Book 1 Chapter 866

The party walked along the main street to head to the Hergin family's mansion.

"Wow. I didn't expect Hirsia to be such a developed city. It's amazing," Lil also marveled, looking at the city.

"Professor Mel said it has developed a lot."

"It seems Miss Eliza will become a great head of household."

At Chelsea's words, Lil nodded.

She had already heard that this illusion was a world where future possibilities unfolded.

For Lil, she couldn't help but admire Eliza's excellent management skills, who would develop her future city to the level of Rumelia.

"Indeed, Miss Eliza seemed to diligently study things related to territory management, even if she neglected her schoolwork a bit."

"She acts like a delinquent student, but she seems to care about such things."

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

Melina said with a smile, and Chelsea pouted.

"She's not a top student, is she, Cal?"

"……"

"Cal?"

"Huh? What? Why?"

Cal, who was walking absentmindedly, snapped back to attention at Chelsea's call.

"What are you thinking about to be walking around so spaced out?" Chelsea asked with a puzzled look.

Cal scratched his cheek at the question.

"No, seeing it like this, I think the Hergin family is amazing."

"They are amazing." Lil nodded.

Chelsea chimed in.

"They are considered the best among the noble families of human summoners."

Although she was at odds with Eliza, she had no intention of denying Eliza's skill or her family's influence.

Rwelin was the best magic family in the western continent.

However, on the continent as a whole, there were about two or three other magic families comparable to Rwelin's reputation.

The same was true for Zerdinger.

But Hergin was different.

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

Therefore, the number of summoner families was also small.

If other races were included, it might be different, but among human summoner families, Hergin was the only one, both in the past and present.

At Chelsea's words, Cal scratched his cheek.

Seeing Cal like that, Chelsea narrowed her eyes.

"Why?"

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

"Is that true, Cal?"

"Oh my?"

At Chelsea's words, Lil looked surprised.

Melina covered her mouth with her hand and gasped.

"What are you talking about?"

Cal responded with his usual sly demeanor, but Chelsea, like a predator who had found prey, didn't miss Cal's slightly flustered reaction.

"Hmm? I was just testing you, but it seems to be true?"

"No, I mean…"

Cal, who was about to make an excuse, then scratched his head.

"Don't tell anyone where you heard this. Especially don't tell Iliana."

"Okay."

"Wow, Cal and Eliza. They seem to suit each other."

"Yes. They really suit each other. I'll cheer for them to get along well."

As Lil and Melina said with bright smiles, Cal laughed and scratched his cheek.

'It's fortunate that no one found out that we're dating.'

From the perspective of others, it was a one-sided crush, which would have less impact.

At that moment, Chelsea tilted her head.

"But among so many people, why Eliza?"

"Why Eliza?" Cal looked puzzled, and Chelsea sighed softly.

"I know well that you get along well and are close with Eliza. I also know that you are a decent person. And your background… with you, you could pick and choose from almost any royalty."

"Am I that much?"

"You're a hero."

Chelsea, who came from a hero family, felt the status of a hero even more keenly than Cal, who was a commoner.

"But with a family like Hergin, even a hero wouldn't catch their eye. Especially Eliza, she's the successor and very proud. And arrogant. With that personality, she'll definitely be very picky."

Chelsea said seriously.

"Just leave it as a first love. That's the less painful path for you."

It was sincere advice from a friend.

Lil marveled at Chelsea's words.

"Miss Chelsea, you seem very mature."

"I am mature now."

"Oh."

Seeing Chelsea puffing up with pride, Cal let out a hollow laugh.

"You keep emphasizing that you're mature, but don't you know that the more you do, the more childish you look?"

Chelsea deliberately ignored Cal's advice.

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

Cal nodded at that.

"I understand."

Having said that, Cal looked at the streets of Hirsia again.

All of this would become Eliza's.

'I forgot because we wore the same uniform at school and were so casual… Right. She was a lady from an amazing family.'

She thought she was fully aware, but looking at it anew, their worlds were different.

'Did I get too arrogant because I've achieved a little?'

Didn't they even confess and become a couple?

'Eliza said she was just looking to date casually.'

She was the closest to Eliza among their classmates.

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

She was quite serious, but she didn't intend to force that feeling on the other person.

Eliza, who was proud but subtly cared for those around her, might have reluctantly accepted the confession.

'Whatever it is, we're quite casual.'

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

'I'll be able to brag about it later. That in high school, I dated the owner of this great family.'

It would be a lifelong topic of conversation.

Neither she nor Eliza, given their personalities, would break off their relationship if it reverted from lovers to friends.

Just then, a carriage pulled by griffins rushed towards the party and stopped.

And the window opened.

Cal's jaw dropped as he saw the woman leaning out of the window.

"What are you doing on the street?"

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

"Wow! Miss Eliza! You're incredibly beautiful!" Lil marveled innocently.

"Thank you, senior."

After greeting Lil, Eliza glanced at Cal.

Then, with a smirk, she let out a scoff and asked, "What are you staring at so intently?"

"No… you're incredibly beautiful."

"Hmph." Eliza scoffed at Cal's words.

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

"By the way." Eliza spotted Leo.

"Who is that little one who strongly resembles Leo Flov? Is he Leo Flov's son?"

"What?" From inside the carriage, Chen Siya pushed Eliza aside and leaned out the window.

Upon spotting Leo, her eyes widened, and she opened the carriage door and got out.

"Miss Siya has also grown up very beautifully."

"Thank you, senior." Chen Siya, who greeted her politely, immediately put her hands under Leo's armpits and lifted him up.

With sparkling eyes, she said, "He's not Leo's son, he's Leo!"

"What?" Eliza narrowed her brow.

"Look, this typical expression."

"…It really is." As Chen Siya said with a sweet smile, Eliza nodded.

"Put me down."

"Can't I do this for a little longer?"

"No."

"You're stingy." Chen Siya grumbled and put Leo down.

Watching that, Cal said, "You didn't say anything when Chelsea and senior Lil picked me up."

"They asked for permission."

Hearing their conversation, Chen Siya looked displeased and asked, "Lord Leo, can I hug you once?"

"No." Ignoring that remark completely, Chen Siya hugged Leo like a doll and then put him down.

And as always, she stood behind Leo like a guard.

Melina clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention.

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

"Just a moment." At Melina's words, Eliza said urgently.

"There's a detached house of our family not far from here. Let's talk there."

"Is the location important?"

"It's closer there." As Eliza said this, Melina and the others nodded.

"Eliza, do you have something hidden at home? You seem reluctant to show us." Cal said with a playful smile, as usual.

For a moment, Cal's eyes met Eliza's faint smile.

Then, at the chilling hint in that smile, he shut his mouth.

"Pfft!" Chen Siya burst into laughter at their reactions.

"What? What's so funny?" Chelsea asked with a puzzled look. Chen Siya smiled brightly.

"Student Chelsea, who is still young, wouldn't know~" At Chen Siya's words, Chelsea narrowed her brow.

And so, the party headed towards the Hergin family's detached house.

***

Upon arriving at the detached house, Melina explained the current situation.

The story that Silode was sealing the fragment of Erebus.

That Silode's lifespan was running out.

Because of that, the fragment of Erebus was waking up, and the legion commanders appeared, aiming for it.

After hearing the story, Lil's expression became serious.

"The situation is more serious than what Kiya told me."

-Kiya? Why are you bringing up that guy? Kirian appeared and asked. Lil said, "We came after hearing from Kiya, so we formed a party."

-That fatty went all the way to Rumern? Did he roll there? Kirian stuck out his tongue and scowled.

Watching that, Lil asked, "The Fairy King said he doesn't have much time left… but you seem surprisingly calm, Kirian."

-…Well, I don't know. Considering my father's age… it wouldn't be strange if he had already disappeared. Kirian's face was unusually somber.

-My father was always a strict person… I don't have many good memories, actually.

"That's because you were a good-for-nothing," Leo pointed out, and Kirian feigned ignorance.

*Clap*! Melina clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention.

"So, we plan to head to the Old Fairy Land first. It's highly probable that the key to releasing this illusion will be there. Originally, we could have split up…"

"That would be difficult due to the invading demons."

"That's right, student Siya." Everyone nodded at Melina's words.

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

Even if they had become stronger in their future forms.

"Let's prepare thoroughly and depart tomorrow."

By then, the sun was setting.

"Let's get a good rest today. Miss Eliza, we'll be imposing on you."

"This is hardly an imposition."

"I want to sleep at the Hergin family mansion!" Chen Siya said teasingly, and Eliza lightly stepped on her foot.

Chen Siya, who had been smiling sweetly, said to Leo, who was about to leave, "Lord Leo, where are you going?"

"For a walk."

"I'll go with you."

"Siya. You and I need to talk." Eliza dragged Chen Siya away.

Leo went alone to the garden of the detached house.

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

'…Silode.'

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

Leo turned his head.

And he found a boy and a girl staring at him and tilted his head.

"Who are you two?"

"That's what I want to ask. This is our Hergin family's detached house."

"Older brother, older brother. Could they be the guests Mom mentioned?"

"Ah! Is that so?" The two children, who appeared to be siblings, looked at Leo with curiosity.

Seeing them, Leo's face changed strangely.

They resembled someone he knew.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Elim Hergin!"

"And I'm Eli Hergin!"

After introducing themselves, the two children proudly puffed out their chests.

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

'Aren't we amazing?' Leo asked with a strange expression at Elim's words, as if he had swallowed the rest.

"Who is your father?"

"Our father is…"

"That's why. Cal. Give up on Eliza."

"I got it." Before Elim could answer, Chelsea and Cal's voices were heard.

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

And they smiled brightly.

"Dad!"

"When did you get here?!"

"Huh?" Cal looked bewildered as the children ran towards him.

Chelsea was also taken aback.

As the children, giggling, clung to Cal's arms, Leo rested his chin on his hand.

"Chelsea, I don't think your guess was wrong? I see you differently now, Cal."

"What?" Leo grinned at the stunned Cal.

"They say they're the children born between Cal and Eliza."

"What?!" Chelsea looked horrified. Cal's mouth gaped in surprise.