Book 1 Chapter 857

857.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Forest of Illusion, the party quickly entered the forest.

As it was the fairies' domain, there were no monsters or demons here.

"First, we need to reunite with Leo."

Kal looked at the Forest of Illusion with a serious expression.

Kiya sat on Kal's shoulder and said,

"-He's probably at the entrance to Fairy Land. Currently, Fairy Land is cut off from the outside world due to Father King's magic, so even Leo Plov wouldn't have been able to enter."

"Hmm. If it's Leo, I feel like he would have easily solved it and gone in?"

"-Father King is also a wizard who has lived for 5000 years. No matter if Leo Plov has earned the title of King of the World, he would never be able to undo it."

Kal scratched his cheek, looking at Kiya, who spoke with a voice full of conviction.

'But because it's Leo, I think he might be able to.'

If the Fairy King Shylod is a wizard who has lived for 5000 years, Leo is the Hero of Beginning.

He was also a wizard of Archmage level recognized by Luna.

Walking through the Forest of Illusion, Kal became lost in thought.

"What are you thinking so hard about?"

When Chelsea asked with a puzzled face, Kal replied,

"If there really is a fragment of Erebus in Fairy Land, and we succeed in subduing it…"

"If you succeed?"

"That means we'll have already subdued three fragments."

At those words, Lil let out an exclamation.

"That's amazing. Since the Hero of Beginning sealed Erebus, divided into six fragments… if that happens, it means we've already subdued half of the Erebus fragments."

Given that the Heroes of Genesis failed to subdue the fragments of Erebus and sealed them instead, Leo's achievements could only be described as remarkable.

"Brother, you are truly amazing again. You are really achieving what you said you would in your first year."

The complete subjugation of Erebus.

Leo was steadily approaching his goal.

"The remaining fragments won't be easy."

Chen Xia sighed softly.

"Especially the fragment sealed in the World of Genesis…"

According to Leo, the fragments of Erebus grow stronger the more they burn.

And the Erebus fragment within the World of Genesis is burning as the world repeats itself.

Of course, the Heroes of Genesis are endlessly subduing it, but it has begun to possess immense power that even they cannot handle.

"It was also God's word that it's unknown how strong the Genesis fragment will become."

At Chen Xia's words, Kal recalled Lian, the administrator of the Hero Record.

Remembering that madness, which was close to Kyle's fanaticism despite him being a god, Kal involuntarily shuddered.

"Recently, the number of people praising Brother Leo has significantly increased in public."

"Of course. His actions are beyond legendary, almost mythical, aren't they? Like a human chosen by destiny."

Kal shrugged his shoulders.

"I suddenly wonder what we'll be like in the future?"

Chelsea tilted her head.

"My business will probably flourish greatly, and I'll be living a life of luxury, showing off? I'll buy a luxurious mansion and live like a king."

Kal chuckled and then looked at Lil.

"What about you, senior?"

"Hmm… I want to be an adventurer."

"Huh? Senior, aren't you from a military family?"

"Yes. But I don't really like fighting. I want to travel all over the world and help many people."

Lil smiled gently.

"And help Brother with his work as well. What about you, Xia?"

"I'll become the Empress of Shan. Of course, I won't leave young master Leo's side."

"Then who will run the empire?"

"There are many capable people among the Shadows."

Chen Xia smiled pleasantly.

Shan was a nation founded and sustained solely by its mission.

Those who held key positions in the empire were all Shadows, and they were all essentially saved by Leo.

A world where heroes and shadows are equal.

The master of the Book of Shadows.

That fact alone made Leo a living god to the Shadows.

Rather, the Empress's place was by Leo's side.

Of course, Chen Xia did not disclose the inner workings of the empire to her friends.

"Eliza?"

At Kal's question, Eliza said indifferently,

"I would have made Hergin the greatest summoner family."

At Eliza's words, Chen Xia quickly joined the conversation.

"As the head of the family, you'll have heirs, won't you?"

"Of course."

"How many children would you like to have, Eliza?"

"Hmph. There's no benefit to a noble family having many direct descendants. One or two are enough. Isn't it the same for you?"

The Hergin family is large, but Shan is unimaginably vast.

And if a large family has many direct bloodlines, conflicts tend to arise easily.

"Well, the Shan Imperial Family doesn't have much interest in maintaining power or influence. I also like children… and I'm rather unfortunate in terms of siblings, so I'd like to have many."

Chen Xia put a hand to her cheek, pondered, and then smiled gently.

"I think it would be fun to have at least five children."

It was a question intended to tease her, but she responded nonchalantly.

Seeing that, Eliza clicked her tongue.

"Is she bold or confident?"

"Say both."

Just as a strange atmosphere flowed, Chelsea raised her hand.

"I…!"

"Chelsea, you want your chest to get bigger, right?"

"Hey!"

Chelsea glared and lunged at Chen Xia.

Kal made a pitiable expression.

"Isn't that a hopeless cause?"

"Die!"

Chelsea's dropkick landed squarely on Kal's solar plexus.

Watching that, Kiya made a peculiar expression.

"-These… are the next generation of heroes who will lead the world?"

As they happily chatted and walked through the forest, Chen Xia suddenly paused.

"Why did you suddenly stop?"

As Eliza made a puzzled expression, Lil's gaze also sharpened.

"I sense a monster from afar."

At those words, the party's expressions changed.

Chelsea sharpened her senses.

And then she said,

"It's quite far. But why are there monsters…?"

"-Oh no! How dare these filthy monsters set foot on this land!"

"First, we need to reunite with Leo Plov."

Eliza said calmly, and the group quickly began to move towards the entrance of Fairy Land.

"Eliza! Just in case, please summon Pegasus!"

Chen Xia approached Eliza and said.

Just as Eliza was about to summon Lou.

Flash-!

Suddenly, a bright light burst forth before their eyes.

"What is this?"

As Eliza looked flustered, Chelsea urgently cried out.

"It's magic!"

"-Is this Father King's magic power? That's strange! This isn't within the spell's normal range yet…!"

Kiya's flustered voice echoed.

"Ugh! Everyone, be alert!"

Lil's voice was the last before the voices cut off.

As her vision completely disappeared, Chen Xia closed her eyes and sharpened her senses.

A moment later.

'What is this? The location has changed. Inside a building?'

Chen Xia, who was using her senses to discern her surroundings with her eyes closed, realized that the location had changed.

'Eliza is right next to me…'

Thinking so, Chen Xia opened her eyes and said,

"Eliza, you can open your eyes now."

"What in the world is going on?"

Eliza opened her eyes after hearing Chen Xia's words.

And the two, whose eyes met, fell silent.

"My goodness, Eliza. You're so beautiful."

Chen Xia exclaimed, covering her mouth.

"You too…"

Eliza was also flustered.

The fresh youth of a girl was no longer present in their appearances.

Their familiar faces, even to each other, were strikingly beautiful and mature, enough to surprise them.

It was as if they were seeing their future selves.

"What in the world is this…?"

"They said it was magic, so it must be an illusion spell. Fairies are skilled at such magic."

As Chen Xia looked at her clothes and tilted her head, Eliza calmly assessed the situation.

As their appearances had matured, neither of them was in school uniforms.

Chen Xia was wearing an Eastern-style formal dress, and Eliza was wearing Northern-style clothing.

"…I know where this is."

"Where is it?"

"It's the Hergin family head's reception room."

Eliza looked at the wall.

There hung portraits of the heads of the Hergin family through generations.

And next to Eliza's father… Eliza's own portrait was hanging.

"It seems to be the future, after all."

"…It's just an illusion anyway."

Eliza snorted.

"Fairy illusion magic is said to project what one desires. Perhaps the future you or I wanted has appeared as an illusion."

"Oh my. Then I'll be able to see young master Leo's children and mine?"

Chen Xia clutched her cheeks and playfully exaggerated.

Seeing Chen Xia, Eliza clicked her tongue.

"What exactly is so good about Leo Plov?"

"He's cool."

"He is cool, yes. But that man clearly seems to have complicated relationships with women."

"So you admit young master Leo is cool?"

"He's not my type. Especially a man who seems to have complicated relationships with women."

"What does it matter? Young master Leo is my benefactor. I even like that about him."

"Haa. You certainly don't have a normal way of thinking either."

Eliza shook her head.

Seeing Eliza, Chen Xia smiled slyly.

"By the way, Eliza, what about you? Do you think you'll be married to Kal? Earlier, the phantom beasts were actively trying to get the two of you to ride together."

"Hmph. Don't be mistaken, Xia."

Eliza scoffed.

"Kal and I are just casually dating. It's like a game to relieve academic stress."

"Oh, come on. You're saying things you don't mean again."

"Hmph."

"Well, if Eliza says so, then it must be. In fact, I don't even know how far into the future this is. You might not even be married yet…"

Bang-!

"Mother!"

Just then, the door opened, and a silver-haired boy, who looked about ten years old, entered.

"You said a guest was coming today… Oh!"

The boy spotted Chen Xia, his eyes widened, and he bowed respectfully.

"It is an honor to meet the great Empress of Shan. My name is Elim, Eliza Hergin's successor."

Chen Xia stared intently at Eliza.

"There's no proof he was born between Kal and me," Eliza's voice, barely audible to Chen Xia, trembled.

"Brother! When is Mother's guest coming…?"

Just then, through the open door, a girl with orange hair, about Elim's age, entered, paused, and then hastily composed herself.

"Hello, Great Empress of Shan. My name is Eli, Elim's twin sister. It is an immense honor to meet you."

At the appearance of the girl, whose father's identity seemed obvious, Chen Xia smiled broadly.

Eliza covered her face with her hand, not wanting to meet her gaze.

"Nice to meet you, Elim and Eli. By any chance, what is your father's name?"

""Kal Hergin.""

"Oh my. My dear classmate, isn't he~ You both resemble your father very much."

Chen Xia laughed and stroked their heads, as if teasing Eliza.

Then she turned back to Eliza.

"So, Eliza, your desired future was to have two children with Kal and build a happy family!"

"Alright, I get it, stop teasing me."

"A happy family of four~"

"I told you to stop, didn't I?"

"I told you to stop, didn't I?"

"Why on earth are you so persistently teasing only me?"

It was then that Eliza expressed her resentment.

"Your Imperial Majesty. I humbly beg your pardon, but we are not a family of four."

Eli said in a rather clear voice, looking up at Chen Xia with bright, wide eyes.

"Pardon?"

"I have five more younger siblings."

"…"

"…"

At that answer, Chen Xia's mouth gaped open, and Eliza froze solid.

Chen Xia smiled awkwardly and said,

"Elim, Eli. I need to have an important conversation with Eliza, so could you please give us some space?"

At his words, the two children bowed politely and left the room.

As the two children left and silence fell, Eliza scratched her cheek and said,

"It seems the two of you are destined to have a very harmonious marriage."

Eliza did not respond to that.

She just stood there, frozen, mumbling dazedly.

"Th-this… right… it's an illusion. An illusion… right… it's an illusion…"

Chen Xia approached the dazed Eliza, who was mumbling, and said,

"You said it was an illusion that shows what one desires, didn't you?"

"…"

"Be honest, Eliza."