Book 1 Chapter 866

866.

To head towards the Hergin family's mansion, the group walked along the main road.

"Wow. I didn't think Hersia was such a developed city, it's amazing."

Lil also admired the city's appearance, gazing at it.

"Professor Mel said it developed a tremendous amount."

"It seems Miss Eliza will become an excellent family head."

At Chelsea's words, Lil nodded.

They had already heard that this vision was a world where future possibilities unfolded.

As Lil, she couldn't help but admire Eliza's excellent management skills, which had developed the city she would rule in the future to the level of Lumeria.

"Well, Miss Eliza seemed to neglect her school studies a bit, but she studied diligently when it came to estate management."

"Her actions are exactly like a delinquent student, but it seems she cares about such things."

"Student Chelsea. You shouldn't call your friend a delinquent student."

When Mellina smiled, Chelsea pouted her lips.

"She's not an honors student, is she, Karl?"

"……"

"Karl?"

"Huh? What, why?"

Karl, who had been walking blankly, startled awake at Chelsea's call.

"What are you thinking about that makes you walk around spaced out?"

Chelsea asked with a puzzled expression.

At the question, Karl scratched his cheek.

"No, it's just that, looking at it like this, I think the Hergin family is amazing."

"They are amazing."

Lil nodded.

Chelsea also chimed in.

"Because it's regarded as the best among human summoner hero noble families."

Though she was rivals with Eliza, she had no intention of denying Eliza's skill or her family's influence.

Rwaling is the best magical noble family in the western part of the continent.

However, looking at the entire continent, there are two or three more magical noble families comparable to Rwaling's prestige.

The same was true for Gerdinger.

But Hergin is different.

Compared to knights and mages, the number of summoners is small.

Accordingly, the number of summoner noble families is also small.

I don't know if other races are included, but among human summoner noble families, the Hergin family was the only one that was the best, both in the past and in the present.

At Chelsea's words, Karl scratched his cheek.

Seeing Karl like that, Chelsea narrowed her eyes.

"Why?"

"You. You like Eliza, don't you?"

"Is that true, Karl?"

"Oh my?"

At Chelsea's words, Lil made a surprised expression.

Mellina covered her mouth with her hand and let out a gasp.

"What are you talking about?"

Karl responded with his characteristic slyness, but Chelsea, like a predator who had found its prey, didn't miss Karl's slight embarrassment.

"Hmm? I was just testing you, but it seems it's true?"

"No, I mean."

Karl, who was about to make an excuse, soon scratched his head vigorously.

"Don't spread rumors anywhere. Especially, don't ever tell Illiana."

"Alright."

"Wow, Karl and Miss Eliza. It seems like a good match."

"That's right. They truly suit each other well. I'll cheer for the two of you to work out."

As Lil and Mellina smiled brightly and spoke, Karl chuckled and scratched his cheek.

'Fortunately, we haven't been caught dating.'

From others' perspective, a one-sided love would have less impact.

Then Chelsea tilted her head.

"But out of so many people, why Eliza?"

"What's wrong with Eliza?"

When Karl made a puzzled expression, Chelsea let out a small sigh.

"I know very well that you're close with Eliza and friendly with her. I also know that you're a good person. And your background… you're probably good enough to choose even a decent royal."

"Am I that good?"

"You're a hero."

Chelsea, who came from a noble hero family, understood the prestige of a hero much better than Karl, a commoner.

"But for a family like Hergin, even a hero might not catch their eye. Especially Eliza, she's an heir and very proud. She's also arrogant. With that personality, she'll definitely be very picky."

Chelsea said seriously.

"Just leave it as feelings of first love. That's the path where you'll hurt less."

It was sincere advice as a friend.

Lil was impressed by Chelsea's words.

"Miss Chelsea, you seem like an adult."

"Because I'm an adult now."

"Ohh."

Seeing Chelsea puff up, Karl let out a hollow laugh.

"You've been emphasizing that you're an adult for a while now, but do you know that the more you do, the more childish you seem?"

Chelsea deliberately pretended not to hear Karl's advice.

"Anyway, don't get too deeply involved."

Karl nodded at that.

"Alright."

Saying that, Karl once again looked at the streets of Hersia.

All of this would belong to Eliza.

'I forgot because we wore the same uniform at school and acted so casually… Right. She was a lady from an incredible family.'

I thought I was fully aware, but seeing it anew like this, our worlds are different.

'Did I get too arrogant just because I had some success?'

Hadn't they even confessed and started dating?

'Eliza also said it was just a casual relationship.'

Among their classmates, he was the closest to Eliza.

'Well, my girlfriend might have just wanted to try dating.'

He was quite serious, but he had no intention of forcing his feelings on the other person.

Eliza was haughty but subtly cared for those around her, so she might have reluctantly accepted his confession.

'Whatever it is, we're quite comfortable with each other.'

Even so, it wasn't the stage where they would draw a serious future together.

'I'll be able to boast later. That I dated the head of this incredible family during my school days.'

It would be a lifelong anecdote.

Both he and Eliza, given their personalities, wouldn't cut off their relationship even if they went from being lovers to friends.

Just then, a carriage pulled by a griffin sped towards the group and stopped.

And the window opened.

Karl stared blankly, his mouth agape, at the woman who poked her face out of the window.

"What are you doing in the middle of the road?"

The beautiful woman looking down with her characteristic haughty expression was Eliza Hergin.

"Wow! Miss Eliza! You're incredibly beautiful!"

Lil genuinely admired her.

"Thank you, Senior."

Eliza, after greeting Lil, glanced at Karl.

Then she curled the corners of her lips into a faint smile and asked.

"Why are you staring so intently?"

"No… because you're so pretty."

"Hmph."

At Karl's words, Eliza snorted.

It was Eliza's characteristic reaction, but Karl saw a hint of shyness in it.

"Anyway."

Eliza spotted Leo.

"Who is that child who looks exactly like Leo Plov over there? Is he Leo Plov's son?"

"What did you say?"

Chen Xia, who was inside the carriage, pushed Eliza aside and poked her face out the window.

She then spotted Leo, her eyes widened, and she opened the carriage door and got out.

"Miss Xia has also grown up very beautifully."

"Thank you, Senior."

Chen Xia, after greeting politely, abruptly put her hands under Leo's armpits and lifted him up.

And with sparkling eyes, she said.

"He's not Young Master Leo's son, he *is* Young Master Leo, isn't he?"

"What did you say?"

Eliza furrowed her brow.

"Look, this characteristic expression."

"…It really is."

When Chen Xia smiled brightly and spoke, Eliza understood.

"Put him down."

"Can't I hold him like this just a little longer?"

"No."

"You're stingy."

Chen Xia grumbled and put Leo down.

Seeing that, Karl said.

"You didn't say anything when Chelsea and Senior Lil picked him up."

"They got permission, though."

Chen Xia, hearing that conversation, asked with a disgruntled expression.

"Young Master Leo, can I hug you just once?"

"No."

Ignoring those words completely, Chen Xia hugged Leo like a doll, then put him down.

And as always, she stood as if attending to Leo from behind.

Mellina clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention.

"Since everyone is gathered, should we head to the Hergin family's mansion first?"

"Just a moment."

At Mellina's words, Eliza said urgently.

"There's an annex of our family not far from here. Let's talk there."

"Is the location important?"

"It's a bit closer there."

It was then that Mellina and the rest of the group nodded at Eliza's words.

"Eliza, do you have something hidden at home? It seems like you don't want to show it."

Karl said playfully, as usual, with a laugh.

For a moment, Karl's eyes met Eliza's, who was smiling faintly.

And he shut his mouth at the fierce coldness hidden within that smile.

"Pfft!"

At their reactions, Chen Xia burst out laughing.

"What? What's so funny?"

When Chelsea made a puzzled expression, Chen Xia smiled brightly.

"Young Miss Chelsea doesn't need to know yet~"

At Chen Xia's words, Chelsea furrowed her brow.

And so, the group headed to the Hergin family's annex.

***

After arriving at the annex, Mellina explained the current situation.

The story that Silrod had been sealing a fragment of Erebos.

That Silrod's lifespan was nearly at its end.

And that due to this, the Erebos fragment was awakening, and the corps commanders had appeared, targeting it.

Lil, who heard the story, made a serious expression.

"The situation is more serious than what I heard from Kiyan."

"-Kiyan? Why is that guy's name coming up?"

As Kiruan appeared and asked, Lil said.

"Hearing Kiyan's words, we formed a party and came."

"-That fatso went all the way to Lumeria? Did he roll there?"

Kiruan stuck out his tongue and frowned.

Looking at him, Lil asked.

"The Fairy King's remaining time is short, they say… but Kiruan is surprisingly calm."

"-…Well, I don't know. Considering Father's age… it wouldn't be strange if he had vanished a long time ago."

Kiruan's face rarely sank.

"-Father was always a strict person… In fact, I don't have many good memories."

"That's because you're a ruffian."

At Leo's remark, Kiruan feigned ignorance.

Clap-!

Mellina clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention.

"So, first, we plan to head to the old Fairyland. There's a high probability that the key to dispelling this vision is there. Originally, there was also a method of dividing our forces, but…"

"Because of the invading demons, that would be difficult."

"That's right, Student Xia."

Everyone nodded at Mellina's words.

Indeed, if corps commander-level demons had invaded, it would be dangerous to carelessly divide their forces.

Even if they had taken on their future forms and their powers had grown stronger.

"First, let's prepare thoroughly and depart tomorrow."

Before they knew it, the sun was setting.

"Let's all get some good rest today. Student Eliza. We'll impose on you a bit."

"This kind of thing doesn't even count as imposing."

"But I want to sleep at the Hergin family's mansion?"

Eliza subtly stepped on Chen Xia's foot as she spoke teasingly.

At that, Chen Xia, who had been smiling brightly, spoke to Leo who was about to go outside.

"Young Master Leo, where are you going?"

"A walk."

"I'll go with you."

"Xia. You need to talk with me for a bit."

Eliza dragged Chen Xia away.

Leo went out alone to the annex mansion's garden.

Leo, sitting on a well-maintained garden bench, looked up at the sky.

'…Silrod.'

As Leo was thinking about his friend, two presences approached.

Leo turned his head.

And finding a boy and a girl staring intently at him, he tilted his head.

"Who are you two?"

"That's what *I* want to ask. This is our Hergin family's annex."

"Brother, brother. Could they be the guests Mother mentioned?"

"Ah! Is that so?"

The two children, who appeared to be siblings, looked at Leo with curious expressions.

Seeing the two of them, Leo's face subtly changed.

They resembled someone he knew.

"Who are you two?"

"My name is Elim Hergin!"

"I'm Ellie Hergin."

The two children, after introducing themselves, proudly puffed out their chests.

"We are direct descendants of the Hergin family. That Eliza Hergin is our mother!"

Isn't that amazing? At Elim's words, which seemed to swallow the rest of the sentence, Leo asked with a strange expression.

"Who is your father?"

"Our father is…"

"So. Karl. Give up on Eliza."

"I told you I got it."

Before Elim could answer, Chelsea's and Karl's voices were heard.

Hearing those voices, the two children sharply turned their heads.

And they smiled brightly.

"Dad!"

"When did you arrive?!"

"Huh?"

Karl looked dumbfounded, seeing the children running towards him.

Chelsea also ended up flustered.

Chuckle! Watching the children laugh and cling to Karl's arms, Leo rested his chin on his hand.

"Chelsea, it seems your thoughts were wrong, doesn't it? I see you in a new light, Karl."

"What?"

Leo smiled faintly, looking at the dumbfounded Karl.

"They say those children were born between Karl and Eliza."

"What?!"

Chelsea made a horrified expression.

Karl was so surprised he gaped.