Book 1 Chapter 938

937.

Kal and Perena opened their eyes.

The two quickly surveyed their surroundings.

But soon they realized they were in the middle of a street and relaxed their guard.

This was because the people passing by on the street were looking at them suspiciously.

Kal hastily looked up at the sky.

"We're screwed…"

Kal swallowed hard.

A sky the color of ash.

It was, by anyone's standards, an era of disaster.

A sky of despair that sent shivers down his spine despite having experienced it before.

And now, the situation was even more dire.

"Only Perena and I were dropped here."

Although Kal was a hero, he was practically a weak support.

Perena, who came with him, was still an inexperienced first-year.

Their current strength was such that it was uncertain if they could even clear a normal hero's dungeon.

"A world of great heroes…"

Kal swallowed hard again.

"The letters were erased… but… by anyone's standards, it was Arion's world."

Kal quickly gathered the information he knew.

"I couldn't tell the chapter, but I could tell the setting."

Ray■eur.

Whether it was good luck or bad luck, he couldn't tell, but this allowed him to infer the events.

"Leisar."

It was the name of the old city they had been in just a moment ago.

And…

Destruction■.

"Wow… The word 'destruction' looks incredibly ominous today."

Kal felt like crying at the situation where he could easily guess the latter part of the word.

"Ruin…"

Kal stopped scratching his head, which was about to be overwhelmed by the horrific content he couldn't help but infer, and glanced beside him.

Perena's eyes, as she looked at the sky, were trembling.

"Hoo… I can't show that I'm anxious right now."

Kal braced himself.

Now, as a third-year, he had to lead Perena, a first-year.

If he faltered here, Perena would surely falter as well.

"She already lacks experience, and if her mind collapses, she won't be able to perform to her full potential."

The era of disaster was an era where a crisis close to death could strike at any moment.

A single wrong step could cost them their lives.

He had to prevent that at all costs.

"Composure… Let's maintain composure."

Kal said calmly.

"At least it's fortunate."

"What?"

"It's not an possession-type world."

"Ah…"

If it were possession-type, the challengers would have to become characters in the hero's world themselves.

But if not, it meant they only had to help.

"No matter how desperate the situation, as long as one keeps their wits about them, there's always a way out."

Kal said, maintaining his composure.

"It's Arion's world. That means Arion is at least here, right?"

"Th-that's right."

Relief bloomed on Perena's face.

Seeing that, Kal said,

"Let's assess the situation first. But here… it looks somehow familiar?"

"That's because it's Leisar."

Perena had also figured out that it was the world of Leisar's ruin.

But Kal shook his head.

"No, it's not that kind of familiarity. This doesn't feel like Leisar?"

"What?"

It was when Perena had a puzzled expression.

Then, as Kal surveyed the street, his eyes widened.

"I get it, I know where this is."

"Hey, you idiot! You were supposed to do magic research with me today!"

"Lysinas is calling, so what can I do?"

Just then, an exasperated cry was heard.

Turning his head towards the source of the sound, an elf with breathtaking beauty caught his eye.

"Ah…"

Perena's mouth fell open.

And the man following the elf was also a person Perena knew well.

The greatest heroes in the world.

"Luna-nim and… Kyle-nim?"

As Perena stared blankly.

Kal also looked at the two and said with a voice full of conviction.

"This is Gardsron."

***

Evening, after training.

*Bang-!*

"Demian-nim is an idiot!"

Adriana slammed the table hard and said.

"Don't say things that would get you dismembered if the dwarves heard them. Adriana, look at this."

"What?"

"This is a probability table I calculated. I'm showing it to you because that stupid cat wouldn't understand even if I told him."

Runia handed a notebook to Adriana with a serious expression.

"Who are you calling… an idiot… Ughhhh…"

Arga bristled but couldn't finish his sentence.

He was half-dead from the exhausting training of Azonia.

"Runia, how are you so okay?"

"Hmm. They didn't give me or Eiran training as harsh as yours."

Hearing that, Arga scoffed.

"As expected of Azonia-nim. They're giving me, their direct junior, proper training."

'…No, that doesn't look like proper training at all, it looks like torment.'

Runia put on a serious expression.

For the past few days, Azonia had been subjecting Arga to physical training that was questionable as training.

Of course, Arga, accustomed to Leo's torture-like training, was completing it all.

However, unlike Leo, who gave him time to recover even during the horrific training, Azonia gave Arga no rest.

If Azonia was training him recklessly, it would be understandable, but they were giving Runia and Eiran very systematic training.

"Arga, don't you think Azonia-nim dislikes you?"

"How could that be? In a way, I'm Azonia-nim's direct junior. They'd dote on me rather than dislike me."

Arga said, slumping over.

His tail, which was always so lively, was also drooping, indicating his lack of energy.

Runia impulsively reached out to touch the tail.

Of course, the tail cunningly dodged Runia's hand.

At that moment, Demian, who was reading the probability table Runia had given him, looked incredulous.

"What is this?"

"A probability table for a gambling game."

"I can see that. But why did you calculate this meaningless thing? You know the probabilities don't change, right?"

"No, there's a momentum, a flow."

"Have you become intellectually deficient from gambling addiction?"

"No! I saw it! You should have seen Iliana!"

"Snap out of it. You gambling-addicted elf."

*Thwack-!*

"Ouch!"

Adriana hit Runia on the head with the notebook.

Runia clutched his head and rolled on the floor.

Just then.

*Creeeak-*

The door opened and Elena entered.

"Hi! Everyone! Arga is here, right?"

Elena's eyes, sparkling brightly, fell on Arga, who was slumped on the floor.

"Gasp?! Elena-ssi is hereeeeeee?!"

As Arga tried to get up, Elena quickly rushed over and grabbed Arga's tail.

Arga, who had been lying on his stomach, instinctively sat up.

"It's so fluffy again today. Mmm~ This feeling. I think I'm addicted!"

"Nnn! Ah! Ah! The very end of my tail… Nnnngh!"

Arga's body twitched and trembled under Elena's rough hands as she rubbed it on her cheek, holding his tail.

Seeing that, Adriana made a square with her index fingers and thumbs and looked at the two through it.

"Hmm. A blonde beauty and a white cat. Quite a picturesque scene. You two, have you considered becoming nude models in that pose?"

"Sh-shut up…! You perverted dwarf… Nyaaaaak! S-stop! Stop!"

Arga struggled and barely managed to snatch his tail from Elena's hand, then quickly ran to a corner of the room.

Elena looked disappointed and wiggled her fingers.

"I think I'm getting withdrawal symptoms."

Elena licked her lips and looked at the three.

"By the way, are you guys finding the training with Azonia-nim and Demian-nim worthwhile?"

At that, Runia and Arga nodded.

"It's good."

"It's satisfying!"

"Adriana doesn't seem to be?"

Adriana pouted at that.

Seeing Adriana like that, Runia clicked his tongue.

"Are you being childishly jealous of the hero of creation?"

"Hmph. It can't be helped, Demian-nim is an idiot!"

"You'll get dismembered if you say that again?"

"Why do you say Demian-nim is an idiot?"

"Demian-nim is wasting his talent! How can he have such artistic talent and not know Deweno's grand ambition!"

"Indeed. Seeing the painting Demian-nim made, I understand. Your bizarre creations are worse than what Demian-nim made with his feet."

"Kieeeeeeek!"

Elena, smiling sweetly, beat Adriana with the truth in the form of violence, and Adriana had a seizure.

Runia and Arga struggled to calm down the convulsing Adriana.

After Adriana calmed down, Elena gave Arga a pillow with her lap and asked,

"By the way, have you guys seen Kal by any chance?"

"Why Kal?"

"Leo-kun is looking for him. He hasn't been seen since this morning."

"I saw him at the gambling den yesterday, where could he have gone?"

Runia looked puzzled.

Then Adriana pouted.

"What are you unhappy about again?"

"Aren't you jealous of Kal?"

Arga said, stretching comfortably as Elena stroked his head.

"Jealous?"

"Demian-nim said he's looking forward to Kal."

Leo urgently called Kal to Azonia so that Demian could teach him.

During the era of disaster, Deweno not only forged weapons but was also skilled in alchemy and created all sorts of tools.

And in the current era, Kal was the successor to Deweno's alchemy.

Demian also had considerable knowledge of alchemy, unlike his blacksmithing skills.

Adriana herself was not learning restoration well, so she was envious of Kal, whom Demian had expectations for.

Arga scoffed at Adriana's words.

Seeing that, Elena fiddled with Arga's ear and muttered,

"Hmm. The great heroes seemed to adore you, but the heroes of creation don't seem to?"

***

"That kid Kal seemed pretty decent."

"Is there any man who isn't decent to you?"

"Why do you say that? I have high standards."

Azonia said to Demian with a sweet smile.

Seeing Azonia like that, Demian said with a look of pity.

"I heard you teased the Lumern students again yesterday?"

"Yeah. They didn't resemble Lumern at all, so they were so innocent and cute."

Azonia chuckled.

Seeing Azonia like that, Demian clicked his tongue.

"Speaking of which, you didn't really like Lumern, did you?"

"What are you talking about? I like Lumern too. We're like family, all of us."

"For people who are like family, you didn't try to seduce them?"

"With Rodia and Seirun glaring at me, how could I seduce them?"

"Those two are idiots and morons who can't even sense their own feelings. And you considered them?"

"That's true, isn't it? Hmm. Maybe I should have tried to seduce them? Would the lizard and the elf have noticed their feelings then?"

"No."

"Hmm. As expected, right?"

Azonia chuckled.

"By the way, that kid Kal, he seemed like Lumern but not at all like Lumern?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I don't know. It's hard to explain in words. See for yourself."

"Seeming like Lumern but not like Lumern… I'm even more intrigued."

"Be a little kinder to that girl Adriana. She's a good kid."

"You should be kinder to Arga too. He's a junior who's too good for you."

Demian's words made Azonia scoff.

Just then, Demian stopped walking.

When Azonia looked ahead, Chen Xia was standing there.

Chen Xia, who performed a formal Eastern greeting by placing his right fist on his left palm, said,

"Greetings to the great heroes of creation. I am Chen Xia. Though my body is lacking, I am the master of Shan."

"Wow, an emperor at such a young age? That's amazing?"

Azonia exclaimed in admiration.

"What is it?"

"I have something to ask Demian-nim."

With that, Azonia, who had crouched down, poked Demian's side.

"Oh~ You're popular? A pretty and cute young lady is showing interest."

Azonia, who stood up while chuckling, waved his hand.

"Then I shouldn't interrupt your date, so I'll be going now."

Demian clicked his tongue as Azonia left, laughing heartily.

Then he looked at Chen Xia.

After staring into Chen Xia's dark eyes for a moment, Demian asked,

"Seeing as you greeted me as the master of Shan, not as a hero, you don't have business with the indomitable Demian, do you?"

"Yes. I have something to ask the first hero and shadow after the era of disaster, the shadow of creation."

"I don't like being called such grand names."

Demian clicked his tongue, scratched his head, and said,

"Alright. I'll answer sincerely to anything I can. What are you curious about?"