Editor : Amethyst00



"Looks like it's going to be a tough time."

Leo spoke while gazing at the wrecked government building of Letin in the distance.

The subjugation of the second Priestess of Styx and the Order of Repose had ended in success.

Fortunately, aside from some injuries, there were no casualties.

That was thanks to the swift response of Sith Zidma, who led the Tuzen Order.

However, that didn't mean there were no scars left by the invasion.

From the half-destroyed government building to collapsed structures.

The damage Letin suffered was by no means minor.

"Actually, considering how powerful those demons were, it's a miracle the damage was limited to this."

Sith smiled.

"It's all thanks to the great Wise Queen, Lady Lysinas, and, more than anyone, our brave and powerful Majesty."

"But still, the damage is considerable."

Letin is a tourist city.

If safety becomes a concern because of this incident, it could lead to serious problems.

To Leo's concern, Sith replied.

"The hot springs are back to normal, and most importantly, since the Wise Queen made a personal visit, the publicity effect will be enormous."

Sith chuckled.

After the battle ended—

The reason Letin was able to stabilize so quickly after the chaos brought by the demon attack was entirely thanks to Lysinas.

She had personally appeared before the people.

'She probably planned it that way.'

Given Lysinas's calculating personality—

She must have figured out how to maximize her influence and chose to appear before the people of Letin.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have made such a dazzling entrance, literally radiating light.

Recalling Lysinas's appearance, which was almost goddess-like, Leo asked:

"Still, wouldn't it be better to delay the coronation?"

For the people of Lezentan, the sudden invasion must already be overwhelming. Adding a coronation might cause confusion.

"The coronation must proceed. Even if it's smaller in scale, it cannot be postponed. Lezentan needs its king."

To that, Leo scratched his head and said:

"To be honest, I'm not someone suited to being a king."

He didn't have what it took to bear responsibility for an entire country.

Leo was well aware of that.

"Someone like Celia would be more fitting. You've ruled this place for a long time—maybe you should be the one to ascend the throne."

"That might be true."

"Then why are you so desperate to make me king? Even if I'm not king, if this land faces danger, I'll help."

"A king is someone who stands above the people, who rules and leads them."

From that perspective—

Leo didn't qualify.

"But I believe that's not the only virtue of a king."

"Then what is?"

"Someone you can trust and rely on. That too is a virtue of a king. No—actually, I think that's the most important one."

Sith bowed his head.

"You don't need to lead. You don't even have to try to be a great king. Just by you sitting on the throne, the people of Lezentan can live with peace of mind."

The knight who had devoted his life to protecting Lezentan spoke with certainty.

Seeing him like that, Leo sighed, gave in, and headed to the warp gate.

"He remind me of Depeser."

From a little distance away, Lysinas, wearing a hood, spoke.

Depeser—

The gold dragon who had cared for Lysinas since childhood, and one of the few dragons who had continued to believe in and support him even during the Age of Calamity.

"He does, doesn't he?"

At Leo's reply, Lysinas smiled faintly with a nostalgic look.

He had lost his life during the invasion of Godthrone by the Giant King.

'He used to give me advice about what to do after peace was restored.'

Leo closed his eyes, remembering that familiar voice.

'Don't forget to think about succession, Lady Lysinas.'

"Don't forget to think about succession, Lord Leo."

Sith, who had followed behind Leo, spoke like a nagging parent.

Leo let out a deep sigh at his words.

"I noticed today—there are quite a few people who would suit you well as a partner. Please give it serious thought."

At that, Leo glanced at Lysinas, who was smiling radiantly.

Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the warp gate.

"By the way, Your Majesty. I've been meaning to ask… your face…?"

"Got a little banged up in the fight."

"Oh dear. Shall I summon a healer?"

"No need."

Leo clicked his tongue and stepped into the warp gate.

"Ahem!"

"Hmm-hmmph!"

The moment they entered the gate, sounds of stifled laughter erupted.

Looking toward the source, Leo saw Lunia and Chloe trembling as they avoided his gaze.

Elena wore her usual annoying smirk, twisting a strand of her hair.

"Ah! Leo-sunbae's face…!"

Leah clutched her head in disbelief, while Walden looked as indifferent as ever.

Luca scratched his cheek awkwardly.

And finally…

"You look cool no matter what, brother!"

Lyl's innocent words, without a hint of malice, were oddly irritating.

Clicking his tongue again, Leo stepped onto the warp platform.

"Ahem!"

"Mmph-hmm!"

Lunia and Chloe followed behind, struggling to hold back their laughter.

Watching them, Sith smiled softly.

"Safe travels, Your Majesty. We'll be waiting for your return."

Flash—!

The warp gate activated, and Leo's group disappeared.

bl

The capital of Davienne, Deang.

A hot spring where students from Lumene and Seiren were staying.

This place had long since become a place for exchange between the two schools.

Celia was sparring with a male Seiren student, Garin.

Clang! Clack!

Garin blocked Celia's fast thrust.

Snow was falling lightly, and their gazes locked in mid-air.

After a moment, Celia lowered her weapon and spoke.

"That was a good match. Thanks for the duel."

"It was a great help for me too, fighting someone like you."

Garin replied in a slightly solemn tone.

Watching them, Eiran commented:

"How should I put this… Celia, even your swordplay feels like fire."

"It's a trait of the Zerdinger family."

Chen Xia, sipping warm tea nearby, smiled.

Celia brushed snow off her hair and approached the two.

Thanks to the intense movements, her cheeks were flushed despite the cold, and her breath was slightly ragged.

"Whew! Seiren's magic swordsmen move in strange ways. Usually, magic swordsmen lean heavily one way, like Eliana. But Seiren's seem perfectly balanced between sword and magic."

Celia remarked in admiration.

"That's because Seiren has long valued astral magic. They developed swordsmanship by integrating it with magic."

"Yeah, that makes it different from the sword styles I'm used to, so I'm learning a lot."

Seeing Celia's eager, glowing eyes, Chen Xia smiled and handed her a towel.

"Here, wipe off. You'll catch a cold if sweat cools on a day like this."

"Thanks to Lady Lysinas's cold-water training, I don't get cold easily anymore."

"Even so."

At Chen Xia's words, Celia wiped off her sweat.

"Ahem! E-Eiran."

At that moment, Garin called Eiran from afar.

"What is it, Garin?"

Tilting her head, Eiran walked over.

Several other male Seiren students were gathered around Garin, looking tense.

Garin whispered something to Eiran.

Eiran tilted her head again, confused, and walked back.

"Celia."

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Do you have… a lover?"

"Nope."

"Huh? A cool girl like you doesn't have one?"

"Nope."

After saying that, Celia furrowed her brow.

"Now that I think about it, I've never even gotten a love letter or a confession?"

"Well, considering your usual image… it can't be helped."

"What's wrong with my image? You get plenty, don't you?"

"What do you mean? Among our classmates, Nella is the most popular, then Chloe, then Eliza. I'm after them."

"…I'm on the same level as Eliana?"

Celia muttered in dismay, and Chen Xia firmly stated:

"Eliana is very popular too."

"What?! Why!"

Celia protested.

"Ask the boys."

"Ugh!"

Frustrated by being less popular than Eliana, Celia fumed.

In truth, Celia was actually very popular—she just didn't know it.

'She even got confessed to a few times in first year, but turned them down herself.'

Though she didn't even realize they were confessions.

'When asked about her ideal type, she casually said it was Leo, and that sealed her fate.'

She had simply picked the most familiar boy from her first year—her cousin, Leo.

But as Leo's reputation grew to near-legendary status, no other boys dared approach her.

Listening to the conversation, Eiran tilted her head again.

"Since you're from a great noble house, don't you have a fiancé arranged by your family?"

"Nope."

"That's surprising."

Genuinely surprised, Eiran skipped back to Garin.

"Ooooooh!"

Cries of amazement erupted among the Seiren boys.

They patted Garin on the back.

"What's with them?"

Celia asked with a puzzled face.

"They just got excited when you said you didn't have a lover."

"Why?"

"Well… oh, maybe Garin sees you as a worthy rival?"

"Huh? Is he worried my skills would drop if I got into a relationship?"

"Probably. Garin takes swordsmanship very seriously."

"I guess I found a good sparring partner."

"Garin worries too much. You wouldn't get weaker just from falling in love."

Celia and Eiran completely misread the situation.

Watching them, Chen Xia thought seriously:

'Are these two idiots?'

They were hopeless when it came to romance.

Especially Eiran, who loved reading weird novels yet remained utterly clueless in real-life situations—it was honestly impressive.

Chen Xia considered giving them a hint, then smiled.

'This is going to be fun. Let's leave them be.'

The three walked out of the garden.

Then Celia suddenly froze at a scene.

There, Garin's twin sister, Alice Trina, was pushing Abad forward.

"You said you'd do me a favour if I taught you magic, right? Let's go to the city. Come on."

"Uh… Alice, going to the city, just the two of us…"

"Why? You said you don't have a girlfriend, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then what's the problem?"

Alice tilted her head.

"Hmph!"

Celia scoffed and walked away.

Seeing her, Eiran hurried after her, confused.

Chen Xia waved lightly to Abad and then followed.

"Wh-What's wrong, Celia?"

"Nothing!"

"Come on, just admit it. You like Abad, don't you?"

"Who would like that buttery guy! He's the heir to Lewellin anyway!"

Celia snapped.

"Who likes who now?"

Just then, a familiar voice spoke.

"Ah! Sir Leo, you're here…"

"Listen, Leo. Celia was—"

Eiran, smiling brightly, and Chen Xia, sighing, both froze when they saw Leo's face.

Celia also gaped at him.

And then—

"Pfft…! Hehe! Hehehe! Hahahahahahahahaha!"

Celia burst out laughing, pointing at Leo's face.

"You! What happened to your face, you're all spotted! Who hit you?!"

Laughing so hard she held her stomach and cried.

Behind her, Lunia and Chloe, who had tried so hard not to laugh, thought

'So that's how you laugh out loud like that.'

'Cousins really are great. You can get away with anything.'

Everyone was thinking the same thing as they looked at Leo's face.

Except one person.

'You shouldn't laugh like that.'

Lysinas, the one who turned Leo into a spotted mess, clicked her tongue internally.

Sure enough—

"You want me to make you look like this too?"

"Ahh! Let go!"

Celia screamed as Leo grabbed her.

bl

"What is it, First Saint?"

A man in a pure white robe, like snow, asked a praying man.

The First Saint stopped praying and replied:

"The Second Saintess, Ameriol, has been extinguished."

"Tartaros's doing?"

The Third Saint, the man who asked, flared with anger.

"No. A human did it."

"A human? How could a lowly slave race extinguish a saintess?"

The Third Saint looked incredulous.

"The times have changed, Third Saint."

The First Saint stood and turned.

In his palm was a small shard.

"What's that?"

"A thing called a Hero Record."

"Hero Record?"

"An abominable artifact made by the celestial gods."

The First Saint looked at the shard and spoke.

"Apparently, this era has… heroes."