Chapter 344

344

Tap-tap-tap.

Leo lightly tapped the desk with his fingertips.

‘So this is why Silrod couldn’t move from Fairy Land until now.’

The Piece of Erebus sealed by the Hero of Beginning, Kyle.

The endless Catastrophe Flame that burns on and on.

“Kyle, not long after you ended the Era of Catastrophe, I found one piece of Erebus.”

Silrod let out a deep sigh as he spoke.

“I was the only one in this world who knew about the existence of that Erebus Piece.”

It would have been impossible for Silrod to leave the Erebus Piece unchecked.

Because if it were discovered in Tartarus, the world would undoubtedly be swept up once more in the Catastrophe Flame.

“I moved Fairy Land to establish a new home. I’m suppressing and sealing the Erebus Piece deep underground so it won’t awaken.”

Thus, he has endured for 5000 years.

“Are there any signs of it awakening?”

“Not at the moment.”

At Silrod’s words, Leo nodded his head.

At least it could be considered fortunate.

‘The fact that it could explode at any time hasn’t changed though.’

Leo narrowed his eyes.

5000 years ago, during the final battle, sealing Erebus was the best option available to Kyle.

‘Now it’s possible to find each of those fractured pieces and eliminate them one by one.’

The first was Erebus blocked by the Heroes of the Cataclysm.

“Sometime we’ll destroy Erebus completely and obtain peace. The world they desired will come.”

Leo looked at Silrod.

“It must have been hard for you to bear alone for 5000 years… thank you.”

The progenitor of Star Cloud, the Vow Keeper of Luna.

But back then, he was just a naïve fairy.

Leo could imagine how much mental anguish this small-hearted fairy endured over the span of 5000 years.

Especially having faced Erebus directly.

The terror would have been even greater.

In response to Leo’s words, Silrod replied.

“Kyle, I… I still regret leaving Luna alone 5000 years ago.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“Yes, but if I had been braver, if the inexperienced me had stepped forward instead of Luna… maybe Luna could have survived.”

“…”

“Ultimately, I was the only survivor among those who set out to exterminate Erebus. Therefore, it was my duty, something I naturally should have done.”

Silrod said earnestly.

“I’d rather you didn’t say thank you. You’re the one who should receive thanks, not the one to give it, aren’t you?”

Silrod smiled brightly.

“Because you’re the Great Hero who saved the world.”

“… It seems 5000 years was indeed a long time.”

Leo rested his chin on his hand.

“I never thought that little fairy would grow to be so earnest.”

“5000 years of kingship develops gravitas.”

At Silrod’s words, Leo said,

“Right, you’ve become strict enough to boldly exile your mischievous son.”

“Exile?”

Looking at Silrod’s puzzled expression, Leo reached out into the air.

A summoning array opened.

Kiran, who usually rushed over the moment the summoning array opened, did not do so this time.

Leo forcibly thrust his hand into the summoning array and grabbed something.

Clang!

‘A fluff ball?’

When Leo pulled it out, a red chick jumped out.

Cheep-cheep.

After setting Fiora on the desk, Leo reached into the summoning array again.

Clang!

“Ow, Master’s rough handling~”

A voice that seemed rather pleased.

After roughly pulling out Arti from the summoning array, Leo tossed him onto the floor.

Just as annoyance arose on Leo’s face.

“No! Let go of me!”

“Is there a familiar in the world that refuses the summoning of a Vow Keeper?”

At the sound of tongue clucking, Elshi who had bound Kiran tightly with shadows appeared through the summoning array.

“Elsi?”

Silrod looked at Elshi with a surprised expression.

Elsi greeted him politely while lifting her skirt slightly as she looked at the shocked Silrod.

“Nice to meet you, Your Majesty, the Fairy King. I am Elshi, the Shadow Spirit.”

“Goodness, how did you end up in this world, Elshi?”

As Silrod flew closer, looking perplexed, Elshi smiled faintly.

“Ah, you know another version of me?”

“Another me?”

Bewildered, Silrod scanned Elshi again carefully.

Sure enough, she was unmistakably Elshi, the Shadow Spirit who had formed a contract with Kyle 5000 years ago.

The spirit who vanished during the battle against the Demon King.

However, there was a difference.

The Elshi Silrod remembered gave off a dark atmosphere overall.

She had doubts about the journey to save the world and emitted a forbidding gloomy aura.

But the Elshi before him now was different.

“I came to this world through the Hero Record.”

“Hero Record?”

“Yes, I was the reward for conquering Leo.”

Silrod’s expression turned astonished.

Truly, this is befitting the last legacy left by the gods.

Recalling the era of gods, Silrod sighed in amazement and comprehension.

And with a sidelong glance, he noticed Kiran bound by Elshi.

Kiran quickly averted his gaze.

“I didn’t know you’d become Kyle’s contract partner, Kiran.”

Displaying the majesty of the Fairy King, Silrod watched as Elshi released Kiran.

Chak!

Kiran hurriedly approached Silrod and knelt.

“And here I am, father, have you been at peace? This Kiran feels his body doesn’t know where to go upon seeing your noble visage after so long.”

He bowed deeply and prostrated himself.

At this, Leo rested his chin on his hand.

“In that sense, father. I’ve truly repented a lot!”

Kiran clenched his fists and shouted.

“I’m not pulling pranks anymore! Every day, I dedicate myself to helping Leo and ensuring the future of the world.”

“… Your saliva isn’t even coating the lies you’re speaking.”

Elshi whispered softly into Leo’s ear.

Leo let out a hollow chuckle.

“Really?”

“Yes! I also contributed strength in repelling the Demon Queen!”

At Kiran speaking confidently, Silrod glanced at Leo.

“Well, since he’s with me, he has achieved great things.”

At Leo’s words, Kiran smiled a benevolent smile.

“Klang!”

At this, Fiora in chick form pretended to throw up.

“Unexpected that you’re surprisingly helping Kiran so readily.”

Elshi tilted her head curiously.

To this, Leo spoke nonchalantly.

“Even if it’s not through me, there are plenty who will inform tales.”

“Cheep-cheep. Cheep-cheep.”

Fiora walked over to Leo and cheeped towards Elshi.

Fiora was curious about this situation where the mischievous fairy Kiran was acting nice in front of Silrod.

Reacting to this, Elshi replied.

“Right now, Kiran is pleading for forgiveness while claiming he’s reformed and is living nicely to the Fairy King.”

Fiora’s eyes widened and she hurriedly scurried over to Silrod, flapping her small wings wildly and crying out repeatedly.

Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!

Kiran’s face trembled.

Seeing this, Silrod used magic to turn Fiora into her human form.

Fiora courteously greeted Silrod.

“I am Phoenix Fiora. Esteed Sir. I am here to report this fairy’s misdeeds.”

“Speak, young phoenix.”

“This vicious fairy starts his day by stealing my snacks! Then he plans on how to torment the diligent students of the Hero Academy in Lumern!”

Silrod’s expression grew colder, and Kiran’s face turned pale.

“And finally, he ends his day by stealing the students of Lumern’s snacks late at night, making him a thoroughly heinous fairy!”

After exposing Kiran’s entire day in vivid detail, Fiora looked pleased.

“And furthermore!”

“Fiora, that’ll do.”

At this point, Arti lifted her up from under her armpits and carried her to a corner of the room as she was resisting and thrashing about.

But once Arti offered her a lollipop, she quieted down.

“It seems it’ll be a long time before she matures.”

“A-a, father…!”

“Let’s keep the order of exile from Fairy Land.”

Kiran felt defeated.

Watching this, Elshi sighed.

“So that’s why one should be good regularly.”

Leaving a pointed remark, Elshi flew towards where Fiora was eating candy.

“You’ve been bad too, Fiora.”

While Elshi was reprimanding the familiars,

Silrod flew towards Leo.

“I imagine you’re not bored.”

“I’m not bored.”

Chuckling softly, Leo said,

“Can’t be away from Fairy Land too long, can you?”

“Yes. Much as I’d like to stay and talk some more… let’s put it off to another day.”

At Silrod’s words, Leo nodded his head.

“Kyle, I’m glad to see you again.”

“Me too.”

“Is there a goal for this life?”

Silrod knows.

He knows that back in the days of Kyle, Leo didn’t have a clear-cut purpose.

At Silrod’s question, Leo smirked.

“I’m not sure why I was reborn, but there must be a reason.”

Leo looked at Silrod.

“Either you or me, both have lived through 5000 years of the Era of Catastrophe. Living again and seeing the age of peace restored made me realize something again – the journey with no purpose just following Lissinas, the one with friends… it wasn’t meaningless…”

“It was the world’s greatest feat.”

“So this time, I’ve set a definite goal.”

After looking at Fiora, Kiran, Arti, and Lea who was lying on the bed, Leo gazed at the scenery outside the window.

“Whatever it takes, I’m determined to settle old bad karma from the past this time.”

Leo smiled faintly.

“The primeval force of evil… I’ve made up my mind to leave no trace behind in this era. That’s my goal.”

*

The next morning.

Lea’s eyes popped open.

“Here… Wha-?!”

Lea sat straight up in surprise.

She clasped her cheeks not knowing what to do.

“I summoned the Fairy King and collapsed from mana exhaustion… and stayed here at Senior Flob’s place?!”

Lea stood from the bed, flustered.

Then seeing Leo asleep in the windowside chair, she hesitated.

“Senior Flob… That is….”

“Snore?”

With one eye open, Leo stood up and stretched.

“I’m sorry if I pushed you too hard.”

“Not at all, it’s me who carelessly fainted…”

Leo spoke while watching Lea awkwardly laugh and scratch her head.

“I put you to sleep here since you couldn’t wake up. I didn’t know where your room was. Don’t worry, nothing else happened.”

“Yes, sir!”

Lea gave a precise answer.

Still, being in a man’s room gave her an odd fluttering sensation.

“Phew! This is a major violation of school regulations!”

Checking the time from the outside view, it was still morning before the wake-up time.

“I’ll go back quickly.”

“A, it’s better not to go now for a…—”

Before Leo could finish, Lea rushed out of Leo’s room barefoot.

Click-clack!

Carefully leaving the room, Lea was about to head back to the dormitory.

“Lea?”

Hearing a voice behind her, she turned around.

Seeing the girl with whom her eyes met, Lea was startled.

“Um… well… this is…—”

There stood Eclere, third in the first grade, the class representative and her close friend, opening her mouth hesitantly.

“Lea… you… were out overnight? Worse, in a boy’s room?”

“Look… Come here first! I’ll explain everything!”

Lea grabbed Eclere’s wrist and hurriedly returned to the room.

“Clack.”

Opening the door, Leo shook his head.

“I said don’t go out.”

Clicking his tongue, Leo turned his head slightly.

“Will you keep hiding there?”

Following those words, nervous movements could be heard, and Anger peeked his face at the end of the hallway.

“You… you… what’s your relationship with Lea Tinggel?”

Looking at Anger asking with a reddened face, Leo wore an unimpressed expression.

“It’s just that we discussed summoning magic?”

Watching Leo speak so calmly, Anger gave an awkward laugh.

“T-that’s right?”

“Whatever are you imagining these days, young elves are too uninhibited!”

“I, I am not uninhibited!”

Anger shouted in a huff.