Editor : Amethyst00



Garan Region, on the border between the western and southern continents.

This barren land was originally untouched by human feet.

Although it connected the west and south, it was not a vital transportation hub.

The terrain was extremely rugged, and monster sightings were frequent.

As a result, for a long time, this place was little more than a remote, desolate backwater.

However, upon seeing the central city of the Garan Region unfold before them, the group couldn't help but look surprised.

"Leo. You've been to the Garan Region in your first year, right? Was it always this developed?"

At Carl's question, Leo shook his head.

"No, it was completely underdeveloped."

Melina, who was listening to the conversation, explained.

"In our timeline, yes, the Garan Region was underdeveloped. But once it was revealed to be the site of Godthrone, countless archaeologists began to gather."

During their first year, when Leo, along with Lunia, Elena, and Hardin, explored Luna's world, it was discovered that Garan was where Godthrone, previously only recorded in texts, had been located.

"As people began to gather, it naturally started to develop."

At those words, Lyl looked at Garan with a face full of mixed emotions and murmured.

"This is where it all began."

Everyone's expression changed at Lyl's words.

"The Land of Beginnings."

Eliza softly murmured while looking down at the ground.

It was already a well-known story that Godthrone had been buried deep underground by the demons of Tartaros.

"Why doesn't the Hero Academy take on the excavation of the Godthrone ruins?"

Chelsea asked Melina with a puzzled look.

After the records were erased by Tartaros and Godthrone's location was lost, the world, regardless of race, searched for Godthrone for many years.

And finally, the location of Godthrone was discovered.

But despite the significance of such a historical site, the excavation was slow.

In particular, the Hero Academy had sent no personnel at all.

"That's because when they started digging into Godthrone, an enormous number of curses were triggered."

Melina wore a troubled expression.

"So the dragons are currently taking the lead in neutralizing the curses and managing the excavation site."

When it comes to heroology, dragons are also top experts.

Everyone nodded, understanding Melina's explanation.

"Enough chit-chat, let's head in."

At Leo's words, the party began to walk.

And the moment they set foot in the future city of Garan—

Fwoosh—!

The scenery changed.

The sudden shift in atmosphere made everyone flinch and raise their guard.

"Where is this…?"

Chen Xia looked around in surprise.

The once-prosperous city was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, a roughly fortified cityscape was spread out before them.

While everyone wore a confused expression—

Carl widened his eyes.

"Wait a second, isn't this the central plaza of Godthrone?"

"Are you sure, Carl?"

At Lyl's question, Carl nodded.

"Yes. It's exactly like what I saw in Lord Dweno's world."

"Then… this must be the Age of Calamity?"

Chelsea hurriedly tilted her head back and looked at the sky.

"Huh? The sky's clear."

"The atmosphere feels a bit strange too."

Eliza narrowed her eyes.

If this was Godthrone, then this was likely a projection of the Age of Calamity.

But the atmosphere among the people was different from what Eliza knew of that time.

They all seemed excited.

It was similar to the elation they'd felt when the Arhi members had defended Ivaldi in Dweno's world against the Giant King.

But while that had been a brief escape from a nightmare, this Godthrone was filled with true hope.

"It feels like they're preparing for a festival."

Lyl tilted her head as she looked at the people.

Carl quietly sidled up to Leo and whispered.

"Hey, Leo. Just asking, but… was Godthrone ever like this?"

"…Not that I know of."

Even for Leo, this was a new atmosphere for Godthrone.

Then, while observing the crowd, Chen Xia flinched and instinctively reached out.

She grabbed the wrist of a human girl passing by.

"Huh?"

"Ah?"

The girl, who still looked quite young, let out a startled gasp, and Chen Xia also looked flustered.

All eyes turned to Chen Xia.

"Xia, why did you suddenly grab her?"

Chelsea asked, confused.

But Chen Xia just stared silently at the surprised girl's face and then asked carefully:

"Bi…har?"

Everyone was shocked by her words.

"Bihar! What are you doing over there?! We need to find Sylord!"

Then, pushing through the crowd, an elf appeared.

Everyone recognized the face.

"Lady Velkia?"

"That's right. I'm Velkia. A disciple of the great heroes who saved the world."

When Chelsea called her name absentmindedly, Velkia puffed up with pride.

The group began to understand the situation.

"You're preparing for a festival?"

At Lyl's question, Bihar, who had just been apologized to by Chen Xia, nodded.

"Of course. The great heroes are returning soon."

Bihar's face was unusually bright.

"What do you mean Sylord has disappeared?"

Leo asked.

Velkia looked at Leo and her eyes widened.

"Whoa, Bihar, look! There's a kid with that same irritating stare as our master!"

Leo silently stared up at the pointing Velkia.

"Sorry. I didn't mean that in a bad way."

Bihar gave Leo a gentle smile and then pushed Velkia forward.

"We're off to find the missing Fairy King. Excuse us."

The two walked away.

Watching them go, Leo summoned his phantom beast.

"Kiran."

["You called?"]

Looking at Velkia, Leo pointed and said:

"Go follow her."

["You think I'm your errand boy?!"]

Kiran bit Leo's finger in protest.

"You bite well."

Shaking off Kiran with a flick, Leo said:

"This confirms it."

He gazed at the unfamiliar atmosphere of Godthrone.

"This vision must be right after the world was saved."

The day the false hope of the Wise Queen, Lysinas, became reality.

The day a new history began, and all humans in Godthrone rejoiced with pure happiness.

And…

Before they had heard the tragic news of the great heroes.

bl

"Drink! Drink!"

"To the stars in the night sky! Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

At night, after the sun had set.

The streets were filled with people merrily drunk.

"Everyone looks genuinely happy."

At Chelsea's comment, Chen Xia nodded.

"Of course. The world was saved from the brink of destruction."

Those who had lived in peaceful times could never truly understand the joy of people from this era.

Even late into the night, the revelers showed no signs of going to sleep.

Sitting with her legs crossed and filing her nails, Eliza frowned as she noticed a group of children in an alley.

"What are you staring at?"

"Those kids. What are they doing this late at night?"

At Eliza's words, Carl looked over at the children gathered in the alley.

Godthrone, the last stronghold against destruction, had excellent public security.

They had to withstand suffocating assaults from Erebos and Tartaros.

As such, internal governance was a high priority.

As King of the World, Lysinas had made the security of Godthrone her utmost concern.

The result was that the city was safe enough that children could wander late at night without danger.

Still, it was quite late for kids to be awake.

Carl and Eliza approached the children.

"What are you doing here?"

At Eliza's question, the children tilted their heads and replied.

"We're watching the stars."

Carl and Eliza looked up at the night sky.

Just as the children had said, the sky was full of brilliantly shining stars.

Even though it was so late, the children's eyes sparkled like the stars.

They didn't even glance at Carl and Eliza.

"Hey kids, you should look people in the eye when talking to adults."

At that moment, a gentle voice came from the end of the alley.

Carl and Eliza turned their heads.

A soft-looking human woman stood there.

Her appearance was ordinary, but she gave off a comforting and warm aura.

"Sorry."

The children took their eyes off the sky and bowed to Carl and Eliza in apology.

"It's okay."

Carl waved his hands.

The rest of the group joined them in the alley.

Leo looked at the woman's face.

The children, after greeting the group, started chatting among themselves again.

"Like Lady Luna said, the stars are so pretty."

"She said she'd teach us the constellations when she comes back!"

"Let's listen together with Lord Aaron!"

The mention of the great heroes' names from the kids' mouths surprised the group.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?"

The woman smiled gently.

"Yes. May I ask your name…?"

"Hmm? Don't you know me?"

The woman blinked in surprise.

As the group looked awkward, Chen Xia spoke up with a smile:

"We've been out on monster subjugation missions around Godthrone, so we're not familiar."

Leo was nestled in Chen Xia's arms.

"Ah, I see."

The woman nodded in understanding.

"My name is Lisa. I'm a member of Arhi."

"A member of Arhi?"

Chelsea's eyes widened.

All the heroes who fought alongside Lysinas, the Wise Queen, were members of Arhi.

That meant the woman in front of them, Lisa, was a seasoned hero who had survived the Age of Calamity.

"Yes. I'm retired now, and I run an orphanage managed by Lord Aaron."

"Retired?"

Carl tilted his head. Lisa smiled and pulled on her left hand.

With a clunk, her left hand detached.

"Oh…"

The group's expressions darkened, but Lisa smiled.

"Don't worry. Just being alive is already a huge blessing."

She laughed cheerfully and reattached her hand.

Then a dwarf man appeared from the other end of the alley.

"Hey, Lisa."

"Ah! Tanio!"

The dwarf, using magic to move a wheelchair, had no legs.

"Lord Leo, he's…"

"Yes. He was a member of Arhi too. His name is Tanio."

Leo nodded at Chen Xia's whisper.

As they looked warmly at Lisa and Tanio—

"You brought it?"

"I've spent days locked in the workshop making just this."

Tanio handed over a small box with a tired face. Lisa, having reattached her prosthetic, opened the box. Inside was a ring. Melina's eyes widened.

"Is that… an engagement ring?"

Everyone turned to look at Lisa.

On her prosthetic ring finger was a ring matching the one in the box.

Lisa smiled shyly.

"Yes. I received a proposal recently."

"Congratulations."

Melina smiled softly.

"Thank you. We're planning to marry as soon as Lord Aaron returns."

Everyone looked shocked.

"You're marrying Lord Aaron?"

"Yes. We got engaged before he left on his campaign. This is the ring he gave me then."

"Wow… Lord Aaron had a lover…"

"Fufu. Not even the other great heroes know. Please keep it secret. Lord Aaron said he wants to announce it himself."

At that, everyone except Lyl and Eliza turned to Leo.

Leo blinked his red eyes a few times and muttered.

"He really did everything he wanted, huh?"