Chapter 357

357

Whoosh-!

A blaze of pure white flames surged forth.

Lunia’s flames drove back Erebus’ flames.

At the sight, everyone gasped in amazement.

“So this is the fabled Phoenix King’s flame that disappeared 5,000 years ago.”

“The flame they say vanished 5,000 years ago.”

The wizards who had come for the conference watched with wonder in their eyes.

5,000 years ago.

The flame passed down by the Phoenix Kings, who were cut off by Erebus.

A flame that was only spoken of in legends from the distant past had been manifested by Lunia’s hands.

Moreover, the creator of this magic was none other than Luna.

It was only natural that the wizards felt awe at this miraculous spell, which had been unfolded after 5,000 long years.

“Insufficient.”

However, Lunia narrowed her eyes as if dissatisfied.

Whoosh-!

The white flames enveloping her whole body grew fiercer.

“It’s still… insufficient.”

The reason Luna had created this magic.

The reason Katariu had passed on the Flame of Purification from Dwenno’s world.

It could not have been mere coincidence that this flame, which even Luna herself had been unable to perfect, was now blazing in her hands.

A miracle brought about by the convergence of fates.

Lunia looked at the staff named Flame Emperor that Dwenno had given her.

“Surely, it means to completely finish it in our generation.”

Luna, who had shone even in the endless darkness.

Dwenno, who had stood firm even in the face of unseen catastrophe.

Arnon, who had been the bravest before the deepest despair.

Lunia recalled the Great Heroes she had met and experienced herself.

Whoosh-!

The Flame of Purification burnt even more fiercely.

A dangerous double-edged sword of a flame that could consume even herself if mishandled.

It was a power too great for her, who was still inexperienced, to handle.

Still, Lunia did not hesitate.

She recalled the figure of Leo running fearlessly through the center of Erebus’ flames.

“Don’t try to do all the cool stuff by yourself.”

Thinking of the boy who had appeared out of nowhere and greatly affected her life a year ago, Lunia smiled faintly.

Leo Flove.

An all-class like the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle.

Lunia thought Levi somewhat resembled Kyle, though she knew little about Kyle.

The fact that he had been an actual person was only recently revealed.

There were almost no records left related to the Hero Records, and stories about him remained as fairy tales.

Why he was called the Hero of the Beginning.

What kind of deeds he had left behind.

People of later generations had no way of knowing.

Still, Lunia thought Leo resembled Kyle.

“Probably because Kyle is called the Hero of the Beginning, it’s because of initiating something. And Leo, he’s the start of this great flow.”

Whooshh-!

Lunia’s flame burned even fiercer.

Everyone looked at Lunia.

Lunia held the Flame Emperor in both hands.

The magical incantation was complete.

“Emperor of Flames.”

As the spell was completed, a giant pure white flame appeared over Erebus’ black flames.

Like the brilliance of a great sun.

While everyone stared with mouths wide open, the pure white sun consumed the black flames.

Whoosh-!

In an instant, the black flame was purged.

The pure white flames scattering in all directions held warmth.

The fragments of the pure white flames burnt all the rampaging undead.

The catastrophic black flames.

The undead emitting an aura of d*ath disappeared without a trace.

A gentle air, as if spring had arrived, enveloped the surrounding area.

Everyone looked at Lunia in amazement at her overwhelming power.

“Lunia!”

Eiran hurriedly approached Lunia, who was covered in burns.

“I’m fine.”

Lunia smiled.

“You’ve really burned away everything impure…”

“Indeed, a true purification.”

While everyone admired Lunia, the Hero Records of Seirun descended from the sky, fluttering.

Lunia reached out and grabbed the Hero Records.

The chief culprit of this incident.

Yet, for some reason, the Hero Records of Seirun, which contained its records, was intact.

As if it had been newly written.

“Strange, it was definitely almost all burned earlier?”

Lunia wore a bewildered expression.

Was there such a case where the Hero Records, which were burnt and damaged, returned to their original form?

As far as Lunia knew, such an instance did not exist.

Just as Lunia wore a surprised expression,

Whoosh-!

The Hero Records emitted a bright light and soon after, Leo appeared.

“Huh?”

Lunia was shocked.

The face of Leo who had revealed himself was right before Lunia’s nose.

A distance so close that they could feel each other’s breath.

Recalling how Leo had held her chin moments ago, Lunia’s face turned red.

“Did something… just now the atmosphere got really intense.”

Thinking of Eiran’s words, her face grew even hotter.

Leo smiled maturely towards Lunia, reached out his hand, grabbed Lunia’s hand, and pulled her.

“Hey, what’s this sudden…?! Why are you grabbing my hand in front of everyone?”

Just as Lunia’s face turned even redder,

“Do you mind letting go?”

“Uh… yeah… Wha?”

Realizing that Leo was pulling the Hero Records of Seirun from her hand, Lunia let go in confusion, and Leo took a step back.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Lunia’s ears turned red.

“Miss Lunia, are you okay?”

“Fine, did the atmosphere seem strange just now?”

“Atmosphere? What atmosphere?”

Since Eiran looked as if she didn’t understand, Lunia sighed in relief.

“It’s nothing.”

“Miss Lunia, were you imagining something strange?”

Eiran opened her eyes sleepily, making Lunia frustrated.

“It’s your fault! All your fault!”

“Wha? That’s unfair!”

Eiran protested with an upset expression.

“Leo Student.”

At that moment, Herdium, a teacher at Seirun, who was acquainted with Leo, approached him.

“Is that… undoubtedly the Hero Records of Seirun?”

“Yes.”

“Then, why on earth did the Flames of Catastrophe come out of Seirun’s Hero Records…”

“You’ll understand if you ask the person themselves.”

“Huh…?”

At Leo’s words, Herdium wore an expression of surprise.

Flash!

As if a door opened in the air.

A round, pure white portal opened.

Herdium, a teacher at Seirun, clearly knew what it was.

It was the door to the Hero’s World.

As everyone realized this fact and widened their eyes, Leo inserted his hand into the portal.

Soon after, a beautiful hand was drawn out by Leo’s hand.

Herdium dropped the staff he was holding without realizing it when he beheld the Elf that appeared alongside.

“A… aa…”

Herdium’s voice was trembling.

Not only Herdium.

Everyone who saw the Elf that appeared before their eyes wore an expression of disbelief.

“Seirun… sama?”

An event difficult to believe.

However, Seirun had already experienced the rebirth of the founder of the Celestial House last winter.

Therefore, there was no choice but to recognize the Seirun that appeared before their eyes.

At the miracle brought about by the Hero Records, the Elves prostrated themselves unanimously.

Not just the Elves.

Even the wizards who visited Seirun for the conference did the same.

The Comet Wizard, who was acclaimed as the second greatest after Luna in history.

The Hero of the Cataclysm, who once again saved the world that had fallen into peril.

There was no way one could not bow their heads.

While Lunia and Eiran, who had been bickering moments ago, were shocked and bowed their heads,

Seirun’s eyes trembled.

She noticed the students wearing the Seirun uniform in her sight.

Starting from Lunia and Eiran, the presence of many students entered Seirun’s view.

“These are the new shoots that have grown from the seeds you sowed.”

Leo spoke quietly so only Seirun could hear.

“Many Hero Candidates have followed the path you have pioneered, chasing after your footsteps. They’ve extended their hands to reach us, and as a result, countless Heroes were born.”

The Era of Heroes.

The age from 5,000 years ago to the present, when the Heroes defeated Erebus and the gods gifted the Hero Records to the mortal realm.

But the true explosion of Heroes happened after the Era of the Heroes of the Cataclysm.

“Are you doing well?”

While everyone bowed their heads,

Leo reached out and ruffled Seirun’s hair.

“I’m so grateful. What you have achieved is something Lisinnas had long wished for. So stop blaming yourself and be sure to pass this message along to the others.”

“…Understood.”

Seirun nodded and spoke firmly.

“Everyone, please raise your heads.”

At her words, everyone lifted their heads.

Seirun turned her head.

The ruins of the Comet Hall were visible.

Seeing that, Seirun reached out her hand.

Hum-!

From the rubble, a bright light flew like a comet and was caught by Seirun’s hand.

Cometes, the staff that symbolized Seirun.

Zing-!

The mana surged at the end of the Cometes staff.

Simultaneously, the Comet Hall that had collapsed restored its original form in an instant.

Everyone who saw this wore an expression of astonishment.

It was as if time had been turned back.

‘No, time was actually reversed!’

An unprecedented grand magic that even wizards who had attained the rank of hero could not even conceive of.

And yet, this magic was effortlessly performed.

“Everyone.”

Seirun spoke to the students.

“To me, you are just the past… but as the founder of this school, I am extremely pleased to see all of you.”

Seirun’s words brought tears of joy to the students of Seirun.

“So, I would like to take this opportunity to ask something of you all.”

Seirun’s eyes became serious.

“Many years ago, I made a fatal mistake. The rule that only those who have learned the Magic of the Stars may enroll in this school was one such mistake.”

Everyone was surprised to learn that the 3,000-year-old tradition of Seirun Academy was actually a fatal mistake.

Seirun glanced at Leo.

She had already been informed about the issues of Seirun Academy before coming into this world by Leo.

“As the founder of the school, I will officially abolish this rule from today onwards.”

Everyone widened their eyes.

Some people gasped as if struck down.

None other than the Pureblood Society.

“And… Leo Flove.”

Seirun smiled at Leo.

“Thank you so much for finding the ‘Flower Blooming Magic’ I long pondered over for so long. You have truly retrieved a legacy of Lady Luna. I believe you are more worthy of this staff than I am.”

At this unexpected comment, Leo let out a chuckle.

However, all the Elves wore expressions of shock.

Seirun was handing over Cometes to Leo.

The act of a wizard giving their staff to another.

It was a declaration of recognizing them as their successor.

Everyone looked back and forth between Leo and Seirun as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.

Leo hesitantly received the Cometes.

Upon doing so, the Cometes shone brightly.

And just like that, it seemed as if time had come to an end as Seirun’s body also shone brightly.

Everyone involuntarily squeezed their eyes shut.

Only Leo could see Seirun’s form clearly.

“I apologize for my impudence, Lord Kyle.”

Looking at Seirun, who smiled playfully while lightly bowing, Leo spoke.

“You, this is something even Luna couldn’t do to me. It’s a truly extraordinary thing.”

Distant past.

There was a memory of dismissing Luna when she insisted he should call her teacher because she had taught him magic and tried to thrust the staff upon him.

With a grin, Seirun lifted her hem in an elegant bow.

“What an infinite honor.”

Seirun smiled after making a respectful bow.

“However, the foolish ones will surely not offend Lord Kyle again now, won’t they?”

“It’s because of that I’m letting this slide.”

“Hohoh.”

Seirun covered her mouth to giggle.

Looking at Seirun, Leo said,

“Just a little more strength. I’ll come soon.”

“Yes! I’ll persevere!”

Seirun gave a bright smile and disappeared.

With a bright light, Leo now stood alone where Seirun had been a moment ago.

Everyone looked at Leo with dazed expressions.

“It’s… impossible.”

Orlen spoke with a trembling voice.

“A human… a human being acknowledged by Lady Seirun! Unacceptable!”

Watching Orlen, who was having a seizure while shouting, Leo smirked and showed off the Cometes in his hand.

“Still, I received it directly from Lady Seirun, didn’t I?”

Right before their eyes, Seirun handed over the Cometes to Leo.

There was no denying it.

Seirun was the founder of the school.

Even if she was from the past, her will could never be opposed.

The shoulders of the Pureblood Society trembled.

Just as confusion filled the Seirun teachers, students, and the conference attendees,

“Well then…”

Holding the Cometes firmly, Leo spoke.

“Why has Erebus’ flame come out of the Hero Records… and why have undead appeared right in the center of Seirun?”

Leo’s expression turned cold.

“Let’s investigate the cause, shall we?”

The Pureblood Society’s faces turned white.

*

“It’s unacceptable! This is an obvious betrayal! That Demon King!”

LeHagen cursed inwardly.

When the black flames erupted from the Hero Records and undead appeared at the top of the Comet Hall, LeHagen immediately realized that he was doomed.

“Of course, it was wrong to deal with the filthy Demons! I will hold you accountable! With Lady Seirun’s remains, I used necromancy…”

Thud-

“Where do you think you’re going? Acting Principal of Seirun.”

Hearing a voice from behind, LeHagen stopped moving.

Thud- Thud-

Before he knew it, Leo was standing behind him, his eyes cold.