Book 1 Chapter 837

837.

"Impressive."

Leo smirked, gauging Jesvan's skill.

'Judging by Sith's reaction, he seems like a pretty rough character.'

After reincarnation.

Leo had met quite a few heroes.

Among them were individuals who, by Leo's standards, were truly remarkable.

But there were also those who, by his standards, were far from remarkable.

'It's unavoidable, given that gods chose the heroes.'

Gods love the noble.

But they also love the depraved just as much.

As the gods themselves have different personalities and inclinations.

There were undoubtedly individuals who, by Leo's standards, were not qualified to be heroes.

But Leo didn't care.

'Whoever has ascended to the position of hero has nothing to do with me. And…'

Leo looked directly at Jesvan.

'Whether they are proper gods or those close to the abyss, there is a commonality.'

That is, they love those who have achieved great deeds.

'Therefore, the fact that any hero has achieved great deeds remains unchanged.'

However, there are those who cross the line even after achieving great deeds.

Those who betrayed the world.

And those who tarnish the value of heroes.

Leo had stripped such individuals of their hero qualifications.

Having experienced so many heroes of the current era, Leo found Jesvan to be a quite decent hero.

Leo knew from the start that Jesvan intended to fight him out of pure curiosity.

He didn't seem to have any intention of belonging to the Archy Kingdom.

'He's just someone who dislikes belonging anywhere.'

He possessed a fighting spirit but didn't over-exhibit it.

Even though he knew the difference in skill before fighting, he continued the duel for the challenge.

Leo could sense that Jesvan was fighting him with a rather light heart.

'Compared to him, that woman, Nezerin…'

She was desperately trying to catch his eye.

Looking at her sand-like aura, Leo could understand why she was known as the Knight of the Sand Castle.

Leo let out a light breath and raised the spear in his hand.

Leo's red eyes locked onto Nezerin.

*Woong-!*

Flames flickered from Leo's hand.

The moment Jesvan saw this, his eyes sparkled, and he charged towards Leo.

*Fwoosh-!*

Flames erupted from his twin spears.

"Hoho? Teamwork?"

Leo's expression turned amused, and Jesvan chuckled.

"If that woman falls, I'll have to face you alone?!"

"We usually call that teamwork."

Regardless, Jesvan intended to help Nezerin to prevent the situation from tipping.

However, Leo was not someone Jesvan could block alone.

*Fwoosh-!*

"…!"

A massive flame flared, and Leo's figure multiplied into ten.

The onlookers gasped in admiration.

"Magic!"

"Illusion magic!"

'No! This isn't magic!'

He had purely created identical figures of himself using aura.

'I can't gauge his aura control level!'

He had recognized that his opponent was a monster.

But this was far beyond his expectations.

Aura is an ability that is extremely difficult to control delicately compared to magic power and spiritual power.

Especially fire-based aura, which is even rougher and more destructive, making it even more challenging.

Leo, who was pressuring Jesvan with nine aura clones, threw a condensed spear towards Nezerin.

*Kwahhhhhh-!*

The spear shot towards Nezerin like a meteor.

In response, Nezerin summoned her aura, and the sand aura rose like a massive fortress wall.

*Kwang-!*

But Leo's attack easily nullified Nezerin's defense and knocked her back.

"Tch!"

Jesvan, who had barely shaken off the aura clones and was trying to get into position.

*Chak-!*

Leo appeared behind him and pressed his spear against Jesvan's neck.

*Clang.*

Jesvan dropped his spear and raised his hands.

"I surrender."

At his words, Leo withdrew his spear, and cheers erupted from all around.

"Waaaaaaah!"

"As expected of the King of the Beginning!"

"The Hell Hound, who ascended to the position of hero, can't even move!"

"Just the Hell Hound? Wasn't the Knight of the Sand Castle here too?"

Not only did they see heroes they rarely saw in person, but they also witnessed their duel firsthand.

It was only natural for people's excitement to reach its peak.

Jesvan silently watched Leo's back as he approached Sith.

'I'll never catch up, even if I chase him my whole life.'

A different class, indeed. That's what this must be.

Meanwhile.

"Both are accepted."

"What?! Your Majesty, what do you mean…!"

At Leo's words, Sith inadvertently raised his voice.

But realizing his voice was too loud, he coughed to clear his throat and said.

"Your Majesty. Perhaps the Knight of the Sand Castle, but the Hell Hound is not someone who will belong anywhere. Even if he joined our kingdom's knights, he was someone who habitually assaulted his superiors during his mercenary days, so he will surely cause trouble. It's not for nothing he's called a mad dog."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"If he's a dog, he'll listen well."

"Your Majesty. I mean, he's not just a dog, he's a mad dog."

At those words, Leo smirked.

"I can tell just by looking at him that he's stubborn. I understand what Lord Sith is worried about."

Leo glanced back.

"But I quite like that fellow."

"Hoo… Then I'll at least make an offer to join the knighthood. However, that person doesn't like belonging anywhere."

"If he says he's not interested, don't bother trying to persuade him."

Nodding at Leo's words, Sith turned around.

And *thump-thump*, he walked towards the two of them.

"Knight Nezerin, Knight Jesvan. Your Majesty has been impressed by your skills and has offered you positions as knights of the Archy Kingdom."

At those words, Nezerin's face lit up.

"Is that true?"

"It is."

Having said that, Sith looked at Jesvan.

"Knight Jesvan, you probably aren't interested in a knight's position, are you?"

"……"

"Knight Jesvan?"

"Why not."

"……"

Sith felt a headache coming on.

'No, even if I gave him a billion, why would someone who refused a knight's position suddenly agree?'

Of course, Sith vaguely knew the reason for Jesvan's change of heart.

'Yes. It's true that Your Majesty is a charming person. But if I'm going to get tangled up, it should be with women, not some guy like this.'

Jesvan's skill was undeniable.

No, he was even outstanding among heroes.

Having been a hero for so long, Sith knew this better than anyone.

However, from Sith's perspective, Jesvan, who was unpredictable, was not a welcome presence.

Even if Leo possessed tremendous charisma that drew people in, overwhelming strength, and a great reputation, Archy was a newborn kingdom.

And it was Sith who practically ran the state affairs of Archy.

Long ago, the Tunkon Kingdom was destroyed by a large-scale attack from Tartarus.

'And Your Majesty will be the one to face Erebus… no. He will face Erebus.'

The intuition of an old, veteran hero told him.

An unimaginable, unprecedented great war was approaching.

Therefore, accepting talented individuals into the kingdom was something Sith welcomed.

However, as a newborn kingdom, it was also important to stabilize internal affairs quickly after its founding.

Every action of a hero shakes the surroundings.

When numerous heroes gather in one place, a group of unimaginable power is formed.

But it also carries the risk of division at any moment.

'This is why Tartarus is not completely destroyed, even though the heroes of the great creation ushered in an era of new heroes.'

The stronger the being, the more surprisingly difficult it is to harmonize.

If heroes gather under the Archy Kingdom.

'We must gather only those who will cause minimal disruption.'

"Knight Jesvan, our Archy Kingdom is, well. It's a newborn kingdom."

"I know that."

"Yes. That's why it's poor."

"……?"

"Meaning we cannot provide you with appropriate compensation."

"I've already earned more than enough money to spend my entire life, anyway."

At those words, Sith pondered how to make Jesvan refuse the position of knight of the Archy Kingdom.

It was then.

"Lord Sith. Lord Leo says not to interfere with the duels he will be having from now on."

"What do you mean?"

"He says he'll knock down anyone who challenges him."

At Elena's words, Sith glanced at Leo.

"And please accept the Hell Hound without complaint."

"Miss Elena, this is a matter of the Archy Kingdom. It has little to do with you as a guest…"

"Why wouldn't it have to do with me? This is my prospective workplace."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm going to get a job at the Royal Magic Research Institute of Archy Kingdom after I graduate."

"Says who?"

"Says the highest authority in this country…"

Sith watched Leo's retreating back as he disappeared into the palace entrance.

At that moment.

"Hoho? Are you Elena Zerone?"

Jesvan showed interest in Elena.

"I heard you're as wild as I am?"

At those words, Elena shook her head.

"No."

"What? Are you being modest? Your illustrious record is world-famous."

"It's not modesty. Your infamy is child's play before me."

"Look at this?"

Jesvan's expression turned amused.

Certainly, while she was quiet in front of Leo, Elena's infamy was no less than Jesvan's, if not more.

Listening to their conversation, Sith muttered inwardly.

'Don't compete over that.'

However, regardless of Sith's wishes, Elena and Jesvan joined the Archy Kingdom as a mage and a knight, respectively.

Chen Sia, standing at the entrance, spoke to Sith, who was returning to the palace with a somewhat dejected expression.

"Lord Sith."

"Ah, Princess. I've made a fool of myself."

"It will be alright."

"Yes?"

"Lord Leo specializes in taming such scoundrels."

"Haha. Are you trying to comfort me?"

"No. I'm just stating the facts."

Chen Sia shook her head.

At her words, Sith felt a slight sense of relief.

"Indeed, with Your Majesty's charisma, he will be able to perfectly control both Miss Elena and Knight Jesvan. I suppose I was worrying unnecessarily."

"Yes. Rather, what Lord Sith should worry about is Lord Leo."

"What do you mean by that…?"

"In the end, the most reckless one is that human."

"……"

As Leo's classmate…

And as someone who had decided to become Leo's shadow and had observed him closely, Chen Sia's sincere advice made Sith think.

'Should I have supported Lady Celia as queen?'

Leaving Sith deep in thought, Chen Sia followed Leo.

A moment later, she found Leo waiting at the end of the corridor.

"Lord Leo. I have something to say…"

"Sia."

"Ah, yes!"

At Leo's slightly different voice, Chen Sia unconsciously straightened up and replied.

"Call Anya."

"Ah…"

The successor to the Shadow Lord of the Northern Continent.

Watching Leo summon Anya, a half-elf, Chen Sia said.

"As expected, the Knight of the Sand Castle…"

"Hoho, your intuition has sharpened considerably?"

Leo looked at Chen Sia.

His expression was different from his usual self.

'The God of Shadows.'

"That's right. That woman."

Leo said calmly.

"She's a Hero Hunter."