Editor : Amethyst00



"How impressive."

Leo smiled faintly as he gauged Jeswan's skill.

"Judging by how Sith reacted to him, he must be a real pain in the ass."

Since his reincarnation, Leo had met quite a number of heroes.

Some were genuinely admirable—even by Leo's high standards.

But just as many… were far from it.

'Well, no helping it. After all, it was the gods who chose the heroes.'

The gods loved the noble-hearted.

But just as much, they loved the wicked and twisted.

Each god possessed different temperaments and tendencies.

So, naturally, there were those Leo didn't consider worthy of being called a hero at all.

But Leo didn't particularly care.

'Who becomes a hero has nothing to do with me. And more importantly…'

Leo fixed his gaze on Jeswan.

'Whether it's a proper god or one who's practically deranged, they all share one common trait.'

They adored those who achieved great feats.

'No matter how flawed, any hero must've accomplished something grand to be recognized.'

Of course, that didn't mean every hero was a noble figure.

Some crossed lines.

They betrayed the world.

They trampled on the very meaning of being a hero.

Leo had personally stripped such individuals of their titles in the past.

And now, after meeting so many of this era's heroes, he had to admit—Jeswan was actually one of the better ones.

Leo knew from the very beginning: Jeswan wasn't here to become a knight of the Arhi Kingdom.

He simply came because he was curious—pure and simple.

He had no intention of being bound to anyone.

'He just doesn't like being tied down.'

He had a fighter's spirit, but didn't wear it on his sleeve.

Even though he understood the gap in power from the start, he still chose to fight—just for the challenge.

Leo could feel it.

The man wasn't fighting with a desperate desire to win.

He was fighting because he wanted to test something.

'Compared to him… that woman Nazlin…'

She was different.

She was throwing everything she had into this.

Determined to impress Leo no matter what.

Looking at the swirling sand-like aura around her, Leo now understood why she was called the Sandcastle Knight.

He let out a quiet breath—and raised the spear in his hand.

His crimson eyes locked onto Nazlin.

Vwooom—!

Flames ignited around Leo's hand.

Jeswan's eyes sharpened the instant he saw it, and he dashed forward.

Whoosh—!

Twin flames burst from Jeswan's dual spears.

Leo raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm? Teamwork?"

Jeswan grinned.

"If she goes down first, I've gotta deal with you alone, don't I?"

"We usually call that teamplay, you know."

Whether it was desperation or just instinct, Jeswan moved to keep the battle balanced.

But even working together wouldn't be enough.

Because Leo wasn't someone a single person—let alone the two of them—could overwhelm.

Fwoooosh—!

"……!"

A blaze erupted—and ten replica of Leo suddenly filled the arena.

The crowd gasped in astonishment.

"Magic! That's magic!"

"Is that illusion magic?!"

'No—it's not magic at all!'

Jeswan recognized it instantly.

It was pure aura manipulation—replicas of Leo created with nothing but condensed aura.

'His aura control… it's beyond belief.'

Jeswan already knew this boy was a monster.

But this… was on another level.

Aura, unlike mana or spiritual power, was notoriously difficult to control.

Fire-element aura was especially volatile and destructive, making it even harder to wield with precision.

Yet Leo had conjured nine doppelgängers made of pure fire aura—and used them to pin Jeswan in place.

Then, gathering all his strength, Leo hurled his flaming spear at Nazlin.

KWAOOOOOM—!

The spear streaked across the air like a meteor, bearing down on her.

In response, Nazlin summoned her aura—sand rising like a great fortress to intercept the blow.

KRAAANG—!

But Leo's spear shattered the sand wall like it was paper, sending Nazlin flying backward.

"Tch…!"

Jeswan finally managed to shake off the aura clones and prepared to reposition—

Chak—!

But Leo was already behind him, pressing the tip of a spear to his nape.

Clatter.

Jeswan dropped his weapon and raised both hands.

"I yield."

As soon as Leo withdrew his spear, the arena exploded with cheers.

"UWAAAAHHHH!"

"Long live the King of Beginnings!"

"He took down the Hellhound Hero like it was nothing!"

"And not just the Hellhound! Don't forget the Sandcastle Knight!"

It wasn't every day the people got to see heroes up close—let alone witness a duel between them.

Naturally, the excitement reached a fever pitch.

Jeswan silently watched Leo walk toward Sith.

'Even if I chased after him my whole life… I'd never catch up.'

This—this was the true meaning of being on a different level.

Meanwhile…

"Both of you pass."

"…Eh?! Your Majesty, what do you mean…?!"

Sith instinctively raised his voice at Leo's sudden declaration.

Realizing it, he coughed and tried to recover.

"Ahem—Your Majesty. I might understand if it's the Sandcastle Knight. But that Hellhound is not the kind of man who can belong anywhere. Even if we bring him into the Royal Knights, he's a walking storm. During his mercenary days, he beat his commanding officers like it was a hobby. He'll definitely cause trouble. There's a reason they call him a mad dog."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah."

"A dog do listens well, at least."

"Your Majesty. I told you, he's not just a dog—he's a mad dog."

At that, Leo's lips curled into a smile.

"I can already tell he doesn't listen to anyone. And I know what you're worried about, Sith."

He glanced over his shoulder.

"But I kind of like the guy."

"…Sigh. Very well. I'll extend the offer to join the knight order. But I doubt he'll want to be tied down."

"If he says no, don't bother trying to convince him."

Sith nodded and turned around.

He walked over to the two warriors with steady steps.

"Sir Nazlin. Sir Jeswan. His Majesty was impressed by your skill, and wishes to offer you a place in the Arhi Kingdom's knight order."

Nazlin's face brightened with joy.

"Truly?!"

"That's right."

Sith then turned to Jeswan with narrowed eyes.

"Sir Jeswan, of course, I assume you're not particularly interested in joining?"

"…"

"Sir Jeswan?"

"…Eh, what the hell. I'm in."

"…?"

A sharp pain struck Sith's temple.

'What the hell…? This is the guy who turned down enough gold to fill a palace, and now he just—'

He had a vague idea why.

'Sure, His Majesty is a remarkable man. But if people are going to fall for him, why does it have to be men like this…?'

Jeswan's skill was unquestionable.

In fact, among all living heroes, his power was in the top tier.

And as someone who had stood among heroes for decades, Sith knew that better than anyone.

But from his point of view, Jeswan was a walking hazard—unpredictable and unruly.

Even with Leo's charisma, overwhelming strength, and growing fame…

Arhi was still a newborn kingdom.

And the one managing that kingdom behind the scenes… was Sith himself.

Years ago, the Kingdom of Tonkan had fallen under a massive assault by Tartaros.

'And now, His Majesty… he will eventually stand against Tartaros. No—against Erebos himself.'

The instincts of an aging hero whispered it to him.

A war unlike any in history was coming.

Which is why, of course, Sith welcomed powerful allies into the kingdom.

But equally important was stabilizing Arhi's internal affairs.

And heroes—heroes shook the world just by existing.

Gather enough of them in one place, and you'd get a force strong enough to overturn nations.

But the more powerful they were, the more unstable the gathering.

'Even in the era of the Great Dawn, when the Heroes of Dawn rose together, Tartaros was never fully destroyed for a reason.'

The stronger they were, the harder it was to unite them.

If the Arhi Kingdom was going to gather such power—

'Then only those least likely to cause disorder should be allowed in.'

"Sir Jeswan. You do understand, Arhi is a newborn kingdom."

"I know."

"Which means… we're poor."

"…Huh?"

"I mean, we can't pay you what you deserve."

"I've got more money than I can spend in a lifetime anyway."

That shut Sith up.

He racked his brain for a way to get Jeswan to refuse the offer on his own.

Just then—

"Sith. Leo says from now on, don't block anyone who challenges him."

"…What?"

"He says he'll personally knock down every challenger who comes his way."

At Elena's words, Sith slowly turned toward Leo in the distance.

"…And while you're at it, just let the Hellhound in."

"Elena… this is a national matter. I don't think—"

"How is it not my business? This is my future workplace."

"…Come again?"

"I'm joining Arhi's Royal Magic Research Division after I graduate."

"Says who?"

"Says the most powerful man in the kingdom…"

Sith stared at Leo's fading figure as he headed back toward the palace.

At that moment—

"Oho? So you're Elena ZĂ©ron."

Jeswan turned to her with interest.

"I heard you're just as much of a menace as I am."

Elena shook her head.

"No."

"What, playing innocent? Your glorious track record is infamous across the world."

"It's not innocence. I'm just saying—your reputation? It's child's play compared to mine."

"…Now you're talking."

Jeswan grinned, clearly entertained.

She'd been on her best behavior in front of Leo—but truth be told, Elena's infamy surpassed Jeswan's.

Listening to their bizarre exchange, Sith muttered to himself.

'Please… don't compete over something like that.'

Regardless of his inner plea, Elena and Jeswan—tyrant and mad dog—were now officially part of the Arhi Kingdom, as a mage and a knight.

Sith returned to the palace with a face that looked ten years older.

At the gate, Chen Xia greeted him with a gentle voice.

"Lord Sith."

"Ah… Princess. Forgive me for that disgraceful display."

"It'll be fine."

"…Pardon?"

"Leo-doryeong's really good at taming lunatics like them."

"…Is that meant to comfort me?"

"No, not comfort. Just the truth."

Chen Xia shook her head sincerely.

Sith let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Yes. With His Majesty's charisma, I suppose even Elena and Jeswan can be brought to heel. It seems I worried too much."

"No… what you should be worried about is Leo-doryeong himself."

"…What do you mean?"

"The biggest lunatic in this kingdom… is him."

"…?"

As someone who'd studied with Leo, who'd watched over him, and chosen to become his shadow—

Chen Xia's quiet, serious words made Sith think deeply.

'Should we have made Lady Celia the ruler instead…?'

While Sith mulled over that unsettling idea, Chen Xia followed after Leo.

Soon, she spotted him waiting at the end of the corridor.

"Leo-doryeong. I wanted to—"

"Xia."

"Y-yes!"

Something in Leo's voice—subtle but firm—made her instinctively straighten up.

"Call for Anya."

"Ah…"

The successor to the Shadow Lord of the North.

The half-elf girl.

Chen Xia blinked, then murmured.

"…So, the Sandcastle Knight really is…"

"You've gotten sharper," Leo said, turning to her.

There was something different in his presence.

Something darker.

'The Shadow God…'

"That's right," he said plainly.

"That woman…"

Leo's crimson eyes gleamed.

"…She's a Hero Hunter."