Book 1 Chapter 505

Flowers filling the streets.

Leo was lost in thought as he walked through streets where countless flower petals fluttered in time with the festive atmosphere.

'Worry about Berchia.'

If Luna herself considered her lingering feelings as Berchia, then that would be correct.

At the same time, it felt like something Luna would do.

'I, Argon, and Luna… We all knew Berchia's potential well.'

It was obvious that he would grow into a great magic swordsman without deep consideration.

'That's why Argon and I didn't worry much about Berchia when we left for our last journey. But Luna was different.'

He recalled Luna looking back at Berchia until the very end.

She was probably worried.

A worry separate from strength.

'Being strong doesn't mean one's heart won't break.'

Unlike Luna, Leo thought his disciple would overcome things well.

'Rather than Berchia, I was more worried about Bihar.'

It wasn't that he particularly liked Bihar more than Berchia.

It was purely because of Bihar's past.

'Anyway, for now, I can't think of a way to resolve Luna's lingering feelings.'

Thinking so, Leo glanced at Eiran, who was walking ahead.

'If the festival ends, should I go to Elsalbekia?'

He recalled the Ersar family he visited in his first year.

There would surely be traces of Berchia left there.

Wouldn't seeing those traces put Luna at ease?

'…I don't know.'

Leo clenched his fist.

Although he pretended to be calm, Leo's heart was actually complicated.

The last time Argon disappeared after conquering Erebus.

Leo wished Argon would stay in this era.

He wished Argon would enjoy the peaceful world he had created.

But Argon chose to return to his original place.

It was the same as then.

Leo wished Luna would stay in this era as much as possible.

It was a pure desire to care for a companion with whom he had shared the era of calamity.

"What are you thinking so hard about?"

"About Luna."

"Ah."

Kal let out a small exclamation.

"You said she's in a spirit state right now?"

"Right."

"Then why do you need to worry? It's not a problem right now. I think we can think about serious things later."

Kal also knew that it wasn't good for a spirit to linger for too long.

But he said it indifferently.

"I think you and Luna-nim should enjoy life a little more."

"You're a good guy, Kal."

"Wow~ To be praised by someone who saved the world, I don't know where to put myself."

Leo chuckled, watching Kal's brazen behavior.

"Ah! Speaking of which, let's stop by Courage Street! I need to check if the auction item I submitted was sold."

At those words, Leo, Eiran, and Chen Sia nodded.

Kal headed to receive the settlement money from the energetic auction manager on Courage Street.

Meanwhile, Leo, Eiran, and Chen Sia decided to look around Courage Street.

That's when it happened.

"Listen to the heroic tales of thrilling and great heroes."

Storytellers and bards were soliciting passersby.

It was such a familiar sight that Leo was about to pass by with a chuckle.

"Today, I will talk about a secret in history. The story of the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle."

Someone was telling a story in a familiar voice.

The surrounding area was crowded, as if the story was rumored to be interesting.

"There was a woman who loved Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning. She was the hope and bright light of the dark era of calamity. Queen of Wisdom, Richinas."

The storyteller said in a sorrowful voice.

"However, the Hero of the Beginning truly had another person he loved. She was an elf, beautiful, pure, benevolent, and noble like a single flower, Luna, the Progenitor of the Nebula."

The storyteller had a crowd of spectators around him due to the beautiful voice and unconventional setting.

"Leo-doryeong, Luna-nim seems to be quite drunk."

Chen Sia said cautiously.

As expected, several wine bottles were scattered around Luna, who was telling the story.

"My goodness. Leo-nim loved Luna-nim."

Eiran covered her mouth, flustered.

Leo narrowed his eyes and looked at Luna.

Regardless, Luna was enthusiastically telling her story.

Luna's story was immersive.

She spoke as if she had actually seen that time.

Naturally, since she was actually there.

Except for the relationship between Luna and Kyle, everything was true.

"The final moment arrived. 'Luna. You can't die! You promised you'd love me when this fight is over! You left a token of love on this cheek!', 'I'm sorry, Kyle. I don't think I can keep my promise.'"

'…She remembers confessing to me?'

Luna had previously said she had no memory of leaving the hero's world.

But as soon as she heard about the kiss on the cheek, he knew immediately.

Leo smiled coldly and pushed through the crowd to approach Luna.

"Kyle smiled sadly! Richinas, too, at Luna's death, which she hated at the time…EEK!"

As the story reached its climax, Luna screamed.

She made eye contact with Leo, who had somehow reached the front of the crowd.

Leo said,

"Drag her over."

At those words, Chen Sia approached Luna without hesitation.

However, Eiran hesitated.

Taking Luna, the Progenitor of the Nebula, from an elf was a great blasphemy in itself.

"It's okay. I permit it."

However, after hearing Leo's words, Eiran seemed to have made up her mind and approached Luna.

Luna, with her arms held on both sides, was dragged away by Chen Sia and Eiran as if she were being taken into custody.

"Now, wait! You guys! After I treated you so well, you can't do this to me?! Especially Eiran! You…!"

"S-sorry."

"Ugh! I knew it, it's no use being nice to them! Let go! Let go! You dogs of Leo!"

Luna shouted.

"What? What is this situation?"

Kal, who had returned after receiving the settlement money and waiting to receive his item, could only stare blankly at Chen Sia and Eiran dragging Luna away.

***

After Leo's party reunited with Luna's party, they enjoyed the festival.

Meanwhile, Luna didn't say a word to Leo.

Sober from the alcohol, Luna was so embarrassed by her actions that she didn't even look at Leo.

Leo also didn't bother Luna, who was ashamed.

He just looked at her with an inexplicably unpleasant smile.

'Should I hit her!'

Luna gritted her teeth and shouted inwardly, clenching her fist.

Many Lumern students also opened shops throughout Lumelia City.

Among them was a temporary cafe.

"Oh? Is this a cafe run by 3rd-year seniors?"

"It seems so."

Kal and Chen Sia's eyes widened as they saw their school seniors.

As a cafe run by hero candidates, the customers were bustling.

The Twilight Festival was a kind of school festival for Lumern students, so it was possible.

"Oh!"

Just then, a welcome voice was heard.

"Hyung-nim!"

All eyes in the shop turned to one spot.

The reason was simple.

A beautiful female student called a male student 'Hyung-nim'.

Kal and Chen Sia also looked surprised.

"Lil-senpai, aren't you embarrassed?"

At Leo's words, Lil blushed.

It wasn't because she was embarrassed by the title.

"Hyung-nim. Please speak comfortably in front of others."

It was because Leo, who had decided to consider her as a teacher, used formal language towards her.

'If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to call me a teacher?'

While Leo sighed inwardly, Lil took orders and went back.

"What? Since when did you get called Hyung-nim by Lil-senpai?"

"It just happened."

Leo said indifferently, resting his chin on his hand.

The sun was setting.

The temporary cafe was located in the central plaza of Lumelia City, so the stage for the Twilight Festival celebration could be seen at a glance.

Famous orchestras and bards were singing on stage.

"The atmosphere is nice."

Luna muttered, resting her chin.

Just then, the Lumern Music Club went up on stage.

The girl in the center was familiar.

"It's Chelsea."

Kal exclaimed in admiration.

The music club had prepared both a musical performance and a congratulatory performance.

Soon, the instruments played and Chelsea began to sing.

"-♬"

With her eyes closed, she sang with a beautiful voice about the heroes of creation and the great heroes.

The song contained gratitude for those who had worked to save this world.

Everyone was stunned by Chelsea's singing.

When the song ended, Chelsea smiled brightly, and the entire plaza erupted in applause.

Luna smiled, watching the scene.

"It's dazzling."

The sunset was already happening.

But to Luna, this scene was as dazzling as sunlight.

Leo, who watched silently, let out a deep sigh inwardly.

***

As the sun set, the group returned to their lodging.

They needed to organize the items they had bought while sightseeing.

Luna returned to her room and organized her luggage.

Most of them were magic-related items.

Luna looked at the magic books she was writing in a corner of the room.

The spells were written in them, created by Luna after observing the wizards she considered to be the future.

Luna, who had been smiling softly, took out a bottle.

"By the way, it really resembles that terrible potion."

It was when Luna tilted her head.

Knock knock-

"Come in."

Upon hearing the knock, Leo opened the door and entered.

At that, Luna turned her head with a flustered expression.

"Hey. You remember confessing to me, right?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

As Luna scowled, Leo smirked.

"Don't play dumb. I know you remember when you defeated Zerdiac in the hero's world."

Luna, thinking she had been found out, made a frustrated expression and then scoffed.

"Yes! I remember! So what!"

"Why did you lie and say you didn't remember?"

"Because you were so nonchalant, it was annoying!"

Luna shouted.

Leo frowned, watching Luna.

"And what's with that story earlier? Because of that, the story that I liked you is spreading on the streets right now!"

"That's great!"

"Why are you spreading rumors when you could just tell the truth?"

"I'll make sure it becomes true! I'll brainwash the others too! That you liked me!"

"You little rascal."

"I confessed to you, enduring all my shame! How can you be so nonchalant?!"

"I can be nonchalant. If you had shown it from the beginning, this wouldn't have happened."

"Ah! I'm so frustrated! Then how did you know Richinas liked you?! She showed it less than I did!"

Actually, she showed it, but Luna just didn't notice at all.

"I found out from a letter she left behind."

"So you didn't know when she was alive?"

"Yes."

"Ah! Really! Why did I fall for such an idiot! And why does she like this idiot!"

Leo chuckled, watching Luna stamp her feet and act neurotic.

"The one who fell for them is the winner."

"If you open your mouth any further, I'll kill you."

Luna growled.

"I even kissed your cheek to confess! Give me back my confession!"

"Say something that makes sense. And what's such a big deal about a kiss on the cheek."

"It's a big deal! Richinas could never do that!"

"She couldn't? She even put her tongue in my mouth."

CRUNCH-!

Luna, so surprised, unconsciously applied force.

The bottle she was holding shattered as a result.

Naturally, the contents inside splattered everywhere, and Luna was doused in it.

Luna, utterly shocked, gaped.

Then, she ran to Leo, grabbed him by the collar, and shook him violently.

"When! When exactly!"

"When I saw you in the hero's world before."

"Don't make me laugh! The meek Richinas wouldn't do such a thing! You forced yourself on her! That's what happened!"

"Not at all."

"She was a total lewd dragon!"

"Perhaps you're just too naive?"

Leo teased Luna.

Luna, thoroughly provoked, gripped Leo's collar even tighter and shook him.

In that close proximity, as they thrashed around, both suddenly felt something strange.

Slish-

The sound of something melting.

"Wait, why is my clothes like this?"

"Don't play innocent!"

Leo said, realizing the anomaly, and his ears turned red as Luna glared at him.

"Hey, wait. What was that thing you just broke?"

"I bought it at the auction. It was some perverted medicine made by some old man, maybe a love potion or something."

"What?"

Leo showed a rare expression of surprise.

Then, he quickly pulled Luna away.

Slish-

Luna also realized something was wrong and looked down at her body.

Then, seeing her clothes slowly melting, she let out a scream of horror.

"What! Why is this real!"

"Kal, that scoundrel…"

Luna screamed, and Leo, realizing the culprit, clicked his tongue.

In the end, Leo and Luna were left in their birthday suits.

"Inventing this kind of medicine! I'll kill that perverted old man!"

"He's already dead."

"I'll kill him twice!"

Luna's angry voice echoed.