Book 1 Chapter 871

871.

Fairies are born from a flower called the Fairy Flower.

Fairies who wish for children bring a Fairy Flower from the center of Fairy Land and nurture it with great care.

When the flower blooms, a fairy is born from within it.

And on the day Kirian was born,

all fairies in Fairy Land showered him with blessings.

This was because Kirian was the Fairy Prince, born after a remarkable 5,000 years.

Later, Kiya was also born, but the fairies' attention was focused solely on Kirian.

And Kirian knew from the moment he was born

that he was destined to become the Fairy King, succeeding Silrod.

He knew that he was a little different from other fairies.

And he also vaguely knew that his father, Silrod, was suppressing something.

It was only recently that he learned that what was being suppressed was a fragment of Erebus.

And that he was trapped in Fairy Land because of it.

"Father, Father! Today I saw elves!"

When Silrod saw Kirian, who was beginning to understand the world and show curiosity about it, he would smile gently.

"Father! I want to adventure all over the world!"

"There must be so many delicious things all over the world, right?"

"You pig!"

"What did you say?!"

When he argued with his younger sibling, Kiya, Silrod would give a troubled smile and mediate between them.

"Father must have traveled all over the world a lot, having lived for so long, right? You know everything there is to know about delicious food, don't you?"

Kiya asked, her eyes sparkling.

Kirian was about to retort to his sibling, "Do you only know about food?"

"I have never left this Fairy Land."

But Kirian was surprised by Silrod's story, spoken with a gentle smile.

"I hope you, unlike me, can freely adventure the world."

"Why didn't you, Father?"

"…Because I have a duty to fulfill."

It didn't take long for him to realize that this duty was an extension of what had happened 5,000 years ago.

And that he too had to inherit that task.

That's why he hated it.

Silrod, who had been bound by events 5,000 years ago and had to remain in this Fairy Land for an unimaginably long time.

And he felt sorry.

The sight of Silrod genuinely enjoying and envying stories from the outside world every time he heard them.

"Soon, you will become the Fairy King."

"Then will Father also be able to explore the world?"

"…It is already too late for that."

Kirian had a premonition.

That if he became the Fairy King, Silrod would perish.

"And now, I wish to rest."

At those words, Kirian refused the succession.

And he threw the entire Fairy Land into disarray.

He thought that if Fairy Land became a mess at such a young age, Silrod would create a new home elsewhere.

Silrod, who usually just scolded and admonished him even when he caused trouble and played pranks, was truly angry that day.

And eventually, he banished Kirian.

Kirian accepted the banishment calmly.

Kirian was satisfied just knowing that Silrod's demise was delayed.

-Thinking about it… Father had been fighting alone for the past 5,000 years.

Kirian smiled bitterly.

-Just like Leo.

Kirian looked at Leo and sighed deeply.

-For Father, the Age of Calamity never ended.

Silrod, who lived through that era, and Leo, who was reborn in the present age.

Both knew more painfully than anyone else

that as long as the fragments of Erebus existed,

the fight would not end.

That the Age of Calamity could restart at any time.

When all beings in the world looked to the future and moved forward,

the two stood still, looking back at the past they had lived through.

For 5,000 years.

-I just want Father to be happier.

Fiora's eyes welled up with tears at Kirian's words.

"So that's why you wish for the present."

It was unexpected for Fiora that Kirian, whom she thought only had plotting against others in his head, harbored such thoughts.

Seeing Fiora looking at him with sad eyes, Kirian looked at Leo.

Then he pointed a finger directly at Fiora and said,

-No! It doesn't make sense in the first place! I can't accept this future! I will absolutely deny it! This Phoenix, who usually devours food like a pig, being so skinny…

CRUNCH-!

-#$$@#$%@#$!!!

Fiora bit Kirian right then and there.

Kirian, with only his legs sticking out of Fiora's mouth, struggled.

Every time Fiora crunched-crunched- Kirian, a scream echoed.

Leo sighed and pulled Kirian out of Fiora's mouth.

-She tried to eat me! Now that Phoenix is trying to eat me too!

"Come here! I'll just chew you up thoroughly!"

"Woah, woah, Miss Fiora. Calm down. You can bite me instead."

Arti held Fiora back from behind, who was trying to pounce on Kirian, who was hiding behind Leo's fingers.

"…"

Watching the scene, Chen Xia crossed her arms and said,

"Young Master Leo won't have to worry about childcare later."

"Why?"

"You're already practicing like this, aren't you?"

Leo sighed, looking at the sweetly smiling Chen Xia.

***

The former Fairy Land's grounds were exceedingly desolate.

Even though the current time was a distant future, Silrod's hometown remained the same.

Leo silently gazed at the scenery, which was no different from the Fairy Land he had seen during his first-year school trip.

Fiora, Kirian, and Arti were also scattered, searching for the key where Silrod's power could be felt.

Leo concentrated, trying to sense Silrod's magic.

But he felt nothing.

"Let's move."

Saying so, Leo looked up at Chen Xia with a puzzled expression.

This was because Chen Xia was silently staring intently at her own palm.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

"Nothing."

Chen Xia averted her gaze from her palm and smiled faintly.

"It just doesn't feel like my own power."

Chen Xia clenched and unclenched her hand, assessing her strengthened aura and spiritual power.

"It's terrifyingly strong."

At her words, Leo chuckled.

"I'm looking forward to it."

"That makes me very happy, but also feel burdened."

Chen Xia said that and smiled faintly.

"If it's uncomfortable to walk, shall I carry you?"

"No thanks."

As Leo walked, Chen Xia followed closely behind him.

"By the way, this is Elsalvekia, isn't it?"

"That's right."

Elsalvekia, one of the elf nations.

"It's the territory of the Berkhia family, will Miss Eiran be here?"

"Well. If nothing unusual happened, she should be, right?"

"Hmm. I'm also curious how Miss Eiran grew up. Aren't you curious, Young Master Leo?"

"Well, I guess she grew up well."

Leo stopped walking as he answered.

Chen Xia likewise stopped walking and stared intently ahead.

"We have an uninvited guest."

Clink-clink-

"To call a guest who has gone to such trouble to visit an uninvited guest. Isn't that too harsh? Oh King of the World."

As if in response to Leo's words,

someone appeared out of thin air.

It was a tall man with a hood pulled over his head and his face covered by a mask.

He looked over 2 meters tall, but his body was so gaunt it seemed as if he were nothing but bones.

As expected, his gaunt right hand, gloved, held four gems.

The demon continued to clink the gems in his hand.

A red glow flashed from within his deeply pulled-down hood.

"It is an honor to meet you, King of the World, Leo Flove. My name is Siguas. I have ascended to the position of King of Desire."

King of Desire.

It was a legion commander with a name he had never heard before.

"Are you also a newly appointed legion commander this time?"

"That is correct."

At his words, Leo chuckled.

"He's more sane than that Legion Commander of Fear or whatever…"

Clink-clink-

"…fellow."

Clink-clink-

Leo said irritably, looking at the legion commander who kept making clinking sounds.

"That clinking sound is annoying."

It was when Leo thought that if the purpose was to annoy him, it was an excellent method.

"Ah, if I have bothered you, I sincerely apologize."

Siguas, the King of Desire, showed genuine regret.

"However, I tend to be more efficient when I make these clinking sounds."

Clink-clink-

Siguas made clinking sounds near his ear, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

Seeing that, Leo sighed deeply.

"Anyway, these demon things nowadays…"

"How curious. Our old-fashioned… Necromancer King also said the exact same thing."

Chen Xia, who was listening to the conversation from behind, covered her mouth and giggled.

Then, when Leo glanced back at her, she instantly straightened her face as if nothing had happened and looked at Siguas.

Leo crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

Siguas spoke, looking at Leo.

"If you are worried that I brought my legion, you need not be. I did not bring my legion."

"Are you allowed to reveal that fact so readily?"

"Originally, I intended to pressure you by falsely revealing the existence of a legion."

Leo narrowed his eyes, watching Siguas readily reveal his intentions.

"You're a rare type of legion commander."

"A rare type?"

Chen Xia looked surprised.

"Yes. Usually, many legion commanders are the type to push with brute force. Fellows like Silratu are typical."

Leo clicked his tongue.

"But sometimes there are cunning ones who use their heads."

"Giant King and Necromancer King…"

"That's right. Those types are rather bothersome."

Siguas was a legion commander of that disposition.

"How surprising, King of Beginnings. To know so much about legion commanders."

'Is he the Necromancer King's strategist?'

He felt that he was someone who liked to use his head.

In fact, he couldn't even believe that he hadn't brought his legion.

Clink-clink-

At that moment, Siguas fiddled with the gems in his right hand and took out one gem.

"Actually, I did not obtain any authority in the world of the legions."

Siguas said, examining the transparent gem from side to side.

"So, among the newly born legion commanders, I am on the weaker side. Because of that, I had no choice but to use my head. The Necromancer King seems to have highly valued that point."

Siguas momentarily shone the transparent gem on Leo.

"But… now I have gained authority."

'A fragment of Erebus.'

Leo's eyes twitched.

"Of course, I thought it was a trivial authority. My authority is the power to encourage what the opponent desires."

Siguas's red gaze curved gently.

"But now… it seems to be quite a useful authority."

With those words, Leo looked down at his own palm.

"Oh? This is interesting, isn't it?"

Leo burst into a chuckle.

"Young Master Leo? Is something wrong?"

When Chen Xia asked in a tense voice, Leo said calmly,

"I got a little younger."

At his words, Chen Xia's eyes widened.

She hadn't looked at Leo because she was wary of Siguas.

When she turned her gaze, Leo was indeed a little smaller than he had been moments ago, just as he said.

"How calm you are."

"Well, I've been through all sorts of situations. And right now, I'm not really a threat to you, so shouldn't you be focusing on something else?"

"Then who should I be focusing on besides you?"

"This little one here."

As soon as Leo finished speaking, Chen Xia vanished.

SWISH-!

Chen Xia appeared before Siguas, her eyes flashing, and swung her fist.

CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-!

Siguas's body was sent flying by the fist imbued with enormous water pressure.

Water swirled around Chen Xia.

Siguas's face was filled with horror.

"What kind of monster is this…"

Chen Xia smiled sweetly.

But her eyes were filled with thick murderous intent.

"By whose permission do you dare touch our King?"