Book 1 Chapter 630

630.

Early morning.

Tap- Tap-tap-

Cal woke up from his sleep to the sound of something hitting the window.

"Ughhh!"

Cal, with his dishevelled face and a yawn, got out of bed, scratching his belly.

When Cal opened the window of his room, a cold winter wind blew in.

"Ugh~ It's cold again today. So cold."

Cal's hometown, the Kingdom of Moira, is located in the north-central part of the continent, bordering the north.

Feeling the cold wind from the northern continent blow away his sleep, Cal, wrapped in his clothes, shivered.

Caw- Caw-

In front of the window, a hawk with two leather pouches tied to its feet was looking at Cal.

Wind hawk.

It was a low-ranking fantasy beast with the wind attribute.

Its main job was delivering items and letters.

Cal took out a newspaper from the wind hawk's leather pouch and then put a gold coin into his coin purse.

Clink~ The sound echoed cheerfully.

"I've made it. I'm subscribing to such an expensive newspaper."

Even though it's a low-ranking beast, the wind hawk is still a fantasy beast.

Therefore, the usage fee is expensive.

If you don't pay for the newspaper just because it's expensive or try to steal from the money pouch, you could end up in a bad situation.

"Should I try this kind of service in Lumern too?"

Sniffling, Cal conceived a new business idea and closed the window.

Cal, with the newspaper tucked under his arm, left the room and went downstairs.

"Mom~ Give me food~"

Cal, who came down to the kitchen on the first floor with a yawn, couldn't help but collapse as soon as he saw the scene spread out on the dining table.

"Prince Duran, Princess Helan, this is the finest tea we have at our home."

"The aroma is lovely."

"I am honored that it suits your taste. Hohohoho."

Cal's older sister, Kyria Toma, was pouring tea for a young blonde girl sitting at one end of the table.

Incidentally, that tea was the finest tea that elves drink, which Cal had obtained.

"I'm not sure if the food will suit your taste, Prince Duran."

"It's very delicious."

"It's rewarding to show off my skills."

Cal's mother, Karen, was serving breakfast to a blonde, beautiful young boy who was starting to look like an adult.

Although he had a stoic expression that even seemed cold, his tone was gentle.

Duran, the young boy who had wiped his mouth, looked at Cal, who had fallen on the floor, with a look of disdain.

"You're late."

"Why are you calmly eating breakfast at our house?"

Cal, who had barely managed to get up, said while scratching his head.

Duran, who had moistened his mouth with tea while looking at Cal, said.

"I told you before the vacation, didn't I? That we would have combat training."

"Were you actually planning to do that?"

"Hmph. Do you intend to be promoted with special exceptions when you become a 4th and 5th grader?"

Although he had been promoted to 3rd grade by becoming a hero this time, it was merely a special exception from the board of directors.

He passed the written exam, but Cal failed the practical exam.

There was only one reason why Cal failed.

It was due to a lack of individual combat power.

Of course, Cal's combat power was not completely terrible.

"I don't think I'm the kind of person who gets beaten up wherever I go."

"Is there anyone among your classmates you can handle?"

"Then I have nothing to say."

"I don't expect you to defeat the enemy. But you should at least be able to endure any situation so that you don't get defeated immediately."

'Sound reasoning.'

Cal, who couldn't answer, asked.

"Your Highness. Thank you for being so concerned about my son."

Karen had an impressed expression.

Helan smiled brightly at Karen.

"Cal is a very important talent in the Kingdom of Moira. He has become a hero, and he is also one of my brother's few precious friends."

"Pfft. As expected, you didn't have many friends… Aaaaah! Surrender! Surrender!"

Cal, who had been foolishly playful, screamed as his wrist was twisted.

Helan clapped her hands together while watching the scene.

"Ah. My brother is interacting so casually. I am truly happy that my brother can maintain such an equal relationship with his peers."

At Helan's words, Duran clicked his tongue and let go of Cal's wrist.

Watching the scene, Cal rubbed his wrist and muttered.

'Indeed, at the beginning of enrollment, he was a complete lone wolf and used to look down on others as a daily meal. At first, I thought it was just the arrogance of royalty.'

Although he was full of competitiveness and fighting spirit, he was also able to acknowledge others.

His behaviour at the beginning of his first year must have been because there was no one truly equal to him.

'He's changed a lot.'

If it were the first year, it would have been unthinkable for him to visit the house of a commoner like himself and have a meal.

'Well, no matter what anyone says, he's someone Leo recognized.'

"You're friends with a prince. You've really come up in the world."

"I know, right?"

As Kyra chuckled, Cal sighed.

Cal sat down next to Duran.

Then he opened the newspaper and took a sip of water while checking the contents.

"Pfft?!"

He spat out the water without realizing it after seeing the headline story on the first page.

Duran, who was completely doused in it, immediately grabbed Cal by the collar.

"Cough! Cough-! Hey, hey! Calm down and look at this!"

As Cal calmed down his sputtering, he showed Duran the newspaper.

Upon checking the newspaper's contents, Duran's eyes widened unusually.

"Leo Flove…!"

And his expression slightly contorted.

Defeaters: Leo Flove, Rhys Zerdinger, Ulta Regdition, Li Jamua, Abad Lewallin, Celia Zerdinger, Chelsea Lewallin.

<Zerdinger's Fierce Wind!>

Watching Duran stare intently at the newspaper with burning eyes, Cal shook his head.

"Leo's winter vacation is also spectacular. By the way, an heir to the throne?"

"Cal, it's breakfast."

"Oh!"

Shaking his head, Cal smiled happily at the bread, bacon, and salad served for breakfast.

The moment he held his fork and was about to eat.

Snatch-!

"Huh?"

"No time to play around, Cal Thomas. It's training."

"I have to eat breakfast."

"Breakfast is after training."

"No! You can do it alone!"

Cal screamed, but Duran, consumed by his burning competitiveness, didn't listen.

"My brother, moving towards the future with his best friend. I am so happy."

Watching Helan, who was moved, Cal screamed inwardly.

'Is this best friends! Is this best friends!'

***

Flutter-!

Elena, who was lounging with her legs crossed and leisurely checking the newspaper, smiled faintly.

"You're doing well, Leo."

Alby replied to her words.

"There will be turmoil."

Most people focused on the reappearance of the Hero Slayer, who was thought to have disappeared in the past, and Leo and his party who defeated the Hero Slayer.

However, what Elena focused on was the fact that Leo had inherited the throne of Tungken.

Others might dismiss it as merely inheriting an ancestor's legacy.

'But if it's Leo, as I know him… no. If he's the Hero of the Beginning.'

Elena, who vaguely realized Leo's identity during the last Hero Festival, could predict Leo's future actions.

'He will build a force to fight against Tartarus.'

The strength of a few heroes alone cannot fight against Tartarus.

And to fight against Tartarus, great power is needed.

A unified strength.

'That's why Leo tried to create a guild.'

A guild founded by like-minded heroes.

It is a powerful force in itself.

However, when Leo aimed to establish a Hero Guild, many more people than expected were wary and wary of him.

The reason is simple.

If an unprecedented being like Leo were to create a Hero Guild and increase his fame, the current balance of power would be disrupted.

Leo's goal was, after all, the complete subjugation of Erebus.

Although it is the world's wish, not many want that wish to be fulfilled in their own generation.

'But perhaps our generation might face the disaster of a full-scale war with Erebus.'

It was the flow of the times.

The long peace was slowly cracking.

Some felt it clearly, but many did not.

'The moment they acknowledge that, they will have to give up a significant portion of what they have enjoyed.'

Elena smiled coldly.

There were many who would try to check Leo's growing power for reasons of self-interest.

However, Leo suddenly inherited the Kingdom of Tungken.

Of course, considering the continent as a whole, its external power is negligible.

But…

'It's very meaningful that a large force following Leo's will has emerged.'

It would be possible to rapidly increase his power based on the Kingdom of Tungken.

'Even if he's not inheriting the throne immediately. At least he has secured a definite force for now.'

Elena smiled faintly.

"It's going to be interesting from now on."

***

"My son has really made it. He's become the king of a country."

Reina smiled.

Leo asked Reina.

"How are you feeling?"

"Yes. I'm fine now."

"What about the flames?"

"As long as I don't use them excessively, they won't consume my body."

The Hero Slayer met his complete death by Leo's sword, and Reina regained her flames.

Not only Reina, but Torua also regained his magic.

After the Hero Slayer disappeared in the past.

None of the survivors among Jorua's victims were said to have regained their abilities.

'It's probably because he was resurrected by the power of the Necromancer King.'

Jorua was a dead being that should not have existed.

Such an existence was resurrected, defying the laws of the world.

That Jorua was completely erased by Leo's pure aura.

'It's possible that the power he stole has also returned to its original place.'

The exact reason is unknown, but it was fortunate for Torua.

As for Reina…

"Aren't you disappointed?"

"Yes. I've let go of my grudges now."

Although she regained her flames, she suffered severe damage to her body from fighting excessively against Jorua.

It would not interfere with her daily life.

However, it was difficult for her to handle her regained aura.

If she used her flames, her body would collapse.

"It was a spectacular battle, befitting my last one. What do you think? Mom? I was truly like a hero, wasn't I?"

"……Very much so."

"It's an honor that my son acknowledges me."

Reina smiled faintly.

"Leo."

"Yes."

"No matter what anyone says, you are my son. That fact remains unchanged."

"……Yes."

"Heh heh! You rascal."

Reina patted Leo's head.

Then, all of a sudden, she made a puzzled expression.

"Come to think of it, you said you were going to change the name of the kingdom you would inherit?"

"Yes."

"Don't you like the existing name?"

"It's not that. I just have a name I really want to give it."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Arhi."

"Arhi?"

"It's a name that means 'beginning' in Draconic."

"Hmm? That's a nice meaning."

"Isn't it?"

Leo smiled faintly.

Arhi.

It was the name of the Erebus subjugation force led by Lisinas long ago.