Book 1 Chapter 879

879.

"Why aren't you saying 'cute' this time?"

Chelsea asked Eliza, who looked flustered and said,

"No. The situation is too serious."

"For a serious situation, isn't this human too nonchalant?"

Leo, now in the form of a newborn baby, let out a long yawn.

Just as Eliza said, he wasn't showing any particular agitation.

"By the way, why is only Big Brother getting younger? Is it because of the power of the Desire King that Chen Xia defeated?"

Lil made a serious face.

"Whatever it is, if he gets any younger than this, his very existence could be in danger."

Melina said earnestly.

Upon hearing that, Leo nodded.

When Leo was first caught in the illusion of the Fairy King, he had returned to his childhood in a past life.

But that was when Leo was the subject of the illusion.

'The subject of this illusion right now is Shiloh.'

There is only one person in this world who knows what things looked like immediately after the Age of Calamity ended.

Only Shiloh.

Leo raised his left index finger.

Whoosh-!

Gray mana flowed from his fingertip, forming letters.

[First, let's find Shiloh.]

Melina nodded at that.

Due to the current structure of his mouth, pronunciation was difficult, so he was communicating with mana.

[Let's split into groups.]

"Weren't we supposed to act together in Gadsron?"

Lil asked with a puzzled face at Leo's words, and Karl said,

"This is Gadsron in the past. And as we saw earlier, Berkhia-nim and Bihar-nim are here."

"Ah."

Lil made a knowing expression.

The demon race can be recognized even by beings in the illusion.

"Besides, this is Gadsron. It's where heroes who fought against Tartarus to prevent the Age of Calamity are, isn't it?"

Even a Legion Commander would find it difficult to play silly tricks in the center of Gadsron.

"As expected, Karl is quick to grasp the situation."

Lil, impressed, looked at Leo.

"How should we divide the groups, Big Brother?"

[We'll divide into three.]

"Three groups?"

[Professor Mel, Lil and me. And the remaining four.]

Leo, after answering, assigned the search areas and activated his spirit power.

Then, Kiruan was summoned.

-Huh? Leo. What's wrong with your appearance?

Kiruan flapped his wings in front of Leo, startled.

[Kiruan. Move with Karl and look for Shiloh's aura.]

-…Alright.

At the mention of finding Shiloh, Kiruan nodded with a slightly subdued voice.

[Then, let's move.]

Melina and the third-year party left the pub.

"Big Brother, excuse me."

Lil said that, then scooped Leo into his arms and left the pub.

The elf watching them from the counter looked at the oak barrels with a serious expression.

'I didn't make some kind of rejuvenation potion, did I?'

***

Karl led the way, exploring the assigned area.

It was early dawn.

"This is Kyle-nim's house."

Karl said as they passed in front of Kyle's house.

Karl, who had been to Dweno's world before, was thoroughly familiar with the geography of Gadsron.

Chelsea fussed at the mention of Kyle's house.

"This is Kyle-nim's house?"

"It's very modest."

Eliza said, surprised, and Karl shrugged.

"Well, given Kyle-nim's personality, he wouldn't like anything flashy."

"You talk as if you know Kyle-nim very well?"

Eliza tilted her head, and Karl smirked.

"Because I thoroughly searched through the few remaining records of Kyle-nim."

"By the way, Karl-kun. They say the interior of Gadsron is incredibly complex, like a labyrinth, but you manage to know the geography so well?"

"Mapping is a supporter's most basic role."

"Even if it's basic, perfectly mapping such a complex area isn't usually easy… The more I think about it, the more competent you are."

"Hmph."

Eliza, who had been listening to Chen Xia's story as if uninterested, let out a small snort.

Chelsea looked at Eliza, tilting her head.

"Why are *you* proud?"

"I've never been proud."

Eliza said curtly.

Chelsea stared at Eliza, then grinned like a mischievous child, crossed her arms, and said as if to be heard,

"Well! Anyway, Karl is a talent whom the Rwallin family is actively trying to scout!"

"Wait. Recruit Karl?"

"Of course. My brother has been making offers since his second year!"

"You never told me about that!"

"Huh? Because you didn't ask?"

Karl said with a slightly flustered face, and Eliza made an utterly annoyed expression.

Chelsea, seeing that, said,

"What does it matter? Even if you two get married, there's no law saying Karl has to work for the Hergin family, is there?"

"Who's marrying whom?"

"Huh? Then, Karl, are you going to give him to our brother?"

"Who's giving him away!"

"Now, now, calm down. Eliza."

"Don't be ridiculous! Karl Thomas! I told you, you're mine! Don't even think about going anywhere else!"

Eliza burst out, and Karl laughed.

"I'm not thinking of going anywhere else."

"Ah…"

Eliza's face instantly turned crimson.

"Oh my. How hot~! Anyone would think you're newlyweds… Ow ow ow ow!"

"It's not good to tease Big Sister."

"Who's Big Sister… Ow ow!"

"Eliza-yang is older than Chelsea-yang anyway."

Chen Xia smiled sweetly and pinched Chelsea's cheek.

Kiruan, watching them, said,

-Oh, they're having fun. They're really having fun.

Kiruan said that, then brought both hands to his mouth, making them like a megaphone, and said,

-Shall I spread the rumor now?

Whoosh-!

Eliza's sharp whip lashed at Kiruan.

Kiruan nimbly dodged it, grinning from ear to ear.

"Kiruan. Do you feel anything about the Fairy King?"

Chen Xia asked, and Kiruan shook his head.

-No.

"Have you heard anything about Gadsron?"

Chelsea asked, crossing her arms, and Kiruan pouted his lips, then sighed deeply.

-Father never liked to be asked about old stories.

Then he looked at the scenery before him with complex emotions.

-Father and Leo, they must have had many good times over the past 5000 years, so why are they bound to such an era?

"Why is Leo Flov's story coming up here?"

-Because Leo is Kyle's reincarnation.

Kiruan, asked from beside, answered naturally without realizing it.

And he gasped! covering his mouth.

Eliza narrowed her eyes and looked at the other three.

"What nonsense is this fairy spouting?"

"Are you lying to us again?"

"We won't fall for it."

Chelsea, Karl, and Chen Xia chuckled and said.

Eliza stared at their reaction, then clicked her tongue.

"This fairy is teasing us with lies again."

"I guess so."

"I knew you'd say that! Seeing your reactions, you already knew! I knew it felt strange!"

Eliza reacted sharply.

"Yes! It doesn't make sense logically! That unbelievable strength and his old man-like behavior, it all makes sense now!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down, Eliza-yang."

"Calm down? Do I look like I can calm down right now?!"

An excited Eliza shouted back.

Chen Xia, who had been giving Eliza a troubled smile, went behind Eliza, wrapped her arms around her neck, and squeezed.

Squeeze-!

"Cough?! St-stop…!"

Eliza tapped Chen Xia's arm repeatedly.

"Calm down, calm down."

Chen Xia smiled sweetly and let go, and Eliza clutched her neck, gasping for breath.

"Still, there's no need to calm me down so violently."

"I'm sorry."

Chen Xia smiled brightly and apologized nonchalantly.

Chelsea saw that and whispered to Karl,

"Sometimes I feel it, but Xia is really scary."

"You *sometimes* feel it? I always feel that way."

Eliza took a deep breath.

"Yes. In an era where great heroes and heroes of creation are appearing in the present world… it's not strange for the hero of beginnings to be reincarnated."

Reincarnation is certainly surprising, but they've experienced too much since enrolling in Lumen to make a fuss.

Crucially, if one looks at Leo's actions, it would be strange not to be convinced.

"…There was a reason I couldn't catch up."

Eliza said with a small sigh.

"Please keep it a secret from Leo Flov that I know this fact."

Chelsea heard that and tilted her head.

"Why?"

"Is there any need to blab it out? It's a very important secret. I'll pretend I didn't hear it either."

Just as Chelsea was about to nod at Eliza's words,

"She's probably embarrassed about how she used to make a fuss trying to beat Leo, right?"

"Probably."

"She's cute when she acts like that…"

Whirl-! Thwack-!

"Gah?!"

Eliza, her face bright red, wrapped her whip around Karl's neck and dragged him away.

-Oh dear, a mishap.

Kiruan was at a loss, and Chen Xia smiled sweetly.

"Don't worry about it. Eliza-yang isn't one to blab."

-…

Kiruan was silent at Chen Xia's words.

-Why are they really so bound to the past?

"…"

-For Father… and for Leo… it must be a painful memory.

Kiruan lifted his head.

-The present must be happier.

"…When we truly become adults, perhaps we'll understand their feelings a little?"

Chen Xia gave a bitter smile.

The group passed Kyle's house and went out into the street.

"Oh? Hello?"

Someone greeted them, recognizing them.

The group looked at the person's face.

It was Lisa, a member of Arhi, who had promised a future with Arion.

"Lisa-nim."

Chen Xia smiled sweetly.

"Are you out with the children?"

"Yes. We're going to place flowers where our Arhi comrades are sleeping."

"Ah…"

Lisa and the children held armfuls of flowers.

"These are flowers Luna-nim made for us."

"They're beautiful."

Eliza exclaimed.

Seeing that, Lisa said,

"If it's alright, would you like to come with us? It's not far from here."

"Shall we?"

It couldn't be said that they had no connection with the previous Arhi.

Lisa didn't know, but the group clearly knew that fact.

Just as the group was about to move,

The street, which had been filled with joy, suddenly began to stir.

"No way!"

"What a lie!"

"Bu-but… the gatekeeper spirits said they heard it from the wind spirits!"

"Ahhh… That can't be… It can't be…"

The group's faces hardened at the unusual atmosphere.

The group, knowing the future, realized what news had reached Gadsron.

Lisa's face also hardened.

"Lisa! Lisa!"

A dwarf in a wheelchair pushed through the crowd and urgently approached Lisa.

It was Tanio, a member of Arhi, who had made Lisa's ring.

"It's not true, is it? Tanio."

Lisa shook her head, her voice tearful.

"Arion-nim… couldn't have died, right? Right?"

The flowers Lisa was holding fell to the ground.

"…"

Tanio squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip.

"It's not just Arion-nim…"

"What?"

"All five of them… all of them…"

"…"

"During the process of subjugating Erebus… they say they died in battle."

***

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-!

Black flames fiercely blazed.

Crack-crack-crack-

The magic cracked.

-How long do you think you can suppress me, fairy?

Erebus sneered.

-Your struggle to stop me is commendable, so I will show mercy.

Shiloh bit his lip tightly.

His body trembled.

-Enjoy the past you so desperately desire.

Grooooooowl-!

'No more…!'

-For this moment, upon hearing the news of your friends' deaths, is the most fitting end for you, who lives only because you cannot die.

Crash-boom-bang-!

Just as the suppressed black flames were about to surge down like a tsunami,

Whoosh-!

Dragonic magic shimmered.

Suddenly, Erebus's eyes twitched.

-King of Wisdom?

Click-clack-

"Unfortunately, no."

Melina smiled softly, appearing behind Shiloh.

"Pleased to meet you, Flame of Ruin."

-What are you?

"From your perspective, I've come from the distant future."

Melina's eyes changed to those of a dragon.

"To subjugate you, that is."

Flash-! Crash-boom-bang-!

Light magic blew away Erebus's flames.

"Dragon… Lord."

"It's an honor to meet you, Shiloh-nim. I've come to help you."

Melina offered Shiloh the ancient dragon greeting.

Shiloh, who had been staring at Melina, said,

"That…"

"Yes?"

"That's not how you do it."

"…"

Melina thought seriously.

'Leo-nim is like that too… Are all people from the old days so sensitive about etiquette?'