Chapter 150

150.

Luna’s eyes widened as she watched Leo’s magic.

“It’s beautiful.”

The pure white magic was so beautiful that it naturally drew exclamations of admiration.

Erebus, who had been emitting black flames, unleashed a fierce killing intent the moment he saw Leo’s magic.

There was a clear sense of enmity.

‘So this guy really is targeting me.’

Leo, with a cold expression, sent Innocent flying towards Erebus.

Hwaak-!

A b*llet of pure white magical power flew through the air.

Hwaerurrreok-!

Black flames that could burn everything blazed fiercely.

The flames, like a savage beast with its jaws wide open, swallowed Innocent whole.

Go-oooooo-!

The black flames rampaged wildly.

At that moment,

Hwaak-!

The balloon-like swollen flames of Erebus exploded.

Peung-!

Flames splattered everywhere.

But the scattered black flames in the air could no longer burn and soon faded away.

That wasn’t all.

The main body of Erebus, affected by the explosion, staggered.

Kuung-!

Gwoeoeoeoeo!

Erebus let out an angry roar.

“Attack!”

Leo shouted.

Together with him, Luna deployed her magic power.

Beonjjak-!

Countless magical circles adorned the air.

The young female archmage, a marvel to behold, swung her staff.

Beonjjak! Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang-!

An incomparably powerful magical storm swept through the area, far surpassing anything from before.

But despite being directly hit by countless spells, Erebus remained unscathed.

“Doesn’t this even work?”

Luna’s face turned to one of astonishment.

Seeing this, Leo frowned.

‘Why doesn’t Luna’s attack work?’

Leo swung a gray aura.

Kwaak-!

Woeoeoeoeoe!

An angry roar from Erebus was heard.

It works.

Leo’s attack, so much weaker compared to Luna, worked.

‘Could it be that Luna’s attack doesn’t work because she’s from the Hero’s World?’

There is a possibility of that.

Leo’s face turned anxious.

Right now, in this party, Luna is the vanguard safeguarding the front and also the most powerful mage in the party.

‘It would be a big problem if Luna’s attack doesn’t work.’

While Leo felt anxious,

Flames erupted from the body of Lunia in the rear.

Hwaerurrreok-!

Lunia clutched the small flame burning on her hand.

Hwaaaak-!

In an instant, wings of flame unfolded.

The symbol of the Rundeah family.

The generations-spanning flame of Phoenix’s Vowkeeper.

“Divine Fire.”

The forbidden flame that burns even itself blazed fiercely.

Maintaining this flame is none other than Lunia herself.

As long as her will does not fade, Lunia’s body will burn like firewood.

Seeing this, Elena smiled.

“So this is the flame of the Rundeah family.”

Elena approached Lunia, who was in obvious pain.

“A moment! It’s dangerous…!”

Lunia tried to step back in panic.

But Elena was quicker, embracing Lunia first.

The wildly rampaging flames threatened Elena.

But Elena paid no heed, tightening her embrace around Lunia and placing her chin on her shoulder.

“The scent of a fierce flame. Indeed, you’re also a bit dangerous, aren’t you?”

She doesn’t hesitate to rush toward her goal.

Even if she burns and disappears, this elf girl won’t hesitate.

Lunia was gently detached by Elena, who smiled.

Pink magic flowed from Elena’s body.

Hwarreok-!

Fire ignited on Elena’s body.

Seeing this, Lunia’s eyes widened.

“This magic is…?”

“Sekrifaisu. The heroic magic of the elf saint, Menamel.”

“Wait a moment! Sekrifaisu is certainly…!”

“That’s right. The strongest healing magic. They said Menamel used this to revive even the dead, right?”

“Yes! But this magic is…!”

The injuries of the patient are assumed by the healer.

It’s literally an equal exchange magic.

“Right now, the strongest attacker among us is you.”

Elena smiled.

The flames of Phoenix grow stronger infinitely as they burn.

The flames of Runedeah also grow stronger the more they burn.

However, unlike Phoenix, with its infinite lifespan and immense power, this is a double-edged sword for elves.

In other words, the limit for Runedeah’s flame could be said to be the moment their body can no longer endure.

Elena erased that limitation for Lunia.

“But Miss Elena…!”

“Tsk. A first-year shouldn’t worry to the extent that a third-year needs assistance.”

Elena nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders.

“So, burn even more fiercely.”

With a dignified expression like a queen, Elena spoke.

“Show your worth, Lunia El Rundeah.”

“…If you regret it later, it’s not my problem.”

Hwarrrrrreok-!

The wings of flame became even larger.

In accordance, Elena’s pain grew even more intense.

But Elena smiled proudly.

‘There really isn’t room for complacency, not even with Seirun.’

Kung- Kugugugung-!

The fallen Erebus rose to his feet.

Upon seeing the fiercely burning flames of Lunia, he let out a roar.

Uoo-ooooooo-!

A spear of flame formed at the tip of Erebus’s fingers.

Accurate and precise, he hurled the spear towards Lunia and Elena.

In order to stop that attack, Hardin flew towards Erebus’s spear.

Uung-!

The surrounding air responded to Hardin’s call.

Hardin, who had taken control of the winds, focused mana at the tip of his sword.

With both hands, he swung his sword.

Hwaak! Kwa-ga-ga-gang-!

A soaring blade of wind deflected Erebus’s flaming spear.

Hardin stiffened his expression and tensed his whole body as a chilling heat coursed through him instantly.

Kwaang-!

The flames of the spear scattered.

‘This is the legendary great calamity…!’

Just guarding against a single blow felt like all his strength was being drained instantly.

In Hardin’s eyes, the back view of Leo, who was holding up the front line with Luna, entered.

‘…Leo Flove.’

The first-year representative of Lumern Academy.

The power right now might be equal or even stronger than his own.

‘But our positions are different.’

The boy was already in a place he couldn’t reach.

An instant surpassing the difference in year levels between first and third year.

It wasn’t jealousy or envy.

Just admiration naturally came forth.

He was different from Eleana, his own goal.

‘That’s right.’

Hardin, who had realized the nature of his own feelings, burst out laughing.

‘It’s reverence.’

Hardin felt reverence towards this young human boy.

Toward Leo who stood somewhere he could not, in the same place as the Great Hero.

At that moment.

Kugwagagagagang-!

A pillar of red flames shot up from the rear.

Hardin turned his head.

There stood Lunia, who emitted an astonishing firepower of blazing flames.

“I’m going!”

Lunia, holding up a colossal flame with both hands, hurled it towards Erebus.

Upon seeing this, Leo remembered something.

“Luna.”

“What?”

“Could you enhance that magic?”

Leo pointed with his chin towards Lunia’s “Divine Fire”.

Upon seeing this, Luna made a face of disbelief.

“You want me to strengthen something as high-level as this and control it? Dispelling it would be much easier!”

“Can’t you?”

“Talk something plausible! Something plausible! You’re a mage too, right? Let’s talk common sense!”

Taking control of someone else’s magic requires a vastly superior skill gap.

Even with that gap, if the opponent’s magic employs complex magic circuits in its high-level spells, taking control is impossible.

Even if managed somehow, the power diminishes considerably.

And now he was asking to strengthen it.

It’s an unreasonable request.

With an exasperated expression watching Luna, Leo spoke.

“You can do it.”

“Huh?”

“You’re a genius, after all.”

Those words made Luna’s ears perk up.

Luna, whose pride swelled easily, inflated further from Leo’s words.

“Alright. This body is indeed a genius.”

Luna gave an ahem! cough.

“Thinking about it now, it’s not theoretically impossible either.”

Smiling with a wry grin, Luna adjusted her focus.

“Fine! Why not give it a shot?”

“Simple enough.”

“What was that?”

“I trust you.”

Speaking softly, Leo’s mutter made Luna, who had quickly turned her gaze, raise her thumb at Leo with a huff! and smile.

Her eyes closed as she summoned her magical power.

Uuuung-!

Luna’s magical power enveloped Lunia’s Divine Fire.

In that moment, Luna’s consciousness fell deep into meditation.

‘Huh? This magic circuit… it seems familiar.’

Luna felt a sense of wonder.

Leo’s magic earlier.

And this magic.

It’s similar to the magic she’s been studying.

As she comprehended and understood the structure of the circuits, Luna marveled.

‘The person who made this circuit is definitely a genius. A genius on par with me!’

It’s astonishingly similar to the ideal she’s been pursuing.

Luna explored and explored this circuit as if studying her future works.

In a flash, Luna fell deeply into meditation.

And she realized something.

Go-ooooo-!

Suddenly Erebus rushed toward Luna.

But Luna, absorbed in the magic, was unable to respond.

Kwa-ga-ga-gyeok-!

In an instance, a gray sword energy slashed off Erebus’s wrist.

“Not twice.”

Leo spoke with a cold voice.

“I won’t let you take me twice.”

His voice, filled with killing intent, made the fragment of great calamity tremble.

Leo held his sword with his eyes alone overpowering Erebus’s fragment in that instant.

Go-oo-ooo-oo!

Swinging his arm towards Leo, who blocked Luna’s path, Erebus roared in fury.

Rather than dodging, Leo stood his ground.

Because dodging would leave Luna vulnerable.

Tt-!

Erebus’ massive hand grabbed Leo.

Kwa-ga-ga-gyeok-!

Black flames spewed from Erebus’ hand.

Seeing this, the eyes of Hardin, Lunia, and Elena widened.

At that moment.

[Objective: Assist the progenitor of Star Cloud, Luna, in completing the Magic of the Stars.]

[The progenitor of Star Cloud, Luna, has completed the Magic of the Stars.]

A message appeared before the raiders.

Amidst the shock,

“That’s not enough to k*ll me, right?”

Luna asked with a bright smile.

Beonjjak! Kwa-ga-gyeok-!

A flash of gray aura severed the hand holding him, and Leo escaped with a wry smile.

“Of course not.”

Though his body was scorched in several places.

Black flames had seeped into his skin.

Pain distorted his face, but his lips remained smiling.

“Alright then.”

Luna grinned at the successfully controlled magic.

“That’s it, you miserable guy.”

Beonjjak-!

A sphere of flames that shone like a single sun flew towards Erebus.

Uoo-oo-oo-oo-!

Kung!

Erebus received the magic as if holding it up.

Kkaang-!

But soon his knees bent.

Geoeoeoeoe-!

Erebus, roaring in anguish, couldn’t hold on against the magic’s power and was overwhelmed.

Kung! Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!

A colossal pillar of fire shot up into the sky.

Ka-a-a-a-a-a-aak!

Erebus’ scream soared high into the sky.

But soon, scorched to ashes in a form unrecognizable, he disappeared.

*

The ominous sky returned to its original state.

What remained was the half-destroyed Barharun Castle.

Amidst this, Lunia mumbled.

“T-t… it’s over.”

Her body trembled with joy.

“We’ve defeated Erebus… Hyiiiik?”

“Hmm. I expected you to smell of burning, but you have quite a refreshing fragrance in normal conditions.”

Lunia was startled as Elena buried her face into her neck.

“What are you doing!”

With her ears turning red, Lunia shook her head while Elena chuckled.

“You’re adorable. I like it. Should I kidnap you and take you to Lumern?”

“Absolutely not! I’m the proud first-year representative of Seirun!”

Watching Elena, who found a new interesting toy, Lunia’s red face violently shook her head.

“My goodness, how disappointing.”

While she was licking her lips,

“We did it! We’ve defeated that monster! And I’ve also completed the magic I’ve been studying for so long!”

Luna burst into hearty laughter.

“Hey, you’re pretty decent! I thought elves were all stiff people, but there are ones like you!”

“Honored to be evaluated so highly… Huh?”

As Hardin was politely answering, he was shocked when Luna suddenly put him in a headlock and draped her arm around his shoulder.

“L-Lady Luna is giving me a shoulder hug…!”

“I-Is this a dream? No, it can’t be a dream!”

Seeing the dumbfounded two elves, Elena chuckled.

“The amusing sight of Seirun’s first-year representatives. It would be worth capturing in a photograph.”

“Isn’t being revered as a Great Hero enough to be considered normal?”

Leo approached Elena.

And offered to help her up.

But Elena playfully slapped away Leo’s hand with a grin.

“One shouldn’t casually touch a lady.”

At this, Leo made an indifferent face.

“Didn’t you lean on Lunia just fine?”

Although she had passed it off lightly earlier, Elena’s current condition was to the extent she couldn’t even lift her head.

“Hm. You’ve got sharp eyes.”

Elena lazily opened her eyes.

Pretending to be calm, Elena’s current condition was the worst.

Even though she had used such great magic, Lunia remained unshaken because Elena had taken on all the flames Lunia should have endured.

“But such consideration isn’t necessary.”

Elena smiled mildly.

“Just leave Her Majesty to be a noble flower, Leo.”

“Isn’t ‘Her Majesty’ too young a title? If anything, ‘Princess’ might work.”

“Hm. True. Back when I was young, I preferred the princess in fairy tales over the hero. I tended to admire that side more.”

Elena chuckled.

“Well, I’m the type who manages to escape even before the prince or hero comes to save me.”

After saying this, Elena narrowed her eyes.

“Anyways, before worrying about me, shouldn’t you be concerned about yourself first?”

Among the raid members, it was clearly Leo who had the most serious injuries.

“I’m used to it.”

Nevertheless, Leo shrugged nonchalantly with a smile.

The two approached Luna.

“By this, I’ve taken one step closer to my ultimate magic!”

An excited Luna declared.

At this, Elena’s eyes gleamed as she asked.

“What exactly is the ultimate magic you aspire for, Lady Luna?”

“Do not be surprised upon hearing this! It is simply the magic that makes flowers bloom!”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Lunia, Elena, and Hardin all wore dumbfounded expressions.

It’s not because Luna’s goal was too absurd.

Their gazes naturally turned to Leo.

The “magic that makes flowers bloom” mentioned by Luna was none other than the forgotten progenitor magic successfully reconstructed by Leo during the year-end excursion.

“Anyway! I’ll follow you!”

Luna grinned.

“Are you guys going out there? To the outside world? Take me with you!”

“No.”

Leo firmly stated.

At this, Luna pouted.

“Aw, don’t be so petty and take me along.”

“It’s not possible. I can’t do that.”

“Why?”

“We all have our own paths. Yours is different from ours.”

Leo drew a line.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could go together?

“… That would probably be the happiest thing, wouldn’t it?”

But it’s impossible.

It was different from the case with Elshi.

Elshi was merely a kind of ‘ability’ bound in a contract with Leo.

Different from that, Luna is the ruler of this world.

No matter how great the Hero’s World might be, it wouldn’t be enough to save even a Great Hero.

Luna’s face, which had been scrunched up in frustration, suddenly turned to one of confusion.

“Y-you…?”

While Lunia and Elena and Hardin didn’t see, Leo was biting his lips hard.

Leo’s hand tensed.

And at that moment,

As if announcing a sudden meeting and parting,

[Luna’s World: Prologue – Barharun conquered.]

The world announced its end.

With a sudden flash,

The raid participants, excluding Leo, disappeared from sight.

They had returned to their original world.

This is the reality.

Luna, who must live in the past, and Leo, who must live in the future.

The difference between them was too vast.

Forcing his distorted face to straighten, Leo said,

“Certainly, we will meet again… a great companion who will accomplish remarkable things with you.”

“…”

“There’s an adventure waiting for you.”

“… Are you leaving now?”

“I think I must.”

Luna instinctively realized.

That she couldn’t go with the boy before her eyes.

Her shoulders slumped.

Uncharacteristically drooping ears were visible.

In an instant, cracks began to appear in the world.

The end was approaching.

At that moment, Leo extended his hand.

“Rune Lunenness.”

“Huh?”

Hwaak-!

A flower bloomed from Leo’s hand.

Seeing this, Luna’s face showed surprise.

“You’ll become a mage greater than anyone. Saving the world… you’ll be respected by all elves, and you’ll be called the progenitor of Star Cloud.”

Leo squeezed the remaining magic power from his hand.

The desolated ruins were momentarily covered in flowers.

“Your future… will be the most dazzling.”

Luna’s eyes grew wide with astonishment.

“So don’t lose heart. You.”

Leo extended his hand and tousled Luna’s hair.

“Being confident suits you.”

“… Yes!”

Luna flashed a radiant smile.

Looking at that bright smile, Leo took a step back.

Leo, too, responded with a smile.

The sight became enveloped in a bright light.