‘Why is he suddenly acting like that?’
Leo narrowed his eyes as he watched Tamuss’s demeanor change.
As if he couldn’t believe it.
Tamuss had suddenly gone blank and started muttering things like, “This makes no sense! This is impossible!”
‘He was a madman until just now, but he wasn’t this deranged.’
[A Hero title has been revoked according to your will.]
[The name of the Nether Knight Tamuss has been deleted from the Hero Record.]
“What?”
Leo’s expression turned to shock at the message that had suddenly appeared before his eyes.
The situation was utterly absurd.
Leo could immediately tell why the Nether Knight had reacted so strangely.
‘This is ridiculous.’
Publicly, the Hero Record was known as the final gift the gods had left behind on earth after the Era of Calamity ended 5,000 years ago.
But in truth, the owner of the Hero Record was Kyle, the Hero of Beginning.
‘Well, since I was someone who had already died and disappeared, the gods took charge of the records within the Hero Record for the last 5,000 years.’
No matter how thoroughly they had left the earth, there was no way the gods would completely lose interest in it.
‘During the Age of Gods, part of the reason they chose earth as a place for entertainment was because they were bored, but fundamentally, it was also because they loved the world.’
Although they could not intervene directly, it was obvious that the gods were still watching the earth even now.
That was why anyone who caught the eye of a god could have their name entered into the Hero Record.
Catching the attention of a god was an incredibly difficult feat in itself.
But at the same time, it also meant that anyone chosen by a god could be revered as a hero regardless of their character.
‘It was impossible to understand the way those people thought in the first place.’
In this present age, when the gods had vanished, people looked up to them immensely.
But the people who had actually lived through the Age of Gods had considered them a nuisance.
Because of that, Leo could not see someone as a hero simply because they had been recognized by a god.
‘None of the people here are fit to be heroes.’
Leo narrowed his eyes as he looked at the members of Justice Guild.
‘Even so, I have the authority to erase a name from the Hero Record?’
Now that he thought about it, not only the Shadow Codex, but even the records of heroes from before the Hero Record was created had been recorded in the Hero Record according to Leo’s will.
‘If I have the authority to record them, then it wouldn’t be strange if I also had the authority to erase them. Still, what a ridiculous power.’
He could grant or revoke the title of Hero at will.
In the Age of Heroes, this was a power beyond imagination.
No, it was Divine Authority.
‘If this fact gets out, won’t I end up being worshipped like an actual god?’
Leo let out a hollow laugh.
‘This authority is too heavy. It’s not like I’m Lysinas.’
“A very interesting conversation. So you’re the Hero of Beginning?”
Jerome burst into laughter as he looked at Leo.
“Are you talking about the Great Hero who died 5,000 years ago just because you happen to be [All-Class]?”
“I’ve never once gone around claiming with my own mouth that I’m Kyle,” Leo said calmly.
“That guy is just running his mouth however he pleases.”
The moment Leo looked at Tamuss—
“How dare you do this to me!”
The enraged Tamuss let out a thunderous roar.
Gooooo—!
The very air trembled from the force of his shout.
The executives of Justice Guild flinched.
A terrifying killing intent burst from Tamuss’s body.
“Gah!?”
“Urgh!”
The faces of the Justice Guild members paled at the overwhelming pressure.
Jerome narrowed his eyes.
‘Power on the level of a Legion Commander.’
It was power equal to that of the Legion Commander they had suppressed in the Hero Record before.
“I see. So you truly are a hero who once bore an era on your shoulders. You’ll be worth striking down.”
“I don’t think now’s the time for comments that relaxed.”
“What?”
“It looks like more than you can handle, so shouldn’t you be running away instead?”
Leo spoke calmly with his arms folded.
Jerome smirked as he looked at Leo.
“How arrogant. Do you think there’s nothing you can’t see just because you became student council president in your first year and rose to the position of hero in your second?”
Powerful Spirit Energy flowed from Jerome’s body.
“No matter how much you act like a big shot, in the end you’re still just a brat. If you recklessly overestimate yourself, you won’t live very lo—”
“Kuaaaaah!”
Kwaaaaang—!
Before Jerome could even finish speaking,
Tamuss pulled out a sword from Subspace and charged straight at Leo.
A greatsword wreathed in pitch-black Aura came crashing down on Leo.
Hwoooo! Kwagagagagang—!
Leo was blasted away and slammed into the ground.
Jerome’s expression changed instantly at the sight.
‘I didn’t even see the attack. Was that spatial movement?’
It was an attack far beyond Jerome’s ability to perceive.
“The opponent is a hero who once bore an era. We treat him as a monster on the level of a Legion Commander.”
At those words, the executives of Justice Guild quickly moved into formation.
They were veteran heroes who had conquered numerous Hero Record instances.
As people who had gone through and overcome countless trials, they were able to maintain their composure even in front of Tamuss’s transcendent power.
“Should we consider him an enemy on the level of the Sword Saint?”
Jerome nodded at Chain’s question.
“Yes.”
Flash—!
Countless Light Spirits were summoned into the air.
“Then shall we carry out justice?”
===
Kwaaaaang—!
Leo’s body, hurled into the ground, gouged deep into the floor.
“Kyaaaaaah!”
“W-What is that?!”
Nearby buildings collapsed, and screams erupted in every direction.
Clatter—!
As Leo pushed himself up, fragments of stone tumbled down around him.
“He really is strong.”
Crack—
Leo rolled his stiff neck from side to side and rose from the rubble.
The place where Leo had been flung was none other than the royal palace.
As everyone stared at Leo, who had just come crashing down from the sky, in shock—
“Leo-nim!”
Crown Prince Jeremin rushed over to Leo in alarm.
“What is happening?!”
“Crown Prince Jeremin. Perfect timing.”
Leo smiled brightly the moment he saw a familiar face.
“It’s because the Nether Knight has been revived as an undead.”
“The Nether Knight?”
Jeremin looked bewildered.
If it was the Nether Knight, of course he knew who he was.
In fact, there was no one living in the northeastern part of the continent who wouldn’t know that name.
Still, it was not easy to believe that a hero from 3,000 years ago had returned as a Corpse.
After his initial confusion, Jeremin’s expression hardened.
“What must we do?”
It had not been long since he met Leo.
But as a crown prince who would one day lead a country, Jeremin had an eye for people.
He knew Leo was not someone who would say something like this carelessly.
“If we’re unlucky, this entire capital may be reduced to ruins.”
“The entire capital?”
Jeremin’s face turned pale with horror.
“Yes.”
‘That guy is stronger than the Sword Saint.’
As a hero, comparing anyone to the Sword Saint Kalian was logically flawed.
It was practically insulting to Kalian.
But as a knight, Tamuss was undeniably powerful.
If they truly clashed with such a Tamuss, leveling a single city would be nothing.
“Yes. We need to evacuate as many citizens of the capital as possible to a safe place.”
“I’ll command the soldiers and evacuate the citizens.”
Jeremin answered with determination.
“You could die.”
“The lives of the citizens come first.”
Leo chuckled as he looked at Jeremin’s resolute expression.
“I like you.”
“I heard an undead army is invading outside the capital. What should we do about that?”
“There’s someone suitable to command the army there. Lily-sunbae.”
“Yes, Hyung-nim!”
“Since you’re from a military family, you’ve received command training, right?”
“It’s lacking, but I have. Of course, it’s nothing compared to you, Hyung-nim. Ah, there’s still so much I have to learn from you…”
Leo cleanly ignored Lily as she once again belittled herself and looked at Jeremin.
“Can I entrust the command of the defense to Lily-sunbae?”
“To Lily-nim? I’ll request military authority from His Majesty the King—”
“You’re talking about the Hero Candidate, Lily?”
At that moment, an arrogant voice rang out.
King Carnel approached, accompanied by a group of people clad in white armor and robes.
“Justice Guild?”
Leo looked puzzled.
“Justice Guild has just declared that they will save our nation from the wicked Tartarus attack.”
King Carnel spoke confidently.
At the sight, Leo let out a hollow laugh.
“Father. Even so, we must evacuate the citizens to a safe place.”
“Hmph. Don’t say such foolish things. The heroes of Justice Guild, led by the Light Seeker Jerome, will suppress that ghost of the past, the Nether Knight. Recklessly evacuating the citizens of the capital would only cause more chaos. Justice Guild members stationed throughout the capital are already calming the people. Do not act rashly!”
At King Carnel’s words, one of the Justice Guild members stepped forward.
“The Guild Master and the executives will soon bring word of victory.”
At those confident words, Leo looked up at the sky.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Gooooo—!
A storm of Aura erupted from the Nether Knight.
That storm of Aura instantly vaporized one of the hero-class knights acting as the vanguard, leaving not even a trace behind.
“Gasp!”
“Ugh?!”
Cries of horror burst from the Justice Guild members.
Whoosh—!
Then the Nether Knight swung a golden greatsword he had pulled from Subspace.
Thwack—!
And someone’s head was helplessly sent flying.
“Gah!”
“C-Chain-nim!”
A mage hero famous across the continent.
Even Chain, the vice guild master of Justice Guild, had died.
At that sight, terror spread throughout Justice Guild.
As the mood turned grim, King Carnel shouted in urgency,
“Heroes of Justice Guild! You must hurry and aid them—”
But before King Carnel could even finish his sentence, the Justice Guild members scattered and fled.
“H-Hey! Wait!”
King Carnel called out desperately, but they were already running.
‘They really do act exactly like people who became heroes by accumulating Karma.’
Leo narrowed his eyes.
Even after seeing their executives die so helplessly, they cast aside the dignity of the Hero title and fled without hesitation.
‘The gods must have known they were trash and made them heroes anyway. Their taste is awful.’
“Y-Your Majesty, what should we do?”
One of the ministers asked in confusion.
King Carnel’s body trembled violently.
“Head to the Warp Gate immediately! Secure the treasures first!”
King Carnel shouted frantically.
Jeremin stepped in front of him.
“What are you doing? Move aside!”
“Father, please give me military authority.”
“What nonsense at a time like this! Move!”
“Since it’s military authority you won’t even use, why not hand it over to your son?”
Leo stood beside Jeremin.
King Carnel, trembling as he looked at Leo’s cold smile, shouted,
“Do whatever you want! Just get out of my way!”
At those words, Jeremin bowed his head, and Leo also turned to leave.
“Then, Crown Prince, I leave the ground to you. I’m going to deal with that guy.”
“If you join forces with Justice Guild, can you suppress him?”
“They’ll probably run. Or they’ll die first.”
Leo answered calmly.
“You’re planning to face a monster like that… alone? This country has nothing to do with you, Leo-nim. So why?”
Jeremin looked bewildered.
To anyone watching, facing the Nether Knight, whom even Justice Guild couldn’t stop, was a suicidal act.
Most people here would not blame Leo if he chose to withdraw.
No, perhaps there were even more people who hoped the promising Leo would survive.
And yet Leo was trying to stand against a massive threat.
Leo answered Jeremin calmly.
“If there are people who threaten others, then there also have to be people who save them.”
“Is that your conviction as a hero, Leo-nim?”
“No. It’s something a friend once said.”
Leo smiled faintly.
“That guy didn’t even think of it as some grand conviction. If I had to put it a certain way, it was more like the natural order of things.”
“The natural order?”
“Yes. That’s how balance is maintained, isn’t it?”
Was there any special reason behind the malice that threatened people every day?
If not, then there didn’t need to be any special reason behind the goodwill that saved those people either.
Because that was simply how the world turned.
“And he said that a person who can stand against that reasonless malice without needing a reason is a hero.”
One is not a hero because they are special.
Rather, the very fact that they know how to show goodwill already makes them special.
Letting out a soft laugh, Leo said,
“Anias.”
At Leo’s call, the shadows led by Anias appeared.
Jeremin started in shock at their sudden appearance.
“Your orders.”
“Do what the heroes couldn’t.”
“Pardon?”
Anias, who had lowered her head, looked at Leo in confusion.
“Didn’t you say it yourself? That shadows are the ones who do what heroes cannot.”
Leo laughed.
“Countless heroes have abandoned this city.”
Leo smiled brightly.
“Then what the shadows have to do is obvious, isn’t it?”
“You mean…”
“It means this is the moment for you shadows to protect the city the heroes abandoned.”
***
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