Book 1 Chapter 599
599.
“What?”
Layna's eyes widened, and she checked the documents Leo had received.
“This is outside the imperial territory, isn't it? And the Resenthung region? How does Father own this golden piece of land?”
“Yes. Do you like this father's gift?”
“It seems you did quite well for yourself during your time as the head of the family, didn't you? When did you line your pockets so much?”
At Layna's words, Legas covered his face.
“You're saying things that could be misunderstood by anyone who hears them. It's the land your mother left behind.”
“Mom? Mom owned so much land?!”
“Because your mother was the princess of Tungkun, the Duchy of Swords that ruled the Resenthung region.”
“Mom was royalty?”
Layna wore a surprised expression at the fact she had never known.
“Tungkun Kingdom? I've never heard that name before?”
As Leo tilted his head, Legas said,
“Of course. It's a heroic kingdom that fell before your mother was even born.”
Heroic kingdom.
It refers to nations with territories the size of duchies, founded by mighty heroes.
“Your grandfather's kingdom was invaded by Tartaros and perished when he was around Rhys's age.”
At those words, Leo made a puzzled expression.
“Then haven't other forces established themselves in the Resenthung region?”
“The force currently established in the Resenthung region is the Tusen Knights, who were Tungkun's elite knight order. Loyal to Tungkun, they are still searching for Tungkun's lineage, even after a long time has passed.”
“Why did Mom keep her origins a secret even from us? And why, being royalty, didn't she return to Tungkun? I think the Tusen Knights would have immediately crowned Mother as queen?”
Legas gave a wry smile, looking at Layna's puzzled expression.
“Indeed, if she had returned to Tungkun, your mother would have become queen. But Nayla carried a great sense of guilt for failing to prevent Tungkun's demise. She refused to return to her homeland her entire life, saying she could not rule over land she failed to protect.”
The matriarch of the previous Zerdinger generation.
Nayla Zerdinger was also highly renowned as a noble knight.
“Is it alright to inherit such land to me?”
“I know that as a hero, your goal is the complete destruction of Erebus.”
A grand dream that was the aspiration of all who lived in the world, yet one no one dared to speak aloud.
“Your mother greatly resembled your grandmother.”
Legas looked at his daughter and smiled wistfully.
“She used to say, as a habit, that those born with power surely have a reason for being born with that power.”
“She certainly did say that.”
Layna nodded.
“Your grandmother's belief was that such power should be used to protect the weak and good. There were those who ridiculed it as a sacrifice. But I believe it is because such noble people existed that the world has, until now, triumphed over great evil. And Leo.”
Legas's red eyes turned to Leo.
“You are someone who doesn't hesitate in the slightest to dedicate yourself to the world.”
Legas had watched Leo's actions since his entrance exam.
And seeing Leo's progress, his impression was deeply moved.
It wasn't simply because he was a grandson with outstanding talent.
It was because he glimpsed the shadow of a true hero in Leo.
He pulls those who could be rivals forward, and sometimes supports them from behind.
Even though he could easily go ahead, he never ran alone.
He waits for those who fall behind and grows together with them.
Seeing that, he knew.
That the absurd goal of Erebus's complete destruction was genuine.
“I thought someone like you would be worthy of inheriting your grandmother's legacy.”
Legas fiddled with the pendant around his neck.
Inside it was a photograph of his wife, who had passed away long ago.
“Power comes in many forms. An individual's military might is power, but the forces one commands are also a great power that cannot be ignored.”
That was also the reason Layna wanted to pass on a large territory to her son.
Because that territory would surely become a foundation for Leo to build his power.
An individual's power has limits.
When there is a force that can support Leo.
Only then, he thought, could Leo fully spread his wings as a hero.
‘Because the path Leo intends to walk will never be smooth.’
“If Tungkun's legacy is used to achieve complete peace in the world. Your grandmother would be happier than anyone. That is why I am giving you that land.”
At those words, Leo nodded.
“Father.”
“Were you perhaps moved by this father's heart?”
“You're not planning to settle everything with this, are you? This is Mother's legacy, so what the Zerdinger family owes should be calculated separately and given to Leo. Understood?”
“……”
Legas asked, watching Layna, who was sure to claim what was hers.
“Who on earth do you take after?”
“Mom.”
***
Celia, who was waiting in front of the Elder's Hallway, quickly asked as soon as Leo came out.
“How did it go?”
To Celia's urgent question, Leo said,
“For now, we've roughly settled on me inheriting the northern imperial territories.”
“What? If it's our family's territory in the northern imperial region, most of it is barren mountain ranges!”
“I've decided to receive a portion of the land my mother was supposed to inherit after I graduate.”
“That's ridiculous! Even if you inherited all of Aunt's legacy right now, it wouldn't be enough!”
Celia flared up.
“You seem angrier than I am?”
“This is a matter of treatment! Did Aunt just sit idly by?”
“Madam. Please calm down.”
“Ah, Madam.”
Niel and Martina calmed Celia down.
“No, she didn't just sit there. There was a huge fuss because they wanted to marry me off to Chelsea.”
“Whaaaat!?”
“Chelsea? Chelsea Lwelyn?!”
Martina and Niel wore expressions of horror.
“What kind of talk is that?! Why would you marry Chelsea Lwelyn! Absolutely unacceptable!”
Celia flared up, her face flushed red.
Leo's other knights also gasped in surprise.
At those words, Leo said,
“Why are you so surprised? It's not like it's actually going to happen.”
“R-right? Yes! There's no way you'd marry Chelsea Lwelyn!”
Celia calmed her startled heart.
“So?”
“Grandfather stepped in and arbitrated.”
“How?”
“First, instead of following the Elder Council's opinion, he decided to pass the Resenthung region on to me.”
“Resenthung region? That's not imperial territory, is it? It has no connection to our family at all? Was there perhaps a separate region called Resenthung within the empire?”
“As far as I know, there isn't.”
Niel shook his head.
“It's the northern imperial region, alright. They say that land belonged to our grandmother.”
Leo told Celia the story he had heard from Legas.
Celia made a surprised expression upon hearing the story.
“What? Then you… you're saying you've become the rightful owner of Tungkun?”
“That's right.”
“So you're a king?”
“Does it work that way?”
“You, you really are something.”
Even in a situation equivalent to inheriting an entire kingdom, he seemed unfazed.
‘He really does have a big capacity.’
“I'm thinking of going to Resenthung in two days.”
“Then I'll go too. Grandmother's land, you say. I'm curious.”
Celia's eyes sparkling.
Leo chuckled at the sight and looked down at his hand.
‘A king, huh.’
He recalled a friend who was called the King of Wisdom.
‘I seem to be becoming more and more like him.’
***
Three people approached Rhys, who had suppressed the Eastern rebels.
“Excellent. Rhys, to quell the rebellion so quickly without casualties. Truly worthy of my rival.”
Ultar threw his arms open and made a fuss.
Behind Ultar, Torua clucked his tongue.
“If it had been my magic, it could have been resolved more cleanly and simply.”
“I can't ask guests like you to do such a thing. Besides, it could cause diplomatic problems.”
Jamua smacked his lips, looking at Rhys's gentle smile.
“At times like this, I miss my free student days.”
“Yeah, you're right. Even if we caused trouble, the school always took care of the aftermath.”
Torua nodded as if in agreement.
“Which magic idiot and musclehead did such an outrageous thing, anyway? As an honor student, they are utterly incomprehensible problem children.”
“You were the worst, though?”
Torua poked Ultar's head with his staff.
Jamua, who had been clucking his tongue at the squabbling pair, asked after seeing Rhys's serious expression.
“What's wrong? Is something the matter?”
“No, I just heard something a little concerning.”
“What story?”
“While subduing the enemies, many screamed 'demon's flame' when they saw my flames.”
“Demon's flame?”
Jamua furrowed his brow.
“Yes. And they seemed to fear it as if they had seen my flames before.”
The Zerdinger flame is a crimson flame imbued with the power of the Phoenix.
Ordinary flame aura or magical flame.
It is clearly different from the flames of mythical beasts and spirits.
Anyone who saw it would recognize it as the Zerdinger flame.
“Your family's flame is the Phoenix's flame, isn't it?”
“That's right. And the Zerdinger family is the only one in Rodren that wields the Phoenix's power.”
“Couldn't they just be mistaken?”
“I wish that were the case, but.”
They were clearly afraid of the Zerdinger flame.
The rebels had witnessed the Zerdinger flame multiple times, something ordinary people would be lucky to see even once in a lifetime.
‘It's bothering me.’
“Or, Rhys. I've created a new interrogation spell this time, would you like me to help?”
Torua asked, sitting next to Rhys.
Jamua clucked his tongue, looking at Torua.
“Have you already forgotten that outsiders shouldn't interfere in this matter?”
“Tsk-tsk. Jamua. I've told you before, you are severely lacking in love.”
“What's that supposed to mean, out of nowhere?”
“Do you really not know that Torua's desire to help Rhys is love?”
“What kind of nonsense is that now?”
Ultar spread his arms, looking at Torua's scowling face.
“No need to hide it, Torua. I saw it. On the dawn of graduation day, your figure emerging from Rhys's dormitory window!”
“What? You denied it so much, but you two were *that* kind of relationship after all?”
Jamua grinned slyly, having heard Ultar's words.
Torua smiled sweetly, looking at the two of them.
“Yes. But that fact is a secret between just Rhys and me.”
“It's no longer a secret between just the two of you, is it? Since Ultar and I know now.”
“No. It will remain a secret between just the two of us forever.”
“How?”
“By killing those who know the secret.”
As soon as they heard that, Ultar and Jamua ran away without looking back.
Torua chased after them with an intensity that truly suggested he would kill them.
Rhys sighed, watching their retreating figures.
“It seems they haven't changed even after graduation.”
***
“Did I miss them?”
Torua clucked his tongue with a 'tsk'.
“Even if not Ultar, Jamua, that loose-lipped fellow, I need to deal with him somehow.”
Torua stroked his chin, lost in thought.
‘Jamua must have a brain trained into muscle, so wouldn't it be okay to cast a strong mind-control spell on him?’
As he seriously pondered and returned toward Rhys, he realized someone was blocking his path and raised his head.
The man in a black hood was holding a sword.
‘A rebel?’
It was then that Torua made a puzzled expression.
“Torua Yan?”
“Do you know me?”
“I heard you are a famous hero candidate of this era.”
Under the hood, the man's lips curved into an arc.
“I'll be taking your magic power.”
Hwaruruk-!
Crimson flames erupted from the man's sword.
Torua's eyes widened greatly.
It was an all too familiar flame.
The flame he had seen from the moment he entered Lumerne until the moment he graduated.
“The Zerdinger flame?”