Editor : Amethyst00



Leo, having blasted apart the room where Rune resided, let his sword hang loosely and trudged slowly toward the dormitory building.

Tatak, tatak—

The room continued to burn with flames from Leo's magic.

Fwoosh—!

Moments later, the fire subsided.

And from the ruins of the dormitory, someone stepped out.

Hair like platinum. Large golden eyes.

An elf with an otherworldly presence that made it feel as though she were out of reach—so beautiful that one might lose themselves just looking at her.

'Rune Orweny.'

President of Seiren, and known throughout the world as the Reincarnation of the Poet of the Star, Luna.

In truth, she was Luna Luminance herself.

'…This feels strange.'

Just like when he saw Kar—Aaron reincarnated—Leo felt the same odd disconnect.

Knowing someone, only to face them again in a completely different form… It was not something one easily got used to.

And yet…

"How beautiful," Leo muttered flatly.

Rune looked down at him, then crouched and rested her chin in her hand, tilting her head.

"Of course. If this face wasn't beautiful, someone ought to see a doctor."

At that, Leo let out a dry chuckle.

"You're the one who cast the spell?"

"I am."

"Why?"

If it were the Luna he knew, she would've flipped the moment he blew up her room.

But Rune… gave him the courtesy of asking why.

"Why are you asking?"

"If it was a mistake, I'd let it go."

Rune replied with a listless tone.

And she wasn't lying—she truly meant to let it slide if it had been a misfire.

Leo, catching on, clicked his tongue.

'She really has gone dull.'

"I did it on purpose."

"Oh? Why?"

Even hearing it was intentional, Rune's tone remained bored.

"Because I want to fight you."

"I see."

"You're not mad?"

"Mad? Not particularly."

She shook her head.

"I've dealt with plenty like you."

At a young age, Rune had become Seiren's student council president. With the title of the Poet of the Star's reincarnation, she had amassed incredible fame.

And of course, countless people couldn't believe in that fame.

There were also many who sought to take her down, hoping to claim that fame for themselves.

Most of them… were elves.

To surpass the reincarnation of the Poet of the Star would be, in their minds, to become her true successor.

For countless reasons, Rune had been challenged time and again in the elven society.

Each time, she crushed her opponents mercilessly and cemented her place.

'Most of them also denied Kyle's existence.'

As Rune recalled those from before, she sighed softly.

Some of them had even risen to the rank of hero.

In time, even failing to defeat her but landing a decent blow became enough to gain recognition.

Now, challengers from all races came to test their mettle against Rune.

Unlike Leah, Kar, or Valhar—who avoided fights—Rune never dodged a challenge.

In her eyes, Leo was no different from those many who craved her name.

There was no reason to be angry.

She simply granted the moths what they so desperately sought—by throwing them into the flames.

Without even drawing her staff, Rune raised her hand.

Snap—!

With a flick of her fingers, a massive root erupted from the floor.

CRACK—!

The root coiled around Leo and yanked him into the ground.

"This room's ruined. Guess I'll have to sleep elsewhere."

Rune sighed as she glanced around her shattered quarters.

WHAM—! CRAAAAAACK—!

"…?"

Rune looked up to see Leo soaring into the sky, having torn through the roots.

Turning to face him, she let out a soft note of admiration.

"Wow, you're strong."

It was pure, honest awe.

Leo tilted his head at her reaction.

"Got anything else?"

Clearly a taunt.

Yet Rune responded calmly, waving her hand.

"How about this?"

Flash—!

Countless magic circles bloomed in the air, shining with varied elemental energies.

Seeing that, Leo crossed his arms.

"This all?"

Provoked, Rune merely gave another wave of her finger.

The spells activated all at once and poured toward Leo—

Blazing flames. Crashing thunder. Hail from the heavens. Blinding flashes of light.

An overwhelming storm of magic.

Facing the onslaught, Leo simply raised his sword.

Whoooosh—

His blade ignited with a crimson flame.

In his past life as Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, he was bound by no element. His Purity mana trait allowed him to manipulate all elements freely.

Back then, he would wield whatever was needed for the situation.

But after reincarnating, Leo mostly favored fire.

Part of it came from his maternal lineage, the Zerdinger clan.

But more than that…

It was because of Erebos—the being he had to defeat.

"The flame of calamity that never dies."

While Leo's mana was a natural counter to Erebos, it wasn't because of elemental advantage.

Pure mana negated the immortality of the flame, not the flame itself.

In his previous life, the flame of calamity had taken everything from him—

His closest friends.

Even his life as Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.

"Only fire can withstand fire."

Back then, only Dweno, who wielded the golden flame, could resist that blaze.

"If I only inherit Dweno's strength, then I'll simply repeat the past."

That's why Leo forged his own fire—one to rival Dweno's.

And he helped Lunia perfect the Flame Emperor, a fire capable of purging the Flame of Calamity.

KRAAAASH—!

The crimson aura of Leo's flame devoured Rune's spells.

Rune's eyes widened.

'That's nearly on par with that freak's flame…'

But her surprise was fleeting.

'Even if it matches Dweno's firepower, that doesn't mean he's as strong as her.'

Her golden eyes dulled again as she raised her hand—

Then brought it down.

BOOM—!

An immense pressure slammed down on Leo.

CRASH—!

The ground beneath him caved in, demolishing the surrounding area.

It was an immense gravity spell, far beyond the norm—because it was cast by Luna herself.

SLAM—!

Leo was forced down, crushed by the weight.

But then—

Whooosh—

Power erupted from Leo's body.

'…Magic?'

For the first time, a glint of emotion flickered in Rune's eyes.

KRAAAAA—!

The crimson flames roared skyward, incinerating the gravity spell itself.

Leo casually brushed off the cinders clinging to his clothes.

Then looked up at Rune.

She looked back at him, her face wrinkling into a faint grimace.

And muttered, slightly annoyed—

"What a pain."

'A pain, huh…'

Leo's eyes darkened.

'Well, I guess from her perspective, challengers might just be a nuisance.'

But the person standing before him now wasn't just anyone—it was Luna Luminance.

A great mage who adored magic more than anyone else, who had once cheered with uncontainable joy at the discovery of new possibilities. A woman who pursued the irrational over the rational, who shone with childlike curiosity in the face of the unknown, overflowing with creativity.

The clash between Leo and Rune had lasted but a moment.

But Rune must have seen it. The glimpse of a possibility she didn't know. Something new and uncharted.

She should've felt curiosity, not annoyance. Because the Luna Luminance that Leo knew—that's exactly the kind of person she was.

But this Luna… this Rune… had dismissed him as nothing more than a bothersome presence.

Rune raised a hand into the air.

Voom—! Clack—!

A staff materialized and landed in her grasp.

Leo understood what that meant all too well.

'She's coming.'

Flash!

Hundreds of magic circles spread across the sky— And it didn't stop there.

Leo bent low.

Cra-ka-ka-ka-kang—!

The barrage of spells rained down like a magical artillery strike.

Leo crouched low—then launched himself.

KA-BA-BA-BA-BOOM!

True to her title as the Queen of Destruction, the entire area was swept away in an instant.

'Hypersense.'

Leo activated his hyper-sense.

Every nerve sharpened like a blade, and his aura surged, amplifying his strength to the limit.

He deflected incoming spells with his sword, knocking them off course.

BANG!

The ricocheted spell exploded behind him.

The jolt numbed his fingertips, but Leo didn't stop.

He rapidly closed the distance.

'…She's exactly how I remember Luna.'

Rune's combat style was painfully familiar.

It hadn't changed at all in the 5,000 years since.

Unlike Leo—who had constantly adapted and evolved his fighting style throughout his reincarnated life— Rune's magic was stuck in the past.

Despite the changing times, she hadn't moved on.

Something in the past still had her trapped.

Leo narrowed his eyes.

'She's still strong.'

To the forces of Tartaros, she was likely still a nightmare incarnate.

In fact, there were probably only two people in the world who could survive this kind of magic bombardment and reach her.

'Aaron and Dweno.'

And Leo—who knew Luna better than anyone—was one of them. He knew exactly how to break through.

But still…

'This can't be it.'

Crack—!

Leo stomped down, launching himself directly beneath Rune.

Rune, sensing danger, activated Fly and shot into the sky.

BOOM!

Leo followed, using his aura to explode from midair, flames bursting from his feet like thrusters.

'The Luna Luminance I knew… was like a star.'

Always shining.

So much so, it was almost annoying.

But that's why she was Luna.

A star that doesn't shine… isn't a star.

And a Luna that doesn't shine—isn't Luna.

Even if her form had changed. Even if she was living a different life now. That essence should never have disappeared.

WHOOSH—!

Leo chased her down until their breath could almost touch.

"Wow."

Rune clicked her tongue.

"Guess I've hit rock bottom."

The fact that she had been overwhelmed— Seemed to surprise her.

But even in this absurd moment… she remained listless.

"So I'm washed up now, huh?"

She didn't resist. She didn't get angry. She just muttered to herself, as if accepting it all.

Leo stared at her with growing frustration—then shouted, "Snap out of it, you damn woman!"

WHACK!

Leo smacked Rune across her right ear with his palm.

The impact bounced back from her powerful magic shield, smashing Leo's hand.

Bones cracked—but he didn't stop.

With brute force, he forced her back— And sent her flying.

KWA-GA-GANG—!

Rune crashed into the ground with a thunderous impact.

Leo slowly floated toward her, expression grim.

bl

'What the hell is he?'

Clutching her throbbing head, Rune staggered to her feet.

It was a shock.

She never imagined—that she, the Great Hero, could be defeated.

'Well… there's no rule that says people like us can't be born again.'

And yet, she could accept it.

Back in the Age of Calamity… heroes like her had been miracles. There's no reason such a miracle couldn't happen again.

'But still… seriously. Why the hell do we have to go through all that hell again?'

Rune scowled, frustration twisting her face.

Her head was ringing, her ears buzzing. Only a high-pitched hum filled her hearing now.

'Kyle didn't even get to be rewarded for everything he did.'

She clenched her jaw, the image of a friend who never came back haunting her.

'I hate all of it.'

Saving the world—magic itself—she hated it all.

'Why didn't he come back?!'

As she imagined Kyle, who must've stood alone against Erebos to the very end, Rune squeezed her eyes shut.

'I want to see Kyle again…'

And as that thought bloomed—

The ringing in her ears faded.

♬—♪—♩—

A faint, beautiful melody began to drift in.

'…Music?'

She opened her eyes in faint confusion.

And she saw it.

A human girl, locked in combat with Lunia.

'Chelsea… wasn't it Lewellin?'

As soon as she recognized Chelsea—

She caught a burst of blinding light racing across her vision.

'That girl… Eliana Raden?'

Rune had dismissed them.

Artificial mimics of Kyle, created by Lysinas. She'd lost interest, assuming they had clear limits.

Called it a foolish decision.

She hadn't even bothered to say it aloud. They simply weren't worth her attention.

But now—

'These girls… had this kind of potential?'

Magic she had never seen before.

Creative. Revolutionary.

It was immediately clear—they were spells designed to maximize the user's potential.

And alongside that realization, a strange pang of nostalgia gripped her.

'Who created that magic…?'

The formulas.

The way they were weaved together—

It was too familiar. Unmistakably her own handiwork.

From long ago. Back when she had adored magic with all her heart.

'But… I don't know that spell.'

Rune bit down hard.

A storm of unnameable emotions pounded her chest.

It felt like those spells were asking her a question.

What happened to you?

'I… I…'

Just as her hand clenched—

WHUMP!

"Kya?!"

Someone kicked her in the ass.

Rune toppled forward with a yelp and clutched her backside, spinning around.

Standing there, looking down at her—

Was Leo.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Don't you feel anything watching that magic?"

"……?"

"How long are you going to keep moping over a dead guy?"

"……!"

"What do you think he'd want—if he were born again? To see you like this? Sulking like a damned corpse?"

Rune's eyes trembled at his words.

"And what if it was the other way around? If you saw him like this… You think you'd be happy?"

"…Who are you?"

Rune asked in a quivering voice.

Leo held out his hand.

"Being trapped in the past… that's not like you."

Magic bloomed from his palm.

Rune's eyes widened.

And then, tears welled up—overflowed.

Seeing her like that, Leo said in his usual gruff tone, "Don't tell me I've gotta help you stand now, Luna Luminance."

"Don't flatter yourself, you bastard."

Gritting her teeth, Rune—no, Luna—forced herself to her feet.

She looked like she might burst into tears at any moment, but she endured.

Watching her rise, still unsteady, Leo gave a small smile and held something out.

It was a flower—crafted with a spell that made blossoms bloom.

Luna accepted it with trembling hands.

Leo spoke, watching her.

"Past or present, you've always looked good with flowers."

At that, Luna hung her head low.

That awkward, rough kindness— It broke her.

Tears she'd held back came pouring out.

"…No—maybe even more now than before?"

"You… damn bastard…"

She leaned forward and buried her forehead into Leo's chest.

And as Luna wept in silence, Leo sighed and gently patted her back.

With her face buried in his chest, Luna finally broke down in sobs.