Book 1 Chapter 876

The party, having finished exploring their assigned areas, gathered in the center of Fairy Land.

Melina's expression grew serious as she listened to the combat reports from each group.

"So many new Legion Commanders have emerged."

"Well, even so, our abilities have improved according to future standards, so we were able to handle it well," Karl said positively.

"What about the keys?" Chen Xia asked with a puzzled look. Melina shook her head.

"It seems there are no keys in Fairy Land."

At Melina's answer, Chen Xia let out a small sigh.

"Then they are likely to be in Gardsron."

"Shouldn't we also consider the possibility that they might not be there?" Karl brought up the matter seriously.

Meanwhile.

A short distance away, Eliza was looking intently at Leo, her arms crossed.

"I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Why have you become even smaller?"

Leo answered nonchalantly, looking at Eliza, who asked with half-closed eyes.

"I was defeated by a Legion Commander."

"That's not like you. To show an opening."

"He was quite a troublesome guy."

At Leo's answer, Eliza's expression turned serious.

"Oppa Leo! You're so cute! And cool!"

"As Chelsea said, your current appearance is both cute and majestic, Leo-hyung."

Watching Chelsea squeal and Lil's eyes sparkle around Leo, Eliza clicked her tongue softly.

'He just looks like a brat with arrogant eyes. Infatuation is scary.'

Eliza, muttering to herself, said in a slightly sharp voice, "Aren't you being too carefree? If someone made Leo Phlube like this, it means they are a formidable opponent, doesn't it?"

"That's true, but our current strength is at a level where we can fight against Legion Commanders, right? The one who made Leo Oppa like this was defeated by Xia."

Just as Eliza was about to say something to that, "Don't underestimate Legion Commanders," Leo's cold voice made Chelsea flinch and tuck her neck in.

"Teasing each other to relax isn't bad. But if you underestimate your opponent too much, it can lead to irreversible consequences. Chelsea, you're not mistaken in thinking your current strength is yours alone, are you?"

Even Leo never let his guard down when fighting Legion Commanders. He would taunt and play with his opponents, but he was meticulously cautious and prepared for any eventuality. A single mistake could cost him his life. Legion Commanders were that threatening. Furthermore, the newly emerged Legion Commanders, though still immature, were reminiscent of the Legion Commanders from the Age of Calamity.

At Leo's cold words, Chelsea replied in a small voice, tucking her neck in, "I… I was wrong…"

"And Lil."

"Yes, yes!" Lil instinctively snapped to attention as Leo's gaze fell on her.

"Aren't you the leader of this party? Why is Professor Mel reporting and synthesizing the situation?"

"W-well… because you're Professor Mel…"

"Professor Mel did not receive the party leader authority from you. Even if you receive advice, this party operates strictly on your decisions. Or should I? Should I be the party leader?" Leo's cold voice made Lil flinch. Lil was not so clueless as to not understand what Leo was implying. Keeping Lil as the party leader in this situation meant Leo trusted her. Taking away her leadership position would mean taking away that trust as well.

"I'm sorry! I'll correct it immediately!" Lil bowed sharply and hurried to Melina.

Chelsea also began to reflect as the atmosphere changed.

"I feel relieved. You've certainly become younger in appearance, but the substance is still Leo Phlube." Eliza's lips curled up.

"Wow~ As expected of Leo. You really know how to set discipline!" Karl approached with a slightly lighter tone.

"Should I have said more?" Leo asked. Karl shook his head.

"No. I think that's enough. Too much is not good either, right?"

Leo nodded at his words.

"By the way, I heard your performance was amazing?"

"I was just lucky."

The Succubus Queen, who had dragged Karl into her dream, had to retreat due to the shock of losing control to Karl.

"To display such ingenuity against a Legion Commander can't be attributed to mere luck."

"I'm a prospective world's strongest supporter, after all." Karl chuckled.

At that sight, Eliza was momentarily mesmerized. Her heart pounded.

"Wow, Karl-kun, you were incredibly cool just now."

"Heh. I know I can be cool sometimes." Karl puffed up his chest at Chen Xia's compliment. Eliza clicked her tongue, watching him.

"Everyone, please gather."

At that moment, Lil, who had received the situation report from Melina, gathered all the party members.

"First, as everyone knows, we found nothing in Fairy Land. So, we must now move to Gardsron."

Everyone nodded at Lil's words.

"Before we move, there's something to discuss regarding the demons who invaded as illusions. Karl, what do you think Tartarus's objective is?"

"Hmm. Judging by the current situation, the Legion Commanders we fought this time are all new Legion Commanders, right?"

"That's correct."

"And some of them seemed to have awakened their own powers."

In the case of the King of Desire, who fought against Chen Xia, he even managed to make Leo smaller with his power.

"Since they didn't show any special reaction to receiving powers… their objective is probably the fragment of Erebus sealed by the Fairy King. And their coming to this old Fairy Land means they are thinking the same thing as us. We will fight them in Gardsron as well."

At those words, Chelsea's expression turned serious.

"They might have gone ahead and set traps."

Lil shook her head at Chelsea's words.

"They probably haven't."

"Why not?" Eliza asked, looking at Lil. Lil said calmly, "The force Tartarus sent is likely just the Legion Commanders we fought. They didn't bring their armies with them. If four Legion Commanders were to lead their armies, the balance would be broken."

After the Age of Calamity ended.

The Age of Heroes was recorded as an era of peace, except for the reappearance of the Age of Calamity with the emergence of the Heroes of Revelation.

However, in the regions bordering Tartarus, the war never ceased. Conflicts had continued on the front lines with Tartarus, whether large or small. The world had maintained the upper hand in that conflict. Nevertheless, they had never set foot in the core territories of Tartarus. Just as Tartarus constantly sought an opportunity to destroy the world, the world was also striving to completely destroy Tartarus. And that meant one thing. If even the slightest sign of weakened power appeared, the world was ready to push into Tartarus's core territories at any time. Lil, born into a military family, understood this fact more clearly than the heroic families.

"Based on the current situation, our forces are superior to Tartarus." Everyone nodded at Lil's words.

"Of course, it's doubtful whether that superiority will continue." Karl looked puzzled at Lil's words.

"Are you saying there might be reinforcements?"

"No. Hmm… You all might not know this because you lack combat experience against demons."

Although there was only a one-year difference in grade, the combat experience difference between third-year and fourth-year students was immense. This was because Lumern students began full-scale mission assignments in their third year. Even considering that, Lil, who was the best student in the school, had a level of mission experience that was unmatched even among students in the same grade. Furthermore, despite the enormous number of mission requests, her success rate was 100%. Considering that the missions given to Lumern students were all highly difficult, this was an extraordinary achievement.

"Demons also grow." At those words, the third-year students wore peculiar expressions. They had all learned in combat studies class that demons' strength was determined from birth. While the exception of Legion Commanders existed, it didn't make sense for the Legion Commanders they had just fought to have their abilities rapidly enhanced through the world conquest of their legions.

In response to the third-year students' reactions, Lil added, "To be precise, they begin to maximize their abilities as they gain combat experience." Lil's expression turned serious. "They are new Legion Commanders. They are calamitous beings, but you can think of them as students, like us."

Such beings gained experience fighting against beings of Heroic rank, who were their equals or perhaps even stronger.

"They might show completely different abilities the next time we clash."

"Student Lil is right." Melina chimed in, and the students' faces became serious.

"Therefore, in Gardsron, we will not split up for reconnaissance but will move together. Does everyone agree?"

Everyone nodded at Lil's question.

Leo, watching them from a little further back, chuckled.

"Student Lil is amazing." Melina said in a voice barely audible to Leo.

"She was intimidated by the strange seniors… She had leadership qualities from the start."

"Isn't she qualified to be vice student council president with that capability?"

"Who knows. She might be more suited to be student council president."

Saying that, Leo looked wordlessly at the party members preparing to move. Melina, watching Leo by his side, spoke cautiously.

"Are you not feeling well?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Leo looked up at Melina with wide eyes. Worry was evident on Melina's face.

Seeing such a Melina, Leo said, "Not feeling well? How long have I been waiting for this moment?"

"Waiting?"

"Yes." Leo looked at the party members. "They can finally have my back. Well, it's only for a short while in this illusion, though." Leo smiled softly. "It finally feels real. That these guys are my comrades who will fight alongside me." The friends who had awakened their future potential were no longer targets to be led from the front. They were literally comrades with whom he could trust his back. Just like those who were by his side in the past.

"I thought, 'This is what the new Archi is like…' That's why I'm feeling good?"

"Is that so? To me, you looked a little lonely, Leo-sama."

"Lonely?"

"Yes. But it must have been a misunderstanding." Melina shook her head.

Just then, "Professor Mel! We're all ready!" At Lil's words, Melina walked towards the party members. Leo stood there blankly, watching her.

"Oppa Leo. What are you doing?"

"Hurry up and come, Lord Leo!" Chelsea and Chen Xia called out to Leo. At their calls, Leo subconsciously looked back.

Old Fairy Land. A ruin that retained its unchanged, abandoned past appearance since the Age of Calamity.

'Lonely, she said.' Recalling Melina's words, Leo slowly, hesitantly, moved towards his friends.

'Perhaps that's true.' Leo's eyes sank. 'Come to think of it, it's been a while. Feeling like this.'

He had gained reliable new comrades. For anyone else, it would be a purely joyful event. But for Leo, the meaning was slightly different. 'Meeting new comrades means… I've survived alone again.'