Book 1 Chapter 925

926.

Hwaak-!

Leo galloped across the desert under the night sky at tremendous speed, holding Chen Xia in his arms.

Chen Xia, nestled in Leo's cloak, was awake and observing her surroundings.

Then, she looked up at the desert night sky spread out before her.

A beautiful night sky, where it felt like stars would rain down at any moment.

Chen Xia, gazing at the scene silently, shifted her gaze to Leo.

Leo's face, illuminated by the moonlight.

After admiring his appearance for a moment, Chen Xia noticed Elsie sitting on Leo's shoulder.

Looking at Elsie, Chen Xia asked,

"Elsie-nim. Is something wrong?"

- Huh? No. Not really.

Elsie tilted her head and looked at Chen Xia.

Chen Xia's black eyes met Elsie's black eyes.

It was at this moment that the hero and the spirit gazed at each other in silence.

Leo stopped in the middle of the desert.

A gap between large rocks.

Traces of camping remained in this place, which was a good environment for camping.

Leo, activating his super senses, easily determined that Perena had stayed here.

"There were two people, right?"

Chen Xia asked, examining the traces of the campsite.

"That's right."

"But… the other person left no trace at all."

Chen Xia also found Perena's trace.

However, no matter how much she looked, she could not find any trace of the dwarf who was with Perena.

"Did you find anything, Leo-doryeong?"

"No, I can't find anything other than Perena's trace either."

'What is this guy?'

He had completely erased his own tracks.

'I don't even know where he went.'

The wind blowing in the desert erased the footprints of people who had walked.

'But just because footprints are erased doesn't mean all traces of movement disappear.'

Leo possessed the ability to track invisible traces to others.

But this time, he couldn't find any trace anywhere.

'He's someone who knows a lot about shadows.'

It wasn't intentionally erased.

'He's someone who is used to erasing traces of movement.'

Leo, intuitively sensing that this pursuit would not be easy, clicked his tongue.

'Besides, there are no signs of resistance.'

Leo felt a sense of strangeness as he inferred the situation from the traces found here.

Even if he mistook the other person for Damian student, Perena is a shadow candidate.

Shadows leave traces that other shadows can find in case of emergencies.

But he couldn't even find such traces.

'Either he erased even those traces perfectly, or Perena fully trusts and follows the other person.'

"If it's the latter, he might be using mind control abilities."

"Mind control?"

"Let's split up. I'll search this side, so Xia, you search the other side."

"Yes."

"Elsie, help Xia."

- Yes.

Elsie rose from Leo's shoulder and positioned herself above Chen Xia's head.

"Call me immediately if you sense anything suspicious."

"Yes."

- I understand.

At Leo's words, Chen Xia and Elsie nodded.

Soon, the two parted ways with Leo and wandered through the desert.

Chen Xia maximized her sense of touch and hearing with her super senses.

'I hope nothing happens.'

Worried about Perena, Chen Xia asked Elsie,

"Elsie-nim. Are there still no suspicious presences around?"

- …

"Elsie-nim?"

- Ah, yes. There are no suspicious individuals.

Elsie, who had been sitting on Chen Xia's head and blankly gazing at the sky, replied with a start.

"Has something been wrong since a little while ago?"

Chen Xia, realizing Elsie was not her usual self, asked.

- I was reminded of the past. This place is not only Arion's hometown, but also mine.

"Ah…"

- And it's also where my family lost their lives.

"Family…?"

- Yes, Arion's family too.

The current Elsie is a reward for clearing the Hero Record.

The real Elsie lost her life during the Age of Cataclysm long ago.

And she suffered a great wound from the loss of her family.

The current Elsie did not experience that pain.

But even so, the fact that the orphanage children who were like family died tragically did not change.

She tried to forget it as much as possible, but upon returning to this land, she couldn't help but think of her family.

- They lost their lives to traitors. My family and Arion's family.

"…"

As Elsie smiled bitterly, looking up at the night sky.

"…Chen Xia-senpai?"

Chen Xia was startled by the sudden voice.

Perena was closer than she had expected.

"Perena-yang?"

"What are you doing here?"

"You went missing alone, so we came to find you."

"What? I was moving with Damian-student."

Perena tilted her head.

"The person moving with you is not Damian-student."

"What? That's impossible."

Perena shook her head.

Chen Xia could feel Perena's absolute trust in the other person.

Seeing this, Chen Xia felt something was strange.

Perena is also a shadow candidate.

The virtue of a shadow is doubt.

Yet, Perena did not doubt the dwarf at all, despite her senior's words.

'Mind control ability.'

Chen Xia was on guard, recalling Leo's words.

"Are you a shadow too?"

Chen Xia flinched at the beautiful voice from behind.

Without realizing it, she turned her head as if entranced.

"Ah…"

Chen Xia gasped involuntarily upon seeing the beautiful boy standing before her.

A beauty that made one lose their composure.

Chen Xia felt her guard melt away like snow.

And she felt a sense of trust towards the other person.

'Who was it? Someone who gave me this feeling?'

With a look of confusion, Chen Xia approached the dwarf.

'Right.'

Chen Xia recalled another person who exuded such a captivating aura.

'Elena-senpai.'

Of course, the magic exuded by the boy far surpassed that of Elena, whom Chen Xia knew.

Hwaak-!

Glomp-!

"Hmm?"

Demian, who had snatched Chen Xia's hand reaching for his neck, tilted his head.

"My magic doesn't seem to be working?"

"Why did you take Perena?"

"I just kept her for a while because I had questions."

"Why did you enchant her mind with magic?"

"I had a lot I wanted to know. There won't be a big problem once she's released. If you want, I can erase the memories of when she was enchanted."

Demian, who answered indifferently, looked intently at Chen Xia's face and nodded.

"I see. So you are Chen Xia?"

A gentle smile formed on Demian's face.

"To reach the hero's position as a shadow, you are magnificent."

"…"?

Chen Xia was flustered by Demian's sudden display of favor.

Ssssk-

A sword appeared from behind Demian and touched his neck.

"For a dwarf, you're quite pretty?"

Leo warned in a cold voice.

"Let go of her hand while you're saying nice things, will you?"

At those words, Demian released Chen Xia's hand.

Gooooo-!

Gray mana stirred within Leo's body.

Chen Xia quickly retreated from Leo's range with the bewildered Perena.

When the two were out of sight.

"Are you Kyle-nim?"

At Demian's question, Leo's momentum faltered.

"You know me?"

"The words of Rodia, Seirun, and Lumern were true."

At those words, Leo, who recognized the other's identity, sheathed his sword.

"…Is it Demian?"

"Yes, I am Demian, who follows in the footsteps of Dwenno-nim, though I am lacking."

Demian, turning around, bowed his head respectfully.

As Leo was about to ask Demian why he was in the outside world,

A massive mana wave was felt.

Leo turned his head towards the campsite.

Demian also distorted his face violently and glared in the direction of the mana wave.

"That damned rabid dog…! Even though he realized he was outside, he's acting like this…!"

"Rabid dog?"

Leo looked perplexed at Demian's words.

"Yes. Azonia must also be outside the hero's world now."

"He seems to be quite combative. That side is where my kids are."

Upon hearing Leo's words, Demian realized Azonia was fighting with the students.

"If you don't stop him, the students might get hurt. That damned rabid dog loves fighting and has no restraint when excited."

Nodding at those words, Leo lowered his stance.

Kwak-!

And he ran towards the campsite at an invisible speed.

***

"What… what kind of monster is this…"

Lunaria gritted her teeth.

Eiran and Driana were rendered combat-incapable while desperately protecting Lunaria and Elena.

Only Ar could somewhat counter Azonia's terrifying speed.

That's why Ar was the one who was intensely hit by Azonia's attacks.

He was in a worse state than any other party member.

Elena had used Sacrifice multiple times to heal Ar's wounds.

Thanks to that, he was in the worst physical condition among the party members.

Despite this, he watched the situation with a blank expression.

He was enduring the sensation of mana depletion and pain that threatened to send him to madness.

"You're tough, aren't you?"

As Azonia approached Elena with pure admiration.

Ar staggered and blocked Azonia.

Seeing Ar like that, Azonia sneered.

"Why don't you give up? You have no chance of winning."

"They say courage is not breaking when you feel like you will break."

Ar, gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, asked.

"You know that well too, don't you? Azonia-nim?"

"What… did you just say?"

Lunaria's jaw dropped at Ar's words.

Elena also widened her eyes.

Azonia looked at Ar with a surprised expression, then smiled.

"When did you figure it out?"

"A little while ago."

"How?"

"Because of the super senses you are using, Azonia-nim."

"Ho?"

"There is no one among those I know who can use super senses comparable to the black rabbit… except you, Azonia-nim."

"You're more perceptive than I thought. So? You're still going to fight even after knowing my identity?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I am a descendant of the brave Arion, and also a descendant of the great warrior."

Ar showed his fighting spirit.

"The battles we start, we must finish."

"Yes. Magnificent. However…"

"…"

"Could you not associate me with that damned coward?"

Azonia's atmosphere turned cold as he smiled sweetly.

"Because it's annoying."

"What…?"

"If you insist on fighting, I will face you with all my sincerity."

Hwaak-!

Azonia's fist reached Ar's nose without warning.

At that moment-!

Kuwung-!

A palm that shot out from the side blocked Azonia's fist.

The sand on the ground instantly shot into the sky.

The power in Azonia's fist flowed into the ground.

Azonia looked at the one who blocked his fist.

Then, retracting his fist, Azonia took off his hood.

Brown hair cascaded down.

With golden eyes fixed in his gaze, Azonia bowed respectfully.

"It is an infinite honor to meet you. Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning. I am Azonia, a descendant of the brave, though lacking."

"Nice to meet you. But…"

Leo's red eyes turned to Ar.

"This seems a bit harsh for a test?"

"I was curious about the capabilities of my juniors, and it seems I may have overdone it."

Watching Azonia with a dazzling smile, covering his mouth, Leo said.

"Ar is particularly in bad shape?"

"In a way, as he's my direct junior, I think I put more effort into it."

Leo, staring intently at Azonia at his answer, let out a snort.

"It's not because you dislike him and were bullying him, is it?"

In a voice so low it could only be heard by Azonia and Ar.

Ar showed a slightly bewildered expression at Leo's words.

"What are you talking about…?"

But Azonia simply looked at Leo without answering.

"You can't blame Arion's world for not being able to conquer it, and bully your junior who did conquer Arion's world."

"What? What did the black rabbit just say…?"

Ar looked dumbfounded.

Azonia remained smiling.

"As expected, Kyle-nim, you are sharp. But."

"…"

"I don't remember you being the type to care for others so kindly."

At those words, Leo chuckled.

"My personality changes when I die."