Editor : Amethyst00



Forbidden Archive.

A place where countless forbidden books lie dormant, where not only ordinary students but even most professors were not permitted to enter.

The contents of the forbidden books were also diverse.

Records of worlds that common people must never know, forbidden and dangerous magic and aura skills, and even summoning arts.

Truly, it was a treasury of knowledge unknown to the world.

For that reason, even Elena, the acting director, took a long time to gain permission for Leo to enter the Forbidden Archive.

Together with Elena, on the top floor of the Grand Archive.

Leo, who had come before the entrance of the Forbidden Archive where entry was prohibited to ordinary students, stopped.

Waiting at the entrance was none other than the vice principal, Rivein.

“Hello, Vice Principal.”

Elena smiled as she greeted him.

Neither students nor professors knew Rivein’s true identity.

But Elena, as the successor of Zeron and acting director, knew that he was a dragon.

“It’s been a while, Elena Zeron.”

Rivein treated Elena as emotionlessly as always.

Elena shrugged her shoulders as if she used to such an attitude and said,

“This is as far as I go. Only the director, principal, and vice principal can open the Forbidden Archive.”

Even as the acting director, there were limits, it seemed.

“Wait here, Elena Zeron.”

“Yes~”

Though she made a sulky face, Elena answered obediently.

When Rivein placed his hand on the entrance of the Forbidden Archive, a bright light burst forth.

At the same time, Leo felt his body being sucked in.

When he came to his senses, Leo was standing in a vast circular chamber.

The walls were densely lined with books.

Realizing what they were, Leo’s face showed surprise.

“Hero Record?”

Everything in this space was a record of heroes.

And in the center of the room.

A giant book lay atop a platform.

It was the true body of Lumene’s “Hero Record.”

“The Forbidden Archive houses the Hero Record. And—”

Step— step—

Rivein crossed the room.

Leo followed behind him.

Soon, Rivein stopped before a door.

“The knowledge you seek will be beyond this door.”

At Rivein’s words, Leo stared intently at the door.

And said,

“The Forbidden Archive isn’t inside Lumene, is it?”

“That’s right. Though it’s known as the Forbidden Archive in the world, in truth, it’s connected to the deepest part of Dragonia. It’s the same for other hero academies.”

It had been strange that such hidden knowledge was so hard to access, but to think such a secret was hidden. Now that, the secret was revealed.

Leo nodded and reached out his hand.

Clatter—!

The door opened.

He stepped inside.

“I’ll wait here.”

Rivein did not follow Leo into the Forbidden Archive.

Clack—

The door closed.

Leo looked at the countless books before him.

“It’ll take some time to find it.”

“Don’t worry.”

Hearing someone answer his muttering, he turned his head.

Leo asked the person who came to greet him,

“Being Dragon Lord isn’t a leisure position, is it?”

“No. But if it’s to help Leo-nim, I should always make time, shouldn’t I?”

The Dragon Queen, Melina, who took the form of a young girl, smiled brightly.

Leo gave a faint smile at her and said,

“Then I’d like to know about the history of how the Hero Record came to be divided.”

“Yes~ I’ll guide you to where the records related to the Hero Record are kept.”

Melina, now a guide, lightly invoked magic.

A flat, square platform of magical energy formed beneath Leo’s feet.

Floating gently— Leo and Melina moved swiftly.

After moving through the vast Great Library of Dragonia, they stopped before a certain section.

“Here we are.”

Dispelling her magic, Melina pointed toward a huge bookshelf and said,

“These are all records related to the Hero Record.”

The materials related to the Hero Record were vast beyond imagination.

“Which book that contains the reason why the Hero Record was divided?”

“I’ll find that for you. Please have a seat here, Leo-nim.”

Melina seated Leo at a nearby desk and floated up to look for the book he sought.

A moment later, Melina returned holding a single book in hand.

“It’s the memoir of Rodia, the Dragon Queen from 3,000 years ago.”

An artifact of immense historical value.

A book that could not be read anywhere except the Forbidden Archive.

A record that clearly revealed the circumstances of that era.

“Have you read it?”

“……Yes.”

“Then you must know why the Hero Record was divided.”

“Yes. I can explain if you wish, but since my personal opinion might intrude, I think it’s best if Leo-nim reads it directly.”

“Alright.”

“The memoir of Rodia is written in the Draconian, so I’ll help……”

Melina was about to interpret the memoir.

Flip—

But Leo began quickly reading through it.

Seeing that, Melina let out a small laugh.

‘How foolish am I.’

The boy before her might look young on the outside, but within him was a great hero.

Moreover, he was the man who had inherited the power of Lysinas, the Wise Queen.

‘Reading the Draconian must be nothing to him.’

Melina smiled faintly.

‘Rodia, the Dawn Dragon.’

3,000 years ago.

When a fragment of Erebos was resurrected, she was the one who discovered the true value of the Hero Record and ushered a new era.

Flip—

‘I see. So the Age of Calamity was nearly repeated then.’

As he reading the tale of that time, Leo sighed.

The memoir contained stories of the heroes who fought against the fragment of Erebos and Tartaros.

The Twilight Knight, Lumene.

The Comet Mage, Seiren.

The Grand Warrior, Azonia.

The Unyielding, Damien.

Heroes revered next only to the Great Heroes themselves.

If not for them, the world would surely have faced the advent of calamity once again.

Reading the memoirs of the fierce struggles of later heroes, Leo could feel their hearts.

When the memoir reached its middle portion.

[I was the only one among my comrades able to inherit the power of the Great Hero. Indeed, I inherited the power of Lysinas.]

‘As expected. They conquered the world of Lysinas.’

Flip— flip—

[We subdued seven legion commanders. Though we are not as great as the heroes who once saved the world, we are surely advancing step by step. Finally, it feels like the exit seems in sight.]

Seven legion commanders.

At that level, Tartaros was practically on the brink of annihilation.

‘And yet, those disgusting things managed to survive.’

Clicking his tongue at those ancient foes who had persisted for thousands of years, Leo continued turning the pages.

[Today we fought Erebos. I thought it was just a fragment. But I can’t imagine how we are to subdue this dreadful monster.]

Reaching the end of the memoirs, the account of the fierce battle with Erebos began.

[Many heroes died in today’s battle. Only five of us barely survived and retreated. We cannot withstand the black flames of Erebos. The sky above its lair is dyed in black light. It feels as if the Age of Calamity is upon us once again.]

Flip—

[At last, we repelled Erebos. We stopped its advance, and it retreated. The army of the Lich King was also barely driven back. The path once unseen is visible again.]

Flip—

[We succeeded in subduing the fragment of Erebos. The sky regained its blue hue. Thank you, Great Lysinas. With your power, we could defeat this hateful Erebos.]

At that, Leo’s face took on a puzzled expression.

‘Indeed, though there were details differing from what’s known to the world, the main content is the same. Then why was the Hero Record divided? Was it merely to establish the four hero academies?’

Thinking so, he turned the final page.

[It is despairing. Today, the black flame has risen again. We cannot extinguish this hateful Flame of Calamity with our power.]

Leo’s expression hardened.

[At this rate, this fragment will resurrect once more. The world will surely be engulfed in despair again. There is no choice. I have discussed it with Lumene, Seiren, Azonia, and Damien. Let us cast this hateful flame into ‘another world’… Let us nurture heroes in later generations who will slay the fragments of Erebos. Surely heroes greater than us will be born and fulfill the mission we could not.]

The memoir ended there.

With a stiff expression, Leo looked at Melina.

“They failed to subdue it, didn't they?”

“……Yes.”

Melina smiled bitterly.

“They failed. Even the single fragment of Erebos that Leo-nim cut down could not be completely destroyed.”

It wasn’t because they were incompetent.

It was because Erebos’s power was that despairing.

The unquenchable flame of calamity.

The immortal monster.

The Great Heroes had a natural enemy of Erebos, “Kyle” and that was why they could win.

And that victory bought 2,000 years of peace.

But 3,000 years ago, it was different.

Though they achieved victory, they failed in subjugation of Erebos.

They could not bring themselves to cast despair again upon the people rejoicing in peace regained.

Thus, those who knew the truth concealed it.

‘And they sealed the fragment of Erebos within their own Hero Records.’

They tore apart the sealed Hero Records to weaken the fragments of Erebos.

That explained it.

Why the Hero Record had been split.

Why a shard of Erebos existed in Luna’s world.

For the heroes 3,000 years ago, this must have been the best they could do.

Thanks to that, peace had lasted for 3,000 years.

‘But… even that peace is now wavering.’

For Tartaros, instead of waiting for another fragment of Erebos that might awaken someday, it was far faster to revive Erebos by taking the one already awakened out of the Hero Record.

Seeing the true history that had to be hidden, Leo curved his lips slightly.

“The timing’s perfect.”

“Pardon?”

“Isn’t it?”

Closing the memoir, Leo said,

“At this point in time, I’m here.”

The heroes of 3,000 years ago, with desperate hearts, left to the future the mission they could not fulfill.

And fortunately,

In this age, the Hero of Beginning, Kyle, had reincarnated.

“I want to end the grudge that’s been continuing since my previous life, too.”

Leo stroked the memoir left behind by the heroes of the later generation, filled with regret.

He had no thought to blame their failure, nor could he.

For Leo knew best the despair that monster brought.

‘Leave the rest to me.’

He handed the memoir to Melina.

“As expected of Leo-nim.”

When Melina first saw this memoir, she could not help but tremble in fear.

But not now.

With the Great Hero resurrected in this age, what was there to fear?

“Well then, shall we return and prepare for midterms?”

Leo rose from his seat.

Having resolved his curiosity, he felt refreshed inside.

‘The later ones suffered quite a bit too.’

Step— step—

As Leo walked, he suddenly stopped.

Following behind him, Melina also stopped and looked up at his back with a puzzled expression.

“Leo-nim?”

Leaving the confused Melina behind, Leo approached a bookshelf.

There was an old, worn-out book placed there.

It was impossible to tell when or from what era it was.

A leather cover worn with age, with no title or author.

But to Leo, it looked somehow familiar.

And faintly, he could sense a nostalgic trace of mana.

He reached out and pulled out the old book.

Flip—

There was nothing written inside.

“……Melina. Since when has this archive existed?”

“The history of the archive goes back to before the Age of Calamity. It was said to have belonged to Lysinas-nim and was passed down to later dragons.”

But over the long ages, it had been expanded, storing more and more books, so its original form had long disappeared.

However, not a single book that entered the Forbidden Archive had ever left it.

“I see…… It was Lysinas’s private library.”

“Yes. But what is that book?”

At Melina’s puzzled question, Leo answered in a somewhat bitter voice.

“It’s Lysinas’s memoir.”