Book 1 Chapter 757
757.
Late evening.
Lumerun and Seirun students gathered at the Retin government building.
“Senior Elena. Did you find any clues?”
“None at all.”
Shaking her head, Elena asked Chloe, who had a grimoire tucked under her arm.
“What about you and Woredun?”
“We couldn’t find any particular clues either.”
Chloe glanced at Woredun, who also shook his head.
“I’ll ask Seirun’s side as well.”
Chloe replied, then approached Lunia and started talking.
However, Seirun’s side hadn’t found anything either.
“It seems we all drew a blank. Is our president the only one left?”
As Elena, sitting comfortably on a sofa in the government building’s reception room, wore a relaxed expression, a knock was heard.
The door opened, and a man who appeared to be Cis’s secretary bowed his head.
“Everyone. Dinner is ready.”
The students had been exploring Retin all day and hadn’t had a proper meal, so they were hungry.
“Has Leo arrived?”
Lunia asked with a puzzled expression, and Cis’s secretary shook his head.
“His Majesty the King has not yet returned.”
Lunia felt awkward about the title.
She knew Leo would become king, but even so, hearing someone call her friend “Your Majesty” made it hard to adjust.
When the students heard that Leo hadn't arrived, they paused, then Elena stood up from the sofa and said.
“If he suggested we eat first, it probably means Leo will handle his own meal. Let’s all go eat without starving.”
“That’s right. You have to eat well to grow well.”
“Lil. You talk like a grandma to kids who are only a year or two younger than you?”
“Ah. This was a remark Senior Elena should have made, not me.”
“Are you saying I’m like a grandma now?”
“You’re the oldest.”
“So you’re saying I look old.”
“Because you’re the most senior.”
“Lil, your rebelliousness has increased lately? Is it puberty?”
With the two bickering at the lead, the students headed to the dining hall.
Cis was sitting and waiting in the dining hall.
“You’ve all worked hard.”
Cis offered the students seats.
“Please, sit.”
“Thank you for the invitation.”
Elena said representing them, and Cis shook his head.
“His Majesty the King’s friends are important guests of our Arhi Kingdom. It’s only natural to host you. It’s modest, but I hope you enjoy the meal.”
The table was laden with delicious food.
Since they hadn’t had a proper meal, the students quickly took their seats, drawn by the delicious aroma.
As the meal began, Cis asked Elena.
“I’ve heard a lot. Miss Elena. You were amazing even from admission, weren’t you?”
“It’s a bit embarrassing, stories from my reckless, immature days.”
“Senior Elena is still… ack?!”
Elena stomped on Lil’s foot under the table.
Seeing this, Cis chuckled and looked at Lil.
“Miss Lil, stories I hear about you also make my heart pound.”
“You flatter me.”
“Do either of you have boyfriends?”
“No.”
“I’m busy concentrating on my studies.”
“I see.”
Cis nodded.
Listening to their conversation, Chloe bit her fork with a strange expression.
‘Is this a continuation of yesterday’s conversation?’
“Chloe.”
Just then, Lunia, who was eating on the opposite side, called Chloe.
“Yes. Why?”
“What kind of magic research are you doing recently?”
Lunia asked with interest.
As Luna’s successor, Lunia had a deep interest in magical exploration.
Because of this, she got along quite well with Chloe, who was absorbed in magic research.
At Lunia’s words, Chloe said.
“I’m researching multi-world interpretation magic.”
“Multi-world interpretation? What kind of magic is that?”
Lea, who was listening nearby, asked with a puzzled expression.
Chloe then began to explain her magic research.
‘What is this? Is it an alien language?’
Lea’s face subtly changed.
Lea, also a descendant of Seirun, possessed excellent magical aptitude, but Chloe’s magic was still too complex and difficult for her to understand.
“Ohh? That’s an interesting theory, isn’t it?”
Lunia exclaimed after hearing Chloe’s explanation.
“By the way, Leo is late, isn’t he?”
Elena checked the time.
It was late evening, but Leo still showed no signs of returning.
Cis smiled faintly at that.
“I’ve received reports that he’s not just investigating but also fulfilling his duties as king. In a way, he can’t help but be late.”
“Duties as king?”
It was while Elena was tilting her head.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the entire government building began to shake.
“An earthquake?”
As everyone looked bewildered.
Woredun narrowed his eyes and looked at the floor.
“There’s something beneath the ground.”
***
“Your Majesty. Thank you for listening to our story.”
“It’s not much, but please have a meal before you go…”
An old couple bowed their heads to Leo.
“It’s alright.”
Leo waved his hand to the old couple and left their house.
A hill on the outskirts of Retin.
It was a small hot spring inn run by the old couple.
Leo had come to investigate here and had listened to the old couple’s troubles.
As he left the house, he saw Lycinus looking at the scenery outside.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.”
Below the hill, the splendid night streets of Retin were visible.
Although there was a problem with the hot springs now, Retin, famous as a tourist city, still had a splendid night.
“It’s strange to think that this is the country you’ll rule.”
Lycinus said, then glanced at Leo.
“You seem to have an awareness as a king too.”
All day today.
Leo walked the streets of Retin and met many people.
They told Leo, who would soon ascend to the throne, various stories.
They thought Leo’s presence wandering the streets was an inspection.
Leo took the time to listen to their stories.
He recorded places with problems and even promised to resolve them.
That alone made people feel relieved.
Even though the problems weren’t solved immediately, just being able to tell their stories to the king made them feel at ease.
That appearance was sufficient for a king ruling a nation.
“That Kail takes good care of many people not only on the battlefield but also in everyday life. It’s quite curious, isn’t it?”
“You must have seen me as lacking.”
“Huh? Not at all. You did really well.”
“Well, I learned well by watching over your shoulder.”
These were the things Lycinus used to do in his past life.
At Leo’s words, Lycinus giggled.
And once again, he looked at the scenery of Retin.
“Kail.”
Lycinus, looking at the prosperous city, asked again.
“When everything is over. What will you do?”
“…”
“Still don’t have anything you want to do?”
5000 years ago.
It was a common conversation among the Great Heroes.
What would they do after restoring peace to the world?
At that time, they would move forward, dreaming hopeful dreams.
When such conversations came up, Leo would either say he had never thought about it or ask the questioner what they would do.
But now, there was no one to ask back.
Luna, Arion, and Dweno were not here, and he couldn’t ask Lycinus either.
Because Lycinus’s time had stopped.
“I plan to pass on your dreams to future generations.”
“That’s not what I want to hear.”
Lycinus shook his head.
“And our dreams have already been passed on to future generations.”
The stories of the Great Heroes, excluding Leo, ended 5000 years ago.
But the will left by the Great Heroes.
The dreams they hoped for have been passed down through generations.
“I want to ask what you want to do.”
“I’ve never thought about it.”
Leo chuckled.
“It’s not too late to think about it later. Right now, I have a clear goal.”
“Erebos?”
“That’s right.”
The complete subjugation of Erebos.
“Perhaps the reason I was reborn is to achieve that.”
“…”
“Perhaps I might die in the decisive battle with him.”
The current Leo and Kail from 5000 years ago had different ways of thinking.
He had no intention of losing.
He fully intended to win.
But there was no guarantee that he would survive that battle.
Just like that final battle 5000 years ago.
Perhaps he might truly close his eyes after the complete subjugation of Erebos.
Erebos was too threatening a being to guarantee survival.
Even if it was cut into six pieces and some pieces completely annihilated, that fact remained unchanged.
‘Even if I die, my will will be carried on by someone.’
Just as the will of the Great Heroes continued for 5000 years.
Someone would carry on the will of Kail, of Leo.
At Leo’s words, Lycinus said.
“Kail.”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t die.”
Lycinus stood up.
“This is an order from me, as the general of Arhi.”
“…”
“Neither I, nor Luna, nor Arion, nor Dweno. None of us want your time to end merely with the subjugation of Erebos.”
“…”
“I truly wish for you to be happy. To live as long as you can. And to watch over the world we saved for a long, long time.”
His obsidian-like eyes shone brightly.
“So, find a goal worth living for.”
“It’s a bother.”
“Isn’t there anything I can forcibly dump on you to give you a sense of responsibility? Hmm. Can I really not have children in this body?”
“Luna would have gone wild if she heard that, calling you loose.”
“Let her go wild. She spread rumors about me! She even used elves to tarnish my honor! Why did I become the dragon who jealously hated your relationship so uglily!”
Lycinus growled.
“I didn’t do it.”
“Exactly!”
Lycinus snorted.
“In the first place!”
Lycinus said, narrowing his eyes.
“By contract, you’re my husband, aren’t you? I’m not loose, I’m normal! Rather, she’s the one with the bigger problem!”
“You said you wanted a divorce?”
“I haven’t signed the papers yet, have I?”
Lycinus snorted.
It was then that Leo let out an empty laugh at her shamelessness.
Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble—
Suddenly, the ground began to shake.
Crraaaash!
Suddenly, ice spikes began to erupt from the center of Retin.
Coincidentally, that place was where the Palace of Purification, Istar’s former stronghold, had been located.
Seeing that, Leo clicked his tongue.
“If they were going to appear like this, there was no need to search so hard for them.”
“Indeed. But the power I feel is similar to dark magic, yet different?”
If dark magic felt like burning, the power now felt like it was freezing its surroundings.
“Ancient demons?”
“Probably.”
At Leo’s words, Lycinus stood up.
“If they were sealed, they must have awakened at the same time their master was resurrected.”
“I see. If they were sleeping in this region and awakened due to the revival of the ancient evil god, then the sudden freezing of the hot springs makes sense.”
“Such situations might occur all over the continent. Things are going to get complicated.”
Lycinus sighed softly.
At his words, Leo chuckled.
“What’s complicated about it?”
“Huh?”
“It’s simple, isn’t it?”
Leo grinned, looking at the ice pillar.
“Hunt demons. Haven’t we done that until we’re sick of it? It’s rather simple.”
“That’s right. It is simple.”
Lycinus clenched and unclenched his fist.
“Then, shall we let those ice-block demons know?”
Step—
Lycinus took a step.
Leo followed him.
Just like 5000 years ago.
“How the world has changed while they were sleeping.”