Editor : Amethyst00



Flash—

A warp gate burst into brilliant light.

And from within, several figures emerged.

From nearby in the garden surrounding the warp gate, Principal Kalian of Lumene—dressed in a gardener's outfit, tending to a tree—widened his eyes at the sight.

"So you've finally arrived!"

Leaping to his feet, he threw off his wide-brimmed straw hat.

"Student Leah! I've been waiting for you!"

Seeing Kalian welcome her like a grandfather greeting his long-lost grandchild, Leah pressed her fingers to her temple.

"Principal… Aren't you on duty right now…?"

"It's quite alright! Our Lumene is blessed with a very capable faculty! They're handling things on behalf of this old man!"

"Professor Harrid, Professor Sedgen… and Professor Rina—they're all busy managing the students."

"They're all folks I've watched over since they were students themselves! Tremendously competent, I tell you! They wouldn't even blink over such a trifling amount of overwork!"

"But if you just did your own job, they wouldn't be overworked in the first place!"

"Oh-ho? Isn't all of this your fault, Student Leah?"

"…Why me, all of a sudden?"

"You're far too competent! You took over even my work, didn't you? I got too used to a life without tasks. These days, my eyes have gotten so blurry…"

Letting out a deep sigh at the old man's exaggerated whining, Leah spotted someone approaching from a distance.

"Looks like it's Professor Harrid."

"Tch. Persistent fellow."

Clicking his tongue, Kalian tried to sneak away.

But Leah cast a spell, catching his ankle mid-step.

"Attacking an old man?! The Leah I know would never commit such a monstrous act!"

Just as Kalian widened his eyes in outrage—

Thud.

"Principal. It's time for work."

"Harrid! Unhand me! I must give my Leah a proper lecture—!"

"Work takes precedence over lectures. Ain, Len."

Snap— Snap—

At Harrid's call, his ever-loyal assistants, Professors Ain and Len, grabbed Kalian by each arm.

"To the principal's office, if you will."

"You'll regret this, working an old man like a mule! What, you think you'll never grow old yourselves?!"

Kalian's wails echoed, but Ain and Len didn't respond.

Harrid glanced toward Leah.

"You've returned, it seems."

"Yes, Professor Harrid."

As Leah nodded, Harrid's gaze shifted to the others.

'Student council presidents from other Hero Academies who've been in contact with Leah. And…'

His eyes landed on Leo. Harrid approached Leo. Seeing him draw near with a curious expression, Leo tilted his head.

"Your name?"

"Leo."

"…Leo."

Harrid already knew. This boy before him—he was the cause behind the recent commotion at Lumene.

After a moment's silent examination, Harrid spoke.

"Have you ever considered teaching here at Lumene?"

Leo blinked in surprise at the sudden scouting offer.

Then smiled faintly.

"I don't think it's time for me to be teaching others just yet."

"I've seen what you did with Chelsea Lewellin and Eliana Raden. I'm not so sure about that."

"I merely pointed them in the right direction."

"And that too is fine education."

"I think she's more suited to being an educator than I am."

With a slight smile, Leo placed his hands on Leah's shoulders and gently pulled her forward.

Leah blinked in surprise and looked back at him.

"…Hmm."

Harrid replied plainly.

"She might make an excellent leader. But as a teacher, I'd still say you're slightly more suited for it."

"Huh? But I learned a lot from her, you know?"

"Showing the way and guiding others forward is one thing. Teaching and pushing from behind is another matter entirely."

Having said his piece, Harrid turned around without lingering.

"If you're ever interested, let me know."

Leaving those words behind, he followed after Kalian.

"You've been handling the principal's work too?"

"Yeah. It just seemed more efficient that way. When I'm busy or absent, Principal Kalian still steps in… but lately, he's been eyeing retirement."

"Can't say I blame him."

"Um. How long do you plan to keep holding onto me like this?"

Just then, Rune wedged herself between them and slapped the back of Leo's hand that rested on Leah's shoulders.

"Come to think of it—been meaning to say this. That Harrid guy's pretty sharp."

Valhar stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"He's got a precise eye for seeing through to the core of things."

"Well, that's definitely one of Professor Harrid's traits."

Leo nodded.

"Is the Kalian from your world also the type to ditch work and run away like this?"

Leah asked, and Leo gave a bitter smile.

"Our Kalian faced the Monster Queen alone… fought until he ran out of strength… and quietly closed his eyes."

"…Ah."

"He went out like someone who truly carried an era on his shoulders."

Leah fell silent.

Rune nudged her.

"Alright now, Leah. You need to go meet with your students, right? Lots of clean-up to do, isn't there?"

Leah narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the hand pushing her back.

"You seem awfully eager to send me off."

"No way! It's just that Leo caused a ruckus, and there's bound to be a lot of aftermath. Plus, you need to guide the students, help them find their paths, right?"

"That's true. I'll be quite busy."

"Exactly, so hurry and—"

"Is Leah the only one with things to do?"

"Owowowow! What are you doing?!"

Leo grabbed Rune's ear and gave it a tug.

As Rune shouted in protest, Leo shoved her toward the warp gate.

"You've got things to clean up in Seiren too. Like the Pureblood Society… and the successors you've neglected."

At those words, Rune flinched.

"Honestly, out of the four of you, you might've been the laziest."

"Ugh."

Ears drooping, Rune wore a chastised expression.

"…You're right. How pathetic."

Leah, who always emphasized Kyle-like qualities to her students.

Kar, who—though a bit self-centered in his approach—tried hard to teach the Azonia students.

Valhar, who passed on his skills with no holding back.

And Rune… the one who had stood still the longest.

"…Maybe I'm unfit to be the Poet of the Star."

Seeing Rune hang her head, Leo spoke.

"Then just do well from now on."

"…Huh?"

"You're a genius, aren't you? Once you set your mind to it, I bet you'll get all kinds of inspiration from seeing the Seiren students."

At those words, Rune's drooping ears perked up. Then began to twitch excitedly.

Crossing her arms, she snorted.

"Well, yeah! I am the greatest magical genius in history! The one and only Rune herself!"

With just one compliment from Leo, Rune strutted toward the warp gate, chest puffed out.

"I'll wrap things up quick and come right back! Wait for me, Leo!"

Smiling brightly, she vanished back to Seiren.

Watching her go, Valhar shook his head.

"Looks like the elven society's about to be turned upside down."

The Pureblood Society had been secretly linked to Tartaros.

Up until now, the uninspired Rune hadn't truly realized how rotten elven society had become. But now, it was different.

"She'll probably wipe them out in no time."

Fast thinking. Decisive action. And a gift for making things happen.

That was Rune.

If the clues hadn't come to light, maybe she wouldn't have noticed.

But now that Leo had handed her the thread—

—she would sweep through the Pureblood Society before they could even react.

'She might look impulsive, but her judgment in the moment is dead on.'

"Leah. You take care of the kids too."

"Mm. Leo, you'll be staying in Lumene as a guest for a while, right?"

"Yeah. There are some things I want to ask of you all."

"Ask?"

Kar tilted his head.

"Yeah."

Leo flexed his palm slightly.

"I want to see how well I'm using the abilities I inherited from you all… and whether I can take them even further."

bl

In front of the guest quarters prepared for visitors to Lumene, there was a small sparring ground.

There, Leo, Kar, and Valhar were deep in conversation.

"You say he released killing intent in the middle of the fight?"

Leo turned to Kar with surprised eyes.

"Yes. At that moment, Kar was clearly radiating killing intent toward that evil god called Nyx."

"For someone as timid as him, that's hard to imagine."

Back during the Age of Calamity, Though Kar possessed overwhelming martial skill, his timid and kind-hearted nature meant he could never truly harbor murderous intent toward his enemies.

Kar had only ever fought with all his strength when his comrades were in danger.

That same gentle Kar had released killing intent… Leo could hardly believe it.

"You must've made a big decision."

At Leo's words, Kar clenched his fist.

"…Because I realized—just how much I'd relied on all of you in my past life."

"Hm. So you can reflect on things like that now. That's impressive."

"Yeah. In our past life… I never took responsibility for anything."

"Huh?"

"Leah bore the weight of the world. Rune constantly worked to enrich Godthrone with magic and technology. Kyl—no, you, Leo—single-handedly struck down the world's darkness. And Valhar was always there as our reliable guide and adviser."

"That's true."

"In comparison… I was always treated with special care just because I was the youngest."

"……"

"You all told me I was the bravest of us… but the truth is, I only had the courage because you were all with me."

Kar's eyes sharpened with resolve.

"I've decided. I want to become someone who can show courage even when I'm alone."

"…A noble resolve, Kar."

"Hehe."

Valhar gave a warm smile, and Kar scratched his head with a bashful grin.

Watching him, Leo let out a small laugh.

"So you've chosen to move forward too."

"Mm."

"But there's something I need to correct."

"Eh?"

"You weren't coddled. And you didn't run from responsibility either."

"Huh? Leo, if you're trying to comfort me, it's okay. Really."

"I'm not trying to comfort you. I'm just saying the—"

Thump!

"Guh?!"

Valhar suddenly looped one thick arm around Leo's neck from behind.

Choked by the old man's overwhelming strength, Leo frantically tapped his forearm.

"Kar. Go see Leah for a moment."

"Huh? Why Leah all of a sudden?"

"Tell her what you just told us. She'll be the happiest to hear it."

"Ah—okay!"

Kar nodded cheerfully and ran off.

Once he had disappeared into the distance, Valhar released Leo.

"Gasp! Gasp! What the hell, you damned old man?!"

Leo gasped for air, rubbing his neck—only to get a firm kick to the back from Valhar.

"No need to kill the boy's spirit, is there? What good is there in telling him the truth now?"

"What do you mean 'why'? Back then, he was no help no matter what we asked of him, so we just didn't assign him anything! Isn't it about time he knew the truth?!"

"Silence! You should just be happy for Kar's growth—pure and simple!"

"Yeah, but knowing the truth will help him grow even more, right?"

"Harrid was wrong! You're the worst educator I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile—

"…You've made a big decision, Kar… But what's with that smile?"

"Huh? I copied Leo's smile! Cool, right? Rune taught me!"

'I was hoping he wouldn't get influenced by those idiots…'

And yet, Kar too had been corrupted by the fools.

The smile that was so obviously mimicking someone else's left Leah unsure whether to laugh or cry.

bl

Erebos, in the form of Kyle, looked up at the sky.

Even now, he could stain that clear blue sky with the color of blood and death. But he did not.

He had already devoured the fragment carried by the Lich King—his loyal servant—and had absorbed the reborn Nyx. Now, he stood reborn as a half-complete version of himself.

'But it's not time yet.' Erebos narrowed his eyes.

'If a survivor from another dimension has come here… then there must be a gateway.'

He would pass through that gateway to reach a world where no Great Heroes existed.

'And there, I'll reduce everything to ashes… and devour the fragment of myself that lies dormant in that world.'

And then—

'I will return, and reduce both worlds to ash.'

If that happened—

'Then you will never be able to stop me… Surviving Hero.'