Book 1 Chapter 556

Leo received extreme hospitality from the Zerone family.

It wasn't just because he was Elena's guest.

"I don't know how many tears this old man shed when Lord Flov found Lady Alia's mementos."

The old mage, seated at the dinner table, wiped his tears with a handkerchief and repeatedly bowed his head to Leo.

Elena, seated at the head of the table, addressed the old mage while cutting her steak with a fork and knife.

"Such a spectacle in front of a guest, Berewin."

"I know, young lady. But when I think of that time, this old man… this old man…"

Berewin Berak.

He was a hero whose name was recorded in the Hero Records, and he was currently the head of the Zerone family, as well as a great mage called an Infinity Speller, Altech Zerone, and the wizard Albí, the Professor of Lumern with the Magic Eye, and Elena's magic mentor.

If he had taught the direct descendants of Zerone, he would have certainly taught Alia Zerone, whom Leo saved from the hero's world during the first-year midterms.

'Was it called a blood vein?'

Judging by the name alone, he was clearly a mage who controlled blood.

Leo recalled Fritz Edgon from the first-year magic department.

He, who came from the shadows and was Leo's admirer, also wielded blood magic.

"Lady Alia was truly a kind-hearted person. When Lady Alia was alive, both the Lord and Lord Albí were brighter. She was also extremely talented."

"Yes, yes, I've heard enough about my aunt to last a lifetime."

Elena rested her chin on her hand and sighed.

"Of course, in terms of talent alone, Lady Elena is the best."

Berewin looked at Elena.

"It's just that you're a bit lazy."

At those words, Elena made a bored expression.

"Don't you think so too, Lord Flov?"

At Berewin's question, Leo looked at Elena.

"It's true that Senior Elena is a bit lazy."

"Oh? You can speak so carelessly to your senior?"

"Because it's the truth."

Leo cut his meat with a knife.

In terms of pure talent, Elena was a genius, among the best Leo had ever seen.

Both in his past and current life.

The history of heroes had great heroes who carried their eras.

The hero of the most recent era was none other than the Sword Saint Callian.

"In terms of talent alone, she's a prospect who surpasses the Sword Saint."

"Oh?"

Berewin exclaimed.

He, too, was a hero who lived in the same era as the Sword Saint.

Of course, in the face of the Sword Saint's fame, his name was dimmed.

However, even so, he was a comrade who had participated in countless battles with Sword Saint Callian and exchanged help with him.

For Berewin, Leo's words that she was a prospect who surpassed the Sword Saint were intriguing.

"What is the reason for thinking so?"

"I had a friend who was good at judging people."

Leo recalled Risinas.

"I learned a little from him."

"You are confident in your judgment."

"Not as much as that friend."

Leo smiled faintly.

Elena stared intently at Leo.

The dinner ended like that.

***

Deep night.

Leo was fast asleep in his bed.

Rustle- rustle-

Then, the sound of small footsteps was heard.

Swish-

Leo opened his eyes, feeling someone climbing onto the bed.

"Are you awake? Leo-kun?"

Elena smiled faintly.

Looking at Elena, Leo said,

"Senior, it's quite late at night."

"I know."

Elena shrugged her shoulders.

"I just wanted to talk."

Elena, wearing a negligee, sat on the bed and crossed her legs.

The Queen of Lumern.

Or Elena, who was called a witch and was the object of students' fear.

But at this moment, she looked like a girl her age.

"Leo-kun. Do you know why I so readily handed over the student council presidency to you?"

"Because it was bothersome."

"Of course, there's that too."

Elena chuckled.

"But more than that, it was because I wanted to see a flawless hero."

Elena turned her head and looked at Leo.

Her pink eyes sparkled.

"I thought you could become a flawless hero."

In those eyes, a childlike innocence could be seen.

"Why did you want to see a flawless hero?"

"Do you remember what I said after defeating Erebus in Luna-nim's world?"

'When I was young, I preferred the princess who was saved to the hero in fairy tales. I admired her more.'

Recalling what happened before, Leo opened his mouth.

"You mean that you preferred the princess to the hero?"

"Yes."

Elena chuckled.

"I got tired of hearing it since I was little. The words that I would become a hero."

No matter what anyone said, Elena was clearly a top-tier genius in the era of heroes.

An unusual background.

And an even more unusual talent.

"I heard it countless times since I was little. That I had to succeed Lumern."

Elena chuckled.

"You know what? Lumern-nim faced his limits and was frustrated."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it's a fact written in the first chairman's memoirs."

"That's interesting."

"……."

Elena narrowed her eyes at Leo's lukewarm reaction.

"That's quite a lukewarm response."

"Did you respect the Twilight Knight, Senior Elena?"

"……."

At those words, Elena was silent for a moment before nodding.

"I do, even now."

Elena chuckled.

"I had a very harsh upbringing."

From a young age, Elena had lived with the title of the greatest genius in the history of the Zerone family.

There was even an expectation that she might surpass the Twilight Sage and reach the Twilight Knight.

She was literally revered as the successor of the new era.

As such, Elena's childhood was arduous.

"Whenever that happened, I read Lumern-nim's fairy tales."

The knight who never gave up.

Lumern's epic, who rose from the status of a slave to a hero who saved the world, was literally endless challenge itself.

"I was able to gain strength from his never-give-up attitude. In my childhood, Lumern-nim was a flawless hero."

And she saw.

The story of Lumern eventually being frustrated.

"Were you disappointed?"

"Well… rather than disappointed, I was frustrated."

Elena's eyes sank.

"It was vividly written in the ancestor's memoirs. The scene of Lumern-nim screaming in frustration."

It was a shock to young Elena.

"I didn't know what to do when I realized that even the person I aimed for wasn't a perfect hero."

A terrible life hidden behind the names of harsh and arduous.

Of course, the Zerone family didn't force Elena into such a life to torment her.

They simply believed in her potential.

Elena also believed in her potential and spent her childhood relying on Lumern's story.

"When Uncle Albí returned to the family, those tiresome training sessions were over. I'm really grateful for that."

Elena smiled faintly.

"But after that, I became completely twisted and turned into an arrogant kid who made fun of people."

"That's true."

"Shouldn't you refute that when I say that?"

Elena frowned slightly and glared at Leo for a moment.

After a moment, she sighed and said,

"I only recently learned why he was frustrated."

"……."

"In the end, Lumern-nim despaired at the fact that he couldn't defeat Erebus."

Elena uncrossed her legs, looked at the ceiling, and lamented.

"It's all in vain. What was I trying to become a hero for?"

Thud-

Elena, lying on the bed, turned her gaze towards Leo.

"I made you the student council president because I wanted you to be the flawless hero I couldn't become. Well, you became it even without help from someone like me."

Elena chuckled.

"My motivation has completely disappeared. Should I just quit school?"

"That would be problematic. You have to be the vice student council president."

"Hmm? Does that mean you need me, Leo-kun?"

Elena gave a strangely twisted smile, then got up and approached Leo.

"What do you think of me, Leo-kun?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm very beautiful, aren't I? I have the Zerone background, and my abilities are outstanding. That's why I want you to take the position of vice student council president."

Elena, who had crawled up to Leo without him realizing it, climbed on top of him.

"The princess marries the hero who saved her and supports him, it's a common story, isn't it?"

Elena's pink pupils gleamed.

Elena's loose hair tickled Leo's cheek.

"What do you think?"

At those words, Leo, who was lying down, reached out.

The tip of Leo's fingers touched Elena's abdomen.

Elena's stomach flinched and caved in.

Leo's fingers, moving along her stomach, headed towards her side, and each time, Elena's body trembled slightly.

And then…

*Thwack-!*

"Ah?!"

"Stop messing around. What is a kid who hasn't even lost their baby teeth trying to act like an adult?"

Leo, as if it were ridiculous, mercilessly pinched Elena's side.

"Is this insubordination? Insubordination!"

"You're the student council president at school, so you're the highest."

Leo, who had easily subdued Elena, clicked his tongue and got out of bed.

Elena, left alone on the bed, clutched her side and trembled.

"Is this how you tame Lil too?"

"Don't say things that could be misunderstood if overheard."

Leo said, crossing his arms.

"If you pull a prank like this one more time, you'll face a terrible consequence next time, so don't do it."

"Ah, it's no fun. What kind of junior is so worn out and like an old man? I can't even tease you."

Elena snorted.

'Worn out old man, you impudent brat.'

Leo let out a silent laugh and said,

"The Twilight Knight must have been frustrated and given up."

"……."

Elena smiled bitterly.

"But he probably stood up again."

"What?"

"Who in the world doesn't get frustrated and give up? Someone like that would be truly insane."

Leo clicked his tongue.

The era of disaster.

He himself, as a surviving hero, had experienced more frustration and despair than anyone else.

But…

"The important thing is whether you can stand up again."

He eventually stood up.

For Leo, not giving up wasn't just clinging to an impossible task until the end.

Standing up again and running down a different path, avoiding an insurmountable wall, was also not giving up.

"He probably thought he couldn't defeat Erebus, but he didn't give up on defeating Erebus. That's why the Twilight Knight has been holding back Erebus in the hero's world for 3000 years."

'He probably thinks he gave up.'

Leo thought of his successor, whom he had never met or spoken to.

'Don't be pessimistic, Kyle. The reason you're called a surviving hero is… even if you were frustrated and gave up at that moment. You stood up many times and ran down a different path. That's not giving up at all.'

Risinas's words came to mind.

'If you respect me… you don't have to resemble all of that.'

Leo let out a bitter laugh and looked at Elena, who had a blank expression.

"If you truly respect the Twilight Knight, you don't need to give up just because Lumern did. So,"

Leo met Elena's eyes and said,

"Stand up again and again, naive princess. Stand up."

"Stand up?"

"You need to become a real queen. How long are you going to act like a child just because your childhood was a bit rough?"

Elena had a stunned expression.

Then, she let out a hollow laugh and asked,

"Are you not in need of a new slave?"

"New slaves are always welcome."

At those words, Elena let out a hollow laugh.

"Seriously… I have such a ridiculous junior."

Elena sighed deeply, got off the bed, and crossed her arms.

"Instead, I'll run it as I please."

Leo nodded.

"As you wish."