Book 1 Chapter 933
933.
Hero Hunters watched Ar, the hero who appeared from behind, with wary expressions.
‘When did he…?’
Ar, the one who carries on the will of the Brave.
A hero candidate who, at the time of his admission to Azonia, suddenly began to conquer the world of the Brave.
Because of that, he had been a person of interest among Hero Hunters since his admission.
Indeed, Ar achieved tremendous growth in a short period.
He didn't just grow.
As the rightful successor to Brave Arion, he even succeeded in inheriting the Brave's power.
He truly became a hero destined to lead the future of the Beastkin.
‘If we leave him be, he will surely grow to be like Great Warrior Azonia, who was called the reincarnation of the past Brave.’
The leader of the Hero Hunters clenched and unclenched his fists, watching Ar, who was exuding a menacing aura and sporting a ferocious smile.
‘But for now, he is still a hero whose growth is not yet complete.’
A foul smile formed on the Hero Hunters’ lips.
Ar’s eyes narrowed.
‘They’re laughing even after their comrade’s head exploded?’
Ar, who was feeling an inexplicable uneasiness, twitched his ears.
At the same time, Ar kicked the Hero Hunter he had defeated.
*Crack!*
The corpse's body floated up.
Along with it, the scattered flesh and bones of the head seemed to be sucked back, returning to their original places.
*Thud!*
“Hehehe.”
Ar crossed his arms, watching the revived Hero Hunter land back in his spot.
‘Regeneration? No, it’s a curse.’
[Nullify] Curse.
It’s a curse that makes an attack as if it never happened.
Ar tilted his head slightly as the Hero Hunters used a curse employed by the highest-ranking demons.
‘And they seem to be undead. Are they mixed with demons? Or were they cursed by demons?’
He felt suspicious for a moment but soon didn’t care.
The Nullify Curse is a very powerful curse.
Moreover, if they are undead, they are already dead and will revive countless times.
They are a threatening enemy, but it doesn't matter.
Ar moved his body, thinking very much like Ar.
‘Do I need to think complicatedly? I just have to beat them until they die!’
*Whoosh—!*
Ar took a step.
Ar, who had vanished as if extinguishing for a moment, reappeared in front of the Hero Hunter at the front.
At some point, Ar had already transformed into his beast form.
*Crackle!*
“…!”
Ar’s claws, like a beast’s talons, scraped the Hero Hunter’s arm.
Blood and flesh splattered, and the Hero Hunter’s eyes widened.
‘What power is this…!’
“He’s alone! And even if he’s a hero, he’s still just a rookie! Form ranks and pressure him!”
As the leader’s command fell, the Hero Hunters began to move in perfect order.
At the same time, changes occurred in their bodies as well.
“Do you think beast transformation is your privilege?”
The leader, who was leading the Hero Hunters, said with a foul smile.
Ar silently watched the Hero Hunters.
Hero Hunters undergoing beast transformation.
Ar had known for a long time that there were those who had obtained beast transformation abilities by using fragments of Brave, Arion’s sword, acquired from the hero’s world.
Therefore, he didn't show much agitation even when they transformed.
However.
‘Insulting Lord Arion is a different matter.’
Ar smiled chillingly.
*Groooooowl!*
The aura emanating from Ar’s body intensified.
*Scratch—! Scratch—! Scr-Scr-Scratch—!*
Scratch marks similar to claw marks began to appear on the sandy ground, centered around Ar.
“Ranks? Form them all you want. Anyway.”
The Hero Hunters’ faces hardened.
“You’ll be powerless before overwhelming strength.”
‘What is this?’
The atmosphere was different from a moment ago.
‘This monster?’
*Thump—!*
With that thought, his vision went black.
***
“Wow. He’s completely different from last year.”
Kirin, the Beastkin Shadow Lord, clicked his tongue, watching Ar slaughtering the Hero Hunters from afar.
“I never imagined he would grow this much.”
An impressed Kirin glanced sideways.
“I’m embarrassed that I said we should help.”
Kirin murmured to himself, looking at Ar’s appearance.
‘He’s like the embodiment of violence.’
A ferocious beast.
Kirin felt goosebumps at the sight, which was both terrifying and beautiful.
Soon, the last Hero Hunter fell.
Standing amidst the corpses, Ar flicked his tongue across his fingertips.
Ar's gaze then turned towards Leo and Kirin.
Ar, whose senses were sharpened by hyper-senses, ghost-like perceived someone looking at him.
Ar ran towards Leo and Kirin in a single bound.
“Long time no see, Ar Tune.”
“Hello.”
Ar greeted Kirin.
They had met before when Ar was indebted to Kirin’s underground casino.
Kirin barely managed to hold back a gasp of admiration at Ar’s appearance up close.
Ar in his beast form exuded the dignity of a seasoned hero.
His wild and charismatic presence truly made one realize he was the successor to the Brave.
“Black Rabbit! How was it?! How was it?! My beast transformation and hyper-senses are perfect now, right?!”
Kirin felt deflated, seeing Ar, whose previous majesty had completely vanished, replaced by an appearance like a housecat.
“It was excellent.”
“Heehee! If you think I did well, stroke my head.”
Ar, crossing his arms and looking smug, closed his eyes and pushed his face into Leo's chest.
*Pat-pat*
Leo stroked Ar’s head as Ar rubbed the top of his head against Leo’s chest.
Then Ar rubbed his head and face against Leo’s hand.
Making even purring sounds, he was truly a cat.
It was a side effect of being more faithful to his instincts due to the influence of beast transformation.
Ar, who had been enjoying Leo’s touch, as if pleased, then *Whack!* pushed Leo’s hand away.
“It’s too comfortable. So I hate it now.”
Ar turned away, acting with an incomprehensible cat’s capriciousness.
Yet, he extended his tail and wrapped it around Leo’s wrist.
Watching him, Leo said.
“Don’t get too overconfident. They were just small fry.”
“Yeah. I know. But Black Rabbit. What brings you here?”
“I came because I received a report that Hero Hunters had infiltrated.”
Saying so, Leo looked at Kirin.
Kirin smiled faintly, bowed politely, and then left.
“By the way, what brings you all the way here?”
At Leo’s question, Ar released his beast transformation.
His tail was still wrapped around Leo’s wrist.
“I was doing special training!”
“Special training?”
Leo tilted his head, watching Ar snort *Hmph—!* and then pulled Ar’s tail, which was wrapped around his wrist.
“Why are you suddenly pulling my taaaail?!”
“Who told you to wrap it around someone else’s wrist?”
“Treat it carefully! Carefully!”
Ar irritably snatched his tail away from Leo’s hand.
Watching Ar's sulky expression, Leo asked.
“So? What kind of training were you doing?”
“Stamina training!”
“Huh?”
“Lord Azonia said the secret to his strong physique was running in the desert!”
Leo sighed softly, watching Ar clench his fists and his eyes sparkle.
‘He must have just said it offhand because Ar was whining about wanting special training. And this idiot believed it word for word.’
“Heehee! Lord Azonia was right. I can even rack up plenty of combat experience this way.”
Leo burst out laughing, seeing Ar genuinely happy.
“Is he an idiot, or just naive?”
“What?!”
“So, are you going to run more?”
“Of course!”
There was no reason to stop him if he liked it.
Ar waved to Leo, then kicked up sand dust and ran off.
Smiling faintly at the sight, Leo headed to where Ar and the Hero Hunters had fought.
Kirin, who had gone ahead a little earlier, was just finishing his investigation.
Kirin, who had handed over what appeared to be the Hero Hunter leader to his subordinates, said.
“There’s one survivor. It was the one who seemed to be the boss.”
It seemed Ar had left him alive to gather information.
“If they came here, it’s highly likely because of the hero dungeon.”
“That would be it. I will tell you more after interrogating him.”
“Good work.”
“Yes.”
Kirin, who had been bowing respectfully, hesitated and looked at Leo.
“Why?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll be going now.”
Leaving those words, Kirin disappeared.
Left alone, Leo glanced at the moon in the night sky, then murmured to himself, looking at his own shadow cast by the moonlight.
‘Was he trying to ask what Shia asked a while ago?’
But Leo did not give an answer.
No.
‘To be precise, the truth is that I don’t know the answer either.’
Leo believed that heroes and shadows were not different.
‘Because for me, anyone who dedicates themselves to the world is a hero.’
That’s why, in Leo’s eyes, heroes and shadows were not different.
‘But that’s only my standard, after all.’
Even if it wasn't intentional, it was Leo who caused shadows to hide in the dark side.
That’s why Leo wanted to give light back to the shadows.
But among the shadows, there were also those who rejected the light and wished to remain in the darkness.
Leo looked up at the moon.
‘All I can do is show them that there is a path.’
The choice was up to each individual.
***
“Oh my, now that I look closely, you really are like a doll.”
“I… I…”
“Look at his smooth skin?”
“Th-That is…”
“Why? Do I look like I’m going to eat you up, big sister?”
Azonia chuckled, poking Luke’s cheek as he sat next to her.
“Lu-Luke-ssi, I’m sorry.”
Leah apologized to Luke with a tearful face.
Leah had eventually asked Luke to vouch for her and borrowed money from Azonia.
And lost it all.
Azonia, judging that her ability to repay had disappeared, had taken Luke and made him her errand boy.
“C-Can I… Can I leave now?”
“Ehehehe. No. You can’t.”
“P-Please save me!”
Azonia hugged Luke around the waist and lifted him.
Luke screamed, but Azonia wouldn't let go.
“Just bear with it a little! I’ll win double back soon and free Luke-ssi!”
“Don’t gamble anymore! Please!”
Luke screamed at Leah’s words.
Watching them, Runia pressed her temples.
“That idiot…”
Azonia, laughing heartily at the sight, whispered into Luke’s ear.
“Luke. Could you order a bottle of wine from the bartender?”
At her words, Luke hunched his neck and went to place the order.
Leah followed Luke around, apologizing.
“That’s a Tingel family member, isn’t it?”
“You recognize him?”
“I can tell by the smell. He smells similar to Seirun. By the way, he’s just as bad at gambling as Seirun.”
Azonia giggled, and Eiran’s eyes widened.
“Lord Seirun was also bad at gambling?”
“Yeah. Terribly bad. No, elves themselves are terribly bad at gambling.”
Azonia looked at Runia and Eiran.
“I even once gambled away his underwear, you know?”
Azonia said, laughing heartily as she slammed her hand on the table.
“Well. Actually, it’s not Seirun’s problem, but elves in general have a sucky side.”
At her words, Runia made a resentful expression.
“Isn’t that just because Lord Seirun was bad at it?”
“No. It’s not. Elves are suckers at the gambling table, alright.”
Saying so, Azonia smiled brightly and looked at Runia.
“If you think I’m wrong, want to make a bet with me?”
“Alright.”
“Ru-Runia-yang.”
Just as Eiran was trying to hold Runia back in a panic.
Duran and Abad entered the gambling hall.
He looked around the gambling hall, then approached Azonia.
“Are you the moneylender who has detained Luke?”
At Duran’s question, Azonia rested her chin on her hand and whistled.
“What handsome men! I liked Luke because he was cute, but all the Lumerun kids are just my type.”
“Luke is the class representative of Lumerun, so his public image is important. I’d like to pay off his debt for him.”
“Nope. I won’t take it. I prefer playing with boys over money.”
Azonia smiled sweetly.
“Well, if you win against me in a bet, I’ll let him go.”
“A bet?”
Azonia gestured with her chin towards a table in the gambling hall.
“If you beat me in a gamble, I’ll release him.”
At her words, Duran and Abad looked at each other, then nodded.
“Alright.”
Azonia smiled contentedly at that answer.
“Excuse me. What about my challenge?”
When Runia asked, Azonia said.
“Later. I prefer playing with handsome boys more.”
Leaving those words, Azonia hummed a tune and headed to the gamble table.
“Will the Lumerun gentlemen be alright?”
“What could possibly happen? Gambling is just a game of probability anyway.”
Saying so, Runia pouted her lips.
“By the way, elves being a sucker race. That can’t be true, can it? Lord Azonia’s words are too harsh.”
Eiran smiled awkwardly, watching the grumbling Runia.
‘Somehow, I have a feeling it might be true, but she’ll get angry if I say it, right?’