Book 1 Chapter 838

838.

"Grandfather! Hurry! Hurry!"

"Ho ho. That rascal."

In front of the warp gate in Retin.

A beautiful woman was urging a young man.

For a moment, strange gazes were directed at the two of them.

However, upon confirming their appearances, people wore expressions of understanding.

This was because the two were elves.

Given the elf's racial trait of slow aging, it was not unusual for the young man to be as old as the elderly grandfather.

As the elf woman, Eiran, exited the warp gate, her eyes widened at the breathtaking view laid out before her.

"Wow, the scenery is so beautiful."

"It's still the same here."

Rune, the head of the Ersar family and speaker of the Elsalvechia council, one of the elven nations, chuckled and nodded.

Just then.

"You're late."

At the voice from behind, Eiran smiled brightly.

"Miss Lunia!"

There stood Lunia, wearing a pure white hood, with her arms crossed.

Beside Lunia stood Lunia's father, also wearing a pure white hood.

Ellen Lundaa stood there.

When Ellen's eyes met Rune's, Ellen bowed his head.

Ellen was a teacher at Seirun, and Rune, the highest elder in elven society, had recently officially become the principal of Seirun.

In elven society, the speaker held a status equivalent to a human king.

The principal of Seirun held a higher position than those speakers.

Despite this, Rune was accompanied by only two mages belonging to the Ersar family.

Ellen had also brought only two escorts.

Thus, the people of the Ersar and Lundaa families headed towards the royal palace.

"It's still a good city."

"Sis Sigma is a very good friend, so it's not strange that the city has developed so much."

Rune and Ellen discussed the city.

Due to their racial traits, elves rarely moved from their territory. However, elven heroes often traveled around the world.

This was because they were tasked with searching for elven hero records or heroic artifacts scattered across the globe.

Moreover, since Retin bordered the elven territory, it was a place they visited frequently, even though it was human territory.

"Miss Lunia. They say the hot springs here are very effective."

"I heard too. I'd like to use them if they have them at the royal palace."

"Miss Sia said they do."

"Wow. That's great."

Lunia and Eiran chattered excitedly about the hot springs.

The northern part of the continent, the elven territory, was a cold polar region.

Furthermore, as they valued cleanliness, elves greatly enjoyed hot springs.

"Hot springs…"

Eiran's expression became slightly flushed.

Her ears twitched restlessly.

Seeing Eiran like that, Lunia narrowed her eyes.

"Are you having strange fantasies again?"

"Huh?"

"Like bathing with Leo. That kind of thought."

"No."

Eiran shook her head with an innocent face.

Seeing Eiran with her wide, clear eyes, Lunia was momentarily speechless.

Eiran, who sometimes had uncontrollable lewd thoughts with an innocent face, would usually show it.

But now, her face showed no such thoughts at all.

"Aren't you the one having strange thoughts?"

As Eiran blinked her eyes languidly, Lunia's face turned red.

"You always scold me."

"You caught it from me!"

"Why is that my fault!"

Ellen, shaking his head as he watched the two bickering, suddenly looked out at the city streets.

And said.

"It's amazing."

"Hm? Ah."

Rune, with a puzzled expression at Ellen's remark, nodded.

"Indeed, it's not a sight easily seen anywhere in the world."

"It's like looking at the scenery of Gardsron, which is mentioned in legends."

Gardsron.

It was the last fortress of the world during the Age of Calamity.

And a city where all the races of the world harmonized.

The crowds filling the streets of Retin.

It wasn't just humans there.

Elves, beastfolk, and dwarves.

Various races moved freely through the streets.

Although they were races that made up the world… from a racial perspective, harmony was difficult.

For various racial reasons, there were instances of unconsciously antagonizing, looking down on, or ignoring other races.

Especially elves, who were a race with strong racial pride.

But even those elves were now showing favor to other races.

This was due to the influence of the Nebula's Progenitor, who had reappeared in the world not long ago.

There had been moves towards friendliness towards other races.

'Even so, the unfamiliarity remains unchanged.'

Ellen saw an elf passing by, happily chatting with a beastfolk.

Rune also saw an elf, who had been fighting with a dwarf, then reconciling and shaking hands.

To them, these were unfamiliar sights.

But…

"These children won't find it strange at all, will they?"

Ellen's gaze turned to Lunia and Eiran, who were chattering away.

His daughter, as the successor to Luna, the Nebula's Progenitor, had arguably already ascended to the highest seat of honor among elves.

If it were before, Ellen would have worried a lot.

Lunia's free-spirited and rough personality was far from the symbol of the race that elven society desired.

But now it was different.

Elven society no longer felt the need to restrain his daughter's free spirit.

They no longer saw it as wrong.

They had come to accept that natural demeanor.

"Aren't they the new generation who will lead the next era? This scenery won't be strange to them. No. They themselves are one of the reasons this scenery was created."

Rune smiled.

"I believe that this scenery will further advance the elves."

"I agree."

Rune and Ellen agreed that this change was not in the wrong direction.

'Even I have come to accept my daughter as she is.'

Ellen no longer felt the need to correct Lunia.

It wasn't that Ellen wanted to.

Lunia was his lovely and proud daughter, no matter what she was like.

However, traditional elven society couldn't accept Lunia's true self.

Ellen, worried about his daughter being ostracized, thought correction was necessary.

As Ellen looked at Lunia with a proud face.

"Huh?! What are you? A pickpocket? Want to die?!"

"Hiiiiiik!"

"Mis- Miss Lunia. You've caught him, so why don't you forgive him?"

Seeing his daughter growling while grabbing a beastfolk boy by the collar, Ellen thought seriously.

'Still, maybe that personality should be corrected?'

"Forgive him, Lunia."

"Tch. If you get caught next time, I'll pluck every single hair from your head to toe."

"Y-yes! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

As the beastfolk boy disappeared with a pale face, Lunia stroked her chin.

"Should I have plucked his hair, though?"

"I wonder who you'll marry."

"Why did that come up all of a sudden?"

"I hope the man who takes you won't suffer."

Ellen openly clicked his tongue, and Lunia pouted.

Just then.

"Extra! Extra!"

A sound of someone running frantically could be heard from the street.

"His Majesty has achieved victory again!"

"Ooh!"

"How many consecutive wins is it now!"

The citizens reacted with excitement.

At their reaction, Lunia and Eiran wore puzzled expressions.

"Excuse me, but what was that about just now?"

Eiran asked a dwarf standing nearby.

"Oh! Elven lady! You must have just arrived in this city! He is the King of the Beginning who will ascend to the throne at the coronation ceremony! They say he won another duel against a hero!"

At the dwarf's words, Lunia and Eiran looked at each other.

"A duel against a hero?"

"What on earth is that?"

***

When Lunia and Eiran reached the entrance of Archi Royal Palace, an enormous crowd had gathered.

"Waaaaah!"

A tremendous roar was pouring down on one person.

The one receiving that roar was none other than Leo, familiar to both of them.

As Leo waved his hand, the crowd's cheers intensified.

"No, what is he doing there, looking so out of place?"

Lunia, with her arms crossed, wore an expression of disbelief.

"According to Kal, it's some kind of show."

"Huh? Dryana? When did you get here?"

She then turned her head at a voice from beside her.

"Ooh! Long time no see!"

Kal, who was next to Dryana, waved with a smile.

"Why is he putting on a show like that?"

As Lunia furrowed her brow, Kal shrugged.

"Well, there are various reasons. Some doubt Leo's skills. And many people gathered here want to see something historical."

"Something historical?"

As Lunia wore a puzzled expression, Kal said.

"Leo is the one who inherited the world's throne from Lysinas. And the public wants a powerful king."

Kal's expression turned serious.

"But Leo probably isn't interested in absolute power, is he?"

"That's right."

Lunia nodded.

"Then Leo's pursuit is singular."

Kal crossed his arms.

"The King of Heroes."

"The King of Heroes?"

"Yes. Literally, he's trying to reach the pinnacle. Is there any other reason why he bothers to prove himself?"

Indeed, Leo was overwhelmingly defeating other heroes.

Some people, captivated by Leo's strength, volunteered to become vassals of the Archi Kingdom.

"The pinnacle…"

As Lunia gazed blankly at Leo.

"Leo… you're so cool…!"

Eiran, with her hands clasped, murmured dreamily.

'She's gone crazy again…'

"Ah… Leo is truly a god. If only I could lick Leo's soles…"

'What kind of insane nonsense is this?'

At the voice from behind, Lunia felt a dizzying sensation.

It seemed Lunia wasn't the only one who heard that voice, as murmurs began around them.

"What a strange woman."

"Mom, why does she want to lick his soles?"

"No. We shouldn't look at things like that."

Lunia smirked at the whispering voices.

'No matter what race she is, if she's the same race, it would be embarrassing…'

"It feels like my fantasy about elves is breaking."

At someone's mumbling, Lunia's face stiffened.

'Could she be an elf?'

She looked back.

And her mouth dropped open at a familiar face.

Anja, the daughter of the Northern Magic Tower, known to the public.

Her eyes met Anja's.

They weren't close friends, but they were acquainted.

Lunia desperately turned her head.

Just then.

"Hello. It's been a while."

"You've mistaken me for someone else."

Lunia hastily turned her head away.

"Hey. Are we strangers?"

"What kind of relationship do you and I have!"

Lunia flinched and shook off Anja, who had grabbed her shoulder.

Then, she realized that Eiran, Dryana, and Kal, who were nearby, had disappeared, and her eyes widened.

"Hey! Where are you guys going, leaving me behind!"

Lunia called out urgently, and Dryana said with a flustered expression.

"Who are you?!"

"You perverted dwarf!"

***

In a building overlooking the entrance of Archi Royal Palace, where a countless number of people had gathered.

A man stood with his arms crossed.

"Is that… Leo Flove?"

"Yes. That is correct, Dark King."

"He looks quite ordinary."

The demon, called the Dark King, curled the corners of his mouth.

"What is the number of hero hunters who have infiltrated?"

"A total of twenty."

"Foolish. Were they accepted without any suspicion?"

The Dark King said with a condescending expression.

"I cannot understand the Necromancer King. With heroes gathered now, if a large-scale attack were launched, immense damage could be inflicted."

The Dark King looked at his palm and said.

"Well, it is the action of a Legion Commander who has been hiding like a coward for the past 5,000 years."

The Dark King, scoffing at the Necromancer King, looked up at the sky.

"The times are changing. It is time for the old beings to disappear."

The Dark King's eyes narrowed.

"If I inflict great damage on the Archi Kingdom, my position within Tartarus will further increase. It is also time for Tartarus to have a new Legion Commander at the top."

The Dark King, revealing his greed, looked at the table in the room.

"There are enough chess pieces."

Looking at the chessboard, the Dark King had a confident expression.

He was unaware that as he turned his head, Leo was looking precisely in his direction.