Book 1 Chapter 927
927.
Chen Xia, carrying the unconscious Perena on her back, looked at Damian's back as he walked silently.
‘Would Senior Elena be like that when she grows up?’
Damian and Elena were different in race and gender.
But they shared the commonality of possessing beautiful looks that would make any beholder lose their mind.
‘Their personalities seem different, though.’
If Damian had a benevolent personality, Elena was a bit prickly.
Chen Xia, looking at Damian with a curious expression, asked.
“Lord Damian. What kind of person is Lord Azonia?”
“Azonia…”
Damian’s beautiful face furrowed slightly.
“She’s just a fighting dog who lives as she pleases.”
Damian let out a deep sigh.
“She loves fighting, loves alcohol, loves men. Ugh, seriously.”
Chen Xia spoke, watching Damian scratch his head as if the mere thought gave him a headache.
“She’s recorded as a very courageous great warrior… That’s quite unexpected.”
“She is brave. She turned around several impossible fights because of her. That’s why she’s called Lord Arion’s successor. Well, the problem is that she can’t even hold a candle to Lord Arion in terms of personality.”
“Pfft.”
“Why are you laughing?”
Damian looked puzzled when Chen Xia burst into laughter without realizing it.
“No. Your gossiping about a colleague reminds me of Young Master Leo… It’s like Lord Kyle.”
“Like me?”
“Yes. Young Master Leo often gossips about other great heroes too.”
At that, Damian smiled and nodded.
“Indeed, they were very close in the world of heroes. It really felt like family.”
“The Heroes of the Genesis don’t seem much different.”
“I don’t want to be tied to them as family. Except for Lumen.”
“Why is only Lord Lumen an exception?”
“Because only Lumen and I were normal.”
Damian’s face became serious.
“The other three… Especially Seirun and that Azonia… Ugh. Let’s not talk about it. Just don’t.”
“Lord Seirun and Lord Azonia must have been very close?”
“They were close. Usually, if personalities are opposite, they should have a bad relationship.”
Damian clicked his tongue.
“If you compare them to you guys, Azonia was like a delinquent student who rebelled constantly, and Seirun was like an honor student who always followed the rules.”
“Yes. Yes.”
“But they got along incredibly well. Is it because, even though their personalities were different, they both had eccentric temperaments?”
Chen Xia giggled, watching Damian grumble with a confused expression.
‘He’s a very kind person.’
She could feel him speaking lightly to make her feel at ease, considering her nervousness.
A warm glow lingered in Damian’s eyes as he looked at Chen Xia.
Chen Xia cautiously asked Damian.
“By the way, Lord Damian.”
“Why?”
“The way you’re recorded in history and…”
Damian chuckled, understanding the intent of the question.
“My appearance is different?”
At that, Chen Xia subtly looked around.
Her curiosity led her to ask, but she also thought it might be an impertinent question.
“That is…”
Just as Damian was about to answer.
Flash—!
With a bright light, Melina appeared before their eyes.
Melina’s closed eyes slowly opened.
Soon, Melina bowed politely towards Damian.
“I greet the Indomitable Lord Damian. I am Melina, the Dragon Lord of the current era.”
“You’re the Dragon Lord I saw back then.”
“Yes.”
Melina offered a wry smile.
Melina hadn't been able to get a good look at Damian when she was attacking the world of Genesis.
But Damian remembered Melina clearly.
“It’s good to see you again.”
“I am only sorry to meet you outside the world of Genesis.”
“Don’t think like that.”
Damian approached Melina, patted her shoulder, and said.
“This is the first time I’ve reunited with descendants who came to conquer our world. And I can tell by your eyes.”
Damian smiled softly.
“That you never gave up since then.”
“…”
It was true.
Melina had been called the Silent Dragon, living in seclusion for a long time, but she had never given up.
Even in her silence, Melina dedicated her life to conquering the world of Genesis.
“So? Did Lord Kyle meet that Azonia fellow?”
“Yes. Lord Azonia has calmed down and, following Lord Leo’s command, came out to meet you.”
“Alright. Shall we move then?”
“I will escort you. Miss Chen Xia, please come here too.”
“Ah, yes.”
Chen Xia quickly stood beside Melina.
Melina used warp magic to move to the campsite.
***
In the middle of the ruined campsite.
Those who had confronted Azonia were being treated by Leo.
Even as the campsite was half-destroyed, the injured were brought one by one into Leo's surprisingly intact tent for treatment.
“Is your arm okay?”
“Yes, yes. Lord Leo. I think it’s healing faster because Lord Leo bandaged it for me!”
“It’s not because I bandaged it that it heals faster. It’s because it’s a special bandage made by Cal. They say it’s specifically for contusions.”
“Ah! Th-that’s what it was.”
Eiran was startled and gave an awkward laugh.
Then she fidgeted with her fingers and looked at Azonia, who was sitting silently in a corner of the tent.
Eiran, whose eyes met Azonia’s, was startled and averted her gaze.
Azonia gave a wry smile, looking at Eiran.
“I’m sorry, your name was Eiran, right? You guys were so much better than I expected that I unintentionally put in too much power.”
For the belligerent Azonia, the powerful potential shown by the future hero candidates, which exceeded her imagination, inevitably ignited a strong competitive spirit within her.
“I did say things like ‘I’ll break you,’ but I didn’t mean it. My mouth is a bit rough, you see.”
“Oh, no.”
Eiran was surprised and waved her hands.
“Rather, I’m honored to be acknowledged by Lord Azonia.”
Eiran’s eyes sparkled.
As someone who loved hero tales, Eiran couldn’t help but feel her heart race at the sight of another legend standing before her.
Though she had been scared by the terrifying sight just moments before, her respect for Azonia far outweighed her fear.
Azonia admired Eiran internally.
‘My appearance must have been terrifying. She’s spirited. Is she truly one of the children chosen by Lord Kyle?’
She had no intention of breaking her juniors, but she also had no intention of going easy on them.
Azonia was curious.
The potential of the hero candidates who lived in the same era as Kyle, who saved the world, and were chosen by him.
‘Erebus is getting stronger and stronger.’
The world of Genesis has been repeating for a near-eternal time.
And the repetition of the world of Genesis meant that Erebus’s power also remained in that time loop forever.
However, recently, Erebus had been breaking that rule.
Beyond creating countless variables in battles, he had started getting exponentially stronger with each cycle from a certain point.
‘I can still endure it for now…’
The speed at which he was getting stronger was unusual, so Azonia couldn't help but feel impatient.
But that impatience was somewhat relieved upon confirming the potential of the children, who could be considered the future.
‘…That guy Ar is a proper one too.’
Azonia's tail wagged slightly, recalling the white cat.
Eiran looked at Azonia and asked.
“But wasn’t Lord Azonia a wolf beastman?”
Eiran asked with a puzzled expression.
According to records, Azonia was recorded as a wolf beastman.
But seeing her in person, there was something a bit alien about her to be called a wolf beastman.
It was Leo, not Azonia, who answered Eiran’s question.
“She’s a dog beastman.”
“Huh?”
“I said, a dog beastman.”
“Woof.”
At Leo’s words, Azonia playfully made a dog sound.
“B-but the dog beastman tribe disappeared a long time ago… Ah… They disappeared during the Age of Genesis, didn’t they?”
Eiran had an expression of understanding.
“The city where I was born, Ajo, was our dog beastman city. But during the return of the calamity, it was attacked an unusually large number of times and was destroyed.”
“Ah…”
Eiran looked regretful at Azonia’s explanation.
“It was a shame. It was a good city. The alcohol was delicious, there were many gambling houses, and so many good men.”
“Good… men?”
“Oh my? You look innocent, but are you already interested in men? You’re completely different from Seirun, aren’t you?”
“Huh?”
Eiran, who hadn't quite understood Azonia’s words, looked bewildered.
“Shall I tell you an interesting story?”
“An interesting story?”
“Don’t tell the kid unnecessary stories.”
“Why? They’re old enough to know everything. Your personality has changed a lot, hasn’t it?”
Azonia shrugged as Leo clicked his tongue and spoke.
Then she quickly sat next to Eiran and began to whisper something into Eiran’s ear.
Eiran’s face flushed slightly.
“Ow ow ow!”
Leo grabbed Azonia’s ear.
“I told you not to say unnecessary things, didn’t I?”
“It hurts. It hurts!”
Azonia fretted.
Eiran, watching them, wore a somewhat flustered expression.
“Lord Azonia… treats Lord Leo very intimately? Aren’t you two meeting for the first time?”
At Eiran’s question, Azonia, released from Leo’s grip, rubbed her ear and said.
“Because I entered Lord Kyle’s world many times.”
Azonia gave a wry smile.
“So, for me… no, for us, Lord Kyle and the great heroes are not unfamiliar beings. Rather, they’re close.”
“Ah.”
Eiran wore an expression of understanding.
Leo also noticed that and was treating Azonia casually.
‘She knows my personality and habits too well.’
She was feeling a strange sensation where she didn’t know the other person, but the other person knew her.
“Thank you for accepting my rudeness.”
At Azonia’s words, Leo spoke calmly.
“It’s fine. Your friends, that damn lizard and rotten elf, said impudent things to me like ‘idiot’ and ‘fool’ at our first meeting.”
“…”
Leo smiled faintly.
“You never said anything like that, did you?”
“Of course not. How could I possibly commit such an outrageous act when I respect Lord Kyle so much?”
Azonia smiled calmly, breaking out in a cold sweat.
‘Did they really say that to him in person?’
“Next time I see them, I’ll really pull all their hair out.”
‘Must never get caught.’
Watching the growling Leo, Azonia feigned indifference and idly sipped water from a water bottle.
“If the treatment’s done, let’s get up.”
Then Leo spoke.
In Eiran’s case, fortunately, her injuries were minor, so her treatment was a lower priority.
“Call Lunia.”
After Eiran, it was Lunia’s turn, who had the fewest injuries.
At Leo’s words, Eiran hesitantly spoke.
“Um… Lord Leo. I still have an area that hasn’t been healed.”
“Where?”
“It’s… h-here.”
Eiran flushed slightly and pointed to her chest.
The spot where Azonia had struck her chest was causing considerable pain.
At Eiran’s words, Leo said.
“It seems difficult to treat it like this.”
“Th-then, should I take it off?”
“Pfft!”
At Eiran’s words, Azonia unintentionally spat out the water she was drinking.
And stammered.
“Wh-what a scandalous child… No matter if it’s Lord Kyle, he’s still a man…!”
“Ah, oh…! So I have no choice but to take it off for treatment…”
Eiran was flustered, her face beet red.
“Lord Leo. I’ve brought Lord Damian.”
At that, Leo stood up from his seat.
“Melina. Please help with Eiran’s treatment.”
“Yes.”
Melina entered the tent.
And then bowed to Azonia.
Azonia bowed back to Melina, then followed behind Leo, asking.
“Are all kids these days like that? Even an elf?!”
“That’s a racially discriminatory remark. And why are you so flustered?”
“No. No matter how much the times have changed…”
“What rudeness are you committing against Lord Kyle?”
At Damian’s curt voice, Azonia’s demeanor became composed.
“What?”
“Don’t make Lord Kyle uncomfortable, Azonia.”
“Oh? What did I do?”
“I said, don’t dare to tempt Lord Kyle. Not that he’d fall for your temptation anyway.”
“I never did that? Hmm, but now that you mention it, his past self was definitely more to my taste, but his current appearance is also quite handsome, isn’t it?”
Azonia, who had been flustered by Eiran’s words, now took on a sly attitude, her previous distress gone.
“I know you like men, but I’m telling you to pick your targets.”
“Mind your own business.”
And Damian, looking serious at Azonia.
Leo, looking back and forth between the two, tilted his head.
‘Why is their atmosphere like this?’