Book 1 Chapter 501

501.

"Luna, how did you get here?"

Chen Shia smiled broadly at Kale, who had a surprised expression.

"I'm more surprised that Kale recognized Luna at once."

Although surprised that Kale recognized Luna, Chen Shia, who was always the quickest among the second-year students to compose her emotions, had already returned to her characteristic smiling face.

"What?"

Kale, who was flustered by Chen Shia's words, soon made an "oops" expression.

"Ohh?"

Luna exclaimed.

"It seems you've figured out your identity, haven't you? Did you know?"

Leo shook his head, looking at Luna playfully poking his side.

"I didn't know."

Leo was also quite surprised to see his closest friend in this life covering his face as if embarrassed.

***

"When did you figure it out?"

On the way to the club building.

Leo, sitting on a bench placed throughout the campus, asked.

"The first time I felt something was strange was in Lord Dweyno's world."

Kale, sitting next to Leo, had an awkward expression.

"You were too familiar with that world. Plus, you were very close with Lord Berkia, Lord Arion, and Lord Dweyno."

Acting is essential in the world of heroes.

To act as much as possible like a person from that era.

To move naturally, just as others would treat them.

But even considering that, Leo's attitude was a little strange.

A subtle feeling that only the quick-witted Kale could sense.

As if treating friends, including himself, at school.

Or as if treating friends he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Then, during summer vacation, I saw you and Lord Arion and vaguely realized it."

He started piecing together the puzzles he'd learned while getting close to Leo.

His unusual growth rate.

His continuous connections with the Great Heroes.

And being an all-class like the Hero of Beginnings.

From the moment the word "no way" crossed his mind, the thought that Leo might be Kyle grew stronger.

Leo let out a hollow laugh at Kale's words.

"I was too complacent."

"Rather than that, isn't it just that I'm quick-witted?"

"Why didn't you tell me you knew I was Kyle?"

"My mouth was itching, to be honest. But the you I know is Leo Flov."

Kale smiled broadly at Leo.

"You're my friend Leo, not Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings."

From the moment of the entrance ceremony, Leo was equal to everyone.

He naturally formed friendships with those who approached him.

Despite having status, he treated everyone without formality.

When he first became aware of Leo's existence, he wondered why he treated people that way.

Was it the composure and broadmindedness of the one who saved the world?

But as far as Kale could remember, Leo was sincere in everything he did.

When facing trials.

When dealing with those who confronted him head-on.

And when leading the way to the most dangerous places and comforting those who followed him.

So Kale decided to treat Leo as a friend.

Because no matter what his true identity, he was Kale's best friend.

"You're saying quite mature things?"

"Ugh?!"

Just then, Luna suddenly popped her head between Leo and Kale.

Seeing Luna appear out of nowhere, Kale clutched his heart and rolled off the bench.

Luna clutched her stomach and burst out laughing at Kale.

Then she approached Kale and extended her hand.

"Your name is Kale Thomas, right?"

"Yes."

Kale took Luna's hand and stood up.

Luna spoke, watching Kale dust off his backside.

"My name is Luna Rubina. Just call me Lu."

"Yes, Lady Lu."

"No, no. I said just call me Lu, casually."

Luna grinned and pointed at Leo.

"You consider this guy a friend, right?"

"That's right."

"I'm his friend too."

With that, she casually put her arm around Leo's shoulder and hung on him.

Leo pushed Luna's face away with his hand, as if annoyed.

"Then, aren't you and I friends too?"

Kale scratched his cheek, looking at Luna, who was speaking with a bright smile.

"Does it work like that?"

"Of course. Besides this impudent fellow, I'd like to have another friend."

Luna grumbled, pinching Leo's hand that was pushing her face.

"My darlings treat me too respectfully."

Luna, having escaped Leo's grasp, approached Chen Shia and Eiran and hugged them both.

Eiran looked extremely overwhelmed, and Chen Shia wore an awkward smile.

"Is it okay for someone like me to be your friend?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"I don't have much magical talent, and no prospects of becoming a hero."

"What does that matter?"

Luna chuckled.

Luna took her arm off Leo's shoulder and stood next to him with an "oops."

"Do you think we, or the heroes who lived in the same era, saved the world with our strength alone?"

"Isn't that right?"

Eiran made a puzzled expression.

"Wrong!"

Eiran's ears drooped as Luna laughed cheerfully.

"It was possible because everyone who lived in that era gathered their strength. Neither I nor Leo. And certainly not Arion and Dweyno, or even Lysinas, think we saved the world with only our power."

There are certainly people who possess power to do greater things than others.

Those who light the path in the darkness and guide others along that path.

People call those who can take one step further in the darkness "heroes."

But…

"Following that path is up to the people."

Luna said, gently twisting a strand of her hair with her fingertip.

"Ultimately, it was many people who supported us."

Bearing the burden of an era doesn't mean the era is a burden.

On the contrary, when you're about to fall, it picks you up so you don't.

You receive as much help as you give.

In that sense, Luna thought that people living in an era were in an equal relationship.

"What's important is that you and I share the same time. In that sense."

Luna extended her hand to Kale once more.

"My name is Luna Rubina. And you?"

Kale took her hand at Luna's words.

"My name is Kale Thomas."

Knowing what Luna wanted, Kale decided to cast aside various concerns.

'Whatever it is, if a customer wants it, a merchant accommodates them, and if a hero fighting on the battlefield wants it, a supporter accommodates them.'

"In that sense."

Kale took out a subspace pouch from his pocket and pulled something out.

*Chwararak!*

"Huh?!"

"Wow."

Eiran gasped in astonishment, and Chen Shia exclaimed in admiration.

What Kale pulled out was none other than a collection book.

It was an album popular among humans, containing cards depicting famous heroes, categorized by type.

"This must be very expensive, right?"

Kale grinned when Chen Shia asked, looking at the completed collection book.

"It is expensive."

Eiran swallowed dryly.

"Ohh, it's pretty!"

Luna smiled brightly, looking at the card with her picture on it.

Kale took a pen from his pocket.

"As a friend, I'm asking for a favor. Please sign it."

"Sign?"

Luna had a bewildered expression.

"Yeah. Just because we're friends doesn't mean I don't respect you, right? As a mage, I deeply respect Luna Rubina, the progenitor of the Nebula."

Kale said casually.

Luna nodded and carefully signed each card.

"But is there a good thing about signing?"

Luna, clueless about such culture, asked with an innocent face.

At that question, Kale burst into a wide grin.

"Of course. This will make me rich."

At those words, Chen Shia narrowed her eyes.

"Kale."

"Hmm?"

"You'll be punished by heaven."

"It's fine. It's a request from a friend."

Kale said brazenly.

Kale, having received all the signatures, shouted as if in a good mood.

"Great! Then dinner's on me!"

"Ohh! Is that really okay?"

Kale laughed when Luna clapped her hands and asked.

"Yeah. I'm rich now."

Luna and Kale walked off, exuding a harmonious atmosphere.

Chen Shia and Eiran scrambled to follow behind them.

Leo smiled, watching their retreating figures.

***

*Wheeeeeoooosh-!*

In the continent's northern reaches, a land of harsh cold that was now the domain of elves, there were numerous nations.

However, elf nations did not have kings like human nations.

During the Age of Calamity.

The reason why the elves, who were considered the most powerful race and possessed immense influence on the continent, collapsed helplessly under Tartaros's offensive was due to their pride in their lineage.

They formed a strong centralized government centered around an elf king, but when that central power became corrupt, they crumbled so futilely.

And after the Age of Calamity ended.

Fairy Knight Berkia Ersar, who led the efforts to rebuild the world, abolished the status system in elf society.

There were those who clamored for tradition, but the elf king and high elves had already fallen.

Elf society was rebuilt under the ideology that all elves were equal.

But as time passes, ideals tend to dull.

Thousands of years later, elves once again became intoxicated with their specialness.

Their beautiful appearance, superior magical abilities, and affinity with spirits compared to other races were enough to make elves perceive themselves as special.

Later, with the emergence of Seirun, and elves becoming the masters of magic, elves became even more convinced of their specialness.

That marked the beginning of the 'Pureblood Society.'

However, the Pureblood Society also lost its power recently.

By none other than the very being who was the cause of their creation: 'Seirun.'

Seirun's single word negated the very existence of the Pureblood Society.

The foundation of the Pureblood Society was shaken, and the betrayal of several key elves was revealed, further plummeting the Pureblood Society's prestige.

But that didn't mean it was possible for them, who had been rooted in elf society for thousands of years, to disappear overnight.

"Unacceptable. That a human possesses an elf treasure!"

An elf made an expression of utter rejection.

"Although Lord Seirun recognized Leo Flov as his successor… Kometes is an elf treasure."

"Some fools say it's Lord Seirun's staff, so we must follow Lord Seirun's will… But Kometes originally belonged to Lady Luna. It's preposterous to hand it over to a human solely by Lord Seirun's will."

"We sent a delegation to Leo Flov to coincide with this Twilight Festival. With the intention of formally requesting the return of Kometes."

A heated debate was underway at the Pureblood Society meeting.

An elf listening to the discussion furrowed his brow.

"But why was I summoned here?"

Rune Ersar.

Currently, she was the acting principal of Seirun and one of the elder elves.

An elf possessing immense power.

But she had lived her entire life far removed from the Pureblood Society.

No, rather, from the Pureblood Society's perspective, she was an unwelcome elf.

Her way of thinking was considered very progressive even among elves.

Therefore, Rune was in a very bad mood.

'I was reading Eiran's letter!'

Having been called out to listen to such trivial talk while reading a letter from her granddaughter, she couldn't help but have a headache.

'I thought it would be a constructive meeting, like the dissolution of the Pureblood Society.'

The Pureblood Society elf spoke to Rune, who was showing her displeasure.

"Lord Rune, aren't you a descendant of Lord Berkia, a great figure among elves?"

"Shouldn't we follow the will of her, who was Lady Luna's disciple?"

Rune let out a hollow laugh inwardly at the Pureblood Society's words.

'Since Lord Seirun disavowed them, are they now planning to put Lord Berkia forward?'

Initially, the reason why Berkia, considered one of the three great elves, had a relatively diminished standing was also because of the Pureblood Society.

Berkia, who rebuilt the world, was an elf who emphasized bonds with other races.

Naturally, her ancestors' teachings would have been unacceptable from the Pureblood Society's perspective.

Therefore, despite holding the title of Luna's disciple, Berkia was slowly being forgotten among elves.

The Ersar family was still a prestigious family, but considering Berkia's achievements and status, their position was somewhat limited.

Of course, the Ersar family had never cared about such things throughout generations.

They simply showed a progressive disposition according to their ancestor's will.

But now that Seirun had repudiated the Pureblood Society.

The Pureblood Society intended to change the elf hero they revered to Berkia.

Because it would be easier to twist the teachings of Berkia, a figure from 5000 years ago, to their liking, rather than Seirun, who had repudiated them.

It was when Rune was smiling coldly, looking at the Pureblood Society attempting to defile their ancestor.

*Kiiiiiik-!*

The conference room door suddenly swung open.

"We are discussing important matters of the race! How dare you open the door so carelessly!"

The Pureblood Society elf sitting at the head of the table shouted with an enraged expression.

*Cheobuk- Cheobuk-*

Footsteps, as if something was wet, were heard.

Along with them, an elf woman appeared, covered in blood, clutching a sword from which blood was dripping.

"W-What?!"

"Who are you?!"

Voices filled with astonishment and anger erupted from various members of the Pureblood Society.

Along with that, powerful magic surged.

These were all powerful Star Mages.

Even if their ideology was twisted and problematic, their skill was not.

*Puwak-!*

But before the magic could even be completed.

In a fleeting moment, the necks of the Pureblood Society elves were severed first.

From that moment on, it was literally a massacre.

The elf woman's sword, which had slaughtered the Pureblood Society with terrifying speed, finally turned towards Rune.

*Kagagang-!*

But Rune defended against her sword.

And the moment sword met sword.

Rune's eyes were filled with horror.

*Puwak-!*

Blood splattered on Rune's chest.

*Cheolbak-*

The elf woman caressed her chest.

If Rune had wielded her sword with full intent, she would have been cut, if not fatally wounded.

Such was Rune's skill.

But she could not bring herself to fully swing her sword.

Of course, the same was true for the other woman.

"…Thank goodness… You resemble Myde more than me."

With a voice tinged with relief and bitterness, the elf woman moved her steps.

*Cheolbak-*

Watching the elf woman, Rune struggled to her feet.

"You're not a traitor. Won't you step aside?"

Rune vomited blood and spoke, looking at her who spoke with a benevolent voice.

"Why…?"

"Isn't it something someone has to do?"

Rune shook her head, looking at her who wore a bitter smile.

"Oh great ancestor… This… This is not right. The person I knew you were was not like this."

Rune spoke to Berkia in a desperate voice.

"You say the same thing as Bihar."

She recalled her friend who had the same teacher… and had lived her entire life in darkness.

"Was this how Bihar felt when he looked at me back then?"

She knew.

That the descendant before her was a noble hero.

She must have lived as a hero who embraced the world with a light more brilliant than anyone else.

To not tarnish her name.

To follow her will.

But…

"I'm sorry. This is me."

Berkia's figure disappeared.

*Kiiik-*

*Teolseok-!*

Rune collapsed.

Berkia had left the Pureblood Society.

She would not die.

But…

'I've disappointed her.'

Berkia wore a bitter smile, recalling Rune, who ultimately couldn't wield her sword.

Under the night sky, Berkia looked down at her hands.

*Sabak- Sabak-*

Snow was falling.

The snow that touched her body did not melt.

*Sabak-*

A snowflake fell onto her palm.

How wondrous it was when she first saw white snow?

"Unacceptable."

A dark emotion was reflected in Berkia's eyes.

"Those who insult their sacrifice… those who live on… I cannot tolerate them."