Book 1 Chapter 839
839.
Arhi Palace.
Leo's new residence.
Leo, who had just entered the room, sat down.
Knock- bang-!
“Leo! Are you enjoying your vacation?”
The door opened, and Kal cheerfully greeted him as he entered.
Lunia, Eiran, and Driana followed behind Kal.
“Wow~ It’s a newly built palace, so it’s magnificent, isn’t it?”
Kal looked around the room in admiration.
Driana stroked his chin.
“Hmm! Anyway, it’s a modern building, but the interior is quite antique.”
“They say it perfectly replicated the appearance of the previous Tungkun Palace.”
“Ah.”
Driana, whose eyes were sparkling with interest in the interior, brightened.
“Wow! A painting by Master Dweno and Master Enniha!”
On one side of Leo's room hung a painting of Dweno and Enniha that he had acquired during his last mission.
“It’s beautiful every time I see it!”
“I plan to exhibit it soon so many people can see it.”
“Oh ho.”
“I plan to lend it to Seyrun or Damian soon, so please find a good place where people can see it.”
“It’s a precious painting left by Master Dweno. Should just anyone be allowed to see it carelessly?”
As Lunia looked puzzled, Leo looked at the painting and said.
“Dweno would want that too.”
At those words, Driana hummed and nodded.
“Anyway, Leo.”
Kal put on a serious expression.
“That… going to a deserted island alone with Senior Elena. What happened?”
At those words, Lunia and Eiran widened their eyes and looked at Leo.
“A deserted island alone with that woman?!”
“Ahhh… a trip to a secluded place alone with such an attractive woman…!”
Unlike the flustered Lunia and the dizzy Eiran, Driana folded his arms and said.
“Huh. You’re doing everything you want to do, aren't you?”
“What do you mean, 'doing everything'! You perverted dwarf!”
Lunia pulled hard on Driana’s mouth.
At that reaction, Leo said indifferently.
“What happened? I just went to clear my head.”
Kal tilted his head at that answer.
“Nothing happened?”
“What would have happened?”
Hearing that answer, Kal looked a little bored.
“I expected it, but it is a little boring.”
“Hmm? That’s strange. The vice president of Lumerne, he seemed quite attracted to you as a member of the opposite sex.”
Driana tilted his head.
“I thought he might have eaten you up if you went on a trip to a deserted island alone with him.”
Kal chuckled at Driana’s words.
“If Leo eats someone, he eats them, but he won’t be eaten, will he?”
“Indeed.”
Driana made a strangely convinced expression.
“E-eat up…”
Eiran covered his face with both hands.
“Here we go again.”
Lunia shook her head as if to say it was hopeless.
Watching them, Leo clicked his tongue, “Tsk-”.
“Why?”
“Because the minds of the promising young talents who will lead the next generation don't seem healthy.”
Bang-!
“What, what do you mean not healthy?!”
“Hauuu! S-sorryyyy…”
Lunia slammed the table in strong protest, and Eiran hunched his neck and twisted his body.
“What's unhealthy about it? It’s a story about new life being born. Rather, I think it's a perfectly natural story, don’t you agree?”
Driana folded his arms and tilted his head as if asking if there was a problem.
“That’s right. What’s strange about it? Anyway, they’re all at an age where they like these kinds of stories.”
“Count me out!”
Kal said indifferently, and Lunia flared up.
“It’s like a conversation between a teacher and students.”
Just then, Chen Shia emerged from one side of Leo's room.
“Miss Shia! How have you been?”
Eiran made a welcoming expression.
“Why are you coming out from there?”
As Lunia asked with a puzzled face, Chen Shia smiled brightly and stood behind Leo.
“I am Young Master Leo’s shadow, after all. I always assist him closely.”
“I see. But Miss Shia. What do you mean by ‘like a teacher and students’?”
As Driana asked with a puzzled face, Chen Shia shrugged.
“Literally. A student who flares up at the teacher’s words. A shy student. Two students who talk back impudently.”
Chen Shia, who pointed to Lunia, Eiran, Driana, and Kal in turn, then smiled sweetly and pointed to herself.
“And a good student who listens well.”
“Who is also the most sly student.”
When Kal added that, Chen Shia smiled deeply and looked at Kal.
Then Kal quickly hid behind Driana.
“Anyway, Ar said he’d come first, but where did he go?”
As Driana asked with a puzzled face, Chen Shia laughed.
“As for Miss Ar, she got excited after seeing Young Master Leo beat up heroes this morning, and she bravely challenged them, but she was carried off to the infirmary.”
“That’s typical of that idiot.”
Driana clicked her tongue coldly.
“Anyway, Leo. I heard you accepted quite a few people into the Arhi Kingdom through duels?”
When Kal asked, Leo nodded.
“Isn’t that a bit dangerous?”
Kal asked seriously.
There are various people around the world.
Those who seek fame, those who want to realize their own skills.
Or those who seek a worthy person to serve.
And Kal knew.
That for such people, Leo was the most worthy person to follow.
But among such people, there were bound to be suspicious individuals with unknown intentions.
“I’m a bit worried about that too.”
As Lunia agreed with Kal with a serious expression, Leo smiled.
‘He accepted them on purpose.’
Everyone who saw Leo's smile thought that.
“Friends from other schools are here too. If you leave the room, someone will guide you.”
“Oh. We can’t keep a busy person occupied for too long with the coronation coming up.”
Kal got up from his seat with his characteristic smooth talk.
Lunia, Eiran, and Driana also rose from their seats.
“L-Lord Leo. Would you perhaps be able to have dinner with me later?”
When Eiran asked hesitantly, Leo made a puzzled expression.
“Just the two of us?”
“Oh, no. All your friends are coming. Of course, just the two of us would be fine too, but…”
“What? Are you going to leave me out? That’s upsetting.”
Lunia said playfully, and Eiran shook his head vigorously.
Leo chuckled at the sight.
“It’s not difficult.”
“Hehe.”
Eiran smiled shyly and left the room.
Only Chen Shia and he remained in the room.
“Have they arrived?”
Leo asked.
But it wasn't Chen Shia who answered.
Whoosh-
The shadows in the room seemed to flicker, and then elves suddenly appeared behind Leo.
A reverent posture, kneeling on one knee.
“We have come at the call of the Great Shadow Lord.”
Anias, the successor of the Northern Shadow Lord, who stood at the front, spoke in a solemn voice.
“As you know. The coronation will be held soon.”
“Congratulations.”
“And there are those who plan to massively attack Retin taking advantage of that opportunity.”
“They are Hero Hunters. Should we find them hidden in the palace and execute them?”
A chilling murderous aura flashed in Anias’s eyes.
Although she usually acted like a crazy cultist, she was also someone who would lead the elves’ shadows in the not-too-distant future.
As such, she showed an infinitely serious demeanor when it came to matters related to Hero Hunters.
“I’ve already found all the guys hidden in the palace.”
Leo said calmly.
“But they won’t only cause chaos in the palace.”
The emergence of the Arhi Kingdom was a huge threat to Tartarus.
Regardless of the size of its national power, Leo Plov’s symbolism possessed the influence to unite the world.
The grander the coronation, the more powerful influence he could exert.
Therefore, there was a high probability that they would cause an incident to coincide with the coronation.
It wasn't a very difficult task.
There was no need to kill heroes or powerful figures.
That would be good, but it was clear that it wouldn't be easy with heroes gathered in one place.
‘The ones who entered the palace are probably chess pieces to be used in the distant future.’
For Tartarus, simply inflicting massive damage on the people who came to watch the coronation would be enough.
Damage resulting from indiscriminate destruction.
If that happened, the reputation of the Arhi Kingdom would be tarnished.
And ultimately, the people’s resentment and distrust would be directed not at Tartarus, but at the protagonist of the coronation who failed to prevent this situation.
It would clearly be Leo Plov.
‘Because standing above people means that.’
The more things there were to protect, the more difficult it became.
But…
‘I don’t care.’
It was a burden he had already decided to bear.
‘Let them run wild to their heart’s content. Though I doubt it will go their way.’
“You have one job. Protect the people. You can do that, right?”
“Yes!”
Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh-
The shadows that answered Leo’s question soon vanished like illusions.
In the midst of that, only Anias remained.
“Do you have a question?”
As Leo asked with a puzzled face, Anias hesitated.
Then he spoke carefully.
“My God.”
“That title… I’m still not used to it. Yes, what is it?”
“If I perfectly complete this mission, could you grant me a reward?”
“A reward?”
“That’s not like you, Anias.”
Chen Shia made a curious expression.
Anias, who had shown absolute loyalty to Leo, wanting a reward.
Leo chuckled.
“Expressing personal desires is not a bad change.”
Shadows had a strong tendency to excessively lack personal emotions and desires.
That wasn’t always a positive thing.
“What? If it’s something I can grant, I will.”
At Leo’s answer, Anias smiled shyly.
“That… please let me lick your sole.”
“……”
Leo pressed his temples tightly.
Chen Shia smiled broadly and approached Anias.
“If you're going to make such a perverted request, get lost.”
“Princess! This isn’t a perverted request; it’s more like a vow of loyalty…”
“Young Master Leo is already overflowing with perverts, so get lost!”
Chen Shia scattered a sharp aura and chased Anias away.
And then she sighed deeply.
“Why is it that only abnormal people gather around Young Master Leo?”
“Indeed.”
“…Why are you looking at me when you answer?”
Leo shrugged and got up from his seat, looking at Chen Shia, who was squinting.
Then he went out to the balcony on one side of the room and looked down at the palace.
Then he chuckled.
Chen Shia looked puzzled at his expression.
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
“No, rather than enjoying myself.”
Leo leaned against the balcony railing.
“It’s funny to go from dealing with the Shadow King, who is absolutely wary of me, to suddenly dealing with a brat who thinks he’s so great.”
“A brat?”
“There is one. A new Legion Commander.”
At Leo’s answer, Chen Shia let out a hollow laugh.
“Young Master Leo will be the only person in this world who can call a Tartarus Legion Commander a brat.”