Book 1 Chapter 915
915.
“You want to conquer my world?”
“That’s right.”
Leo silently gazed at Shau, who nodded gravely, then poured liquor into his glass and held it in his mouth.
A fruity scent lingered in his mouth.
The taste was smooth, but it was not difficult to tell that it was a strong, high-proof liquor.
After emptying the liquor into his mouth, Leo asked.
“Why?”
Doubt appeared in Leo’s eyes.
He wondered why Shau wanted to conquer his world, of all people.
“Even if you conquer my world, you won’t get any conquest rewards.”
Conquest rewards are only given for the worlds of those who have already passed away.
He had once asked Lian, the administrator of the Hero Record, about the reason.
‘The records of heroes contained in the Hero Record are a single story. As long as life continues, the story also continues. The story only truly ends when one closes their eyes.’
Lian said, touching the records.
‘Only completed stories can be passed down to future generations. That is the most fundamental rule of the Hero Record.’
There were exceptions.
‘The owner of the Hero Record.’
Leo could obtain rewards no matter which world he conquered.
“You wouldn’t not know that, would you?”
Leo stared directly into Shau’s dark eyes.
His disciple, Biharu’s descendant.
However, even as a descendant, it was difficult to find traces of Biharu in Shau’s appearance.
5000 years is such a long time.
While they were certainly connected by blood, in reality, it would not be an exaggeration to say they were strangers.
But…
‘Why are their eyes so similar?’
The blood left by Biharu must have thinned over generations.
But Biharu’s will was still clear.
Even if he had once been swept up in the obsession of ascending to the Hero Record through the method of shadows, that wasn’t wrong.
Leo couldn’t help but feel pity for the shadows who chose to confine themselves to darkness.
And he felt sorry.
Because it was none other than Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, himself, who had left the legacy that the shadows had protected and carried on.
The hero who saved the world, and at the same time, the primordial shadow.
But for thousands of years, the shadows suffered because of the legacy he left behind.
‘If my attitude had been different 5000 years ago, the shadows might have received the same treatment as other heroes.’
They might have lived a life already registered in the Hero Record, like other heroes, instead of being hidden behind history.
The gods never denied the achievements of the shadows.
Lian, the administrator of the Hero Record, said.
That there were many great and noble individuals among the shadows who could have left their names in the Hero Record.
However, they couldn’t ascend because they themselves denied their own achievements.
‘The gods considered that to be the greatest trial for the shadows.’
Lian’s bitter smile came to mind.
As a record keeper, he also felt pity for the shadows.
‘May they break out of their shells themselves. May they stand tall.’
But the shadows did not.
Despite sacrificing themselves for the world, they denied the achievements they had made.
Leo knew well that the origin of this lay with himself.
‘I hunted down the traitors because I just thought it was something someone had to do.’
It was originally the duty of the Black Dragons.
However, it was Kyle who drew the line, saying it was not the job of Lisinas, the savior of the world.
Many Black Dragons who lived in the Age of Gods lived in darkness and were twisted and corrupted in the Age of Disaster.
They turned into enemies of the world.
Dragons considered the work of Black Dragons lowly.
Kyle also held the literally old-fashioned ideas.
Something Lisinas shouldn’t do, but someone had to.
Kyle’s mindset when hunting traitors was exactly that.
Cleaning up trash shouldn’t be done by noble and brilliant people who dream of tomorrow.
It should just be done by someone like himself, who doesn’t care about anything.
He acted with such thoughts.
‘I was just a cleaner.’
That’s why Leo never wanted Biharu to help him with his work.
He pushed Biharu away countless times when he followed him during the traitor hunts.
But in the end, Biharu kept following, and they had no choice but to move together.
Even then, he always said, as if it were a habit:
‘If the world is saved, don’t do this kind of work anymore.’
‘Why?’
‘There will be many other things to do besides this.’
‘Are you quitting too, Master?’
‘No.’
‘…….’
‘I can’t bear to see them living in the light.’
‘Then I too…’
‘This bloody work is enough for me alone. You help Lisinas with his work by his side.’
‘…….’
‘Answer.’
‘……Yes.’
So, later, Biharu, as a shadow, tore and kept Kyle’s records.
It was none other than himself who taught Biharu that the work of a shadow was insignificant.
This was why Leo felt sorry for the shadows.
Therefore, he thought he had to bring Chen Xia… the shadows out of the darkness.
So that they could be recognized even now.
That they, too, were heroes.
Now many shadows were trying to come out into the light.
They would become heroes, not shadows.
That’s why Leo couldn’t understand Shau.
Leo was Kyle.
As long as Leo was alive, no conquest rewards could be received from Kyle’s world.
Kyle’s story was not yet finished.
The second act had just begun.
Shau also knew that fact.
Yet Shau was trying to conquer Kyle’s world as a shadow.
He didn’t wish for conquest rewards.
He wanted only one thing.
To experience a deeper abyss as a shadow.
The shadow before him was trying to go into the abyss, even though the path to light was open.
Leo couldn’t understand.
To Leo’s question, Shau smiled and replied.
“I believe Biharu-nim’s feelings were not so different from mine.”
“…….”
Shau looked at the Book of Shadows.
Biharu’s record was also there.
Around 5000 years ago, when the world was saved.
Biharu could choose.
To live in the light like Berkia.
Or, to live in the darkness as he did now.
And Biharu chose to live in the darkness.
“Someone must have had to do it.”
“Yes. But that’s something you can do as a hero.”
“That’s right. In future generations, heroes who embody both light and darkness will appear, just as you did, Your Majesty.”
Shau smiled with genuine joy.
“It won’t be far in the future. My daughter will surely become like that too. That must have been our original form.”
“Right. But why do you want to live as a shadow?”
An era where heroes and shadows become ambiguous is coming.
Those who refuse to become heroes, swept only by a sense of mission as a shadow, will disappear.
A life as a thorough shadow will become a path that no one needs to take.
Because an era will come where heroes are shadows and shadows are heroes.
Nevertheless, Shau intended to walk that path.
“Because the Primordial Shadow told me that I was not wrong.”
Shau said with a proud smile.
“If it wasn’t wrong.”
Shau’s gaze landed on the Book of Shadows.
“That path my progenitor walked.”
Conviction filled Shau’s eyes.
“This path that countless predecessors walked.”
Eventually, Shau raised his head, and Leo was in his gaze.
“I wish to walk it. And I will say.”
“What?”
“That the Primordial Shadow has no need to feel sorry for us at all.”
“……”
“If Biharu-nim had known that the Primordial Shadow felt sorry for the shadows, he would surely have made the same choice as me.”
Shau said forcefully.
“Therefore, as the Last Shadow King, I wish to reach the highest realm. That is why I want to overcome your trial.”
To proudly declare it was his own choice.
“But you could die if things go wrong?”
A hero’s world is not a hero dungeon, so one can escape in a crisis.
However, the trials Kyle went through were not easy, to the point where even escaping was difficult.
“That’s why I passed the throne to my daughter.”
Shau chuckled, poured liquor into his glass, and heartily tossed it into his mouth.
“Anyway, you’re as stubborn as Biharu.”
“Hahaha! Isn’t that because I’m his descendant! Here, have a drink.”
Shau laughed cheerfully and poured liquor into Leo’s glass.
They drank and drank, emptying several bottles of strong liquor.
With liquor bottles scattered around, Leo said.
“Is the challenge after the imperial succession is over?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s best to prepare thoroughly. You could really die if things go wrong.”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of dying.”
“……”
“Because I definitely intend to see my grandchildren’s faces.”
Shau, with a very drunken face, said.
“So, speaking of which. Is making an heir the most urgent priority once you become emperor?”
“And?”
“How about Arhi and Shan having a state marriage? Now that you’ve ascended to the throne, don’t you need a strong ally?”
Shau said earnestly.
“I’m not just saying it because she’s my daughter, but isn’t she truly beautiful? Surely Arhi will also have a splendid heir. Oh, if you already have another woman in mind for Arhi’s queen, I don’t mind too much. Isn’t there a saying that heroes are fond of beauty? Actually, I also wanted to have many concubines…”
Leo frowned, watching Shau talk incessantly, and said.
“Won’t you go now?”
“What don’t you like about Xia? She’s a child who lacks nothing.”
“Elsie. Escort our guest.”
At Leo’s words, Elsie giggled and escorted Shau out.
Shau continued to brag about his daughter like a doting father until he left the room.
Eventually, Leo, now quiet, tidied up the liquor bottles and headed to bed.
Then Elsie returned.
“Did Emperor Shau leave?”
-Mm. He was heading to the Knight Academy dormitory.
‘Is he going to see Xia’s face before he leaves?’
***
“……”
Xia, tossing and turning in her room trying to sleep, unconsciously opened her eyes to the stimulating scent of alcohol.
“Kyaa— Hup?!”
Then, seeing Shau looking down at her face, she screamed.
Of course, Shau covered Xia’s mouth, so no loud sound was made.
No matter how trained in darkness Xia was, she couldn’t help but be startled to see the Shadow King, who had appeared without a trace.
“Father! What are you doing here!”
“I came to meet the King of Beginnings.”
Shau, who had been smiling brightly, said with a serious face.
“Xia. After infiltrating this place, it seems to me that with your skill, you could easily sneak into the King of Beginnings’ room.”
“……”
At his words, Xia got up from the bed, pressed her temples hard, and said.
“What kind of father tells his daughter to sneak into a man’s room?”
“It’s more common than you think, at least.”
“……”
“You know well how dirty the world is, don’t you?”
Xia let out a deep sigh.
“In that sense.”
Emperor Shau took a bottle from his pocket and handed it to Chen Xia.
“……What is this?”
“Alcohol. Alcohol is best for men and women to get closer.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Oh, of course, I also added some medicine.”
“……”
“Just kidding. By the way, Xia.”
“What now?”
“Your pajamas taste is still childish. I’m worried that you’re not a child anymore, my dear. A man, you see…”
“I’ll take care of myself, so please leave.”
“Oh ho! I don’t trust you!”
“Go! Just go!”
“Remember, Xia! History is often made by nights and alcohol! Just you alone, when your mother and I had a drink during a mission…”
“Get out!”
Chen Xia, with a cold face, chased Shau out the window.
Chen Xia plopped down on the bed and sighed deeply.
‘He’s been especially like this ever since he said he’d pass on the emperor’s seat.’