Book 1 Chapter 774
774.
“How about giving gifts to the hero cadets?”
Dawn before sunrise.
Risinas, who was sitting on the windowsill and feeling the dawn breeze, suddenly spoke.
It should have been warm weather originally, but due to Nyx's influence, a chilly wind comparable to midwinter was blowing into the room.
At his words, Leo made a puzzled expression.
“Suddenly?”
“Not suddenly.”
Risinas smiled faintly.
“Those children are qualified enough to inherit the weapons of the great heroes, aren't they? They are the successors chosen by you, of all people. Besides, they need to prepare themselves and steady their resolve.”
“They need morale boosted?”
“Yeah.”
Risinas looked out the window.
The dawn was breaking.
“Nyx will soon bring all her forces.”
It was true.
Within a short time, Nyx and Styx had suffered fatal blows.
The ancient heroes that the hero cadets defeated last night were, in themselves, immense power.
However, losing that power was only a part of it.
There was only one reason Styx suffered a decisive blow.
It was the subjugation of the Saint and Saintess.
Through Leo and Risinas, the second Saintess and the third Saint and Saintess were subjugated.
From Tartaros's perspective, it was immense damage, like legion commanders being subjugated.
Of course, their opponents were too formidable.
None other than the great heroes, the Hero of Beginnings and the King of Wisdom.
Even if it wasn't their prime power, a great hero was still a great hero.
Unless they hadn't fully regained their power.
Styx's high-ranking demons had, in effect, encountered the worst enemy: Leo, who was regaining his prime power.
But whatever the reason, from Nyx and Styx's perspective, having pointlessly lost immense power, they would no longer just stand by and watch.
“If Nyx leads all the demons she commands and invades, can we stop her?”
“Hmm.”
Leo stood by the window where Risinas was sitting.
Then he chuckled, breathing in the cold dawn air.
“But I don't think we'll lose.”
“Huh?”
“It's the strongest combination, isn't it?”
“Yes. It's the strongest combination.”
Risinas let out a giggle.
Knock-knock-
Just then, a knock was heard.
When Leo opened the door, Chloe was standing there, holding a large grimoire.
“Leo, I have something to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Can you come to my room for a moment?”
At her words, Leo glanced back.
When Risinas, sitting by the window, nodded, Leo left the room.
Risinas, left alone in the room, looked at the rising sun.
Just then.
Another knock was heard.
Risinas, knowing who was beyond the door, gestured, and the door opened.
The one who opened the door and entered was none other than the Dragon Lord, Melina.
Melina, who greeted according to the old dragon etiquette, approached Risinas.
“What is it?”
“There's something unusual, so I came to report. But Lord Leo is…?”
“He stepped out for a moment. You can tell me.”
“Yes, understood!”
“Why are you so nervous?”
“Well… reporting to Lady Risinas makes me needlessly tense.”
Risinas burst out laughing, seeing Melina's embarrassed expression.
“So? What's this unusual matter?”
“Yes. There are reports of unknown monsters appearing on Tartaros's eastern front.”
“It's Styx.”
“Yes. I think we need to prepare.”
“Understood. I'll pass it on to Kyle.”
“Yes!”
***
Leo, who came to Chloe's room, let out a hollow laugh at the sight before him.
Countless grimoires were spread out on the floor.
On a large paper placed in the middle, a magic formula, seemingly organized by Chloe, was written.
“Sit down.”
“There's nowhere to sit?”
“Hmm. You can sit on the bed.”
At her words, Leo approached the bed.
The bed was also occupied by grimoires, but fortunately, there was a place to sit.
Leo, carefully avoiding the spread-out books, sat on the bed and looked at the large paper with the magic formula written on it.
‘It's a spell formula for an ice clone.’
It was a high-level magic that was difficult to use, but Chloe had used it as her specialty magic even before admission.
And even now, as a third-year, it was one of Chloe's greatest strengths.
Leo, examining the paper, murmured.
“Multiverse Interpretation?”
“You recognize it, of course?”
Chloe smiled brightly, brought a pile of papers, and sat next to Leo.
Squeak-
“Take a look at this spell interpretation. I've tried to interpret it myself, but I'm wondering if this approach is correct. I wanted to hear your opinion.”
Reading through the pile of papers he received from Chloe, Leo let out an exclamation of "Huh-".
“Why?”
“No. It just struck me again that you're a genius.”
“Flattering me won't get you anything.”
Chloe said "Hmph-" primly, but her cheeks flushed slightly, indicating she was pleased.
Leo, laughing at Chloe, said.
“I also think this approach is correct. Just this part here.”
“Mm-hm.”
Chloe pressed her body close and looked at the spot Leo pointed to.
Her lake-like blue eyes sparkling with intellectual curiosity.
“Wouldn't it be more fitting to see it as a branch of a tree rather than mirror and mirror?”
“Hmm. Indeed, they can't be seen as completely identical. If they were completely identical, it would be meaningless.”
“Exactly.”
“Ah, in that case, what about this?”
Chloe excitedly engaged in a magic discussion with Leo.
As they were having an intense discussion about magic formulas for a long time, Leo suddenly lifted his head.
And he made a dumbfounded expression.
“Leo. This part here is… Huh? Why are you staring so intently…? Kyaaaaaaaah?!”
When there was no answer, Chloe, who looked up at Leo, shrieked and threw herself into Leo's arms.
At the same time, Chen Xia, who had been looking into the room with a cold face, her forehead pressed against the window, opened it and entered.
“Alright, alright. That's enough. If you continue this unhealthy romantic interaction any further, I will hand you over to Ms. Celia, the disciplinary committee member.”
“It's not an unhealthy romantic interaction! This is just an academic discussion from a magical perspective…”
“Everyone makes such excuses at first. But from the moment you bring someone of the opposite sex into your room, it's an excuse. Besides, Ms. Chloe has a history, doesn't she?”
“That was an accident, I tell you!”
“What an outrageous accident!”
“What are you doing?”
When Leo asked, Chen Xia smiled faintly.
“Disciplinary activities.”
“It's not that, so stop bothering Chloe.”
“Yes.”
Chen Xia answered obediently and took a step back.
Seeing her, Leo said to Chloe.
“You're doing a good job completing this absurd magic theory, aren't you?”
“It's still just the beginning, you know?”
At her answer, Leo chuckled and stood up.
“It's almost morning, so let's go eat.”
“Okay. You go ahead with Xia. I'll tidy up my room and then come.”
Leo and Chen Xia left Chloe's room.
Chloe, left alone in the room, focused on the magic formula, organizing what Leo had told her.
***
Nyx's room in the underground temple.
Nyx, who had been sitting on the throne in a room filled with countless crystal-like ice and had her eyes closed, opened them.
As an evil god, her dream was a perfect world.
And to fall into the eternal slumber of death, along with that perfect world.
That was Nyx's fervent wish.
And she found the one most fitting for that perfect world.
“Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings… No, Leo Flobe.”
Living in the same era as him was like a stroke of luck for Nyx, who desired a perfect world.
Nyx rose from her throne.
The goddess of death moved her steps and stood before a massive block of ice.
Nyx, gazing at her countless reflections in the ice, opened her mouth.
“What I need is the perfect hero's body.”
What Nyx desired was a world that had completely died.
“The soul isn't necessary.”
Nyx stroked her reflection in the ice and curved her lips into a smile.
In her hand was a fragment of the Hero Record.
Soon, Nyx vanished.
***
The atmosphere in Deane was generally grim.
The previous attack by the ancient heroes.
After their attack, the hero cadets came out into Deane after breakfast to help the people and quell the chaos.
They cleared away the ruined debris and worked to maintain public order in case of unforeseen events.
Meanwhile, Leo used his shadows to monitor the movements of the First Princess.
The moment he learned she was allied with Styx, he couldn't just leave her be.
‘But I can't take the Second Prince's side either.’
Leo clicked his tongue as he cleared debris.
In Leo's eyes, both the First Princess and the Second Prince of this country were equally incompetent.
Dealing with the First Princess was one thing, but entrusting such a large country as Debian to the Second Prince so readily was problematic.
‘Are there no decent people among the collateral royals? Hmm… Is this already considered interference in internal affairs?’
Leo, deep in thought, suddenly realized he was alone in the middle of the ruins.
“……”
His red eyes, looking straight ahead, narrowed.
Before him was a woman of beautiful appearance.
“Well, isn't that something. It's curious.”
“What is it you mean?”
“That I've realized anew that there are different kinds of stench.”
“A stench… Treating me like a flame of disaster personally pains me.”
Shing-!
Leo drew his sword and pointed it at Nyx.
“You arrived earlier than expected.”
“Fate often strikes when least expected, doesn't it?”
Whoooosh-!
Gray mana flowed from Leo's body.
Looking at Leo, Nyx said.
“Hero of Beginnings, I didn't come here to fight you.”
“I have no other choice but to fight you.”
“If you hear my story, your mind might change, you know?”
Nyx smiled faintly.
“I need you, Leo Flobe.”
“For that to happen, I've lost too much already, haven't I?”
Seeing Leo radiate intense killing intent, Nyx opened her palm.
“Yes. I know.”
‘…Hero Record?’
“What you have lost… What you have carried… With what heart you live this very moment.”
Nyx smiled faintly.
“I saw it all. This is your final chapter.”
The final chapter.
The moment the world is saved, and the page where Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, ultimately loses everything.
“Leo Flobe. I will give you the entire world.”
“Sorry, but I'm not interested in that.”
Leo scoffed.
Seeing Leo, Nyx shook her head.
“I'm not simply saying I'll give you the whole world.”
“What?”
Rustle-
The Hero Record on Nyx's palm was carried by the wind and flew towards Leo.
Flutter-thump-!
Leo snatched the Hero Record.
“I will send you to the world you rightfully deserved to experience.”
Leo re-gripped his sword with an unreadable expression.
‘I don't know what her scheme is, but there's one thing I must do.’
Subjugate.
The moment Leo lowered his stance.
Crack-crack-crack-
The fragment of the Hero Record Leo was holding began to transform into an ice wall.
Leo glared at his Hero Record, which had transformed into a human-sized ice wall.
The ice wall reflected the world like a mirror.
Strangely, however, Leo's reflection was not visible in the ice mirror.
Of course, Leo paid no mind and cut through the ice.
No, he tried to cut it.
Thump-!
The moment his sword touched the ice.
His knees buckled.
Leo's face hardened.
‘No.’
Leo, having been sucked into the mirror, looked at his own body.
Time in his world outside the mirror seemed to have stopped.
‘What in the…?’
As if swept away by a torrent.
Leo's consciousness was flung away somewhere within the mirror.
Thud-!
Nyx looked at the fallen Leo and turned around.
“I wonder which world you will choose.”
Rustle-rustle-
“Of course, the answer is probably already decided, though.”