Editor : Amethyst00



The Royal Palace of Arhi.

Leo's new residence.

He had just entered the room and sat down when—

Knock knock—slam!

"Leo! Enjoying your break?"

Carl burst through the door with a cheerful grin.

Trailing behind him were Lunia, Eiran, and Drianna.

"Wow~ No wonder it's so grand—it's brand-new!"

Carl looked around the lavish room in awe.

Drianna stroked her chin.

"Hmmm! Despite being modern, the interior has a refined, classical feel to it."

"They say it's modeled after the previous palace in Tonkan."

"Ahh."

Her eyes sparkling with interest, Drianna's face lit up.

"Wow! It's Lord Dweno and Lady Enniha's painting!"

Hanging on one wall was the artwork Leo had retrieved during a previous mission—paintings of Dweno and Enniha.

"They're beautiful no matter how many times I see them!"

"I plan to put them on display soon for others to enjoy."

"Oh-ho?"

"I'm thinking of lending them to Seiren or Damien. Could you find a good public spot for them?"

"They're priceless works left behind by Lord Dweno. We can't just let anyone see them, can we?"

Lunia asked with a doubtful look, and Leo replied, gazing at the paintings.

"Dweno would've wanted that."

At his words, Drianna nodded deeply.

"By the way, Leo…"

Carl's expression suddenly turned serious.

"So… that deserted island trip. Just you and Senior Elena. What happened?"

Lunia and Eiran's eyes widened as they whipped their heads toward Leo.

"You were alone with that woman on a deserted island?!"

"Ah… A-A trip to a remote place with such a charming lady…!"

As Lunia looked panicked and Eiran's eyes spun with dizzying thoughts, Drianna crossed her arms and said flatly, "Hmph. So you did get up to something."

"What do you mean 'get up to something'?! You perverted dwarf!"

Lunia grabbed Drianna's cheeks and started pulling at them.

Leo, unbothered, muttered with a sigh, "Nothing happened. Just needed a change of scenery."

Carl tilted his head.

"Really nothing?"

"Nothing worth mentioning."

Carl looked slightly disappointed.

"Kind of boring. But not unexpected."

"Strange. The Vice President of Lumene Academy seemed rather fond of you as a man."

Drianna tilted her head thoughtfully.

"I thought she might eat you alive on that trip."

Carl laughed.

"If anyone's doing the eating, it'd be Leo—not the other way around."

"True."

Drianna nodded in agreement.

"Eat… alive…"

Eiran covered her face with both hands.

"Here we go again."

Lunia shook her head in resignation.

Watching the scene, Leo clicked his tongue.

"Tsk."

"What?"

"I'm concerned that the future leaders of the next generation don't seem very wholesome."

BAM!

"W-What's not wholesome about us?!"

"Hauwuuu… I-I'm sorry…"

Lunia slammed her palm on the table while Eiran shrank down, wriggling in embarrassment.

"What's not wholesome about it? The birth of new life—sounds natural and beautiful to me."

Drianna tilted her head innocently as if she saw no problem.

"She's right. It's not weird. We're all at that age."

"Count me out."

Carl muttered indifferently, and Lunia barked at him.

"You say that like we're students chatting with a teacher."

At that moment, Chen Xia stepped out from a corner of Leo's room.

"Xia! How have you been?"

Eiran greeted her brightly.

"Why were you hiding there?"

Lunia asked curiously.

Xia smiled as she stepped behind Leo.

"I'm his shadow. Naturally, I stay close."

"I see. But what did you mean by us sounding like students talking to a teacher?"

Drianna asked, tilting her head. Xia gave a light shrug.

"Exactly what I said. One student throws a tantrum. One gets flustered. Two talk back all the time."

She pointed at Lunia, Eiran, Drianna, and Carl in turn—then pointed to herself with a smug smile.

"And one model student who listens well."

"The creepiest one of them all."

Carl muttered behind her, and Xia smiled wickedly as she turned to glare at him.

Carl promptly ducked behind Drianna.

"By the way, where's Aru? Didn't she say she'd be here early?"

Drianna asked, looking puzzled.

Xia smiled as she answered.

"She got excited after watching Leo take down a bunch of heroes this morning. Tried to challenge him herself—now she's in the infirmary."

"So very like her."

Drianna clicked her tongue coldly.

"Speaking of which, Leo, I heard you've accepted quite a few new people into the Kingdom through these duels?"

Carl asked. Leo nodded.

"That's a bit risky, don't you think?"

Carl pressed seriously.

There are all sorts of people in the world.

Some crave fame, others want to prove themselves, and some seek someone worthy to serve.

And Carl knew—Leo was the most worthy person any of them could follow.

But in such crowds, there are always unknown threats lurking.

"I'm worried about that too,"

Lunia added seriously, and Leo gave a faint smile.

'So he's doing it on purpose…'

They all thought the same thing when they saw that smile.

"There are other school friends around. Someone will escort you if you leave the room."

"Oho. Can't hog the man of the hour when his coronation is coming up."

Carl grinned and stood.

Lunia, Eiran, and Drianna followed suit.

"Um, Leo… Would you have dinner with us later?"

Eiran asked timidly, fidgeting.

"Just the two of us?"

"Ah—n-no! Everyone's invited! B-but, just the two of us would be fine too…"

"What? You weren't going to invite me?"

Lunia teased, and Eiran shook her head furiously.

Leo chuckled softly at the sight.

"That's fine."

"Hehe…"

Eiran smiled shyly as she stepped out.

Now only Leo and Chen Xia remained.

"They've arrived?"

Leo asked.

But the answer came from someone else.

Fwoosh—

The shadows in the room rippled—

And figures emerged silently behind Leo.

Kneeling with reverence.

"We answer the call of our great Shadow God."

At the front, Anya, succesor to the Shadow Lord of the North, spoke solemnly.

"You all know—soon, the coronation begins."

"Congratulations."

"And some plan to use that moment to launch a grand attack on Letin."

"Hero Hunters. Shall we seek out and eliminate the infiltrators in the palace?"

Anyas's tone held a chilling bloodlust.

Though she usually acted like a deranged cultist, she was still destined to lead the elven shadows. When it came to Hero Hunters, she was deadly serious.

"I already know who they are."

Leo spoke plainly.

"But they won't stop at the palace."

The rise of the Kingdom of Arhi was a massive threat to Tartaros.

Regardless of its national strength, Leo Plov's symbolism held the power to unite the world.

The more grand the coronation, the stronger his influence would become.

Thus, the enemy was likely to strike during the ceremony.

And they didn't need to kill heroes or rulers to succeed.

That would be ideal—but in a gathering like this, it wouldn't be easy.

'The ones inside the palace are probably just pawns for future moves.'

Even just causing chaotic destruction among the gathered masses would be enough.

If that happened, the Kingdom's prestige would suffer.

And in the end, the blame would fall not on Tartaros—

—but on the man who failed to prevent it:

Leo Plov.

'That's what it means to stand above others.'

The more you have to protect, the heavier the burden becomes.

But—

'I don't care.'

It was a burden he had already chosen to bear.

'Let them run wild. We'll see if it goes their way.'

"Your task is simple—protect the people. Can you do that?"

"Yes!"

Shhhhh—

The shadows responded as one, then faded away like illusions.

Only Anya remained.

"…Questions?"

Leo asked, puzzled.

Anyas hesitated.

Then she asked quietly,

"Great One…"

"That title… still not used to it. But yeah, what is it?"

"If I complete this mission perfectly… may I request a reward?"

"…A reward?"

"Strange, coming from you, Anyas."

Xia looked intrigued.

Anya had always shown Leo absolute devotion.

Leo gave a small laugh.

"Expressing personal desires isn't a bad thing."

Shadows often suppressed emotions and wants too deeply.

That wasn't always a strength.

"Sure. If it's something reasonable."

Anyas smiled shyly.

"Then… please let me lick the soles of your feet."

"……"

Leo rubbed his temples.

Xia, still smiling sweetly, walked up to Anyas.

"If you're going to ask for something that perverted, just leave."

"Princess! This isn't perversion—it's a sacred oath of loyalty—"

"There are already too many weirdos around Leo! Get out!"

Xia, brimming with icy fury, chased her out.

Then let out a deep sigh.

"Why do all the weirdos flock to you, Leo?"

"No idea."

"…Why are you saying that while looking right at me?"

Xia narrowed her eyes. Leo shrugged and stood, walking toward the balcony.

He leaned against the railing and looked out over the palace—

Then gave a faint laugh.

Xia tilted her head.

"…Are you enjoying this?"

"Not quite."

Leo replied, arms resting on the railing.

"After dealing with the Lich King—who sees me as the ultimate threat—facing some arrogant upstart who thinks he's all that is just… funny."

"Upstart?"

"Yeah. One of the new commanders of Tartaros."

Xia let out a dry chuckle at Leo's reply.

"You really are the only person in the world who could call a Legion Commander of Tartaros an 'upstart.'"