Book 1 Chapter 474

474.

The refugee city of Leisar was one of the better-situated cities during the Age of Calamity.

It was the largest city among those that had survived at the time, and its conditions were better than other cities.

"It was a city rich in resources. Crucially, it had the Guardian of the Azure Sky."

Arion's teacher, the Guardian of the Azure Sky, Agon.

Before great heroes like Lysinus and Kyle emerged.

He was a man called the hope of the world.

Agon loved children.

That's why he took in orphans in Leisar.

At least during the time the Guardian of the Azure Sky, Agon, was alive, Leisar was a place where homeless children could live with hope for tomorrow.

But after he passed away.

The true tragedy began.

The Lord of Leisar trained and brainwashed the overflowing orphans on the streets.

They were remade into beings solely for combat.

And they were deployed into the war against Tartarus.

The training process was simple.

It was endless competition.

Only children who endured the extreme training were given meals.

Crushing and killing opponents was permitted if it meant winning.

It was literally a living hell.

It might have created powerful warriors.

But it failed to create proper individuals.

"Among them, there were many children with outstanding talent."

There were indeed children with talents and strength that could have benefited the world.

But the Lord of Leisar used them solely as consumables.

The children, sent to the battlefield as consumables, died in vain.

Harboring hatred and resentment.

Such things were repeated endlessly.

Until Kyle executed the Lord of Leisar.

"They were colluding."

And during the execution of the Lord of Leisar, he learned the identity of the mastermind.

"Duke Artkan of the Dirge."

A confidant of the Undead King.

The reason he planned such a convoluted scheme was simple.

"To obtain corpses."

The demon army led by the Undead King Hell Kaiser, the necromancers, specialized in necromancy.

They wield immense power using corpses.

That's why they exhibit their most terrifying power in the midst of the battlefield.

The experience of a fallen comrade rising as an undead and attacking oneself was something one never got used to.

"Their mere presence lowers morale."

And the more powerful the necromancer, the more accurately they can recreate the deceased's appearance in life.

"And corpses filled with resentment and hatred are the best weapons for them."

High-level necromancers can even enhance the abilities of the reanimated corpses beyond their living state.

It's akin to knights and warriors using Aura to strengthen their weapons.

Of course, if the corpse was too strong in life, their full power cannot be revived.

"And one more thing."

If corpses with dark emotions like resentment, hatred, despair, malice, and envy are the best weapons for necromancers, then conversely, corpses imbued with nobility cannot be manipulated by them.

Even if reanimated as undead, they do not obey and resist.

In a sense, they are like dulled weapons.

Naturally, it's difficult to draw out their power.

"When Lysinus became a beacon of light and fought against Erebus and Tartarus, noble heroes were born."

Drawn by the light and hope that Lysinus presented.

Countless heroes were born.

That's why Lysinus is special.

Lysinus, who tricked people into believing in a light and hope that didn't exist, and by some means made it a reality, was literally a savior of the world.

If the brave Arion is a symbol of courage.

Lysinus, the King of Wisdom, is a symbol of salvation and hope.

"Well, that's a skill I could never replicate in my lifetime."

In any case, Lysinus's existence alone deprived the Undead King's army of a powerful weapon.

So Duke Artkan devised a plan.

Let's use Leisar to produce corpses that they could use.

That is why the orphan soldiers were born.

"The resentment and hatred harbored by the orphan soldiers were immense."

Even though they had to trample each other to survive.

Despite that, the bond between the orphan soldiers was strong.

If you die before becoming strong, it's useless.

Therefore, Artkan, who led the plan, brainwashed the orphan soldiers to rely on each other.

It was common for them to give their food to a hungry comrade.

Acts of self-sacrifice to save comrades during training were also frequently observed.

For the orphan soldiers, each other was the reason to live.

"The more comrades they lost, the stronger their resentment and hatred became."

Initially, the edge of resentment and hatred was directed at Tartarus.

"But the moment they were sent to war as consumables and died, the orphan soldiers realized."

That they were beings who lived only to die.

Their resentment and hatred exploded as they saw the necromancers harvesting them.

"It was horrific."

One of Kyle's disciples.

That's why Bihar couldn't step into the light even after the Age of Calamity ended.

"Because he was also an orphan soldier."

Kyle wanted his disciple to live in the light after everything was over.

He told him not to walk the dark path he himself had taken.

Nevertheless, Bihar ultimately chose to remain in darkness and became a shadow.

"He couldn't have ended up like Berchia."

Born under a gray sky, Kyle's two disciples.

Among them, Berchia moved towards the light, and Bihar moved towards the darkness.

Leo felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he thought of Bihar and turned his gaze away from the orphan soldiers.

"Why is Crown Prince Jeremin managing these children? They look unusual just by looking at them."

Their aura is unusual.

"I forcibly brought these children who were secretly raised by Duke Dotarn."

"Did they give them up willingly?"

"No. But I couldn't stand to watch such a terrible act."

Looking at Jeremin, whose eyes held anger, Leo said.

"How much do you know about these children?"

"I only know that they were raised to be sent to the battlefield as orphans."

"Their existence is a secret within the country, right?"

"Yes. If I had known such atrocities were being committed, I wouldn't have let it slide."

Looking at Jeremin, who spoke resolutely, Leo looked at the orphan soldiers.

'Indeed, that Duke Dotarn wouldn't have handed them over to the Crown Prince if he knew what kind of children they were.'

The Crown Prince and the Duke, who were ordinary people, hadn't noticed.

'These orphan soldiers, each one of them, is stronger than most knights. They have all already initiated Aura. Two or three of them are at a level to enter Lumern.'

In a small kingdom like Kanel, they could even cause a rebellion.

The northeastern continent is a place of constant war.

As such, it would have been easy to procure orphans.

"What kind of life does the Crown Prince want for these children?"

"I don't know if it will be difficult, but I want them to live a life far from war."

The Crown Prince showed pity.

They lost their parents to war and were subjected to horrific training.

He genuinely felt sorry for them.

'At least the Crown Prince seems to have become a decent person.'

He's a king beyond compare to the licentious king and officials of this country.

"Are you really going to hand over the legacy left by the Knight of the Underworld to Lumern?"

"Of course. Frankly, even if our country possessed it, it's obvious we wouldn't be able to use it properly. No matter how great the legacy, it's worthless if it can't be utilized."

Jeremin crossed his arms and smiled smugly.

"It would be good for Lumern to manage our kingdom's relics. Moreover, if I am to give the key, I must become king. Wouldn't maintaining a trade relationship with Hero Leo Flov until then be very helpful?"

"You've thought that far."

As Lil's eyes widened, Jeremin smiled.

"These children know little about heroes or heroic tales. So, I also wish to let them meet a real hero."

Jeremin bowed his head to Leo with a serious expression.

"Please, Leo Flov. Help these children live ordinary lives."

It's not easy for someone who is a Crown Prince, no matter how small the kingdom, to bow his head.

Even if that person has reached the position of a hero.

Looking at such a Crown Prince, Leo said.

"I understand."

"Thank you, thank you so much!"

Jeremin smiled brightly.

Looking at him, Leo said.

"Since I know of their existence anyway. I can't just leave them be."

***

The orphan soldiers stood in disciplined formation, awaiting Leo and Lil.

Their gazes were fixed on Leo.

There were scars on many of their faces.

Their eyes were sharp, all of them.

The orphan soldiers were observing Leo intently.

'Their ages are, on average, around 13-14.'

They were still very young.

Among them were those who, barely, were at a level to enter Lumern.

'The others can also reach that level depending on how they develop. Of course, their disposition wouldn't suit Lumern at all.'

Just being strong isn't enough to enter Lumern.

"You want to go to the battlefield?"

In response to Leo's question, the boy at the front answered.

"Yes. Are you the one who will send us to the battlefield?"

To the boy's question, Leo chuckled.

"No."

At those words, the boy's eyes twitched.

"Why on earth do you want to go to the battlefield?"

"To get revenge on the people who made us like this!"

"They said the people who killed our parents are on the battlefield!"

"Because of those bastards, I killed my friends and ended up here!"

"We will kill them!"

Voices filled with hatred burst out.

Seeing that, Lil raised her hand.

"Now, now, calm down, everyone."

"It's none of your business, you sheltered brats?"

At that moment, a girl next to the boy shouted fiercely.

"If we break the enemies' necks, isn't it good for you guys?"

The girl, with a particularly rough tone, revealed her killing intent even to Leo and Lil.

As Lil showed an embarrassed expression, watching the girl.

At that moment, Leo chuckled.

"Fine, if you want it that much, I'll send you."

"Master!"

Lil called out to Leo in a flustered voice.

Leo pulled Lil towards him, pushed her towards the orphan soldiers, and said.

"Instead, if you defeat this child, I'll send you."

At Leo's words, the murderous gazes of the orphan soldiers turned to Lil.

Lil showed a bewildered expression.

"M-Master, why are we fighting all of a sudden?"

"It's your first order as my student."

"What?!"

"Subdue these people."

At Leo's words, Lil nodded.

With an eager expression, Lil stood before the orphan soldiers.

"Come at me."

At those words, the boy and girl at the front looked at each other and nodded.

The first to step forward was the girl.

The girl, twirling the dagger in her hand with a flourish, said in a murderous tone.

"You'd better be prepared, noble lady."

Looking at the girl, Lil said.

"Who said to come at me alone?"

"What, you think you can take on both of us alone…"

"Everyone here, come at me at once."

"What?"

The orphan soldiers were all dumbfounded.

Lil said with a blank expression.

"I will show you how powerless you are."

***

'He told me to subdue them, but he wants me to fight all of them at once. He seems timid, yet he's unexpectedly grand in scale.'

Leo chuckled as he watched Lil and turned around.

The reason Leo entrusted the orphan soldiers to Lil was simple.

'It's best for someone a few years older to deal with them.'

No matter what he looked like on the outside, Leo had a vast difference in mental age from the orphan soldiers.

'It's better to leave the communion to someone of similar age. Moreover, in a sense, Lil's values are completely different from those of the orphan soldiers.'

Those who know darkness can understand darkness.

But those who have lived in light find it difficult to understand darkness.

'It's better for these kinds of children to crash headfirst into a clashing ideology and break.'

Crucially, Leo had something to do.

Leo's red eyes flashed.

'If there are orphan soldiers trained in this manner in this country, it means that the Duke of the Dirge is hiding somewhere in this country.'

A chilling killing intent appeared in Leo's eyes.

'Shall I start the hunt?'