Editor : Amethyst00



Early morning.

Tap—tap-tap—

Carl woke up to the sound of something tapping against the window and got up from bed.

"Yaaaawn!"

With a groggy face, Carl yawned loudly and scratched his belly as he stepped out of the blankets.

When Carl opened his window, a cold winter wind blew in.

"Brrr~ It's cold again today. So cold."

Carl's homeland, the Kingdom of Moira, is located at the northern border of the continent's central region.

Feeling the chill of the wind blowing from the north, Carl wrapped his whole body and shivered.

Creak—creeeak—

Outside the window, a hawk with two leather pouches tied to its feet was staring at Carl.

A wind hawk.

A low-level wind spirit beast.

Its main job was delivering goods and letters.

Carl took a newspaper out of one of the hawk's leather pouches and placed a gold coin in its coin pouch.

Clink~ the sound rang out cheerfully.

"Look at me, living the high life. Subscribing to such an expensive newspaper."

Though it was a low-level spirit beast, a wind hawk was still a spirit beast nonetheless.

Its service fees were quite steep.

And if you refused to pay or tried to steal its coin pouch, you'd meet a rather nasty end.

"Should I try offering a service like this in Lumene too?"

Sniffling, he closed the window after entertaining the new business idea.

Carl left the room and headed downstairs with the newspaper tucked under his arm.

"Mom~ Give me breakfast~"

Yawning as he made his way down to the kitchen on the first floor, Carl collapsed in shock the moment he saw what was happening at the dining table.

"Prince Duran, Princess Helen, this is the finest tea we have in the house."

"It smells wonderful."

"I'm honored it suits your taste. Hohohoho."

Carl's sister, Kiria Thomas, was pouring tea for a young blonde girl seated at the table.

For reference, that tea was a top-tier blend that Carl had obtained—the same kind elves drink.

"I hope the food suits your taste, Prince Duran."

"It's delicious."

"I'm glad my efforts paid off."

Carl's mother, Karen, was serving breakfast to a blond boy who had begun to show signs of adulthood.

Though his expression was cold and expressionless, his tone was soft.

After wiping his mouth, the boy—Duran—looked at Carl, who had collapsed on the floor, with an exasperated expression.

"You're late."

"Why the hell are you eating breakfast at my house like it's nothing?"

Carl, managing to get back on his feet, scratched his head as he spoke.

Sipping his tea, Duran replied.

"I told you before the break, didn't I? You're going to train with me."

"You were actually serious about that?!"

"Hmph. Are you planning to skip grades again for 4th and 5th years with special exceptions?"

Though he'd advanced to 3rd year thanks to becoming a Hero, it had only been possible through a special exception granted by the board.

He passed the written exam but failed the practical one.

There was only one reason for Carl's failure

A lack of personal combat ability.

Of course, his combat skills weren't entirely lacking.

"I mean, I'm not completely helpless or anything."

"Is there anyone among your peers you can actually handle?"

"Well… not really."

"I'm not expecting you to defeat enemies. But at the very least, you should be able to survive in any situation without being immediately overwhelmed."

'Fair point.'

Carl, unable to refute.

"Your Highness, you care this much about our son?"

Karen looked touched.

Seeing her reaction, Helen beamed brightly.

"Carl-nim is a very important asset to the Kingdom of Moira. Not only has he risen to the rank of Hero, but he's also one of the few cherished friends my brother has."

"Pfft. So you really didn't have many friends—OUCH! I surrender! I surrender!"

Carl cried out as his wrist was twisted after teasing.

Seeing this, Helen clasped her hands together.

"Oh my! To see my brother act so casually. It makes me so happy that he's able to maintain an equal relationship with someone his age."

Clicking his tongue, Duran let go of Carl's wrist.

Carl rubbed it and muttered.

'Back at the start of our first year, he was totally arrogant and always looked down on others. I thought it was just royal pride at first…'

He was full of competitiveness and fighting spirit, but he also knew how to acknowledge others.

That early behavior likely came from not having any real equals around him.

'He's changed a lot.'

Back in first year, he wouldn't have even thought of coming to a commoner's house for a meal.

'Well, regardless of what anyone says, Leo approved of him.'

"You being friends with the prince… you've made it, huh?"

"Yeah, no kidding."

As Kiria giggled, Carl sighed and sat next to Duran.

He unfolded the newspaper, took a sip of water, and began reading.

"Pfffft?!"

After seeing the headline on the first page, Carl accidentally spat out his water.

Duran, now soaked, immediately grabbed Carl by the collar.

"Cough! Cough—! Hey, hey! Calm down and look at this!"

Carl calmed his coughing and showed Duran the newspaper.

Duran's rare wide-eyed expression appeared after reading the content.

"Leo Plov…!"

And his expression twisted slightly.

"The Nightmare of the Past! Hero Slayer Subjugated."

Subjugators: Leo Plov, Rhys Zerdinger, Ulta Rygdician, Li Jamua, Abad Lewellin, Celia Zerdinger, Chelsea Lewellin.

"Blood Winds Sweep Through Zerdinger!"

"Leo Plov, the Legitimate Heir to the Throne of Tonkan!"

Watching Duran glare at the newspaper with burning eyes, Carl clicked his tongue.

"Leo's making headlines even during winter break? And he's successor to the throne now?"

"Carl, breakfast is ready."

"Ooh!"

Shaking his head, Carl was delighted to see freshly baked bread, bacon, and salad.

Just as he picked up a fork and was about to dig in—

Chomp—!

"Wha—?!"

"Carl Thomas. Now is not the time to slack off. It's training time."

"But I haven't even eaten yet!"

"Eat after training."

"Come on! You can train by yourself!"

Carl screamed, but Duran, consumed by burning competitive spirit, didn't listen.

"I'm so happy to see my brother advancing toward the future with his best friend."

Watching the emotional Helen, Carl screamed internally,

'Is this what you call a best friend?! Is this really a best friend?!'

bl

Flap—!

Sitting with her legs crossed, Elena leisurely read the newspaper with a soft smile.

"Things are going well for Leo."

At that, Albi commented.

"There will be problem."

"I'm sure it's will."

Most people were focused on the return of the long-forgotten Hero Slayer and the party that defeated him, especially Leo.

But what Elena focused on was the fact that Leo had inherited the throne of Tonkan.

Others might dismiss it as merely inheriting ancestral rights.

'But if it's the Leo I know… no, if it's the Hero of Beginning…'

Having sensed Leo's true identity during the last Festival of Heroes, Elena had an idea of where his path would lead.

'He'll build a force capable of fighting Tartaros.'

The power of a few heroes alone isn't enough to fight Tartaros.

A massive, unified force is needed.

'That's why Leo wanted to create a guild.'

A guild established by like-minded heroes.

Powerful in its very own right.

But when Leo initially proposed forming a Hero Guild, more people than expected were wary and tried to suppress it.

The reason was simple.

If an unprecedented figure like Leo formed a guild and gained fame, it would disrupt the current balance of power.

Leo's ultimate goal is the complete subjugation of Erebos.

While that is a world's fervent desire, only few want it realized in their own lifetime.

'But perhaps our generation will face the catastrophe of a full-scale war with Erebos.'

That's where the flow of the era is headed.

The long peace is beginning to crack.

Some feel it clearly, but many don't.

'Because the moment they acknowledging, it would mean giving up much of what they've enjoyed.'

Elena gave a cold smile.

For that reason, many would still try to hinder Leo's growing power, citing conflicting interests.

But now, Leo had suddenly inherited the Kingdom of Tonkan.

Though not a major external force in the continent.

But….

'The fact that a large force now follows Leo's will carried a great weight.'

With Tonkan as his foundation, he could possibly expand their influence rapidly.

'While, he might not take the throne right away. But for now, he's gained a solid base.'

Elena smiled.

"Things are going to get interesting."

bl

"Our son's really made it big. He's become the king of a nation."

Reina smiled warmly.

Seeing her like that, Leo asked.

"How are you feeling?"

"Mm. I'm fine now."

"And your flames?"

"As long as I don't overuse them, they won't eat away at me anymore."

After the Hero Slayer was utterly destroyed by Leo's sword, Reina regained her flames.

Not just Reina.

Torua also recovered her magic power.

After the Hero Slayer vanished in the past.

It is said no survivors managed to recover their abilities.

'It must be due to he had been revived using the Lich King's power.'

Zorua was a being that shouldn't have existed.

A being who was brought back against the laws of the world.

And Leo's aura of purity erased that existence entirely.

'Maybe the stolen powers returned to their rightful owners as a result.'

Though no one knew for sure, it was a fortunate outcome for Torua.

As for Reina…

"Are you not disappointed?"

"No. I've found closure."

Though she regained her flames, the battle against Zorua left her body heavily damaged due to fighting beyond her limits.

It should pose no hindrance in daily life.

But she could no longer wield her full aura without breaking down her body.

"My last fight was a grand one, just like a true hero. What do you think? This mum? Pretty heroic, right?"

"…Very much so."

"I'm honored to be recognized by my son."

Reina smiled gently.

"Leo."

"Yes?"

"No matter what anyone says, you're my son. That will never change."

"…Yes."

"Hehe~ you brat."

She patted Leo on the head.

Then her expression changed to one of curiosity.

"By the way, you said you're changing the name of the kingdom you inherited?"

"Yes."

"You didn't like the original name?"

"Not exactly. I just had a name I really wanted to use."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Arhi."

"Arhi?"

"It's an ancient word meaning 'beginning.'"

"Huh? That's a nice meaning."

"Right?"

Leo smiled brightly.

Arhi.

That was the name of the Erebos Subjugation Squad once led by Lysinas long ago.