Book 1 Chapter 536
536.
“There was another raid?”
At the highest point of Eldon.
An elf who had taken his eyes off the telescope in the observatory, where stars were observed, smiled softly.
At his reaction, the elf who was reporting trembled slightly.
“I apologize, Father. I will pursue them immediately and…”
“It’s fine. They would have already hidden themselves underground.”
The gentle-looking elf shook his head as if it were no big deal.
“Can you still not enter the underground city?”
“No. An unknown barrier still blocks the way.”
“Hmm. No matter how I think about it, it’s strange. A barrier that even Eldon’s proud descendants of the stars cannot penetrate. What on earth has settled beneath this ground?”
He looked down at the vast Eldon from atop the towering spire.
Despite the dark night, the entire city was filled with bright light.
This bright city seemed to symbolize the elves’ prosperity.
But the man looking down from the observatory, Uleyn Cornea, knew.
That this prosperity was built upon trampling someone’s freedom, will, and future.
Of course, Uleyn felt no guilt whatsoever about such things.
‘Sacrifice is inevitable for the future and prosperity of the race. If those inferior beings knew they were sacrificing for a great cause, they would gain some glory in their lives.’
The Progenitor of the Nebula.
The Fairy Knight.
The Comet Mage.
The great heroes, called the three greatest figures of the elves, passed down the message to future generations that all beings are equal.
However, in Eldon, that noble ideal had long been forgotten.
Instead, it had become a distorted form that they most despised.
But no one in Eldon found it strange.
They are not born equal.
Those who cannot master the magic of the stars left by the great Progenitor of the Nebula are inferior.
‘It is natural for the superior to stand above the inferior.’
Not all elves are noble.
Thinking this, Uleyn did not even enroll in Seirun.
Not only Uleyn, but others from the Cornea family were also the same.
They considered going to Seirun, where one had to learn other inferior magic, summoning, or aura techniques, a waste of time, when learning only star magic was already insufficient.
That’s why they had exclusively learned star magic within Eldon.
One who takes the extraordinary for granted.
That was the Cornea family, and Uleyn, the head of the Corneas, took it even more for granted.
However, Uleyn had a slightly different side compared to previous heads of the Cornea family.
“Father.”
Another person appeared next to the elf who was kneeling and giving his report.
But they were slightly different from the first person who was reporting.
To be precise, they were a pure elf.
Longer ears than the one kneeling and unable to meet his gaze.
The one bowing their head to the floor was none other than a half-elf.
“Welcome, my daughter.”
Smiling gently, Uleyn greeted his daughter warmly.
His daughter, Laylin, bowed her head once.
As she bowed, a flicker of disgust appeared in her eyes.
A common reaction from the Pureblood Council upon seeing a half-elf.
But Uleyn admonished her for it.
“Laylin. Rebean is your younger sibling.”
“…I know, Father. But I cannot tolerate it. The fact that the blood of my father, who has the purest lineage, dwells in the blood of another inferior race!”
“From the perspective of the Pureblood Council, I would be a heretic. But I think this way: all users of star magic are equal mages. For new possibilities, harmony with other races is also necessary.”
“…”
“Most of the Pureblood Council may see me as a heretic blinded by lust… but I believe that if there is no change, things will eventually rot.”
He considered it a conviction.
And for the sake of his conviction, he would sleep with any woman who could use star magic, regardless of race.
As a result, he fathered countless half-elves and brought them all to Eldon.
What he pursued was diversity.
It was the foundation of star magic flourishing through diverse values.
A fact not publicly known.
A secret treated with utmost discretion.
But no one who knew the fact dared to utter a word.
This was due to the genius of Uleyn, the current head of Eldon’s council.
He had not risen to the position of a hero.
But he had devoted his entire life to the study of star magic and advanced it.
Because of his influence, the Eldon Council did not publicize his actions.
Since there was no talk from within, the secret was maintained.
“My will was insufficient.”
“I believe you will understand my intentions someday, Laylin.”
Uleyn gave a gentle smile.
At first glance, it seemed as if he respected other races.
However, he regarded all non-star mages as livestock.
In a way, he was closer to a twisted madness even deeper than that of the typical Pureblood Council.
“So? Is there a new report?”
“…The Seirun students who visited Eldon today have disappeared. It seems they were abducted by an unruly group.”
“…That’s regrettable. Excellent students being taken away.”
“Perhaps the two of them might have had malevolent intentions.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lunia El Lundoa and Eiran Ersar. These two students, despite being born with the blessing of the stars, go against the will of the Pureblood Council.”
“They are wanderers, then.”
“Yes.”
“I had doubts when their stated purpose for visiting was to seek learning in Eldon.”
“Hmm hmm. And then?”
“They may have come here with the intention of cooperating with those who foment discord within Eldon to overthrow this Eldon.”
Hostility flashed in Laylin’s eyes.
“For example, please look at this.”
Laylin pulled out two portraits from her bosom.
Portraits of Seirun female students with white and black hair were drawn.
“They are beautiful students. Why them?”
“They are individuals named Leo Flobe of Lumern and Chen Shia.”
A glint appeared in Uleyn’s eyes.
“So this is that Leo Flobe. But I heard he was a man?”
“It seems he disguised himself to infiltrate.”
“Indeed.”
Uleyn nodded his head.
“Father, Leo Flobe is an individual who has been at odds with the Pureblood Council. He must have infiltrated Eldon with ill intentions. He must be severely punished.”
“Isn’t this student the one who conquered the Progenitor’s World, inherited Polyum, received the acknowledgement of Seirun-nim, and even inherited Cometes? Punishing him severely would go against the will of those two, wouldn’t it?”
“That…”
Seeing Laylin unable to answer rashly, Uleyn smiled gently.
“Laylin. The descendants of the stars are all like family. Having different intentions is merely wandering.”
“Father…”
“I will meet Leo Flobe myself.”
At his words, not only Laylin but also Rebean, who had been unable to join the conversation with his head bowed, raised his head, eyes wide.
“You mean…?”
“Yes. The world is in chaos, so it seems I can no longer solely dedicate myself to magic research.”
It had been 10 years since Uleyn began his reclusive life in this observatory.
During those 10 years, he researched magic and did not engage in external affairs.
Of course, he hadn't neglected his duties as head of the council, but even so, officially leaving this place held significant meaning.
Laylin wore an excited expression.
“You have achieved your goal!”
At Laylin’s words, Uleyn smiled gently.
“If they meet me, even the wandering children will find their way.”
Laylin paused at his words, then asked carefully.
“What if they don’t stop wandering even after meeting Father?”
At that, Uleyn smiled gently.
“Even great heroes make mistakes.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“A wandering star scattering into starlight is the natural order of things.”
***
“I-I think I’m going to throw up…”
“N-no more, I can’t eat any more…”
“Ughhhhh.”
Chen Shia covered her mouth, and Eiran was trembling with a face that looked like she was about to cry.
Lunia, on the other hand, was leaning back in her chair, head tilted back, screaming.
Rel had already left the house a long time ago.
She tried her best to help at first, but soon reached her limit.
‘I-I need to take care of others…’
‘Okay, goodbye then.’
‘U-us too…!’
‘Not you.’
‘Why, why not?’
‘You’re still growing, aren’t you?’
Thus, the three girls failed to escape.
The endless feast of food had, at some point, finally ended.
“Did you eat a lot? Shall I make dessert? Do you want some?”
“N-no, thank you! I’m really full!”
“I can’t eat any more!”
“B-Berquia-nim, you should rest too!”
“Really?”
Berquia made a regretful expression, seeing the three people shaking their heads frantically.
Then she brewed tea and placed it in front of them.
“Look forward to tomorrow morning too.”
‘Should we escape?’
‘Is it possible to escape from Berquia-nim?’
‘We need to call Leo.’
The three girls screamed inwardly.
Amidst this, Eiran struggled to her feet.
“Berquia-nim. It’s an honor to meet you, Berquia-nim. My name is Eiran Ersar… I am a descendant of Berquia-nim.”
“You are?”
“Yes.”
“You’re my descendant, and you’re friends with Shia?”
“Of course.”
At that answer, Berquia smiled brightly.
“You haven’t become enemies, that’s a relief.”
Eiran bit her lip tightly, watching Berquia’s relieved expression.
“Berquia-nim.”
“Call me Grandma.”
“No, I mean, calling Berquia-nim Grandma…”
“Call me Grandma.”
Seeing the firm Berquia, Eiran hesitated, then said.
“Grandma.”
At that answer, Berquia smiled brightly, just as before.
Joy could be felt from her, who had been dry and emotionless.
Watching her, Eiran, who had been hesitating, asked with difficulty.
“…Why… did you attack Grandfather?”
At that question, Lunia and Chen Shia flinched.
Berquia silently gazed at Eiran.
“Surely that child was righteous. But he blocked my path.”
“Grandfather respected Berquia-nim! That’s why you killed him…!”
“I have work to do.”
Berquia said in an emotionless voice.
“I must eliminate all the trash that defiles this world. Those who are unworthy have no reason to live in this world.”
At those words, the three girls felt a chill run down their spines.
There was no anger in Berquia’s voice.
Nor was there hatred or sadness.
It was just a mechanical tone.
‘This isn’t the Berquia-nim I know.’
Eiran squeezed her eyes shut.
Her fingertips trembled.
The Berquia she knew was gone.
The Berquia before her was just a person consumed by a terrible void.
Her voice would not reach her.
Only someone who lived in the same era as her could stop Berquia.
‘Leo-nim.’
Eiran thought of Leo.
Then Berquia spoke.
“By the way, you two are a bit strange.”
Berquia tilted her head.
“Elves who use star magic were similar to Master Luna’s magic, but fundamentally very different, but you two…”
Berquia looked at Lunia and Eiran.
“You’re close to the fundamental. It’s as if you learned magic directly from Master Luna.”
At those words, Eiran and Lunia looked at each other.
Chen Shia’s eyes sparkled.
“It seems like a good opportunity to tell you about Leo-nim.”
“Leo? Who’s that? A friend?”
“Yes. He’s here with us in our city right now.”
“Is he skinny too?”
“…He’s slender.”
“He must be skinny. Children should eat well.”
Chen Shia smiled awkwardly, watching Berquia click her tongue.
Chen Shia hadn’t rashly informed Berquia of Leo’s existence.
Lunia and Eiran were the same.
The current Berquia was an undead.
A being that moved only for its purpose, and that purpose was underpinned by intense hatred.
Although stable now, her mind was actually in a very unstable state.
And one of the reasons Berquia had become this way was also a great hero.
Especially regarding Kyle, complex emotions were intertwined.
In such a situation, what if she heard that Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, had reincarnated?
Her reaction was unknown.
She might react positively, but in the worst-case scenario, she could go berserk.
It was unreasonable to expect normal thinking from an undead in the first place.
It was because Berquia was a hero of her caliber that she maintained this level of reason; originally, undead were monsters who ran rampant, crazed by their purpose.
Berquia was like a bomb that could explode at any moment.
But now was a good opportunity.
The magic Leo taught Lunia and Eiran was the very essence of the fundamental.
Berquia had seen through that fact.
It was magic that could not be learned in this era.
What if the one who taught that magic was Leo?
‘She would naturally be curious about Young Master Leo’s true identity.’
What if they revealed then that Leo was the reincarnation of Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings?
The probability of her believing it was high.
‘Even if she doesn’t believe it, she would at least wonder, “Could it be?” Just by looking at their magic, she would immediately know that it’s magic that only Kyle-nim and Luna-nim could teach.’
At Chen Shia’s words, Lunia and Eiran also seemed to think the same, nodding their heads.
And they said carefully.
“Berquia-nim, actually, there’s something we need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“The one who taught us magic is Kyle-nim, the Hero of Beginnings.”
“What?”
“He reincarnated in this present world and taught us star magic.”
Eiran said with a tense expression.
At that, Berquia stared intently at Lunia and Eiran, then spoke.
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Then, will you show me the magic you say you learned?”
At her words, the two of them activated their magic.
Hwa-reureuk-!
Woo-woong-!
The unfinished magic of Luna, Emperor of Flames.
The last magic Luna left for her disciple, Animagus Sword.
Both spells were magic that only a user of star magic close to Luna could teach.
And in the world, there was only one such person: Leo.
“…”
Berquia’s eyes widened.
Then she spoke.
“Both are magic I’ve never seen before.”
“What?”
“Th-that can’t be?”
Lunia and Eiran wore bewildered expressions.
Seeing them, Berquia nodded.
“It seems there’s someone impersonating Master Luna in this era.”
Fortunately, no unfortunate incident like her going berserk occurred.
But in her eyes, there was clear distrust burning for Leo, whom she had never seen.
Lunia and Eiran didn’t know.
That in the case of White Flame, it was an unfinished magic, and Luna had never shown the spell formula to Berquia.
That Animagus Sword was a magic Luna created during her final expedition, so Berquia didn’t even know of its existence.
“You said Leo, right?”
Berquia rose from her seat.
“Shia, he’s that skinny friend you mentioned, right?”
“Uh… I mean, Berquia-nim?”
“How dare he impersonate Master Luna and lure my descendant and Vihar’s descendant? I cannot forgive him.”
The three felt that things had gotten seriously twisted.
“I’ll find him and punish him.”
Berquia growled softly and left the house.
“W-wait a minute!”
“Berquia-nim!”
“Please listen to us!”
The three gasped and tried to stop Berquia, but she had already passed through the door.
“W-what do we do?!”
The three people’s faces turned pale.