Chapter 238

238

The mission of shadows is something that must be done by someone.

They are the ones who root out traitors in the darkness and protect heroes.

One of the pillars upholding the age of peace established by the Great Heroes.

However, since the Hero Records were created, shadows have never been acknowledged by the gods.

“We may not know the will of the gods,”

Rina said nonchalantly.

“It’s also true that many shadows despair of their situation in their later years.”

“Does the principal feel the same way?”

“Me?”

Rina chuckled as she brought the wine glass to her lips.

“I became a shadow out of personal vengeance. I don’t care about getting my name on the Hero Record.”

Rina shrugged her shoulders.

“I do hope that the future generations will receive the gods’ recognition.”

Rina extended her hand.

“I wish that shadows could live in a bright world, not in the darkness.”

This was the reason why Rina had integrated shadow candidates into hero candidates.

Watching such Rina, Leo sighed inwardly.

‘The reason shadows aren’t listed on the Hero Records is somewhat clear.’

As Rina had said, it’s because the gods didn’t recognize the achievements of the shadows.

‘The gods are too capricious anyway.’

During the Era of Catastrophe, the gods disappeared from the earth.

The gods, exiled from the earth by Erebus, could not return even after the Era of Heroes began.

However, they left the Hero Records for the people of the earth, and the residents came to revere the gods as a legacy of the great gods.

‘Through this process, they have been overly deified.’

It was humorous to think that watching the gods deify them was funny, but Leo, who had lived through the Age of Gods, could think of nothing else.

It’s true that the gods are transcendent beings with absolute power.

But they aren’t as wise and noble as people think.

Leo remembered something Dwenno had said before.

‘Don’t go anywhere near those gods. If they speak to you, running with all your might is the best option.’

Arin showed a baffled expression at this saying,

‘Why treat gods like an epidemic?’

‘They are an epidemic.’

Dwenno clicked his tongue.

‘How many people have ruined their lives because of their connection with the gods?’

Luna chimed in at this.

‘Still, gods are beautiful, aren’t they? They should be praised from your standpoint, right?’

Upon hearing this, Dwenno’s expression turned serious.

‘Don’t attach the adjective “beautiful” to the gods. It’s a defamation of beauty itself.’

Even Dwenno, who called himself a connoisseur of aesthetics and exalted beauty, regarded the gods as entities that negated beauty.

That was exactly what the gods were.

‘Though there are cases like Pibua.’

Pibua, the guardian god of elves, which Leo had encountered in the Hero Records.

‘But that’s a very special case.’

Based on Leo’s knowledge, the reason shadows didn’t receive gods’ approval was simply a matter of preference.

But it seemed that the people of this era, who didn’t know about the entities called gods, thought there was some special divine reasoning involved.

‘Is this what formed the emotional chasm?’

It was an inevitable feeling of disappointment from the shadows’ point of view.

When Leo was deeply sighing inside himself,

“If the principal’s intention was to get the shadow candidates’ names on the Hero Records, it’s all the more baffling. Why is Chen Sia withdrawing?”

“Because Chen Sia is the princess of the Shan Empire.”

“The princess of the Shan Empire?”

Leo looked surprised, having not predicted that she could be the princess.

Watching such Leo, Rina explained.

“They are one of the oldest and most traditional shadows. As such, they live thoroughly as shadows.”

“So, what does this have to do with withdrawing?”

“The Shan Empire purely desires to have the shadows’ names on the ‘Hero Records.'”

Rina frowned.

“It’s their goal to obtain gods’ recognition as shadows and not heroes. That’s why they don’t want Chen Sia to remain in the Hero Academy.”

Even if Chen Sia, trained as a hero candidate, made it to the Hero Records, it wouldn’t hold any value from the perspective of the Shan Empire.

Leo’s eyes narrowed.

Kyle had buried countless traitors in the dark, and in that process, he had killed many.

He had no regrets about it.

If Leo hadn’t stained his hands with bl**d, his friends would have.

Someone had to do it, and he believed himself to be the most suitable for the job.

That’s the path he had chosen.

‘But… does Chen Sia want this?’

If she willingly walks the path of shadows, that’s fine.

If she chooses to stay in the darkness, it’s something Leo can’t intervene with.

However, Chen Sia, over the past year, had been the best hero candidate out of everyone.

A girl dreaming of becoming a hero.

That girl was suddenly dropping out of Lumeran.

‘Is this really what Chen Sia wants?’

“Fearing for your friend is understandable. Still, it’s a family matter. It’s better not to deeply involve yourself with the Shan Empire.”

Rina spoke purely out of concern for Leo.

In her view, Leo was the hope of the world.

‘Hero candidate who will succeed the Sword Saint.’

A gem that needs more refinement to shine brighter.

Lina didn’t want such a gem to be buried in the darkness before it could even shine.

‘This issue should be handled after further growth.’

Before being a shadow, Rina herself was now the principal of the Hero Academy and an adult.

She couldn’t stand by and watch hero candidates get tangled in shadow-related issues and take on burdens they couldn’t handle.

The world of shadows was much deeper and darker than people thought.

It wasn’t beneficial for anyone to know about it.

After hearing Rina’s words, Leo smiled.

The moment Rina saw that smile, she felt a chill.

In Leo’s red eyes, she glimpsed the same darkness she held.

Rina realized Leo was like her; a celebrated master of the shadow world.

“You… what is your identity?”

Watching Rina stiffen, Leo replied with a smile still on his face.

“Student Council President of Lumeran.”

“…”

“If Chen Sia isn’t willingly doing what she’s doing, I want to stop her.”

“Why?”

“Because Chen Sia is an outstanding hero candidate who will shoulder the future.”

Leo said calmly.

“I think it doesn’t matter if you’re a hero or a shadow. I believe the Hero Record isn’t crucial.”

Leo looked at his own hands.

“I think everyone who fights for the world is a hero.”

“What if the gods don’t recognize you?”

“Let the gods eat sh*t. They don’t even descend to the earth anyway.”

The almost blasphemous statement made Rina open her mouth wide.

But Leo and the people of this era fundamentally had different values.

“What does the recognition of the gods matter if I think so?”

It was a profound remark.

The words of a Great Hero who had saved the world.

Rina, who didn’t know Leo’s true identity, couldn’t fully understand the meaning behind it.

However, one thing was clear.

‘This guy really doesn’t differentiate between heroes and shadows.’

Looking at a boy who positively regarded shadow-wielders, whom he thought were abandoned by the gods, Rina couldn’t help but laugh.

‘So what if it’s the will of the gods?’

Wasn’t this the path chosen to stand against Tartarus?

‘While I said I don’t care about the gods’ approval, I was the one who was most concerned about it all along.’

“What do you want to do?”

“I’ll bring back Chen Sia.”

At this, Rina nodded.

“Alright. Then, as the principal, I’ll assign you a task.”

Rina swiftly wrote a mission order on the paper on her desk.

“Go to the Shan Empire and meet with the emperor. Bring Chen Sia back to Lumeran. With your story, Chen Sia will change her mind.”

Rina tossed the paper to Leo.

“Take this letter. You won’t easily meet the emperor of Shan alone. Even the rigid emperor of Shan wouldn’t openly ignore the principal of Lumeran.”

“Understood.”

“Also, I’ll assign two people to assist you with the mission.”

With a wave of her pen, Rina presented a student list to Leo.

Leo, looking at the names on the list, showed a surprised expression.

[Fritz Edgon]

[El Jane]

Familiar names.

They were the first-year students he had met at the magic building a while ago.

“Edgon and El Jane. They’re shadow candidates. Although they haven’t shown off their abilities, they’re among the top ten of the current first years. And whether or not their combat power is high, they have real-world experiences comparable to second years.”

“They are shadow candidates.”

“That’s right.”

Rina grinned.

“They’ll be a great help to you. And I also hope these guys receive some influence from you.”

“Influence?”

“These kids initially were called in to consider a career as hero candidates, but they’re firmly set on the path of shadows.”

Sneering a bit, Rina continued.

“I thought watching you might slightly change them. Not in any grand way, just by showing them your genuine self.”

Hearing this, Leo nodded.

“Understood.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Leo Flove.”

*

That evening.

Leo left the dormitory for the mission.

‘The mission period is a week. It’s not exactly generous.’

Since it was a sudden mission, the duration couldn’t have been long.

‘Well, is a week enough if the task is simply about persuasion?’

Muttering to himself, Leo waited for the two underclassmen.

After a while,

Two students appeared in front of the warp gate.

Fritz with a blank expression and Jane with a slightly sullen face stood before Leo.

“I’m Fritz Edgon, assigned to assist Lord Leo on this mission.”

“We named ourselves just a while ago.”

“I am aware.”

Fritz said with determination.

“I’m willing to sacrifice my life for Lord Leo anytime.”

“Yuck! Yuck! What on earth am I doing having to work with some hard-headed shadow who follows a hero without thought?”

Watching this from behind, Jane grabbed her hair.

“To a shadow like me, it’s only natural to sacrifice one’s life for a hero.” Fritz replied.

“Pfft. I’m a shadow candidate of Shan, so don’t talk to me about shadow mindset.”

Jane snickered.

“Mr. Hero, you said you’re going to persuade Lady Chen Sia, right? Why are you doing this?”

At Jane’s words, Leo asked.

“Do you also think Chen Sia should live as a shadow?”

At this, Jane shivered.

“Stop joking! Lady Chen Sia is the one who fits as a hero more than anyone! She is more noble than anyone! I also wish for her to live as a hero, and I would sacrifice my life for Lady Chen Sia! But… But…”

Jane pursed her lips.

“Lady Chen Sia gave up on the hero path because of you!”