Editor : Amethyst00



The Hero's Tower standing tall in the center of Lumene.

The Heroic Officer Academy, considered the heart of Lumene, is where the Lumene Student Council room is located.

And within the Student Council room, the seat with the best view belongs to the Student Council President.

Leo, sitting in the president's seat, was reviewing documents.

Knock knock– click–

Just then, with the sound of a knock, the door opened and a girl entered.

A dragon girl with dazzling golden hair and eyes.

She was Enkinas, successor of Melina and the next Dragon Queen.

Carrying a tray, she walked up to Leo and placed a steaming mug on his desk.

Clink–

"Thanks."

Leo gave his thanks and sipped from the coffee-filled mug.

"Nothing beats coffee during a class I'm skipping."

As Leo joked, Enkinas burst into laughter.

Currently, Leo was the only student in the Student Council room.

Even though the Student Council is important, students are students first and foremost.

Unless there's something special going on, Student Council members also attend classes in the morning.

That's why, at this time, the only student who could be in the Council room was Leo.

"Students are supposed to study, after all."

"I'm not exactly your typical student, am I?"

"Why not? You're an excellent honor student."

"Honor student, huh. On the inside, I've lived two lives."

"You're not exactly slacking off either."

At Enkinas's words, Leo gave a slight chuckle.

"This is good."

"Thank you."

"Lysinas would've liked this flavor."

"Really?"

Enkinas smiled brightly.

'Well, back then it was hard to even get something decent to drink.'

Compared to that time, everything tastes great now.

Of course, even with poor food conditions, Lysinas had that mysterious ability to make things taste worse.

'She did love food, though. If she came to this era, she'd enjoy it.'

While Leo was lost in thought, he sensed someone watching him and tilted his head.

"What?"

"I was just thinking… if the Student Council knew how hard you worked, maybe they wouldn't be so resentful."

Leo was infamous in the Student Council for causing extra work.

And then he'd sit back while everyone else struggled.

But in truth, Leo was working extremely hard.

'Though, it's not work for Lumene.'

The documents Leo was reviewing were reports submitted to Melina, the Dragon Queen.

Reports compiled by dragons around the world monitoring global affairs.

And even secret information sent by the Shadows.

As Tartaros moved in secrecy, Dragonians and Shadows operated from behind the scenes to detect suspicious movements around the world.

"This kind of work… I'm not used to it. It's exhausting."

"But you handle it so quickly and perfectly?"

"I did similar work until I was sick of it in my past life."

During the Age of Calamity, Leo didn't only fight Tartaros.

He also had to monitor the movements of traitors who might stab him in the back at any time.

Leo used that experience now to assess the state of the world.

"Well, even back then, I didn't do it all by myself."

"Oh?"

"There was someone I worked with."

"Who?"

"Who else? The Wise Queen."

"Ah…"

"It's tough. Trying to do alone what we used to do together."

Creak–

Leo turned his chair to face the window and took another sip of coffee.

Watching him, Enkinas cautiously asked, "What did Lysinas do when there were no battles?"

"She did work worthy of a king. She ran Godthrone."

"Ah."

"That must've been tough. Back then, the only person who could really help Lysinas with administration was Dweno."

Now buried beneath the earth, Godthrone lived up to its title as the world's last fortress—it was enormous.

Even now, 5000 years later, such a massive city is hard to find.

And even before the era known as the Age of Gods, it was rare.

"So it was just the two of them managing internal affairs?"

"Of course not. Even if Lysinas was a monster, that'd be impossible. There were officials in charge of the city's affairs even back then."

Dragons, and other talents who survived to that era.

If the great heroes fought the world's destruction on the front lines,

Then those officials worked to maintain the crumbling order behind the scenes.

"Then Dweno wasn't the only one helping with administration?"

"In terms of duties, sure. But every decision ultimately rested on Lysinas."

"Ah…"

Enkinas immediately understood what that meant.

It meant that the fate of the world hinged on Lysinas's choices.

And Dweno was the only one she could truly consult with.

'If even one thing had gone wrong back then, this world wouldn't exist.'

Lysinas was the leader of Godthrone in both battle and governance.

A decision-maker who held the fate of the world in her hands.

She walked a tightrope with the world's destiny on her shoulders.

Yet still, she showed unwavering strength to the people and gave them hope.

There was a reason the gods called her the Wise Queen.

"To think only Dweno could support him in administration… that's incredible. What about you and Aaron?"

"Me and Aaron were only good at fighting."

"What about Luna? I feel like she would've been helpful."

"Didn't you see her when she came back as a spirit? Her nickname was the Queen of Destruction."

Leo and Aaron might've actually been better suited.

Among the five great heroes, Luna was the furthest from administrative work.

"It really makes you realize how incredible Lysinas was."

"Incredible? The whole world was basically saved by that woman alone."

"Huh? Wasn't it Kyle who saved the world as the last hero?"

Maybe in the past, when records were lost.

But now, with Leo having revealed the origin hero's journey, it's accepted that the world was saved by the Hero of Beginnings.

Yet Leo, the person in question, claimed Lysinas saved the world alone—leaving Enkinas confused.

"Lysinas was the one who reached out to me."

"Ah…"

"Until I took her hand, she was the only one who truly believed the world could be saved and made plans for it."

Leo looked at Enkinas.

"Her vision and wisdom guided us."

The best leader—without question.

"You dragons, having inherited her will, are now the 'guides of heroes' in this era, right?"

"…"

"Right now, I'm the one leading everyone. But even that is just me imitating her."

Leo refocused on the documents.

"I can't do everything alone forever. If you're the next Dragon Queen… if you claim to be Lysinas's successor… then you need to understand what she did—and what you must do."

"If I truly succeed Lysinas… would I have to lead you too?"

"Oh? Bold of you. Planning to lead me?"

"N-No! That's not what I meant—I'd never dare…"

Enkinas frantically waved her hands as Leo looked up again.

"Unfortunately for you, I don't follow anyone's lead."

Leo smirked.

"I've already chosen my path."

If there was someone who could ever show him a new path—it would be just one person.

Past, present, or future—that truth will never change.

"By the way, didn't you say you were going to summon Lysinas's spirit? If you do meet her… is there something you'd like to say?"

"There is."

"What is it?"

Enkinas's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

'After all, they were married.'

A union forged through traditional dragon rituals.

A love between great heroes.

And now, after 5000 years, they were on the brink of a miraculous reunion.

How romantic.

"I'm going to tell that con-artist lizard I want a divorce."

'I shouldn't have asked.'

Enkinas regretted her question as Leo checked the time, sipping his coffee.

"Is it time for the mock battle?"

"If you're curious, why not go watch?"

"I already know how skilled they are. What's the point?"

"But at that age, they grow every day."

They were the very students Leo chose to entrust the future to.

And just as Enkinas said, their growth was astonishing.

Leo didn't always show it, but he was often surprised at how fast his peers progressed.

He didn't have a master-disciple relationship with them like Velkia and Bihar did.

But—

As someone who walked this path first, Leo felt a sense of pride seeing those who followed.

Which is why, without realizing it, he began to look forward to it.

'Maybe this is how Lysinas felt.'

Thinking of Lysinas, Leo set his coffee down.

"I can't hover over them forever."

Just his presence changes the atmosphere among the students.

That's not a bad thing.

But still…

"They need to learn how to walk forward without constant stimulation."

"True."

Enkinas nodded in agreement.

Leo stared at her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because in my eyes, you and them… you're all the same kids."

At that, Enkinas blushed deeply and looked down.

She realized she wasn't really in a position to nod along to his earlier words.

Leo, amused by her embarrassment, flipped to the next document.

And fixed his eyes on the next report.

"Unusual snowfall due to abnormal weather? Is this the Kingdom of Davienne?"

"Yes. A civil war recently broke out… but internal tensions had been rising for a while."

"Hm…"

Leo stroked his chin.

'Snowfall, huh…'

bl

On the opposite side of the vast training ground, top students from the Knight and Magic Departments stood facing each other.

A mock battle.

Though it was a practice match, the pride of each department was on the line.

As the representatives finished preparing in front of the large training arena—

Rumble–!

The training ground transformed.

Plants began growing at an incredible speed, and soon a small, dense forest appeared.

A randomized environment for the mock battle.

"The stage is Forest."

A magical screen above the arena showed the internal view of the battleground.

The representatives entered the forest.

'Perfect.'

Lysinas muttered inwardly.

She effortlessly interpreted and influenced the arena's magical system.

Outside, a fake screen created by Lysinas would be broadcasted.

So subtly and swiftly done that even Len, a lifelong master of magic, wouldn't notice.

The Magic Department students set up a defensive formation.

Rushing in recklessly against knights was too dangerous.

Lysinas observed the movements of the magic students.

'Impressive.'

Their training showed.

Watching them proudly, Lysinas suddenly raised her head.

Gazing briefly at the bushes, she summoned Chloe's staff.

As Lysinas suddenly moved, the magic students looked surprised.

Whack–!

Lysinas struck the ground with her staff.

Crack-crack-crack!

Ice magic spread across the surroundings.

Whoosh–!

The forest's temperature plummeted instantly.

One figure who dodged Lysinas's freezing magic landed on the ground.

"Whoa! When did you learn to chant so fast? More importantly… how did you know?"

Chen Xia's eyes widened in genuine surprise.

"…"

Lysinas stared silently at her.

Different appearance.

Different aura.

But… it wasn't hard for Lysinas to see someone in Chen Xia's features.

'Could this child… be a descendant of Bihar?'