Book 1 Chapter 838

838.

"Grandpa! Hurry! Hurry!"

"Haha. You rascal."

In front of Retin's warp gate.

A beautiful woman was urging on a handsome young man.

At that, people's curious gazes briefly turned towards the two of them.

But soon, upon confirming their appearance, they wore expressions of understanding.

It was because the two of them were elves.

Given the racial characteristic of elves, where aging is slow, it wouldn't be strange for that handsome young man to be of an age suitable for a venerable grandfather.

Stepping out of the warp gate, the elven woman, Eiran, opened her eyes wide at the breathtaking scenery visible at a glance.

"Wow, the scenery is so beautiful."

"It's still the same here."

Rune, the head of the Ersar family and chairman of Elsalvekia's council, one of the elf nations, chuckled and nodded his head.

At that moment.

"You're late."

Eiran smiled brightly at the voice coming from behind.

"Miss Lunia!"

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

Next to Lunia was her father, also wearing a pure white hood.

Ellen Lunda was standing there.

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

Ellen was a teacher at Seirun, and Rune, the highest elder in elf society, had officially taken the position of principal of Seirun this time.

In elf society, a council chairman holds a status similar to a king in human society.

In the case of Seirun's principal, their status is even higher than such council chairmen.

Despite this, only two wizards from the Ersar family were accompanying Rune.

Ellen also brought only two escorts.

Thus, the people of the Ersar family and the Lunda family headed to the royal palace.

"It's still a fine city."

"Sis Sigma is a very good friend. It's not strange for the city to develop like this."

Rune and Ellen talked about the city.

Elves, due to their racial characteristics, rarely move outside elven territory, but elven heroes often travel all over the world.

This is because they are tasked with searching for scattered elven hero records or heroic artifacts around the world.

Moreover, Retin was a place adjacent to elven territory, so even though it was human territory, it was a place they visited quite often.

"Miss Lunia. They say the hot springs here are so good."

"I heard that too. If there are any in the royal palace, I'd like to try them."

"According to Miss Sia, there will be."

"Wow. That's great."

Lunia and Eiran chattered excitedly about the hot springs.

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

Furthermore, as they value cleanliness, elves were very fond of hot springs.

"Hot springs…"

Eiran wore a slightly flushed expression.

Her ears perked up without a moment's rest.

Watching Eiran like that, Lunia narrowed her eyes.

"Are you having strange fantasies again?"

"Pardon?"

"Like bathing together with Leo. Thoughts like that."

"No."

Eiran shook her head with an innocent face.

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

Eiran, with her innocent face, sometimes had wildly inappropriate thoughts that she couldn't control, but when she did, it showed.

But now, that face was one that harbored no such thoughts at all.

"Instead, weren't *you* having strange thoughts, Miss Lunia?"

As Eiran's eyes half-closed, Lunia's face flushed crimson.

"You always tell me off."

"You, it rubbed off on you!"

"How is that my fault!"

Watching the two bickering, Ellen, who had been shaking his head, suddenly looked out at the city streets.

And he said,

"It's magnificent."

"Hmm? Oh."

Rune, who had looked puzzled by Ellen's words, nodded.

"Indeed, it's not a sight you can easily see anywhere in the world."

"It's as if I'm looking at the landscape of Gadstron mentioned in legends."

Gadstron.

The last fortress in the world during the Age of Calamity.

And a city where all races of the world lived in harmony.

The streets of Retin were filled with crowds.

There weren't just humans there.

Elves, as well as beast-folk and dwarves.

Various races freely moved through the streets.

They were one of the races that made up the world, but… from a racial perspective, harmony was difficult.

This was because, for various racial reasons, they would subtly antagonize, look down on, or ignore other races.

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

But even those elves were now showing goodwill towards other races.

It was the influence of the Progenitor of the Nebula, who had descended upon the world once before.

There were favorable movements towards other races.

'Even so, the fact that it's unfamiliar remains unchanged.'

Ellen saw elves happily conversing with beast-folk as they passed by.

Rune also saw elves getting into a fight with dwarves, then quickly reconciling and shaking hands.

These were unfamiliar sights to both of them.

But…

"Those children wouldn't find it strange at all, would they?"

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

In his daughter's case, as the successor to Luna, the Progenitor of the Nebula, it was no exaggeration to say she had already ascended to the position of the race's highest dignity.

If it had been before, Ellen would have worried a lot.

Lunia's free-spirited and wild personality was far from the symbol the elf society desired for their race.

But now it was different.

Elf society no longer constrained his daughter's free-spirited nature.

They no longer considered it wrong.

They had come to accept that natural appearance.

"Aren't they the new generation that will lead the next? This sight wouldn't be unfamiliar to those children. No. Those children are precisely some of the very individuals who created this sight."

Rune smiled faintly.

"I, for one, believe this sight will further advance the elves."

"I agree."

This change was by no means in the wrong direction.

Rune and Ellen concurred on that fact.

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

Ellen no longer felt the need to correct Lunia.

It wasn't because Ellen wanted it that way.

No matter what she was like, Lunia was his beloved and proud daughter.

However, the existing elf society had not been able to accept Lunia's true self.

Ellen worried that his daughter would be ostracized and thought correction was necessary.

As Ellen looked at Lunia with a proud expression,

"Hmph?! What are you? A pickpocket? Do you want to die?!"

"Hiiiiiik!"

"Mi-Miss Lunia. Since you've caught him, why don't you forgive him?"

Watching his daughter growling while grabbing a beast-boy by the collar, Ellen thought seriously.

'Still, shouldn't that personality be fixed?'

"Forgive him, Lunia."

"Tch. If I catch you again, I'll pull out every single hair from your head to your toes."

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

The beast-boy, his face pale, bowed frantically.

As the beast-boy disappeared, Lunia stroked her chin.

"Perhaps I should have pulled out at least some hair?"

"Whom on earth will she marry?"

"Why are you suddenly bringing that up?"

"The man who takes her will have to suffer, I suppose."

As Ellen openly clicked his tongue, Lunia pouted.

At that moment.

"Extra! Extra!"

A sound of someone hurriedly running down the street was heard.

"His Majesty has won again!"

"Ooooh!"

"How many consecutive victories is that?!"

The citizens showed an excited reaction.

At that sight, Lunia and Eiran exchanged puzzled looks.

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

Eiran asked a dwarf nearby.

"Oh! Elf lady! You must be new to this city! The King of Beginnings, who will ascend to the throne at the upcoming coronation, has won another duel against a hero!"

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

"Duel against a hero?"

"What on earth is that?"

***

When Lunia and Eiran arrived at the entrance of Archy Royal Palace, a huge crowd had gathered.

"Waaahhhhh!"

An enormous cheer was pouring out towards one person.

The one receiving those cheers was none other than Leo, familiar to both of them.

As Leo waved his hand, the crowd's cheers grew even stronger.

"Seriously, what is he doing there, out of place?"

Lunia, with her arms crossed, wore an incredulous expression.

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

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

Then, she turned her head at a voice from beside her.

"Oh! Long time no see!"

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

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

As Lunia furrowed her brows, Kal shrugged.

"Well. There must be various reasons. There are those who doubt Leo's skill. And there are also many people gathered here who want to witness something historical."

"Something historical?"

As Lunia looked puzzled, Kal said.

"Leo inherited the world's throne from Lord Licinas. And the public wants a powerful king."

Kal put on a serious expression.

"But Leo probably isn't very interested in absolute power, right?"

"That's right."

Lunia nodded.

"Then there's only one thing Leo seeks."

Kal crossed his arms.

"King of Heroes."

"King of Heroes?"

"Yes. Literally, he's trying to reach the pinnacle. Why else would he bother to prove himself so tediously and inconveniently?"

In fact, Leo was overwhelmingly defeating other heroes.

Some were captivated by Leo's power and volunteered to become vassals of the Archy Kingdom.

"Pinnacle, huh…"

It was when Lunia was staring blankly at Leo.

"Lord Leo… you're so cool…!"

Eiran, clasping her hands together, mumbled with a dreamy face.

'She's gone crazy again…'

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

'What kind of insane talk is this again?'

At the voice from behind, Lunia felt her head spin.

It wasn't just Lunia who heard that voice, as murmuring began around them.

"What a strange woman."

"Mom. Why does she want to lick his feet?"

"No. Don't look at things like that."

Lunia let out a snicker at the whispering voices.

'I don't know what race she is, but if she's the same race, it would be embarrassing…'

"My fantasy about elves seems to be breaking."

Lunia's face stiffened at someone's murmur.

'Could it be an elf?'

She looked behind her.

And her mouth dropped open at a familiar face.

Publicly known as the daughter of the Northern Magic Tower.

She met the eyes of Anya, a half-elf.

Not close friends, but acquaintances nonetheless.

Lunia desperately turned her head.

At that moment.

"Hello. Long time no see."

"You've got the wrong person."

Lunia hastily turned her head sharply.

"Oh come on. Is this how we are with each other?"

"What relationship do you and I have?!"

Lunia cried out in alarm and shook off Anya, who was grabbing her shoulder.

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

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

As Lunia urgently called out, Driana said with a flustered face.

"Who are you?!"

"You perverted dwarf!"

***

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

Inside, a man stood with his arms crossed.

"Is that… Leo Flobe?"

"Yes, it is, Dark King."

"He looks quite ordinary."

The demon known as the Dark King curled up the corners of his mouth.

"What is the number of hero hunters infiltrated inside?"

"A total of twenty."

"How foolish. Did they accept them without any suspicion?"

The Dark King, wearing a contemptuous expression, said.

"I cannot understand the Necrolord. Now that heroes are gathered, a large-scale attack could inflict immense damage."

The Dark King looked down at his palm and said.

"Well. It is indeed the action of a legion commander who has hidden like a coward for the past 5000 years."

The Dark King, having scoffed at the Necrolord, 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 significant damage on the Archy Kingdom, my position within Tartarus will grow even larger. It is also time for a new legion commander to stand at the pinnacle of Tartarus."

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

"Because there are enough chess pieces."

The Dark King, looking at the chessboard, wore a confident expression.

Unaware that from the moment he turned his head, Leo was looking precisely in his direction.