Book 1 Chapter 626
626.
The elves were staring at the Forest of Monsters with tense eyes.
Leo silently watched them.
The elves present here were truly noble elves.
The Age of Calamity began.
The elves, who had built the most powerful force on earth, fell helplessly to Tartaros's invasion.
It was the same for any race, but this tendency was even more severe for elves.
‘Even now, but especially back then, elves were a race with strong racial pride.’
A race with beautiful appearances compared to other races, and one that produced many individuals with dazzling talents in aura, magic, and summoning arts without discrimination.
The elves of this period were a superior race, revered by other races.
Under that influence, their inflated pride gradually became tinged with arrogance and self-righteousness, rotting the elven race from its core.
Faced with unprecedented calamity, the High Elves, who boasted immense power, abandoned their long-held nobility and sacrificed their kin for their own lives.
It was an atrocity brought about by the idea of being the chosen people, who believed that the sacrifice of others was natural for special beings.
Thus, the High Elves, who could be called the root of the elven race, swiftly rotted and collapsed, but the elven race itself had not lost hope.
No matter how corrupted, the elven race of that era clearly cultivated a giant tree that became a pillar of the world.
The sprouts that bloomed at the tip of that tree possessed nobility.
To find their homeland.
And to drive calamity from the world.
It was these elves gathered here for a great cause.
Luna was also one of those countless sprouts.
“Lady Luna! Please stay behind me! I will definitely protect you!”
An elven youth spoke with a serious face.
‘I can’t get used to this at all.’
At the reactions of the surrounding elves calling him Luna, Leo couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.
“So that Lady Luna can use magic with peace of mind, I, Hirian, will protect you!”
The youth said, gripping his shining shield firmly.
“Hirian?”
“Oh. Did you forget again?”
Hirian made a 'you're impossible' expression.
Hirian.
It was a name Leo knew.
Even in the Age of Calamity, overwhelmingly skilled individuals left their mark.
In this era, heroes were even more precious and valuable than heroes of the present era.
‘Because it wasn't an era overflowing with heroes like now.’
To allies, they were a thread of hope that could help them continue to live another day.
At that time, Leo, who was called the 'surviving hero', and Lisinas, who was called a fool, were avoided.
Kyle was an ominous human whose companions all died, and Lisinas, who lured people with false hope that the world could be saved, was a witch-like dragon.
But even in such circumstances, Kyle and Lisinas were not isolated.
Although they were called ominous beings, ironically, battlefields where the two participated often resulted in victory or had many survivors.
That's why in Gardsron, Kyle and Lisinas were kept at a distance normally, but revered on the battlefield.
The same was true for others, with the exception of Arion, who had not yet seriously entered the battlefield.
Luna of this era was already renowned as a great mage who had turned the tide of battle several times in situations where defeat seemed certain, using overwhelming magic.
At this time, Luna, along with Akint, who became the leader of the elves, was called the hope of the elves.
Dweno was also a powerful dwarf warrior and blacksmith, with people lining up to recruit him into their parties.
Besides them, beings called heroes in this era had great fame.
Among the heroes of this era, some names have been forgotten, but their deeds are still passed down even 5000 years later.
Leo also remembered several names of famous heroes from that time.
‘Of course, not this guy.’
Hirian was not someone called a hero.
Nor did he possess such skill.
Just an ordinary elven knight you could find anywhere.
Leo remembered him because of Luna.
After this battle, Hirian dies.
Not just Hirian.
‘Most of the elves here… will meet their deaths here.’
***
After the battle in the Elven Forest.
On the way back to Gardsron, in a dense forest, Luna made graves for her kin lost in that battle.
Graves where not even bodies could be buried.
But Luna remembered all the names of her kin who died in battle and meticulously carved gravestones for each one.
“It’s really foolish, isn't it? There was no need to risk their lives.”
Carving Hirian’s name, especially feeling sorrowful… the elven woman, Luna, who still had a girlish appearance, smiled bitterly.
“Do you know him? You seem quite upset, so he must have been a remarkable fellow.”
“No, not at all. I met him for the first time in this battle. His skill… he was an elf who shouldn’t have been on the battlefield.”
Luna stood up, clasped her hands, and said.
“It wasn’t just this elf. Many of the elves who closed their eyes this time were those who shouldn’t have gone to the battlefield.”
Those who were not yet qualified to stand on the battlefield.
But they had no choice but to take up arms and fight against Tartaros.
Because there was no one else to fight but them.
Seeing Luna mourning her kin, Lisinas said.
“My proposal. What do you think?”
“You want me to go with you, right?”
Luna turned her body towards Kyle and Lisinas.
In the dense forest, Luna’s eyes were a little downcast.
Luna spoke in a voice that had lost its confidence.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I don’t want to form a party with comrades who die before me.”
Luna glanced at the graves.
Seeing Luna like that, Lisinas poked Kyle’s back.
“You want me to say it?”
“From what she’s saying, your words seem more persuasive than mine.”
“Damn lizard.”
Kyle, knowing that he was being asked to persuade her because he was the surviving hero, grumbled softly and stood in front of Luna.
“How many more died before you that you say such a thing?”
“What?”
Luna’s eyes turned fierce.
Lisinas covered her face, muttering softly, ‘I meant to comfort her gently. I’m a fool for asking.’
“Then who are you to speak so carelessly?”
Seeing Luna growl and snap back, Kyle said calmly.
“The surviving hero.”
At Kyle’s answer, Luna faltered.
Kyle sneered, looking at Luna.
“I also don’t want to make someone who dies before me a companion. And it just so happens you seem to be the right person.”
“……”
Luna’s face, which had been looking at Kyle’s, softened slightly.
Because she saw a shadow in Kyle’s eyes that was even deeper than her own.
At least, he hadn’t said it to mock her.
“What’s your goal?”
“Subduing Erebus.”
“……”
For a moment, Luna had an exasperated expression.
“You’re going to defeat Erebus? Are you crazy? What did you eat to think such a thing?”
Luna genuinely looked at Kyle with the expression of someone looking at a research subject.
At that, Kyle scrunched up his face and looked back at Lisinas.
But Luna chewed on the words ‘Subdue Erebus’, thought about it, and then said.
“Alright, fine. Subduing Erebus! That’s a goal perfectly suited for me! I like it. I’ll join your party.”
Luna, who had regained her vigor, said.
“You said your name was Kyle, right? My name is Luna! I am destined to shine like a star in the night sky, so consider it an honor to have me in your party!”
***
From that day on, Luna vowed.
To stop people from dying meaningless deaths anymore.
‘This guy struggled to protect Luna to the very end and lost his life, didn't he?’
Leo glanced to the side.
Akint also stood there with a stern face.
Everyone present here knew.
That this battle was reckless.
But they had no choice but to fight a reckless battle.
Monsters were pouring out of the Elven Forest, which had fallen into the hands of the Monster Queen.
If they waited any longer, the balance of power in the surrounding area would collapse.
Even if they couldn't reclaim it, they had to inflict at least some damage on the Monster Queen and her legion.
If they couldn't suppress the Monster Queen here, the destruction of the world would accelerate further.
The situation was desperate to that extent.
The elves here had embarked on this reckless battle to prevent that.
It was then.
*Rumble-!*
The ground shook.
*Flap-flap-flap-*
The birds living in the forest were startled and flew into the sky.
Those birds soon became prey for the monsters living in the forest.
[Kyahahahahahahahahahahaha-]
A frivolous and eerie laughter echoed.
The elves covered their ears tightly at the laughter.
[It seems you came to die, you insignificant long-ears.]
At the mocking voice, Akint bit his lip tightly.
Hirian, who had been pretending to be calm and telling them to trust only him, gripped his shield tightly.
“Lady Luna! Retreat now!”
At that moment, an elven female knight with a sword rushed over and said urgently.
The elves knew.
That Luna’s magic was the only hope in this situation.
It was their mission to hold out as much as possible in front so that Luna could use her magic without worry.
“Lady Luna! We will protect you with our lives!”
Hirian, who had been in a panic, also regained his composure and said urgently.
Despite the words of the surrounding elves, Leo simply stood motionless.
“Luna, it may be hard to believe, but trust us. So that you can concentrate on your magic as much as possible…”
“I believe you.”
Leo said calmly.
“Akint. You… everyone here will risk their lives to protect Luna. I know that better than anyone.”
“Luna?”
To those around, it seemed as if Luna was speaking like a different person.
Uncaring of the surprised reactions around him, Leo silently stared into the air.
[Capture Objective: Repeat the history of glorious victory. Slaughter as many elves as possible.]
*Squeeze-!*
Leo’s hand tightened.
This was not the world of heroes Leo knew.
The protagonist here was not a hero, but a legion.
And it was Shilathuna, tied to the most dreadful ill-fated connection.
Leo had clearly settled that ill-fated connection.
But that didn't mean that what had happened in the past disappeared.
‘This world is pain itself for Luna. It was something she had to carry until the moment she died.’
Saying goodbye to someone like a father.
A past stained with blood and tears, where many had to sacrifice themselves to protect his immature self.
*Rumble-!*
In the distance, the Monster Queen appeared.
Leo stepped forward.
“Don’t risk your lives because of me.”
Leo said, looking at the elves gathered to protect Luna.
“What you must protect is your own lives. Do your best to survive.”
“B-but the High Elves did that!”
“Their method was wrong. But prioritizing your own life isn’t wrong. It’s perfectly natural to value yourself.”
Leo said.
“I’ll protect you. You just do your best to survive. That’s what you need to do now.”
“B-but Lady Luna! Then we’re just burdening you!”
“It’s fine, I’ve been carrying it for a long time already.”
“……”
Hirian made a bewildered expression, looking at Leo who was again saying something incomprehensible.
Akint looked at Leo with a stern expression and said.
“Then who will protect you?”
“……”
Leo looked at Akint.
“I will protect myself.”
“……”
Leo smiled, looking at Akint’s bewildered expression.
[Alright, which one should I hunt first?]
*Thud-!*
Seeing Shilathuna slowly approaching to instill fear, Leo bent his knees.
‘Repeat the history of victory? Slaughter as many elves as possible?’
Leo raised his head.
‘Who decided that?’
Even if he won here.
History would not change.
Because history that has already been written cannot be rewritten.
But…
‘As long as I am the Hero of the Beginning. I cannot tolerate the same history repeating before my eyes. Even if this world is a false one.’
*Crash-!*
When Leo leaped, he flew towards Shilathuna like a bullet.
[Huh?]
Shilathuna paused for a moment.
Leo smirked coldly, looking at Shilathuna.
“I’m here to ruin this world anyway, aren’t I?”
*Gooooooo-!*
A massive magical power surged in Leo’s hand.
It was magic that did not exist in the history of this era.
The magic that Luna would complete far in the future.
“Then it means I can just beat you to death without worrying about anything, doesn’t it?”
Leo smiled chillingly.
Shilathuna’s face hardened at the unusual magic.
“You’re the one being hunted, Monster Queen.”
The magic was completed in Leo’s hand.
Star Magic - Finality.
*Flash! Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!*
[Kieeek?!]
Magic that couldn't exist in this era directly struck Shilathuna.