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“Those kids and Berkiya?”
“Yes. Lord Dwenno said they don’t seem to be spies from Tartarus.”
An elf reported politely while looking at Dwenno, whose eyebrows were furrowed.
“In their possessions, we found Erquent.”
Guardstron.
The last fortress remaining in the world heading towards destruction.
The final legacy left behind by the gods as they departed from the earthly realm.
This miraculous city had remained steadfast despite countless invasions from Tartarus.
There also existed refugee cities like Leisar, but Guardstron’s scale was incomparably larger, and it was no exaggeration to call it the final bulwark.
But even this city would not have been able to avoid its destruction without the dwarven hero, Master Smith Dwenno.
It wasn’t just Dwenno.
The Dragon King Lissinas.
The prodigious magician Luna.
The White Wolf Aron.
And the Hero of Survival, Kyle.
Because of these five strongest heroes, assembled together to subdue Erebus, Guardstron was able to maintain its steadfast position until now.
These five heroes, who led impossible battles to victory amidst endless despair, were currently the symbols that defended Guardstron.
“Erquent… those kids?”
Dwenno’s face turned grave.
Erquent.
Originally, it was a sword that Dwenno made for Luna, but Luna gave that sword to her disciple, Berkiya.
To Berkiya, Erquent was a treasure incomparable to anything else.
‘If it’s truly Erquent, it can only mean it was taken from Berkiya.’
Dwenno stroked his beard while recalling the appearance of Lunia and Driana.
‘Though they intruded into the restricted area, they themselves seemed confused as to how they were there. Moreover, it seems they didn’t even realize it was a restricted zone to begin with.’
Dwenno narrowed his eyes.
‘Judging by their attire, the intruders near the Spirit’s Lake must be part of that group. Still, Aron didn’t sense anything suspicious either.’
Aron, the wolf beastman, actually thought well of them.
‘The girl with the feline beastman features was intimidating, but the good smell told me they were good kids.’
Aron’s ability to detect danger was sharper than anyone else’s.
If Aron approved of them as good people, it was almost impossible for them to be wrong.
‘Not to mention, even though they were young, they showed remarkable skills.’
This era required every possible combatant capable of fighting Tartarus, and the times were dire.
If an investigation confirmed their identities, there couldn’t have been a better addition for Guardstron.
Dwenno, deep in thought, spoke.
“What did Aron say?”
“Aron has left Guardstron to look for Berkiya, advising against interrogating them for now.”
The elf asked strongly.
“What should we do?”
Watching the elf await his decision, Dwenno sighed deeply.
Currently, Lissinas and Luna, along with Kyle, were supporting Leisar. In Guardstron, only Dwenno and Aron remained as a precaution.
Thus, the ultimate decision-making authority over Guardstron’s security and defense rested with Dwenno.
“Depeser is currently preparing the interrogation.”
“Of course, I suspected that fiery-tempered friend.”
Dwenno stood up.
Depeser was a Gold Dragon who had been Lissinas’ aide since childhood, functioning almost like his personal secretary. As the overseer of Guardstron’s internal affairs, he was a fervent supporter of Lissinas.
Upon hearing about Berkiya’s potential danger, he must have rushed over, eyes wide with rage.
“Stop that friend for now. If Berkiya is safe, Aron will soon bring news. Also, bring the Erquent you identified as evidence. If it’s fake, then Berkiya is also safe, and there’s no need to cause a disturbance.”
“Understood.”
The elf bowed and soon brought Erquent to Dwenno’s workshop.
Dwenno pulled out his pipe and placed it in his mouth, lighting it.
“Hmm. The appearance is truly very real.”
After exhaling a long puff of smoke, Dwenno extended his hand toward Erquent lying on the workbench.
He began examining it.
Dwenno’s mana flowed into Erquent.
While staring intently at Dwenno’s face, the elf’s expression tightened.
After a moment.
Dwenno’s face began to grow even more serious.
“Why, why is that, Lord Dwenno? Could this be the real Erquent?”
The elf’s face went pale.
Dwenno took out a spyglass and closely inspected the sword’s surface, then pulled out a small hammer and tapped the sword a few times, nodding after.
“To Depeser, tell him that Berkiya will return soon with Aron. Also, ensure the child we were about to interrogate receives a sincere apology. Depending on his personality, how frightened must they be?”
The elf’s face brightened.
This was the word of Dwenno, the Master Smith of Guardstron, who forged countless legendary weapons.
“So, it’s a fake then!”
“…It’s not Berkiya’s.”
“!”
Relieved, the elf left the room.
A heavy silence descended on the workshop.
“Whoo.”
Dwenno drew deeply on his pipe.
The tobacco leaves quickly burned away.
“Hmm.”
Dwenno shifted his gaze from the dispersing smoke to the Erquent on the workbench and said,
“Who made you? I don’t recall creating you.”
Wwwooooung…
Erquent emitted mana as if resonating with Dwenno’s words.
“Yes. Clearly, you are a weapon forged by me. But…”
Dwenno’s face became serious.
“I don’t recall making two Erquents.”
‘What are those kids, really?’
Dwenno narrowed his eyes.
‘If they’ve attained such skills at such a young age, they should definitely be well-known somewhere.’
But at least, Dwenno didn’t recall hearing about anyone similar to these five.
‘Moreover… there’s something strange about them.’
Lunia and Driana that Dwenno observed were different from their peers.
Children born in the Era of Catastrophe generally had dark eyes.
It was almost like their destiny to live in a dark era, without ever seeing the clear sky.
Even Aron had eyes that were fundamentally dark.
But Dwenno saw it clearly.
The eyes of Lunia and Driana shone brightly with hope.
The bright eyes of young people that longed for a brilliant future—a sight normal for youths but something impossible to find in this era.
‘Eyes that dream of salvation and eyes that gaze towards the future are fundamentally different. Moreover…’
Dwenno looked at Erquent.
This Erquent was real.
There was no way the creator, Dwenno, couldn’t tell.
Just…
‘It feels like it has been through a long time.’
Kwaang-!
A powerful explosion shook the ground.
Dwenno stood up.
‘It seems to be those kids. They must have broken out to save their friend.’
‘Meeting them again will reveal something.’
Dwenno, picking up Erquent, left his workshop.
Leo and Berkiya were walking through the forest.
“Ugh… monster’s bl**d!”
Berkiya shivered in distaste as she was covered in monster’s bl**d. Then she brought her arm to her nose and sniffed a few times before making a gagging sound.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen that servant-like posture.’
Leo reflected on Berkiya, the future leader of the elves known in later generations.
As Luna’s successor, she was remembered as a great leader who governed the elves with kindness.
Berkiya was often portrayed as a compassionate leader who shared what was hers.
‘Ha! Sharing her stuff? Fat chance.’
Leo had never once had Berkiya yield her side dishes during their meals.
‘Compassionate leadership? It’s leadership if you call intimidating younger students who practice swordsmanship and magic with you as leadership.’
Leo glanced tiredly at Berkiya.
Sniffing around, Berkiya suddenly turned her gaze sharply toward Leo.
“Why?”
“That look. You remind me of Master Kyle.”
‘You are sharp, always ready to criticize or argue back. Why start gossiping again?’
“What’s similar?”
“You’re like Dad.”
“…”
Surprisingly, Leo was taken aback by the response.
“Master Kyle is strict.”
Fundamentally, Berkiya deeply admired Luna.
As such, Luna doted on Berkiya immensely.
Aron loved children and took very good care of her.
Only Kyle was severe with her.
It couldn’t be helped.
Berkiya had talent.
Therefore, it was inevitable for her to head towards the battlefield within a short period of time.
There was no way to coddle her.
All Kyle could do was teach her strictly so that she would develop a resilient heart.
Berkiya, who monopolized Luna and Aron’s affection, seemed to dislike Kyle’s strictness.
She chose to come here all alone for training, perhaps partly out of defiance toward Kyle.
She probably thought it was natural to resent Kyle.
But…
“Like Dad?”
“Yeah. Though I’m an orphan, so I’m not sure what a real dad feels like.”
Berkiya spoke matter-of-factly.
This era was home to many orphans, so revealing oneself as one wasn’t particularly considered a dark story.
After watching Berkiya for a while, Leo spoke:
“Maybe, a real parent-child relationship wouldn’t be much different from what you feel.”
“Really? Do you have parents?”
“Yeah. They are good people.”
“I’m envious.”
Berkiya gazed at Leo in admiration.
Leo smiled faintly at Berkiya and said:
“I know a pond in this direction where you can wash yourself. You should go.”
“Okay.”
Berkiya nodded and headed to the direction Leo pointed at, then paused.
Her eyes widening slightly, she glanced back at him.
“Why?”
“In this complex forest, you seem to know your way around. And…”
“And?”
“You kind of reminded me of Master Kyle just now.”
Amazed, Berkiya glanced down at Leo and put down her luggage before disappearing into the bushes.
Leo smiled wryly as he cleaned her luggage using magic.
‘He’s like Dad…’
Leo never would have guessed that Berkiya saw him that way.
After all, he was too busy at the time.
While Leo was reflecting on Berkiya,
Hwaak-!
His senses detected something approaching.
‘Something is coming.’
He clearly felt someone approaching him at an incredible speed.
Leo’s eyes twitched.
“Aron?”
At the same moment,
Thwack-!
A figure appeared in front of Leo.
Silver hair. Golden eyes.
Leo’s eyes widened in surprise.
Last year, during Azonia’s entrance exam, Aron’s appearance was a dim, distant memory even for Leo.
But the wolf beastman standing right before him now matched exactly what Leo remembered.
‘Aron.’
Leo, who had never anticipated meeting Aron in Dwenno’s world, felt his heart stir.
‘Just because I’ve met Berkiya doesn’t mean meeting Aron is impossible.’
The image of his friend apologizing even as they lost their life flashed in his mind.
‘Luna… she remembered me from the Hero’s World.’
In a miraculous twist of fate, Luna had recovered her memories of the time spent in the Hero’s World.
This was not Aron’s world but Dwenno’s.
Still…
‘Perhaps Aron could recall his prior memories of conquests?’
Holding that thought, Leo glanced at Aron’s eyes and bitterly smiled.
Aron’s gaze was wary.
‘Miracles… don’t happen so easily.’
“…”
Aron looked at the white-haired boy holding his disciple’s bag, feeling perplexed.
He had never met this boy before.
But something about him felt familiar.
An unknown yet familiar scent.
And his presence.
Aron was baffled to find himself feeling joy towards a complete stranger.
Being a coward by nature, his instincts told him to be wary of unfamiliar people.
While still feeling this strange sense of familiarity, Aron managed to ask:
“That’s my disciple’s possession you’re holding.”
Trying to suppress the inexplicable happiness, Aron questioned Leo sternly.
“Could you explain why you have it?”
Watching Aron’s expression, Leo thought,
‘Seems like he misunderstands something. He thinks I’ve harmed Berkiya?’
By nature, Aron was exceptionally gentle to new acquaintances.
Such confrontation meant he was unusually serious.
After observing Aron for a while, Leo said,
“Would you like to hear my story? How about we fight first, and if you win, I’ll tell you.”
“What?”
Aron’s face was momentarily shocked.
Truthfully, he could probably have returned to Guardstron without major trouble.
But now, he was curious.
‘How much can I fight against Aron with my current abilities?’
![[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")
