Book 1 Chapter 778

778.

Risinus smiled at Luna's words.

Seeing the smile that seemed somehow lonely, Luna flinched and lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Sorry. I was too harsh."

"No."

Risinus shook his head.

"Your feelings… I understand them perfectly, Luna."

Among the great heroes, it was Luna who had longed for Kyle the most.

5000 years ago.

She believed that it was herself, and no one else, who had inflicted the greatest wound on Kyle during their final journey.

'If one of us had to live… you, carrying Arion and Dweno, were meant to remain, weren't you?'

When Luna met her end.

The choice given was too cruel.

Herself or Kyle?

In that situation, Luna chose Kyle.

It was an unavoidable choice, and in the end, Luna's choice was the right one.

However, unlike the other companions who were on the verge of death, Luna chose to give up and leave the burden to Kyle.

Forcing Kyle forward, she embraced her own death.

That event remained a great source of guilt for Luna.

That was why Luna was so obsessed with Kyle's Hero Record.

To find proof that Kyle had truly existed, no matter what.

Even while hesitating to fight Erebus, she never compromised on that one thing.

Risinus understood Luna.

That's why he knew she couldn't help but get emotional.

Risinus, seeing Luna with her head bowed and ears drooping, gave a wry smile and said,

"When I say let go of the past, I don't mean forget Kyle."

"……."

"Just like Kyle did… it means to move forward without being bound by the past."

"I know."

Luna nodded.

"Arion… Kar will do a great job. This hero dungeon that appeared is likely Kyle's hero dungeon."

Risinus also wanted to go find Kyle's Hero Record immediately.

However, it wasn't easy given the circumstances.

Tartarus's legion commanders were still at large.

Luna was the representative of Seirun and the greatest power protecting the northern continent.

If she were to leave her post, and Silatuna were to make a move, the world's political landscape would be drastically shaken.

Protecting world peace.

That was the mission of the great heroes, continuing from 5000 years ago.

"I know. I was just complaining a little. Sorry for being harsh."

"Heh. Don't be so down. It doesn't suit you."

"Tch."

Luna clicked her tongue, looking at Risinas, who was comforting her.

Then, she glanced at Risinas.

'He's still pretty.'

It was different from her, fundamentally.

'A feeling of being a true savior who will save the world. I probably couldn't achieve that kind of aura even if I tried my whole life.'

She could be a game-changing reversal move like the goddess of fortune, but not that.

"That's a relief."

"Huh? What is?"

"I'm glad you don't like Kyle."

"……."

If there was one thing the reborn Luna was most different about from her past life, it was that she had become honest with her feelings.

Of course, the still-oblivious Arion didn't know.

Luna's biggest regret was not being honest with her own heart.

"To be honest, I'm confident I can defeat anyone else in the world, but if you were a competitor, I wouldn't be confident."

Risinus smiled faintly.

'It's probably best to keep my feelings buried forever.'

There was no one in the world to convey them to anyway.

And unlike Luna, who didn't know Risinas's feelings, Risinas had known Luna's feelings since her past life.

'Thank goodness. She's so oblivious in this regard.'

Risinus sighed in relief inwardly.

'If she knew I tricked Kyle into a marriage contract, there would be an uproar.'

There was nothing good to be gained from it being revealed.

'First, I need to make sure that perverted dwarf keeps his mouth shut.'

Risinus smiled, thinking of the only person in this world who knew his feelings for Kyle.

"I think you're more attractive."

"Do you think so?"

Luna, with her arms crossed, tilted her head.

After a moment, she nodded.

"Indeed. Whether it was my past life or now, there are things I'm better at than you."

The presence of those superior points was evident from her crossed arms on her chest.

Seeing that, Risinas smiled faintly.

"Rune. This body is still growing."

"Yes. Of course, it's growing."

Luna nodded, but gave a slightly sympathetic smile.

"It will definitely grow more."

As Luna patted his shoulder to console him, Risinas's fist trembled slightly.

Taking a deep breath and forcing a smile, Risinas said,

"I should be going now."

"Yes. See you again. Arion… If you get contact from Kar, tell me right away."

"Understood."

Risinus stepped onto the warp gate.

Flash-!

The warp gate emitted a bright light, and Risinas immediately returned to Lumern.

Exiting the gate, Risinas organized his tasks.

"First, I need to go to the student council…"

Checking his tasks for the day, Risinas moved immediately but suddenly stopped.

It was already late at night.

Normally, it would be past the dormitory curfew.

However, being busy with student council work, Risinas could move freely within the school even at late hours.

Stopping, Risinas looked up at the sky.

'…It's been a while since I've looked at the night sky like this.'

The starry night sky that he had so desperately wanted to see again.

It wasn't just Luna who liked stars.

Risinus also loved this scenery very much.

He looked wistfully at the scenery he had closed his eyes without ever seeing in his past life, and smiled bitterly.

'Now I've become so used to it that I'm numb.'

When he was just born, he would forget to sleep and stare endlessly at the night sky.

Thinking that he wasn't the only one reborn into this world.

He imagined reuniting with his friends.

Tap- tap-

Risinus carefully sat on a nearby bench.

And he gazed endlessly at the night sky he had seen after a long time.

This was a peaceful era, incomparable to his past life.

5000 years ago.

The world had won against Erebus.

Since then, the world had prospered and regained its lost brilliance.

No, compared to the age of gods, the current era shone even more brilliantly.

Countless heroes inheriting the will and power of the past heroes.

A prosperous era where people did not suffer.

As the king leading the world.

As the leader of Arhi, fighting against Tartarus, there could be no more ideal situation.

Even if the last piece, Kyle, did not exist.

'…We will win.'

Even without pure mana.

He would find a way.

Perhaps Luna or Dweno would create magic and artifacts that could counter Erebus.

Arion's sword might reach a level where it could cleave Erebus.

This world held infinite potential dormant within it.

But…

"It's hard…"

Risinus muttered softly and pulled his legs towards him.

He tried his best to act fine, but the absence of one person felt so profoundly empty.

"I miss you… Kyle."

He repeated words he could never utter in front of others.

***

A sandy beach bathed in the morning sun.

The seawater, swept in with the sound of waves, shattered into pieces on the sandy shore.

It was a famous tourist spot, but unfortunately, there were no visitors using it at the moment.

The reason was simple: Azonia had rented out the city's sandy beach.

The reason was simple.

"Going!"

Thump-!

Arga, wearing a swimsuit on the beach, tossed the ball into the air.

Simultaneously, Borman, who had jumped, spiked it with his palm.

Crack-!

An explosive sound echoed from the ball, and it was driven straight towards Dion on the opposite side.

Dion let out a gasp! and immediately punched the ball, which was infused with an aura.

Boom-!

As fists collided, sand flew in all directions.

The sandy shore was deeply cratered.

But Dion didn't fall.

Dion, channeling the power of the ball away, shouted to his teammate, Tabon.

"Tabon! It went that way!"

"Don't worry! Prepare yourself!"

Tabon kicked the ball that was floating in the air, as if to drive it down.

It was a game played by Azonia, using hands and feet to drive the ball towards the opponent's side.

The problem here was that knocking down an opponent, like in Bastera, was not an issue at all.

It was a rough game, even making Bastera look mild.

If it weren't for desert sand or sandy beaches, the impact would cause extensive damage to the surroundings.

It was as much a training session as a game, so it wasn't very popular outside of the beastfolk.

To prevent damage to the surroundings and for safety, other visitors were barred from using the area, as they could get caught up in it.

Leo, sitting on a chair with a parasol set up on the beach, glanced at the Azonia students.

"Lively."

"It's not just lively, it's unnecessarily energetic. Those muscle-heads."

Rwen placed a pile of newspapers next to Leo.

"Just as you said, I brought all the previous newspapers."

"Thank you."

"I'm only doing this because Kar-senpai asked, but I refuse such errands in the future."

Rwen scoffed and stretched.

Leo smirked at Rwen, who was stretching, and checked the newspapers.

The flow of time in the parallel world was completely different from the original world.

'Time in that world has barely moved.'

After confirming yesterday that the clock was ticking slowly, Leo checked the clock, but the second hand had barely moved a few times.

Leo realized that the flow of time between this world and that world was completely different, confirming that the second hand was moving at a consistent pace, not erratically.

'I don't know why, but this clock seems to be the connection between that world and this world.'

After several experiments, Leo found that no abilities had any effect on the clock.

Pure mana, aura, magic, spiritual power – all were rejected.

Considering it was a normal watch given as an entrance gift by Reinna, it was strange that no extraordinary abilities could reach it.

Leo gazed at the watch for a moment, then began reading the newspapers brought by Rwen.

"Leo. You're here early."

Just then, Kar approached.

"I wanted to watch the kids train for a bit."

"Ah."

Kar nodded.

"Stretch before I arrive. The real training will begin when I get here. You can look forward to it. My juniors are very strong!"

Kar clenched his fist and his eyes sparkled.

Leo chuckled at Kar.

"I'm looking forward to it."

The Azonia students in Leo's world were a little different from the Azonia students here.

It couldn't be helped.

Weren't they living alongside the Hero Arion, of all people?

'Ar's movements were also closer to Arion's.'

Recalling yesterday's fight, Leo looked at the newspaper.

"Please take good care of us, Senpai!"

"Yes. Please take good care of me. Today, let's train on hypersensitivity."

At that, Leo nodded.

"Hypersensitivity… It's true that I might learn it better if I learn from that guy…"

"Has anyone entered the realm of hypersensitivity yet?"

"Yes!"

"It's difficult."

"……?"

Leo lifted his head.

"Hmm… Is it really difficult by conventional methods?"

Arion, with his arms crossed, fell into thought.

Then, he sighed.

"Do we really need a life-or-death tense crisis?"

"……."

Leo covered his face with his hands.

He had forgotten.

'What kind of guy Arion is.'

And he had overlooked one more thing.

What kind of guys the Azonia students were.

"It seems that to learn Kar-senpai's secret techniques, we need a desperate resolve!"

Arga clenched his fist.

At that shout.

ROOOAR-!

Arion's fierce fist devastated the sandy shore.

The screams of the Azonia students echoed.

The Azonia students believed that if it was a training method of the strong, they should confront it head-on without questioning.

Leo muttered at the carnage unfolding before his eyes.

"He's going to kill them."