Book 1 Chapter 549
549.
“Hero of the Beginning, what are your plans after saving the Fairy Knights?”
“What do you mean 'what plans'? I'll crush that Necromancer King who turned Berkeia into that, and finally, I'll sweep away all the fragments of Erebus.”
Inside the Akashic Record Library.
After seeing all of Berkeia's records, Leo answered Lian's question calmly.
“Come to think of it, when I met the god Fibwa in Luna's world, he was very surprised to hear that I was fighting Erebus.”
“Of course he'd be surprised.”
Lian poured tea into Leo's teacup and said.
“Because gods are the ones who best understand what it means to fight against the primordial evil.”
Leo drank his tea calmly.
Lian said to such a Leo.
“It must have been painful, wasn't it?”
Pity dwelled in Lian's eyes.
The sorrow of losing comrades like family, and the fear of facing Erebus alone.
Countless things must have brought despair.
But what tormented Leo even more than those things must have been the black flames that burned his body.
The flames of disaster that blazed from the very moment this world existed.
Erebus's flames, like the embodiment of evil, inflict pain that seems to destroy the very soul.
If any god were to see a mere human attempting to fight against those flames, which even gods are terrified of, they would be moved.
Even if that person possessed the power of Erebus's natural enemy.
Leo didn't answer, just sipped his tea.
Leo wasn't the only one who felt such terrible pain.
‘Arion, Dweno, Luna, Lisinas. They all died that way.’
Recalling the deaths of his friends, Leo smiled.
Seeing that, Lian made a puzzled expression.
“Why are you smiling?”
“It must have been painful, but those fools all smiled.”
“The meaning of that smile… you don't know it?”
“Now I do.”
Absolute trust in those who remained.
It was an unwavering belief that even though they couldn't achieve it, Kyle would definitely achieve it.
That's why they could smile even amidst the extreme pain that crushed their souls.
“Well, in the end, I was left alone like this.”
Leo rested his chin on his hand and gently swirled his teacup.
“I wish they could have enjoyed this peace too.”
He recalled the incident with Luna from before.
Remembering her happy smiling face, his mouth tasted bitter.
Lian, who had been silently watching Leo, who seemed somehow lonely, created two mirrors in his hands and said.
“Hero of the Beginning, do you know about 'many-worlds interpretation'?”
“Many-worlds interpretation?”
“If you set mirrors side by side like this…”
Lian placed the mirrors facing each other side by side and said.
“Inside, an infinite space unfolds, doesn't it?”
“Are you talking about parallel worlds?”
“Yes. It's a concept similar to theories used in magic. More precisely, it's a slightly more advanced concept.”
Lian brought the mirrors together.
Then a small tree grew in his hand.
“In the many-worlds interpretation, the world has countless branching points. If we liken it to a tree, those branching points are these branches.”
Lian continued his explanation, pointing at the branches growing in various directions.
“When an event occurs and a branching point arises, a world where the event happened and a world where it didn't happen come into being. This is the many-worlds interpretation theory.”
“So, if parallel worlds exist, does that mean there could be a world where they survived?”
“Yes.”
Lian smiled, shook his hand, and the tree disappeared.
“So you don't have to blame yourself too much about that. Somewhere in another world we cannot reach, other great heroes might have revived and be living in that world.”
“Do these 'parallel worlds' actually exist?”
“Even I, who was a god, don't know that. They only exist as possibilities.”
“I hope they do.”
“Ah, indeed, the Hero of the Beginning is kind. Could you bestow your warm grace upon this humble servant?”
“Gross.”
At those words, Lian's shoulders slumped.
“Anyway, thanks to the Hero of the Beginning, this world has been reborn into one that no longer needs the care of the gods.”
Lian stood up with a slight grunt.
“The gods didn't give you the title 'Beginning' simply because it marked the start of a new era. The very fate of the world has passed from the hands of the gods, who were its overseers, into the hands of the residents of the lower world. In a sense, it is a true beginning.”
Fibwa's surprise must also have been for that reason.
‘In the eyes of a god, it must have been clearly visible. The nobility and conviction of this person's soul.’
How could one not be surprised upon seeing a great hero willing to repeat the world's most terrible pain for his friends?
“Before achieving the complete subjugation of Erebus. There must be things to do, right?”
“Yes.”
“In that sense, may your humble attendant dare to offer a word?”
“I refuse such titles.”
“Then, your little lamb.”
Leo gave up on having a proper conversation with the god before him.
“Do as you wish. What kind of advice do you intend to give?”
“Good heavens! How could someone like me advise you!”
“Stop the nonsense and get straight to the point.”
As Leo growled softly, Lian said.
“First, the truth about the Heroes of Creation must be revealed to the world. Until now, the Dragon Lords have kept that fact a secret for generations, fearing great chaos would befall the world, but…”
“Now, even the Heroes of Creation are reaching their limits?”
Lian nodded his head.
If it's a bomb that could explode at any time, people must be informed and preparations made.
Especially at a time like now, when the world is in conflict.
“Next, your existence, Lord Leo, must be known to the world.”
“I'm already quite famous, aren't I?”
“That's not enough.”
Lian said seriously.
“5,000 years ago, the world collapsed meaninglessly because it lacked a focal point. Then the King of Wisdom appeared and united the world under one will. You know, Lord Leo. The King of Wisdom didn't just lead heroes.”
What Lisinas led was the world itself.
“I know that you, reborn as Lord Leo, are playing Lisinas's role.”
He's raising hero candidates in preparation for the battle against Erebus.
He's forming companions and making preparations.
“But that alone is not enough.”
Lian looked at Leo and said resolutely.
“Just as she did, the Hero of the Beginning must also become the King of the World.”
The King of the World.
A king who reigns over the entire world, recognized by the gods.
And throughout the long history of the lower world.
Only Lisinas was recognized as king by the gods.
“Only when the world's will is united under a single absolute leader can the world truly exert its power.”
“It won't be easy.”
During the Age of Calamity, they could unite their will because they faced the desperate situation of the world's destruction, but not now.
Countless interests are intertwined, making it too complex.
“That's why the uniqueness of being a one-of-a-kind existence in this world is needed.”
Lian smiled.
“And the sense of crisis that the Calamity's return is not over. So, I will help.”
Lian placed his hand on his chest.
“Although I am no longer a god… I can imitate a god.”
“Why go to such lengths?”
Leo squinted his eyes and asked.
Regardless, the favor of a divine being was burdensome.
“Because I want to write it.”
Lian spread his hands.
“With these hands… the new legend you will create.”
Lian, making an ecstatic expression, said.
“The current world needs a king. So, Hero of the Beginning.”
Looking up at Leo, Lian's eyes sparkled as he spoke.
“Please become the King of the World.”
Recalling the previous conversation, Leo sighed softly to himself.
He hadn't revealed the fact that he was Kyle.
The reason was simple.
‘If I reveal that I am Kyle, people will continue to rely on the past.’
The moment Leo revealed he was Kyle.
The world would unilaterally lean on Kyle.
Frankly speaking, the story of Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, ended 5,000 years ago.
What if such a past being were to revive in the present and save the world again, setting a precedent?
‘That would mean a phantom of the past saved the world. That shouldn't happen.’
So, it was necessary to let people know.
That only the people living in this era can solve the problems of this era.
‘Perhaps the reason only the name Leo Flobe was attached to the Hero Record is because I haven't achieved any great deeds living in this era yet.’
After the special class ended, students poured out of the lecture hall.
“Oh, it's the student council president.”
“Ah.”
At someone's murmur, the crowd parted.
Chelsea, who was moving alongside Leo, looked slightly flustered.
She hadn't expected such a reaction.
As for the two of them, knowing Leo's true identity, Lian's words about him saving the world were nothing new.
But for others, it wasn't.
Although Lian was still an unknown entity, it was clear that he was an extraordinary one.
Such an unknown being declared Leo "the sole savior to save this world."
Even before this, Leo's actions had been unusual.
An unprecedented all-class.
Youngest student council president in his freshman year.
An unimaginable growth rate that surpassed countless others.
Even when witnessing such sights, they simply thought he possessed an unprecedented talent.
But the moment they heard he was born with special powers that could defeat Erebus, his past actions became even more highlighted.
‘Perhaps we are now…’
‘Perhaps we are witnessing the hero who will fulfill the world's destiny.’
The world worships great beings it struggles to understand.
But at the same time, it also rejects them.
Because what cannot be understood is frightening.
The majority of the student body didn't know how to approach Leo.
All eyes of the student body were focused, and everyone kept their distance from Leo.
But Leo was unfazed.
‘I'm used to it.’
He had already received such treatment so often during his Kyle days that he was used to it.
Because a surviving hero was trustworthy, yet at the same time, an uncomfortable presence one didn't want to associate with.
Just as Leo was about to calmly move his steps.
“Oh? We can go comfortably now, can't we?”
“Indeed! Thanks to Lord Leo, we'll go comfortably!”
Lunia and Eiran approached Leo.
“From now on, if we go with Young Master Leo every time we go to the cafeteria, we won't have to wait in line, will we?”
“Yeah. That's really true.”
Celia echoed Chen Xia's words.
Starting with that, the second-year students flocked around Leo.
Then the surroundings became noisy.
To them, what kind of being Leo was wasn't particularly important.
He was simply a goal they had to keep pursuing.
“How does it feel to be the savior of the world?”
When Duran asked with his characteristic sarcastic tone, Leo chuckled.
“I hope you follow well.”
At those words, Duran snorted.
‘The King of the World, huh.’
Leo looked up at the sky.
‘You didn't particularly want to be a king either, did you? Right?’
It just happened because he kept pursuing a foolish conviction.
He remembered his friend, who had carried the dying world on her delicate shoulders.
Leo had never once carried such a burden.
He had only saved it.
But he realized that wasn't enough.
‘It's a fresh realization, but.’
Leo placed a hand on his shoulder.
‘It's heavy.’
It was when Leo gave a wry smile.
“If it's heavy, shall I help?”
Chelsea, standing next to him, asked with a faint smile.
Leo, who had been looking at Chelsea for a moment, burst out laughing.
“When you're a bit older.”
“Okay.”
Chelsea nodded.
“We'll definitely help you.”
Leo smiled, watching Chelsea advance without hesitation after giving her answer.
‘Perhaps you felt this way too.’
Understanding Lisinas, Leo walked forward.
With his future comrades who would one day face the calamity.