The Death King’s invasion of Lumene.
The world was shaken by the news that following Seiren last year, Tartarus had launched a massive invasion of Lumene as well.
It was, quite literally, an era of upheaval.
Not since the Return of the Calamity two thousand years ago, after the Era of Calamity ended, had the world fallen into such chaos.
“In a sense, the current era might be even more chaotic than the time of the Return of the Calamity.”
Mel said during her lecture.
“Back during the Return of the Calamity, the Legion Commanders of Tartarus ran rampant alongside the awakened Fragments of Erebos.”
Snap—!
With a snap of Mel’s fingers, a map that had been on one side of the large lecture hall flew over and unfolded onto the chalkboard.
“This was the direction of Tartarus’s advance at the time. As you all know, our forces were severely lacking back then because it was before the powers of the Hero Record had awakened. The ones who changed the tide of that unfavorable war were the Great Heroes.”
Tap, tap— Mel walked to the center of the lecture hall.
“Our strength has become incomparably greater since then. However, Tartarus’s current offensive is also much more aggressive than it was back then.”
Mel spoke in a solemn voice.
“The appearance of past Legion Commanders, the resurrection of Fragments of Erebos. And...”
Mel took a deep breath.
“Those whose names were once inscribed in the Hero Record are being turned into corpses by the Death King’s hand and becoming our enemies.”
At those words, the sound of people gulping could be heard from all over.
Currently, not only the entire student body but all the professors in Lumene were gathered in the large lecture hall, listening to Mel’s lecture.
“Now, here is a question. Although the situation is chaotic, we also have hope. What is it?”
Mel asked with a bright smile to lighten the atmosphere.
However, the lecture hall remained silent.
Seeing that reaction, Mel’s eyes went wide.
“Are there no students who wish to answer?”
The students remained silent at her prompt.
At their reaction, Mel let out a troubled “Hmm—” and turned to the professors.
“How about among the professors?”
Mel was a newly appointed professor who had just started at Lumene this year.
Even though she was treating veteran professors with years of experience like students, no one spoke up against it.
The rumor that Mel’s true identity was the Dragon Lord had already spread far and wide.
No matter how skilled a Lumene professor might be, they could not recklessly step forward in front of a Dragon, the strongest power in existence.
Raise—!
Just then, someone vigorously raised their hand.
“Yes, Professor Len.”
It was Len, who could be considered the undisputed number one among the many eccentrics of the Lumene faculty.
“The fact that a new possibility for the Hero Record has been discovered!”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Mel said with a wide smile.
“Of course it is. For I am the professor representing the Magic Department, the greatest department in Lumene!”
As Len wore a smug expression, Assistant Professor Anna, who was beside him, covered her face with both hands and lowered her head, while Albi let out a deep sigh.
Len was treating Mel just as he always did.
The reason was simple.
‘Lo-Lord. For failing to recognize you all this time...’
‘Who is the Lord?’
‘Pardon?’
‘Who is the Lord?’
‘I-I mean... Mel-nim is the Dragon Lord Melina...’
‘I am Mel, a professor of Lumene’s Magic Department.’
This was because when the Lumene professors went to greet Mel during the process of settling the incident, Mel had flatly denied it with a bright smile.
Furthermore, she had even said this:
‘If anyone calls me the Dragon Lord from now on, I will punish them.’
Mel’s definition of punishment was merely a light flick on the forehead, but coming from the strongest existing Dragon, the Lumene people could not help but feel an immense sense of pressure from that veiled threat.
“We are currently standing at a crossroads of the era. It is true that this is a chaotic time.”
Mel spoke solemnly.
“But if we overcome this crisis, we will surely be able to grasp true peace.”
As the chaos was being brought under control, Mel felt the need to steady the Hero Candidates who would be responsible for the future.
That was why she had prepared this special lesson.
“Believe in yourselves. Now is the time to move forward.”
“Yes!”
===
A week had passed since the Death King’s air raid.
The Twilight Festival had ended prematurely.
Miraculously, no one had died, but Lumeria City had suffered severe damage.
Lumene students voluntarily went outside the school every day to help rebuild Lumeria City.
“I don’t know, I feel like I’ve become a construction worker.”
As Chelsea grumbled while lifting a massive rock with wind magic, Celia spoke up.
“Helping people is exactly what a Hero Candidate should do. Don’t grumble so much.”
“I wasn’t grumbling! It’s just that you’re so narrow-minded you took it that way. Bleh—!”
“Why, you!”
Chelsea stuck her tongue out mockingly at her rival, Celia.
As Celia was about to lunge at her in a fit of rage, Abad, who was nearby, spoke.
“Chelsea. As Celia said, your attitude was not good.”
“Ugh! Yes, brother. I was wrong.”
“You should apologize to Celia, not me.”
“Ugh— sorry.”
Chelsea apologized at Abad’s word.
Looking at Chelsea, Celia brushed her hair back and spoke.
“Just how long are you going to stay completely helpless against Abad?”
As Celia spoke as if it were absurd, Eliana, who was passing by, cut in with a curious face.
“Something’s strange?”
“What is?”
“Since when did Celia start calling Abad by his name instead of ‘Butter’?”
“Is it strange?”
“It is! You two! Are you perhaps in that kind of relationship?!”
Eliana started making a fuss.
Celia ignored her lightly.
“Kya~ guys! Abad and Celia are in that kind of relationship! A love blooming between rival families! Isn’t it exciting— Kahak!”
When Eliana tried to inflate the rumors with her characteristic restlessness, Celia immediately retaliated.
Chloe sighed as she watched Eliana collapse to the ground clutching her side.
“Why do you keep doing things that get you hit?”
“Because talk about romance is fun.”
Answering in a trembling voice, Eliana jumped up from her spot.
“In that sense, the best one is Luna-nim!”
As if her excitement had reached its peak, Eliana clenched her fists.
“She confessed her love to Kyle-nim, the Hero of Beginning, in front of countless people! It was truly a historical moment!”
At Eliana’s words, Chelsea’s expression turned panicked.
She hurriedly turned her head toward Leo, who was standing on the ruins, silently staring at the spot where Luna had disappeared.
They were a fair distance away, but Eliana’s voice was loud enough for Leo to hear.
Carr, who was clearing debris beside Leo, also looked panicked and silently gestured at Chelsea to shut Eliana’s mouth.
“Not only did she write a new legend, but such a cool confession! It’s so unfortunate that Kyle-nim couldn't hear that confession!”
Eliana said as if she were disappointed.
“E-Eliana-yang. Right now, instead of gossiping, doing volunteer work is...”
“Huh? Eiran. You were excitedly talking about this topic with me just a moment ago too?”
“I-I wasn't excitedly talking, I just said it was very sad!”
“It’s all the same thing. Anyway, it’s certain that it was a moment that will remain in history for a long, long time... Huh? W-What? Why are you guys grabbing my arms?!”
Before she knew it, Chelsea and Chen Xia had grabbed both of Eliana’s arms, pinning her down.
Eliana, flustered by the sudden situation, struggled.
“Eiran-yang, please shut Eliana-yang’s mouth.”
“Yeah. Gossiping during sacred volunteer time. She needs to be scolded.”
Chelsea chimed in with Chen Xia’s words.
“No! Still, that’s not right! And Chelsea! You were full of complaints until just now too...”
“E-Eliana-yang! I’m sorry!”
Pow—!
“Gah?!”
Eiran swiftly struck Eliana in the solar plexus with a straight punch.
Eliana’s eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out, her body trembled, and then she foamed at the mouth and went limp.
Chelsea was taken aback seeing Eiran deliver a strike that was more dangerous than expected.
“Eiran Unni. We just meant for you to lightly cover her mouth.”
“H-Heh?!”
“Eliana-yang? Try to breathe. Breathe, breathe.”
“Eliana-yang!”
“Nella Unni, please heal Eliana!”
Chen Xia tapped the unconscious Eliana’s cheek, and Eiran wailed.
People around them started to gather, wondering what was going on.
Watching the scene, Carr wore an expression of disbelief.
‘What are those guys doing?’
To other people, it might just be another legend of a Great Hero.
But to Leo, the person involved, it might have been a deeper emotional wound than anyone else.
Those who knew Leo’s true identity, including Carr, could not even guess how painful it had been for him to let Luna go.
That was why they were trying their best to keep any talk of Luna from reaching Leo’s ears.
“They’re playing around funnily.”
“Huh?”
While Carr was wearing a baffled expression, he heard Leo’s voice beside him.
When Carr turned his head, Leo was smiling.
Looking at Leo, Carr asked cautiously.
“Are you okay?”
At that question, Leo spoke.
“I’m okay. I’m used to it. Thanks for looking out for me.”
At the mention of being used to it, Carr clicked his tongue.
‘It means he’s gone through experiences we can’t even imagine.’
Carr could not imagine how Leo felt, having to move forward while leaving precious people behind.
“It’s just that thinking about all the talk that nuisance left behind makes my head hurt.”
As Leo grumbled, Carr burst into laughter.
Looking at Carr, Leo said,
“Carr, when we return to school, can you come to Professor Len’s office with Chloe, Abad, Chelsea, and Eliana?”
“Huh? That’s easy enough. But why?”
“I think I should give you the gifts that Luna left behind.”
At Leo’s words, Carr’s eyes widened.
===
That evening.
As he headed toward Professor Len’s office, Leo was lost in thought.
‘How did Velkia become an undead?’
The words Luna left before she departed remained like a lump in Leo’s chest.
It was not just a bitter aftertaste or a bad mood.
It was, quite literally, a shock.
Step, step—
Walking down the hallway, Leo pulled a dagger from his robe.
The time when Luna appeared as a Spirit.
Vihar’s dagger, which had been placed in front of her own grave.
‘I thought Vihar was the one who left it.’
In Vihar’s case, there had been darkness in her heart from the beginning.
‘But you’re saying the one who left this was Velkia?’
His mind was complicated.
‘Vihar definitely left Erquinte as a memento.’
Erquinte.
The magic sword Dweno had made for Luna.
And Luna had gifted Erquinte to her disciple, who was a Magic Swordsman.
However, in the final battle with Tartarus before the Great Heroes set off on their final journey.
In the Battle of Tarmeita, Velkia had ended up losing Erquinte.
And Vihar had promised Velkia that she would find that sword for her.
‘I simply thought the two hadn't been able to meet after the Era of Calamity ended.’
After the Era of Calamity, Velkia would have spent busy days rebuilding the era.
The same would have been true for Vihar.
Even if they were comrades who had fought together under the same master, they might have had almost no chance to meet.
He thought that by the time Vihar recovered Erquinte, so much time had passed that it had become difficult to meet.
Either Velkia had passed away first.
Or Vihar, who had to live in the shadows, could not meet Velkia due to personal reasons.
He thought there must have been something between the two disciples.
‘But the fact that Velkia had this... means they definitely met.’
They might have exchanged items they had received from their master as a token of friendship.
But...
‘Velkia became an undead. Furthermore, she even went out of her way to leave this at my grave.’
Leo gripped the dagger tightly.
‘What on earth happened 5,000 years ago?’
***
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