Book 1 Chapter 526

526.

The place Leo stepped into was a page of history.

A past event unfolded through the Akasha Records.

The frigid northern part of the continent.

It was, literally, a desolate land.

Leo stood among it, silently watching the elves cultivating the land.

"This is…"

Leo's hands clenched as he looked at the scene before him.

This ruin was truly a symbol of despair.

But now, it was different.

Hope was sprouting amidst the ruins.

The northern continent, the elves' homeland that Leo knew, though a land of extreme cold, had achieved dazzling development.

5000 years.

During that time, the elves had splendidly cultivated their new home.

And that beginning was the sight unfolding before his eyes now.

Despair vanishing, hope sprouting.

How much had been sacrificed for this scene?

How many people had risked their lives?

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

'An era for moving towards the future.'

"Hey, you shouldn't do it that way!"

Swoosh-!

Someone brushed past Leo.

A familiar voice, a familiar back.

It was exactly as he remembered in his last memory.

'No, has she matured more?'

There was no trace of the immature self Leo remembered.

The arrogant and reliant demeanor she only showed in front of her masters was gone.

"You should do it like this!"

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

Berkia used her strength to straighten a pillar of the building.

Her somehow audacious manner reminded him of Luna.

"Ah! Thank you, Lady Berkia."

"No, it's something I should naturally do, isn't it?"

She waved her hand at the person who was smiling gently and greeting her.

'Did she have that side to her?'

It was a completely different side from the Berkia Leo knew.

Many elves relied on and followed Berkia.

In that sight, the shadow of Lisinas was glimpsed.

"Lady Berkia~"

"Come play with us!"

Just then, elf children flocked around Berkia.

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

As Berkia gave an awkward smile, the children's ears drooped.

"But shall we play for a little while?"

"Yes!"

'Did she like children?'

This resembled Arion's appearance.

After playing with all the children, Berkia went back to work.

She quietly did her job and inspired trust in others.

Inspired by her steel-like will, the elves renewed their strength.

Her appearance somehow resembled Dweno.

"…"

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

"Vihar?"

At the voice from behind, Berkia's face brightened.

"Welcome! How's the east?"

"We're not bad either."

Vihar smiled faintly.

"It seems you're still not showing yourself in front of people."

Vihar closed his eyes, looking at Berkia who asked with a regretful voice.

"Because there are still many traitors. I think I, who is covered in blood every day, am an unsuitable existence for the present era."

During the Age of Calamity.

Kyle and Vihar massacred countless traitors.

Internal enemies are scarier than external ones.

Beings that corrode hope appeared repeatedly, like a plague.

And after the world was saved.

They enjoyed comfortable lives as if nothing had ever happened.

They hid their sins and lived shamelessly.

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

"No, I cannot tolerate it."

Vihar smiled.

"Whose sacrifice are we living on? How dare they shamelessly enjoy this peace?"

But what dwelled in his eyes was clear hatred and murderous intent.

"They must pay the price."

"Vihar…"

"They need to know that I am always watching them from the darkness."

Like the moon in the night sky.

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

Vihar had no intention of stopping.

Seeing such a Vihar, Berkia's lips parted.

"I…"

In fact, Berkia thought the same as Vihar.

She also wanted to eradicate those who had corrupted this world, no. Those who would corrupt it again someday.

"You need to stay as you are, Berkia."

"…"

"You are different from me."

Vihar smiled gently.

She must illuminate the world like the sun.

Berkia was such an existence.

"You don't need to step into the darkness of the world. You don't need to know filth. You just need to be as you are now."

"Vihar, you need to know. The world isn't always dirty."

Vihar smiled bitterly.

"I'm not very good at that."

"…"

Vihar got up from his seat.

"Let's not give up in our respective places. Just as Master did."

"…Yes."

"Shall we visit the graves next week?"

"Shall we?"

They laughed brightly and returned to their daily lives.

Watching them, Leo mumbled.

"They've grown up a lot."

These were the aspects of his disciples that Leo did not know.

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

Whether it was a bright world or a deep abyss.

They advanced on the path they had chosen.

They cultivated the world inherited from their predecessors in their own ways.

They were dedicating everything they had to rebuild the broken world.

'Just as we did.'

In his previous life, he had merely believed that each of them would live their lives well.

Therefore, he had never thought about how they would grow up.

They were trustworthy children, so they would surely live well.

He simply thought that.

But facing them like this now, he felt strange.

The aspects of his disciples that he did not know.

Is this what a parent's heart feels like?

"They've truly… grown up a lot."

***

Time flowed on.

Leo watched Berkia's entire life by her side.

She rebuilt the elves' homeland.

She never hesitated to dedicate herself for the world.

She strived for the world that had regained light to shine even more brightly.

And…

GooOOOooOOOOOO-!

The army of Tartarus unfolded before her eyes.

After Erebus was subjugated, Tartarus, who had maintained its power until now, invaded again to destroy the world.

For those who were barely rebuilding the world, it was literally a disaster.

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

The hope they had barely cultivated was trampled and burned.

After the subjugation of Erebus.

For several years, the army of Tartarus, which had recovered from the damage inflicted by the great heroes and strengthened its power, was formidable.

Many heroes had already closed their eyes during the Age of Calamity.

The great heroes were no more.

All that remained were fledgling heroes with heroic qualities.

They lacked power and experience.

However.

"This world is our home!"

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

"But! We have only received!"

Berkia, at the forefront, shouted.

"Now we must protect this world inherited from our predecessors!"

The despairing new heroes looked at Berkia, who stood at the forefront.

Those born in light who must live in darkness crave light.

But perhaps those born in darkness who have seen light crave it even more.

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

In the face of despair, Berkia never gave up.

Just like her masters did.

"Everyone!"

Berkia shouted resolutely.

"Let's fight!"

"WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Berkia achieved a miraculous victory there, making Tartarus's offensive impossible for the next 2000 years.

***

"Beautiful. So beautiful!"

Berkia smiled brightly, looking at her child in the crib.

Looking at Berkia, Mide said.

"Whose son is he?"

"My son!"

Ahem! Berkia, puffing out her chest, showed a glimpse of the self Leo remembered from his time.

It was a side she only showed in front of Mide, her beloved partner.

"Isn't he my son too?"

"Yes. But he got more of my influence."

Leo sat to one side, resting his chin on his hand, and watched them.

'She looks happy.'

Here, Leo was an observer who could not intervene in the story.

But even Leo clearly felt Berkia's emotions.

However…

Leo's face was not entirely bright.

"Ah, is it this late already?"

Berkia hurriedly got up from her seat.

Watching Berkia, Mide said urgently.

"Berkia."

"Yes?"

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

"…"

Berkia, who had stood up abruptly, looked at Mide.

"The world has regained peace now. We may not know it… but it must have regained some of its pre-Calamity Age appearance. I think world peace has already been rebuilt. You've already achieved so much, haven't you? Isn't it time to simply enjoy life?"

"…"

Berkia closed her eyes and smiled gently.

"Yes, certainly. The world has definitely regained its light."

The world had already prospered.

It was bright and beautiful enough.

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

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

In this era, Berkia had risen to a position equal to the great heroes of the past.

She led the reconstruction of the world.

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

It was certainly not something Berkia accomplished alone.

But…

'It was possible because Berkia was there.'

Leo stared intently at his disciple.

"I want to create an even brighter world."

Berkia placed both hands on her stomach and smiled gently.

"Just as the great heroes… as my masters did. I want to pass on an even brighter light to my first… and to our second child who will be born… to those who will live in the future. I can try harder. Don't worry, Mide. I am Berkia."

Berkia, who winked one eye like her master and spoke confidently, left the room.

"…"

Leo silently rose from his seat and followed her.

"Berkia…"

And just before passing Mide, who called Berkia's name with worry.

Leo paused for a moment and said.

"Thank you."

Thank you for being by my disciple's side.

It was a gratitude that could not reach him.

But he absolutely wanted to convey it.

Because if it weren't for Mide, Berkia would have collapsed long ago.

Leo left the room.

And he looked at Berkia's back as she walked down the corridor.

Those slender shoulders were carrying the world.

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

But…

'It's different from our time.'

The weight of a world on the verge of destruction and the weight of a world that has regained peace and grown larger are different.

And that world was crushing Berkia.

***

CRASH-!

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

"That's rich coming from greedy humans!"

"What did you say!"

A grand conference.

A gathering of leaders to discuss the future of the world.

In its early days, it wasn't a place where people raised their voices.

For the reconstruction of the world.

And for prosperity, they fulfilled their mission.

But as the leaders became powerful, it transformed into a place where they fought over their own interests.

Even those who were originally noble changed once they tasted power.

Or many who had achieved nothing but simply inherited their positions and attended this meeting were now seen.

"…"

Berkia, at the head of the table, let out a deep sigh.

'It's changed.'

Berkia simply could not understand those who pursued their own desires to the point of neglecting harmony.

The current world was one where power had disappeared and then re-rooted.

Those who had never seen power and didn't properly understand it were too intoxicated by its force.

Yes, she couldn't understand.

Because she was still noble.

"Stop it."

Berkia said quietly.

Misfortune might have been a predetermined outcome.

"I will mediate."

The power of the noble Berkia was immense and still fair.

And also too pure.

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

Perhaps it was natural for ugly malice to be directed at Berkia.

'We can no longer stand by and watch the Fairy Knight arbitrarily control the world!'

***

War broke out.

Berkia was aghast.

How could there be war between races?

War, when they had fought together against destruction just a few decades ago!

For Berkia, who had never experienced war, nothing was more shocking than this.

To stop the war, Berkia hurriedly stepped forward.

She ended the war single-handedly.

The worst possible outcome was averted.

But countless casualties occurred.

Thump- thump-

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

"…It's hard, Master Luna."

Berkia, standing motionless and looking up at the night sky, slapped both her cheeks.

"Master Kyle would have kicked my butt for being weak. Yes! Let's pull ourselves together. Let's think about how to stop the war."

Berkia clenched her fists, resolved, and opened a warp gate to return to her mansion.

FWOOSH-!

A burning mansion greeted her.

And standing there was.

"Hello? It's been a while."

The monster queen, Shilathuna, smiling eerily and waving her hand.