Chapter 388

388.

The Era of Heroes has begun, and knights and warriors who handle auras, as well as wizards, have progressed.

Summoners have also progressed.

Due to the influence of Hero Record, more strong individuals have emerged than in the Age of Gods.

“Compared to the past, this era makes it certainly easier to master auras, access magic, and summon familiars.”

The world has undoubtedly progressed.

However, in some sense, summoners have regressed.

“Since two leaders of the three major familiars have vanished, we haven’t been able to fill their void.”

The Flame King and the Pure White King.

In the battle against Erebus, Lissinas and Kyle lost their Vow Keeper, Katariu, and Albus.

Both Katariu and Albus left no heirs, and as a result, only the Fairy King remains in this era.

“Even that has become virtually meaningless since Silrod has not contracted with anyone for 5000 years.”

Seirun has successfully summoned Silrod once.

However, it couldn’t be made public because Silrod couldn’t leave Fairy Land.

The strongest familiar that a familiar magician can summon has vanished.

In a literal sense, it was regression.

Leo was walking down the streets of Guardstron at that moment.

“Kyle!”

Someone called out to Kyle and approached.

“Did you sleep well at night?”

“Sort of. Did you find a place to stay? It must be tricky to find accommodations in Guardstron during this time.”

“That’s easy enough. Do you know how many times I’ve attempted to conquer this world?”

At Rodia’s words, Leo chuckled.

“By the way, I thought you would be moving with Lissinas, but I see you’re acting separately?”

Rodia, who had attempted to conquer the world several times, knew well that Lissinas had gone to her companions for the journey.

“In the original history, I didn’t move with Lissinas at this time.”

“I always helped Lissinas and moved together.”

Rodia crossed her arms, looking puzzled.

“Though Lissinas didn’t seem to like it very much.”

“Given his personality, if you helped him, he might have liked it, but I don’t think he would have outright disliked it.”

Leo squinted his eyes.

“You didn’t do something strange in front of Lissinas while taking my form, did you?”

“……”

Upon this question, Rodia fell silent.

Seeing her evasion, Leo cracked his knuckles, and Rodia hastily shouted.

“B-but! It was Lissinas! King of Wisdom Lissinas! You know what kind of being Lissinas is to dragons!”

“Do I care? Do you think I would be forgiven for doing something strange with my body for that reason?”

“I didn’t do anything strange! Just.”

“Just?”

“I coiled my body and approached him in a friendly manner and actively spoke to him, that’s all.”

Leo’s face turned menacingly serious.

Seeing this, Rodia added, “So Lissinas scolded me a lot!”

“How did he scold you?”

“He hit me!”

From Rodia’s perspective, she was merely expressing joy at meeting the king of wisdom, whom she respected the most.

However, from Lissinas’ perspective, it was only natural to be alarmed by someone who had been acting aloof just a day ago suddenly clinging to him.

“He particularly hit me hard when he looked at me with a flushed face.”

“You deserved a good beating.”

Seeing Leo say that mercilessly, Rodia replied indignantly.

“This is all your fault, Kyle.”

“Why are you blaming me?”

“Because you were oblivious to Lissinas’ feelings until the very end! I felt so sorry for Lissinas that I just…”

“…… At this point, having just become a comrade, how could Lissinas have such feelings for me? And.”

Leo let out a deep sigh.

“I knew Lissinas’ feelings.”

“Huh?”

“But at this time, saving the world came first. Knowing that, Lissinas didn’t directly convey his feelings to me. I too had to turn a blind eye despite knowing.”

“Kyle…..”

Seeing Leo smiling bitterly, Rodia’s face crumpled in response.

“Don’t give me that nonsense.”

“This d*mn lizard sure knows how to talk.”

“I certainly respect you, Kyle, but the person I respect the most is Lissinas. I can speak disrespectfully towards you, who hurt his feelings.”

“Oh, really? So, you called me an idiot?”

“No matter what, do I look like a dragon who would speak so rudely?”

“You look plenty like it, you d*mn lizard.”

With a snarl, Leo grabbed Rodia and continued to bop her on the head.

The Great Hero who ended the Era of Catastrophe and the heroes of the Cataclysm who prevented the Rebirth of Catastrophe.

They are respected by everyone in the world and are the subjects of countless scholars in hero studies and history, regardless of species.

Inevitably, they were beings who lived in different eras and could never meet.

However, the heroes of the Cataclysm are evaluated as successors to the Great Heroes through the Hero Record, transcending the walls of time.

Many scholars have often imagined this.

What if the Great Hero and the heroes of the Cataclysm met not in the Hero’s World, but in the real world?

It is a thrilling thought, even just imagining it.

An event that can never happen.

But if that miraculous event were to occur, tears would surely be shed.

Kyaaaah-!

“Ha, I surrender! I’m sorry! I was wrong!”

As Leo put Rodia in a headlock, she cried out in a painful voice.

“Why would you do something wrong in the first place?”

Leo tightened his grip.

Unable to bear it any longer, Rodia pinched Leo’s hand vigorously.

A scene that scholars could never even imagine.

If they were to witness this, they would surely weep for a different reason.

*

“So? Where have you been?”

“I’m going to find Albus.”

“The Albus, the last king of the Pegasus?”

Rodia asked, surprised.

“That’s right. I’m going to form a contract with him.”

“You only contracted with Albus after Lord Dwenno joined, right?”

“Correct. The opportunity for me to contract with Albus arose after I heard about my mana characteristics from Lissinas.”

“…… Pure.”

Rodia softly muttered Leo’s mana characteristics.

Mana that belongs to nothing.

Mana that maintains absolutely purity does not lose its characteristics even when awakened into an aura, and does not lose its characteristics even when transformed into magical power.

Even when sublimated into spiritual power, it returns to pure mana again.

Mana that is not bound by anything.

That is why it is the only mana characteristic that can respond to the Immortal Flame.

The reason why the hero of beginnings, Kyle, and Leo Flove are the nemesis of primordial evil.

‘The reason we…… failed to subjugate Erebus.’

Rodia’s gaze sank.

Leo ruffled Rodia’s hair.

“……?”

“Don’t blame yourself. You achieved remarkable feats. I acknowledge that.”

“Such an honorable statement.”

Rodia, with a grateful expression, said.

“So, is the king of the Pegasus in Guardstron?”

“Yes. He and the Pegasus have established their territory within Guardstron.”

“I had no idea.”

“I also didn’t know until I heard it from Lissinas.”

‘In fact, I could summon him right now without going through the trouble of looking for Albus.’

Leo brushed his left hand, where the mark of the contract was engraved.

A pact made by Kyle, not Leo Flove.

A binding that consists of a soul rather than a body was now revived in the present.

But Leo did not summon Albus.

From Albus’ perspective, it was a contract never formed.

If he were forced to fulfill such a contract, it could jeopardize their relationship.

‘To defeat Jormungand, I absolutely need Albus’ power.’

It was an opponent he had barely defeated in his past life.

‘I still haven’t regained the power of this era.’

Of course, there was Rodia, but that alone was not enough.

‘What I lack in this time, I possess now.’

That is the knowledge of what is to come and overwhelming experience.

‘I need to get a bit closer to my past self, using everything I have mobilized.’

“Kyle, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Wasn’t Lissinas the strongest summoner in history?”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t he form a contract with the Pegasus?”

Seeing Rodia’s puzzled face, Leo answered.

“Lissinas said that the Pegasus wouldn’t respond to their calls.”

“Why is that?”

“I don’t know the details. I can’t claim to know everything about Lissinas.”

Just as he had a past he hid from his friends, Lissinas surely had a past he kept hidden as well.

Leo wasn’t inclined to dig into that either.

‘But I have a guess about it.’

Having thought that far, Leo recalled something and paused.

“By the way, you mentioned leaving a treasure in the land where you were born?”

“It seems that I spoke ill of you, Kyle, and Lariel mentioned it.”

“That’s right. We’ve formed a contract. Though we couldn’t bring him along because I suddenly entered the Hero’s World.”

Originally, Leo had only intended to scout briefly and leave, so he didn’t take any familiars with him.

He left them at the inn since they would be noisy if brought along.

“Lariel is a kind-hearted child who is considerate, but she has a strong heart when she needs to. She will surely be a great help.”

“Kind-hearted?”

“Yes. When she talks about how beautiful the world is, she’s really adorable.”

Leo recalled Lariel, who, despite having formed a contract with him and being influenced by Elshi, still muttered, “The world is rotten” at all times.

Kiran had been startled by Lariel’s gloomy aura, and Arti had plugged Fiora’s ears to prevent her from hearing what Lariel said.

‘If you put them both together, it would be hard to tell which one is the Spirit of Darkness and which one is the Spirit of Light.’

Leo clicked his tongue.

‘Why do all my familiars have such odd personalities?’

Shaking his head, Leo decided not to tell Rodia how Lariel had changed.

“What exactly did you leave in that treasure?”

At Leo’s question, Rodia stiffened slightly before answering.

“I sealed Lissinas’ power.”

“Is it related to Lissinas’ unique magic?”

“Yes.”

Rodia nodded slightly.

“That power was so dark. It was clearly Lissinas’ power, but even touching it made me feel like I would be consumed by deep darkness. Neither Seirun nor I nor even Lumeran and Azonia, or even Demian, could handle it. It was judged as too dangerous to handle carelessly, so I sealed it in the treasure and instructed Lariel to inform those worthy of its location.”

Hearing Rodia’s words, Leo clicked his tongue.

‘Looks like there are things about Lissinas’ power I don’t even know.’