Editor : Amethyst00



The day before the coronation of the Kingdom of Arhi.

In Letin, soon to be the capital of the kingdom, a grand eve-of-coronation festival was underway.

It was a celebration prepared for those invited to the coronation.

"Whoa~ I've never been to a party like this before."

Carl folded his arms, voicing his admiration.

This pre-coronation festival was being held in the vast plaza before the royal palace—where Leo had only recently fought duels with the heroes.

Unlike any royal-hosted celebration that had come before, this event, hosted by the newly-founded Kingdom of Arhi, bore a distinct tone.

The evening party was open to all, regardless of social class.

The next Empress of the western continent's dominant Lordren Empire, Shasha, was present.

So too was Chen Xia, the heiress to the most historically prestigious Xian Empire in the east.

And even commoners who had made the difficult journey from remote villages just to witness the coronation.

All enjoyed the party equally, without regard for status or background.

Some nobles and royals, unfamiliar with such a format, wore expressions of unease.

Yet none dared voice dissent or express discontent.

Even leaders of various races—each standing as a representative of their people—made no complaints and instead seemed to enjoy the festivities.

And most of all, the one who sat alone in the only seat of honor—Dragon Queen Melina—seemed to permit no such complaints merely by her presence.

The reason Melina alone occupied the high seat was simple.

"So this is what it means to stand before the King of the World—where age, race, and class are all meaningless."

Chloe, standing beside Carl, marveled aloud.

Chelsea nodded solemnly in agreement.

"She's right. This world is practically the one Lysinas saved."

Though it had been Leo who triumphed over Erebos in the final battle, without Lysinas, that battle would never have taken place.

The only one in history to be acknowledged as the King of the World—such acknowledgment by the gods had come through Lysinas' influence.

Melina now sat in that seat as Lysinas' representative.

Although the title had already been passed to Leo, it had yet to be officially declared.

That would happen during tomorrow's coronation, when Leo would be formally proclaimed as the new King of the World.

"That said, it's kind of a strange story too."

Chloe murmured with a wry smile. Carl shrugged his shoulders.

"It's all just part of the show, isn't it?"

"Anyway, you're sure nothing happened between Leo-oppa and Senior Elena, right?"

When Chelsea asked, Carl nodded without hesitation.

At his answer, both Chelsea and Chloe let out a sigh of relief.

"But Carl, weren't you supposed to come with either Eliza or Duran? They're arriving today, aren't they?"

Chloe asked with a puzzled expression.

Due to their family's schedule, Chelsea and Chloe had arrived today—the day before the coronation.

Eliza and Duran were the same.

But Carl had been in Letin for some time already.

As Chloe asked, his expression darkened slightly.

"Well, you see… the atmosphere between those two was kind of… terrifying."

After the semester ended.

Right up to the moment they reached the warp gate, the two had waged a fierce tug-of-war over Carl.

"Carl, you've really made it big, huh? I mean, those two fighting so hard over you."

Chelsea teased with a mischievous grin. Carl laughed bitterly.

"I told them I'd just go alone."

"And they just let you go?"

"The prince just clicked his tongue and let it go, but Eliza…"

"With her personality, her pride must've taken a hit. Let me guess—she gave you a look that could kill?"

"No… she just didn't say anything."

"That's surprising."

Chelsea widened her eyes.

"What are you all chatting about so happily?"

"Leo-oppa!"

Chelsea smiled brightly.

"You look great today."

Chloe also admired Leo's well-dressed appearance.

"You two look amazing too."

"We put in some effort. What do you think?"

Chelsea gave a gentle spin, her pure white one-piece dress fluttering softly.

"Cute."

"Not beautiful?"

She pouted slightly in mock protest.

Leo gave a faint smile and turned to Chloe.

Chloe was wearing a form-fitting sky-blue dress that accentuated her figure.

"Looks good on you. Makes you look mature."

"Thanks."

Chloe slightly blushed and turned her face away.

"Yeah, older."

Thud—!

"Gah!"

Carl, who had been teasing beside them, was elbowed and sent rolling to the ground.

Laughing, Leo asked curiously.

"So, what were you talking about?"

"Carl's love life."

"That's not what it was!"

As Chelsea laughed playfully, Carl rubbed his nose and stood up.

"Oh, please."

She continued to tease, and Leo chuckled along.

"Must be rough being the popular guy."

"Not you too? You're the real popular one here."

Carl gestured toward the surrounding crowd with his eyes.

"Dozens of princesses and high-ranking nobles from different nations are looking at you with eyes that could melt metal."

It was true.

Now, on the eve of the coronation.

More than a few of the attendees had come with their eyes set on the position of Queen of Arhi.

"Jealous of the popular guy."

Carl nudged Leo in the side with his elbow.

At that, Leo let out a small laugh and glanced toward one side of the party.

"Eliza's here."

At those words, Carl quickly straightened his hair and adjusted his clothes.

"I'll be back in a bit."

As Carl made his way toward Eliza, Leo turned to Chelsea and Chloe.

"Then I'll see you two later."

"Okay."

"Take care."

Knowing how busy he was, neither Chelsea nor Chloe tried to hold him any longer.

Leo walked toward where Melina was seated.

"Sigh… This crown feels heavier than ever."

Melina let out a quiet sigh as she looked at Leo.

Currently, atop her head sat the crown Lysinas had placed upon Leo.

"Didn't feel all that heavy to me."

"It feels like my neck's going to break from the pressure."

"That crown was technically yours in the first place, remember?"

The crown, passed down through generations of Dragon Lords, rightfully belonged to Melina.

At Leo's words, she hunched her shoulders.

"Even Lady Rodia never dared wear it, you know."

"If you ask me, you're a far better Dragon Queen than Rodia ever was."

"Please don't joke like that."

As Melina flustered, Leo wore a half-amused, half-exasperated expression.

"I'm not joking. At the very least, you're more mature than that damned lizard. Not arrogant, either."

Melina gave a wry smile.

Just then, someone tugged at the hem of Leo's trousers.

When he turned, a human boy, around five years old, was looking up at him.

"Mister, are you really the King of the Beginning?"

The boy asked innocently.

"I am."

Leo smiled softly and answered.

Eyes wide, the child held up a storybook clutched in one hand.

"Then are you gonna defeat the Demon King like Sir Kyle in this book?"

The boy's book was a fairy tale about the Heroes of the Beginning.

As Leo was about to answer—

"Oh, my! Mile! How could you be so rude to His Majesty?! Your Majesty, please forgive him!"

A commoner, presumably the boy's parent, bowed hurriedly.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

"Y-Your Majesty… to speak so politely to me…"

"Well, if a kid speaks casually, people will just say he's rude."

"You're the oldest one here, though."

Melina muttered under her breath, then quickly turned her head away when Leo glanced at her.

Leo reached out and ruffled the boy's hair.

"Kiddo, who's your favorite Great Hero?"

"Sir Aaron!"

"Why?"

"Because he's so cool!"

The boy's eyes sparkled.

"Then why're you holding a book about Kyle?"

"My dad's stingy, so he only bought me one book."

"Really now?"

Leo chuckled and gently lifted the child onto Melina's lap.

Then he looked around.

"Hey, kids. This grandma here's gonna read you a fairy tale about the Great Heroes. Come gather round."

"She doesn't look like a grandma."

Leo laughed again.

At the words "Great Hero fairy tale," children who had come with their parents to the party began to gather curiously.

Drawn by Leo's voice, they came—regardless of race or background.

Melina, watching them gather, snapped her fingers lightly.

Chairs appeared for the children to sit on.

"Alright, everyone. Which hero's story do you want to hear? Raise your hand and tell me."

Melina asked with a radiant smile.

The children, captivated by her gentle presence, began to raise their hands and excitedly call out names.

As their parents looked on nervously—

"Don't worry."

Leo gave a small smile.

"The Dragon Queen likes children."

Soon after, Melina began the tale.

Using magic to conjure images of the Great Heroes, she animated the story in a whimsical way, leaving even the adults relaxed as they watched.

Watching the scene, Chloe murmured.

"Looking at this…"

"Hm?"

Chelsea turned toward her.

"I think I can see… the kind of country—no, the kind of world Leo wants to create."

"Like a world out of a fairy tale."

An age where all races live in harmony and lead the world together.

At Chloe's words, Chelsea gave a faint smile.

"Yeah. It's ridiculous."

"…Which makes it all the more valuable."

"Exactly."

"If we stay with him, we'll never be bored. It's like magic."

To Chloe, the world had always been a place of endless exploration.

Never dull, never tiring.

But for the first time, Leo himself began to feel like magic.

Arhi—a kingdom whose name meant "beginning" in the tongue of dragons.

A new era, one that would shake the world, was about to begin.

bl

Dawn of the Coronation Day.

The eve festival had ended, but its heat had not cooled. Drunken revellers gathered together, joyfully drinking the night away.

It was a day of celebration—there was no one fighting. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say this place was now the center of the world.

Countless races had gathered, their representative heroes assembled, all for this festival—this sacred day announcing the birth of the King of the World.

To be drunk and brawling on such a day would be nothing short of blasphemy.

"To the great King of the World!"

"To the King!"

Amid such cheers—

A man walking through a back alley curled his lips as he glanced at the drunkards.

"Fools. They're enjoying themselves, unaware this place will soon become hell."

He was a beastman.

"When the Dark King reveals himself here, they'll come to understand—just how laughable the hope they believe in truly is…"

Kuuk—kuuk— He let out a sickening laugh that could drive one mad, and vanished into the shadows.

"As long as we lie in wait within the darkness, there will be no such thing as hope."

Fwoosh—!

His presence disappeared shortly after.

"Tch. With the way he talks, it's pissing me off. Should I just cut him down now?"

At that moment, a voice tinged with irritation rose from the rooftop of a nearby building overlooking the alley the man had just passed through.

It was a half-elf grumbling. Next to her, another man responded calmly.

"There's no need to alert the enemy prematurely. We've already detected movements of the Hero Hunters and demons within Letin. We'll eliminate them all tomorrow in one sweep."

"That is more efficient."

The half-elf—Anna of the Shadows—hummed to herself as he looked up at the sky, where the first light of dawn was breaking.

As the darkness began to recede, a smirk tugged at Anna's lips. To her, these so-called Hero Hunters—traitors to the world who had no choice but to flee into the shadows—were laughable at best.

As if the darkness belonged to them. But she and her kind—those born within the darkness—they were the true masters of it.

'Everyone's got a brilliant plan… until they get punched in the face.'