Editor : Amethyst00



“Zera. Did you just raise your voice at me? Are you out of your mind?”

Hilkian asked, looking completely dumbfounded.

The short, unimposing boy—whom Leo suspected was being possessed by Hardin—answered coldly, his expression icy.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that? Who do you think you are, to insult Lady Luna?”

“Hah, unbelievable. Some worthless nobody dares get angry at me? And all because I insulted that lowborn girl? Are you insane?”

The surrounding students looked shocked.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Did he lose his mind or something?”

The Vesron family was one of the great houses that practically ruled Balharun.

Normally, Zera—being from a lesser family—wouldn’t even meet Hilkian’s eyes, always shrinking away in his presence.

So when Zera suddenly burst out in anger and shouted at Hilkian, the other students couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

To make matters worse, Hilkian was one of the honor students in the class, while Zera was known as the weakest.

“How ridiculous. I’d teach you a lesson right now, but school rules forbid duels between students without a teacher’s permission. You should be grateful the teacher today is Teacher Akint…”

“I’ll allow it.”

“What?”

Hilkian’s eyes widened at Leo’s calm words.

“The other side seems eager to fight you as well. I see no reason to refuse.”

“You’re not acting like yourself today, Teacher Akint. To so easily permit a duel, of all things.”

Smirking in satisfaction, Hilkian strode boldly to the center of the training ground.

“Stand before me, Zera. I’ll show you what it means to be on a different level.”

At that, Zera stepped up to face him.

“That idiot must have a death wish.”

“Hilkian! Make sure he gets expelled for this!”

Hilkian’s followers laughed and jeered.

A duel between the strongest and the weakest—it was obvious how it would end.

“So, how should I deal with you?”

Hilkian sneered, raising his mana.

Fwoooosh—!

Bright green mana flared vividly, visible even to the naked eye.

Zera’s expression tensed as he faced it.

‘Such overwhelming mana…’

But Leo only looked bored.

‘What a waste of magic power.’

To Zera—or rather, Hardin—Hilkian was an unknown opponent, but to Leo, he wasn’t much of a threat at all.

Though infamous in the future, right now, Hilkian was still a mere novice.

‘Let’s see what the third-year grade representative of Seiren can do.’

Hardin had gone through countless battles as Seiren’s third-year grade representative.

‘There’s no way someone like him would lose to a pampered greenhouse flower.’

Students from the Hero Academy often surpassed even the heroes of this era.

There was a reason they were all called geniuses in their respective fields.

‘And this is before the Age of Calamity.’

The High Elves’ eventual downfall had stemmed from growing too complacent in their long peace.

‘Complacency breeds decay.’

Even in the so-called Age of Heroes, peace was never absolute.

Tartaros still existed, and war against it had continued for five thousand years.

And there was always the lurking fear that the Calamity might return someday.

Compared to that, the Age of Gods was an era of blissful safety.

‘Back then, the only real conflicts were between races and nations.’

Such wars were still major events, but to Leo, who had lived through the Calamity, they hardly felt threatening.

While Leo was lost in thought, Hilkian began chanting.

Hearing the spell, Hardin’s—Zera’s—eyes twitched.

‘That’s a new one. What kind of spell uses that much mana?’

Just as Leo expected, Hardin didn’t recognize any of the incantation.

Naturally, that made him wary.

As his tension rose—

Fwhoooosh—!

The completed spell summoned a violent wind.

Hardin’s face tensed as he faced it head-on.

KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK!

Seeing the powerful wind magic, Hardin took a deep breath and released his aura.

Vwoooom—!

The students’ eyes went wide.

“Is that—Aura?”

“Zera! Since when did he learn Aura?!”

Gasps erupted all around.

Leo stroked his chin thoughtfully.

‘So the real Zera didn’t know Aura. Judging by his attire, he’s a mage.’

Students from Seiren, being Luna’s successors, were required to learn Star Sorcery.

‘Well, all elves want to learn it.’

Star Sorcery was a symbol of pride among elves— it was why they were called the race of magic.

But that title came only after Luna, the Poet of the Star.

In this era, elves didn’t rely on magic to that extent.

‘Dual classes were rare back then.’

KRAK-KRAK-KRAK-KRAK!

Hardin’s sword erupted with a storm of wind.

KWOOM!

“Hyaah!”

His storm blade sliced straight through Hilkian’s magic.

Both Hilkian and the surrounding students froze in disbelief.

“W-What in the world?!”

As Hilkian gawked, Hardin frowned.

“Your mana may be vast, but you lack substance.”

Hilkian’s face turned red.

“W-What did you say!?”

“With such pitiful skill, you dared to mock the Poet? And you call yourself an elf? Pathetic.”

“What nonsense are you spewing?! Luna—that woman—the Poet? Have you lost your mind today?”

“Seems like you need to be disciplined.”

Hardin pointed his sword at Hilkian.

“Prepare yourself.”

“W-Wait—ugh!”

Hardin’s brutal beating began.

Having insulted Luna—the pride of their entire race—Hardin unleashed his cold fury.

By the time Hilkian was nearly unconscious—

Whoosh!

Leo stepped between them in an instant, catching Hardin’s wrist.

Thump—!

Hardin’s icy gaze turned toward him.

“Don’t stop me.”

“I’d like to let you keep going,” Leo murmured just loud enough for Hardin to hear, “but if you go any further, it could interfere with our Hero's World conquest.”

Hardin’s eyes widened.

“Leo Plov?”

“Yeah. I’ll explain what I’ve learned so far, but for now, please go along with me.”

Hardin nodded.

Releasing his wrist, Leo said aloud, “I did permit the duel, but that was excessive, Zera.”

“I apologize.”

Zera—Hardin—bowed deeply, his voice subdued.

The watching students all thought the same thing.

‘He’s done for. Definitely getting expelled.’

Even if it was an official duel, beating a Vesron heir senseless was unforgivable.

“Class is dismissed. Take Hilkian to the infirmary.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Zera, come with me.”

Leo spoke with a commanding tone befitting a strict teacher, and Hardin obediently followed.

As the class dispersed, Leo turned to the elf who had earlier guided him—likely an assistant.

“You there.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Let’s go to my office.”

“Office… You mean Professor Akint’s private lab?”

‘Private lab? That’s convenient.’

Leo nodded. “Yes.”

The male assistant stood beside him.

“Lead the way.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll scold the student on the way.”

“Ah, understood.”

It was an odd exchange, but the assistant didn’t question it.

After all, Zera’s behavior definitely warranted a lecture.

As they walked, the assistant shuddered slightly at Leo’s sharp tone.

Meanwhile, other students carried the battered Hilkian away.

Among them, a female student stared intently at Hardin’s back.

Then she flicked her tongue with a smirk.

‘Looks like a rat’s slipped in.’

Sneering, she disappeared into the crowd.

bl

Guided by the assistant, Leo and Hardin entered Akint’s laboratory and finally relaxed.

After exchanging a glance, they swept the room for any signs of eavesdropping.

Once they were sure it was safe, they sat down.

Hardin’s expression hardened, his killing intent palpable.

“I can’t understand it! Who dares insult Lady Luna like that? He’s a disgrace to all elves!”

It was rare to see Hardin—normally so composed—this emotional.

To elves, Luna, the Poet of the Star, was sacred.

Insulting her was unthinkable.

Leo said quietly, “Try to understand. It’s the era we’re in.”

“What do you mean?”

“Listen carefully. The world we’re in now is before the Age of Calamity.”

Hardin froze, unable to process it.

“Before the Age of Calamity? That’s impossible. Records before that age don’t even exist in the Hero Record.”

Kyle, Lysinas, Luna, Dweno, Aaron— the five who were called the Heroes of the Beginning weren’t just pioneers; they were the first recorded heroes in history.

But a world before that?

Leo spoke seriously.

“Still, some heroes in the Record lived even before the Calamity, right?”

Hardin’s expression stiffened.

“Wait. Are you saying… this world is one of the Great Heroes’ worlds?”

“Yes.”

“No way…”

“This is Luna’s world.”

Hardin trembled.

“P-Proof—do you have proof?”

“I just met her.”

“What?! You met the Poet herself?!”

Hardin’s eyes went wide, and he lunged toward Leo.

“What does she look like?! As beautiful as the records say? Gentle and radiant—did her aura outshine the stars?! Ahh, to meet Lady Luna in person—what an honor!”

Gone was his usual composure—Hardin was trembling with pure awe.

Leo thought to himself, ‘He’s going to cry when he sees the real thing.’

And not from joy—from shattered expectations.

“She’s not so much beautiful as… cute.”

“What?”

“The Luna I saw was a child.”

“…!”

Hardin froze.

“A—a child? How young?”

“About Lunia’s age, maybe younger.”

“To behold the Poet’s youthful form…!”

Hardin shuddered in ecstasy, and Leo sighed inwardly.

‘This elf might actually be a pervert.’

If Luna saw this, she’d probably kick him out in disgust.

Leo shook his head.

“That explains why your conversation with Hilkian went the way it did.”

Hardin frowned, recalling their earlier exchange.

“But why would he insult her like that?”

“There’s a reason.”

Leo knew it well.

All students of Balharun came from noble elven families— but Luna had been an orphan.

She’d entered the academy purely through her overwhelming talent, surpassing all others from a young age.

‘Naturally, that made her enemies.’

“Anyway, here’s what I’ve figured out so far. First—this is Luna’s world. Second—this is before the Age of Calamity, so Tartaros doesn’t exist yet.”

Hardin pondered.

“Then what’s our conquest goal? Whatever Luna accomplished, it must’ve been extraordinary.”

Leo frowned.

“Hard to say. She achieved too many things to guess.”

“Well, she was a living legend. Even her existence itself was an achievement.”

Nodding solemnly, Hardin said, “We’ll have to uncover the objective gradually. For now, regrouping with Lunia and Elena comes first. Also…”

He looked down at his palm.

“We should avoid using Star Sorcery. It didn’t exist in this era—it would cause chaos.”

Magic had evolved across five millennia, but even so, there were traces of continuity.

They could disguise modern spells as unusual variants— but not Star Sorcery.

‘Luna created it from nothing. Revealing it here would cause an uproar.’

When Luna first used Star Sorcery, the world was in shock.

If they used it now, it could trigger unpredictable consequences.

Leo admired Hardin’s tactical sense—proof of his experience as a dungeon conqueror.

‘Wait. Star Sorcery…’

Thinking about it, something clicked in Leo’s mind.

‘Luna started researching Star Sorcery during her student days… That could be the key.’

Just then—

Knock, knock—

Someone rapped on the door.

Leo opened it.

Standing there were knights, faces cold and grim.

“Professor Akint. The Headmaster has summoned you.”

“The Headmaster? Why?”

“It concerns the incident from your class earlier.”

They glanced past him toward Hardin and said sharply,

“Also, the upper council of Balharun has ordered that student Zera be detained.”

Leo shot a glance at Hardin, who sighed and nodded as if to say, I’ll go along.

“Take him.”

Hardin was seized and led away by the knights.

‘This is getting messy.’

Clicking his tongue, Leo followed the knights to meet the Headmaster.

‘Who was Balharun’s Headmaster again?’

He tried to recall, but even as Kyle, it had been ages ago—his memory was hazy.

They led him beyond the academy grounds to a tall tower.

Leo stopped in front of it, momentarily stunned.

Even though he’d never been to Balharun before, the structure felt eerily familiar.

A soaring spire reaching toward the heavens— built to honor divine beings.

‘The Tower of God.’

“Please, go inside.”

The knights stayed at the entrance, apparently forbidden to enter.

As Leo approached, the heavy doors opened silently.

Boom—!

The door closed behind him with a deep thud.

Inside, portraits of countless elves lined the walls.

At the center stood a single staff on display.

Leo approached it.

It was smooth, branchlike in shape, topped with a pale green gem shaped like a leaf.

‘Polyum.’

Luna’s symbol— no, the symbol of all elves before the Age of Calamity.

Forged from the original World Tree that perished with Luna, it was a sacred relic containing immense magical power, usable only by the chosen.

The moment Leo stood before it—

Vwoooom—

The staff resonated with him.

Leo’s eyes widened in surprise.

“How curious.”

A gentle voice spoke from above.

Leo looked up.

“Even the elf kings abandoned Polyum long ago, yet it responds to you.”

The man’s kind gaze met Leo’s— and Leo narrowed his eyes.

The man’s pupils weren’t human.

They were rings—eyes that saw all.

‘Right… this is before the Age of Calamity.’

Leo had met beings like this several times before, yet he could never grow used to those transcendent eyes.

‘A god, huh… makes sense in this era.’