Editor : Amethyst00



Late Evening.

Students from Lumene and Seiren gathered at the Letin government building.

"Elena-sunbae. Did you find any clues?"

"None at all."

Elena shook her head and asked Chloe, who was holding a magic tome under her arm.

"What about you and Walden?"

"We didn't find any clues either."

As Chloe glanced toward Walden, he also shook his head.

"I'll ask the Seiren side."

Chloe approached Lunia to speak, but even Seiren hadn't discovered anything.

"Looks like all of us came up empty. Is our last hope the president?"

Just then, while Elena sat relaxed on the reception room sofa, a knock sounded.

The door opened, and a man who appeared to be Sith's secretary bowed his head.

"Everyone. Dinner is ready."

Since the students had spent the entire day exploring various parts of Letin, they hadn't eaten a proper meal and were hungry.

"Has Leo returned?"

Lunia asked with a puzzled expression, and the secretary shook his head.

"His Majesty the King has not yet returned."

Lunia felt awkward at that title.

She knew Leo was to become king, but hearing someone call her friend "Your Majesty" still felt strange.

The students hesitated at the news of Leo's absence, but Elena stood up from the sofa and said,

"If he told us to eat first, then that means Leo will handle his own meal. Let's not starve—let's go eat."

"That's right. Eating well helps you grow well."

"Lyl, you sound like a grandma talking to kids barely a year or two younger than you."

"Oh. That was something Elena-sunbae should've said, wasn't it?"

"Are you saying I sound like a grandma?"

"You're the oldest."

"So you're saying I look old?"

"You're our senior."

"Our Lyl's been getting more rebellious lately, hasn't she? Is this your puberty?"

Led by the bickering pair, the students headed to the dining hall.

There, Sith was already seated, waiting.

"Thank you all for your hard work."

He offered them seats.

"Please, have a seat."

"Thanks for the invitation."

Elena spoke on behalf of the group, and Sith shook his head.

"Friends of His Majesty the King are honored guests of the Arhi Kingdom. It's only proper we treat you well. It may be modest, but I hope you enjoy the meal."

The table was filled with delicious dishes.

Having not eaten properly all day, the students quickly took their seats, lured by the aroma.

As the meal began, Sith turned to Elena.

"I've heard much about you, Miss Elena. They say you were remarkable even at the time of your admission?"

"Those are embarrassing stories from my reckless days."

"Elena-sunbae is still… Ow?!"

Elena pressed her foot down hard on Lyl's under the table.

Watching this, Sith chuckled and looked at Lyl.

"From what I hear about you, Miss Lyl, it makes my heart race."

"You flatter me."

"Do either of you have boyfriends?"

"No."

"Too busy focusing on our studies."

"I see."

Sith nodded.

Watching this conversation, Chloe bit her fork with a strange expression.

'Is this a continuation of last night's conversation?'

"Chloe."

Across the table, Lunia called out to her.

"Hm? What is it?"

"What kind of magic are you researching lately?"

Lunia asked with interest.

As Luna's successor, she was deeply invested in magical studies, so she often had meaningful conversations with Chloe, who was devoted to magic research.

Chloe replied to her question.

"I'm researching multiversal interpretation magic."

"Multiversal interpretation? What kind of magic is that?"

Leah, who was listening from nearby, asked with a puzzled face.

Chloe began explaining her research.

'What… is she speaking an alien language?'

Leah's expression grew increasingly bewildered.

Though a descendant of Seiren and possessing excellent magical aptitude, Chloe's research was still too complex and abstruse for her to grasp.

"Ooh? That's an interesting theory."

Lunia admired Chloe's explanation.

"Anyway, Leo's really late."

Elena checked the time.

Even though it was late, Leo showed no sign of returning.

Sith smiled faintly.

"I received reports that he is not only investigating but also fulfilling his royal duties. It's understandable he's delayed."

"Royal duties?"

Elena tilted her head—just then.

Kugugugugung!

Suddenly, the entire building began to shake.

"An earthquake?"

As everyone looked startled, Walden narrowed his eyes and stared at the floor.

"There's something beneath us."

bl

"Your Majesty. Thank you for hearing us out."

"It's nothing, but please, have a meal before you go…"

The elderly couple bowed to Leo.

"It's fine."

Leo waved them off gently and left the house.

A hill on the outskirts of Letin.

It was a small hot spring inn run by the couple.

Leo had come to this area for information gathering and had listened to their troubled story.

As he stepped outside, he saw Lysinas looking out over the scenery.

"What are you doing?"

"Just thinking."

Below the hill, the bright nightscape of Letin spread out.

Though the hot spring had problems now, the city still glowed with the energy of a tourist hub.

"It's just strange… thinking this will be the country you rule."

Lysinas glanced at Leo.

"And it seems like you're starting to realize what it means to be a king."

Today, Leo had walked the streets of Letin, meeting many people.

They shared various stories with the soon-to-be king, seeing his actions as an inspection.

Leo took the time to listen to them all.

He noted the problems they shared and promised to solve them.

Even that much gave people relief.

Even if their problems weren't fixed immediately, the simple fact that they could speak to the king brought peace of mind.

That, alone, was enough to show he was fit to rule.

"That Kyle not only looked out for people on the battlefield but also in daily life—somehow it's surprising."

"So you thought I was lacking."

"Huh? Not at all. You did great."

"Well, I learned it over your shoulder."

These were the things Lysinas used to do in their past life.

At Leo's words, Lysinas giggled.

Then, she looked out over Letin again.

"Kyle."

She asked again, gazing at the thriving city.

"When all of this is over—what will you do?"

"……"

"Still don't have anything you want?"

Five thousand years ago.

The great heroes would often ask each other that.

What would you do after peace returned to the world?

Back then, they dreamed with hope.

When asked that question, Leo would either say he hadn't thought about it or ask the questioner what they would do instead.

But now, there was no one left to ask.

Luna, Aaron, Dweno—none of them were here. And he couldn't ask Lysinas either.

Her time had stopped.

"I plan to pass on your dreams to the next generation."

"That's not what I want to hear."

Lysinas shook her head.

"And our dreams have already been passed on."

The stories of the great heroes other than Leo ended five thousand years ago.

But the will they left behind—the dreams they cherished—have been passed down through generations.

"What I want to know is what you want."

"Never thought about it."

Leo chuckled.

"But it's not too late to think about it later. I have a clear goal now."

"Erebos?"

"Yeah."

The complete extermination of Erebos.

"Maybe the reason I was reborn… was to finish that."

"……"

"Maybe I'll die in the final battle."

Leo was already different from the Kyle of 5000 years ago.

Back then, defeat never crossed his mind. Only victory.

But now, he couldn't guarantee survival.

Just like in the final battle of 5000 years ago.

Maybe he'd truly close his eyes after defeating Erebos.

Erebos was too dangerous to assure survival.

Even cut into six pieces with some fragments completely destroyed, the threat remained.

'Even if I die, someone will carry on my will.'

Just as the will of the great heroes had been passed down for 5000 years.

Someone would carry on the will of Kyle—of Leo.

Lysinas spoke.

"Kyle."

"Yeah?"

"Don't die."

Lysinas stood up.

"That's an order—from the captain of Arhi."

"……"

"Neither I, nor Luna, nor Aaron, nor Dweno want your story to end with Erebos's defeat."

"……"

"I truly want you to be happy. To live as long as you can. To watch over the world we saved."

Her obsidian-like eyes sparkled.

"So go find your reason to live."

"Sounds like a hassle."

"Maybe there's something I can use to force responsibility on you? Hmm… Can't I leave a kid in this body?"

"If Luna heard that, she'd flip. Call you reckless."

"Let her flip! She spread nasty rumors about me! Even used the elves to smear my reputation! Why did I become the jealous dragon between you two?!"

Lysinas growled.

"It wasn't me."

"Exactly!"

She scoffed.

"In the first place!"

Lysinas narrowed her eyes.

"By contract, you're my husband, you know? I'm not reckless—I'm just normal! She's the real problem!"

"You were the one who wanted a divorce."

"We haven't stamped it yet, have we?"

Lysinas snorted. Leo let out a dry laugh at her shamelessness—then.

Kugugugugugugugu—

The earth trembled.

Kwagagagagagang!

Suddenly, giant ice spikes shot up from the center of Letin.

Coincidentally, it was where the old Purification Palace—the base of Ishtar—once stood.

Seeing this, Leo clicked his tongue.

"If it was going to show up like this, we didn't need to bother looking for it."

"Right? But… the energy feels similar to dark magic, yet different?"

Dark magic felt like burning—but this was cold, freezing energy.

"An ancient demon?"

"Most likely."

At Leo's words, Lysinas stood up.

"If it had been sealed, it probably awoke as its master resurrected."

"I see. If it was dormant in this region and woke due to the ancient evil god's resurrection, then the sudden freezing of the hot springs makes sense."

"This might start happening all over the continent. Things are about to get complicated."

Lysinas sighed softly. Leo smirked.

"Is it really that complicated?"

"Hm?"

"It's simple."

He grinned at the icy spire.

"We hunt demons. Isn't that what we did over and over? It's actually simple."

"You're right. It is simple."

Lysinas clenched her fist.

"Then shall we go tell those icy demons?"

Step—

Lysinas started walking. Leo followed behind.

Just like 5000 years ago.

"What kind of world they've woken up to."