Editor : Amethyst00



["Today is a glorious day."]

A clear, resounding voice rang across all of Letin.

Standing atop the platform on the balcony of the Arhi royal palace that overlooked Letin, Melina was delivering a speech to the people.

["Long ago, this world faced a great crisis. A dreadful era in which the world nearly met its end."]

Melina's speech was calm, yet carried strength, drawing in her audience with every word.

["But the world did not perish. Because the great Wise Queen, Lysinas, gathered the Great Heroes in one place… and united the world."]

It was something everyone knew.

And yet, now, at this very moment, that story stirred their hearts anew.

["And three thousand years ago, the Heroes of the Dawn carried on the legacy of the Great Heroes and saved the world from falling into darkness. We now live in the world they left behind, and the world that those Dawn Heroes protected."]

Melina closed her eyes.

["Since the end of the Age of Calamity, the era we now live in is without a doubt the brightest, most brilliant moment."]

It was an era when the Great Heroes—beings of a distant past—had once more revealed themselves.

Even the gods, once vanished, had begun to appear again.

["The five thousand years of the Age of Heroes may well have been leading up to this very moment."]

As Melina spoke of how they were now living in the most radiant age, a powerful elation rose in everyone's chest.

Indeed, throughout the past five thousand years, history had experienced countless turning points.

But never had miracles occurred one after another like this.

And so, with every heart filled to bursting—

["But the brightest moment is also the one closest to darkness."]

The sudden weight of Melina's words brought the atmosphere down.

["The stirrings of Tartaros. The resurrection of a fragment of Erebos. The world is now closer to darkness than ever before."]

Melina spoke the truths they had tried so hard to ignore.

Currently, Tartaros had suffered a heavy blow.

The successor of the Great Heroes had appeared, along with a hero born with the purest mana attribute— a natural counter to Erebos himself.

Because of that, the terrifying legion commanders who had terrorized the world for centuries, along with the fragments of Erebos, had all been defeated.

But that did not mean it was all good news.

It meant that the peace of 5000 years had begun to crack.

That the Age of Calamity could once again descend upon them.

The world, now more radiant than ever, stood at a crossroads, unsure when it might plunge back into darkness.

Everyone swallowed dryly.

["And that is why… now, more than ever, we need a king."]

To the silent Letin, Melina cast her words.

["All of you gathered here today—look to your side."]

Those listening to her speech glanced sideways.

["The sight before us now feels unfamiliar. The five races that had distrusted and doubted one another for 5000 years… have all gathered here in Letin. But despite how foreign this scene should feel, not a single one of us finds it strange. And why is that?"]

Melina smiled softly.

["Because we are all descendants of those who resisted and survived the world's destruction 5000 years ago. And so, somewhere deep in our blood, we remember—that back then, we were one."]

["The city of Godthrone, too, once looked no different from today. Trusting and believing in one another, we stood united against the darkness. Under the banner of a single king, we overcame the doom of the world."]

Melina opened her eyes.

["The Wise Queen was not a ruler, but a savior—a guide. And now… we are gathered here to witness the coronation of a new King of the World who carries on the will of the Wise Queen."]

As she turned around, step, step—Leo approached.

["I, Melina of the Dragon Queen, as the representative of the Wise Queen, Lysinas, hereby declare— The birth of the new King of the World, the King of Beginnings: Leo Plov."]

Melina removed the crown from her head.

["He is the savior who shall lead the world into the light."]

And upon his snow-white hair, the crown was placed.

["Let it be known: the founding of the Kingdom of Arhi, the Nation of Beginning—and the birth of its first king."]

WAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!

"Long live the King of Beginning!"

"Glory to the Kingdom of Arhi!"

Cheers like thunder and cries of joy poured out from the people.

At that moment, Enkinas—who wore Leo's appearance through magic—whispered softly to Melina:

"…This is a bit much, Lady Melina."

"Mhm. But not too much for me."

The sheer pressure of being the one to place the crown upon Leo's head would have been overwhelming for Melina.

But since she was placing it on a stand-in like Enkinas, she felt none of it.

…Even if Enkinas clearly disagreed.

Everyone who witnessed the scene felt nothing but joy.

But at that very moment—

Dark movements were beginning to stir across Letin.

Blending among the crowds, the Dark King grinned slyly.

"Fools… Celebrate as you die."

Mocking the people, the Dark King clenched his fist and shouted:

"If the famed King of Beginnings—whom even the Lich King feared—suffers disgrace, then his authority will fall to the ground! And when that happens, the position of Tartaros's Supreme Commander shall be mine!"

A voice filled with ecstasy.

He had no doubt that his shout would serve as the signal for Hero Hunters and demons hidden throughout Letin to begin their attack.

But in that very instant—

The Dark King still did not know.

That he had already fallen into a nightmare.

bl

A demon belonging to the Dark King's legion gleamed with anticipation, waiting for the command from the legion commander he served.

'What an exhilarating moment this is.'

To be able to cast those overflowing with hope down into the abyss of darkness.

Even the thought alone filled him with ecstasy.

Feeling the unceasing thrill coursing through him, the demon curled his lips into a chilling smile.

However, even though the time had clearly come—no signal arrived from the Dark King.

'What's going on? Why isn't there any signal?'

The demon, Tafra, began to feel irritation creeping in with mounting impatience.

It was because he wanted to dye this place in blood as soon as possible.

And when that irritation finally reached its peak—

"I can't wait any longer!"

Crunch!

His body, which had been disguised as a human, suddenly swelled in size.

The flesh atop his head burst open and scattered in every direction.

"Gwoooooooaaah!"

As he let out a deafening roar—

Fwoosh!

A massive battle hammer came flying straight toward his head.

"Be quiet, will you!"

BOOM!

With a mighty slam, the hammer crushed down, and his swollen head caved in as though it were shattered.

"Whoa… That must hurt…"

Alongside the impact came a slightly concerned voice.

"He's a demon, Miss Eiran! Please don't sympathize!"

"Huh? I wasn't sympathizing, though?"

"Is that so?"

As Eiran and Lyl exchanged conversation—

The demon's crushed head began to regenerate.

"Woman! A woman!"

The demon's eyes sparkled with twisted delight.

"Killing women is always the best! Gya-haha! The expression they make when I violate and then kill them—!"

Drooling uncontrollably with a ravenous face, the demon was met with Lyl's firm voice.

"Hmph! Even if I fall to you, you cannot break my will! Even if you try to shatter my heart—it shall never bend!"

"Gya-ha-ha-ha! Do you truly—"

"You're so cool, Miss Lyl! Y-You're like the knightess from the novels!"

"Hm? But I'm a elemental summoner."

"B-But you look just like one! So valiant and heroic!"

Eiran clenched her fists as she said it.

"Is that so? What kind of knight was in the novel you read?"

"Well… they had unbreakable resolve! A strong knight who never yielded! But then she loses to the enemy commander—the male protagonist—who tries to bend her heart and… uuuugh…"

"So the male lead is a vile brute. That's… new."

"N-No! I mean, the illustration kind of… maybe looked a bit like Sir Leo…"

Seeing Eiran blush slightly, Lyl murmured seriously, "If Hyung-nim tried to break my will by… violating me… I might really succumb."

"S-Sir Leo violates and conquers you?"

"Yes."

"M-Maybe I wouldn't last either…"

"Miss Eiran, are you unwell? Your face is turning very red."

"I-It's nothing!"

"Hey… hey."

The demon, who had now been completely ignored, called out in confusion.

"Hey."

"Hmm… Just how would one resist Hyung-nim, I wonder…"

"I-Is resistance even possible?"

"Most likely not. Hyung-nim is incredible, after all."

"R-Right? Sir Leo is so mature…"

"Hmm… And thinking of the times when he occasionally shows that gentle, mature side… If I were being tortured and saw that, I might not endure and fall completely."

"H-Hurting and then treating you gently… That's amazing!"

They were each saying different things, and yet somehow, the conversation was flowing perfectly.

"You damn wenches—are you ignoring me?!"

"We are imagining how to resist Hyung-nim's grasp right now. Do not interrupt."

"This is a very critical moment! Do not get in the way!"

Lyl raised her battle hammer fiercely, and Eiran charged with a sharp and uncharacteristically intense momentum.

CRACK! Slash! Slash!

"Gyaaaaaaagh!"

As the two suddenly turned violent and savagely attacked him, Tafra screamed in agony.

And as he looked into their eyes, where a terrifying madness dwelled—he trembled.

'W-What is this madness…?!'

bl

"…?"

There was no commotion.

In fact, there was only silence.

"What is this…?"

The Dark King's face twisted in confusion.

Only the cheers of the people continued to ring out irritatingly in his ears.

"Shut up!"

Dark energy exploded from the Dark King's hand, sweeping over the surroundings.

At that moment—

Whoosh—!

"…!"

The crowd caught in his attack scattered into petals.

And yet, the cheers did not cease.

As the Dark King's expression hardened at the sight—

Suddenly, the thunderous cheering stopped abruptly.

And with it, the remaining people dissolved into petals and vanished.

"What is this…?!"

As his face filled with shock—

Step. Step.

In the center of Letin Plaza, now wrapped in silence and emptied of people—

Footsteps began to echo.

"Looks like the Hell Kaiser has finally lost it."

A voice rang out, laced with amusement.

"To think he'd feel threatened by some fledgling who doesn't even realize he's under a spell."

"Leo Plov? Was this your doing?!"

"No. It's Melina's work."

Leo replied calmly.

It was Nightmare, Lysinas's signature magic.

A spell Melina had cast across all of Letin.

The targets: the demons and Hero Hunters hidden throughout the city.

The Dark King's expression contorted.

"This is the power of the Silent Dragon? That's not what our intel said."

"Of course it's different. Melina's grown, after all."

"The Silent Dragon… still had room to grow? How is that even possible?!"

"Who knows? Maybe she met a good private tutor."

Leo tilted his head with a faint chuckle.

"So? Who are you?"

"My name is the Dark King, Dakhir. Remember it well."

"Is it worth remembering?"

"…What?"

"It may be a little rude to say on our first meeting, but I doubt there'll be a second. With that in mind, I'll give you a choice."

Leo's red eyes gleamed coldly.

"How do you want to die?"