Book 1 Chapter 877

877.

The Garan region, located on the border between the western and southern continents.

This barren land was originally an uninhabited place.

While it was a region connecting the west and south, it was not a transportation hub.

The terrain was extremely rugged, and monsters frequently appeared.

Therefore, for a long time, this place was no different from a remote, backwater village.

However, the party could not help but show surprised expressions as they looked at the central city of Garan spread out before them.

"Leo. You've been to Garan before when you were a freshman, right? Was it originally this large?"

To Kal's question, Leo shook his head.

"No, it was a completely backward place."

Melina, who had been listening to their conversation, explained.

"Indeed, the Garan region in our time is a backward place. However, as it was revealed to be the location of Gardesron, countless archaeologists have gathered here."

During their first year, as Leo, Lunia, Elena, and Hardin were conquering Luna's world, it was revealed that Garan was the place where Gardesron, which had only existed in records, was located.

"As people gathered, it naturally developed."

Hearing that, Lil looked at Garan with an expression filled with various emotions and murmured.

"Everything started here."

At Lil's words, everyone's expressions changed.

"The land of beginning."

Eliza murmured softly, looking down at the ground.

It was already a well-known story that the place where Gardesron was located was buried deep underground by the demons of Tartarus.

"Why doesn't the Hero Academy undertake the excavation mission of Gardesron's ruins?"

Chelsea asked Melina with a puzzled expression.

After Tartarus erased the records and the whereabouts of Gardesron became unknown.

For a long time, people of all races strived to find Gardesron.

And finally, they learned the location of Gardesron.

However, considering they had discovered such a historical site, the excavation was very slow.

In particular, there was absolutely no manpower dispatched from the Hero Academy.

"That's because, when they started digging to excavate Gardesron, an incredible number of curses were activated."

Melina wore a troubled expression.

"Consequently, dragons are prioritizing the curse-breaking and organizing the excavation site."

When it comes to hero studies, dragons are also the top experts.

Everyone nodded in understanding at Melina's words.

"That's enough small talk, let's go in."

At Leo's words, the party moved forward.

And the moment they set foot in the city of Garan of the future.

Woosh-!

The scenery changed.

The sudden change in atmosphere made everyone flinch and cautiously look around.

"Where is this…?"

Chen Xia looked around with surprised eyes.

The prosperous city was nowhere to be seen.

A crudely fortified city landscape unfolded.

As everyone looked bewildered.

Kal's eyes widened.

"Wait, isn't this the central plaza of Gardesron?"

"Are you sure, Kal?"

To Lil's question, Kal nodded.

"Yes. It's exactly like the one I saw in Dewno's world."

"Then is this the Age of Calamity?"

Chelsea hurriedly tilted her head back and looked at the sky.

"Huh? The sky is clear?"

"The atmosphere is also a bit strange."

Eliza narrowed her eyes.

If this was Gardesron, it would be an illusion of the Age of Calamity.

However, the people's demeanor was different from the people of the Age of Calamity that Eliza knew.

They were generally excited.

The time when they defended Ivaldi in Dewno's world as members of Archi.

It was similar to the celebration after defeating the Giant King.

However, that was a fleeting excitement, like an escape to forget the nightmares of tomorrow, while this Gardesron was literally filled with hope.

"It looks like they're preparing for a festival."

As Lil tilted her head, watching the people.

Kal stealthily approached Leo and whispered in his ear.

"Hey, Leo. Just in case, was Gardesron ever like this?"

"…Not that I know of."

Even for Leo, this was the first time he had seen the atmosphere of Gardesron.

At that moment, Chen Xia, who was observing the crowd, flinched and involuntarily reached out.

And grabbed the arm of a human woman passing by her.

"Huh?"

"Ah?"

Still bearing the traces of youth, she let out a surprised cry, and Chen Xia was also flustered.

All eyes of the party turned to Chen Xia.

"Xia, why did you suddenly grab that person?"

Chelsea asked with a puzzled expression.

However, Chen Xia stared silently at the surprised girl's face and cautiously asked.

"Bi… Har-nim?"

At those words, the entire party was surprised.

"Bihar! What are you doing there! We have to find Sir Rod quickly!"

At that moment, an elf pushed through the crowd and appeared.

Their face was a face everyone knew.

"Berkia-nim?"

"That's right. I'm Berkia. A disciple of the great heroes who saved the world."

As Chelsea called out blankly, Berkia showed a smug expression.

Hearing that, the party understood the current situation.

"They must be preparing for a festival, right?"

To Lil's question, Bihar, who was being apologized to by Chen Xia, nodded.

"Of course. The great heroes will be returning soon."

There was a rare bright expression on Bihar's face.

"What do you mean Sir Rod has disappeared?"

At that moment, Leo asked.

Then Berkia looked at Leo and his eyes widened.

"Wow, Bihar, look! There's a kid with a glare as unpleasant as our master!"

Leo looked up silently at Berkia, who was pointing at him.

"Sorry. I didn't mean anything bad."

Bihar smiled at Leo and then pushed Berkia from behind.

"We need to find the missing Fairy King, so we'll be going now."

With that, the two departed.

Looking at their retreating backs, Leo summoned a beast.

"Kirian."

-You called?

Leo, who had summoned Kirian, said while pointing at Berkia.

"Go and ask."

-Do you think I'm your personal servant?!

Kirian protested by biting Leo's finger.

"You bite well."

Leo lightly shook his hand that Kirian was biting and said.

"This confirms it."

Looking at the unfamiliar atmosphere of Gardesron, Leo said.

"It seems this illusion is the situation immediately after the world was saved."

The day when the hope, which was like the lie of the King of Wisdom, Lisinas, became true.

The day when all humans in Gardesron rejoiced purely at the beginning of a new history.

And…

It was Gardesron before hearing the tragic news of the great heroes.

***

"Drink! Drink!"

"To the stars in the night sky! Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The sun had set, and it was night.

There were many people drunk on the streets.

"The people look so happy."

To Chelsea's words, Chen Xia nodded.

"Of course. The world was saved just before its destruction."

Those who lived in an era of peace would never be able to understand the joy of these people.

Even late at night, people drunk with joy had no intention of sleeping.

Eliza, who was sitting with her legs crossed and filing her nails on the side of the street, narrowed her brow as she discovered a group of children in an alley.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

"Those children. What are they doing at this late hour?"

At Eliza's words, Kal looked at the children huddled together in the alley.

Gardesron, the last bastion against destruction, was a city with very good public order.

They had to withstand the suffocating attacks of Erebus and Tartarus.

As such, they had no choice but to pay more attention to internal affairs.

As the King of the World, Lisinas paid more attention than anything else to the public order of Gardesron under his reign.

As a result, it was very safe within the city.

So much so that it was not a big problem for children to be out so late at night.

However, even so, it was too late for the children to be awake.

Kal and Eliza approached the children.

"What are you guys doing here?"

To Eliza's question, the children tilted their heads and replied.

"We're looking at the stars."

At that answer, Kal and Eliza looked up at the night sky.

As the children said, the stars were shining brightly in the sky as if they would pour down.

Despite being late, the children's eyes sparkled like the stars in the sky.

They didn't even look at Kal and Eliza.

"Kids. When you talk to adults, you should look them in the eye."

At that moment, a gentle voice was heard from the other end of the alley.

Kal and Eliza turned their heads.

A human woman with a gentle impression stood there.

She had an ordinary appearance, but somehow, she had an impression that made one feel comfortable and warm.

"We're sorry."

The children looked away from the sky, bowed their heads to Kal and Eliza, and apologized.

"It's alright."

Kal waved his hand.

The other members of the party also came to the alley.

Leo looked at the woman's face.

After greeting the party, the children began to chatter amongst themselves.

"As Luna-nim said, the stars are really beautiful."

"Luna-nim said she would teach us constellations when she returns!"

"Let's listen to it with Arion-nim!"

As the names of the great heroes were mentioned by the children, the party showed surprised expressions.

"It's a wonderful night, isn't it?"

The woman said with a smile.

"Yes. But, may I ask your name…?"

"Hmm? You don't know me?"

The woman's eyes widened.

At those words, the party looked perplexed.

"We were often out on monster subjugation missions around Gardesron, so we haven't been around much."

Chen Xia said with a smile.

In Chen Xia's arms, Leo was held.

"Ah. I see."

The woman nodded as if she understood.

"My name is Lisa. I'm a member of Archi."

"A member of Archi?"

Chelsea's eyes widened.

The heroes who fought alongside the great hero, the King of Wisdom, Lisinas, are all members of Archi.

That meant that the woman named Lisa in front of them was a veteran hero who had survived the Age of Calamity.

"Yes. I've retired now and am running the orphanage that Arion-nim operates."

"Retired?"

Kal tilted his head, and Lisa smiled and grabbed her left hand, pulling it.

Then her left hand fell off with a "snap-!"

"Ah…"

As the party's expressions darkened, Lisa's eyes widened and she laughed.

"Don't worry about it. It's a great fortune that I didn't lose my life."

Lisa, laughing heartily, reattached her hand.

At that moment, a dwarf man appeared from the other end of the alley.

"Hey, Lisa."

"Ah! Tanio!"

The dwarf man, who was pulling a wheelchair with magic, had no legs.

"Young Master Leo, is that person too…"

"That's right. He was a member of Archi. His name is Tanio."

To Chen Xia's whispered question, Leo nodded.

As they looked at Lisa and Tanio, familiar faces.

"Did you make it?"

"I've been holed up in the workshop for days making only this."

Tanio, with a tired face, handed over a small box.

Lisa, who had reattached her prosthetic arm, opened the box.

Inside was a ring.

Seeing that, Melina's eyes widened.

"Is that… a wedding ring?"

At that question, the entire party looked at Lisa.

On Lisa's prosthetic ring finger was a ring shaped like the box.

To Melina's question, Lisa smiled shyly.

"Yes. I was proposed to a few days ago."

"Congratulations."

Melina smiled gently.

"Thank you. I plan to get married as soon as Arion-nim returns."

Everyone looked surprised.

"Married to Arion-nim?"

"Yes. Arion-nim and I were engaged before he left on his expedition. I received this ring then."

"Wow. Arion-nim had a lover…"

"Heh heh. Even the other great heroes don't know about this. Please keep it a secret. Arion-nim said he would announce it himself."

At that answer, everyone except Lil and Eliza looked at Leo.

Leo blinked his red eyes a few times and muttered.

"He was doing everything, huh?"