Book 1 Chapter 483

483.

"Why is he suddenly like that?"

Leo narrowed his eyes as he saw Tamus's suddenly changed demeanor.

As if in disbelief.

He suddenly started muttering things like, "It can't be! This is impossible!" as if he had lost his mind.

'Even though he was crazy until a moment ago, he wasn't acting like he'd completely lost his mind, was he?'

[The hero title has been revoked according to your will.]

[The name of Tamus, Knight of the Netherworld, has been deleted from the Hero Record.]

"What?"

Leo's face showed shock at the sudden message that appeared before his eyes.

Such an absurd situation.

Leo immediately understood why the Knight of Twilight had suddenly shown such a strange reaction.

'This is ridiculous.'

Publicly, the Hero Record is known as the last gift left by the gods on earth after the Age of Calamity ended 5000 years ago.

However, in truth, the owner of the Hero Record is Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.

'Well, since I'm a figure who already died and disappeared, it was the gods who kept the records in the Hero Record for the past 5000 years.'

Even if they left the earth, the gods would not have lost interest in it.

'During the Age of Gods, the gods chose the earth as a playground partly because they were bored, but basically also because they loved the earth.'

Though they couldn't intervene, it was clear that the gods were still watching the earth.

Therefore, anyone favored by the gods could have their name inscribed in the Hero Record.

Being favored by the gods itself is extremely difficult.

But it meant that those chosen by the gods could be revered as heroes, regardless of their personality.

'It's impossible to understand the way those guys think in the first place.'

In this era without gods, gods are greatly revered.

However, among those who actually lived in the Age of Gods, gods were often considered a nuisance.

That's why Leo couldn't consider someone a hero simply because they were acknowledged by a god.

'None of these guys here are suitable to be a hero.'

Leo narrowed his eyes, looking at the members of the Justice Guild.

'But even so, I have the authority to strip names from the Hero Record?'

If he thought about it, not only the Tome of Shadows but also the records of past heroes before the Hero Record was created were recorded in the Hero Record according to Leo's will.

'If I have recording authority, it's not strange to have deletion authority. Still, it's an unbelievable authority.'

He could bestow and revoke hero titles according to Leo's will.

In the Age of Heroes, this was an unimaginable power, no, an authority.

'If this fact becomes known, won't I truly be revered as a god?'

Leo let out a wry laugh.

'The authority is heavy. I'm not Lysinas or anything.'

"An interesting conversation. You're the Hero of Beginnings?"

Jerome burst out laughing, looking at Leo.

"Are you referring to the great hero who passed away 5000 years ago as 'All-Class'?"

"I haven't gone around telling people I'm Kyle with my own mouth."

Leo said nonchalantly.

"That guy's just spouting nonsense on his own."

The moment Leo looked at Tamus.

"How dare you do this to me!"

Tamus roared in anger.

Goooooooh-!

At his cry, the air trembled.

The executives of the Justice Guild flinched.

A terrifying killing intent erupted from Tamus's body.

"Huh!?"

"Keuk!"

At the formidable momentum he exuded, the faces of the Justice Guild members changed dramatically.

Jerome narrowed his eyes.

'Strength comparable to a Legion Commander.'

It was power equivalent to the Legion Commander they had previously subdued in the hero's world.

"Indeed, fitting for a hero who bore the weight of an era. It would be worth defeating."

"This isn't the time to be saying such carefree things, is it?"

"What?"

"You guys look like you can't handle it. Wouldn't it be better to run?"

Leo said nonchalantly, crossing his arms.

Seeing Leo like that, Jerome curled the corners of his mouth.

"How arrogant. Just because you became student council president in your first year and a hero in your second, you think there's nothing you can't see, do you?"

Powerful spiritual energy flowed from Jerome's body.

"No matter how much you boast, you're ultimately a mere brat. If you rashly overestimate your abilities, you won't live long…"

"Kuaaaaaah!"

Kwaaaang-!

Before Jerome could even finish his sentence.

Tamus, who pulled out a sword from a sub-space, charged at Leo.

A greatsword imbued with jet-black aura struck Leo.

Hwiooooooooh! Kwagagagagang-!

With that, Leo was sent flying and slammed into the ground.

Jerome's face changed drastically at the sight.

'I didn't see the attack. Did he use spatial movement?'

It was an attack so fast it far exceeded Jerome's perception.

"Our opponent is a hero who once bore the weight of an era. Let's respond as if dealing with a monster of Legion Commander class."

At his words, the Justice Guild executives quickly formed a formation.

They were seasoned heroes who had conquered countless hero worlds.

As those who had experienced and overcome numerous trials, they maintained their composure even in front of Tamus, who wielded transcendental power.

"Should we consider him an opponent with skill equivalent to a Sword Saint?"

Jerome nodded at Chain's question.

"Yes."

Flash-!

Countless light spirits were summoned in the air.

"Then, shall we execute justice?"

***

Kwaaaang-!

Leo's body, which had crashed to the ground, dug deep into it.

"Kyaaaaaak!"

"W-what?"

Nearby buildings collapsed, and screams echoed from all directions.

Thud-thud-thud-!

As Leo stood up, the sound of falling rubble could be heard.

"He's definitely strong."

Crack-

Leo cracked his stiff neck from side to side and rose through the debris.

The place Leo had been thrown was none other than the royal palace.

Everyone's faces were filled with shock as they saw Leo, who had flown from the sky.

"Lord Leo!"

Crown Prince Jeremin rushed to Leo.

"What's happening?!"

"Crown Prince Jeremin. Perfect timing."

Leo smiled broadly, recognizing a familiar face.

"The Knight of the Netherworld has been resurrected as an undead, you see."

"The Knight of the Netherworld?"

Jeremin's face showed bewilderment.

He too knew about the Knight of the Netherworld.

No, it was a hero that no one living in the northeast of the continent would be unaware of.

However, the statement that a hero from 3000 years ago had been resurrected as an undead was hard to believe.

Jeremin, who was flustered, soon put on a serious expression.

"What should we do?"

He hadn't met Leo long ago.

But Jeremin, as a crown prince who would lead at least one nation in the future, had a good eye for people.

He knew that Leo would never speak nonsense.

"If things go badly, this entire capital could turn into a wasteland."

"The entire capital?"

Jeremin's face showed shock.

"Yes."

'That guy is stronger than the Sword Saint.'

Comparing Tamus to Sword Saint Kalian as a hero was an absurdity.

It was an act akin to blasphemy for Kalian.

But as a knight, Tamus was undeniably powerful.

If they fought properly against such a Tamus, an entire city being wiped out would be nothing.

"Yes, we need to evacuate the capital's residents to the safest possible place."

"I will command the soldiers and evacuate the citizens to safety."

Jeremin's face was resolute.

"You could die, you know?"

"The lives of the citizens come first."

Leo chuckled, looking at Jeremin, who answered with a determined expression.

"I like you."

"I heard that an army of the dead is invading outside the capital. What should we do about that?"

"There's a suitable person to command the soldiers for that. Lil."

-Yes, Master!

"You're from a military family, so you've received training as a commander, haven't you?"

-I have, imperfectly. Of course, it's nothing compared to Master. Ah, there's so much to learn from Master…

Leo neatly ignored Lil, who was once again deprecating herself, and looked at Jeremin.

"May I entrust Lil with the defense command?"

"To Lil? I should request military authority from His Majesty…"

"Are you referring to Lil, the hero candidate?"

At that moment, an arrogant voice was heard.

King Carnell was walking, accompanied by a group of people in white armor and robes.

"The Justice Guild?"

It was then that Leo showed a puzzled expression.

"A moment ago, the Justice Guild declared that they would save our nation from the wicked Tartaros's attack."

King Carnell said in a confident voice.

Seeing that, Leo let out a hollow laugh.

"Father. Even so, we must evacuate the citizens to a safe place."

"Hmph. Don't speak foolishly. The brave heroes of the Justice Guild, led by Light Seeker Jerome, will subdue the Knight of the Netherworld, a specter of the past. Evacuating the capital's citizens rashly will only cause more chaos. Justice Guild members dispatched throughout the capital are currently reassuring the citizens. Do not act imprudently!"

At King Carnell's words, one of the Justice Guild members spoke.

"The Guild Master and executives will soon deliver news of victory."

At his confident words, Leo looked up at the sky.

"I don't think that's likely?"

Gooooooh-!

A storm of aura raged from the Knight of the Netherworld.

The aura storm completely evaporated one of the knight-class heroes in the vanguard without a trace.

"Gasp!"

"Hmph?!"

Exclamations of shock burst out among the Justice Guild members.

Whoosh-!

Then, the Knight of the Netherworld swung a golden greatsword pulled from a sub-space.

Thwack-!

And someone's head was futilely sent flying.

"Gasp!"

"Ch-Chain-nim!"

A renowned mage hero on the continent.

Even Chain, the Vice Guild Master of the Justice Guild, lost his life.

Seeing that, fear erupted among the Justice Guild.

As the atmosphere turned ominous, King Carnell hastily spoke.

"Heroes of the Justice Guild. Should you not hurry and help them…?"

But before King Carnell could finish his sentence, the Justice Guild members hastily began to flee.

"H-hey, you!"

King Carnell urgently called out to them, but they quickly got away.

'Should I say it's typical of those who accumulated karma to become heroes?'

Leo narrowed his eyes.

Even though the guild executives fell helplessly, to think of fleeing without hesitation with the title of hero.

'The gods must have thought they were such trash and made them heroes, right? They have bad taste.'

"Y-Your Majesty. What should we do now?"

One of the ministers asked with a bewildered face.

King Carnell's body trembled.

"Head to the Warp Gate immediately! Grab the treasures!"

King Carnell shouted urgently.

Jeremin stood in front of King Carnell.

"What are you doing! Get out of the way!"

"Father, may I take military command?"

"Nonsense at a time like this! Get out of the way!"

"You won't even use the military command, why don't you hand it over to your son?"

Leo stood next to Jeremin.

King Carnell, who flinched seeing Leo's cold smile, shouted.

"Do as you please! So get out of the way!"

At his words, Jeremin bowed his head, and Leo also moved.

"Then, Your Royal Highness. I leave the ground to you. I will go deal with that guy."

"If we combine forces with the Justice Guild, can we subdue him?"

"They will probably run away. Or they'll die quickly."

Leo said nonchalantly.

"You intend to face such a monster alone…? This country has no connection to Lord Leo, does it? Then why?"

Jeremin's face showed bewilderment.

Fighting the Knight of the Netherworld, whom even the Justice Guild couldn't stop, was suicidal in anyone's eyes.

Probably no one here would blame Leo if he backed down.

No, perhaps more people would wish for the promising Leo to preserve his life.

Yet, Leo was trying to fight against the massive threat.

Leo said nonchalantly in response to Jeremin's question.

"If there are people who threaten, there must also be people who save."

"Is that Lord Leo's conviction as a hero?"

"No, it's what a friend of mine said."

Leo subtly smiled.

"He didn't really consider it a conviction either. If anything, perhaps a principle?"

"A principle?"

"Yes. Doesn't that balance things out?"

Was there a special reason for the malice that threatened people's present?

If so, there would likely be no special reason for the benevolence that saved those people either.

Because that's how the world would continue to turn.

"And he said that people who can stand against that causeless malice without a reason are heroes."

They are not heroes because they are special.

Because simply being able to show goodwill is already special.

Leo, who burst out laughing, said.

"Anyas."

At Leo's call, the shadows, led by Anyas, appeared.

Jeremin was surprised by their sudden appearance.

"Your command."

"Do what the heroes couldn't."

"Yes?"

Anyas, who had been bowing her head, looked at Leo as if bewildered.

"Didn't I say shadows do what heroes can't?"

Leo smiled.

"Many heroes abandoned this city."

Leo smiled broadly.

"Then, what the shadows have to do is obvious, isn't it?"

"That means…"

"It means it's time for you, the shadows, to protect this city that the heroes abandoned."