Book 1 Chapter 957

957.

Ugly people exist in every era.

Those who harbor the desire to stand at the very top of others, even if it means trampling them.

Those foolish ones, blind to that desire and oblivious to reality.

'It was the same during the Age of Genesis.'

Damian's eyes settled coldly.

'It must have been the same during the Age of Calamity.'

That's why the Hero of Beginnings must have executed the traitors.

Bihart inherited the will of that Hero of Beginnings and became the progenitor of shadows.

It must have been passed down to Damian.

That will continues to be passed down through generations to this day.

As long as the world continues, the traitors who infest it will not disappear.

But still, looking at the situation before him, he felt nauseous.

Refugee City Leisar.

Purely in terms of size, it was larger than Gardsron.

Even though the world's last bastion was Gardsron, there was a reason why Leisar was called a refugee city.

Until just before its destruction, Leisar's population surpassed Gardsron's.

It was natural, as Leisar was the safest city when countless refugees emerged in the early days.

Damian, who had read the complete Hero Record countless times, knew.

If Leisar had not fallen at that time, perhaps after the Age of Calamity ended.

The world might have been rebuilt a little faster.

'No, perhaps the subjugation of Erebus itself might have been carried out with a little more preparation from the start.'

If so, the scenario where all the Great Heroes died on their final journey might not have happened.

Perhaps they all could have survived.

The Great Heroes' last journey.

It was a gamble.

A subjugation that had to proceed despite the preparations for Erebus's subjugation not being fully complete.

An operation undertaken because the world could no longer endure and was on the brink of collapse.

The fall of Leisar was an event that caused many repercussions to that extent.

A turning point in history that drastically shortened the world's lifespan.

He had been curious.

What was the cause that turned Leisar, which still had resources, into ashes?

And now, that curiosity was finally resolved.

Countless individuals, including Leisar's lord, had sacrificed Leisar's people as offerings.

It was outrageous.

'And they hoped to live after this?'

The higher-ups, including Leisar's lord, would not have done such preposterous things wishing for ruin.

No, rather, they would have desired wealth and glory.

Those who commit acts that destroy the world, blinded by greed, are usually like that.

They don't believe the world will end.

They believe that like themselves, others are trying to burn the world to ashes for domination.

They believe in the wealth and glory promised by Tartarus and unhesitatingly drive the world to ruin.

And they mock those who risk their lives to protect that world.

'They've already sacrificed many.'

A chilling murderous intent entered Damian's eyes.

"Anyas."

"Yes, Lord Damian."

"Execute all those individuals, including Leisar's lord, immediately."

"Yes."

"And tell Azonia. That the summoning cannot be stopped."

"…Yes."

Anyas's face hardened.

"Even so, it won't be summoned in a complete state. Because I'm going to destroy the summoning circle right now."

Gooooo-!

Golden flames erupted from Damian's body.

As he raised his hand, the golden aura took the form of a massive hammer.

"Go. You'll die if you're swept away."

"Yes."

Anyas hastily left.

A golden gleam flashed in Damian's eyes.

Hwa-reur-reu-reuk-!

Responding to the threatening aura emanating from Damian, the summoning circle also began to spew black flames.

It was Erebus's consciousness.

Seeing that, Damian's lips curled into a smirk.

"Looks like you're struggling… What a pity, isn't it?"

Damian slammed the hammer down.

"Because I'm also sick and tired of fighting you."

Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!

***

"What?"

Kyle's expression hardened.

"We're going to Leisar."

At Lisinas's words, Kyle said,

"Hey, Lisinas. Leisar is…"

"I know. It's a den of traitors. And I also know that something is brewing there."

"…"

"Erebus might be summoned there soon."

"What?"

A serious Kyle said,

"Damn it. We need to hurry and get Arion…"

"Kyle."

Lisinas said firmly.

"We won't abandon Leisar."

"…"

"I told you. We're going to save the world."

Lisinas gave a bitter smile.

"You don't have to carry it alone anymore. Kyle."

"…"

Kyle closed his eyes.

"What are the odds?"

"There are. Because we're not trying to defeat Erebus, but to stop it. The children from the future will help. It's not just us."

"I see."

Kyle nodded.

Then, he sighed and slumped into a chair.

Closing his eyes and leaning his head back, Kyle spoke.

"Lisinas."

"Why?"

"Thank you. For reaching out back then."

At the sudden words, Lisinas's eyes widened.

Soon, she gritted her teeth.

"Kyle."

"Why?"

"Do you remember the promise… we made back then?"

"Promise?"

"Yes. The promise that I wouldn't leave you alone anymore."

"Did we make such a promise?"

Kyle answered indifferently.

At his gruff reply, Lisinas involuntarily burst into laughter.

She could see that he knew, yet was feigning ignorance.

"You know. What do you think… if I broke that promise?"

"…"

"You'd probably hate me, right?"

At that, Kyle opened his eyes and looked at Lisinas.

After a moment of silence, Kyle opened his mouth.

"No."

"…"

"I would never resent you."

The sudden question might have been strange, but Kyle didn't ask.

Lisinas knew this was Kyle's consideration.

"Kyle, you know what."

After the Age of Calamity ended.

Neither she nor Kyle would live in that era.

If so…

'Wouldn't it be okay to convey these feelings?'

Lisinas was a saint, but not without desires.

She dreamed of living with Kyle in an age of peace.

Until then, she had tried not to convey her feelings.

Because she knew that if something went wrong with either of them, it would return as a greater wound.

But now that she knew the future.

Couldn't she be a little greedy?

'Couldn't I express my feelings?'

Of course, she had hinted at it many times, but the blockhead in front of her hadn't understood.

While she was relieved, she also resented him.

'Yes. I'll tell him.'

But now there was no need to hide her feelings.

"Why?"

"I…"

BANG-!

"Hoorah! Luna! I'm back!"

The door burst open, and Luna entered.

Luna, who had been beaming triumphantly, spotted Kyle, perked her ears, and ran to him.

"Kyle!"

Luna, smiling brightly, swiftly climbed onto Kyle's lap.

"You're heavy, get off."

"Don't be such a baby."

"Why are you suddenly sticking to me so much!"

Kyle pushed Luna away.

But Luna only smiled sweetly and hugged Kyle's neck.

Lisinas, unable to watch, stood up and pulled Luna off.

"What are you doing?"

As Luna glared, Lisinas smiled faintly.

"That's what I want to ask you."

An unusual atmosphere flowed between the two.

Seeing that, Kyle thought.

'I don't know what it is, but I feel like I'll regret it if I get involved.'

It would be best to get out of here.

Just as Kyle, having made that judgment, stealthily moved towards his room.

"Hmph."

Luna suddenly chuckled proudly.

At her attitude, Lisinas's eyes twitched.

"Alright. Alright. I'm generous enough to understand everything."

Lisinas frowned, looking at Luna who puffed out her chest.

"Understand what?"

"It means I think I can understand even sneaking around, hiding one's feelings, and watching for an opportunity."

"I never hid my feelings."

"Oh my. A lie."

"It's just that that blockhead didn't notice."

"You hid it from me!"

Luna had confided her feelings for Kyle to Lisinas many times.

That's why the sense of betrayal she felt was great.

"That's…"

"But I decided to understand."

Luna smiled brightly and poked Lisinas's chest with her finger.

"Because my heart is bigger than yours."

Lisinas's eyes trembled.

Then, she smiled coldly.

"It's just that you're too stupid to notice."

"What! Stupid?!"

Luna hates being called stupid.

She was, after all, a genius archmage of unparalleled talent.

From birth, she was an elf far removed from the word 'stupid.'

Having never been called stupid, she had almost no immunity to the word.

Of course, if she had heard this from someone else, she would have dismissed it as cheap provocation.

But if the opponent was Lisinas, it was a different story.

She was genuinely angered because Lisinas treated her as stupid.

Seeing Luna, whose eyes seemed to spark, Lisinas said,

"Yes. Stupid elf."

"Agh! Take that back! You cunning lizard!"

An enraged Luna lunged at Lisinas.

"You hid it because you're flat-chested, didn't you?! Afraid of being rejected!"

"Shut up! Don't say vulgar things!"

Seeing the two clinging to each other and fighting ferociously, Kyle decided to leave.

As he secretly opened the door to slip out of the room.

Leo, standing in front of the door, said,

"Lord Lisinas, Lady Luna. Lord Kyle is running away."

"Where are you running off to? Come to think of it, this is all your fault from the beginning!"

"You damned human! Get over here!"

"What did I do wrong!"

Kyle, captured by the two and dragged into the room, shouted.

Leo closed the door without hesitation.

Lunia said,

"Aren't you going to stop them?"

"Can't stop them."

Leo had expected this reaction between Luna and Lisinas from the start.

Leo answered curtly.

"They'll calm down after a big fuss. We can talk then."

At that, Helena said,

"During that time, your past self will be messed up by Lord Lisinas and Lady Luna, won't he?"

"It's better than what I'm going through now."

Seeing Leo reply brazenly, Lunia said,

"You. If Lord Lisinas and Lady Luna find out the truth, you won't be safe."

"As long as they don't find out."

Helena thought, looking at the smiling Leo.

'He's annoying. Should I just tell on him?'

"Helena. You know what happens if you tell, right?"

As if reading Helena's thoughts, Leo immediately spoke, and Helena clicked her tongue.

***

"Something has happened in Leisar?"

The eyes of the Necromancer King, Hell Kaiser, twitched.

His subordinate, Grand Duke Artkhan of the Funeral, bowed his head.

"Yes. It is said that the lord of Leisar and those loyal to him are being attacked by mysterious beings. Also, something has happened to the summoning circle."

"Hmm… Gardsron?"

Hell Kaiser showed an annoyed expression.

"That would be it. But even if they realized, it's already too late."

At that, the Necromancer King rose.

"Indeed. A fire that has already started cannot be extinguished."

The Necromancer King's dark red eyes gleamed.

"Assemble the legion commanders."

A wicked smile spread across the Necromancer King's lips.

"From now on, I will bring down the magnificent flames of calamity upon Leisar."