Book 1 Chapter 800

Having finished the interview with Deyd, the three left the Flove family's office.

As Deyd was just an ordinary lord of a rural estate, they couldn't obtain any special information from him.

Mostly, it was based on eyewitness accounts from citizens.

"We'll have to investigate the location ourselves to find out the specifics."

Leo also didn't expect to get any information from his father.

The reason they came to meet Deyd was simply because he was the lord in charge of this entire territory.

'Well, it's worth it just for influencing Luna in various ways.'

Leo glanced at Rune, who had a thoughtful expression on his face.

There was a hint of confusion on his face.

Looking at Rune, Leo glanced at Reina.

Then, without realizing it, he opened his mouth.

"Ugh."

"Huh? What kind of rude reaction is that?"

Reina grabbed Leo by the collar with a beautiful smile.

She had a bright, flower-like smile, but a vein was bulging menacingly on her forehead.

Seeing Reina, who had a somewhat girlish expression just a moment ago, Leo reacted without thinking.

Reina shook Leo back and forth, then let him go.

"By the way, you."

"Why?"

"You resemble Marquis Deyd?"

Reina tilted her head, her hand on her chin.

Leo straightened his collar and said,

"Not at all?"

"Hey, hey. Seirun Student Council President. Doesn't he resemble Marquis Deyd a little bit?"

"Not at all."

Rune also shook his head.

Deyd Flove.

He had a benevolent impression and a charm that put people at ease, but his impression was ordinary; he was far from handsome.

'If anything, my face inherited my mother's genes.'

Even in Rumern, where handsome men and beautiful women were abundant, Leo was popular with female students even before he became prominent.

As such, Leo believed his appearance was inherited from Reina.

'Mom always said that Father and I looked alike, so I thought she was just saying that because we were father and son…'

It seemed Reina's discernment was frighteningly good.

Reina, looking somewhat surprised, glanced at the door and said,

"Marquis Deyd… is he married?"

"Are you interested?"

Rune's eyes widened.

"Yes. I find him appealing."

"I thought you would have very discerning taste in men… You surprisingly like ordinary people."

Rune said in surprise, and Leo chuckled.

'She does have discerning taste in men. She only finds them appealing if she feels they are good people.'

Reina, while seemingly passionate, was a very cautious person.

Of course, when she felt 'this is it,' she was very aggressive.

"Looking at the atmosphere of the house, it doesn't seem like there's a mistress?"

"Oh, indeed."

Reina's eyes sparkled, and she smiled.

"I want to have a daughter."

"Why?"

"Because if I have a son, he'll probably be a cheeky brat like you."

Reina said, opening her eyes lazily and gently tugging at the ends of Leo's hair.

Leo chuckled at Reina's words and said,

"Shall we go to the place where the black flames once burned now?"

"Yes. Shall we?"

***

Jiiing-! Flash-!

With a powerful surge of magic, Leeah appeared at Rumern's warp gate.

Even though the student council president had returned to school, there were no students to greet her.

'It must be class time for everyone?'

Leeah checked the clock and exited the warp gate.

Then, after greeting the faculty, she returned to the dormitory building.

The atmosphere among the faculty was more agitated than usual.

The usual Leeah would have noticed the atmosphere and instinctively realized that something had happened during her absence.

However, Leeah was preoccupied with her thoughts due to her recent business trip.

'…Erebos's thoughts in Kyle's form.'

Leeah bit her lip.

The mere fact that Erebos had taken Kyle's form made her feel a murderous intent.

But the problem didn't end there.

'To be able to bring out a being recorded in the Hero Records to the outside world.'

That was the most shocking thing.

'Of course, the thoughts' power has significantly decreased…'

Considering Erebos's immortality, it was strange.

Thoughts.

A small fragment of the power of Erebos's shard.

But even so, it possessed Erebos's divine power of immortality.

'Summoning a being recorded in the Hero Records must use fundamental power… For example… divine power.'

The Hero Records and gods were fundamentally the same.

Leeah deduced the situation with her unique insight.

'Summoning past beings would consume immense power, so the opponents would also be burdened.'

It would be a waste of power to bring them out only to be subjugated by themselves.

'And… if it's possible to summon beings recorded in the Hero Records from their side…'

Leeah clenched her hand.

'It will be possible for us too.'

At that moment, a person flashed through her mind.

'Kyle…'

Thump-

Leeah stopped walking.

As Kyle came to mind, another person naturally came to mind.

'…Dwenno… No, Valhar.'

Valhar's appearance was a shock to Leeah.

'I thought I knew everything about Valhar.'

Not only Valhar.

Kardo, Rune, too.

She had always thought that she knew her close friends perfectly, just as they knew her.

The great heroes were like family to each other, more so than comrades who would risk their lives for one another.

They were irreplaceable precious beings.

However, the appearance Valhar showed this time was unfamiliar to Leeah.

More precisely…

'…He is moving forward.'

Valhar was moving forward.

She felt that strongly this time.

What was complicating Leeah's mind now was not Erebos or the Hero Records.

It was Valhar.

'…I have never thought that what I have been doing after being reborn was wrong.'

She had strived to find traces of Kyle, who had vanished from this world.

She had lived to prove that the Hero of Beginnings existed in this world.

She had also struggled to find Kyle, who might have been born like herself.

But…

'…I couldn't find any trace of Kyle.'

As a spirit mage, she knew.

That's why Leeah recognized Rune, Kardo, and Valhar at first sight.

That they were the reincarnations of Luna, Arion, and Dwenno.

The resonance of their souls had not changed at all from 5,000 years ago.

Therefore, she would have recognized Kyle at first sight if she had met him.

But… Kyle didn't exist anywhere.

'I thought I had to avenge Kyle.'

Tartarus…

And Erebos, whom she couldn't reach 5,000 years ago.

If there is no Hero of Beginnings, create a second Hero of Beginnings.

Even if they couldn't become the Hero of Beginnings, create heroes who inherited his will.

With that thought, Leeah showed the students of Rumern a path.

A path that would lead students to follow in Kyle's footsteps.

She thought it was for Kyle's sake.

Thump- thump-

Leeah walked, looking only at the ground without speaking.

'But… was that really the right thing to do…'

Telling her comrades not to call out past names anymore.

Telling them to move forward into a future without Kyle.

She was the leader.

Just as she was 5,000 years ago…

She was the leader who guided the great heroes.

No one denied that fact.

But…

'If I go in the wrong direction… we all go in the wrong direction.'

She had forgotten that fact.

5,000 years ago.

She thought carefully many times.

To avoid getting lost.

But…

'…Am I going in the right direction?'

That thought occurred for the first time.

'No. Was I going forward correctly?'

Thump-

She stopped walking again.

Whooosh-

The wind blew from behind.

Leeah turned around without realizing it.

Five great heroes, including herself, were walking.

In their past forms.

With unwavering eyes.

The apparition soon disappeared.

Leeah clenched her fist.

Valhar's will was clear.

To move forward, leaving behind those who are gone.

That was the path for those who remained.

'I know. Kyle would have done that. But… if we forget, Kyle will completely disappear.'

She bit her lip tightly.

She clenched her fist with a look as if she was about to cry.

Her fingertips trembled slightly.

'Only Kyle, who must have had the hardest time… we alone… are enjoying this peaceful world.'

Leeah turned her head and looked ahead.

The present, which shone more brilliantly than anyone else's, was in a disastrously half-destroyed state.

"…"

Leeah stared blankly at the ruined dormitory.

With her mouth agape, Leeah grabbed a passing student.

"Che, Chelsea. What happened?"

"Ah! Leeah unnie!"

Chelsea's eyes widened, and she hopped past the pile of rubble to stand in front of Leeah.

"You're back now?"

"Yes. More importantly… what is all this…"

When their eyes met, Leeah paused.

'Huh?'

Leeah's eyes widened slightly.

"Huh? What's wrong? Leeah unnie. Is there something on my face?"

Chelsea's eyes widened, and she pressed her cheeks with her palms.

Seeing Chelsea like that, Leeah wore a perplexed expression.

'Was she always like this?'

It was clearly the usual Chelsea.

But the atmosphere was different.

In Leeah's eyes, she saw a light in Chelsea that she hadn't seen before.

Then…

"Ahem! Make way! The number one of the 3rd-year Knight Department! Illiana Laden is passing through!"

From afar, Illiana, carrying a lot of construction materials on her back, walked with confident steps.

That appearance was definitely different from her usual timid self.

"Oh! My word."

"That she's the number one in the 3rd-year Knight Department…"

"The Knight Department is doomed!"

Sighs erupted among the 3rd-year students of the Knight Department.

"Hey! Come at me if you have a problem!"

Illiana glared and swung her fists wildly in the air.

Then, she spotted Leeah looking at her intently, gasped, stepped back, tripped over a stone, and fell backward.

'Illiana too…'

Was different.

It wasn't just the atmosphere; an invisible light seemed to be visible.

'Like Valhar.'

Recalling her comrade, Leeah had a perplexed expression when Elena approached her.

"You're back? Student Council President."

Leah said, her tone not the usual gentle one but tinged with nervousness and annoyance.

"Elena-senpai. What happened? Why is it like this?"

In response to the question, Elena sighed deeply.

"Some suspicious guy attacked the dormitory. Along with these damned brats."

Elena pinched Chelsea's cheeks.

"Ow! Let go!"

Chelsea flailed her arms.

Then, using telekinesis, she pulled over the fallen Illiana.

"Ack! Elena-senpai! My skirt is flipping up!"

Pulled upside down, Illiana screamed and struggled, tightly gripping her skirt.

Thump!

"Oof!"

When the telekinesis was released, Illiana fell to the floor.

Chelsea also let go of her cheeks.

Chelsea touched her swollen cheeks with a sullen expression.

"Suspicious guy?"

"Yes. Ah. And this is a letter from the Seirun Student Council President."

Elena took a letter from her pocket and handed it over.

It was a letter magically sealed so only Leeah could see it.

Leeah unfolded the letter and read its contents.

Then she closed her eyes.

"It seems… I have to go right away."

"As soon as you arrive?"

"Yes."

As Leeah folded the envelope, she realized there were two sheets of paper and, with a puzzled expression, checked the back page.

[Damn sly con artist lizard.]

'…Why is this guy doing this to me again?'

Feeling a sense of malice, Leeah pressed her temples.

"Where are you going, Leeah unnie?"

To Chelsea's question, Leeah calmly replied,

"To the Flove Marquisate in the Kingdom of Delian."