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Hearing Leo’s encouragement, Luna’s face became flushed.
Perhaps if it was someone else, such encouragement might not have worked.
But Leo’s words certainly reached Luna.
Even though history might have been twisted, the bond built from before remained.
If it weren’t for Akinte’s words, who taught her magic and cared for her like a daughter, it might have been considered mere empty talk.
‘I should thank the original owner of this body.’
Leo chuckled inside.
The darkened pupils began to glimmer like stars.
The drooping ears perked up sharply.
Luna’s face regained its vitality, and she displayed a lively expression.
“Right? You feel the same way, don’t you, Teacher?”
Luna, who had been reinvigorated, proudly opened her chest while making an “ahem” face.
‘The one who will become a bright star in the night sky.’
That was Luna’s catchphrase.
‘Everyone teased me, calling it childish.’
Nevertheless, Luna wasn’t the least bit embarrassed.
She proclaimed it as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
And indeed, it came true.
Watching Luna regain her confidence and shine her eyes like stars, Leo laughed.
Whether in childhood or during the era of despair, Luna was always Luna.
A brash young lady full of pride who always called herself the best and truly was the most beautiful elf.
Recalling his friend who had always proclaimed that he would become a great wizard, Leo laughed.
‘That’s right, this suits you.’
The image of her being deflated in any way didn’t suit her at all.
If Aron’s silhouette guided Kyle, then Luna’s spell pushed Kyle’s back.
While reminiscing about the distant past that had now become a memory, Leo rose from his seat.
“Shall we head to the party?”
“Yes!”
Now was the time to set everything right.
‘It’s certain that Tartarus exists in the Hero’s World.’
Leo clenched and unclenched his fists.
‘Then the conclusion is just one.’
Since the previous life.
And into the future, this conclusion will never change.
‘They will be defeated.’
The Elven King’s birthday was a festival day for the entire elven race.
On this night, all elves blessed the king’s birthday.
Even acts usually deemed sinful were forgiven on this day.
It’s also the only day when the normally dignified elves let go of everything.
That was true even for the city of the High Elves.
Everyone indulged themselves on the streets.
The reason nighttime indulgence is permitted is because they believe the darkness will conceal their sins.
But to those unaware of this, the current behavior of the elves seemed quite amazing.
“The elves of old were indeed quite free-spirited.”
Ellena tilted her head as she watched from a back alley.
At this, Hardin furrowed his brows.
“Their daytime demeanor didn’t seem that way.”
Though short, Hardin’s experience with the elves of this era had revealed them to be far more formal and rigid than what he currently witnessed.
As Melin stuttered between the two, she finally spoke up.
“Um… because today is His Majesty Elven King’s birthday.”
“Hmm?”
“Tonight is the night of freedom we’ve been told of.”
Even slaves living in Barharun would receive basic etiquette and education.
Listening to Melin, Ellena nodded in understanding.
“Either way, you said you’ve met Leo, Hardin.”
“That’s correct. Someone named Akinte seemed to have possessed his body.”
“Teacher?”
Ellena’s eyes slightly widened.
They had already escaped the Barharun Academy, but what came next was the problem.
‘While bringing Hardin out, we defeated a demon.’
To Ellena and Hardin, they merely did what had to be done, but it would not be seen that way by the current elves.
Intruders had committed m*rder within Barharun. On the Elven King’s birthday, no less.
Knights searching for someone in the crowd and signs of unrest appeared.
‘They must be looking for us.’
Ellena idly twirled a strand of her hair.
‘The Age of the Gods…’
An era almost forgotten in historical records.
Yet, known as the most peaceful age.
‘There aren’t really any threateningly powerful figures here.’
So far, among the elves in Barharun, none had posed a threat to Ellena and Hardin.
‘Well. It is a time of peace, and there was no Hero Record in this era either.’
Ellena, who is strong even in the real world, should be especially unmatched in this era.
‘But still, we can’t move recklessly.’
Every era has its powerful individuals.
Especially in a city of this size, there might be someone stronger than Ellena.
‘Decisively… Tartarus.’
It’s uncertain when Tartarus infiltrated the Hero Dungeon, but given they went as far as coming to personally k*ll Hardin in the underground cells, there’s a high likelihood they deeply penetrated Barharun.
‘No need to unnecessarily turn the entire city into our enemy. For now, let’s quietly reunite with the others…’
While thinking this, Ellena glanced deep into the back alley.
Hardin, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, stood upright, letting his arms fall to his side.
Keeeek-kkik-kik-kik!
The eerie sound of nails scratching on metal echoed.
“Melina.”
“Yes?”
“Could you close your eyes for a moment?”
Ellena smiled gently at the young elf.
Hearing this, Melina closed her eyes.
Whoosh!
Together with this sound, a massive skeleton appeared behind Ellena, swinging its broken sword at Renia.
Clang! Swish!
Buaaaakk!
The sound of metal resonating was followed by a silver blade flickering.
Hardin, who had unsheathed his sword unnoticed, cleanly split the skeleton in half.
Crackle! Shhhhhh!
The skeleton that fell to the ground crumbled into powder and disappeared.
“Seems like there’s a necromancer around.”
Ellena wore an amused expression.
Ka-crunch! Kack!
Kek-keek! Kekk-kek!
Simultaneously with those words, a horde of undead spilled out from the back alley.
“This city truly is extreme.”
Hardin narrowed his eyes while raising his aura.
“To have such an opulent exterior but such corruption within.”
“That’s what makes it an interesting city.”
Ellena smiled faintly.
The filthy back alleys were places where no one dared to venture.
That’s why Tartarus could act with complete freedom within them.
“Given that the undead have located us precisely, it seems that someone is tracking our position.”
“Is the entire city really under their control?”
Hardin clicked his tongue.
This meant they couldn’t shake off pursuit simply by escaping through the back alley.
“Considering the situation, we are left with only one choice.”
Ellena raised her magic power.
“We should defeat the necromancer that’s currently dominating this back alley.”
“Not joining up with Leo and Lunia? Wouldn’t that delay the assault strategy?”
“Didn’t you say Leo has already met Lady Luna?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s leave the conquest of this world to the younger ones.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“Even if they’re class representatives, it won’t be easy for first-years to conquer the Hero’s World, especially not Lady Luna’s world. We can’t just entrust it to first-years…?”
“Perhaps Leo will be better than us. He already has experience conquering another Great Hero’s World.”
“Huh?”
Ellena’s words made Hardin’s eyes widen in surprise.
“And… Leo is quite different from other hero candidates.”
“What do you mean different?”
“Hmm… It’s hard to express in words.”
Ellena, who had been pondering while biting her index finger, gave a small laugh.
“Leo has the power to turn impossibilities into possibilities.”
“What do you mean?”
“It simply means he’s not just someone with the potential to be a hero.”
In just half a year.
The time Leo spent at the Hero Academy.
During that period, Leo went through countless battlefields.
And the feats he accomplished were nothing short of miraculous.
“Leo…”
Ellena smiled.
“Was born with the qualities of a Great Hero.”
The World Tree Plaza.
Gorgeous decorations and lavish food.
Expensive alcohol.
Soft melodies.
It felt like a party truly meant only for the chosen.
Amidst this, Princess Sergia was seated on an opulent chair, taking deep breaths.
Countless elves approached the princess to greet her.
The birthday’s main guest, Elven King Erkhen, had yet to arrive.
Until then, it was Princess Sergia’s responsibility to leave a good impression with the guests first.
As she was busy exchanging formalities with various elves,
Ether, who was standing by her side, wore a worried expression.
“Princess Sergia, you’ve appeared unwell for quite some time.”
“No, Captain Ether. It was just a brief dizziness.”
Sergia, Lunia, forced herself to smile.
The scene she had witnessed earlier in the audience chamber wouldn’t leave her mind.
Erebus, deep in slumber.
Even just encountering Erebus had nearly terrified Lunia.
Fortunately, she hadn’t screamed. If she had, it would have awoken the monstrous being.
Just imagining it terrified her.
‘No… I wouldn’t have been able to scream even if I had wanted to.’
Thinking of Erebus sent tremors through Lunia’s hands.
‘What… How is this thing here in this era? Is it because this is the past? Then why do I recognize it and no one else does?’
A fake within the Hero’s World.
It could have been something she accidentally saw.
But Lunia believed it wasn’t a fake.
Her instincts as a living creature told her differently.
That it was a real being like herself.
A monster from reality, not belonging to this false world.
‘I’m scared.’
Unconsciously, Lunia wrapped her arms around herself tightly.
Seeing this, Ether’s expression grew even sterner.
“Princess, you don’t appear well at all. Let us take you inside to rest…”
Ether moved to lead Lunia towards the World Tree.
“No, no. I’m fine, Captain Ether.”
Lunia violently shook her head.
Her biological instincts refused to approach Erebus.
She suddenly understood the greatness of the heroes she had admired from afar.
How could they face such a monster and fight?
‘How could they have defeated such a monster?’
Is it even possible?
Endless fear engulfed Lunia.
She didn’t register who she greeted or exchanged words with.
Her mind was solely focused on the daunting task of overcoming the fear pressing down on her.
By just facing the epitome of evil, the will of the young elf had been broken.
At the height of her fear, she noticed a pair of small feet in her vision.
A fragile girl’s feet.
With a respectful bow, the girl’s head bowed low.
Her leaf-like silver hair caught Lunia’s attention.
Her voice suggested someone possibly younger, maybe even younger than Lunia herself.
That youthful voice unmistakably drew Lunia’s ear.
It was a familiar voice.
Or maybe slightly younger than what she remembered.
But she knew.
How could she forget?
In that instant.
The character from her dearly loved fairy tale.
Someone she longed to follow even in the tiniest detail.
How could she forget the voice of the great one who had been her object of admiration and love?
Lunia looked up.
And saw her.
A beautiful girl with eyes that sparkled like stars.
A primeval descendant, around her age.
“My name is Luna Rubyness.”
The moment she encountered her childhood admiration.
Lunia felt as if by miracle her fear dissipated.
*
‘How is that wretched girl here?’
Seth, the principal of Barharun, clenched his face as he looked at Luna who stood greeting the princess.
That girl was undoubtedly not invited here.
So how could she possibly be here?
‘Could it be the rats’ doing?’
Seth, who had been wearing an unpleasant expression, curved his lips into a sneer.
‘This could work out better. Perfect for finding those sneaking rats…’
“You are just as you’ve always been. Sneaking in like rats. You’re truly incredible at that.”
Seth froze hearing the voice from behind.
“What nonsense, Teacher Akin’t.”
“Ahh, you’re planning to play dumb? Tartarus.”
Leo coldly smiled.
“How did you find out?”
Seth turned around with a frigid expression.
Upon seeing Seth, Leo smirked.
“If I didn’t know, that might be different… But once I know you’re here, there’s no way to hide the smell.”
“Smell?”
“Yes. It reeks so badly it makes my nose want to rot.”
The killing intent flashed in Leo’s eyes.
“You will have to pay the price for messing around in this world.”
![[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")
