Editor : Amethyst00



With her eyes closed, Chloe focused on constructing the magical formula.

Beside her, Lunia supported the flow of the spell, assisting in its deployment.

"This old man, when he's sleeping like this, really does look like just a boy our age."

Poke—

Elena jabbed Leo's cheek with her fingertip.

"Hey, Elena. Could you actually help out a bit instead of poking him? I think we're close to succeeding."

Chloe staggered slightly as she halted the spell sequence. Lunia, who had been supporting her, shot Elena a sharp glare.

Elena, however, only smiled softly.

"Sorry, but I'm not as gifted in magical theory as the two of you. I probably wouldn't be much help right now."

"What are you talking about? After we heard from Lady Lysinas that Leo's soul had been flung into a parallel world, you were the one who translated Chloe's theory into a functioning spell."

Before heading to the frontlines to repel the Styx invasion led by Nyx, Lysinas had explained Leo's current situation to Chloe, Lunia, and Elena—those best equipped to handle the complex theory of parallel worlds.

Building on Chloe's magical theory, Lysinas had entrusted them with a developed version of a theoretical spell.

It was based on that theoretical framework that Elena had created the exit spell—a gateway between parallel worlds.

And now she was saying she couldn't help?

At Lunia's words, Elena simply shrugged.

"Well, it's true Lady Lysinas is amazing. In this situation, she still picked me as the one person who could make that absurd magic a reality."

"What are you…?"

"I'm not like you or Chloe. I'm not great at coming up with creative new ideas."

Elena smiled again.

"In other words, when it comes to pioneering uncharted magical ground, I'm not all that useful."

Seated at the edge of the bed, she gently pinched Leo's cheek again as she spoke.

"But if it's about finding answers from what's already given, that I am good at."

"So… you can't draw the blueprint, but you can color it in?"

"Exactly. You're smart as ever, Lunia."

Lysinas had seen Elena's true strength with pinpoint accuracy.

'Lunia… this girl's heart is in magic. Truly.'

She wasn't just any elf—she was the one chosen by Luna, the Poet of the Star, as her successor.

Her spellcasting was filled with unorthodox creativity and daring experimentation.

"Anyway, Chloe—are you alright?"

"Yes."

Chloe nodded at Elena's concern.

"What we're trying to create goes beyond magic—it's in the realm of miracles."

Even if magic is limitless in theory, crafting a gateway to traverse parallel worlds was pushing the boundaries of possibility.

Even if it could be done, it wasn't something achievable with current magical understanding.

Not even someone like Lysinas—revered as the wisest being in all history—could pull this off alone.

Even if the most brilliant minds in magical theory banded together, it wouldn't instantly advance the field by several tiers.

Yet the spell had succeeded—because there was one crucial element serving as the link between this world and the parallel one.

Leo.

Elena's idea to build the gateway with Leo at the center had been correct.

'And to that, I add myself—someone with the same magical signature as Nyx—to open the door.'

This was the core concept behind the current method for traversing the parallel world.

Chloe looked down at her own hand.

'That was definitely Leo's hand.'

She had just barely managed to reach him through the mirror's other side.

'I have to finish this spell, quickly…'

"Lunia. Let's start again."

"Will you be okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

The spell's burden fell entirely on Chloe.

Which meant the toll on her body was hers to bear alone.

As Chloe began channeling her magic once more, Elena glanced over at Leo's unconscious form.

And with a quiet sigh, she muttered under her breath:

"Hurry up and come back already, you damn old man."

bl

Southern Continent – The Great Forest.

The Great Heroes were walking through the dense woodland, searching for the entrance Leo had passed through to arrive in this world.

"Let's take a short rest."

Valhar halted at a spot suitable for camp and made the suggestion.

"We'll have our dinner here."

At his words, Leo gave a small nod and began preparing the evening meal.

A campfire crackled to life.

While tending to dinner, Leo furrowed his brow, seemingly bothered by something.

"…By the way."

"What's your complaint now?" Valhar asked with arms crossed.

"It's not exactly a complaint, just a question—why am I the only one cooking?"

Leo's irritated voice made Valhar shrug.

"Because that is your complaint."

"Whatever."

"If it bothers you that I'm not cooking, I'll take over. I shall prepare something truly artistic—"

"Get lost."

"Then how about having Leah do it?"

"Nope. Her cooking's cursed. That's not happening."

At that, Leah began approaching, but Kar quickly held her back.

Leo turned to Rune.

"A little help here?"

"I just want to eat your cooking."

"Same here," Kar added, nodding in agreement.

"Come now, make it delicious."

"…Am I your housekeeper or what?"

Leo muttered as he grumbled and got back to the pot.

Sweeping her hair back, Leah stepped forward.

"I'll help."

"No, you're banned."

"Just hold it in, Leah."

"Don't stir up trouble," the others said, stopping her as she stubbornly tried to approach.

Clicking his tongue, Leo sat down properly and began cooking in earnest.

As he stirred, he cast a sidelong glance at his friends.

They had naturally split into two groups.

Leah and Valhar stood some distance away, watching the surroundings.

Rune and Kar, meanwhile, had gone off into the woods to fetch some fruit for dessert.

The split wasn't coincidental—it reflected who supported Leo's return to his original world, and who didn't.

Still, even with differing opinions, no one argued. No conflict stirred between them.

'Because we know each other far too well.'

Rune and Kar hadn't voiced their wish for Leo to stay.

Because they knew—deeply—just how much torment that decision was costing him.

They knew how deeply their words might wound him.

And yet, ever since a while ago, they had unconsciously reached for him.

Trying to hold onto him—desperate for his heart to change.

Leah and Valhar never pointed this out.

In truth, they felt the same.

They understood.

They all did.

Because they knew one another too well. And that bond, that understanding, left no need for words.

Leo looked up at the night sky, now studded with stars.

With the rise of magic, glowing mana-stone lamps lit every street of every city.

Ironically, that made it hard to see stars in the urban sky.

But here, beneath the forest's darkness, the stars blazed down in overwhelming brilliance.

Staring up at them, Leo murmured softly,

"…They shine like hell."

bl

"How do we stop Leo from leaving?"

Rune muttered, frowning deeply in thought.

Behind her, Kar clapped his hands like he had just struck gold.

"Aha!"

"…What? Did something actually come to that rock of yours?"

Rune's eyes widened with anticipation. Kar grinned.

"You should pounce on him."

"…Do you have a death wish?"

"Come on. If you two had a kid, maybe he'd feel more attached to this world."

"You're seriously getting more beast-like with every passing day."

Rune clutched her forehead like it hurt. And yet—

'…It's not the worst idea.'

Her cheeks flushed slightly before she shook her head rapidly.

'No, that's cowardly! It'd only hurt Leo.'

She had thought about crafting a magic spell that could bridge dimensions.

But no matter how many calculations she ran, the answer was always the same—it was impossible with the magic currently available.

'Maybe if we use Leo as the medium it could work… But then again, if he's gone, it's not even possible.'

Just as she bit her lip in frustration—

"Rune."

"If you're about to say 'pounce on him' again, I swear—"

"In front!"

Kar's urgent shout made her eyes snap open.

Fwoooosh—!

Crackle—!

Rune instantly deployed her magic, summoning a towering wall of ice. It barely held back the jet-black flames that surged toward them.

"…Erebos."

Her voice seethed with hatred as she glared into the darkness.

There, standing under the twisted canopy of trees—

—was Erebos, wearing Kyle's face.

"EREBOS!"

Kar's roar shook the entire forest.

A surge of killing intent spread like a shockwave.

He had transformed—his entire body engulfed in golden aura—and now he charged at Erebos with bestial speed.

Erebos drew his sword, and—

Clang! Krrrshhhh!

Black flame shards clashed with golden aura, erupting in a chaotic explosion of force and heat.

"Oho?"

Erebos's eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Killing intent? How unlike you, Aaron."

He smiled and tightened his grip.

Dark flame surged around his sword in a violent arc.

Kar's eyes narrowed.

'Kyle's technique…!'

Twisting his body, Kar whirled midair, intercepting the storm of incoming slashes with precise, powerful swings.

KRAKAKAKAKANG—!

Deflecting every strike, Kar gathered that rotational force into his blade and swung—

BOOOOM!

Their blades collided with such power that the ground buckled and split open. Trees were ripped from the soil and flung away.

Kar was blown backward by the recoil, but he managed to dissipate the force through his body, minimizing the damage.

And then—

Fwoooosh—!

A towering giant wreathed in golden fire descended with a mighty fist aimed straight at Erebos.

"Dweno, is it?"

Erebos smirked, calling up his own black flames.

ROOOOOOAR—!

A massive fist of black fire erupted to meet the golden one.

BAAAAAAANG!

The explosion scorched the land. The very air sizzled as moisture vanished and the surrounding vegetation was incinerated.

The ground melted and shimmered like molten glass.

And then—

Fwoosh—

The flames vanished.

Step.

Valhar stepped forward, placing himself protectively between Rune and Erebos.

"…Looks like you're not just blocking with that shield anymore. You're trying to kill with it."

"Hmph. Never thought I'd hear you make such a dull joke."

"A dull joke, is it? I was only imitating a certain hero who survived too long."

"When the hell did I ever say something like that?"

Leo landed beside Valhar with a frown.

"Yeah, that's a Kyle-tier joke," said Leah, nodding solemnly.

Leo smacked her on the head.

"Whose side are you on?"

"Yours. Obviously."

"Same as yours," Rune chimed in from behind.

"…You little—"

While Leo was grinding his teeth, Kar returned to the battlefield.

Facing all the Great Heroes at once, Erebos chuckled.

"…What an odd little gathering."

"What's so funny?"

Leah's eyes narrowed.

"Isn't it amusing? Five thousand years ago, I was defeated by you. And now—once again—the same heroes stand in my way as the fate of the world hangs in the balance."

"……"

"What curious fate. What peculiar ties."

"Keep your ties. We don't want any," Rune said, face twisted in disgust.

"Heh. But I, for one, am quite glad."

"No more words."

Leah stepped forward.

"We're not happy to see you. So let's finish this."

Rumble—

A chilling bloodlust flickered in Leah's eyes.

"This time… it's not going to end like it did five thousand years ago."

"Oho. On that, we agree."

Erebos smiled—a smile filled with bloodlust.

"I believe the outcome will be… very different indeed."