Book 1 Chapter 861

861.

Leo silently gazed at the clear blue sky.

The sky in the Age of Gods looked unusually clear, to the point of being beautiful.

Was it because this was an era when the being known as Erebos had been completely driven out?

Or, just as the sky is brightest right before sunset,

is the sky of a world on the brink of destruction the clearest?

He couldn't know what the reason was.

What was important was that Leo missed Kyle's childhood.

'Why?'

Leo wondered.

When looking at Kyle's life as a whole,

his childhood might have been the happiest time, at least relatively.

At least the world wasn't being destroyed or spiraling towards destruction.

It was also a time when he, at least, had hopes for his future.

But when compared to other people's lives, it wasn't such a good situation either.

An orphan whose parents were unknown.

There were people who looked after him, but they too were women from the backstreets.

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

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

Amidst his doubts.

Leo recalled an old memory.

It was just as the final expedition to subjugate Erebos had begun.

Everyone was asleep.

While Kyle was on night watch, Luna woke up.

Luna, who yawned widely, came and sat next to Kyle.

"Your turn is still far off. Get more sleep."

"I can't sleep."

Luna, who answered thus, repeatedly nodded off, letting her head drop, then startled, straightened her body.

"You're drooling."

"Slurp."

She hurriedly wiped the corner of her mouth.

And then she yawned widely.

"Why can't you sleep?"

"Just, I had a dream from when I was young. When I had just entered Barhalrun."

Barhalrun.

An elf school solely for High Elves.

It was also an educational institution for raising the Elf King.

"To have a nightmare. That's not like you, is it?"

Luna had a very carefree personality.

During the time they had known her, she had never once mentioned having nightmares.

The easily frightened Arion often suffered from nightmares, and so did the strong Dwayno and the leader Lisinas.

Even Kyle used to have nightmares, but Luna didn't.

"Well… given the circumstances."

At Leo's mumble, Luna tilted her head.

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

"You said it was an old dream."

"Yeah."

"Weren't your school days not very happy times?"

Luna was not an elf of noble lineage.

Furthermore, an orphan.

And Barhalrun was a school that, at that time, had become the exclusive property of High Elves.

High Elves… especially the High Elves of Barhalrun, were infamous for treating ordinary elves as commoners.

They, who were like human royalty, would certainly not have accepted the existence of Luna, an ordinary elf, even if she possessed special talents in the same space.

Rather, they terribly tormented and kept her in check.

The old stories he heard from Luna were not very pleasant.

He thought that since she dreamed of that time, it couldn't be a good dream.

'No, in the first place, wasn't there no one among us who had a happy childhood?'

Kyle glanced at his companions.

Dwayno, who had to suffer in his childhood because of his rampaging power.

Arion, who had to live in the Age of Calamity from birth.

And Lisinas, who was a dragon but, as a Black Dragon, was tasked with devouring the darkness of the world and had to live in darkness.

There was no way they could have had a joyful childhood.

Kyle propped his chin.

"Now that I think about it, no one seemed particularly unhappy when they told their old stories."

At Kyle's mumble, Luna made a bewildered expression.

"Just because that time wasn't very happy doesn't mean the whole thing wasn't happy, does it?"

"Huh?"

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

Luna swung her leg.

"Aren't there times when just recalling and reminiscing about the old days gives you strength?"

"Is that so?"

"Kyle, have you never had such a time?"

"I can't particularly recall any past worth reminiscing about. Even if there was, I wonder if it would even have meaning."

"Hmm? I always think this, but your life is really tough."

Luna frowned.

"Being too bound by the past is a problem, but… I think not recalling the past is also a problem."

Luna looked at Kyle and smiled sweetly.

"Missing the past… means that the present is difficult to that extent. But in other words, isn't it also about recalling happy memories from the past to gain strength?"

"…So what kind of dream was it?"

"It was a dream where High Elves tormented me."

"That is a nightmare, then."

"No. Thanks to that, it became self-defense, and I got to kick those High Elves in the butt, remember? And as a bonus, I didn't even get disciplined!"

Seeing Luna laughing heartily and genuinely enjoying herself, Kyle made a bewildered expression.

"Surely you too will someday have a moment when you miss the past."

Luna propped her chin, glanced at Leo, and gave a charming smile.

"At that time, recall the teachings of this Lady Luna and be grateful."

"…"

Leo was silent.

'Is that so… does it mean I'm tired?'

Then he chuckled.

He had never had such a thought.

He just thought it was natural.

But if he thought about it, it was reasonable to be tired.

Because throughout living Leo Flobe's life, only one thought dominated his mind.

The complete subjugation of Erebos.

Not even for a moment had that thought left a corner of his mind.

Anger and hatred towards Erebos were always nestled in his heart.

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

As if only defeating it were the sole purpose of life.

Leo had always quietly burned with homicidal intent towards Erebos.

Being tired was natural.

He just hadn't known he was tired.

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

'…'

If one looks at his entire childhood, one cannot say it was happy.

But… there were still happy times.

Perhaps, throughout his past and current lives, this moment might have been the purest happiest time.

A time when he dreamed of countless possibilities.

A special time because of that.

Just like his current friends.

'Perhaps the reason I don't want to leave is because of that.'

Even though he knew it was an illusion.

Even though he knew Erebos's threat was imminent.

As if having fallen into a sweet sleep.

Not being able to escape this place… might have been because of that.

'Is it about time I woke up?'

As Leo thought that.

"Midia. I always think this, but… what are you writing so much?"

Rasha asked Midia with a curious expression.

Currently, this place was the mercenary guild.

They had all come together to find new requests.

At Rasha's question, full of curiosity, Midia smiled sweetly.

"It's a letter to my benefactor."

"Benefactor?"

"Yeah. Or rather, a kind of teacher?"

"I have no idea what it says."

"Since we don't know how to read. Let's ask Kyle or Shen to read it."

At Kassam's words, Shen shook his head.

"Kassam. It's rude to carelessly look at someone else's letter."

"I don't mind. Anyway, it's nothing special, is it?"

"She says it's fine. Try reading it."

At Midia's words, as Kassam handed the letter, Shen, scratching his head, took the letter and read it.

"Hello, Teacher Defeser. The days in the East are cold and refreshing as always… Hmm. Midia, you seem to like the Eastern weather?"

"Is the latter part in the letter content too?"

"No."

"No wonder. Just read it properly."

Kassam urged.

Meanwhile.

Leo looked at his old companions with surprised eyes.

'Defeser?'

It was a name he knew too well.

At the time of the Age of Calamity.

The one who wholeheartedly helped Lisinas by his side.

The man who was also a member of Arhi.

Gold Dragon Defeser.

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

"P.S. I am enclosing a letter addressed to Lisinas with this. Please make sure to give it to that child."

"Lisinas is…?"

As Leo mumbled blankly, Midia smiled sweetly.

"Yes. I said I wrote a letter to a child like my sibling last night, didn't I? That child's name is Lisinas."

"…"

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

Midia, looking at Leo who was staring intently at her face, made a slightly bewildered expression.

"No. I just thought how amazing fate… is."

He couldn't even imagine that it would be connected in such a way.

The moment Leo closed his eyes slightly.

Bang!

As the mercenary guild's door opened, a beautiful woman appeared.

"Ugh! Why did the illusion suddenly change! And what's with the weather?!"

A voice that sounded familiar yet unfamiliar was heard.

Everyone's gaze turned towards the woman.

Leo opened his eyes.

And he stood up from his seat and approached the woman.

"…You've become a wonderful figure, haven't you?"

"Brother Leo?"

Chelsea opened her eyes wide.

It was Kyle's appearance.

But it was also an unfamiliar appearance.

Kyle's appearance, with traces of his boyhood remaining, much like the current Leo.

Within it, Leo's figure could be glimpsed.

"Kyle?"

"Is it someone you know?"

Rasha and Kassam asked with wide eyes.

Shen and Midia also made curious expressions.

At first glance, Chelsea was a woman of noble status.

When such a Chelsea and Kyle looked like they knew each other, doubts arose.

"…"

Leo looked at his companions from whom he had parted after a long time.

It was time to part again.

What words should he leave for them?

They couldn't entrust him with anything.

Even so, he couldn't tell them words of encouragement.

The time allowed for them was not very long.

Leo's hand trembled.

His lips parted.

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

To the past that remained as a wound that could never be healed…

Leo opened his mouth with difficulty.

"Guys. I'll do my best."

Those words were the best he could do.

"Kyle?"

"What is that…?"

Leo turned his back without hesitation.

He was certainly happy, but… because he was happy, he left behind the painful memories of the past and moved forward.

Chelsea, with a bewildered expression, followed behind Leo.

"Who is it?"

"…"

Leo, who was about to open the mercenary guild door, paused at that question.

And then, smiling bitterly, he looked at Chelsea.

"Friends."

Bang!

The door opened… and Leo's illusion ended.