Book 1 Chapter 946
946.
“Class rep! Class rep! Listen to my idea!”
Illiana ran up to Leo and said.
“5000 years ago, Reisar was completely swallowed by the bad guys, right? Then we strike the leader! And take over Reisar! Wouldn’t it be worth a try if all of us went in?”
“I already said that idea is rejected.”
When Celia approached and spoke, Illiana pouted her lips and said,
“Why? Isn’t it simple and good?”
“If it could be solved that simply, even the Great Heroes would have done that. It’s not a problem that can be solved by simply striking the head. Illiana Raden.”
As Duran also refuted, Illiana looked at Leo.
“What do you think, Class Rep?”
“As Celia and Duran said, it won’t be solved that simply.”
“Hmm…”
At Leo’s words, Illiana fell into thought.
Seeing her, Celia made a flabbergasted expression.
“You don’t listen to us, but why do you readily agree with Leo?”
“Because Celia and Duran aren’t the class rep.”
As Celia shook her head at that, Leo asked with a serious expression,
“Are you seriously thinking of achieving an overshoot?”
“Why are you asking the obvious? Leo Flov.”
Duran crossed his arms and looked at Leo.
Illiana also widened her eyes.
“Is the class rep against trying for an overshoot?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, so that’s why you were having that conversation with Driana earlier.”
Illiana crossed her arms and nodded, “Hmm! Hmm!”
Celia also looked at Leo with a slightly surprised expression.
“That’s not like you, Leo Flov.”
As Duran frowned and spoke, Leo chuckled.
“I don’t know what you think of me, but this is exactly like me.”
At those words, Duran’s eyes twitched.
“You’ve always overcome preposterous trials as if to show off. And you’ve always led us. The you I know is that kind of person. But backing down in this situation is like you?”
Seeing Duran’s bewildered expression, Leo replied,
“Because until now, there were no choices.”
As Leo said.
In all the trials until now, there were no choices.
But now it’s different.
There is a clearly safe path.
That’s why there was no reason to choose a dangerous path.
“Duran, as you said, I’ve led you as a leader.”
“…”
“And I’ll continue to lead you in the future.”
Looking directly into Duran’s golden eyes, Leo said,
“In other words, it also means your lives are my responsibility.”
Taking responsibility for lives.
That’s not simply because they are people to protect and guard.
To Leo, they are already comrades.
And Leo lost all his comrades in his previous life.
“I don’t want to lose anyone.”
It wasn’t a simple childish remark.
It was a desperate vow made because he had lost everything.
“Then are you going to stop us from clearing it?”
“No. I’m going to watch.”
“What?”
“I’m curious what wonderful strategy you’ll come up with.”
Duran frowned.
Leo, giving a light wave of his hand, went to check on the other students.
“Are you really not going to stop them?”
Just then, Elena approached Leo.
“Even if I try to stop them, they won’t be stopped.”
“That’s true.”
“What do you want to do?”
“Huh?”
“Do you want to save Reisar?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“Because I have to stand on the same stage as you.”
“…”
Leo stopped walking and looked at Elena.
Elena smiled brightly and met Leo’s gaze.
Just then.
Chloe approached.
“Leo. I’d like to ask for your opinion.”
If Kal was an excellent commander in battles happening right before one’s eyes, Chloe was an outstanding strategist in setting up the overall game.
As such, in Lumen, Chloe was setting up the overall plan after listening to the students’ opinions.
Elena smiled sweetly as she saw Chloe approaching.
“Chloe. Leo is against this overshoot. Even if you ask for his opinion, he probably won’t give a proper answer, will he?”
“Really?”
Chloe’s eyes widened.
“Indeed. Leo, I thought you’d choose the safe path.”
While making an understanding expression, Chloe forced a bitter smile.
“It’s still a shame.”
“Chloe, do you think seeing a different ending has meaning?”
As a strategist, Chloe had similarities with Leo.
That’s why even Chloe, who sought safety, aiming for a dangerous overshoot was a bit surprising to Leo.
At Leo’s question, Chloe nodded.
“Yes. I think it does.”
“Why?”
“Do you remember when we cleared the Ched-mathers incident?”
“Yes.”
“At that time, after saving Senior Alia and her comrades, I realized something when Professor Albi thanked us.”
Chloe recalled that time and said,
“That achieving an overshoot was something the master of the hero’s world desperately hoped and wished for…”
Achieving an overshoot in the hero’s world doesn’t change history.
The past, once gone, cannot be changed by any means.
But for the heroes, that alone was a comfort.
“Of course, Lord Arion has already passed away, and there’s no one who knows that era anymore.”
“…”
“As people living in this world thanks to their grace, I believe we have a duty to fulfill what the Great Heroes so desperately wished for.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. In that sense, let me hear your opinion.”
After hearing Chloe’s strategy, Leo candidly shared his thoughts.
“As expected, it was good to ask Leo.”
Chloe, with a bright smile, returned to where her friends were.
“He said so, you know?”
Elena mischievously poked Leo’s side.
“You go to Chloe too.”
“Okay. Got it.”
Elena smiled brightly and approached Chloe.
Leo left the area where the students were.
In the meantime, students were continuously being pulled into the hero dungeon.
But no one was flustered.
They calmly checked the situation to relay to those who had already entered.
A moment later, three shadows appeared behind Leo, who had left the spot.
“Lord Leo.”
Anias cautiously called Leo.
Looking at them, Leo said,
“It seems you’re also trying for an overshoot.”
“…We are sorry.”
“What is there to be sorry about?”
Leo chuckled.
“But why are you aiming for an overshoot?”
Just yesterday, the shadows disagreed and conflicted with each other.
But now, their intentions were united.
For the single goal of an overshoot.
“Your goal should be to protect the heroes, so why are you willing to take the risk together?”
At Leo’s question, the Dwarf Shadow Lord, Person, spoke.
“We heard the mastermind behind what happened in Arion’s world was a traitor.”
Person spoke earnestly.
“5000 years ago, the only ones who could punish the traitors were the Primeval Shadow and the Ancestor of Shadows. But now it’s different.”
Hundreds of shadows are here.
“We can never forgive those who dared to betray the world and drove many to their deaths. Even if they are beings of the past.”
Person’s eyes gleamed eerily.
“We believe it is our duty to punish them.”
The Beastman Shadow Lord Kirin smiled sweetly.
“We have lived for that, and we will continue to do so.”
Even those who believed in upholding their identity as shadows.
Even those who wished for a world where shadows and heroes were identified.
They do not deny that their duty is to punish the traitors.
Leo, who had been silently watching the shadows, opened his mouth.
“Damian.”
With that word, Damian appeared from the darkness.
The shadows were aghast.
As lords and heirs of lords, they were the shadows most familiar with darkness, with the exception of the Emperor of Shan.
Yet, they hadn’t even known of the existence of the beautiful dwarf before them until she appeared.
‘No, Damian?’
“The Hero of Creation, Indomitable Damian.”
“Hmph!”
Person, being a dwarf, reacted most intensely.
“If you enter Arion’s world, follow Damian’s instructions.”
“Y-yes, understood.”
The three shadows bowed their heads.
Leo left them and walked on.
“Lord Kyle.”
“Why.”
“Do you still think an overshoot is not possible?”
“Yes. You?”
“…I don’t know.”
Damian said honestly.
“Rationally speaking, it’s correct not to do an overshoot. But…”
Damian recalled Driana talking about possibilities just moments ago.
That was the sight Damian had wished for more than anyone.
To the point of not feeling even jealousy.
“Indomitable might be a fitting title for that child.”
At Damian’s words, Leo chuckled.
“Driana is just someone who doesn’t listen to others and does whatever she wants.”
That was true.
Even if Dweno told her to give up the path of art, Driana would stubbornly insist she was an artist.
“Damian. Why did you try to save the world?”
“…Because the original Damian wished for it.”
Damian answered calmly.
“My life’s goal is merely something I received.”
“To repay a favor?”
“Yes. He gave me everything.”
“Similar to Dweno.”
“Pardon?”
“Dweno also tried to save the world for someone else in the end.”
He wanted to pass on beauty to future generations for Enniha, the elf he loved.
“The difference between you and Dweno is that Dweno’s goal became his own goal.”
“…”
“Your goal to save the world is still unchanged, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Then you deserve to be called Indomitable.”
Damian would not break, even if the final moment arrived.
‘Just like Dweno did.’
Leo continued walking.
Walking alone on the street, Leo fell into thought.
‘I need to prepare to evacuate them at any time.’
There are many people.
If it comes to it, they might have to abandon the residents of Reisar, who were barely brought over just before its destruction.
He felt guilt, but Leo had no intention of hesitating.
Leo had lost too much by hesitating.
He didn’t want to lose the present because of those who were already dead and gone.
‘As long as Erebus is summoned. There’s no way to save Reisar.’
[Hero Record Open. Arion’s World. Chapter: Mid-Chapter - Fall of Reisar]
Leo clicked his tongue at the message that clearly appeared before his eyes.
‘Tsk, is it me this time?’
Leo closed his eyes as a white light engulfed his vision.
And realizing his senses were returning, he opened his eyes.
‘…?! Gadstron?’
Leo immediately knew where he was standing.
An alley in Gadstron.
‘The alley leading to Lisinas’s house. It should be the Fall of Reisar, so why am I in Gadstron?’
Just as Leo made a bewildered expression.
“Who?”
At the familiar voice from behind, Leo turned his head.
A beautiful dragon was looking at him.
‘Lisinas.’
Leo looked at Lisinas with a slightly puzzled expression.
‘Why does she look so gloomy? No, more than that.’
Looking at the corners of Lisinas’s eyes, Leo frowned.
‘Did she cry?’
Lisinas, looking at Leo with wide eyes, asked,
“Do you know a kid named Kal Thomas?”
“What?”
At Leo’s reaction, Lisinas nodded.
“As I thought, you came from the future too.”