Editor : Amethyst00



Freyna wore a deeply bewildered expression.

Seeing her like that, Lysinas let out a small chuckle.

"Are you surprised that I realized you're from the future?"

"Ah… um, well… that is…"

One of the first rules of conquering the Hero's World is to hide the identity of the conqueror.

The moment someone realizes the conqueror came from the future, they begin to see through their identity—and at that point, they realize this world is fake.

That moment, the people inside the Hero's World mentally collapse.

Knowing this, Freyna couldn't help but fall into panic.

But Lysinas remained calm.

There was no sign of mental breakdown at all.

As Freyna pondered the reason, she reached one conclusion.

'Ah, maybe it's because the Hero's World didn't exist during the Age of Calamity?'

If one doesn't know about the Hero's World, they might simply assume she's a person from the future.

Lysinas silently looked at Freyna.

She was waiting for her to calm down.

Realizing this, Freyna cautiously asked, "How did you know?"

"Your atmosphere's different."

Lysinas smiled gently.

Freyna's aura was quite different from those who had lived through the Age of Calamity.

Of course, that alone wasn't what made Lysinas realize she was from the future.

"And you treated me like someone you knew."

Lysinas grinned.

"I wondered if we'd met before, but I had no memory of it. And somehow, it felt like you were treating me like a figure from history. Also, your sense of common knowledge is just a little off."

Thanks to those subtle attitudes and actions, Lysinas could tell Freyna wasn't from this era.

It was a deduction only possible due to Lysinas's insight.

'As expected of Lady Lysinas…'

Freyna stared at her blankly.

Seeing her like that, Lysinas giggled and asked,

"So, how far in the future are you from?"

At her question, Freyna hesitated.

Even though her identity as someone from the future had been revealed, she wasn't sure if it was okay to share detailed information.

Sensing her discomfort, Lysinas didn't push further.

"Still, the fact that someone like you came from the future means our victory is certain, doesn't it?"

"Yes. The Great Heroes succeed in subjugating Erebos."

"I see. So we really do succeed."

Lysinas looked astonished.

"Didn't you already have firm faith in victory?"

"Of course, I firmly believed we would win."

Lysinas smiled.

"That was a lie. To be honest, I was always anxious. Everything I said was a lie."

Freyna was startled by that answer.

The biggest lie Lysinas ever told was that there was hope to save the world.

Even she couldn't fully believe in that hope.

But outwardly, she acted differently.

"As if I had a plan. As if light awaited beyond it all."

She steeled herself and presented the unwavering image of a leader.

"In the end, that lie became the truth, so maybe it wasn't a lie after all?"

She stuck out her tongue and grinned playfully. Freyna couldn't help but laugh.

For generations, people had revered the Great Heroes as divine beings.

But when Aaron subjugated Erebos's fragment,

When Luna appeared to fight the Lich King,

When Dweno subjugated the Giant King,

When Lysinas selected a new king to lead the next era,

Those who met the Great Heroes in person all said the same thing:

That they were just like any other person.

'Some said that was blasphemy, but…'

Meeting Lysinas like this, Freyna could understand.

They truly were people just like her.

"So? How am I recorded in the future?"

"You're called the Wise Queen."

"That suits me."

Lysinas looked pleased.

Even when anxious, she hid it with bravado.

She laughed and rejoiced over the small things.

Seeing the innocent Lysinas, Freyna felt herself relax.

"What about Luna?"

"She became a guiding star in the night sky to all elves. They call her the Poet of the Star and deeply respect her."

"Wow. So Luna got what she wanted. What about Aaron?"

"He's known as the Brave One who turned the impossible into the possible."

"Well, that's true… but I'm a little surprised it's written like that. Dweno? Did he go down as an artist?"

"He's called the Divine Blacksmith. The fact that he was an artist became known only recently."

"I knew it. Artist, my foot."

Lysinas scoffed.

Then she cautiously asked about the next person.

"What about Kyle?"

"Lord Kyle…"

Freyna glanced at Lysinas's face.

Lysinas looked slightly tense.

Seeing that, Freyna burst into laughter without realizing it.

Lysinas widened her eyes at her.

"Ah, I'm sorry. Haha."

Freyna calmed her laughter and looked at Lysinas.

Normally, such behavior would be close to disrespect, but she'd forgotten because Lysinas treated her so casually.

"Lady Lysinas, you like Lord Kyle, don't you?"

"Wha?!"

Lysinas looked flustered.

"How did you know? Ah… I guess you'd know since you're from the future?"

Lysinas laughed awkwardly.

"Yes. I know. Both you and Lady Luna loved Lord Kyle."

"I see…"

Lysinas nodded at Freyna's words, then paused.

'Wait. How does the future know that both of us liked that guy?'

A suspicion arose.

'Don't tell me that guy was two-timing?'

"Lord Kyle was a forgotten hero until recently."

"Forgotten?"

"Yes. Until recently, there were barely any records of him. For a long time, it was believed only four people subjugated Erebos. Kyle was thought to be a fictional hero."

"Pfft! Kyle would've been so frustrated to hear that."

Lysinas laughed.

Kyle never cared much about leaving his name in history.

'Still, if he went through all that hardship to defeat Erebos and ended up forgotten, he'd be pissed.'

"Even so, it's a relief. That means evidence was eventually found, right?"

"Yes. He's called the 'Hero of the Beginning,' the last one who saved the world."

At Freyna's words, Lysinas paused.

"Lady Lysinas?"

"I see… So the future really did regain peace."

Lysinas naturally shifted the topic.

"Yes. Thanks to all of you Great Heroes. Truly, thank you."

Freyna bowed her head in gratitude.

"I'm glad. To be able to receive such thanks."

"But Lady Lysinas, earlier you said I had a choice. What did you mean by that?"

"Hm? It's nothing serious."

Lysinas opened her palm and looked at her hand.

"I don't know what it's called in your time, but I used to carry out the judgment of betrayers to the original world."

"You mean… you were the Shadow? Not Lord Kyle?"

"Ah. So in the future, it's called the Shadow."

Lysinas nodded with a soft smile.

"That role was originally the duty of dragonkin born of the Black Dragon. Kyle said it didn't suit me, someone meant to lead the world into hope, so he took it instead."

"I see…"

"Yes. But still, I never thought that duty was shameful."

Freyna's eyes widened at that.

"Because I was born in darkness, I could yearn for the light, and I learned how to seek it."

"……"

"Of course, for a long time, the Black Dragon was forced into a role she didn't want."

Lysinas spoke with sincerity in her eyes.

"But I believe those who willingly walk that path are noble."

Freyna wore a dazed expression.

The Hero's Guide looked at her with unwavering eyes.

Eyes like those gazing at a true hero made her heart race.

Just then—

Knock knock—creak—

With a knock, the door opened.

Velkia peeked her head inside.

"Lady Lysinas. Do you know where Master Kyle is?"

"Hm? Why Kyle?"

"Since he's not here, I thought you might have to come instead."

"Did something happen?"

"Lady Luna caught a suspicious man named Carl."

"Carl-sunbae?!"

Freyna asked in shock.

"Looks like your companion got caught by Luna. Well, Luna wouldn't harm him just for being suspicious…"

"No. She investigated him and found some magical oddity. She's absolutely thrilled."

"Sounds like Luna. But what about Kyle?"

"She's saying she's going to dissect him."

"What did that magic fool say?"

A voice came from behind.

Velkia turned to look.

There stood Kyle, alongside Bihar.

"She caught a suspicious guy and said she's going to dissect him."

bl

"Huwaaaaah! Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Carl clung to Kyle's pants, sobbing.

"Are you alright?"

"Freyna! I thought I was gonna die!"

"But you didn't."

Freyna cut him off flatly.

Carl looked heartbroken at her cold tone.

"You're a bold one. Clinging to me, of all people."

Kyle looked at him incredulously.

Kyle, the Surviving Hero, was still feared by many in Godthrone.

For someone to cling to him without hesitation felt oddly refreshing.

Meanwhile—

Lysinas was scolding Luna.

"Are you insane? Why would you dissect someone just because they're interesting? Were you planning to kill him for magic?"

"I wasn't going to kill him. I was gonna stitch him up nicely later. There wouldn't even be a scar."

Smack!

"Ow!"

Lysinas smacked Luna's head without hesitation.

"Why did you even try to dissect him?"

Lysinas asked coldly. Luna whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

"Don't be shocked, but… I think he's from the future. If that's true, don't you think he's worth dissecting?"

"Even if it's true, that's not a reason to dissect him."

Smack!

"Ow!"

Lysinas hit her again.

Luna, knowing she was in the wrong, didn't protest. She just pouted and rubbed her head.

"I'll have the two of them stay as honored guests in Godthrone."

"Thank you."

"How about staying at my place? I'll take good care of you."

Luna's eyes sparkled. Carl shrank back in fear.

"Um… could I stay at Lord Kyle's house instead?"

'What happened to him?'

Freyna looked at Carl in disbelief.

"I don't like noisy things."

"Kyle, take care of them."

"Tch."

Though Kyle clicked his tongue at Lysinas's words, he didn't resist.

Luna looked slightly dissatisfied but left the room grumbling.

Velkia followed after her, and Bihar led Freyna and Carl to their rooms.

Just as Kyle scratched his head and turned to leave—

"Kyle."

"What?"

"I'm sorry."

"If you're sorry, take care of those kids yourself."

"I'm sorry."

Kyle turned to Lysinas.

Tears streamed down Lysinas's face as she looked at Kyle.

Kyle looked confused.

"What's wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry."

"I'm fine, so don't cry, okay? Geez, why are you crying?"

Lysinas buried her face in Kyle's chest.

Sometime in the future—

Upon learning that she would once again make Kyle the Surviving Hero by breaking a promise—

Lysinas could only cry.