Book 1 Chapter 536
“Another attack?”
The highest point of Eldon.
An elf, taking his eyes off the telescope of the observatory where he observed the stars, smiled gently.
The reporting elf flinched at his reaction.
“I’m sorry, Father. I’ll pursue them immediately…”
“That’s enough. They’ve probably already disappeared underground.”
The elf, with his gentle demeanor, shook his head as if it were no big deal.
“Can we 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 exactly is located in this underground?”
He looked down at the vast Eldon from the top of the towering tower.
Even though it was a dark night, the entire city was filled with bright light.
This bright city seemed to symbolize the prosperity of the elves.
However, Ulain Cornea, the man looking down from the observatory, knew.
He knew that this prosperity was built by trampling on someone’s freedom, will, and future.
Of course, Ulain felt no guilt about it.
‘Sacrifices are unavoidable for the future and prosperity of the race. If those inferior beings knew they were sacrificing themselves for a great cause, perhaps they would find some glory in their lives.’
The progenitor of the nebula.
Fairy Knight.
Comet Mage.
The great heroes, called the three great figures of the elves, passed down to future generations the meaning that all are equal.
However, in Eldon, that noble meaning had long been forgotten.
Instead, it had become a distorted form that they despised the most.
But no one in Eldon found it strange.
Not equal from birth.
Those who cannot learn the star magic 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.
Because he thought so, Ulain did not even enroll in Seirun.
Not only Ulain, but also the other members of the Cornea family.
They considered it a waste of time to go to Seirun, where they had to learn other low-level magic and summoning arts and aura, when they barely had enough time to learn star magic alone.
That’s why they only trained in star magic within Eldon.
Those who take the extraordinary for granted.
That is the Cornea family, and Ulain, the head of the Cornea, took it even more for granted.
However, Ulain had a slightly different side compared to other Cornea leaders in history.
“Father.”
Another person appeared next to the elf who was reporting on his knees.
However, it was slightly different from the one who reported at first.
To be precise, it was a pure elf.
Longer ears than the one who was bowing his head to the floor.
The one bowing his head to the floor was none other than a half-elf.
“Welcome, my daughter.”
Ulain greeted his daughter with a smile.
His daughter, Leyrin, bowed her head once.
As she bowed her head, a momentary look of disgust flashed in her eyes.
The general reaction of the Pure Blood Society upon seeing a half-elf.
However, Ulain reprimanded her for it.
“Leyrin. Levean is your brother.”
“……I know, Father. But I cannot accept it. The fact that your blood, the purest blood of all, has mingled with the blood of inferior other races!”
“From the perspective of the Pure Blood Society, 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 Pure Blood Society would see me as a heretic blinded by lust… but I believe that without change, things will eventually rot.”
He considered it his creed.
And for the sake of his creed, he slept with women of any race who could use star magic.
As a result, he fathered countless half-elves and brought them all to Eldon.
What he pursued was diversity.
The foundation of star magic that blossoms from diverse values.
A fact not known to the public.
A shameful secret, treated with utmost secrecy.
But no one who knew the fact spoke of it.
That was due to the genius of the current Eldon Council President, Ulain.
He did not rise to the position of a hero.
However, he devoted his entire life to the research of star magic and advanced it.
Because of his influence, the Eldon Council did not make his actions public.
As there were no internal discussions, the secret was maintained.
“My intentions were insufficient.”
“I believe you will understand my intentions someday, Leyrin.”
Ulain smiled gently.
At first glance, it seemed as if he respected other races.
However, he considered everyone other than star mages as livestock.
In a sense, it was closer to a twisted madness than the usual Pure Blood Society.
“So? Have there been any new reports?”
“……Students from Seirun who visited Eldon today have disappeared. It seems they were kidnapped by a suspicious group.”
“……That’s unfortunate. Such excellent students were taken.”
“Perhaps the two of them may have had malicious intentions.”
“What do you mean?”
“These two students, Runia El Lund and Eiran Ersar, despite being born with the blessing of the stars, are students who oppose the will of the Pure Blood Society.”
“They are wanderers.”
“Yes.”
“I was suspicious when their stated purpose for visiting was to seek knowledge in Eldon.”
“Mmm. And then?”
“They may have come here to cooperate with those who incite unrest within Eldon to overthrow this Eldon.”
Hostility flickered in Leyrin’s eyes.
“Please look at this as an example.”
Leyrin took out two portraits from her pocket.
Portraits of female students from Seirun with white and black hair were drawn.
“Beautiful students. Why them?”
“They are Leo Flov from Lumern and Chen Xia.”
A glint appeared in Ulain’s eyes.
“So this is Leo Flov. But I heard he was a man?”
“It seems he infiltrated by disguising himself.”
“Indeed.”
Ulain nodded his head.
“Father, Leo Flov has been in opposition to the Pure Blood Society. He must have infiltrated Eldon with malicious intent. He must be severely punished.”
“Isn’t this student the one who conquered the world of the progenitor, inherited Polyum, and even inherited Cometess by receiving the recognition of Saint Seirun? Punishing him would be an act that goes against the intentions of both of them?”
“That’s….”
Seeing Leyrin unable to answer rashly, Ulain smiled.
“Leyrin. The descendants of the stars are all like family. Different intentions are just wandering.”
“Father….”
“I will meet Leo Flov myself.”
At those words, not only Leyrin, but also Levean, who had been bowing his head and unable to join the conversation, opened his eyes wide and looked up.
“What you said…?”
“Yes. The world is in chaos, so I can’t just focus on magic research anymore.”
It has been 10 years since Ulain began to reside in this observatory.
For 10 years, he researched magic and did not step out into public affairs.
Of course, he did not neglect his duties as Council President, but it was still significant for him to leave this place officially.
Leyrin’s expression flushed.
“You’ve achieved your goal!”
Ulain smiled at Leyrin’s words.
“If they meet me, the wandering children will find their way.”
Leyrin paused at those words and cautiously asked.
“What if they don’t stop wandering even after meeting you, Father?”
Ulain smiled gently at those words.
“Even the greatest heroes make mistakes.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It is the natural order for wandering stars to scatter into starlight.”
***
“I feel like I’m going to puke…”
“I… I can’t eat anymore…”
“Ughhhhh.”
Chen Xia covered her mouth, and Eiran trembled with a face close to tears.
Lunia leaned back in her chair, tilted her head back, and let out a scream.
Rel had already left a long time ago.
At first, she tried her best to help, but she soon reached her limit.
‘I… I have to take care of the others…’
‘Yes, go well.’
‘Us too…!’
‘Not you guys.’
‘Why, why?’
‘You’re in your growth period.’
Thus, the three girls failed to escape.
The feast of food, which seemed endless, also came to an end.
“Did you eat well? Shall I make dessert? Do you want to eat?”
“It’s… it’s okay! I’m really full!”
“I can’t eat anymore!”
“You should rest too, Berukia-nim!”
“Really?”
Seeing the three people shaking their heads wildly, Berukia showed a disappointed expression.
Then she brewed tea and placed it in front of the three people.
“Look forward to breakfast tomorrow, too.”
‘Should we escape?’
‘Is it possible to escape from Berukia-nim?’
‘I think I need to call Leo.’
The three girls screamed inwardly.
Meanwhile, Eiran struggled to get up from her seat.
“Berukia-nim, it’s an honor to meet you like this. My name is Eiran Ersar… I am your descendant.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
“You’re my descendant, but you’re friends with Xia?”
“Of course.”
At that answer, Berukia smiled brightly.
“So you didn’t become enemies, that’s fortunate.”
Seeing Berukia relieved, Eiran bit her lip tightly.
“Berukia-nim.”
“Call me Grandmother.”
“No, I mean, calling Berukia-nim Grandmother is…”
“Call me Grandmother.”
Seeing Berukia’s firm insistence, Eiran hesitated and then said.
“Grandmother.”
At that answer, Berukia smiled brightly as before.
Joy could be felt from her, who was usually emotionless.
Seeing her, Eiran, who had been hesitating, asked with difficulty.
“…Why… did you attack grandfather?”
At that question, Lunia and Chen Xia flinched.
Berukia looked at Eiran without a word.
“That child was certainly upright, but he stood in my way.”
“Grandfather respected Berukia-nim! That’s why you…!”
“I have a duty to do.”
Berukia said in a detached voice.
“I must eliminate all the trash that pollutes this world. Those who are not qualified have no reason to live in this world.”
At those words, the three girls felt a chill.
There was no anger in Berukia’s voice.
Nor was there hatred or sadness.
It was just a mechanical tone.
‘This is not the Berukia I know.’
Eiran closed her eyes tightly.
Her fingertips trembled.
The Berukia she knew was gone.
The Berukia before her was simply someone swept away by a profound emptiness.
Her voice would not reach.
Only someone who lived in the same era as her could stop Berukia.
‘Leo-nim.’
Eiran thought of Leo.
At that moment, Berukia said.
“By the way, you three are a bit strange.”
Berukia tilted her head.
“Elves who use star magic are similar to Master Luna’s magic, but far from the root. But you two…”
Berukia looked at Lunia and Eiran.
“You are close to the root. It’s as if you learned magic directly from Master Luna.”
At those words, Eiran and Lunia looked at each other.
Chen Xia’s eyes sparkled.
“It seems like a good opportunity to talk about Leo-nim.”
“Leo? Who is that? Is he a friend?”
“Yes. He’s with us in our city now.”
“Is he skinny too?”
“……He’s slender.”
“He must be skinny. Children need to eat well.”
Tsk- Seeing Berukia click her tongue, Chen Xia gave an awkward smile.
Chen Xia did not carelessly reveal Leo’s existence to Berukia.
Lunia and Eiran felt the same way.
The current Berukia is an undead.
She is a being who only acts for her purpose, and that purpose is infused with terrible hatred.
Although she is stable now, her mental state is actually very unstable.
And one of the reasons Berukia became like this is also a great hero.
She has complex feelings, especially concerning Kyle.
In such a situation, what would be her reaction if she heard that the hero of the beginning, Kyle, had been reincarnated?
The outcome is uncertain.
It could be a positive reaction, but in the worst-case scenario, she could go berserk.
Expecting normal thinking from an undead is unreasonable in the first place.
Because she is a hero like Berukia, she maintains this much reason; originally, undead are monsters that rampage with their purpose.
Berukia is like a bomb that could explode at any moment.
However, this was a good opportunity.
The magic that Leo taught Lunia and Eiran was the root itself.
Berukia saw through that fact.
It was magic that could not be learned in this era.
If the one who taught that magic is Leo?
‘Naturally, she would be curious about the identity of Lord Leo.’
If it is revealed then that Leo is the reincarnation of the hero of the beginning, Kyle?
There is a high probability that she will believe it.
‘Even if she doesn’t believe it, she might think ‘Is that possible?’ because looking at the magic of the two, she would immediately know that only Kyle-nim and Luna-nim could teach it.’
Lunia and Eiran nodded as if they had the same thought at Chen Xia’s words.
And they said cautiously.
“Berukia-nim, actually, there is something I have to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“It was the hero of the beginning, Kyle-nim, who taught us magic.”
“What?”
“He was reincarnated in this world and taught us star magic.”
Eiran said with a tense expression.
At those words, Berukia stared at Lunia and Eiran and said.
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Then can you show me the magic you learned?”
At those words, the two people raised their mana.
Whoosh-!
Roar-!
The magic that Luna could not ultimately complete, the Flame Emperor.
The magic that Luna left for her disciple as a last resort, the Sword of Animus.
Both magics were magics that could only be taught by users of star magic who were close to Luna.
And in the world, there was only one such person: Leo.
“……”
Berukia’s eyes widened.
Then she said.
“I’ve never seen either of these magics before.”
“Huh?”
“Th-that’s impossible?”
Lunia and Eiran wore bewildered expressions.
Seeing their expressions, Berukia nodded.
“It seems there’s someone impersonating my teacher in this era.”
Fortunately, there was no misfortune like going berserk.
However, in her eyes, there was clear distrust towards Leo, whom she had never seen.
Lunia and Eiran did not know.
That Baekyeom was an incomplete magic, and Luna had never shown the incantation to Berukia.
The Sword of Animus was magic created by Luna during her final expedition, so Berukia was not even aware of its existence.
“Did you say Leo?”
Berukia stood up from her seat.
“Xia, he’s the skinny friend you mentioned, right?”
“Um… Berukia-nim?”
“How dare he impersonate my teacher and lure my descendants and the descendants of Bihard? I cannot forgive him.”
The three felt that things had gone terribly wrong.
“I will find him and punish him.”
Grrr- Berukia growled low and left the house.
“Wait, just a moment!”
“Berukia-nim!”
“Listen to us!”
The three people, flustered, tried to stop Berukia, but she slipped out the door.
“Wh-what do we do!”
The faces of the three people turned ashen.