Book 1 Chapter 526

526.

The place Leo stepped into was a page of history.

The past unfolded in the Akasha Records.

The frigid northern continent.

It was, literally, a desolate land.

Leo stood in the middle of it, watching the elves toil silently.

"This is…"

Leo's grip tightened as he saw the scene before him.

This ruin was a symbol of despair.

But now, it was different.

Hope was budding from the ruins.

The northern continent Leo knew, the elves' homeland, though a land of harsh winters, had achieved brilliant development.

5,000 years.

Over that time, the elves had wonderfully cultivated their new homeland.

And the beginning of that was the scene unfolding before him now.

Despair vanished and hope began to sprout.

How much had been sacrificed for this landscape?

How many people had risked their lives?

What unfolded before his eyes was the world after Erebus was destroyed.

'An era to move forward into the future.'

"Hey, you can't do it like that!"

Whoosh-!

Someone brushed past Leo.

A familiar voice, a familiar back.

It was exactly as he remembered from his last memory.

'No, has she matured more?'

The childishness Leo remembered was gone.

The cocky, dependent demeanor she only showed to her teachers had disappeared.

"You have to do it this way!"

Now she was dignified, and because of that, she inspired trust.

Berkia straightened a building's pillar with her strength.

Her determined demeanor somehow reminded Leo of Luna.

"Ah! Thank you, Berchia."

"No, it's only natural that I should do it."

She waved to the person who greeted her with a gentle smile.

'Did she have that side to her?'

It was a completely different Berchia from the one Leo knew.

Many elves relied on and followed Berchia.

In that image, Leo glimpsed the shadow of Lisinas.

"Berchia~"

"Play with us!"

At that moment, a group of elf children swarmed around Berchia.

"I'm a little busy, what should I do?"

As Berchia gave a troubled smile, the children drooped their ears.

"Shall we play for a little while, though?"

"Yes!"

'Did she like children?'

This resembled Aron.

After playing with all the children, Berchia returned to her work.

Silently doing her job, she gave others confidence.

Because of that steely resolve, the elves regained their strength.

That image somehow resembled Dueno.

"…"

"This place has improved a lot, hasn't it?"

"Biharr?"

At the voice from behind, Berchia's expression brightened.

"Welcome! How is the east?"

"We're not doing badly either."

Biharr gave a faint smile.

"It seems you're still not showing yourself to people."

Seeing Berchia ask with a sympathetic voice, Biharr closed her eyes.

"There are still many traitors. I, who am covered in blood every day, am not suited for this era."

During the Age of Calamity.

Kyle and Biharr had slaughtered countless traitors.

Enemies within were more frightening than enemies without.

Those who gnawed away at hope sprang up like a plague, again and again.

And after the world was saved.

They enjoyed a comfortable life as if nothing had happened.

Hiding their sins, they lived shamelessly.

"…We won. The world is already at peace. Biharr, isn't it a waste of your life to chase and catch such people to the end?"

"No, I cannot condone it."

Biharr smiled.

"On whose sacrifice are we living? How dare they shamelessly enjoy this peace?"

But in her eyes was evident hatred and murderous intent.

"They must pay the price."

"Biharr…"

"They must know that I am always watching in the darkness."

Like the moon in the night sky.

"They must feel the fear of not knowing when their turn will come."

Biharr had no intention of ever stopping.

Watching Biharr, Berchia moved her lips.

"I…"

In fact, Berchia felt the same way as Biharr.

She too wanted to execute those who had corrupted this world, or rather, those who would corrupt it again someday.

"You have to stay as you are now, Berchia."

"…"

"You are different from me."

Biharr smiled faintly.

She had to shine upon the world like the sun.

Berchia was that kind of being.

"You don't need to step into the world's darkness. You don't need to know its filth. You just need to stay as you are."

"Biharr, you have to know that the world isn't entirely filthy."

Biharr smiled bitterly.

"I find that difficult."

"…"

Biharr stood up.

"Let's not give up in our respective places. Like our teachers did."

"…Yes."

"Shall we visit the graves next week?"

"Shall we?"

She returned to her everyday life with a bright smile.

Watching that, Leo muttered.

"She's grown so much."

These were his disciples whom Leo did not know.

His disciples, who had suddenly grown up and were walking their own paths.

Whether it was a bright world or a deep abyss.

They moved forward on the paths they had chosen.

In their own ways, they nurtured the world passed down by their predecessors.

They were dedicating everything they had to raise the fallen world.

'Just as we did.'

In his previous life, he had thought they would simply live their own lives well.

That's why he had never thought about how they would grow.

They were reliable children, so they would live well.

He had only thought that.

But seeing them like this now felt strange.

The image of his disciples, whom he did not know.

Was this what a parent felt?

"You've really… grown so much."

***

Time flowed on.

Leo watched Berchia's life by her side.

She rebuilt the elves' homeland.

She did not hesitate to dedicate her own life to the world.

She strived to make the world, which had regained its light, shine even more brilliantly.

And…

Gooooooo-!

The army of Tartarus unfolded before his eyes.

Tartarus, which had maintained its power since Erebus was defeated, had attacked again to destroy the world.

For those who had barely rebuilt the world, it was a disaster.

Traitors, who had been hiding in various parts of the world, destroyed their homes.

The hope that had been painstakingly built was trampled and burned.

After the defeat of Erebus.

The army of Tartarus, having recovered from the damage inflicted by the great heroes over several years and grown stronger, was formidable.

Many heroes had already fallen during the Age of Calamity.

The great heroes were also gone now.

All that remained were sprouts with the qualities of heroes.

They lacked strength and experience.

But.

"This world is our homeland!"

The great heroes had clearly foreseen such a situation and left behind hope.

"But! We have only received it!"

Berkia, at the forefront, shouted.

"Now we must protect the world passed down by our predecessors!"

The despairing new heroes looked at Berchia, who was leading them.

Those born of light, who had to live in darkness, yearned for light.

But perhaps those born in darkness and shown the light yearned for it even more.

"We must protect it and pass it on! Just as they did!"

In the face of despair, Berchia never gave up.

Just like her teacher had done.

"Everyone!"

Berkia shouted resolutely.

"Let's fight!"

"Waaaaaaaaaah-!"

After that, Berchia achieved a miraculous victory that would make Tartarus's offensive impossible for 2,000 years.

***

"Beautiful. So beautiful!"

Berkia smiled brightly as she looked at her child in the crib.

Watching Berchia, Maid said.

"Whose son is he?"

"My son!"

Berkia puffed out her chest with a proud "Ehem!", revealing a glimpse of the Berchia Leo knew.

This was the side she only showed to Maid, whom she loved.

"He's my son too, isn't he?"

"Yes. But he took more after me."

Leo sat to the side, resting his chin on his hand, watching the scene.

'She looks happy.'

Here, Leo was an observer who could not interfere with the story.

But even Leo could clearly feel Berchia's emotions.

However…

Leo's face was not entirely bright.

"Ah, has the time passed so quickly?"

Berkia hurriedly stood up.

Seeing Berchia, Maid said urgently.

"Berkia."

"Yes?"

"Don't you think it's time to retire?"

"…"

Berkia, who stood still, looked at Maid.

"The world has regained its peace now. Although we don't know it… it must have regained some of its pre-disaster state. I believe world peace has already been restored. You've already done so much? Don't you think you can finally enjoy your life?"

"…"

Berkia closed her eyes and smiled faintly.

"Yes, that's true. The world has definitely regained its light."

The world had already prospered.

It was sufficiently bright and beautiful.

The scars left by the Age of Calamity had almost disappeared.

"But there must be something more I can do for the world."

In the current era, Berchia had risen to a position equal to the great heroes of the past.

She had led the reconstruction of the world.

She had saved the world that was on the verge of collapse.

It was by no means something Berchia achieved alone.

But…

'It was possible because Berchia was here.'

Leo gazed intently at his disciple.

"I want to create an even brighter world."

Berkia placed both hands on her belly and smiled faintly.

"The great heroes… like our teachers… I want to pass on a brighter light to our first child… and our second child to be born… to those who will live in the future. I can still push myself. Don't worry, Maid. I am Berchia."

Winking one eye like her teacher and speaking confidently, Berchia left the room.

"…"

Leo silently rose from his seat and followed her.

"Berkia…"

And as he passed by Maid, who was calling out Berchia's name with concern.

Leo paused for a moment and said.

"Thank you."

For being by my disciple's side.

A gratitude that could not reach her.

But he wanted to convey it.

If it weren't for Maid, Berchia would have broken down long ago.

Leo left the room.

And he watched the back of Berchia walking down the corridor.

Those delicate shoulders bore the weight of the world.

Of course, Lisinas and other great heroes had done the same.

But…

'It's different from our time.'

The weight of a world on the brink of destruction and a world that had regained peace and grown immense are different.

And that world was crushing Berchia.

***

Bang-!

"How can you only think of the dwarves' profit!"

"A human steeped in greed has no right to say that!"

"What!"

At the grand assembly.

Leaders gathered to discuss the future of the world.

In its early days, it was not a place for raised voices.

For the reconstruction of the world.

And for prosperity, they fulfilled their mission.

But as the leaders became powerful, it had turned into a place where they fought for their own interests.

Even those who were originally noble turned when they tasted power.

Or many who had achieved nothing but inherited their positions now attended this assembly.

"…"

From the highest seat, Berchia let out a deep sigh.

'It has changed.'

For Berchia, she couldn't understand those who pursued their own desires without regard for harmony.

The world now was a world where power had disappeared and then taken root again.

Those who had never seen power and did not understand it were too intoxicated by it.

So, she couldn't understand.

Because she was still noble.

"Stop it."

Berkia said softly.

Perhaps misfortune was a predetermined outcome.

"I will mediate."

The power she, so noble, possessed was immense and still impartial.

And also very pure.

To those blinded by greed, Berchia had now become an obstacle blocking their desires.

It was perhaps inevitable that foul malice would be directed at Berchia.

'I can no longer stand by and watch the Fairy Knights arbitrarily control the world!'

***

War broke out.

Berkia was horrified.

How could war break out between races?

They had fought together against destruction only a few decades ago, and now war?

For Berchia, who had never experienced war, nothing could have been more shocking.

To stop the war, Berchia rushed forward.

She ended the war single-handedly.

The worst possible outcome was avoided.

But countless deaths occurred.

Stomp- stomp-

Walking under the bright starlight, Berchia looked up at the sky with a bitter smile.

"…It's tough, Teacher Luna."

Standing still in her spot, Berchia looked up at the night sky and slapped her own cheeks.

"Teacher Kyle would have kicked my butt for talking weakly. Yes! Let's be strong. Let's think about how to prevent war."

Berkia clenched her fist and vowed, opening a warp gate to return to her mansion.

Whoosh-!

A burning mansion greeted her.

And standing there was.

"Hello? It's been a while."

The monster queen, Silathuna, waved her hand with a chilling smile.