Chapter 138

138.

“Jera. Did you just shout at me? Are you in your right mind?”

Hirkyan asked with a face that expressed disbelief.

In response, the short-built male student, believed to be possessed by Hardin, coldly replied with a frosty expression.

“Rather, are you in your right mind? Who do you think you are to disrespect Lady Luna like that?”

“Hah, you’re unbelievable. Some random guy is upset with me? And for disrespecting that lowly woman? Have you lost your mind?”

The surrounding students looked on incredulously.

“What’s wrong with that guy?”

“Has he lost his marbles?”

The Bestron family is a giant household that holds sway over Barharun.

As the heir of such a prestigious family, Jera has always been someone who wouldn’t even make eye contact with Hirkyan and would tread meekly.

Thus, the students couldn’t help but feel baffled when Jera suddenly burst into anger and shouted at Hirkyan.

Moreover, Hirkyan was one of the top students in the class, while Jera was the one with consistently the worst grades.

“That’s odd.”

“Huh? Did he go crazy today, or what?”

Amidst the murmurings, Hirkyan started, “It’s exasperating. I’d like to teach you a lesson right away. But as per the school rules, without the teacher’s permission, students can’t duel. You should be thankful that the teacher today is Mr. Akinte…”

“Let them duel.”

“Wh-what?”

At Leo’s words, Hirkyan wore a surprised expression.

“That guy seems to want to duel against you too. There’s no reason not to allow it if that’s the case.”

“Today, Mr. Akinte seems to be out of character to grant duels so readily.”

Hirkyan, satisfied with the permission, climbed to the center of the training ground without any hesitation.

“Come stand before me, Jera. Let me show you what dignity means.”

At this command, Jera stepped before Hirkyan.

“You’ve clearly decided to d*e today.”

“Hirkyan! Use this chance to get this guy expelled!”

Students allied with Hirkyan cheered and laughed.

A duel between the class’s best student and the worst.

The outcome was obvious to anyone.

“How should I deal with you?”

Hirkyan let out a cold laugh and induced mana.

Whooosh!

Even to the untrained eye, the brilliant emerald mana flickered visibly.

Looking at this, Jera’s face tensed.

‘Powerful mana.’

At this point, Leo maintained a bored-looking expression.

‘What a waste of mana.’

Jera… more accurately, Hardin, found Hirkyan to be a mystery, but from Leo’s perspective, he didn’t come across as particularly threatening.

As infamous as Hirkyan would become in the future, he was just an inexperienced kid now.

‘Let’s see how this Third-Year representative of Seirun performs.’

Hardin, who has faced countless battles as a third-year representative of Seirun, wasn’t someone who would lose just to someone who grew up pampered and sheltered.

‘Heroes Academy students from this era have more exceptional abilities than the heroes of our time.’

It wasn’t random praise to call all the students of Heroes Academy geniuses.

‘Besides, this was before the Era of Catastrophe.’

Even the once noble and honorable High Elves fell into corruption because they had indulged in peace for too long.

‘Stagnation invites decay.’

Even the Era of Heroes following the Era of Catastrophe was called the Age of Peace, but it wasn’t a perfect peace.

Tartarus remained dominant, and the war against them had been ongoing for 5000 years.

Moreover, there was the ever-present fear that another disaster might resurrect.

Compared to the Age of Heroes, the Age of Gods was akin to a peaceful and tranquil dynasty without any threats.

‘In the end, all that existed were wars between races and nations.’

Even if this was a massive event, it wasn’t particularly threatening to Leo, who had experienced calamities.

While Leo was lost in thought, Hirkyan began chanting a spell.

Upon hearing the spell, both Jera and Hardin’s eyes flickered.

‘This is a spell I’ve never heard before? What does he plan to do with such vast power?’

As expected, Hardin had no knowledge of it in this timeline.

Therefore, it was only natural for him to feel wary of this unknown spell.

While Hardin was tense, the wind surged after the spell was completed.

Wooosh!

Watching the powerful wind magic, Hardin took a deep breath and triggered his aura.

Hummm!

Upon witnessing this, the surrounding students’ eyes widened.

“Oh, an aura?”

“Jera! When did you learn how to use aura?!”

Stunned exclamations erupted around the area.

At this, Leo stroked his chin, observing.

‘Seems like this Jera originally doesn’t use aura. Hmm. Looking at his attire, he’s more of a wizard, isn’t he?’

Students aspiring to be the successor to Lady Luna in Seirun had to master the Magic of the Stars.

‘No, every elf seeks to learn the Magic of the Stars.’

To elves, the Magic of the Stars was akin to pride.

That’s why elves were called the magical race.

However, elves were only referred to as the magical race after the “Patriarch of the Star Cloud,” Lady Luna.

At that time, magic wasn’t mandatory for elves.

Consequently, they weren’t recognized as the magical race.

‘Initially, dual classes were extremely rare.’

Whoosh!

An explosive gust erupted from Hardin’s sword.

Kaboom!

“Hah!”

The storm blade that Hardin unleashed split Hirkyan’s magic apart.

Not only Hirkyan but also all the surrounding students were shocked.

“Wha- What?”

At the stupefied Hirkyan, Hardin furrowed his brows.

“Your mana is enormous, but that’s all. There’s nothing else to it.”

At this, Hirkyan’s face turned red.

“W-What did you say!”

“To mock someone of the Patriarch lineage with such amateur skills? Are you even worthy of being called an elf? Unbelievable.”

“Are you talking nonsense? Luna that woman being the Patriarch? You must have eaten something bad today!”

“Looks like you need a lesson for speaking like that.”

Hardin pointed his sword at Hirkyan.

“Prepare yourself.”

“Y-You…”

Before Hirkyan could respond, it began—Hardin’s one-sided beat.

A disgraceful affront to the identity of the elves, Luna, deserved cold anger from Hardin.

When Hardin had almost rendered Hirkyan unconscious,

Whoosh!

Leo swiftly intervened between the two.

And with his hand, Leo grabbed Hardin’s wrist.

Chiiing!

In response, Hardin sent a frigid gaze toward Leo.

“Don’t interfere.”

“As much as I’d like to let you keep going, you see.”

Leo spoke softly, making sure only Hardin could hear.

“This could interfere with the strategy in the Great Hero’s World.”

At this, Hardin’s eyes widened.

“Are you Leo Flove?”

“Yes. Allow me to explain the information I’ve gathered so far. For now, please follow my instructions.”

At this, Hardin nodded.

Having released Hardin’s wrist, Leo spoke.

“I allowed the duel, but your methods were too extreme, Jera.”

“I’m sorry.”

Bowing deeply at Leo’s voice filled with authority, Jera accepted his reprimand.

Seeing this, the surrounding students thought,

‘This guy’s definitely going to get expelled.’

Though it was a justified duel, severely injuring a member of the Bestron family meant expulsion was inevitable.

“The class is over. Take Hirkyan to the ward.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Jera. Follow me.”

Taking on a commanding tone like a professor, Leo ordered while Hardin silently followed.

The class ended.

Leo then spoke to an elf who seemed to be the assistant teacher who had accompanied them earlier.

“Hey.”

“!”

“Let’s head to my room.”

“Room? You mean Professor Akinte’s personal study?”

‘Personal study? It’d be useful if there is one.’

Quickly assessing the situation, Leo nodded.

“Yes.”

The male assistant stood beside Leo.

“Shall I lead the way?”

“Me?”

“I want to reprimand the student Jera.”

“Ah, understood.”

Although the dialogue felt a little odd, the assistant harbored no doubts.

Jera’s actions were undoubtedly deserving of a scolding from teachers.

As the assistant heard the sharp tone of Leo’s voice from behind, he shivered.

In the meantime, other students helped support Hirkyan.

At this moment, a female student stared intently at the back of Hardin.

Eventually, the female student licked her lips.

‘Seems like we’ve got a rat in the house.’

With a smirk, the female student disappeared into the crowd of students.

*

Under the guidance of the assistant, as Leo and Hardin entered Akinte’s study, they both exhaled a deep sigh of relief.

Once inside, the two exchanged significant glances and thoroughly explored the study.

This was to ensure for a private conversation.

Once deciding it was safe, they both took their seats comfortably.

In the middle of this, Hardin started revealing a killing intent.

“I can’t understand! What kind of person are you that you dare to mock Lady Luna like that? You disgrace to elves!”

It was an uncharacteristic emotional display for Hardin, known for his calmness.

After all, insulting Luna equated to invoking immense fury from elves, considering her importance to them.

Moreover, Hardin didn’t know exactly which era it was.

Observing Hardin’s condition, Leo explained, “Understand. It’s the era that is like this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Listen closely. The world we’re in now exists before the Era of Catastrophe.”

Momentarily, Hardin wore a bewildered expression.

“What are you saying? Before the Era of Catastrophe? There are no records of heroes before that era in the Hero Record.”

It wasn’t just about the Era of the Five Heroes—Kyle, Lissinas, Luna, Dwenno, Aron.

They were called the Heroes of the Beginning not merely because they heralded a new era, but because they were the first heroes recorded in the Hero Record.

So how could this be before the Era of Catastrophe?

Observing Hardin’s confused reaction, Leo seriously stated,

“Yes, but among the heroes recorded in the Hero Record, weren’t some alive even before the Era of Catastrophe?”

Upon hearing this, Hardin’s face stiffened.

“Wait. So what you’re saying is… this world is the Great Hero’s World?”

“Yes.”

“Impossible…”

“Yes. This is Luna’s world.”

Hardin’s body trembled.

“Proof that this is… the Patriarch’s world?”

“I met her with my own eyes.”

“What? You personally met the Patriarch!”

Hardin’s eyes widened as he lunged toward Leo.

“What does she look like? Is she truly like a single, delicate flower, as depicted in documents? Is she extremely compassionate? And does she radiate an aura so radiant that even stars bow?”

“Rather than beautiful, she was cute.”

“What?”

“I saw Luna in her childhood.”

“Childhood? How young?”

“Perhaps similar to Lunia or even younger.”

“Meeting the Patriarch in her maiden years…!”

Shaking with rapture, Hardin’s demeanor made Leo think,

‘If he saw her, he’d probably cry with grief.’

Certainly, those tears wouldn’t be tears of joy but of shattered illusions.

“She was adorable as a child.”

“!”

Hardin’s body stiffened.

As Hardin calmed down, Leo explained, “Understand. Because of the era.”

“What do you mean?”

“Listen carefully. The world we’re in right now exists before the Era of Catastrophe.”

Momentarily, Hardin wore a bewildered expression.

“Why don’t the records exist before the Era of Catastrophe?”

“In the Hero Record?”

The five heroes—Kyle, Lissinas, Luna, Dwenno, Aron—they’re called the Heroes of Beginning not because they opened a new era but because they are the first heroes recorded.

So if this is before the Era of Catastrophe?

Observing Hardin’s confused face, Leo seriously stated,

“Yes, but the records of heroes in the Hero Record also mention some heroes before the Era of Catastrophe, right?”

Upon hearing this, Hardin’s expression turned rigid.

“Wait. Are you saying… this world is the Great Hero’s World?”

“Yes.”

“Impossible…”

“Yes. This is Luna’s world.”

Hardin stammered,

“Evidence that…this is really the Patriarch’s world?”

“Just now, you met her.”

“What?! You actually met the Patriarch?”

Hardin, wide-eyed, lunged at Leo,

“What is she like? Is she truly like the flower-like figure as documented? Surely full of infinite compassion, and radiates an aura so beautiful that even stars bow low?”

“More like… cute?”

“CUTE?”

“I saw Luna when she was younger.”

“Y-Younger? How much younger exactly?”

“Not older than Lunia, if not younger.”

“Meeting the Patriarch in her youthful form…!”

Shaking with excitement, Hardin’s demeanor made Leo think,

‘If he saw her, he’d probably be heartbroken.’

Certainly those tears would not be of joy but of shattered fantasies.

Watching this, Leo internally thought,

‘This elf might be a pervert.’

If Luna saw him, she might kick him out in disgust.

Leo slightly shook his head.

“Anyway, that was why our conversation went off. Remember, this is before the Era of Catastrophe.”

Recalling the earlier conversation with Hirkyan, Hardin asked,

“But what is that guy exactly who dares to insult the Patriarch in her youthful form?”

“There must be a reason.”

All elves in Barharun belonged to prestigious families.

However, as far as Leo knew, Luna was an orphan.

Still, she entered Barharun on pure talent alone and was high enough to become a High Elf.

‘Therefore, she drew jealousy from her peers.’

“At any rate, the information I currently have extends to that. First. This is Luna’s world. Second. It’s an era before the Era of Catastrophe. So Tartarus doesn’t exist yet.”

Upon hearing this, Hardin fell into deep contemplation.

“Then what’s our objective here? It must be extraordinary considering the greatness of the Patriarch’s achievements.”

Thinking about this, Leo also became lost in thought.

“Luna’s achievements…it’s hard to predict just how vast they are.”

“Indeed. The Patriarch herself is an achievement.”

Both nodded in agreement.

“For now, the objective isn’t something we can determine right away. Meeting Lunia and Elena is also crucial. And as for the Era of Catastrophe…”

Hardin looked at his palm.

“Indeed, using the Magic of Stars might not be a good idea. Given it doesn’t exist in this era, it would cause chaos.”

Though separated by a five-thousand-year gap, magic from that era isn’t entirely different from the current era.

With each generation, the essence remains, with similar elements.

“Thus it can be vaguely rationalized as just ‘special magic,’ but it’s not the Magic of Stars.”

“Given this is magic created by Luna out of nothing, if it were to be known, it’d certainly create a ruckus.”

Indeed, when all present were shocked to find Luna practicing the Magic of Stars during her time, it reflected its uniqueness.

Using it heedlessly might unleash unforeseen consequences.

Without a doubt, Hardin showcased expertise on this matter, given his expertise as a dungeon raider at Seirun.

‘Speaking of which, Magic of Stars?’

As Leo reflected on the Magic of Stars, he remembered something.

“Wasn’t it said that Luna began studying the Magic of Stars from her student days?”

As if something clicked, just then,

Knock knock!

Someone knocked on the study door.

Leo opened it.

There stood knights wearing solemn expressions.

“Professor Akinte, the principal requests your presence.”

“Why does the principal wish to see me?”

“It’s about the incident that occurred during today’s class.”

Saying this, the elf knights glanced pointedly at Hardin sitting inside.

“Additionally, the Barharun administration has ordered Jera’s detention.”

Hearing this, Leo glanced briefly at Hardin.

Hardin sighed deeply and subtly nodded as if indicating, “We’ll follow for now.”

“Take him.”

Hardin was then led away by the knights.

“Everything’s getting complicated.”

Muttering under his breath, Leo followed the knights to meet the principal.

“Who is the principal of Barharun, again?”

Leo tried to recall his past memories.

But even for Kyle, this was an event too long ago, and his memory was hazy.

Exiting the courtyard, Leo followed the knight’s guidance towards the periphery of Barharun.

Stopping before a certain tower, Leo hesitated.

Though he had never visited Barharun in the era of Kyle, the architectural style of this tower struck him as familiar.

A tall tower reaching towards the sky.

An architectural style made to celebrate great entities.

‘The Tower of Gods.’

“Shall we proceed?”

The knights remained at the entrance, not allowed inside.

As Leo approached the tower’s entrance, the doors slid open.

Boom!

Entering, the heavy doors shut behind him with a resonating sound.

Leo surveyed the interior of the tower.

On the walls hung various portraits of elves.

And at the center, a certain staff was displayed.

Approaching the staff, Leo observed it closely.

A smooth, stem-like staff with a giant, pale-green gem resembling a huge leaf at its end hung there.

‘Pollyum.’

A symbol of Luna.

No, it was more accurately a symbol of elves before the Era of Catastrophe.

And it was this staff made from the original World Tree, shattered alongside Luna’s life—treasure of the elves, usable only by the chosen, bearing immense magical power.

The moment Leo stood before it,

Hmmm…

The magical staff resonated with a sudden hum.

As Leo was surprised by this,

“Remarkable.”

An upper voice sounded, and Leo looked up.

“So even the Pollyum, long ignored by even Elven Kings, reacted to you.”

Gazing down at Leo with benevolent eyes, Leo narrowed his eyes upon their sight.

The man’s eyes were different from humans.

They had a ringed pupil.

Wise eyes that seemed to pierce through everything.

‘So… we’re still before the Era of Catastrophe.’

Even after meeting several times, Leo was never quite used to the eyes of a Transcender.

There was nothing strange about a God being present.