Book 1 Chapter 540

540.

Berkia was having dinner at Kyle's house that day as well, and was on her way back to Luna's house.

Whoooosh-

As Berkia, who had closed her eyes due to a sudden gust of wind, opened them.

"……?"

Berkia's mouth fell open as she discovered a beautiful woman standing before her.

"Lady Lisinas?"

"Hello, Beria."

Lisinas approached Beria with a gentle smile.

Seeing Lisinas like that, Beria didn't know what to do.

Lisinas, the King of Wisdom.

A great dragon, now called the hope of this world.

Although Beria had become a disciple of her companions Kyle, Luna, and Aeon, Lisinas's presence was still overwhelming.

Seeing Beria like that, Lisinas said,

"Are you coming from Kyle's house?"

"Yes. But how did you know I was at Master Kyle's house?"

"I heard recently that you've been going to Kyle's house often."

Berkia blinked her large eyes several times and looked up at Lisinas.

"Beria, what kind of place is Kyle's house to you?"

At the question, Beria fell into thought.

Lisinas was slightly surprised to see Beria thinking so seriously.

She felt a maturity that was uncharacteristic of a child.

'As expected, she seems to have a deep mind, perhaps because she was born in the age of disaster and suffered a lot.'

Lisinas felt a tinge of bitterness.

A generation born with misfortune from birth.

Knowing that, her mouth tasted bitter.

After a moment, Beria said with her usual expressionless face,

"A restaurant."

"……."

"Or not. A good restaurant?"

"I see."

'……As expected, should I say she's a disciple of Luna and Kyle.'

Lisinas gave a warm smile at the unexpected, quirky answer.

Of course, she is also Aeon's disciple.

But Lisinas didn't want to put Aeon on the same level as the other two.

'Aeon is kind and pure. And extremely normal.'

The only normal one among a dirty-tempered guy and a weirdo, and a pervert.

She's timid and a little scared, but what's wrong with that?

If Aeon knew what she was thinking, he would have waved his hands and defended his companions with his good nature.

Other things?

'What is that con artist lizard saying.'

'A dragon with a black heart!'

'He's saying all sorts of things, this friend who's as sinister as his looks.'

Just thinking about her friends spewing insults made her head ache.

Lisinas sighed inwardly and slightly bent her knees to make eye contact with Beria.

"Beria."

"Yes."

"How long are you going to eat at Kyle's house?"

"Forever."

"Even if Luna's cooking improves?"

"Hmm."

At those words, Beria tilted her head and asked,

"How much?"

"Enough to become delicious."

"That seems impossible."

A flicker of disbelief appeared in Beria's eyes.

"Master Kyle said that your and Lady Luna's cooking are on a cursed level."

'That bastard!'

Lisinas's eyes twitched, and she said,

"Still, what if Luna's cooking becomes as good as Kyle's?"

"I'll eat with Lady Luna."

Beria answered without hesitation.

Luna always took care of Beria.

For Beria, it was natural to choose Luna.

"Besides, I don't think Master Kyle will be sad about it."

Beria grumbled in a slightly petulant voice.

Currently, Kyle treated Beria, who came to his house every day, as half a freeloader.

"I don't even need to see what that damned guy will do to know."

Lisinas sighed softly.

"Even if Luna's cooking becomes as delicious as Kyle's, won't you continue to eat at Kyle's house?"

"Why?"

"…So that Kyle won't be a little lonely."

"He didn't seem lonely at all."

Beria tilted her head.

Lisinas gave a bitter smile seeing Beria like that.

"Yeah, Kyle won't be lonely. That's how it is for people with no regrets."

Lisinas straightened her knees and looked towards Kyle's house.

"Still, I think it's better for you to be there than for him to be alone."

At those words, Beria thought for a moment and said,

"Then wouldn't it be better to get married?"

"What?"

"Then I think he'll be less lonely."

At that, Lisinas's expression turned a little flustered, and she smiled awkwardly.

"That would be good. But that's after everything is over…"

"It would be perfect if Master Luna and Master Kyle got married."

"What are you talking about?"

Lisinas's expression turned serious.

However, Beria, who didn't notice the change, said with innocent eyes,

"I don't like it, but they match."

"……"

This child is somehow dangerous.

Thinking that, Lisinas said,

"Isn't that a waste for Luna?"

"Indeed. As expected, you are the King of Wisdom."

Beria exclaimed in admiration and thought seriously.

Lisinas smiled softly watching her.

'Did I do something I shouldn't have?'

Regrets are always too late.

***

Even after that day, Beria continued to visit Kyle's house.

Luna made persistent efforts to improve her cooking skills.

Since Luna was already good at most things, her cooking skills improved dramatically as soon as she put in the effort.

Lisinas practiced with her, but her cooking skills showed no signs of improvement, as if cursed.

However, even as Luna's cooking improved, Beria continued to visit Kyle's house.

Luna was disappointed seeing Beria like that.

However, Beria did not stop eating at Kyle's house at Lisinas's request.

Several more months passed.

About half a year after Beria became Kyle's disciple.

The great heroes once again went to the battlefield of Tartarus.

***

"When will Master Luna and Master Aeon return?"

Beria hummed a tune.

After the great heroes left on their expedition.

Beria was finally able to perfectly complete the tasks assigned by Kyle.

Now she could learn magic and swordsmanship from Luna and Aeon again.

That fact made Beria happy.

'Now I won't have to learn anything from Master Kyle for a while.'

It was a grueling training.

She never wanted to do that kind of training again.

However, Beria felt a sense of inexplicable regret.

Beria shook her head vigorously, thinking of Kyle.

Even so, the joy of being able to learn from Luna and Aeon again was greater.

'I want to become strong quickly and stand on the battlefield with my masters.'

Beria knew.

Standing on the battlefield meant risking her life.

Because of that, she felt fear.

But even more than that, she wanted to be of help to her masters.

To Beria, they were benefactors before being masters.

'Although Master Luna and Master Aeon don't like it when I say things like this.'

Beria pouted her lips.

She walked down the central corridor of Guardsron, tightly clutching the magic book Luna had left behind.

'I wish they would come back soon.'

At that moment, the corridor of the castle began to get noisy.

'They're back!'

Beria hurried towards the sound.

As she ran down the spatial corridor with the warp gate, she heard loud conversations from beyond the corner.

"Master! Hurry, bring a healer!"

"Lord Dweno is badly injured!"

"I'm fine, so treat Aeon and the injured first!"

"Yes!"

"Luna! Kyle's injury is severe! Hurry and use healing magic…!"

"Wait! Lisinas! This guy is the most urgent! Aeon, pull yourself together!"

"Lisinas, I'm fine, so treat Aeon first."

"But…"

"Go to that idiot! I can go to the ward by myself!"

"Ah, okay. Don't overdo it!"

"You stupid fool! That's not courage, it's recklessness!"

People with pale faces were desperately trying to treat the heroes who had returned from the expedition.

Countless healers swarmed around those with severe injuries.

Aeon's wounds were particularly gruesome.

Beria's face turned pale.

She tightened her grip on the magic book and hid behind a corner of the corridor.

Healers rushed wildly down the corridor.

"Lord Kyle! Please treat him quickly…!"

"I'm fine, so take care of the others first. I'll treat myself in the ward."

Kyle, speaking calmly, stepped out of the warp gate.

His injuries were definitely not life-threatening.

Kyle had only rushed to the front lines to save Aeon, who had suddenly charged forward to gain the upper hand.

His situation was relatively better than Aeon or the other heroes.

Squelch- Squelch-

The sound of bloody footsteps was heard.

Thump-!

"Ugh! Damn it."

Kyle, kneeling, spat out an expletive.

But the injury was by no means light.

Kyle's hands trembled.

Then, feeling a gaze, he looked up.

"M-Master Kyle…"

"Is that you, Beria…"

Kyle looked at the large magic book Beria was tightly holding with a bitter expression.

And then he smiled.

"Did you finish the assignment?"

"Yes…"

"…You're fast. Well done."

Beria's eyes widened.

It was a simple compliment, but it was the first time Kyle had ever praised her.

Kyle tried to stand up but immediately swayed.

"M-Master! I'll help you!"

Beria threw down the magic book and helped Kyle up.

Kyle didn't refuse.

That's how bad his condition was.

"H-Healer! Quickly, a healer here! Master Kyle's condition is…"

"Beria."

Kyle called out softly to Beria, who was searching for a healer with a pale face.

Beria raised her head and looked into Kyle's gray eyes.

Those pupils were different from his usual coldness.

There was a hint of pity in them, and they looked sad, and…

"Become strong quickly. Become strong and… stand on the battlefield with me."

He understood Beria's desire to stand on the battlefield to lighten the burden on her masters.

And there was disgust.

Disgust towards himself for asking his still young disciple to stand on the battlefield.

Luna and Aeon.

And Kyle were different.

Luna and Aeon wanted their disciples to live in a peaceful world, no matter what.

They taught Beria with the hope that she would have the ability to protect herself, not with the desire for a comrade to stand on the battlefield with them.

But Kyle was different.

In this era… Beria would inevitably stand on the battlefield.

He felt sad and pitying for the fate of his disciple, born into a not-so-peaceful era.

At the same time, he understood her desire to follow in the footsteps of her masters and stand on the battlefield.

It was an era where she couldn't help but do so.

In that case…

'I must not have the weakness of relying on others.'

That was the reason Kyle had been so harsh on Beria.

Because they didn't know when they would die.

So that his disciple, who would have no choice but to live a life of struggle if they disappeared, could become independent sooner.

Now she understood.

Kyle's strictness, which didn't indulge her childishness even a little bit.

Beria looked at Kyle with frightened eyes.

She was suddenly terrified, as if Kyle would disappear at any moment.

"Please help me escort him to the ward."

Seeing Kyle, who had returned to his indifferent eyes, Beria gritted her teeth.

"…Yes."

Beria silently supported Kyle and headed towards the ward.

Even while being injured and helped, a sense of strength emanated from Kyle.

A strength that made one want to lean on him.

But Beria let go of that feeling.

'…Is this how it would feel if I had a dad?'

Thinking that, Beria took a step.

***

Grooooan-!

Leo looked at Beria, who had her head bowed low.

The young girl from that time was gone.

Now, after winning countless battles,

saving the world, leading it… and finally becoming disappointed, only a disciple remained.

Swish-

Beria stood up straight.

Only the instinct of a revenant, burning with hatred for the living, remained in her movements.

'I could only teach you how to endure alone, for you who had to live through that era.'

Thump- Thump-

Leo approached Beria.

But the era has changed.

You don't have to bear everything alone.

'We ended that era. So you don't have to live the way we had to live.'

He should have taught her how to live in a different way, but he couldn't.

So.

"Now, I will teach you how to lean on others."

And…

Leo stopped walking and looked back.

"Learn well."

Leo said softly and stared straight ahead.

"This is…"

Leo bent his knees.

"The fight of those who had to live through that era."

KABOOM-!

Leo kicked off the ground and charged towards Beria.