Editor : Amethyst00



"Grandfather! Hurry, hurry!"

"Haha, calm down now."

Before the warp gate of Letin—

A beautiful elven girl was tugging at a striking young man's arm.

For a moment, curious glances turned their way.

But upon seeing the two of them clearly, the onlookers quickly nodded in understanding.

After all, they were both elves.

Given the elven trait of slow aging, it wasn't strange at all if that youthful man were actually a grandfather.

The elf maiden who stepped out of the warp gate, Eiran, widened her eyes in amazement at the breathtaking scenery spread out before her.

"Wow, the view is gorgeous!"

"It hasn't changed at all," replied Rune, laughing heartily. Head of House Ersar, he was also the Elder of El-Salvekia, one of the elven nations.

Just then—

"You're late."

At the sound of a voice from behind, Eiran's face lit up with delight.

"Miss Lunia!"

Standing with her arms crossed was Lunia, clad in a pure-white hood.

Beside her stood her father, Ellen Lunda, also in white robes.

When his gaze met Rune's, Ellen respectfully lowered his head.

Ellen was a teacher in Seiren, while Rune—highest elder among the elves—had just formally been appointed as headmaster of Seiren Academy.

In elven society, the Elder holds a status akin to that of a king in human kingdoms.

The headmaster of Seiren, however, ranked even higher than the Elder.

Despite this, Rune was accompanied by only two magi from House Ersar.

Ellen, too, had brought just two aides with him.

And thus, the members of the Ersar and Lunda Houses began their walk toward the royal palace.

"This city is as splendid as ever."

"Sith Zidma is quite the remarkable fellow. It's no wonder the city has thrived so much under him."

Rune and Ellen chatted as they walked.

Elves, by nature, seldom leave their territory. But elven heroes were an exception.

They often traveled the world in search of Heroic Records or relics tied to elven legend.

Letin, situated close to elven lands, was a frequent destination—despite being part of human territory.

"Miss Lunia, I heard the hot springs here are amazing."

"I've heard the same. If there's one in the royal palace, I'd love to try it."

"Miss Xia said there is one!"

"Yay, that's perfect!"

Lunia and Eiran chatted excitedly about the hot springs.

The northern continent, home to the elves, was a frigid polar region.

With their cultural emphasis on cleanliness, elves had a particular fondness for hot springs.

"Hot springs…"

Eiran's face flushed slightly, her ears twitching restlessly.

Lunia narrowed her eyes.

"You're imagining weird things again, aren't you?"

"Me?"

"Like… sharing a bath with Leo or something."

"No!"

Eiran shook her head with a face as innocent as a lamb.

Her large, round eyes sparkled with clarity.

Lunia was briefly stunned into silence.

Eiran, despite her innocent appearance, had an imagination that could be wildly indecent at times.

And in those moments, it always showed.

But right now… there was no such trace.

This really wasn't that kind of moment.

"…Are you sure it's not you who's imagining weird things, Miss Lunia?"

Eiran narrowed her eyes slyly, and Lunia's face immediately turned crimson.

"You're always blaming me!"

"You rubbed off on me!"

"How is that my fault?!"

As the two bickered back and forth, Ellen shook his head with a sigh and turned to look out at the city streets.

"…How magnificent."

"Hm? Ah…"

Rune followed his gaze and nodded.

"Indeed. A sight rarely seen anywhere in the world."

"It's almost like looking upon the legendary city of Godthrone."

Godthrone.

The final bastion of the world during the Age of Calamity.

The one city where all races stood united.

Letin's streets were packed with people.

But not just humans.

Elves, beastman, dwarves—

Members of many races walked side by side in peace.

Though the races shared the same world, true harmony was rare.

Each race had its own prejudices and pride.

Even unspoken, such tensions often bred disdain and conflict.

Elves, in particular, were known for their strong racial pride.

And yet… even the elves now smiled and exchanged greetings with other races.

This change had begun ever since the Poet of the Star, Luna, returned to the world.

There had been shifts in attitude. A movement toward openness.

'But even so… the feeling of strangeness doesn't disappear.'

Ellen's gaze fell on an elf chatting cheerfully with a passing beastman.

Rune also saw an elf who had been arguing with a dwarf earlier now laughing and shaking hands.

To them, it was unfamiliar.

But—

'To those children… this must not feel strange at all.'

Ellen's eyes landed on Lunia and Eiran, still chatting energetically.

His daughter had, in truth, already risen to the highest standing in elven society—as the successor to Luna, the Poet of the Star.

Once, he would have worried deeply.

Lunia's free-spirited, fiery personality had long clashed with what elven tradition expected of its heirs.

But things were different now.

The elven society no longer sought to restrain her.

They no longer saw her wildness as wrong.

They had come to accept her natural self.

"They are the new generation—the ones who will lead us forward. For them, this sight is normal. No… they're the very reason this sight exists."

Rune smiled softly.

"I truly believe, this scene will lead the elves to greater heights."

"I couldn't agree more."

This change was by no means a misstep.

Rune and Ellen both understood that deeply.

"Even I… have learned to accept my daughter as she is."

No longer did Ellen feel the need to correct Lunia.

Not because he had given up—but because she had always been his beloved, proud daughter, no matter what.

Yet the old elven society had never truly accepted Lunia for who she was.

Worried she might be ostracized, Ellen had once believed correction was necessary.

Now, as he looked proudly at her—

"Aaah?! What the hell?! A pickpocket?! Want me to rip your tail off?!"

"Hiiiiieeek!"

"L-Lunia, maybe you could let him go now?"

—he watched his daughter snarling as she grabbed a young beastman boy by the collar.

And Ellen thought, very seriously:

'…Though maybe some parts still need correcting.'

"Forgive him, Lunia."

"Tch. If I catch you again, I'm ripping every last hair from your stupid tail, you got that?"

"Y-Y-Yes, ma'am! I was wrong! I'm sorry!"

The boy, pale as a ghost, bowed so furiously it was almost a blur.

Once the pickpocket fled, Lunia rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

"Maybe I should've ripped a few hairs out."

"…I wonder who on earth will marry you."

"Where did that come from all of a sudden?!"

"Whoever does is going to have a rough life."

Ellen clicked his tongue loudly, and Lunia puffed her cheeks in protest.

Just then—

"Extra! Extra!"

Someone came running through the streets.

"His Majesty has claimed another victory!"

"Ooooooh!"

"How many wins is that now?!"

The citizens burst into a roar of excitement.

Lunia and Eiran blinked in confusion.

"Um, excuse me? What's going on?"

Eiran turned to ask a nearby dwarf.

"Oh! An elven lady! You must've just arrived in the city! It's the King-to-be—the 'King of Beginnings'! Word is, he's won yet another duel against a hero!"

Lunia and Eiran turned to each other in astonishment.

"A duel against a hero?"

"What is going on?"

When Lunia and Eiran arrived at the entrance to the Arhi royal palace, a massive crowd had already gathered.

"Wooooaaaaaahhhh!"

A thunderous cheer erupted, directed at a single person.

And that person was none other than someone both girls knew well—Leo.

When Leo waved, the cheering only grew louder.

"…Why is he doing something like that? Doesn't suit him at all."

Lunia crossed her arms with an incredulous expression.

"According to Carl, it's a kind of show,"

a voice replied beside her.

"Huh? Drianna? When did you get here?"

She turned toward the voice.

"Ohhh! Long time no see!"

Carl, standing beside Drianna, waved with a smile.

"Why's he putting on a show like this?"

Lunia frowned slightly, and Carl shrugged.

"There could be a bunch of reasons. Some people still doubt his strength. Others came hoping to witness something historic."

"Something historic?"

Lunia looked puzzled, and Carl explained.

"He inherited the world's throne from Lady Lysinas. And the people want a strong king."

He crossed his arms with a serious look.

"But Leo's not interested in absolute power."

"Yeah. That sounds like him."

Lunia nodded.

"Which means there's only one thing Leo is after."

Carl's eyes gleamed.

"The King of Heroes."

"…The King of Heroes?"

"Exactly. He's aiming for the pinnacle. That's why he's bothering to go through all this trouble to prove himself."

In truth, Leo was cutting down other heroes with overwhelming might.

Some, drawn by his power, even pledged loyalty to the Kingdom of Arhi on their own.

"…The pinnacle, huh…"

Lunia stared blankly at Leo—

"Sir Leo… He's just so dreamy…"

Eiran clasped her hands, her eyes glazed over.

'Oh no, she's gone again…'

"…Ahhh… He really is divine… If I could just lick the soles of his feet…"

'What the hell is she saying?!'

Lunia's head throbbed at the sound of that voice.

And it seemed she wasn't the only one to hear it. The crowd began to murmur.

"…Strange woman."

"Mom, why'd she say she wants to lick feet?"

"Shh! Don't look at that kind of thing, sweetie."

Lunia let out a dry laugh.

'Whatever race she is, I hope we're not the same…'

Then someone nearby muttered:

"…There goes the fantasy about elves."

Lunia's expression froze.

'No way. That wasn't… an elf, was it?'

She slowly turned around—

—and her jaw dropped at the sight of a familiar face.

Anya, the half-elf daughter of the North Tower's master.

They weren't particularly close, but they knew each other.

Lunia quickly turned her head away.

"Hello. Been a while."

"Wrong person. You've got the wrong person."

She snapped her head away in panic.

"Oh come on. No need to act like this with me."

"What do you mean with you?!"

Anya placed a hand on Lunia's shoulder, which Lunia quickly shook off, horrified.

Then she realized—Eiran, Drianna, and Carl were all gone.

Her eyes widened in outrage.

"Hey! Where did you guys go?! You left me behind?!"

Drianna, flustered, called back from a safe distance:

"Sorry! I don't know who you are!"

"You traitor dwarf!"

Inside a building overlooking the palace gates crowded with people—

A man stood silently, arms crossed.

"…That one. That's Leo Plov?"

"Yes, my king. That is correct."

"…He looks… painfully ordinary."

The demon, known as the Dark King, smirked.

"How many Hero Hunters have infiltrated the inner circle?"

"Twenty in total."

"Fools. And they were allowed in without suspicion?"

Wearing an expression of contempt, the Dark King muttered, "I cannot understand the Lich King. With so many heroes gathered in one place, a full-scale assault could deal unimaginable damage."

He gazed down at his palm.

"Well… I suppose it's fitting of a coward who spent five thousand years in hiding."

Sneering at the Lich King, the Dark King looked up at the sky.

"The times are changing. It's time the old guard disappears."

His eyes narrowed.

"If I cause serious damage to the Kingdom of Arhi… my influence within Tartaros will grow. That realm, too, needs a new Legion Commander at its peak."

He turned toward a table within the room, eyes gleaming with ambition.

"I already have more than enough pieces on the board."

Smiling confidently as he stared at the chessboard laid out before him—

He never noticed:

Leo, far off in the distance, was staring directly at him.