Leo narrowed his eyes.

'The ones digging up hero tombs were the Justice Guild?'

The reason was unknown.

But listening to King Canel, it was clear that the Justice Guild was plundering the hero tombs in this country.

'Could it be related to the Lich King?'

He already knew that the Justice Guild was not a rational organization.

And the Lich King was the one who could best exploit such an organization.

"Regardless, the important thing now is that the Justice Guild is interfering in our war without reason and threatening our kingdom. We officially request mediation from Lumern."

Seeing King Canel feigning ignorance, Leo curled the corners of his mouth.

After a brief further conversation, Leo left the audience chamber and applied force to his left index finger.

*Crack-*

A bone-cracking sound echoed chillingly from his left hand.

'Should I make him bleed?'

Making an incompetent king bleed was not difficult.

Biharu tore out the pages of Kyle's shadow deeds after the Hero Record was created and kept them.

The cruel torture was also recorded in Kyle's deeds as a shadow.

Therefore, Biharu tore out a part of Kyle's Hero Record and kept it.

Because she didn't want her master to be depicted negatively in later generations.

Leo walked down the corridor with a murderous thought.

Beside him, Ril was also lost in thought.

"It seems like they're hiding something. What could it be?"

"May I explain that part?"

At the voice from behind, Leo and Ril turned their heads.

Standing there was a boy who appeared to be in his late teens.

His eyes were full of spirit.

But a shadow was cast on his face.

"Who are you?"

Ril tilted his head and asked. He introduced himself.

"My name is Jeremin Canel. I am the Crown Prince of this kingdom."

Jeremin bowed politely and said seriously.

"I have something important to tell you both. Will you spare me some time?"

Jeremin, who invited them, led them outside the royal palace.

They moved in a carriage.

During that time, Ril stealthily pulled back the curtain and looked out at the scenery.

Upon seeing the royal crest, the people of the capital hurried to bow their heads upon spotting the carriage.

However, their gazes were not kind.

The attire of the capital's people was also utterly shabby.

"It seems the country is in great difficulty."

At Ril's words, Jeremin sighed deeply.

"It can't be helped. It's difficult to say this, but… my father and the ministers' tyranny worsens day by day."

A look of distress crossed Jeremin's face.

"They neglect state affairs and indulge in luxury. When the Kingdom of Fetimann launched a large-scale invasion, they were so anxious they couldn't hold a banquet, but… as soon as they heard the news about you two yesterday, it was as if they were releasing all their pent-up desires…"

Jeremin's face contorted.

He seemed to genuinely hate his father and his ministers.

"So, what are you going to explain?"

At Leo's question, Jeremin said.

"The reason the Justice Guild is targeting our kingdom. And it's something that would pique Lumern's interest."

"What is it?"

"The Justice Guild is after the tomb of the Knight of the Underworld. They are targeting it after hearing that it lies somewhere within our kingdom."

"The tomb of the Knight of the Underworld? Isn't that just a legend?"

Ril tilted his head.

Jeremin shook his head.

"No. It's a secret passed down through generations in the royal family, so it's certain. Though the exact location is unknown."

At Jeremin's words, Leo fell into thought.

'Knight of the Underworld.'

Leo also knew of this hero.

And he had heard about the countless hero artifacts he left behind.

'Did the Knight of the Underworld take not only the artifacts of his followers but also those of his defeated enemies?'

The Knight of the Underworld has many other epithets.

The most prominent is the Hero Emperor.

Another famous epithet is…

'Conqueror.'

A name earned by expanding vast territories and defeating countless heroes.

It was said that he buried all the artifacts used by those heroes in his tomb.

Certainly, finding those would be of immense help to Lumern.

'Not just Lumern. Other races too.'

The heroes defeated by the Knight of the Underworld were not only humans.

"Even if it's a secret passed down in the royal family, if you don't know the exact location, is there a possibility it's true? Don't all royal families have such legends?"

As Ril tilted his head, Jeremin smiled.

"Don't worry about that. The key to opening the treasure vault of the tomb has been passed down within our royal family."

"Hmm."

At Jeremin's words, Ril, with his arms crossed, fell into thought.

Meanwhile, the carriage left the capital and stopped in front of a dilapidated, enormous training ground on the outskirts.

"This place?"

"The Tomb of the Vanquished."

"The Tomb of the Vanquished?"

Ril's eyes widened, and Jeremin smiled bitterly.

"Yes. It is said to be the place where the bodies of heroes defeated by the Knight of the Underworld long ago were disposed of. Well, it's just a legend, of course."

"Why have you brought us here?"

Leo asked as he got out of the carriage. Jeremin said.

"To make a deal. Please follow me."

Jeremin walked ahead.

Ril followed behind him.

Leo took a look around the surrounding scenery and was about to take a step when.

[Listen carefully, Kyle.]

At the incredibly familiar voice from behind, his steps stopped abruptly.

[The voices of the Heroic Spirits.]

So surprised that he couldn't help but turn around.

"Lisinas?"

*Swish swish swish-*

There was no answer to Leo's call.

Only the empty landscape met his eyes.