Book 1 Chapter 839

839.

Archi Royal Palace.

Leo's new residence.

Leo, who had just entered the room, sat down.

Knock- knock-!

"Leo! Are you enjoying your vacation?"

The door opened and Karl entered, greeting him cheerfully.

Behind Karl, Lunia, Eiran, and Driana followed.

"Wow~ This is a new royal palace, so it's magnificent?"

Karl looked around the room with admiration.

Driana stroked her chin.

"Hmm! By the way, it's the latest building, but the interior is quite antique."

"They said they recreated the appearance of the previous Tunkon Royal Palace."

"Ah."

Driana, who had been looking at the interior with interest, her eyes sparkling, wore a bright expression.

"Wow! Paintings by Dweno-nim and Enniha-nim!"

On one side of Leo's room hung paintings of Dweno and Enniha, acquired during their last mission.

"They're still beautiful even when I see them again!"

"I'm thinking of exhibiting them soon so that many people can see them."

"Oh ho."

"I'm planning to lend them to Seirun or Demian soon, so please find a place where people can see them well."

"They are precious paintings left by Dweno-nim. Can anyone see them carelessly?"

As Lunia tilted her head in confusion, Leo said, looking at the painting.

"Dweno would want that too."

At that, Driana nodded her head, "Mmm-!"

"By the way, Leo."

Karl put on a serious expression.

"That… going to a deserted island alone with Elena senior. What happened?"

At that, Lunia and Eiran widened their eyes and looked at Leo.

"To a deserted island alone with that woman?!"

"Ahhhh… traveling to a place with no one around with such a charming woman…!"

Unlike Lunia, who was flustered, and Eiran, who was dizzy, Driana folded her arms and said,

"Hmph. You do everything you want, don't you?"

"What do you mean I do everything! You perverted dwarf!"

Lunia yanked Driana's mouth.

At that reaction, Leo said indifferently,

"What happened? I just went to clear my head."

At that answer, Karl tilted his head.

"Nothing happened?"

"What could have happened?"

Hearing that answer, Karl looked slightly bored.

"I expected it, but it's a bit boring."

"Hmm? That's strange. Lumern's vice president, she seemed quite interested in you as a woman."

Driana tilted her head.

"I thought she might eat you if you went to a deserted island alone."

At Driana's words, Karl chuckled.

"If Leo eats her, he'll eat her, but he won't be eaten."

"Indeed."

Driana had a strangely convinced expression.

"Well, eat me…"

Eiran covered her face with both hands.

"It's starting again."

Lunia shook her head as if she couldn't stop it.

Watching them, Leo clicked his tongue.

"Why?"

"Because I think the minds of the budding talents who will lead the next generation are not healthy."

Bang-!

"Wh-what's not healthy?!"

"Hauuu! I-I'm sorryyyyy…"

Lunia slammed the table and strongly retorted, while Eiran cowered and twisted her body.

"What's not healthy about it? It's about the birth of new life. I think it's a very natural story."

Driana folded her arms and tilted her head as if to say, "Is there a problem?"

"That's right. There's nothing strange about it. Everyone likes stories like this at that age anyway."

"Exclude me!"

Lunia retorted as Karl said indifferently.

"It's like a conversation between a teacher and students."

At that moment, Chen Xia came out from one side of Leo's room.

"Xia-yang! Have you been well?"

Eiran's face lit up with joy.

"Why are you coming out from there?"

Lunia asked with a puzzled look, and Chen Xia smiled brightly and stood behind Leo.

"I am Leo-doryeong's shadow. I always serve him closely."

"I see. By the way, Xia-yang. What do you mean by 'teacher and students'?"

Driana asked with a puzzled look, and Chen Xia shrugged.

"Literally. A student who reacts strongly to the teacher's words. A shy student. Two students who talk back."

Chen Xia, pointing alternately at Lunia, Eiran, Driana, and Karl, smiled brightly and pointed at herself.

"And an obedient top student."

"And the most perverted student."

Karl added from behind, and Chen Xia looked at Karl with a deep laugh.

Then Karl quickly hid behind Driana.

"By the way, where is Ar? She said she'd come earlier."

Driana asked with a puzzled look, and Chen Xia laughed.

"Ar-yang was so excited seeing Leo-doryeong defeat the heroes this morning that she bravely challenged them and was taken to the infirmary."

"How foolish."

Driana clicked her tongue coldly.

"By the way, Leo. You've accepted quite a lot of people into the Archi Kingdom through duels, haven't you?"

Karl asked, and Leo nodded.

"Isn't that a bit dangerous?"

Karl asked seriously.

There are many kinds of people in the world.

Those who desire fame, those who want to realize their own skills.

Or those who seek those worthy of serving.

And Karl knows.

To such people, Leo is the most worthy person to follow.

However, among such people, there are always unknown thugs mixed in.

"I'm a bit concerned about that too."

As Lunia agreed with Karl with a serious expression, Leo laughed.

'He accepted them on purpose.'

Seeing Leo's laughter, everyone thought so.

"There are friends from other schools here too. If you leave the room, someone will guide you."

"Wow. I can't keep the busy person who is about to be coronated for long."

Karl said in his usual playful manner and got up from his seat.

Lunia, Eiran, and Driana also got up.

"Le-Leo-nim. Could I possibly have dinner with you later?"

Eiran asked hesitantly, and Leo looked puzzled.

"Just the two of us?"

"N-no. All of my friends are coming. Of course, the two of us is fine too, but…"

"What? You're going to leave me out? How disappointing."

As Lunia said playfully, Eiran vigorously shook her head.

Seeing that, Leo chuckled.

"It's not difficult."

"Hehe."

Eiran smiled shyly and left the room.

Chen Xia and Leo were left alone in the room.

"Did you come?"

Leo asked.

But it wasn't Chen Xia who answered.

Whoosh-

The shadows in the room flickered, and then elves suddenly appeared behind Leo.

Kneeling on one knee in a reverent posture.

"We have come upon the summons of the great Shadow Master."

Anya, the successor to the Northern Shadow Monarch, said in a solemn voice.

"As you all know. The coronation ceremony is about to take place."

"Congratulations."

"And some are trying to launch a large-scale attack on Letin during that time."

"Are you referring to the Hero Hunters? Shall we find and eliminate them hiding in the palace?"

A chilling killing intent appeared in Anya's eyes.

Although she acted like a deranged cultist in normal times, she was also someone who would lead the elves' shadows in the near future.

As such, she showed a completely serious demeanor when it came to matters related to Hero Hunters.

"We already know all about the ones hiding in the palace."

Leo said calmly.

"But they won't just cause chaos within the palace."

The appearance of the Archi Kingdom is a great threat to Tartarus.

Regardless of the size of its national power, the symbolism of Leo Flov possesses the influence to unite the world.

The more grand the coronation ceremony, the stronger influence he can exert.

Therefore, it was highly probable that they would cause an incident to coincide with the coronation.

It's not a difficult task either.

There's no need to kill heroes or powerful figures.

While that would be ideal, it would clearly be difficult with heroes gathered in one place.

'The ones who entered the palace are chess pieces to be used in the distant future.'

For Tartarus, inflicting massive damage on those who came to watch the coronation would be sufficient.

Damage resulting from indiscriminate destruction.

If that happens, the Archi Kingdom's reputation will be tarnished, and ultimately, the object of people's resentment and distrust will be the protagonist of the coronation who failed to prevent this situation.

It would undoubtedly be Leo Flov.

'Being above people means dealing with such things.'

The more things you have to protect, the more difficult it becomes.

But…

'It doesn't matter.'

It was a burden he had already decided to bear.

'Let them run wild as much as they want. Though I don't know if they'll get their way.'

"You all have one task. Protect the people. Can you do it?"

"Yes!"

Swoosh-

The shadows that answered Leo's question then disappeared like illusions.

Only Anya remained.

"Do you have any questions?"

Leo asked with a puzzled look, and Anya hesitated.

Then she said cautiously,

"My God."

"That title… I can't quite get used to it. Yes, why."

"If I carry out this mission perfectly, would you grant me a reward?"

"A reward?"

"That's not like you, Anya."

Chen Xia said with a look of wonder.

Anya, who had shown absolute loyalty to Leo, asking for a reward.

Leo chuckled.

"It's not a bad change to manifest personal desires."

Shadows tend to severely lack personal emotions and desires.

That wasn't always a positive thing.

"What? If I can grant it, I will."

At Leo's answer, Anya smiled shyly.

"Uh… let me lick your feet."

"…"

Leo pressed his temples.

Chen Xia, smiling broadly, approached Anya.

"If you're going to make such a perverted request, get out."

"Princess! This isn't a perverted request, it's like a pledge of loyalty…"

"There are already plenty of perverts around Leo-doryeong, so get out!"

Chen Xia, exuding a fierce aura, chased Anya away.

Then she sighed deeply.

"Why do only abnormal people gather around Leo-doryeong?"

"I know."

"…Why are you looking at me and answering?"

Seeing Chen Xia's bleary eyes, Leo shrugged and got up.

He went to the balcony in one corner of the room and looked down at the royal palace.

Then he chuckled.

Seeing that, Chen Xia had a puzzled look.

"Are you amused?"

"No, rather than amused."

Leo leaned against the balcony railing.

"It's funny to suddenly deal with a brat who thinks he's great after dealing with a Commander King who always regards me with suspicion."

"Brat?"

"There is. A new Legion Commander."

At Leo's answer, Chen Xia let out a hollow laugh.

"You're probably the only one in this world who can call a Tartarus Legion Commander a brat, Leo-doryeong."