Book 1 Chapter 774

"How about giving gifts to the hero candidates?"

Before dawn, as the sky began to lighten.

Rishinas, who was sitting by the window and enjoying the pre-dawn breeze, suddenly said.

The weather should have been warm, but due to Nix's influence, a chilly wind, comparable to mid-winter, was blowing into the room.

At his words, Leo's expression turned quizzical.

"Suddenly?"

"It's not sudden."

Rishinas smiled faintly.

"They are fully qualified to inherit the weapons of the great heroes, aren't they? They are the successors *you* chose, not anyone else! Besides, they need to prepare themselves, both mentally and physically."

"To boost morale?"

"Yes."

Rishinas looked out the window.

Dawn was breaking.

"Nix will bring their full force soon."

It was as he said.

In a short time, Nix and Styx had suffered fatal blows.

The ancient heroes defeated by the hero candidates last night were a formidable force in themselves.

However, losing that force was only a partial loss.

The reason Styx suffered a decisive blow was singular.

It was the subjugation of the Saint and the Saintess.

Through Leo and Rishinas, the second Saintess and the third Saint and Saintess were subjugated.

For Tartarus, this was a tremendous loss, equivalent to the subjugation of a Legion Commander.

Of course, the opponents were too formidable.

The Hero of Origin and the King of Wisdom, great heroes themselves.

Even if it wasn't their peak power, great heroes are great heroes.

Unless they had completely regained their strength.

Styx's high-ranking demons had to face Leo, who was regaining his peak power, the worst possible enemy.

But regardless of the reason, from Nix and Styx's perspective, they would not stand by and watch after such a massive loss of power.

"If Nix attacks with all the demons they command, can we stop them?"

"Hmm."

Leo stood beside Rishinas, who was sitting by the window.

Then, he chuckled while enjoying the cold pre-dawn air.

"But I don't think we'll lose."

"Hm?"

"It's the strongest combination, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's the strongest combination."

Rishinas burst into laughter.

*Knock-knock-*

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

When Leo opened the door, Chloe was standing there, holding a large grimoire.

"Leo, I have something to ask you."

"What is it?"

"Can you come to my room for a moment?"

At her words, Leo glanced back.

Rishinas, sitting by the window, nodded, and Leo left the room.

Rishinas, who remained in the room, looked at the rising sun.

Then.

There was another knock on the door.

Rishinas, knowing who was outside, gestured, and the door opened.

It was none other than the Dragon Lord, Melina, who entered.

Melina greeted Rishinas according to ancient dragon customs and approached him.

"What is it?"

"I came to report something unusual. But Leo-nim is…?"

"He stepped out for a moment. You can tell me."

"Yes, yes!"

"Why are you so nervous?"

"Well… reporting to Rishinas-nim makes me feel unnecessarily tense."

Seeing Melina's sheepish expression, Rishinas burst into laughter.

"So? What is this unusual thing?"

"Yes. There are reports of unknown monsters appearing on the eastern front of Tartarus."

"Styx, then."

"Yes. We should prepare."

"Understood. I'll inform Kyle."

"Yes!"

***

When Leo arrived at Chloe's room, he let out a hollow laugh at the sight before him.

Countless grimoires were spread across the floor.

On a large piece of paper placed in the center was a magical formation that appeared to be organized by Chloe.

"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 thankfully, there was a place to sit.

Leo, carefully navigating the open books, sat on the bed and looked at the large paper with the magic formation.

'It's an ice clone spell.'

Although it was a high-level magic that was difficult to use, Chloe had used it as her specialty magic since before her admission.

And even now, in her third year, it remained one of Chloe's strongest skills.

As Leo examined the paper, he muttered, "Multiverse interpretation?"

"You recognize it after all?"

Chloe, smiling brightly, brought the stack of papers and sat next to Leo.

*Creak-*

"Please take a look at this spell interpretation. I've interpreted it in my own way, but I wonder if this approach is correct. I wanted to hear your opinion."

As Leo read through the papers Chloe handed him, he exclaimed, "Huh."

"Why?"

"No, it just makes me realize anew that you're a genius."

"Flattery won't get you anywhere."

Chloe said haughtily, but she seemed pleased, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Seeing Chloe like that, Leo burst into laughter and said, "I think this approach is correct as well. However, this part here…"

"Yes."

Chloe leaned in close to look at the spot Leo pointed to.

Her lake-like blue eyes sparkled with intellectual curiosity.

"Rather than mirrors, isn't it more fitting to see it as branches of a tree?"

"Hmm. Well, they can't be completely identical. If they were exactly the same, it would be meaningless."

"Right."

"Ah, then how about this?"

Chloe excitedly engaged in a magic discussion with Leo.

As they passionately debated magic formations, Leo suddenly looked up.

And his expression turned bewildered.

"Leo, this part here… Huh? What are you staring at so intently…? Kyaaaaaaaak?!"

When Leo didn't answer, Chloe looked up, saw what he was staring at, screamed, and clung to Leo.

At the same time, Chen Xia, who had been staring into the room with a stern face, with her forehead pressed against the window, opened the window and entered.

"Yes, yes. That's enough. If this unhealthy romantic interaction continues, I'll hand it over to the Disciplinary Committee, Celia."

"It's not an unhealthy romantic interaction! We were just having an academic discussion from a magical perspective…"

"They all make excuses at first. But the moment you invite someone of the opposite sex into your room, it's an excuse. Besides, Chloe-yang has a history, doesn't she?"

"That was an accident!"

"What a scandalous accident!"

"What are you doing?"

When Leo asked, Chen Xia smiled faintly.

"Disciplinary activities."

"It's not like that, so stop bothering Chloe."

"Yes."

Chen Xia answered obediently and took a step back.

Seeing that, Leo said to Chloe, "You're really good at completing these absurd magical theories."

"It's only the beginning stage."

At that answer, Leo chuckled and stood up.

"It's almost morning, let's go eat."

"Okay. You and Xia go ahead. I'll clean up my room and come later."

Leo and Chen Xia left Chloe's room.

Alone in the room, Chloe organized what Leo had taught her and became absorbed in the magical formation.

***

In Nix's room in the underground temple.

Nix, who had been sitting on the throne with eyes closed in a room filled with countless crystal-like ice, opened his eyes.

As an evil god, he dreamed of a perfect world.

And to fall into an eternal, death-like slumber with that perfect world.

That was Nix's wish.

And he had found the one most fitting for that perfect world.

"Hero of Origin, Kyle… No, Leo Flove."

Living in the same era as him was like a stroke of luck for Nix, who desired a perfect world.

Nix rose from his throne.

The goddess of death moved towards a colossal block of ice.

Looking at the countless reflections of himself in the ice, Nix spoke.

"What I need is the body of a perfect hero."

What Nix desired was a world that had died in its complete form.

"The soul is not necessary."

Nix's lips curled as he swept his gaze over his reflection in the ice.

In his hand, he held a fragment of the Hero Record.

Then, Nix vanished.

***

The atmosphere in Deang was generally gloomy.

The attack by the ancient heroes that had occurred previously.

After their attack, the hero candidates, to help clean up the chaos, came out to Deang after breakfast to assist the people.

They cleared the ruined debris and worked to maintain public order in preparation for any unforeseen events.

Meanwhile, Leo used his shadows to monitor the movements of the First Princess.

The moment he learned she had joined hands with Styx, he couldn't just let it be.

'However, I can't exactly side with the Second Prince either.'

Leo clicked his tongue as he cleared debris.

In Leo's view, both the First Princess and the Second Prince of this country were incompetent.

Dealing with the First Princess was one thing, but it was too much to simply entrust the large nation of Debian to the Second Prince.

'Are there any decent individuals among the collateral royal family? Hmm… Is this considered interference in internal affairs?'

Lost in thought, Leo suddenly realized he was alone amidst the ruins.

"…"

His red eyes, staring straight ahead, narrowed.

Before him stood a woman with beautiful features.

"It's strange, somehow."

"What is strange?"

"I'm realizing anew that there are different kinds of foul odors."

"Foul odors… I'm personally hurt that you're treating me like a plague of fire."

*Swish-!*

Leo drew his sword and aimed it at Nix.

"You came earlier than expected."

"Destiny always arrives when you least expect it."

*Gooooo-!*

Gray mana flowed from Leo's body.

Looking at Leo, Nix spoke, "Hero of Origin, I didn't come here to fight you."

"I have no choice but to fight you."

"You might change your mind if you hear my story."

Nix smiled faintly.

"I need you, Leo Flove."

"But I've lost too much already for that."

Seeing Leo exuding intense killing intent, Nix spread his palm.

"Yes. I know."

'…The Hero Record?'

"I've seen everything you've lost… and everything you've carried… and what kind of heart you live with at this moment."

Nix smiled faintly.

"I've seen it all. This is your final chapter."

The final chapter.

The moment the world is saved, and the page where the Hero of Origin, Kyle, finally loses everything.

"Leo Flove. I will give you the entire world."

"Sorry, but I'm not interested in that."

Leo scoffed.

Nix shook his head, looking at Leo.

"I'm not simply giving you the entire world."

"What?"

*Fwip-*

The fragment of the Hero Record in Nix's palm flew in the wind and then toward Leo.

*Fwip-fwip-* *Thud-!*

Leo snatched the Hero Record.

"I will send you to the world you should have rightfully enjoyed."

Leo, with a blank expression, readjusted his grip on his sword.

'I don't know what your plan is, but there's only one thing I must do.'

Subjugate.

As Leo lowered his stance, *crackling sounds* began.

The fragment of the Hero Record in Leo's hand began to turn into an ice wall.

Leo glared at his Hero Record, which had transformed into a person-sized ice wall.

The ice wall reflected the world like a mirror.

But strangely, Leo's reflection did not appear in the ice mirror.

Of course, Leo did not care and swung his sword at the ice.

Or rather, he tried to.

*Thwack-!*

The moment his sword touched the ice.

His knee buckled.

Leo's face hardened.

'No.'

Leo, who had been sucked into the mirror, looked at his own body.

The time in his world outside the mirror seemed to have stopped.

'What is this…?'

As if swept away by a strong current.

Leo's consciousness was flung somewhere within the mirror.

*Thump-!*

Nix looked at the fallen Leo and turned away.

"I'm curious. Which world will you choose?"

*Rustle- Rustle-*

"Of course, the answer is already decided, but that's irrelevant."