Book 1 Chapter 941

941.

Arion subtly observed the dog beastman who was glaring at him with arms crossed.

"Um… you came to save me, right…?"

"What did you say?"

"Hiiik?!"

As Azonia's gaze turned chilling, Arion involuntarily let out a scream.

Looking at the terrified wolf beastman, Azonia said.

"Arion-nim."

"Yes, yes?"

"Please don't use formal language with me."

"Why, why not?"

"It's burdensome for me when Arion-nim, who is older than me, uses formal speech."

"Huh? Aren't you older than me?"

"What?! Are you saying I look old?"

"I-I never said you look old!"

"You said I look older than Arion-nim, didn't you?"

"W-well, yes. I thought you were my older sister."

"Ughhhhhh!"

Azonia, called 'older sister' by Arion, showed an intense reaction of protest.

Azonia, thrashing on the floor, went *thud*! and punched the prison floor.

*Crackkkkkk-*!

The prison floor cracks.

At that sight, Arion made an even more terrified expression.

"Since I'm younger, please speak informally to me."

"How old are you, that you're saying…"

At Arion's persistent words, Azonia smiled brightly.

"Surely Arion-nim's master must have taught you that you shouldn't ask a woman's age so carelessly, right?"

"Y-yes, he did."

Seeing Azonia glare, Arion made a flinching expression.

"He did, didn't he…"

Azonia let out a small sigh, watching Arion change his words as he observed her reaction.

For Azonia, Arion was a person towards whom she harbored complex emotions.

There was a distinct difference between the attitude other heroes of the Great Awakening had towards the Great Heroes who became their respective guides, and Azonia's attitude towards Arion.

The emotions the other heroes of the Great Awakening held for the Great Heroes were admiration, longing, and respect.

This was an emotion held by most people, not just the heroes of the Great Awakening, towards the Great Heroes.

After the Age of Calamity ended and the Age of Heroes began.

The deeds of the Great Heroes, who did not abandon the world even when the gods had, were bound to be praised.

So that their great achievements would not be forgotten, the gods themselves even gifted the Hero Records to the mortal realm.

'Since history began, they must be the only ones who achieved feats surpassing the gods, so it's only natural.'

However, unlike the universal emotions people held for the Great Heroes, Azonia could not purely feel admiration and longing for Arion.

In her deepest self.

It was because of the memory of those who could not be saved in Arion's world.

It was a thorn deeply embedded in Azonia's heart.

If Arion had just a little more courage, the children of the orphanage would not have died, and Argon, who was Arion's master and could also be called Azonia's master, would not have fallen into despair and crumbled.

'I know that's not Arion-nim's fault, but.'

Nevertheless, Azonia was trapped in the memories of that time and could not move forward.

As a result, the feelings she had for Arion were close to love-hate.

She hated him for being a coward.

But she also respected him.

She felt pathetic for harboring contradictory feelings towards a hero.

That's why Azonia disliked Arion speaking formally to her.

Whatever the reason, Arion is a Great Hero who deserves respect.

Because he was the person she looked up to and aimed to be like.

'I can never tolerate this damn coward showing such a pathetic sight.'

Because of that.

"So? You… no, you came to save me, right? Lysinas sent you, didn't he?"

At the sight of Arion, eyes full of expectation and relying on her, she couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

'No! Why is this guy so timid and cowardly normally!'

Azonia ground her teeth.

At that sight, Arion again let out a *Hiiik-* scream.

Azonia, glaring at Arion with terrifying eyes, said.

"I'm not the person Lysinas-nim sent. I live in Leysar, to begin with."

"Huh? But how did you recognize me? People in Leysar wouldn't know my face, would they?"

Arion tilted his head.

In these times, Lysinas had shed the nickname 'foolish one' who harbored absurd delusions of saving the world, and was called the hope of the world.

It was a time when the Great Heroes were actively building their reputations.

Thus, in Leysar, unlike Gadstron, even if people knew the names of the Great Heroes, it was a time when their faces were not yet known.

But when Azonia, who said she lived in Leysar, recognized him at a glance, Arion couldn't help but be puzzled.

"It seems you know me well, to begin with?"

As Arion expressed his confusion, Azonia, who was pondering what to say, opened her mouth.

"My master is also Argon-nim."

"What? Are you by any chance from Master's orphanage?"

"You could say that."

"Wow!"

Arion made a bright expression.

And then he scrutinized Azonia.

"I knew I felt something familiar."

And then he sniffed.

"The smell is familiar too."

'Of course, because I learned your techniques.'

"Have you seen me when you were young, by any chance?"

Azonia shook her head.

Her brown hair swayed.

"Hmm. It seems you entered the orphanage after I left. You seem to have gone through a lot of hardship."

"I did go through quite a lot of hardship."

Azonia, who had been nodding at Arion's words, paused.

"Does that mean… I look old now because I've suffered?"

Arion made a flustered expression.

An ominous aura erupted from Azonia's eyes.

"This damn wolf bastard…!"

Azonia tried to grab Arion.

"Don't run away!"

"Y-you're going to hit me!"

"Of course I am!"

"I don't like getting hurt!"

Arion desperately ran away from Azonia, who was fiercely trying to grab him.

A moment later.

Exhausted Azonia gasped for breath.

She absolutely could not catch Arion.

Arion approached Azonia and asked.

"Are you okay…?"

'Ah! This really grinds my gears!'

She knew he wasn't asking to tease her, but because he was genuinely concerned.

But regardless, Arion's innocent actions were enough to infuriate Azonia.

Seeing Azonia huffing and puffing, Arion said.

"Still, it's a relief. I was sad because all my younger siblings died due to that plague…"

"…"

At Arion's words, Azonia lightly bit her lip.

Half a year before the children of the orphanage where Arion lived were massacred by Leysar's high society.

Arion, scared of going to the battlefield, ran away from the orphanage.

Thus, Arion could not know what fate the children met.

It wasn't just Arion.

Even the Great Heroes did not know the truth of what happened in Leysar.

Even Leo learned this truth only after his reincarnation, while conquering Arion's world with Ar.

"Anyway, have you really never seen me?"

"No."

"That's strange. Looking closely, your face seems familiar?"

"It must be a misunderstanding."

The Arion Azonia met was not the real one, but a fake.

Every time the Hero's World was repeated, memories were also reset.

Even if she had seen his face in a previous conquest, there was no way she would have those memories.

"Is Master doing well?"

Azonia could not give any answer to Arion's question.

Recalling Argon from a moment before she was caught and brought to prison, she said.

"I don't really know."

"Huh?"

"It's been a long time since I've seen him."

The Great Heroes did not know Argon's final fate.

They had merely heard from those who survived in Leysar that he had fought in his final moments.

And they also did not know what kind of life Argon had lived until then.

What was certain, however, was this:

'When I saw him earlier… he wasn't in a normal state.'

A heart that has crumbled once is difficult to revive.

The same goes for even the greatest hero.

The broken Guardian of the Azure Sky.

And though the reason was unknown, he was being called a traitor in Leysar.

'Seeing that I was caught and brought to prison just for mentioning Master's name, Leysar's high society is definitely pursuing Master.'

She knew that those who ruled Leysar were corrupt to the core.

But right before ruin.

She still had doubts, however, about why they were pursuing the Guardian of the Azure Sky, who had already been broken long ago.

While Azonia was lost in thought.

At Azonia's words that she didn't know about Argon's recent condition, Arion let his ears droop.

"Really? I gathered my courage and came here because I wanted to meet Master."

Arion muttered in a regretful voice.

At those words, Azonia asked.

"Why did you come alone?"

"I wanted to show him. My slightly changed self."

"…?"

"As you know. I've become quite famous lately, haven't I?"

Arion clenched his fist tightly.

"It might sound arrogant, but because Lysinas guided me well, I even fought against Tartarus. Lysinas is telling me that even I, a coward, am a great help in saving the world."

"…"

"The 'me' that Master remembers was just a terrified, pathetic guy."

Arion said with a resolute expression.

"Now that I've changed a little… I really wanted to show him that side of me."

These were words that might have moved someone else who heard them.

But sadly, the one in front of him was Azonia.

"Excuse me."

"Huh?"

"But then, why are you locked up in prison?"

"I got caught and brought here while asking about Master."

"No. That's not what I mean."

"Huh?"

"With Arion-nim's abilities, you could easily escape from prison and go find Master Argon, couldn't you?"

"…"

"You don't really need Lysinas-nim's help, do you? No, in the first place, how long have you been imprisoned?"

"O-one week."

"What have you been doing here for a week?! Instead of looking for Master Argon!"

"B-but!"

"What do you mean 'but'!"

"Escaping prison and being chased around is scary, you know."

"Aaaargh! This damn coward, seriously! I'm going to die of frustration!"

*KABOOOOOM-*!

Azonia irritably swung her fist.

Then a huge storm of aura swept through and blew away a part of the prison.

Not only that, but even the ceiling was blown away.

Arion gaped, seeing that sight.

*BEEEPPPP-*!

"Wh-what's going on?!"

"There was a big explosion in the prison."

Azonia reached out and grabbed Arion by the collar.

"Follow me."

"I-if we go like this, we'll be in big trouble."

"Even if we don't go, it's big trouble anyway!"

"Hiiik?!"

Overwhelmed by Azonia's force, Arion couldn't say anything and could only be dragged out.

A moment later.

The jailers who came to the underground prison were in an uproar.

"An, an escape!"

"The prisoners have escaped!"

"Those connected to the traitor Argon have escaped! Send soldiers immediately!"

Leysar was turned upside down.