Editor : Amethyst00



The elves watched the Forest of Monsters with tense eyes.

Leo silently observed them.

These elves standing here now were truly noble elves.

When the era of calamity began,

The elves, who had once built the most powerful force on the continent, crumbled helplessly before the invasion of Tartaros.

It was the same for every race, but the elves were especially susceptible to this.

'Even now, but especially back then, the elves were a race deeply proud of their kind.'

Compared to other races, they were blessed with beautiful appearances and brilliant talents, be it in aura, magic, or summoning. Many gifted individuals were born among them.

The elves of this era were a superior race revered even by other races.

But that pride, inflated by their past glory, slowly transformed into arrogance and self-righteousness, rotting the elven race from within.

Before an unprecedented disaster, the high elves, who once boasted great power, abandoned their long-held nobility and sacrificed their fellow kin to save their own lives.

It was a barbarity born of the belief that they were a chosen race, the special beings for whom the sacrifice of others was justified.

Thus, the high elves who the roots of the elven race rotted and collapsed. But the elves as a whole did not lose hope.

Even if they were rotten, the elves still managed to grow a massive tree that became one of the pillars of the world.

And at the tips of that tree, buds bloomed. The buds that held nobility.

To reclaim their homeland.

To banish disaster from the world.

The elves gathered here now had come for that greater cause.

Luna, too, was one of those many buds.

"Lady Luna! Please stay behind me! I will protect you with my life!"

A young elf spoke earnestly.

'I still can't get used to this.'

Leo couldn't help but smirk at the reactions of the surrounding elves calling him "Luna."

“I, Helion, shall protect Lady Luna, so that she may cast her magic without worry!”

The youth gripped his gleaming shield tightly.

"Helion?"

"Ugh, you forgot again?"

Helion made an exaggeratedly hurt expression.

Helion.

It was a name Leo remembered.

Even during the Age of Calamity, those with overwhelming skill left behind their fame.

The heroes of this era were even more precious and valued than those of today.

'Because it wasn't a time overflowing with heroes like it is now.'

To their allies, they were the faint glimmers of hope that kept them alive.

Back then, survivors like himself and Lysinas who deemed foolish were avoided.

Kyle was a jinx who brought death to all his companions, and Lysinas was a witch-like dragon spreading false hope claiming the world could be saved.

But even so, Kyle and Lysinas weren't completely isolated.

Though they were feared, it was ironic that most battlefields where they participated ended in victory or had the highest number of survivors.

Thus, in Godthrone, Kyle and Lysinas were regarded as figures to be avoided in peace but revered on the battlefield.

The same held true for the others, except for Aaron, who had yet to step into battlefield.

At this time, Luna was already renowned as a Archmage who reversed the tide of many doomed battles with her overwhelming magic.

Back then, Luna, alongside Akint who had become the leader of the elves, was hailed as the hope of the elves.

Dweno was also a powerful dwarf warrior and master blacksmith and many sought to recruit him into their party.

The other heroes of this era were also widely known.

Some of their names may be forgotten, but their deeds could be seen even 5000 years later.

Leo remembered the names of many of those legendary heroes.

'Though this guy wasn't one of them.'

Helion wasn't called a hero.

Nor did he have that kind of skill.

Just an average elven knight you'd find anywhere.

Leo remembered him because of Luna.

After this battle, Helion would die.

Not just Helion.

'Most of the elves here… they'll meet their end in this place.'

bl

After the battle in the Elven Forest ended.

Luna created graves for her fallen kin in a dense forest on the way back to Godthrone.

Graves where no bodies could be buried.

But Luna remembered every name of those who died in the battle and crafted each tombstone with care.

"It's kind of stupid, isn't it? He didn't need to risk his life like that."

Here’s a simpler version:

As she carved Helion’s name, Luna felt a sharp sorrow… The elf woman, still showing traces of her youth, smiled bitterly.

“Did you know him? Judging by how much you’re grieving, he must have been a remarkable person.”

"No, not at all. I met him for the first time in this battle. As for skill… He was an elf who shouldn't have been on the battlefield."

Luna stood and clasped her hands.

"Not just him. Many elves who died this time weren't suited for war."

Those who weren't ready for battle.

But they had to take up arms and fight Tartaros.

Because there was no one else.

Watching Luna mourn her kin, Lysinas spoke.

"My proposal. What do you think?"

"You want me to come with you?"

Luna turned toward Kyle and Lysinas.

In the deep forest, Luna's eyes were downcast.

With a voice lacking confidence, she spoke.

"I don't know what you're trying to achieve, but I'm not keen on forming a party with comrades who'll die before me."

She glanced at the grave.

Seeing this, Lysinas nudged Kyle's back.

"You want me to talk?"

"She seems more likely to believe you than me."

"Damn lizard."

Knowing he was The Surviving Hero, Kyle muttered softly at being told to persuade her by himself, then stood before Luna.

“And what makes you think so many died before you that you can talk like that?”

"What?"

Luna's eyes narrowed.

Lysinas covered her and muttered, 'It was meant for you to encourage her. How stupid am I for thinking you could do that.'

"And just who the hell are you to spout such things?"

Kyle watching Luna growled and snapped back, he answered flatly,

"The Surviving Hero."

Luna hesitated at his answer.

Kyle sneered as he watched Luna.

"I also don't want comrades who'll die before me. It seems like you're the perfect match for this."

"…."

Luna's expression softened as she looked at Kyle's face.

Because she had a glimpse of shadows darker than hers in his eyes.

At least he wasn't mocking her.

"What's your goal?"

"Erebos's subjugation."

"……"

Luna looked completely dumbfounded.

"You're going to defeat Erebos? Are you insane? What on earth have you been eating to think like that?"

She stared at Kyle like a research subject.

At that, Kyle grimaced and glanced at Lysinas.

But then Luna ponders the words "subjugate Erebos" for a moment before speaking.

"Well, fine. Subjugate Erebos! That's a goal perfectly suited for me! I like it. I'll join your party."

Luna, her spirit reignited, spoke up.

"You said your name was Kyle? Mine's Luna! Be honored to have me in your party as I'm destined to shine like the stars in the night sky!"

bl

From that day on, Luna made a vow.

To stop meaningless deaths.

'He died desperately trying to protect Luna, didn't he?'

Leo glanced sideways.

Akint stood nearby with a grim face.

Everyone here knew.

This battle was reckless.

But they had no choice.

From the Elven Forest, now in the hands of the Monster Queen, monsters were pouring out.

If left alone, the balance of power in the surrounding area would collapse.

Even if they couldn't reclaim it, they had to inflict damage on the Monster Queen and her army.

If they failed to suppress her here, the world's destruction would only hasten.

That's how desperate the situation was.

These elves had chosen this reckless battle to stop that.

And then—

Boom!

The ground shook.

Crack-crack-crack—

Startled, birds took flight from the forest.

But they soon became prey for the monsters.

"Kyaahahahahahahahahahaha

A shrill, grotesque laughter echoed.

The elves covered their ears in horror.

"Looks like you came here to die, you pathetic pointy-eared worms."

At the mocking voice, Akint gritted his teeth.

Helion, who had claimed confidence earlier, clutched his shield.

"Lady Luna! Please retreat now!"

At that moment, the elf knight ran over urgently with her sword drawn cried out.

The elves knew.

That Luna's magic was the only hope in this situation.

It is their duty was to buy her time as best as they could, so that Luna could cast her spells freely.

"Lady Luna! We'll protect you with our lives!"

Even the panicked Helion regained focus and shouted.

Despite their words, Leo stood motionless.

"Luna, it might not be reassuring, but believe in us. So you can concentrate on casting spell as much as possible…"

"I believe you."

Leo spoke calmly.

"Akint. You… everyone here willing to give up their lives to protect Luna. I know that better than anyone."

"Luna?"

To others, it sounded like Luna was speaking as someone else.

But Leo ignored their confusion and gazed into the distance.

[Mission: Repeat the glorious history of victory. Massacre as many elves as possible.]

Grip.

Leo clenched his fist.

This wasn't the Hero's World Leo knew.

Here, the protagonist wasn't a hero—but a legion commander.

And that commander was Sillatna, the most accursed of all.

Leo had long since settled that ill-fated relationship behind him.

But that didn't erase what had happened.

'This world is nothing but pain for Luna. The weight she bore until the moment of her death.'

Having bid farewell to one who was like a father.

A past stained with blood and tears, where many had to sacrifice themselves to protect her immature self.

Rumble—!

From afar, the Monster Queen appeared.

Leo stepped forward.

"Don't risk your lives for me."

He looked at the elves gathered to protect Luna.

"What you must protect is your own life. Do your best to survive."

"B-but, that how the high elves did it!"

"Their methods were misguided. But that doesn't mean valuing your own life is a sin. It is only natural to cherish oneself."

Leo continued.

"I'll protect you. You do everything you can to survive. That's your job now."

"B-but Lady Luna! That just leaves you with all the burden!"

"It's fine. I've been carrying that burden for a long time already."

"…?"

Helion was confused by Leo's cryptic words.

Akint asked with a hard expression.

"Then who's going to protect you?"

"…"

Leo looked at him.

"I will."

"…?"

At Akint's bewildered face, Leo smiled.

"Now then, who should I hunt first?"

Boom!

Sillatna slowly approached, savoring their fear.

Leo crouched.

'Repeat the history of victory? Massacre as many elves as possible?'

He looked up.

'Not a chance.'

Even if he won here—

History would not change.

What has already been written cannot be rewritten.

But…

'As long as I'm the Hero of the Beginning, I won't let this history repeat itself in front of my eyes. Even if it's a false world.'

Boom!

Leo leapt like a bullet toward Sillatna.

"Hmm?"

Sillatna flinched.

Leo sneered coldly.

“After all, I'm the one who came to destroy this world, right?”

Wooooosh—!

Massive mana surged from his hand.

A spell that didn't exist in this era.

A magic that Luna would only complete far in the future.

"So, I can destroy you without worrying anything, right?."

He grinned menacingly.

Sensing something dangerous, Sillatna's face hardened.

"You're the one getting hunted, Monster Queen."

Leo's spell completed.

The Star Sorcery – Extinction.

FLASH! KRA-KOOM—!

"KYAAAAAAGH?!

A spell that should not exist in this time struck Sillatna head-on.