Book 1 Chapter 859

859.

"Hmm. It seems to be a vision of the future after all."

In the middle of a desert, where the sun's scorching rays beat down as if to ripen,

Lil stood with her arms crossed, lost in thought.

"Judging by the temperature, this must be the Seliman Desert, the hottest among the southern deserts."

Checking the temperature against her skin, Lil confirmed her location.

The Seliman Desert was famous as the most extremely hot place in the southern region.

A temperature where humans absolutely could not survive.

It was called the Desert of Death because no water could be found there.

Of course, for Lil, an excellent Spirit User, such a natural environment was not a significant threat.

There was no place in the world where the power of spirits could not reach.

A Spirit User was the most familiar being with nature itself, and Lil was a Spirit User recognized even by Leo.

Even now, she was using Spirit Arts to make the temperature around her comfortable.

Above her head, she had created a water barrier using water spirits to block the sunlight.

Lil assessed her transformed body.

"It's not just my body that's grown; my spiritual power has also become overwhelmingly strong."

Lil clenched and unclenched her fists.

Having grasped the current situation to some extent, Lil fell into thought.

"Now, the question is how to escape this illusion."

There were several ways to escape an illusion.

The most typical way was to dispel the illusion spell.

However, this was difficult to do.

Especially, Lil did not possess the magical aptitude to dispel a magic spell.

"The second method is to dispel it by force."

There were other methods after that, but this was one of the simplest methods she could attempt right now.

Thinking that far, Lil nodded and extended her hand.

Woong-!

The magic artifact on Lil's wrist reacted, and a subspace opened.

From there, Lil pulled out her favorite weapon, a battle hammer.

Tak-!

"Illusion magic uses light. And a magic spell is a weave of magical power."

Lil summoned light spirits and wind spirits.

"If I condense powerful light and create a ripple at its center to shake the magic spell, I might be able to crack the spell. And sound is one of the representative ripples."

Lil condensed the power of the light spirits to its maximum.

And around it, she used the wind spirits to create high-frequency sound.

"Hoo!"

Lil let out a battle cry and swung her battle hammer.

The place Lil struck was where the light was condensed.

More precisely, it was the point where the wind spirits had suppressed the high-frequency sound, condensing the wind.

Kiiiiiiiing-!

A sharp sound reverberated.

Along with it, the space began to tremble with intense light.

It was a simple principle.

She merely emitted powerful light and compressed and confined high-frequency sound around it.

Striking it with the battle hammer was to explode the compressed wind's power all at once to create a strong vibration.

The trembling space distorted, and then all at once, "Crack-crack-crack-crack-" it began to crack.

But soon, as if naturally recovering, the space returned to its original state.

"Hmm. Is it impossible with my current power?"

Lil extended her hand with a regretful expression.

"To think it's impossible even with such greatly enhanced spiritual power."

Lil's idea just now was the kind that would have surprised Lysinass if he had seen it, but Lil didn't realize it.

"Would older brother be able to do it? Ah, he would. Older brother is a special person."

She was already beyond special, at a level that would surprise even a Great Hero, but Lil sighed deeply at her own perceived inadequacy.

"First, I need to join up with my juniors. They must be around here, right?"

Lil summoned wind spirits and scouted the surrounding area.

"What an incredible illusion…!"

Lil's admiring eyes suddenly sharpened.

This was because she had detected an anomalous power through the spirits scouting the area.

"Dark magic."

It was none other than the aura of a demon.

Lil took slow, deliberate steps.

With each step, her feet sank deep into the sand.

A short while later.

Lil, who had arrived at the location where the demon was concealing its presence, raised her battle hammer.

Kwaaaaaaaang-!

As Lil brought down her battle hammer, an enormous amount of sand scattered into the sky, as if a massive explosion had occurred.

"Gwoooooooh!"

Along with a roaring sound, the demon revealed itself.

It was about 3 meters tall with granite-like skin.

Its face resembled a lion.

Its hands were similar in shape to a human's, but its claws were like blades.

Lil's eyes twitched.

"Beheritios?"

Beheritios was an infamous high-ranking demon that had appeared 200 years ago.

The creature, which had appeared on the southern battlefield of Tartaros, massacred countless beastfolk.

Twelve beastfolk heroes met their end at its hands.

Lil crouched low, a cold sweat forming.

And she assessed the power she felt from Beheritios.

"Can I win?"

Beheritios was clearly a demon beyond what a hero candidate could handle.

Furthermore, Beheritios was a demon active on the front lines of Tartaros in the southern continent.

Its dark magic exerted overwhelming power in sandy terrain.

Even if Lil had far surpassed the student level, there was no guarantee she could defeat it.

But Lil did not back down or show fear.

One who dreams of being a hero must always be prepared for trials.

Lumern's motto was 'Transcend your limits.'

"Challenging the impossible is the attitude of a Lumern student!"

"Hmph, young human girl. You don't fear me even when facing me!"

Beheritios, who had been hiding in the sand, attempting to ambush Lil, scoffed.

"Is that Lil Luce of Lumern?"

She was already a hero candidate who had become a target of caution within Tartaros.

"Cutting down the sprout of a hero is also a form of entertainment."

"……?"

At Beheritios's words, Lil momentarily wore a puzzled expression.

"What is it? This illusion should clearly be a vision of the future?"

Had her future self still not become a hero?

Or was it because it was an illusion?

"This illusion created a future where not only my appearance but also my power had grown stronger. But I haven't become a hero?"

Lil felt something was off.

Having power does not necessarily mean achieving great deeds.

That meant power itself did not equate to the qualifications of a hero.

However, Lil was certain of one thing.

No matter what future lay ahead, the image of the ideal hero she aspired to would not change.

Born into a military family, Lil was more drawn to the mindset of a 'guardian' than a 'conqueror.'

Her sole desire was to protect the weak and create a world where people could live well.

That was also why she chose to be an adventurer rather than a soldier.

Lil believed that she was born with power to use it for righteous causes.

That conviction had not changed one bit since she entered Lumern.

Such a person, herself, had not become a hero?

"By the way, it's strange. You're more mature than the reports indicated."

Lil, having heard Beheritios's words, asked.

"Were you in the Forest of Illusions just a moment ago?"

"That's right. I came to burn down Fairy Land."

Lil nodded at Beheritios's words.

She realized that the being before her was real, not an illusion.

"If so… I must defeat it even more."

Lil gripped her battle hammer tightly and summoned spirits.

Then, deploying Spirit Armored, she charged towards Beheritios.

"What?!"

Before Beheritios could even react, Lil reached him and swung her battle hammer.

Kwaang-!

With a massive impact sound, Beheritios's body flew away.

Lil paused, then looked down at her hand.

"Ohhh… I forgot, my power had grown stronger!"

She had never imagined that the power within the illusion would be effective against a being outside the illusion.

As Lil marveled.

"This! What kind of monstrous strength is this!"

Beheritios's voice, filled with shock, was heard.

Lil's eyes shot up at that.

"Who are you calling a monstrous hag right now! How rude for a demon!"

"I didn't call you a monstrous hag!"

"You called me a monstrous hag again!"

A furious Lil charged at Beheritios.

***

Dark night.

The tavern was filled with the cheerful chatter of people.

Kyle's party left the tavern around midnight after happily eating and drinking.

A mercenary's life was mostly like this.

As much as they risked their lives for work, on days they returned alive, they ate, drank, and enjoyed themselves to relieve stress.

And they forgot about what they had lost.

"La~ Sha~ My feelings for you are real, I tell you!"

Shen, drunk, followed Lasha, wailing.

Kasam, carrying a sleeping Lasha on his back, said.

"She's asleep. She wouldn't know if someone carried her away."

Shen cried when drunk, and Lasha slept.

Kasam, being incredibly resistant to alcohol, always looked after the two.

"Kyle, take Midia back first. I'll dump Shen at the knight's dormitory once he sobers up and then head home."

"Got it."

"Hehe. Are you escorting me like a knight?"

Leo nodded at Kasam's words, and Midia smiled playfully.

Leo escorted such Midia to her lodging.

Levantine's night streets were rough.

It was fine in the early evening, but after midnight, a conspicuous woman like Midia could get involved in crime.

Of course, Midia was a dragon who could easily sweep away this city if she put her mind to it.

'Back then, I didn't know that.'

Thinking to himself, Leo escorted Midia to the inn where she was staying.

Even in Levantine, high-class inns in the center generally had good security.

"Kyle. Since you're already here, why don't you sober up a bit before you go."

"Alright."

At Midia's words, Leo entered the high-class inn with her.

She didn't invite him to her room to sober up.

It just meant to stay in the lobby on the first floor for a while.

Sitting on a chair in the lobby, Midia looked at Leo with intrigued eyes.

"So. Did you summon a spirit?"

"No."

"Magic practice?"

"I'm doing it, but it's not going well."

"Really? Hmm."

Midia tilted her head, took out paper and a quill from her pocket, and began to scribble something.

Midia was also the first person to recognize Kyle's all-class talent.

Because of that, she, a spirit mage, taught Kyle Spirit Arts and magic.

And with the eyes of a researcher, she checked Kyle's condition daily.

Having completed a brief check, Midia took out another piece of paper from her pocket.

And unlike when she was researching, she began to scribble something else.

Leo rested his chin on his hand, watching her.

"…Did you say you were writing a letter to your sibling?"

"Huh? Oh, right. More precisely, a child like a sibling."

Midia smiled warmly.

"Should I call them a knight of our family? It's more like a master-servant relationship, but… I treat them like a younger sibling."

The recipient of the letter was probably also a dragon.

'In the past, I simply thought she was a young lady from a noble family…'

Now, looking back, she was an incredibly high-ranking dragon.

Literally, one who possessed the power to move the world.

During the Age of Gods, having a family for a dragon meant being a Dragon Lord candidate.

Of course, Midia did not become a Dragon Lord.

Leo spoke in a subdued voice.

"You came here… to investigate the eastern end, didn't you?"

"…? How do you know that?"

Midia's eyes widened.

Seeing Midia like that, Leo gave a bitter smile.

"Well? How do you think I knew?"

Just then.

Hwarereureuk-!

Flames erupted behind Midia.

Leo flinched and jumped to his feet.

"Kyle?"

Midia wore a slightly bewildered expression.

"Is there something behind me?"

Midia looked back, an inquisitive expression on her face.

But Midia tilted her head as if she hadn't seen the burning black flames.

The burning flames soon died down.

"…It's nothing."

Leo slumped back into his seat.

'…I understand why I'm caught in an illusion.'

Leo's expression hardened.

'A fragment of Erebus, which Shilohd had sealed, has awakened.'

And a part of that power had encroached upon Shilohd's magic.

'Are you fighting Erebus alone, Shilohd?'