121.
An unexpected visitor arrived at the Flove residence, coincidentally on the day Leo was attending Azonia’s entrance examination.
“Madam.”
Leina, comfortably enjoying tea in the estate’s garden, looked curiously at the approaching maid.
“What is it?”
“A visitor has come.”
“Visitor?”
Flip-
While flipping through the morning newspaper, Leina looked puzzled.
Visitors to the Flove household were rare. While the Flove family was a prestigious house in Delrad, the head, Deid Flove, did not frequent the social scene, and Leina rarely attended social gatherings.
Of course, after Leo became famous, the number of people requesting meetings increased.
But continuing to decline those requests had effectively deterred visitors from reaching Leina’s attention.
“Did they say who they were?”
“They say they’re Young Master’s school friend.”
“Is that so? Then, could you bring them here?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Currently, both Deid and Leo were absent from the Flove mansion.
Leina was the only person suitable to receive the guest.
It should have been a formal reception.
‘Not revealing which house they’re from and simply stating they’re Leo’s school friend suggests this is just a casual visit.’
A proper visit would be burdensome in terms of etiquette.
Thus, Leina decided to welcome the guest as a parent.
‘For someone to visit so casually means they must be close to Leo. I wonder what kind of child they are?’
Leina hummed a tune in anticipation of her son’s school friend’s visit.
Soon after, a maid accompanied a young girl dressed in a white dress into view.
Leina noticed the light-blue-haired girl, Chelsea, bow slightly as she stood before her.
“Hello, I’m Chelsea, in the same class as Leo.”
Respectfully greeting Leina, Chelsea looked slightly nervous.
Knowing Leina was of Zerdinger descent, Chelsea felt some tension.
Leina, too, upon seeing Chelsea, immediately deduced her connection to the LeWalyn family and showed a slightly surprised expression.
‘The one who partnered with Leo during the entrance exam.’
Remembering Leo’s teasing of Chelsea during the test, Leina smiled faintly.
“Welcome. Would you like to sit down?”
“Yes!”
Cheerfully, Chelsea sat across from Leina.
“Oh, this is a gift I bought.”
Chelsea handed over cake and pastries she’d picked up before visiting.
It was a well-known shop in the Rodren Empire’s capital.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”
“Now, now, please speak freely!”
“Then, I’ll do that?”
Leina’s smile widened as she spoke.
“Although, our son has been away for a few days… I’m worried if it’s inconvenient for you to wait.”
“It’s alright! I actually planned to stay in Delrad for a few days during summer vacation anyway.”
“Is that so? Well, that’s fortunate. Oh, by the way, how’s our son doing at school? He doesn’t share the small details with me.”
“He’s an absolute top student! Leo is truly amazing!”
Chelsea beamed as she recounted Leo’s school life with bright eyes.
Leina smiled fondly, watching Chelsea’s enthusiastic recounting of Leo’s stories.
“Ho ho, listening to you reminds me of my own school days.”
“Did you attend Lumeran, Leina-sama?”
“Hmm. Yes, your father, Chade LeWalyn, was my senior by two years. We knew each other well.”
“My father went to school with you!”
Chelsea’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Hmm.”
“Maybe after I go back, I’ll ask father about your school days, Leina-sama!”
‘There are likely not many good stories to tell.’
Leina chuckled softly. Indeed, her mischievous youth had caused Chade LeWalyn, her senior, quite a bit of hardship.
“Chelsea, chatting with you is quite enjoyable. If it’s alright, would you stay here until Leo returns?”
“Could I really?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll consider this my home; I’ll stay comfortably.”
“Yes, thank you so much!”
Chelsea beamed as she expressed her gratitude.
Leina regarded the cheerful and affectionate Chelsea with clear fondness.
Upon returning to the Delrad Kingdom, Leo found Chelsea chatting warmly with Leina at the Flove residence, causing him to look somewhat surprised.
“Chelsea? When did you get here?”
“Two days ago.”
“Our schedules must’ve missed each other.”
“It’s fine! I’ve enjoyed hearing stories about my schooling days from Leina-sama!”
Smiling, Chelsea made Leina beam with pride.
Leina seemed delighted by Chelsea’s lively and adorable nature.
Also, the relationship between Zerdinger and LeWalyn didn’t matter since Leina had abandoned the Zerdinger name.
“Leo, you’re back earlier than expected.”
“Yes. There was something to take care of.”
“Something happened?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Alright. Go rest upstairs, then.”
“Yes. Let’s go, Chelsea.”
“Okay.”
Chelsea bowed respectfully to Leina before following Leo upstairs.
“Where did you go during the vacation?”
“I briefly visited Azrek.”
“Azrek? Why there? Ah! Did you go to watch Azonia’s opening ceremony?”
“No, I participated.”
“What?”
Chelsea’s eyes bulged wide.
Watching Leo explain the situation to her, Chelsea commented with admiration.
“Wow, Leo, you’re making vacation quite spectacular.”
“Indeed.”
Leo laughed as he opened the door to his room and stepped in.
Chelsea hesitated outside the door.
‘Leo’s room.’
Though Chelsea, with her bright personality, had many friends since childhood and had even visited some of their homes, she had never visited a male friend’s home of her age.
Even just being in the room of a school boy her age made her feel a flutter of excitement.
Following Leo inside, Chelsea looked around the room slowly.
Being in the top class and the best student in school, she half-expected something extraordinary, but there were no special features.
“Do you get along well with mother?”
“Of course! I told you, didn’t I? She’s going to love me!”
Chelsea smiled confidently but tilted her head curiously.
“But, Leo, what about homework?”
“I’m doing it. How about you?”
“I’ve already finished everything.”
Chelsea shrugged.
She explained that it was part of her plan to quickly finish all homework in the early days of the vacation so she could relax during the break.
Of course, the Lumeran homework load was immense, but Chelsea, being one of the top students, managed to complete it fast due to her unique drive.
“Want to show me?”
“The professors would know instantly if I copied!”
“Yes.”
Chelsea nodded.
“By the way, how was Azonia’s entrance ceremony?”
“It was chaotic. Aron’s Hero’s World opened during that event.”
“What? In the middle of the entrance ceremony?”
Chelsea was surprised.
“Yes. And among the proceedings, the candidates entering Aron’s world postponed the desert marathon by one day.”
“Wow! So, what happened in Aron’s Hero’s World?”
“The candidates conquered it.”
“Wow! The Azonia kids are tough. To conquer the Great Hero’s World!”
Leo hesitated to mention that he was among those who achieved it, since Ain and Yura had stressed the importance of not telling others.
“Ugh! There’s only half the vacation left.”
Chelsea stretched.
“It seems like time is flying… but also not.”
Recalling the hectic first semester, Chelsea tapped her foot.
“In any case, let’s hang out for a few days! Take me to some good places around here!”
“Alright.”
Leo nodded with a smirk as Chelsea hummed a happy tune.
That night.
Leo held up the Light Precious Gem in his room.
Within the Light Precious Gem, the unmistakable presence of the Shadow Spirit, Elshi, could be felt.
‘What exactly is going on here?’
All along, Leo had received rewards that couldn’t be obtained for conquering the Hero’s World.
However, the transfer of Elshi, an entity from the past, into reality was a phenomenon on a completely different level.
‘Is this happening because… I am Kyle?’
After deep thought, he couldn’t reach a conclusion.
‘First, I should check Elshi’s condition.’
With the intent to awaken Elshi, seemingly deep in slumber, Leo summoned his spiritual energy.
Hummm…
The Light Precious Gem suddenly darkened. The black radiance then emerged, gathering on Leo’s palm.
It looked as though the shadow was alive, wriggling around.
Soon, the small darkness dissipated, revealing a palm-sized Elshi.
Her closed eyes fluttered.
“Where… am I?”
“You’ve awakened.”
“Where did the bunny ears go?”
Looking at Leo curiously, Elshi tilted her head.
That line told Leo that the Elshi he met in Aron’s world had indeed transferred directly into reality.
“What…?”
“I feel constricted! I can’t fully exert my power!”
Though she seemed trapped in a confined space, Elshi displayed a distressed expression.
Leo assessed her condition.
‘As expected, she’s not in a complete state.’
Elshi’s power was extremely meager for a Great Spirit.
However, she hadn’t lost her abilities; within her still lay the latent power of a Great Spirit.
Only, Elshi couldn’t fully access her own abilities.
To fully utilize her powers, she needed the help of her contractor, Leo.
‘Might I have acquired her completely?’
Looking at the back of his hand, Leo realized Elshi had fully belonged to him.
Similar to a spirit tied to a specific object.
If the contract with Leo were to be severed, Elshi would disappear.
In essence, Leo’s existence was sustaining Elshi, a divine entity from the distant past, in the present era.
“Ho ho. Who would’ve thought the Hero’s World held such a power.”
The capability to bring ancient abilities into the present era.
Surprisingly, it included not just abilities but also spirits and familiars.
As Leo was astonished, Elshi, feeling confined, flew around the room before coming to a halt at the window.
Spotting something unusual, she paused.
“Huh?”
Elshi wore a perplexed expression as countless unfamiliar light particles illuminated the night sky.
Pressing herself against the window, she stared intently before excitedly turning to Leo.
“Kyle! The moon isn’t red! And there are strange lights in the night sky! They… they look like the stars we only hear about in stories!”
One hand pointing at the night sky and the other wildly gesturing, Elshi awaited an explanation.
“That is the stars.”
Elshi’s eyes widened.
“Listen carefully, Elshi.”
Leo took a deep breath.
“Though hard to believe… you’re in the future now.”
“Huh?”
“It’s been five thousand years since Erebus was vanquished.”
Elshi’s expression turned to disbelief.
“Is that possible? So, you’re saying you brought me to the future… Kyle, who are you?”
“My name now is Leo Flove.”
“Leo Flove?”
“That’s right. And five thousand years ago, during the Era of Catastrophe, I was known as the ‘Hero of Survival’, Kyle.”
“…”
“I was reincarnated into this era after defeating Erebus.”
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
