Book 1 Chapter 930
“So you don’t know much about the Hero Dungeon entrance either, do you?”
“No. When I came to my senses, I was outside. I didn’t even realize there was an outside world until I met the students.”
Demian answered Leo’s question politely.
Leo then asked,
“Did the Hero Dungeons open separately?”
“No. Only one Hero Dungeon opened.”
“Isn’t it known that the world created by a Hero is an illusion, except for the World Owner?”
“Yes. Usually, that’s the case. However, sometimes the stories of two Heroes are recorded on a single page. In that case, there are two World Owners. Azonia and I are such a case.”
Leo looked surprised at his words.
“There are cases like that?”
“It happens when the connection between Heroes is deep! For example, if they are lovers!”
Azonia smiled brightly, hugged Demian tightly from behind, and lifted him.
Then, Demian frowned and swung his left elbow, striking Azonia’s temple.
*Crack!*
“Gurgle?!”
Azonia made a strange sound and collapsed.
Demian snorted and brushed off his clothes.
Leo tilted his head at the cold reaction.
“I thought you two had a strange relationship. Were you… that kind of couple?”
“What? Leo-nim noticed the subtle nuances of a romantic relationship at first glance?”
Melina covered her mouth with both hands.
When Leo’s gaze fell on her, Melina quickly hid behind Elsi.
At that moment, Demian spoke.
“We’ve just been friends since childhood. As friends, as colleagues, we can entrust our lives to each other, but we are not lovers.”
“That’s too mean. We’ve even shared a bed……”
*Thwack!*
“Gurgle?!”
*Thud!*
Without hesitation, Demian swung his fist and hit Azonia’s jaw.
Watching Azonia collapse, frothing at the mouth, Melina asked with a serious expression,
“Is it okay to hit her like that?”
“Don’t worry. She’s as tough as I am, so she’ll wake up soon.”
Leo chuckled as he looked at Demian, who answered coldly.
“Why? You two look quite good together.”
“I appreciate the compliment, but I have no intention of taking a woman with a promiscuous personal life as a partner.”
“Promiscuous?”
“Azonia is strong and beautiful.”
Demian sighed.
“She showed the qualities of a great warrior from a young age, so many suitors flocked to her. She was also the great chieftain of many beastfolk tribes, so she needed a political successor. Of course, she was sealed with a fragment of Erebus before she could have children.”
At that time, it was not a major issue in beastfolk society for a great leader to have numerous excellent partners for the sake of producing outstanding offspring.
Even if many children were born, power was eventually passed down to the most outstanding one.
Therefore, beastfolk chieftains had countless lovers.
“Did Azonia have many men too?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t like her because her romantic history is colorful?”
“It’s not that I dislike it, precisely.”
Having many children was the culture of the beastfolk race at the time.
“However, I want only one partner. But Azonia is impulsive. Critically…”
“Critically?”
“I thought Azonia needed a pureblood beastfolk successor.”
“I don’t really care if they’re half-blooded!”
Azonia, who had sprung to her feet, hugged Demian tightly with a beaming smile.
“If you don’t like me seeing men, tell them not to! I’ll only look at you for the rest of my life!”
“Hmph.”
Demian smiled coldly.
And this time, he swung his elbow and twisted Azonia’s jaw.
*Thud!*
“You could never give up drinking, gambling, and men.”
Leo, watching Demian smile coldly, glanced at Azonia.
‘For someone who met many men, her reaction seems rather naive?’
Shaking off the fleeting doubt, Leo said,
“Melina.”
“Yes.”
“First, keep searching for the Hero Dungeon entrance.”
“Yes.”
Melina answered politely, bowed to Demian and Azonia, and left to search for the Hero Dungeon.
Azonia opened her mouth a few times, touched her jaw here and there, and then got up from her seat.
“Follow me.”
Leo left the tent.
A moment later.
Ar and Dryadana, sitting by the campfire with Lunia and Eiran, watched Leo approach with Azonia and Demian, their eyes sparkling.
“I’ll introduce them, though you probably already know. This is the great warrior Azonia and the indomitable Demian.”
*Clap, clap, clap, clap!*
Ar and Dryadana applauded enthusiastically at Leo’s introduction.
At their fervor, Lunia and Eiran reluctantly joined in.
Azonia, who had been smiling brightly just moments before, was now expressionless, as if that had never happened.
Conversely, Demian, who had exuded a cold aura, seemed to have softened slightly.
“Dryadana.”
“Why do you call me?”
“From today, you are forbidden to talk about modeling.”
“Ugh?!”
Dryadana flinched at Leo’s words.
Then, she clenched her fists fiercely and said,
“Yes, art does not yield to oppression!”
Leo smiled at her words.
Seeing that smile, Dryadana cringed.
“Ah, I won’t do it.”
Her original speech, not the Dweno dialect she consciously used, burst out.
She felt such strong pressure from Leo’s smile.
Having quelled Dryadana’s small rebellion, Leo introduced the four to Azonia and Demian.
“This elf is Lunia El Runda. Her epithet is [One Who Chases Nebulas].”
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Lunia.”
“This cat beastfolk is Ar Tune. His epithet is [One Who Inherits the Will of the Brave].”
“I am Ar Tune!”
“This dwarf is Dryadana. She doesn’t have an epithet yet, but she is the successor of Dweno.”
“I am Dryadana.”
“This elf is Eiran Ersar. She is a descendant of Berkia, my disciple.”
After Leo’s introduction, Azonia asked Dryadana,
“Has Demian’s junior not yet registered their name in the Hero Records?”
“No. I am not yet a hero because I am lacking.”
“Ho?”
Azonia curled the corners of her lips and looked down at Demian.
She felt inexplicably pleased that her junior, Ar, had surpassed him.
Of course, Demian didn’t seem to care at all.
“By the way, Demian-nim, your appearance is different from what we know?”
At that moment, Eiran asked cautiously.
Demian answered calmly,
“My publicly known appearance belongs to my shadow.”
“Ah, so if we don’t look at the Hero Records, we can’t know your true face?”
“No, my true appearance is not recorded in the Hero Records either.”
“What?”
“I made a deal with the manager of the Hero Records.”
“……”
At his words, Leo recalled the Demian that Rian had realized previously.
‘Come to think of it, he looked like the portrait back then too.’
Although he felt a doubt towards Demian for handing over his achievements to his shadow, Leo didn’t press for reasons.
“As you probably guessed, a Hero Dungeon has opened somewhere in the Azonia Desert, and Melina is currently looking for the entrance.”
“Is the situation serious?”
Lunia asked worriedly, and Leo said,
“Since there were no signs beforehand… it shouldn’t be urgent right now.”
If a fragment of Erebus were trying to cross over, there would have been signs.
“Still, if it becomes known that the heroes of the Great Opening are in reality, there will be great chaos. Please keep this a secret. I will tell Sia and Elena separately.”
At his words, the four nodded.
“And this is also an opportunity.”
“Opportunity?”
“Yes. It means you now have teachers who can teach you about the Great Heroes, other than me.”
At his words, Ar and Dryadana looked at the founders of the school they attended.
“Azonia, Demian. Teach these children what you know.”
“Understood, Leo-nim.”
Demian nodded immediately.
“I look forward to your guidance, Demian-nim.”
Dryadana smiled shyly.
Azonia crossed her arms and looked at Ar, who had come in front of her.
Watching the scene, Lunia felt a strange sensation.
‘Eiran said Azonia-nim is a dog beastfolk, right?’
A now-extinct beastfolk race.
It was similar to wolf beastfolk, yet subtly different.
‘So that’s why you said you dislike cat beastfolk.’
Dogs and cats don’t get along.
Just as there are beastfolk who dislike each other, Azonia’s words made sense.
‘But… that’s completely the opposite.’
Ar’s eyes were sparkling, and his tail was wagging vigorously like a dog’s.
‘Anyone would think he’s the dog.’
Conversely, Azonia had an indifferent expression, and even her tail was swaying slowly and irritably.
It was the behavior of a cat when displeased.
It was as if their species had been swapped.
“I am Ar Tune! Azonia-nim! I respect you!”
“Mm. Yes.”
Azonia picked up a nearby stick and threw it far away.
“Want to fetch it?”
“Yes!”
Ar quickly ran off.
“Does she really think she’s a dog?”
Lunia said with an incredulous expression.
But at the same time, she envied it.
Learning from the heroes of the Great Opening, no matter what, was something to be envied.
At that moment, Leo said,
“Lunia, Eiran. You two should learn from Azonia too.”
“Huh? Us too?”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
Azonia answered in his place.
Leo spoke, seeing Azonia’s beaming smile.
“Eiran will have much to learn from Azonia regarding super senses. Lunia can learn about summoning.”
“Summoning?”
Lunia made a puzzled expression, and Leo glanced at Azonia.
“Yes. In spirit arts, Azonia far surpasses Seirun.”
At that, Lunia looked surprised.
It was well-known that great warriors also mastered spirit arts, but the fact that she surpassed Seirun was not known.
However, Leo would not lie.
“Um, Leo-nim, but how will the examinations be supervised?”
At that moment, Eiran asked cautiously.
Leo said,
“Of course, they will be. The learning will take place at Leisart.”
At Leo’s words, Azonia’s eyes lit up.
“What will the future students of our school be like? Demian, aren’t you curious?”
“Not particularly.”
Demian answered curtly.
At that moment.
“Azonia-nim! I brought it!”
Ar triumphantly brought the stick that Azonia had thrown.
Azonia took the stick and threw it again.
“Bring it back.”
*Whoosh!*
“It’s physical training!”
Ar ran off again, smiling positively.
“…Don’t tell me all our children are as foolish as her?”
Azonia asked with a serious expression, and Eiran shook her head.
“They are very courageous and wonderful people.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
Azonia smiled faintly.
Lunia covered her face and muttered, looking at Ar who had gone to pick up the stick,
“That foolish cat…”
Then she approached Leo and whispered,
“Leo, will it be okay? Azonia-nim… she seems to look down on Ar quite a bit?”
“Is that so? From my perspective, she seems to be quite fond of him?”
“What?”
“Rather, I’m worried about the other way around.”
Leo glanced at Demian and Dryadana.
Dryadana was enthusiastically asking Demian questions, and Demian was answering with a smile.
‘It doesn’t seem like a big problem?’
Lunia tilted her head, a puzzled expression on her face.
***
*Whoosh-!*
A dry wind blew.
A gray, ashen sky.
In the middle of ruins with small graves, a gaunt middle-aged wolf beastfolk was drinking.
*Gulp, gulp-*
The man, who was draining alcohol from the bottle, looked up at the sky with dull eyes.
“The world will probably be destroyed soon.”
A desperate situation.
However, there was no hint of anxiety on his face.
Instead, it was filled with cynical ridicule.
“This kind of world, it might as well be destroyed.”