Book 1 Chapter 861

861.

Leo stared at the blue sky without saying a word.

The sky in the Age of Gods seemed unusually beautiful and clear.

Was it because the era of completely driving out the existence called Erebus was over?

Or is it like the sky is brightest just before sunset.

Could it be that the sky of a world on the verge of destruction is the clearest?

He didn't know the reason.

What mattered was that Leo missed Kyle's childhood.

'Why?'

Leo wondered.

When he considered Kyle's life as a whole.

Perhaps his childhood was the happiest time.

At least it wasn't a situation where the world was being destroyed or was heading for destruction.

At least during this time, he had expectations for his future.

However, compared to the lives of others, it wasn't such a good situation either.

An orphan whose parents were unknown.

He had people who looked after him, but they were also women from the streets.

Compared to that time, his current life was incomparably happy.

He was born as the child of a noble family, and didn't he eventually become the king of a nation?

While feeling puzzled.

Leo recalled old memories.

It was when they had just begun the final expedition to subjugate Erebus.

Everyone was asleep.

While Kyle was on watch, Luna woke up.

Luna, yawning widely, came and sat next to Kyle.

"It's a long time until your turn. Get some more sleep."

"I can't sleep."

Luna, who answered so, repeatedly nodded off, then startled and straightened her body.

"You're drooling."

"Slurp."

She hurriedly wiped her mouth.

Then she yawned widely.

"Why can't you sleep?"

"I just dreamed of when I was young, right after I first entered Barharun."

Barharun.

An elven school exclusively for High Elves.

It was also an educational institution for nurturing Elven Kings.

"You dreamed a nightmare. That's not like you."

Luna had a very laid-back personality.

In all the time he had known her, she had never mentioned having nightmares.

Arion, who was easily frightened, often had nightmares, as did the strong Dweyno and the leader Lisinas.

Even Kyle would have nightmares, but Luna never did.

"Well, considering the situation."

Luna tilted her head at Leo's mumbling.

"What are you talking about? I didn't have a nightmare."

"You said it was an old dream."

"Yeah."

"Wasn't your school days not particularly happy times?"

Luna was not an elf of noble lineage.

Moreover, she was an orphan.

And Barharun was a school that had become the exclusive domain of High Elves at the time.

High Elves… Especially the High Elves of Barharun were notorious for treating common elves as inferiors.

Like royalty among humans, they would never have accepted Luna, a common elf, even with her special talent, in the same space.

On the contrary, they tormented and kept her in check relentlessly.

The old stories Luna told were not very pleasant.

He thought that dreaming of those times would not be good.

'No, weren't none of us happy in our childhood?'

Kyle glanced at his companions.

Dweyno, who had to suffer because of his own uncontrolled power in his childhood.

Arion, who had to live in an era of disaster from birth.

And Lisinas, who, despite being a dragon, had to live in darkness, tasked with consuming the world's darkness as a black dragon.

There was no way they had happy childhoods.

Kyle rested his chin on his hand.

"Now that I think about it, when everyone talked about their past, they didn't seem unhappy."

Luna gave an exasperated look at Kyle's mumbling.

"Just because those times weren't very happy doesn't mean the whole period wasn't happy."

"Huh?"

"Of course, it was difficult and hard… but it's natural to miss your childhood, isn't it?"

Luna jiggled her legs.

"Don't you sometimes feel strength just by recalling and reminiscing about the past?"

"Is that so?"

"Haven't you ever felt that way, Kyle?"

"I can't really recall a past worth reminiscing about. Even if I did, I wonder if it would have any meaning."

"Hmm? I always think that your life is so harsh."

Luna frowned.

"Getting too caught up in the past is a problem… but I think not recalling the past is also a problem."

Luna smiled faintly at Kyle.

"Missing the past… means that the present is also difficult. But conversely, it means trying to draw strength from happy memories of the past, doesn't it?"

"…So what was the dream about?"

"It was a dream where the High Elves were tormenting me."

"Then it was a nightmare."

"No. Thanks to that, I could claim self-defense and kick those High Elves' butts! Plus, I didn't get disciplined!"

Watching Luna laugh heartily and genuinely enjoy herself, Kyle looked exasperated.

"Surely there will be a time when you miss the past too."

Luna rested her chin on her hand, glanced at Leo, and gave a charming smile.

"At that time, remember this Luna's teachings and be grateful."

"…"

Leo remained silent.

'Is that so… am I tired?'

Then he chuckled.

He had never thought of that.

He had just taken it for granted.

But when he thought about it, it was understandable that he was tired.

Throughout Leo Frob's life, only one thought had dominated his mind.

The complete subjugation of Erebus.

That thought had never left his mind for a moment.

Anger and hatred towards Erebus always lingered in his heart.

The being who took away friends more precious than his own life.

As if defeating it was the sole purpose of his life.

Leo had always quietly burned with murderous intent towards Erebus.

It was natural to be tired.

He just hadn't realized he was tired.

This illusion… was clearly representing Leo's tired heart.

'…'

Looking at his entire childhood, he couldn't say it was happy.

But… there were still happy times.

Perhaps, across both his past and present lives, this was the purest happy period.

A time when he dreamed of countless possibilities.

That's why it was a special time.

Just like his friends now.

'Perhaps that's why I don't want to leave.'

Even though he knew it was an illusion.

Even though he knew the threat of Erebus was imminent.

As if falling into a sweet sleep.

Not being able to escape this place… might be why.

'Should I get up soon?'

As Leo thought so.

"Medea. I always wonder… what are you writing so much?"

Rasha asked Medea with a curious look.

They were currently at the Adventurer's Guild.

They had all come together to find new quests.

Medea smiled faintly at Rasha's question, full of curiosity.

"It's a letter to my mentor."

"Mentor?"

"Yes. A kind of teacher, you could say?"

"I don't understand any of it."

"We can't read. Let's ask Kyle or Shen to read it for us."

At Kasam's words, Shen shook his head.

"Kasam, it's rude to read someone else's letter without permission."

"I don't mind. There's not much in it anyway."

"He says so. Read it for us."

At Medea's words, Kasam handed the letter to Shen, who scratched his head and began to read.

"Hello, Teacher Defesir. The weather in the east is as cold and crisp as ever… Hmm. Medea, you seem to like the weather in the east?"

"Is the latter part also in the letter?"

"No."

"I see. Read it properly."

Kasam urged.

Meanwhile.

Leo stared at his old companions with surprised eyes.

'Defesir?'

A name he knew too well.

The man who had wholeheartedly assisted Lisinas during the Age of Disaster.

The man who was also a member of Archi.

Gold Dragon Defesir.

As Leo blankly stared at the four people, Shen finished the short letter.

"P.S. I am enclosing a letter for Lisinas. Please be sure to deliver it to that child."

"Lisinas…?"

Leo mumbled blankly, and Medea smiled faintly.

"Yes. I told you I wrote a letter to a child like my little sister last night, right? That child's name is Lisinas."

"…"

"Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Medea looked flustered as Leo stared intently at her face.

"No. Fate… it's strange."

He never imagined it would unfold like this.

The moment Leo slightly closed his eyes.

*Creeaak-*!

The door of the Adventurer's Guild opened, and a beautiful woman appeared.

"Whoa! Why did the illusion change all of a sudden! And what's with the weather?!"

A voice, familiar yet unfamiliar, was heard.

Everyone's gaze turned to the woman.

Leo opened his eyes.

Then he got up and approached the woman.

"…You've become a wonderful sight."

"Leo Oppa?"

Chelsea's eyes widened.

It was Kyle's appearance.

But it was also an unfamiliar appearance.

Kyle's appearance, with the remnants of his boyhood, like Leo now.

Leo's appearance was glimpsed within it.

"Kyle?"

"Do you know her?"

Rasha and Kasam asked, their eyes wide open.

Shen and Medea also looked puzzled.

From a glance, Chelsea appeared to be a woman of noble status.

Seeing Chelsea and Kyle seem to know each other, they felt confused.

"…"

Leo looked at his companions, whom he had parted ways with in a distant time.

It was time to part again.

What words should he leave them with?

They had entrusted him with nothing.

Nor could he offer them words of encouragement.

The time allotted to them was not long.

Leo's hands trembled.

His lips moved.

A past that could never be saved was before his eyes.

To a past that remained a scar that could never be healed…

Leo opened his mouth with difficulty.

"Guys. I'll do my best."

That was the best he could say.

"Kyle?"

"What does that mean…"

Leo turned around without hesitation.

Although it was happy… he moved forward, leaving behind the painful memories of the past that were painful precisely because they were happy.

Chelsea followed Leo with a bewildered expression.

"Who is she?"

"…"

Leo, who was about to open the Adventurer's Guild door, paused at the question.

Then, with a bitter smile, he looked at Chelsea.

"Friends."

*Creeaak-*!

The door opened… and Leo's illusion ended.