Book 1 Chapter 840

840.

Inside the vast royal palace.

The place Leo arrived at was called the Hall of Aura.

The main palace where Leo would reside was restored exactly like the Tunkun Royal Palace, but most of the other buildings on the palace grounds were newly built structures.

The Hall of Aura was one such place.

This place was for the knights of the Arhi Kingdom.

All sorts of equipment for the knights' training were arranged there.

"Haa! Haa!"

As they approached the Hall of Aura, shouts of exertion could be heard.

In front of the Hall of Aura.

About a hundred children, appearing to be in their early teens, were shouting with exertion and practicing downward strikes.

"Are they applicants for the Tusen Knights' apprenticeship?"

"Yes. We have selected talented children."

The middle-aged knight accompanying Leo bowed his head.

Siag Zigma.

He was Cis's son and a knight serving as the vice-commander of Tusen.

Although he had not yet achieved the rank of a hero, he was also one of the famous knights in the western part of the continent.

The Resentung region was a place that the Tusen Knights had virtually governed and managed before Leo arrived.

As such, it was clear that if the Arhi Kingdom were founded, they would naturally become the representative knights of Arhi.

Leo's gaze turned to the children.

Seeing his eyes, Siag's expression became tense.

'Is this person really 17 years old?'

The story of someone reaching the rank of hero at an age when they could be called a boy was only heard in fairy tales.

To that extent, becoming a hero at a boy's age is almost impossible.

This is because a boy is an immature being.

Of course, heroes are not perfect.

But most heroes are not immature.

This is because they reached the rank of hero only after overcoming various trials.

He looked at the boy who had become his liege before him.

Siag was a man who was a knight through and through.

Knights were beings with clear individual goals.

For the justice they believed in.

Or to protect many people.

Or there are those who only follow the liege to whom they have sworn allegiance.

Siag searched his entire life for a king worthy of following.

And Leo was the liege Siag desired.

His overwhelming abilities, of course, and his grand goal of saving the world from the great evil, Tartarus.

And even the charisma that attracts people.

He thought he was born to be an ideal king.

That's why he swore allegiance to Leo.

He vowed to be his sword and shield, and that fact remains unchanged even now.

However, he felt a question about whether Leo was truly a being he needed to assist.

'Your Majesty is too perfect.'

Leo, observed from close by, was literally a perfect being.

A being without any weaknesses.

He had seen many people, but he had never seen anyone like this.

"If they grow well, some of these kids will enter Lumern. Raise them well."

"…Yes."

He assessed the aptitude of the apprentice applicants with just one look.

These apprentice applicants were different from usual.

Thanks to Leo's heightened reputation, only the best talents could be selected.

He became a hero and a king at a young age.

Children couldn't help but feel a strong yearning for Leo's presence.

'It's not just knight applicants.'

Those with talent in magic, as well as children showing rare talent in summoning, were gathering at the Arhi Royal Palace.

Among them were also those with names from so-called 'prestigious families'.

Leo perfectly saw through the talents of such children.

One person's influence transcended imagination.

And he guided those gathered under that influence in the right direction.

'Does such a perfect person… need subordinates?'

Siag's face clouded over as he thought about his own value.

Thump- thump-

Leo moved his steps.

"Attention, everyone!"

The instructor who was guiding the children spotted Leo and commanded.

The children, sweating in the hot summer weather, quickly stood at attention.

"Left face!"

Snap-!

The children moved in perfect unison, as if well-trained.

Soon, Leo was visible in the children's line of sight.

"L-Leo Flov-nim…!"

"That's the King of Beginnings…!"

"I, I want to see him up close too!"

"Hey! Don't push!"

The children, who had shown considerable discipline, instantly lost their composure.

Leo's appearance, as an object of admiration and longing, was enough to shake the children's hearts.

"T-these brats…!"

As the instructor, with a flustered face, tried to control the children, Leo lightly waved his hand.

Then he smiled and said.

"Work hard."

"Yes, yes sir!"

"Woooowwwwww…"

"His voice is cool!"

"He's incredibly handsome…!"

"That I get to serve such a person… it feels like a dream…!"

The apprentice applicants showed an excited reaction.

Watching the children, the instructor chuckled inwardly.

'These kids aren't even apprentices yet, talking about serving His Majesty…'

These children were merely apprentice applicants.

They would become apprentice knights of the Tusen Knights depending on how much they grew in the future.

And only by being promoted from there would they finally become knights of the King of Beginnings.

Of course, that path would be extremely difficult.

No matter how brilliant these children's talents were.

'Well… dreaming isn't bad.'

The instructor glanced at Leo, who was heading into the Hall of Aura with Siag.

Upon entering the Hall of Aura, Leo headed to a place where another knight order was located.

Currently, only the Tusen Knights were officially registered in the Hall of Aura, but there was one other knight order.

Siag looked at the nameplate at the entrance that read 'Slayer'.

The Slayer Knights were Leo's personal knight order.

'Actually, it's too small to be called a knight order.'

It was a knight order consisting of only five people.

'Now six?'

As Leo opened the door and entered, what was visible inside was a huge training ground.

And in the center, a cat beastman and a human man were sparring.

Thwack-!

Ar kicked off the training ground floor and charged at Jeswan.

Boom-!

Jeswan, who blocked Ar's kick by crossing his twin spears, was flung backward.

"This monster cat…!"

Belligerence filled Jeswan's eyes.

Thud-!

Ar, landing on the floor, grinned.

A grin that clearly showed the beastman's fighting spirit.

Seeing Ar, Jeswan's body erupted with a thick, murderous fighting spirit.

Siag, seeing this, shouted.

"Sir Jeswan! Miss Ar Tune is His Majesty's guest! Refrain from excessive emotion!"

"Tch."

Jeswan clicked his tongue and retracted his momentum.

Although Siag had not yet received the title of hero, a knight's strength is not determined by the presence or absence of the hero title.

Since Siag was older and had been through countless battlefields, Jeswan couldn't treat him carelessly.

Especially as he was now under Leo, he was also below Siag in the knight hierarchy.

Furthermore, Leo was right next to Siag.

"Oh! Black Rabbit!"

At that moment, Ar spotted Leo and hopped-hopped over.

"You're noisy from the morning."

Ar laughed, "Hmph," at Leo's words.

"Just a simple warm-up."

"Warm-up?"

"Yeah! To fight the Black Rabbit one more time…!"

"I told you I'd spar with you after the coronation."

"Noooooo."

Leo pinched Ar's cheek and shook it vigorously.

Ar, dragged around by Leo's hand, eventually rubbed her reddened cheek and pouted her lips.

"Why? Since yesterday, there have been no challengers, so aren't you bored, Black Rabbit?"

"I'm not particularly bored."

"I'm bored."

"Then play with this."

Leo rolled a marble the size of a fingernail from his pocket onto the floor.

Clink-!

Ar instinctively blocked the fast-rolling, shiny marble with her foot.

"…"

Ar, who had been silent, fixed her gaze on Leo and grabbed his collar, shaking him.

"I said stop treating me like a cat!"

Jeswan watched this, an incredulous expression on his face.

"Where did that fierce momentum go?"

The Ar that Jeswan had been fighting just moments ago was a wild beast.

He felt a fighting spirit that seemed absolutely untamable.

But in front of Leo, she was a slightly feisty cat.

Jeswan looked down at his palms, recalling the bone-chilling fighting spirit of Ar.

'They talk about the Golden Generation, Golden Generation… but His Majesty isn't the only monster.'

As the successor to the hero Arion, Ar was also a global celebrity.

And she too had become a hero at a young age.

Even so, he thought she was different from Leo.

Leo's existence was a shock in itself.

But Ar was also no less than Leo.

They had fought somewhat equally now, but Jeswan knew.

That neither he nor Ar had fought at their best.

And that she was a hero who would quickly grow stronger and head to a place so far away that he couldn't reach.

'Oh dear. My self-esteem is dropping a lot after coming to this country.'

"But why do you call His Majesty 'Black Rabbit'? His Majesty isn't a rabbit, nor is he black, right?"

A white rabbit would be understandable.

His hair is white, and his eyes are red, after all.

"I don't know why, but Lady Ar calls His Majesty 'Black Rabbit'. By the way, that was a wonderful duel, Commander."

Martina smiled and handed him a towel and a water bottle.

Jeswan, staring blankly at them, said.

"You don't need to mind me particularly. You don't need to treat me as commander either."

"Pardon? But His Majesty appointed you as the commander of the Slayer Knights?"

"That's what I don't understand."

Jeswan scratched his head.

He was a wandering mercenary.

Even if his skill level was on par with heroes, his character hadn't changed.

'These guys are clearly elite knights at a glance.'

What Jeswan was put in charge of were Leo's knights, led by Martina.

'Elites who trained in the Zerdinger family since childhood and eventually became Lumern students. It's right for these kids to be led by a more proper knight.'

Jeswan thought this after spending a few days with the five Slayer Knights.

That morning, he had therefore submitted his resignation to Leo.

But Leo had appeared here.

Leo, who had been sparring with Ar, approached Jeswan.

"Let's talk inside."

Leo entered the commander's office.

Jeswan and Siag followed him in.

Leo, sitting in the commander's chair, said.

"You don't particularly like Martina and the others?"

"Pardon?"

At Leo's question, Jeswan made a flustered expression, then shook his head.

"No, I do."

"Then why are you resigning?"

"Well, Your Majesty. Although I have attained the rank of hero, I am a mercenary."

"So?"

"It would be more suitable for elite knights like them to be managed by Sir Siag here, rather than me."

"Why?"

"Because I don't think I'll have a good influence on those kids."

Jeswan shrugged.

"Honestly, it's a waste, isn't it? They are talented children, and I think if they are influenced by someone like me, they might be ruined. I am not qualified to be in charge of such elite knights."

At Jeswan's words, Leo showed a curious expression.

"For someone called a mad dog, you're unnecessarily delicate."

"Pardon?"

"I don't particularly think their future will be ruined if they are influenced by you. Rather, they'll have a lot to learn from you."

"From me?"

"Yes. For example, how to survive on the battlefield."

Leo leaned back in his chair.

"The reason I named my first knight order 'Slayer' is extremely simple. In my generation, I will completely destroy Erebus, Tartarus."

"Well, that's… a famous story, isn't it?"

"Yes. You seem to know that famous story simply as my grand goal."

Leo's eyes narrowed.

"I will achieve it by any means necessary."

At Leo's words, Jeswan and Siag gasped momentarily.

"I'm not establishing this country for wealth, glory, honor, or power."

Leo looked at the world map hanging on the commander's office wall.

It showed the territories of Tartarus and battlefields located all over the world.

"Only to sweep them away."

"…"

"…"

Jeswan and Siag fell silent at those words.

"I won't force you to follow. I will destroy them even if I'm alone. But if you follow someone like me… the damage will be minimized… no."

Leo closed his eyes.

"I wish no one would die."

It was a dreamlike story.

An absurd story.

The reality that Leo had so cynically scoffed at and ridiculed.

But…

The ideal he had yearned for more than anything.

"Those children will follow me. The number of Slayer Knights will also gradually increase."

Currently, there are only five.

But the number will gradually increase.

"Then they need to learn how not to die on the battlefield. On the battlefields we will fight in the future, there will be no honor, no cowardice, nothing. Only survival will be valuable. And Sir Jeswan. You are the one who knows best that survival is the highest value, aren't you?"

"…Your Majesty seems to know better than I do, for some reason?"

"…"

At that, Leo smiled faintly.

"Perhaps. But I'm someone who is always prepared to die."

"…"

The only thing such a person could teach.

'Only the resolve to die.'

Jeswan could understand why Leo had entrusted him with the Slayer Knights.

Soon, Leo's gaze turned to Siag.

"There's no such thing as a perfect being in this world. And I certainly am not. I need many people to help me."

'…Did he see right through me?'

Siag clenched his fist.

"…I will do my best, Your Majesty."

As Jeswan replied heavily, Leo nodded and stood up from his seat.

And left the commander's office.

"…Perhaps I've come to serve an outrageous person."

At Jeswan's muttering, Siag clenched and unclenched his fist, speaking in a trembling voice.

"…I think so too."

He realized anew.

Why that boy…

No, why that man was recognized as the 'King of the World'.