Book 1 Chapter 909

909.

Guided by Lunia, Leo entered the Seyrun building with a strange expression.

From the warp gate to the interior of the building.

This was because the enthusiastic welcome of Seyrun students filled both sides of the path.

Upon arriving at the castle in the center where students' classes were held, also known as the Castle of Learning, the students' cheers grew even louder.

They even scattered flower petals from flower baskets.

After receiving the hospitality of the Seyrun students, the student council presidents from each Hero Academy and those who visited Seyrun were escorted to their accommodations.

Lunia, who was in charge of guiding, finally led Leo to his lodging.

"Ugh! I'm tired! It's only lunchtime, why am I so tired?!"

As soon as she entered Leo's room, Lunia closed the door and rushed to lie down on the sofa in the middle of the room.

Leo looked around the room.

Naturally, it was a world of difference from the room he stayed in when he came as an exchange student before.

"Isn't the welcome a bit too much? It's completely different from when I came to Seyrun last time, isn't it?"

"Your status itself is different now than it was then, isn't it? Seyrun has also changed a lot."

"Even so, it's too extreme, isn't it?"

"Since when have elves not been extreme? Is it just a day or two?"

"True."

At Lunia's words, Leo made a knowing expression.

At Leo's reaction, Lunia sighed.

Lunia, too, sometimes shuddered at her fellow elves.

But that was because Lunia cherished her own kind.

And that feeling was not much different from Luna's.

That's why she gets angry when she sees her kin going down the wrong path.

And she tries to guide them to the right path.

Elves know elves best.

A race that is endlessly arrogant when proud, and endlessly weak when their will is broken.

As such, they are easily influenced by anything.

Leo burst out laughing at Lunia, who was scratching her head vigorously.

Seeing that, Lunia frowned.

"Why are you laughing?"

At that question, Leo, who was sitting opposite Lunia on the sofa, said,

"You remind me of someone."

"Who?"

"Luna."

"……"

At Leo's words, Lunia unconsciously closed her mouth.

Now Lunia knew Leo's true identity.

It wasn't just knowing his identity.

The time shared with Leo Plov, the King of Beginnings.

Enough time to know and understand Leo as a person.

That's why she knew the weight of what Leo had just said.

So she couldn't take his words about her resembling Luna as mere praise.

Because Leo seeing Luna in her meant that Leo was thinking of Luna.

"……"

Lunia, who had been comfortably lying on the sofa, slowly got up, glancing at Leo.

"Why?"

Lunia said, looking at Leo's puzzled expression.

"Oh. It's just that you said Luna-nim came to mind."

Lunia smiled elegantly.

It was her former coy demeanor.

"Since you're reminiscing anyway, wouldn't this kind of look be better?"

At that, Leo said calmly,

"If it were that look, Luna wouldn't come to mind."

"Huh? I-is that so?"

"That Luna fellow doesn't have such a thing as coyness in her dictionary."

At that, Lunia let out a hollow laugh.

"That's right. She always shows only her true self."

Lunia leaned back on the sofa again.

"Leo."

"Why?"

"Can I… replace Luna-nim?"

Lunia asked cautiously.

Concern filled Lunia's eyes.

Leo Plov, the King of Beginnings.

The reincarnation of Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, and the one who saved the world.

And a person who is staking everything to save the world once again.

Lunia would willingly save the world alongside such a Leo.

That was her duty, as Luna's successor, bearing the epithet [The One Who Chases the Nebula].

Of course, it wasn't just because of doubt.

She had admired heroes since childhood.

She was grateful to the heroes who dedicated themselves to the world and left much for future generations, and she hoped to be like them.

It was natural, as the stories of heroes Lunia had seen were more brilliant than anything else.

Lunia was convinced that the path she was currently taking was the right one.

'Even if I don't reach where I want to go, it's okay.'

Like her predecessors… like Luna and Seyrun.

She would believe in the hope that would follow.

However, there was one thing Lunia feared.

It was whether she could replace Luna.

Lunia looked directly into Leo's red eyes, which resembled her own.

In those eyes, which seemed ready to flare up at any moment, was a firm will.

Lunia knew well how much Leo had sacrificed within that firm will.

5000 years ago, he dedicated himself for the world.

And in the current era…

'…He gave up the chance to be with the Great Heroes with his own hands.'

Lunia recalled an earlier event.

Leo, who had gone to a parallel world.

What Leo saw there were his reincarnated comrades, excluding himself.

Lunia, who had briefly touched that world, knew.

How much Leo had desired that parallel world.

Therefore, she couldn't imagine.

With what feelings Leo had left that world behind and returned to his original one.

Even after that, no matter how much Lunia tried to fathom Leo's heart, she couldn't.

The more she tried, the more pressure she felt.

The pressure of being the successor of a Great Hero.

At first, the fact that she had become the successor of the person she respected most in the world was simply a source of pride.

But as time passed, she felt it acutely.

How great the pressure she was bearing was.

When she felt the weight of Luna's name, she was surprised herself.

Because losing confidence was unfamiliar to her.

But when she felt her own endless shortcomings, she couldn't help but shrink back.

At Lunia's question, Leo said calmly,

"Absolutely not."

"Ah…"

At the obvious remark, Lunia unconsciously drooped her ears.

Seeing that, Leo made an incredulous expression.

"You can make such an expression too?"

"What?"

Lunia was startled and touched her face.

Seeing Lunia, Leo chuckled.

"You're like that Luna fellow. Or is it a characteristic of the elf race?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You said it yourself. Is it just a day or two that elves are extreme?"

Leo rested his chin on his hand and looked at Lunia.

"I thought, you're an elf after all."

"Then are you saying I didn't seem like an elf?"

"Who would think you're an elf by looking at you?"

"You darn bastard…!"

A vein slightly popped on Lunia's forehead.

Leo, chuckling at Lunia, said,

"Don't be so pessimistic about yourself. No one can replace Luna."

"……"

"Likewise, Ar and Driana… Melina too."

"Likewise?"

"Yes."

Leo's red eyes met Lunia's.

"They can't replace Arion, Dweno, or Ricinas either."

Leo said, as if explaining.

"You are you, Lunia."

"Ah…"

"I didn't choose you as a successor because you resemble Luna."

Leo spoke in a warm voice to the elf who sought to walk the same path as him.

"Likewise, Luna didn't choose you because you resembled her either."

"……"

"She chose you because you are you."

It was true that there were similarities.

'But that doesn't mean it's 'Luna-like'.'

More precisely, Luna's intended direction and Lunia's intended direction were the same.

"Because you tried to walk the path that countless elves walked even before Luna… the path that Berkia and Seyrun tried to walk after Luna."

"……"

"We didn't choose it. You earned it."

At Leo's encouragement, Lunia sighed deeply.

"Why?"

"No… I was just thinking if this is what experience feels like."

Lunia flopped down on the sofa.

"Ah, I guess I'll always only receive encouragement from you?"

"Why?"

"Even if I stand shoulder to shoulder with you, in the end, you're an infinitely older senior than me."

"Oh, really? You're saying you'll stand shoulder to shoulder with me as if it's a given?"

"Hmph. Just wait, it'll be soon."

Her dispirited look from a moment ago was long gone.

"Seems like you've regained your spirits."

Leo chuckled.

Lunia, lying on the sofa and watching him, let out a deep sigh.

"Why are you sighing again?"

"No, I suddenly feel envious of Luna-nim."

"What are you envious of?"

"Luna-nim must have encouraged and comforted you sometime, right?"

Lunia, who was being led by Leo, was different from Luna.

Perhaps she would be immature compared to Leo her entire life.

But she and Luna were different.

Luna, who was always Leo's equal, probably helped Leo stand up when he was struggling.

At Lunia's mumble, Leo clicked his tongue.

"That Luna fellow never encouraged or comforted me."

"Huh?"

"Rather, I was the one who encouraged her. She was more easily conceited and more easily discouraged than you."

"Ah, somehow that seems plausible."

Lunia burst out laughing, recalling the Luna she knew.

"Oh, speaking of which, I had something to ask you."

"To ask me?"

"Yes. Could you give a special lecture on star magic at Seyrun?"

No matter what anyone says, Leo is still the one who knows best about star magic in this world.

Lunia was also quickly learning about star magic, but after all, Leo was the one who watched and helped with the beginning and completion of star magic.

"Professor Herdium personally asked for it."

"When?"

"Professor Herdium said if you agree, she'll arrange a special lecture time for tomorrow right away?"

"Alright."

As Leo agreed, Lunia nodded and got up.

"Good. Then I have to go to class."

"Lunia."

"Hmm?"

Leo called out to Lunia, who was about to leave the room.

"Don't worry about the parallel world incident."

"……"

"It was my choice."

It would be a lie to say he didn't regret it.

No, he would probably live his whole life regretting it.

But…

Even if he regretted it hundreds, thousands of times.

"Even if I turn back time, I'll make the same choice."

It was something he was prepared for the moment he made the choice.

"Leo…"

"So."

Leo said, looking at Lunia's sad eyes.

"Don't worry about it."

"But I can't help but worry…"

"Do it when you're older. You can't even take care of yourself, you rascal."

Leo let out a chuckle.

It was treating her like a child, but she couldn't refute it.

"Alright. I get it, you damn jerk."

With those words, Lunia left Leo's room.

'Seriously, how long is he going to treat me like a kid?'

Before, she would have flared up at such treatment, but knowing his true identity, it was hard to do so.

Lunia, who had been grumbling, paused.

Suddenly, something flashed through her mind.

A scandalous novel about an older human man toying with a younger female elf had just crossed her mind.

'Oh, seriously. Reading such weird stuff makes me weird too.'

Lunia shook her head, humming, and then paused, serious.

'Now that I think about it, the human in that novel kind of resembles Leo?'

Having thought that far, Lunia let out a hollow laugh.

'What on earth am I thinking!!'