Book 1 Chapter 950
950.
Late at night, Dwenno's workshop.
Dwenno poured tea and gave it to Leo and Kal.
‘I’ve felt this before, but if I took the things Master Dwenno made into reality and sold them, I’d make a fortune, wouldn’t I?’
Kal stroked his chin, looking at the teapot and teacups Dwenno had made.
All of these were handmade by Dwenno.
Naturally, like all things made by Dwenno, they were exquisitely beautiful.
Their appearance, though not flashy and seemingly ordinary at first glance, exuded elegance and depth.
Their colors were brilliant, and the sensation of holding them was enough to evoke admiration.
Dwenno stroked his beard, watching Kal, who was admiring the items and discerning their true value.
“You’re a friend who thinks like a merchant.”
“Ah, I apologize.”
Kal looked embarrassed.
Artists don’t usually appreciate their work being viewed as mere merchandise.
And Kal knew that Dwenno was an artist.
A very talented artist at that.
Thinking his attitude might reflect poorly on Dwenno, Kal subtly glanced at him.
Dwenno chuckled, watching Kal.
“Not at all. You’re evaluating my work highly, aren’t you? My sole purpose is to spread beauty to the world. If my work sells for a high price, doesn’t that mean I am an artist who expresses beauty well? People will want to see my work, and then, naturally, those who admire beauty will increase.”
“You are absolutely right!”
Kal said with a bright smile.
“It’s just a crudely made teapot and cups baked from clay. Why are you making such a fuss?”
“You, who knows nothing of art, shut your mouth.”
Dwenno said coldly.
Leo shrugged his shoulders.
“Anyway… I did hear from Lycinus that people from the future have arrived.”
Dwenno showed a look of wonder.
Dwenno, who had heard the news from Lycinus through communication magic and felt curious, had postponed meeting them until tomorrow due to work in his workshop.
But now, those who claimed to be from the future had sought him out.
And even one who claimed to be Kael reincarnated.
‘It’s even more surprising that it’s true.’
Dwenno stared intently at Leo.
It was an absurd statement, but there was clear evidence.
A sword he hadn’t made, but was clearly his creation.
And traces of it being used just like Kael would.
Though Dwenno wished to be called an artist rather than a blacksmith who forged weapons, his eyes, those of a divine blacksmith, could not be deceived.
“Indeed. It seems we saved the world.”
Dwenno nodded with a satisfied expression.
“So? How many times did I die?”
Kal looked flustered by Dwenno’s sudden question.
He had never expected Dwenno to ask such a question.
And with such a calm expression too.
Leo answered Dwenno’s question calmly.
“The second.”
“Who was the first?”
“Arion.”
“That idiot…”
Dwenno’s face twisted.
It was an event from the distant future.
But even without seeing it, he could easily guess why Arion had died first.
Dwenno, with a furious expression, sighed and asked.
“Who survived?”
“No one survived.”
Dwenno closed his eyes.
He had somewhat expected it from Leo’s expression.
“…”
“After you, it was Luna. Then Lycinus. And I, the last one left, barely managed to defeat Erebus.”
Dwenno looked directly at Leo.
“And after defeating Erebus, I died too.”
“…It must have been hard.”
“It wasn’t just me. And has there ever been a time when it wasn’t hard?”
“That’s true. We’ve always had it hard.”
Dwenno let out a cheerful laugh.
“But looking at your face, it seems you didn’t completely defeat him, did you?”
“Right. Sealing him was the best option. After reincarnating, I’m dealing with the fragmented pieces.”
“Shouldn’t you finish things properly? Why just seal him halfway and leave the danger for future generations? Or, after sealing him, you should have survived tenaciously and finished the cleanup!”
“You pervert who died first, shut your mouth, will you?”
“Don’t you know how to respect your elders!”
“Elder attack, you damn pervert!”
“Does such a bizarre concept exist in the future?! Those future folks are ill-mannered!”
‘I always feel this, but… it seems like they’re no different from us.’
They provoke each other childishly and fight childishly.
While Kal let out a hollow laugh.
Dwenno, who had stopped bickering, spoke.
“You’re still suffering alone in the future.”
“As I said a moment ago, has there ever been a time when we weren’t suffering? And…”
Leo placed a hand on Kal’s shoulder and said, as if to reassure him.
“You’re not alone. So don’t make that face. It’s disgusting.”
“Hmph. It seems that dirty personality doesn’t change even after dying and coming back to life.”
Dwenno shook his head.
And asked.
“Have you revealed your identity to Lycinus and Luna as well?”
“No. I don’t plan to reveal it to them.”
“Indeed… Those two might get hurt.”
Dwenno said calmly.
One of the reasons Leo revealed his identity to Dwenno was because he was the most reliable friend in such a situation.
Dwenno was the oldest among Arhi.
So Lycinus often sought Dwenno’s advice when making decisions.
Dwenno’s advice, stemming from long experience and deep thought, was always a great help.
It wasn't just Lycinus.
Luna, and Arion too.
When they had emotionally difficult issues, they consulted with Dwenno and unburdened their worries.
Leo also relied on Dwenno in this respect.
“Still, don’t keep it hidden forever.”
“I know.”
“So? What is your reason for coming to the past?”
“Raisar will fall in ten days.”
“What?! How could such a thing happen?!”
“Tartarus will summon Erebus.”
Dwenno’s complexion changed.
And he fell into thought.
“Can we defeat Erebus with our current strength?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then defeating Erebus is a story for further in the future.”
Dwenno let out a bitter breath and looked at Leo.
“So? Did you come to the past to prevent Raisar’s downfall?”
“Yes.”
“Then the future might change, mightn’t it?”
“The future won’t change.”
“Hmm. So the future is predetermined, and even if we change the past, it can’t be interfered with?”
“Well, something like that.”
The story of the hero’s world was intentionally left unsaid.
It would only make things complicated.
“Then that’s strange.”
“What is?”
“Why are you risking danger to save Raisar? It’s not particularly meaningful to you, is it?”
Leo laughed at Dwenno’s question.
“I don’t want to lose anything more to the black flame. That’s the reason.”
“…”
It was a foolish answer.
But in Leo’s demeanor, Dwenno momentarily saw Lycinus.
The ability to make impossible goals possible.
“You’ve changed a lot.”
“Because I came from the future.”
“Do you have a plan?”
“First, we need to connect a gate to Raisar.”
“That’s easy.”
“No, it will be difficult. The lord of Raisar will block the gate.”
“The lord?”
“Yes. He betrayed the world. Not just Raisar. All the lord’s close associates betrayed the world.”
“Tsk.”
Dwenno clicked his tongue.
“We’ll have to create a new gate. But it’s difficult alone. We need Luna’s help.”
“No, there’s a time when Luna needs to go with me.”
“…?”
Dwenno, who had been looking puzzled at Leo’s words, stroked his beard.
“Indeed, a feint operation?”
“Right.”
The unstable movements in Raisar were something Kael alone had recently discovered.
A situation Lycinus hadn't noticed.
In addition, the unexpected summoning of Erebus.
What it implied was simple.
“Right. It must have been a thoroughly prepared operation from a long time ago.”
There was also an operation to cut off reinforcements from Gadthron to Raisar.
In fact, two days later, information came in that an enormous number of demons and monsters were advancing towards Gadthron.
A scheme to further cripple Gadthron, which had already suffered from the Giant King’s invasion.
All legion commanders were absent from that advance.
However, for Gadthron, which lacked human resources, the advance of such a large number of demons and monsters alone was a huge threat.
As a result of their movements being restricted, by the time they learned about Raisar’s problem, it was too late to do anything.
‘But now it’s different.’
Currently, their allies include himself, Asonia, and Damian.
Furthermore, countless hero candidates and even the Shadow Monarch.
Their entry into the hero’s world is imminent.
‘Asonia is likely to be in Raisar.’
In that case, she will try to join Arion and stop the summoning ritual happening in Raisar.
If the gate opens faster, Gadthron will also be able to provide support.
‘The demon and monster forces attacking Gadthron, Luna and I… and a few selected individuals can intercept them.’
Once free from that danger, Gadthron will be able to freely support Raisar.
“Then we should at least get help from Lycinus…”
“Kal will help.”
“Huh? Me?”
Kal pointed to himself with a bewildered face.
“Yes, Dwenno. Kal has inherited your alchemy.”
A warp gate also requires alchemy aptitude.
“Oh-ho? I thought he looked quite clever. Well done.”
‘If Chloe came here, it would be a big help.’
If Chloe, who excels in magic research and computational ability, were here, things would proceed more easily.
“Besides that, if any other guys who can help make the gate come, I’ll send them here.”
“Understood. Then shall we start making the gate?”
At Dwenno’s words, Leo stood up.
‘It begins now.’
Leo looked up at the sky.
‘The guys in Raisar must be doing well too, right?’
***
“How is it? Easy, right?”
Arion smiled brightly.
“…”
“…”
Asonia’s face was contorted, and Ar wore a tearful expression.
Arion looked puzzled at their reactions.
“I explained it as simply as possible, is it still difficult?”
“Yes.”
When Asonia answered without hesitation, Arion asked with an even more incomprehensible expression.
“Why?”
“Why? Why?! Why!!!? Are you serious right now?!”
Excited, Asonia jumped to her feet.
The incident began like this.
Arion pondered how to make Asonia and Ar give up on saving Agon and figure out the conquest objective.
But Arion didn't directly ask what the conquest objective was.
‘Then it’s obvious they’ll hide it.’
Arion knew that fact.
‘Lycinus said he reads people’s thoughts through conversation.’
Arion decided to imitate Lycinus.
What topic should they naturally talk about? After thinking, he chose the use of supersenses.
‘Asonia uses supersenses as much as Kael. Ar also uses all her senses now.’
But in Arion’s view, there were shortcomings.
He thought he should lead them to an area Leo hadn’t reached.
Supersenses were originally Arion’s ability as a beastman.
So it was an ability more suited to beastmen than humans.
What Arion wanted to awaken in them was the sixth sense.
This was also the reason Arion could briefly foresee the future.
Asonia and Ar showed interest in Arion’s story.
And Arion’s explanation began.
“Imagine you have an eye on your forehead.”
“…”
“…”
“And imagine you open that eye. It’s that kind of sensation.”
“What kind of sensation is that?”
When Asonia asked with a bewildered look, Arion was flustered.
“Um… Then imagine you have an eye on the back of your head. That’s easy, isn’t it?”
The more Asonia and Ar listened to Arion’s explanation, the more complicated their minds became.
Eventually, he innocently asked, “Why can’t you do that?” and Asonia exploded.
“Seriously! It’s been like this since I was a kid! Why can’t I do this? Huh? It’s only natural that I can’t!”
“Hee-ee-ee-eek?!”
“Aaah! Master Asonia! Calm down! Calm down!”
Ar screamed in terror, seeing Asonia swinging her fist in anger.
Arion dodged the punch in fear.
‘Seriously! Is that what you call an explanation?!’
‘You, you said you wanted to get stronger, didn’t you? You can get stronger easily if you do this.’
‘Exactly! How do you do it?!”
Suddenly, the memory of a girl with brilliant golden hair getting angry flashed through his mind.
‘What is this? This memory?’
*Thwack!*
Asonia’s fist struck Arion’s face.
Normally, Arion wouldn’t get hit by such an attack.
Because of that, Asonia, who hadn’t expected Arion to be hit, gasped.
Just then.
*Whoosh! Thud!*
“Cough?!”
Someone flew in and delivered a flying kick to Asonia’s side.
“Is this beast crazy? Who did you just hit?”
It was Damian, asking with a fierce expression.
“Master Arion!”
“That woman! She just hit Master Arion!”
“This is blasphemy!”
Along with him, Lumerun and what appeared to be Asonia’s students also appeared.
Among them, Nella, with a flustered look, used healing aura on Arion.
“Hey! Attacking Master Arion! Are you in your right mind?!”
Celiac said with an angry expression.
“Celiac. Calm down first…”
“Are you taking this woman’s side right now?!”
When Avad, who was caught up in it, tried to mediate, Celiac glared at him.
“Be calm, Celiac Zeldinger.”
“Oh? Duran. Are you on her side too?”
Nella, who was healing Arion, also had a cold expression.
“No. Why do these kids dislike me so much?”
As Asonia grumbled, clutching her side, Damian said coldly.
“Haven’t you considered it’s karma for your promiscuous history with men?”
At Damian’s words, Asonia pouted her lips.
At that moment, Asonia’s students glared at Asonia with ominous eyes.
“The atmosphere is unusual. Ar. Please mediate.”
Asonia sighed softly, and Ar stepped forward with a *Hmph!*
“Ahem! Let me introduce you! This person here is!”
Ar pointed at Asonia.
“Warrior Asonia!”
Instantly, the atmosphere solidified.
“Hero of Genesis?”
“Wait. Now that I hear that…”
“Why didn’t I realize it until now?”
The moment Asonia’s presence was recognized, the recognition-inhibiting magic also lifted.
Ar snorted *Hmph!* and looked at Asonia with a triumphant expression.
Asonia held her head and sighed, then pulled Ar’s ear.
“Hey. I didn’t tell you to reveal my identity.”
“This is the easiest way. And. With this much strength, you should lead us, Master Asonia. To make them obey willingly, revealing your identity is the best option.”
Asonia admired Ar’s words.
“You weren’t an idiot after all?”
“Who are you calling an idiot?!”
Ar bristled.
Damian, clicking his tongue at the sight, looked around Raisar’s interior.
“Asonia. You lead the hero candidates.”
“And you?”
“I’ll lead the shadow candidates.”
Asonia let out a *Kik-* laugh at Damian’s words.
“Good. It’s been a while. Two of us going hunting.”
The Heroes of Genesis were also ready to move.