The world was shaken by the strange incident that occurred in the Delard Kingdom.
In an instant, the Communication Magic and Spatial Movement Magic systems in the western part of the continent went down.
At the same time, ominous dark clouds covered the sky.
The entire world was gripped by fear at this phenomenon, reminiscent of the Return of the Calamity from 3,000 years ago.
Once the seriousness of the situation became clear, Dragonia issued a summons to all heroes.
In response, the Hero Guilds across the world and the Hero Association began to mobilize.
The world was tense, keeping a sharp eye on Tartarus’s movements as well.
The heroes who had grasped the situation watched it all with frayed nerves.
And so, the dawn, cloaked in despair and fear, passed.
By the time morning came, the strange incident had vanished completely.
Many heroes who had taken the situation seriously felt both relief and confusion.
Then astonishing news arrived.
<The Terror of 3,000 Years Ago! The Primordial Evil! Resurrected!>
News of Erebos spread across the world through the newspapers.
Just as everyone was being swallowed by dread, another report followed.
<The Hero, Awakened After 5,000 Years! Following the Founder of the Nebula and the Comet Mage, Another Legend Returns!>
The people of the world were thrilled by the news that Arron the Brave had appeared and subjugated the resurrected Erebos.
In response, the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land began.
After the great incident, the training retreat was hastily brought to a close.
Some returned home to begin their vacations, while others remained within the Plov estate’s territory.
Late at night, two days after the retreat ended.
Carr, Lunia, Ar, Eiran, and Driana were gathered in a guest room, chatting.
“See? This is why people need to prepare thoroughly.”
Grinning, Carr took things out of a box one by one and lined them up on the desk.
Lunia narrowed her eyes as she looked at them.
“What are those supposed to be now?”
“What do you mean, what are they? They’re figurines.”
What Carr was taking out were palm-sized figurines of Arron-nim.
The exquisitely detailed figurines of Arron-nim were each striking a different cool pose.
“So you think I’m asking because I don’t know what they are? Why did you make so many of them?”
“Why ask the obvious? To sell them.”
“Are you insane? You’re going to make money off a Great Hero? Do you want to get arrested for sacrilege?”
Lunia looked utterly dumbfounded.
In elven society, using the Founder of the Nebula to make money or satisfy personal greed was enough to get someone arrested for sacrilege.
Since it involved exploiting the Great Hero of a great race, it was considered a serious crime and punished harshly.
“That may be illegal for elves, but not for Beastkin.”
Carr grinned slyly.
“Aha! So Beastkin society doesn’t have any law like that.”
As Eiran nodded in admiration, Lunia crossed her arms and scoffed.
“Hmph! Law or no law, do you really think the Beastkin will just sit back and watch you use Arron-nim for business?”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I told you. People need to prepare thoroughly.”
With a smug look, Carr pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket and showed it to Lunia.
After taking it and reading it, Lunia’s face twisted.
It was a contract stating that Carr had received Arron-nim’s personal permission to make and sell figurines of him.
“When did you even get permission for this?”
“Hah, the moment I found out Arron-nim had come out of the Hero Record, I had a feeling! The Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and all that, I knew it’d be a huge hit. I’ve even got Arron-nim’s endorsement, so I’m going to sell them at a premium to wealthy tourists! Especially the Beastkin! Mwahahaha!”
“Why are you so obsessed with money? As far as I know, you already have a considerable amount of wealth even as a student. And with your skills, you’ll be able to make plenty more after graduation.”
“I’m curious too. I know you’re an unashamed materialist, but I also know you’re a pretty decent guy. You’re not the type to cling to wealth beyond what you need.”
At Driana’s words, Lunia nodded as well and looked at Carr.
When Eiran also showed a curious expression, Carr scratched his head awkwardly.
“As you all know, I’m not really the type to become a hero or hold some grand position.”
“True.”
“Yep, that’s right.”
“N-No, that’s not true. I’m sure you’re more than capable, Carr-nim.”
Driana and Lunia answered immediately, while Eiran, unsure what to say, tried to comfort him.
“Thanks, Eiran. For being kind. You really are different from this foul-tempered elf and dwarf.”
At Carr’s words, Lunia’s eyes flashed.
Ignoring her, Carr continued.
“I’m aiming to become a Supporter, but I don’t just want to help you guys on the battlefield.”
Carr shrugged.
“Whether it’s Artifacts, materials, or Potions you need, I want to help by getting hold of everything I can. And to do that, I think I’ll need a lot of money.”
“How much are you trying to save?”
“Enough to buy at least one country?”
At Carr’s meaningful expression, Lunia and Eiran’s eyes widened.
“You were thinking more deeply than I expected.”
“That’s so reassuring, Carr-nim!”
Lunia and Eiran were impressed.
“Carr! You truly are my great friend!”
Driana, on the other hand, looked delighted and threw her arms around Carr.
Looking down at her, Carr said flatly,
“I have absolutely no intention of sponsoring your artwork.”
At those words, Driana’s face crumpled.
“Why are you being so stingy? How can a man who says he’s going to buy a country be this petty? If you sponsor me, and I follow in Dweno-nim’s footsteps to become a great artist, your name will be remembered for generations!”
As Driana slipped back into her usual tone, Carr replied,
“If I sponsored your art, Dweno-nim would probably grab me by the scruff of the neck and never let go. And rather than sponsoring your artwork, I’d be better off burying that money in the ground.”
“Why would the meaningless act of burying money in the ground be more worthwhile?”
“At least then the people of the world wouldn’t have to witness your horrifying creations.”
“That’s a valid point.”
Lunia chimed in as she sided with Carr.
At that, Driana raised her fist, and Eiran hurriedly tried to stop her in horror.
“By the way, what’s with that cat over there?”
In one corner of the room inside the Plov family mansion, Ar was silently looking down at the broken Brave.
“She seems depressed because Arron-nim left.”
At Eiran’s worried words, Lunia and Driana exchanged glances, nodded, and approached Ar.
“How long are you going to mope?”
“That’s right. Don’t think too much about Arron-nim.”
At their attempts to comfort her, Ar stood up.
Then, head lowered, she walked further into the room.
“Hey, Ar. I said don’t get too depre—”
“Don’t touch me.”
Ar spoke coldly, avoiding Lunia’s hand as she reached for her shoulder.
At that response, Lunia paused, then furrowed her brow.
“Even so, isn’t that a little too cold?”
“How dare you try to touch me!”
Her mood suddenly flipping, Ar jerked away from Lunia’s hand.
Seeing Ar’s triumphant face, Lunia looked stunned.
“I, Ar Tune, was personally acknowledged as his successor by Arron-nim! I’m on a completely different level from the rest of you, a completely different level!”
At Ar’s reaction, Carr leaned back against the sofa and spoke listlessly.
“Did you guys seriously think she’d be depressed?”
Hearing Carr’s words, Driana frowned and asked,
“So? What exactly do you mean by a different level?”
“Lunia, did Luna-nim ever personally call you her successor? No, right? Driana, same for you, right? It’s only me. The only one personally acknowledged by a Great Hero as a successor!”
Hmph-! Ar laughed, shut her eyes, and nodded her head smugly.
“Ah~ Successor. What a beautiful word.”
Muttering it as though savoring every syllable, Ar suddenly snapped her eyes open wide.
“Do you really think it makes sense for someone like me to be on the same level as you lot?! The dawn of my era has arrived!”
At those words, Lunia and Driana looked at each other and nodded.
Driana quietly moved behind Ar, whose tail was swishing about, and pinned her arms so she couldn’t move.
“Ready, Lunia.”
“Of course, Driana. Hold her tight. I’m going to hit her with everything I’ve got.”
“Aim for the solar plexus.”
“Nyaaaaaak?!”
Watching the three of them erupt into chaos, Carr asked Eiran,
“You’re not going to stop them?”
“At this point, there’s not much point in stopping them, is there?”
“You really have grown up.”
Carr muttered in a pitiful tone as he watched the three of them, even while sounding impressed.
“Luna-nim, Arron-nim, and Dweno-nim would be heartbroken if they saw this.”
“Why?”
“Wouldn’t they be sad to see the kids called their successors acting like that?”
As Eiran scratched her cheek, Carr paused for a moment, then nodded.
“I guess that’s true.”
By now, the two of them had already had plenty of their illusions about the Great Heroes shattered.
“By the way, Leo-nim still hasn’t come out of his room.”
“I know, right? Could you go check on him? I’ll stop these three.”
“T-To Leo-nim’s room? At this hour? By myself?”
Eiran, visibly flustered, blushed bright red.
Watching her shy reaction, Carr scratched his cheek and asked,
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“I’ll go by myself.”
Leaving those words behind, Eiran quickly left the room.
Watching her retreating figure, Carr muttered,
“She’s definitely grown up.”
===
Inside a room in the estate mansion.
It was a spacious room, incomparable to the one in the mansion back in the capital.
That was one of the traits of noble families in the frontier.
Since the land was vast, the rooms were unnecessarily large.
Leo, seated by the window, gazed at the full moon as he tossed back the alcohol in his glass.
In his past life as Kyle, he had enjoyed drinking often, but since being reborn, he had not particularly taken to it. It wasn’t because he was young, nor because of school rules.
‘It’s because there’s no real reason to drink.’
The Great Heroes all drank frequently.
And it wasn’t just the Great Heroes.
All the heroes of that era drank often.
It was to forget, if only for a moment, the harsh times they lived through.
‘Well, that brat Luna and Dweno probably drank simply because they liked it.’
Resting his chin on his hand, Leo gave a small laugh and spoke.
“Stop hesitating and come in.”
He had already known there was a guest standing outside his door.
And of course, he already knew who it was.
At Leo’s words, the small presence flinched, then cautiously opened the door and peeked her head inside.
Then, smiling awkwardly, she asked,
“Leo-oppa, what are you doing?”
“Just thinking.”
The visitor was none other than Chelsea Lewellin.
At Leo’s reply, Chelsea stepped into the room, closed the door, and approached him.
Then, noticing the bottle of alcohol on the table, her eyes widened.
“Are you drinking?”
Leo answered only with a faint smile.
Seeing that, Chelsea hesitated.
Looking at the hesitant Chelsea, Leo gestured toward the seat across from him.
Chelsea sat down in front of him and silently watched him.
Even under her gaze, Leo quietly kept looking out the window.
The soft moonlight spilling in from outside made Leo’s white hair glimmer.
After watching him for a while, Chelsea took a deep breath as if she had made up her mind.
“Leo-oppa.”
“Yeah.”
Watching Leo answer as he poured another drink, Chelsea, still hesitant, finally opened her mouth.
“I heard it from Arron-nim. That you... are the Hero of Beginning, Kyle.”
***
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