Book 1 Chapter 515
515.
The Commander of the Undead's Invasion of Rummern.
The world trembled at the news of a large-scale invasion by Tartarus into Rummern, following last year's invasion of Seirun.
It was, quite literally, an era of upheaval.
This was the first time the world had been in such turmoil since the end of the Cataclysm and the subsequent Second Coming of the Cataclysm 2,000 years ago.
“In a sense, this era might be even more chaotic than the time of the Second Coming of the Cataclysm,” Mel said, delivering her lecture.
“Even during the Second Coming of the Cataclysm, the Legion Commanders of Tartarus ran rampant along with the awakened fragments of Erebus.”
*Snap-!*
With a snap of her fingers, Mel sent a map from one side of the lecture hall flying to the blackboard, where it unfurled.
“This shows the direction of Tartarus' advance at that time. As you all know, our forces were severely lacking back then, as the abilities of the ‘Hero Records’ had not yet awakened. It was the heroes of the Great Opening who turned the tide of that unfavorable war.”
*Clack- Clack-* Mel walked to the center of the lecture hall.
“Our forces are immeasurably stronger now compared to then. However, Tartarus' offensive is also more fierce than it was then.”
Mel spoke in a solemn voice.
“The appearance of the Legion Commanders of the past, the resurrection of the fragments of Erebus, and….”
Mel took a deep breath.
“Those who were once recorded in the Hero Records are now becoming undead by the Commander of the Undead's schemes and are becoming our enemies.”
At her words, the sound of dry throats being cleared could be heard from various places.
Currently, all the students, as well as all the professors in Rummern, were gathered in the grand lecture hall, listening to Mel's lecture.
“Now, here's a question. Although the situation is chaotic, we also have hope. What is it?”
To lighten the mood, Mel asked with a smile.
However, the lecture hall remained silent.
Mel's eyes widened at the lack of response.
“Are there no students who can answer?”
The students remained silent.
Seeing their reaction, Mel showed a hesitant expression and asked the professors.
“How about among the professors?”
Mel was a newly appointed professor at Rummern this year.
Although she treated the seasoned professors of Rummern like students, no one objected.
The fact that Mel was the Dragon Lord had already spread widely.
Even as professors of Rummern, they could not carelessly challenge the Dragon with the strongest existing power.
*Flash-!*
At that moment, someone raised their hand energetically.
“Yes, Professor Ren.”
Among the many eccentric professors at Rummern, Ren was undoubtedly number one.
“The discovery of new possibilities within the Hero Records.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Mel said with a bright smile.
“Of course. You represent the Magic Department, the top department at Rummern.”
Seeing Ren's smug expression, Associate Professor Anna, standing next to him, covered her face with both hands and bowed her head, while Albi let out a deep sigh.
Ren was treating Mel as he always did.
The reason was simple.
‘My, my Lord. Forgive me for not recognizing you…’
‘Who is the Lord?’
‘Pardon?’
‘Who is the Lord?’
‘Well, that is… Lady Mel is the Dragon Lord Melina…’
‘I am Mel, a professor in the Magic Department at Rummern?’
When the professors of Rummern went to greet Mel after the incident was resolved, Mel had denied it with a bright smile.
Moreover, she had even said this:
‘From now on, if anyone calls me Dragon Lord, I will punish them.’
Mel’s definition of punishment was a light tap on the head, but the people of Rummern felt immense pressure from the implicit threat of the strongest existing dragon.
“We are standing at a crossroads of our time. It is indeed a chaotic period.”
Mel said solemnly.
“But if we overcome this crisis, we will surely attain true peace.”
As the chaos began to subside, Mel felt the need to rally the hero candidates who would be responsible for the future.
That was why she had prepared this special lecture.
“Believe in yourselves. Now is the time to move forward.”
“Yes!”
***
A week had passed since the Commander of the Undead's air raid.
The Twilight Festival had to be prematurely concluded due to unavoidable circumstances.
Miraculously, no lives were lost, but the damage to Lummaria City was severe.
The students of Rummern voluntarily went out of school every day to volunteer for the reconstruction of Lummaria City.
“I feel like a construction worker,” Chelsea grumbled, levitating a large rock with wind magic, when Celia said.
“Helping people is something a hero candidate must do. Don't complain so unhappily.”
“I never complained! You just feel that way because you’re narrow-minded. Bee-!”
“This!”
Chelsea stuck out her tongue playfully at Celia, her rival.
As Celia lunged at her in anger, Abad, standing next to them, intervened.
“Chelsea. Celia is right, your attitude was not good.”
“Ugh! Yes, brother. I was wrong.”
“You should apologize to Celia, not me.”
“Ugh, I’m sorry.”
Chelsea apologized at Abad's words.
Watching Chelsea, Celia swept her hair back and said.
“When are you going to be unable to resist Abad?”
Ilia, passing by, interrupted with a puzzled expression at Celia's words, which sounded incredulous.
“Something's strange?”
“What’s strange?”
“When did Celia start calling Abad by his name instead of ‘butter’?”
“Strange?”
“It is! You two! Are you… like, a couple?!”
Ilia blabbed excitedly.
Celia casually ignored her.
“Kya~ Guys! Abad and Celia are a couple! Love blossoming between rival families! Isn’t it exciting… Coup!”
As Ilia tried to inflate rumors with her characteristic garrulousness, Celia immediately retaliated.
Chloe sighed, watching Ilia fall to the ground, clutching her side.
“Why do you do things that get you hit?”
“Because love stories are fun.”
Ilia, speaking in a trembling voice, suddenly stood up.
“In that sense, Luna is the best!”
Her excitement level seemed to have reached its peak, and Ilia clenched her fists.
“She confessed her love to the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, in front of countless people! It was truly a historic moment!”
Chelsea looked flustered by Ilia's words.
Then, she nervously turned her head towards Leo, who was standing on the ruins, staring silently at the place where Luna had disappeared.
Although it was quite a distance, Ilia's voice was so loud that Leo could hear it.
Kal, who was clearing debris next to Leo, also looked flustered and gestured frantically to Chelsea to shut Ilia up.
“Not only did you create a new legend, but you also confessed so beautifully! It’s such a shame that Kyle didn’t hear that confession!”
Ilia said with regret.
“I, Ilia, it’s more important to volunteer than to chat right now…!”
“Huh? Eiran, didn’t you just have a lively conversation with me on this topic a moment ago?”
“I, I didn't have a lively conversation, I just said it was too sad!”
“It’s the same thing. Anyway, it’s definitely a moment that will go down in history…! Huh? What, what is it? Why are you holding my arm?!”
By then, Chelsea and Chen Sia had grabbed Ilia by both arms, making her unable to move.
Ilia flailed, startled by the sudden situation.
“Eiran, please cover Ilia’s mouth.”
“Yeah. Chatting during sacred volunteer work. She deserves to be punished.”
Chelsea chimed in with Chen Sia’s words.
“No! Even so, that’s not right! And Chelsea! You were also full of complaints just now…!”
“I, Ilia! I’m sorry!”
*Thwack-!*
“Huh?!”
Eiran swiftly struck Ilia in the solar plexus with a jab.
Ilia, whose eyes bulged out, trembled violently before foaming at the mouth and slumping down.
Chelsea looked startled at Eiran's attack, which was more dangerous than expected.
“Sister Eiran, we just asked you to cover her mouth lightly.”
“Yes, heh?!”
“Ilia? Try to breathe. Breathe, breathe.”
“Ilia!”
“Nella, please treat Ilia!”
Chen Sia tapped the unconscious Ilia’s cheek, and Eiran cried out.
People around gathered, wondering what was happening.
Kal looked at the scene with an exasperated expression.
‘What are they doing?’
To others, it might have been just a new legend of a great hero.
But for Leo, the person involved, it might have been the most hurtful thing.
Those who knew Leo's identity, including Kal, couldn't even imagine the depth of Leo's pain in having to let Luna go.
That's why they were doing their best to prevent any mention of Luna from reaching Leo's ears.
“They’re having fun.”
“Huh?”
As Kal wore an exasperated expression, Leo’s voice was heard from beside him.
Kal turned his head to see Leo smiling.
Seeing Leo like that, Kal cautiously asked.
“Are you okay?”
To that question, Leo replied.
“I’m fine, I’m used to it. Thanks for worrying about me.”
Kal licked his lips at the word “used to it.”
‘It must mean he’s experienced things we can’t even imagine.’
Kal couldn't imagine Leo’s feelings of having to move forward while leaving behind someone precious.
“It just makes my head hurt thinking about all the rumors that will come out because of the trouble that foolish person left behind.”
Leo grumbled, and Kal burst out laughing.
Seeing Kal laugh, Leo said.
“Kal, when we get back to school, could you come to Professor Ren’s office with Chloe, Abad, Chelsea, and Ilia?”
“Uh? Of course. But why?”
“I think I need to give them a gift that Luna left behind.”
Kal's eyes widened at Leo's words.
***
That evening.
As he headed to Professor Ren's office, Leo fell into thought.
‘How did Berkeia become an undead?’
The words Luna left behind before she departed remained like a lump in Leo's chest.
It wasn't just a matter of feeling bitter or being in a bad mood.
It was, quite literally, a shock.
*Tap- tap-*
Walking down the corridor, Leo took out a dagger from his pocket.
When Luna appeared in the form of a Heroic Spirit.
The dagger of Bihar, which was placed before his grave.
‘I thought Bihar left it behind.’
Bihar, on the other hand, had darkness in his heart from the beginning.
‘So, it means Berkeia left this behind?’
His mind was in turmoil.
‘Bihar definitely left Erquint as a keepsake.’
Erquint.
The magic sword that Dwenor made for Luna.
And Luna gifted Erquint to her disciple, the Swordmaster.
However, during the final battle against Tartarus before the great heroes embarked on their final journey.
Berkeia lost Erquint in the Battle of Tarnimeta.
And Bihar promised to find that sword for Berkeia.
‘I just thought they wouldn't have met after the Cataclysm ended.’
After the Cataclysm ended.
Berkeia would have been busy with the reconstruction of the era.
The same would be true for Bihar.
Even if they had the same teacher and fought as comrades.
They might have rarely met.
He thought that perhaps by the time Bihar recovered Erquint, so much time would have passed that it would be difficult to meet.
Perhaps Berkeia had passed away first, or perhaps Bihar, who had to live in darkness, couldn't meet Berkeia due to personal circumstances.
He was sure there was something between the two disciples.
‘But if Berkeia has this… it means they definitely met.’
It’s possible they could have exchanged items received from their teacher as a token of friendship.
But…
‘Berkeia became undead. Furthermore, she even left this at my grave.’
Leo clenched the dagger tightly.
‘What in the world happened 5,000 years ago?’