Book 1 Chapter 608
608.
In an office with a full view of the garden of the government building, a middle-aged man was doing paperwork.
Knock-Knock-
A knight entered with the sound of a knock.
“Commander.”
“What is it?”
“A guest has arrived.”
“That’s strange. I haven’t heard any news of Rodren sending an envoy.”
Sis said, without taking his eyes off the documents.
The knight replied to his words.
“It’s not a Rodren envoy.”
At that, Sis’s hand paused for a moment.
Then he clicked his tongue and said.
“Send them away.”
Sis Zigma.
He was the commander of the Tusen Knights, who practically managed the Resentung region.
As a hero with the moniker Crimson Wave, he was currently known as the owner of Resentung to the outside world.
The Resentung region gets very cold in winter due to the influence of the northern part of the continent.
However, in spring, summer, and autumn, it was a land with a very warm climate due to the influence of the fire spirits settled there.
Moreover, most of the territory was a vast plain, making it the granary of the western continent where crops grew well.
In addition, as it was a land where a great fire spirit had long been settled, high-grade spirit stones were also produced there.
Because of this, countless nations wanted to trade with the Resentung region.
However, the Tusen Knights officially interacted only with the Rodren Empire.
Decades ago.
When the Tungkon Kingdom suffered a large-scale invasion from Tartaros, most of Tungkon's allies watched Tungkon's demise.
This was to prevent the damage from spreading to their own territories due to the unusual scale of Tartaros's invasion at the time.
Furthermore, they refused requests for aid because the Rodren Empire, which held hegemony in the west, had dispatched a large number of heroes and troops.
Ultimately, the Tartaros invasion was halted, but in the process, all of Tungkon's royal family either lost their lives or went missing.
Tungkon, which suffered great damage, naturally perished and disappeared into the annals of history.
Thereafter, the Tusen Knights, who inherited Tungkon's legacy, cut off ties with nations that had been allies but had turned a blind eye to the crisis.
At Sis’s sharp reaction, the knight quickly corrected himself.
“They are not envoys from another country. The guests are from Rodren. It is a sudden visit, not an envoy.”
“Hmm?”
“People from Gerdinger and Rwallyn have come.”
“Gerdinger and Rwallyn?”
Sis, who had taken his eyes off the documents, stood up from his seat.
Then he approached the large window in the room and looked outside.
Seeing the four people at the forefront, he made a puzzled expression.
“They look familiar.”
“Leo Flobe, the student council president of Rumern. And Celia Gerdinger, Abard Rwallyn, and Chelsea Rwallyn, all from the same year.”
“Indeed. Are these the friends who are making such a stir in the world these days?”
Sis exclaimed.
“Then I suppose I should go greet our guests.”
***
After revealing their identities, Leo and his group were easily guided to the reception room.
“I heard the Tusen Knights aren’t favorable to foreign nobles. It’s fortunate that we can meet the Crimson Wave without much difficulty.”
“Our Empire and the Tusen Knights have been in continuous communication. Even so, it’s a sudden visit, so I thought it would take some time to meet Sir Sis immediately, but I never expected to see him right away like this.”
The Tusen Knights manage the Resentung region.
The commander of such a knight order could be said to be the highest-ranking person in this region.
Indeed, Sis had attained the position of a hero.
The master of the fertile Resentung region.
In other words, he was a man with the status of a king.
No matter if direct descendants of Gerdinger and Rwallyn had arrived, if they came unannounced, an audience would require a procedure.
But to be able to meet him right away like this.
“You must be busy, so I’m a little surprised.”
When Celia spoke with a slightly flustered voice, the middle-aged knight who had been listening to the conversation at the reception room entrance smiled faintly.
“It is because the esteemed visitors are Sir Leo and Lady Celia.”
“Me and Leo?”
“Yes. The late head of the Gerdinger family spared no expense in supporting the rapid reconstruction of the Resentung region, which had been devastated by the Tartaros invasion.”
“My grandfather did?”
“Yes. Even while helping with the reconstruction of the Resentung region, he asked for nothing in return. Later, when Tusen tried to repay the favor, he resolutely refused. And he also did not publicly announce the help he provided for the Resentung region.”
Deep respect was evident in the middle-aged knight's eyes.
Legas’s generous support for the reconstruction of the Resentung region was likely heavily influenced by his wife, Nyla.
But no matter how much he loved his wife, it’s not easy for a family head to help others without any compensation.
Especially if one possesses a great deal.
‘Now that I think about it, my grandfather had almost no personal private property.’
Even as a family head, one cannot do everything in the family as they please.
Therefore, they usually create separate assets that can be freely managed.
Especially for the head of a top hero noble family like Gerdinger, wealth naturally accumulates.
Legas had no such thing.
It seemed the reason was probably that he secretly helped the Resentung region.
Leo muttered as he listened to the story.
“He’s a knight among knights.”
“Huh? Of course, my grandfather is the best knight. He’s the former head of Gerdinger, the best knight family, so naturally…”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Leo chuckled at Celia’s words.
“It means he inherited the spirit passed down from ancient times.”
A noble and righteous soul who doesn't hesitate to sacrifice for the weak and fights against injustice.
He was, quite literally, the epitome of an honorable knight.
There are clearly things in the world more valuable than territory and wealth.
The direct descendants of Gerdinger, if not others, knew that fact well.
‘That’s why they’re called the best knight family, I suppose.’
At Leo’s words, Celia tilted her chin up and said.
“Of course, he’s my grandfather.”
It was then that Leo chuckled at her words.
The reception room door opened, and a middle-aged man appeared.
The middle-aged man's first impression brought to mind an impartial judge who valued principles.
Leo stared at the man for a moment, then muttered inwardly.
‘A Spirit Knight. And a strong one at that.’
The same oppressive aura as a veteran warrior who had navigated countless battlefields.
He was a powerful individual comparable to the heroes Leo had met so far.
‘Is this man Sis Zigma, the commander of Tusen?’
Leo silently watched Sis.
The moment Sis entered the room, he looked at Leo.
To be precise, he alternated glances between Leo and Celia.
The stern eyes wavered for a moment.
The knights in the reception room saluted Sis.
“Could you leave us to speak with the guests?”
At the sudden words, the knights looked puzzled but immediately left the reception room.
Until then, Sis had only been staring intently at Leo and Celia.
After a moment, Sis opened his mouth.
“The mages of Rwallyn…”
“They are my friends, so please speak freely.”
Leo had already explained the situation to Chelsea and Abard.
Sis nodded at his words.
“Then I will ask you directly.”
Sis said, staring intently at Leo.
“What is your relationship with the royal family of Tungkon?”
At that question, Leo wore a slightly unexpected expression.
Celia was also surprised.
Sis spoke, looking at the two of them.
“My family, the Zigma family, has been loyal retainers of the Tungkon royal family for a long time. I, too, met the royal family only once when I was very young, before Tungkon fell. So I vaguely remember their appearance.”
Long ago, all records of Tungkon disappeared during Tartaros's invasion.
The few remaining records were all in Tungkon's royal palace, but the palace was currently sealed.
No portraits or records remained.
Furthermore, since no hero relics exist, a Hero Record cannot be opened.
Therefore, the appearance of the Tungkon royal family only remained in the memories of those who had met them before all the royal family members disappeared at the time.
Sis was one of those people.
“When I saw the direct descendants of Gerdinger in pictures, I didn’t quite realize it, but… seeing you like this reminds me of them in my memory. Celia Gerdinger. Your appearance is remarkably similar to the princesses.”
‘My grandfather and father often told me I resembled my grandmother.’
Celia muttered inwardly.
“And Leo Flobe.”
Sis’s gaze fixed on Leo.
“The color of your hair is the same as that of the Tungkon royal family members I saw back then.”
When he encountered it in newspapers, he only saw black-and-white photos, so he couldn't tell.
It was only known that it was white hair.
But seeing it in person, Leo's hair was the exact same color as the Tungkon royal family Sis remembered.
At Sis's words, Leo touched his hair.
‘My grandmother, Nyla Gerdinger, dyed her hair continuously after marrying my grandfather Legas and becoming the mistress of Gerdinger, didn’t she?’
It was a hair color that didn't exist in his paternal Flobe family or his maternal Gerdinger family, which he found puzzling, but it seems he inherited it from this side.
“I ask again. What is your relationship with the Tungkon royal family?”
At Sis’s question, Celia looked at Leo.
Thereupon, Leo opened his mouth.
“My grandmother, Nyla Gerdinger, wife of the former head of Gerdinger, Legas Gerdinger, her birth name is Lena Tungkon.”
At that, Sis’s body trembled.
“Princess Lena?”
Leo handed over the documents he received from Legas.
Sis gasped after confirming them.
An artifact in the form of a pendant, enclosed with the documents.
A red spirit stone was embedded in the pendant’s cubic, and the Tungkon royal crest was clearly etched on the spirit stone.
Legas Gerdinger, who had helped reconstruct the devastated Resentung region for decades without any compensation.
In return for that favor, the Tusen Knights wished to come under Gerdinger’s command, but Legas Gerdinger refused.
Sis now understood why he had done so.
“Why… I… Tusen… how much the people of Tungkon searched for the royal family…”
Among the young, the name Tungkon was already forgotten.
There was nothing that could remember Tungkon.
Tartaros had thoroughly reduced everything related to Tungkon in the Resentung region to ashes.
The only remaining legacy was Tungkon's royal palace.
Records that don't exist are quickly forgotten.
Even if one wishes to teach and pass them on, it is impossible without records.
Even the hero of the beginning who saved the world was completely forgotten from people’s memories.
But those who lived during the reign of the royal family at that time still remember.
The people of the royal family who sacrificed themselves for their subjects.
How much they toiled and sweated to create a good country.
“My grandmother… said she lived her entire life with guilt for not being able to protect many people. She felt responsible for the country’s demise and the sacrifice of many in that process. As the sole survivor of the royal family, she said she couldn’t rule over those she failed to protect, and that if the people of this land were happy, then she was happy with that.”
“Ah… how could she think such a thing.”
Sis, who had searched for a royal survivor for a long time and eventually given up, couldn't help but be regretful.
He never dreamed that a descendant of the royal family would be surviving so close by.
Sis, who had been bowing his head and shedding tears, eventually lifted his head.
His eyes were filled with strong resolve.
“Now, all that remains is for this land to return to its rightful owner.”
Sis’s eyes turned to Leo and Celia.
“Who will be the king?”
At that, Celia looked at Leo.
“It will be Sir Leo Flobe.”
Sis nodded as if understanding.
“I will prepare the coronation immediately! So that you can ascend the throne tomorrow!”
At that, Celia made a flustered expression.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes! Resentung has been without a king for too long! The rightful owner has returned, so you must ascend the throne even tomorrow and proclaim it to the world!”
“Still, don’t we need preparations? A coronation preparation in just one day. That’s physically impossible.”
“What in this world is impossible?”
‘This person. He definitely had a cool-headed image until just a moment ago, but why is he suddenly just blurting things out without thinking?’
Celia made a flustered expression.
Leo looked at Sis and remembered someone.
‘He’s like Defecer.’
Defecer.
A Gold Dragon who served Lysinass.
He was also the dragon responsible for Gadstron’s internal affairs.
Normally a meticulous personality, but when it came to matters concerning the great hero, his eyes would often roll like this.
His appearance and suddenly reckless demeanor reminded him of the one who had lost his life long ago.
Leo, bursting into laughter, said.
“Let’s do that slowly. Before that.”
“Yes. Please tell me.”
Sis, whose tone had changed without him realizing it, spoke respectfully.
‘The Tungkon royal family must have been truly good people.’
To have his attitude change so drastically just for being a descendant of Tungkon.
“I’d like to meet the Spirit of Purification.”
***
The city where Gerdinger’s true nature lies.
Payon.
It had been a long time since Raina walked the streets of her hometown with her husband.
“This place is still the same.”
Seeing Raina’s joyful expression, Daed asked with a worried face.
“Raina, are you feeling alright?”
“Of course. Walking like this even makes me feel refreshed, which is great, isn’t it?”
Raina smiled faintly.
The Flobe family attendants were anxious and fidgeting, worried about their mistress’s health.
“Madam. Shall I get you something warm?”
“Lady Raina. If you’re cold, put on your gloves.”
“Huhu, thank you. But I’m fine now, no need to make such a fuss.”
Raina, who had been covering her mouth and laughing, let out a small sigh.
“I wanted to go to Letin with the children.”
“It’s not too late to go after you feel a little better.”
“Hmm.”
At Daed’s words, Raina, who had been smiling brightly, stopped walking.
“Raina?”
Daed made a flustered expression.
Raina clutched her right chest and hunched over.
“Raina?”
“Gasp! Ma-Madam!”
Daed and the attendants checked Raina’s condition.
“Oh, you were alive?”
At the voice heard from in front, Raina felt her head go cold.
When she looked up, what she saw was a flame.
Whoosh-
A flame that was all too familiar.
‘My flame?’
“It’s good to meet my prey from long ago again.”