Book 1 Chapter 931
931.
Perena opened her eyes.
“This is…?”
As Perena, with a puzzled expression, raised her body, she clutched her head.
“Ugh…”
The slight headache she felt in her head made her mind hazy.
‘I definitely lost consciousness in the desert… and was helped by student Damian, wasn’t I?’
Recalling her memories from before losing consciousness, Perena made a serious expression.
‘After that, Senior Leo and Senior Sia came… and after that….’
As the memories didn't come easily, Perena tilted her head.
*Slam—*
The door opened while Perena was deep in thought.
“You’ve opened your eyes, Adventurer.”
“Senior Celia?”
“You were collapsed at the city entrance, so I was worried.”
Celia, smiling faintly, was dressed in a nurse's uniform.
Seeing Celia like that, Perena made a bewildered expression.
“Why are you speaking to me formally…? No, why are you wearing such an outfit in the first place?”
Seeing Perena with a bewildered expression, Celia handed her the booklet she was holding.
“<Rule Book>?”
Perena opened the booklet and read its contents.
“Welcome to the virtual space, Leysar. You have arrived here, in Leysar, as an adventurer. Conquer the hidden Shadow Worlds throughout Leysar. Points will be awarded based on your conquest, and the adventurer with the highest score wins. Pay attention to the words of the residents. You can get many hints?”
An absurd look appeared on Perena's face.
“Is this some kind of game?”
“I’m not sure what you mean, Adventurer. I am merely a resident of Leysar.”
“Ah…”
Listening to Celia, Perena nodded.
‘I see. Is it a kind of hero's world?’
Although it took the form of a game, she felt that this was also part of the larger framework of the test.
Just then, the door burst open again, and someone entered.
He, dragging his slippers, wearing shabby top and shorts, was dressed in a doctor's gown.
“You’ve finally arrived for work, Dr. Abard.”
“Yes, has the patient woken up? Celia?”
“Yes.”
“Oh-ho?”
Abard approached the bed where Perena was with a swaggering gait.
“A cute young lady. Miss, do you have a girlfriend?”
Abard, stroking his chin, asked with a somewhat sly smile.
It was a smile that could appear creepy, but combined with his face, which naturally elicited admiration, even that smile felt charming.
“No.”
“If not, why don’t you date me?”
Abard reached out and gently touched Perena’s chin with his fingertips, making her look up at him.
“Doctor. Please refrain from rude behavior towards patients.”
“Hoo-hoo, are you jealous, Celia?”
“Of course not.”
“Why don’t you be honest?”
Abard took his hand off Perena, wrapped his arm around Celia’s waist, and pulled her close to him.
*Clench—!*
*Gooooooo—*
Just then, an unusual sound came from Celia's mouth, and a fiery aura began to flicker from her clenched fist.
“Celia. I’m just following the script. In the script, I’m a doctor who flirts with this woman and that woman.”
“Even so, keep it in moderation. And you and I are not in any relationship yet. Don’t touch me casually.”
At Celia's words, Abard withdrew his hand.
And he approached Perena.
“Then, young lady. Shall we leave this bad-tempered nurse alone and play a game of doctor with me?”
“Senior Abard… no, Doctor.”
“Why?”
“Behind you.”
“Huh?”
Abard looked back.
And, seeing Celia holding a chair next to the bed with one hand behind him, he said.
“I was just following the script….”
“Punishing a lecherous doctor who flirts with patients is also a nurse’s job, isn’t it?”
As Celia smiled sweetly and moved, Abard opened the window and fled outside.
Celia put down the chair and smiled faintly at Perena.
“Adventurer. How about visiting the Adventurer's Guild in the center of this city? It will surely be helpful.”
“Ah, yes. But the hospital fees…?”
“The person who brought you to the hospital has already paid.”
She nodded at the answer.
And then, preparing to leave, she spoke.
“By the way.”
“Yes.”
“You two really looked like newlyweds.”
At Perena’s words, Celia said with an expressionless face.
“Let me make this clear. It’s true that that butter and I have feelings for each other, but we’re not in any relationship yet.”
At her words, Perena nodded.
“Anyway, you should hurry up and conquer the Shadow Worlds too. You’re quite late already.”
***
A week had passed since the first-years arrived in Leysar.
Kirin, the Beastman Shadow Lord who ran a gambling den in Leysar, held a pipe in his mouth and inhaled deeply the cigarette smoke.
“Hoo-up—”
Kirin, who awakened his body with a puff of tobacco, exhaled deeply.
“Hwoo. So? Is the first-years’ conquest of the Shadow Worlds progressing well?”
“It’s going smoothly.”
Anyas, the successor to the Northern Shadow Lord, said while looking at documents.
“Many excellent students from among the Shadow cadets we raised were admitted this time. I think that has been a great help.”
At Anyas’s words, Kirin nodded.
Then he burst out laughing.
“Remarkable.”
“What is?”
“I never imagined a day would come when Shadow cadets would become Hero cadets.”
“Because the King of Beginnings does not distinguish between heroes and shadows.”
“Hmm. I’ve certainly been feeling his grace lately.”
Kirin nodded.
“Don’t you agree? Person?”
At Kirin’s question, the dwarf sitting silently in a corner of the room glanced at Kirin.
Bushy beard and piercing eyes.
Small but solid forearms full of muscle.
He, who was clearly a typical dwarf to anyone, quietly clicked his tongue.
Seeing him, Kirin made an annoyed expression.
“What are you complaining about now? You, with nothing but complaints about this society.”
“I, too, feel the boundless grace that the King of Beginnings has bestowed upon us. I was moved by his favor.”
“And?”
“But I question whether it is right for heroes and shadows to be treated as equals.”
At Person’s words, Anyas’s eyes widened, and Kirin scratched his head with an expression that said, ‘This guy, he’s doing it again.’
“Do you think heroes and shadows should be distinguished, Lord Person?”
When Anyas asked carefully, Person nodded.
“Indeed.”
“But Lord Leo clearly said that heroes and shadows are the same.”
“On that matter, I believe the God of Shadows is mistaken.”
“How dare you.”
At Person's words, a chilling murderous intent gleamed in Anyas’s eyes.
Ice-cold magic swirled.
In response to Anyas, Person also showed a fierce smile.
*Gooooo—!*
Heat instantly surged around him.
“Though you effectively lead the Elf Shadows, you are still but a greenhorn.”
Person said, looking at Anyas as if warning him.
“And haven’t you been taught to distinguish between opponents you can challenge and those you cannot? Isn’t that fundamental as a Shadow? Or are you mistaken that you’ve become a hero just because the God of Shadows said heroes and shadows are the same?”
At Person's taunt, Anyas’s momentum grew even fiercer.
To the people of the world, Leo was a chosen hero who opened a new future, the Hero of Beginnings, and Kyle’s successor.
Thus, it was true that his influence was immense.
But it was not yet absolute.
There were various races in the world.
Within those races, there were also various factions.
To that extent, many interests were intertwined in the world.
On the surface, Leo, who succeeded the King of Wisdom to become the King of the World, appeared to lead the world.
However, internally, it was not perfectly unified.
As the King of Beginnings, he had only just begun, so it couldn't be helped.
But to the Shadows, Leo was the one who found the Book of Shadows and saved them.
And as the successor to Kyle, the primordial Shadow, he was like a god who understood the Shadows.
Therefore, Leo’s words were absolute to the Shadows.
In such a situation, Person had said that Leo was mistaken.
“A word of advice. Blindly following orders is not always true loyalty.”
Of course, he had not rebelled against Leo.
Person had never met Leo.
But if Leo were to command it, he could invade Tartaros alone immediately.
Kirin also knew that fact.
That was why he didn't react as sharply as Anyas.
‘Anyas. He looks like he’s ready to charge blindly. What should I do?’
It was then that Kirin bobbed the pipe in his mouth up and down.
*Knock-knock—Slam—*
With a knock, the door opened and Chen Xia entered.
“Hello, Lords. Have you all been well?”
As Chen Xia entered, Anyas and Person withdrew their power as if nothing had happened.
*Thud—*
Kirin tapped the ash from his pipe into an ashtray, then rose from his seat.
“The Princess has arrived. Or rather, should I address you as Your Majesty now?”
Inheriting the throne of Shan also meant becoming the Shadow King.
Unlike the politically complex position of Emperor, the position of Shadow King was directly inherited.
Kirin, smiling gently, rose and led Chen Xia to the seat of honor.
As Chen Xia sat down, Person approached and offered a gentle smile.
“Princess. Seeing you grown so much and inheriting the Shadow Kingship, this Person is exceedingly joyful.”
To the Shadow Lords, the Emperor of Shan was not the Emperor of an empire, but the King of Shadows.
Of course, the Shadow Lords did not pledge loyalty to the Shadow King.
However, the Shadow King had supported all Shadows since ancient times.
The fact that the Shadow Lords had established powerful forces within their races was all thanks to Shan's support.
Therefore, the Lords honored the King as a leader.
“I also congratulate you on having your name recorded in the Hero Records and ascending to the position of a Hero.”
“I’m worried if I inherited it too early.”
At Chen Xia’s words, Person shook his head.
“Lady Sia is fully qualified.”
Not only Person, but also Kirin and Anyas had watched Chen Xia since she was young.
Thus, they knew her qualities better than anyone else.
At Person’s confident words, Chen Xia smiled faintly.
“Thank you for saying that, Person. But what were you talking about?”
Chen Xia asked with a puzzled expression.
At her question, Kirin sighed deeply and explained the situation.
“Hmm… that’s a difficult problem.”
Mumbling so, Chen Xia clapped her hands.
“Ah, should we ask Young Master Leo?”
Chen Xia said, looking at Person.
“Lord Person’s words that Shadows are necessary and should not be equated with Heroes. I don’t think he’s wrong either. But I also agree with Lord Anyas’s words. Young Master Leo clearly said that heroes and shadows are the same.”
At her words, Person nodded.
“So, we should ask Young Master Leo what he thinks about Lord Person’s view. Young Master Leo will surely give us an answer.”
“Would it be alright to bother him with such a minor issue?”
At Person’s question, Chen Xia smiled faintly.
“Young Master Leo would kindly inform us.”
***
“So. Among the Shadow Lords, there are those who wish for Shadows and Heroes to be equated, and there are those who oppose it, leading to a dispute?”
“Yes. It seems the opinions are divided not only among the Shadow Lords. From what the Lords say, it seems opinions are divided even among the Shadows they lead.”
“Is it the same within Shan?”
“Yes.”
Recalling Perena, who had previously denied being a Hero cadet herself, Chen Xia spoke.
“Wouldn’t it be good if Young Master Leo decided it clearly?”
At her question, Leo said indifferently.
“You. You said you’re an adult now, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then find out for yourself.”
“What?”
Chen Xia showed a slightly bewildered expression.
“You’re not a child anymore, so you have to figure it out yourself.”
Leo, answering disinterestedly, waved his hand dismissively.
“You can go now. A low-ranking assassin guild member casually meeting the city mayor goes against the setting.”
“What? But Young Master Leo. This is a big problem that could divide the Shadows. If Young Master Leo, the primordial Shadow, could clearly state…!”
Seeing Chen Xia speaking in a fluster, Leo shook the bell on his desk.
“Yes! Your Honor the Mayor’s loyal secretary! Illiana has arrived!”
The door burst open and Illiana appeared.
She had, at some point, been promoted from a low-ranking civil servant to the mayor’s secretary.
“The guest is leaving.”
“Yep. Come out quickly.”
“Miss Illiana. Just a moment.”
“Oh-ho! How dare you, when His Honor the Mayor is conducting official business!”
Illiana, with eyes blazing, dragged Chen Xia out.
It seemed she was extremely satisfied with her role.
Illiana, having chased Chen Xia away, entered the room with a beaming smile.
“Your Honor the Mayor. Do you have any more tasks for me?”
“…You look happy?”
“Hmph. How could I not be happy when I have the Head’s backing? I’m practically the second-in-command in this city right now. The second-in-command.”
Seeing Illiana with a proud expression, Leo let out a hollow laugh.
And he silently gazed out the window.
Seeing Leo like that, Illiana made a puzzled expression.
“But, Head. What have you been thinking about since earlier? When you’re alone, you seem to keep staring out the window.”
“Just. Old memories came to mind.”
“It must have been something bad.”
“Does it show?”
Leo stroked his face, as if a little surprised.
Leo was accustomed to hiding his emotions.
But Illiana had read Leo’s mood.
“Hmm. Because your face looked a little scary, Head.”
Illiana recoiled her neck.
“I must have worried you.”
“No. It’s okay. If you need anything, call me! I’ll help you!”
Leaving those words, Illiana left the room.
Left alone, Leo leaned back in his chair.
Looking at the familiar city landscape, an event came to mind that he wished to forget.
‘The Fall of Leysar.’
A terrible memory of countless people massacred.
And Arion’s master, a figure like a father to him.
It was the event where Agon lost his life.