Chapter 391

391.

The inn where Leo and Lissinas stayed.

Tila, the owner of the inn, complained while wiping the dishes with a cloth.

“What a nuisance.”

“What is it?”

Rodia, who was helping Tila clean the dishes, tilted her head.

“Kyle and Lissinas.”

Tila glared at Leo and Lissinas chatting in a corner of the tavern.

“Because of those two, we’ve lost customers.”

The Hero of Survival Kyle and the Fool Lissinas.

Both possess overwhelming skills, so among those who go out to the battlefield to protect Guardstron, few have not relied on the aid of these two at some point.

However, Kyle carries with him the curse of comrades dying, and Lissinas, who charges into dangerous battlefields claiming to save the world, is undeniably a combination one would prefer not to get involved with.

Seeing Tila muttering discontentedly, Rodia smiled.

“As much as you say that, I heard you cheer them on.”

“Huh?”

“Kyle-sama said that while your mouth grumbles, you take good care of them.”

“That rude guy said that?”

Tila looked at Kyle in disbelief.

“Still, Rodia.”

“Yes.”

“Why do you always respectfully address me even though you’re a Dragon?”

“Because it feels right.”

Rodia smiled.

Dragons are a race with the tradition of selecting and guiding heroes. This tradition began after the Era of Catastrophe ended 5,000 years ago and continues to this day.

Hence, Dragons are revered as a noble race compared to others.

However, they don’t hold the same status as during the Age of Gods.

During that time, Dragons, heralded as the messengers of the gods, were considered divine beings on par with gods themselves.

Therefore, Tila found it strange that Rodia, a Dragon, treated her with such respect.

But for Rodia, this was natural.

From her perspective, Tila was someone from a distant past.

‘And because she provided a place for the Great Heroes to rest peacefully, I cannot treat her carelessly.’

Hrm-hrm! Rodia nodded.

Clatter-clatter-clatter.

While tidying up the dishes, Tila spoke.

“Still. They match.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean those two.”

Tila glanced at Leo and Lissinas discussing things ahead.

“I thought they wouldn’t suit each other, but seeing them talk like this, they seem to match.”

“Do you think so, Tila-sama?”

“Yes. If this were the Age of Peace, they might have been mistaken for lovers.”

“Right? Anyone would agree that Lissinas-sama suits Kyle-sama the best in the world, wouldn’t they?”

“I didn’t say ‘best’ in the world.”

“They’re undoubtedly destined to be together!”

Tila stared in bewilderment at Rodia, who was cheering without listening to what she had said.

After finishing tidying up the dishes, Rodia hummed a little tune and approached the two.

“That’s quite an impressive number you’ve gathered.”

“It was difficult. You have quite the bad reputation. Still, we managed to gather all the ones we targeted.”

“What are you discussing, sirs?”

Rodia sat down between Leo and Lissinas with a smile.

Leo frowned at the sight of Rodia whose bright orange eyes were twinkling to the point of being uncomfortable.

Lissinas gently patted Rodia’s head and said.

“We were talking about the upcoming expedition in two days.”

Over the past few days,

Lissinas had come to find Rodia quite adorable.

Regardless of her contents, her youthful appearance made her seem like a young dragon to him, and thus she was hard not to find endearing.

Upon Lissinas’ statement, Rodia asked Kyle.

“How many people are going on this expedition to the Forest of Monsters?”

“Eleven.”

“Eleven? That’s quite a lot, isn’t it?”

Kyle’s response shocked Rodia.

In the original history, the expedition team consisted of only eight individuals, including Kyle and Lissinas.

Certainly, even in this desperate era, there are those who desperately seek hope.

If there were only the Great Heroes worthy of being called heroes in this era, they would have perished long ago.

But even so, there weren’t many who would willingly join Kyle and Lissinas on their journey.

Even Rodia, who had attempted the quest several times in this world, had failed to increase the expedition team’s numbers beyond what had been recorded.

It was nearly impossible to change the reputations of Kyle and Lissinas within the limited time available.

Yet, the expedition team had increased by three more members.

Upon seeing the updated list, Rodia let out a cheer of excitement.

“Amazing!”

“But it was taxing because of Kyle.”

“Huh?”

Despite having rallied more comrades than in recorded history, Lissinas sighed, leaving Rodia somewhat flustered.

Then Leo interjected casually.

“I convinced those who hesitated due to our presence to join.”

“Ah, so that’s why… Kyle-sama must really be such a screw-up…”

“That’s true, but your behavior for the past few days has been too submissive.”

“Kyaaa! It hurts!”

When Leo grabbed Rodia’s head, she made a face of distress.

Seeing this, Lissinas burst into laughter.

“The two of you really get along well. Some might say you remind me of a parent and child.”

Upon hearing this, Rodia’s eyes widened and Leo’s brow furrowed.

“Am I the kind of person who would have such a grown-up daughter?”

“Yes. That’s true. But, Rodia treats you like an admirable adult and you treat Rodia like a child. Hence, the impression.”

“I wish Lissinas-sama could be my mom!”

“That’s troubling. Sorry, but I’m not the type to have children.”

“You look old to this little one.”

“Seems like the past few days of polite behavior have done nothing to change your crude tendencies.”

Despite Leo’s genuine statement, Lissinas smiled and said,

His gentle appearance was deceiving as his delicate and beautiful arms bulged with tense veins, and his hand firmly held Leo’s collar.

After a brief commotion, Lissinas left to call the expedition team outside.

“When are you planning to marry mom, dad?”

“How long are you going to act like this creepily immature kid?”

“I want a younger sibling, Rodia.”

“If you keep pulling jokes, you might actually get hit one day.”

“Che!”

When Leo spoke, Rodia stuck out her tongue.

“Why are you so excited all of a sudden?”

“Because Tila-sama said Kyle-sama and Lissinas-sama are meant to be!”

Upon this, Leo glanced at Tila, who simply shook her head without expression.

“Even Seirun would agree with this story.”

“Who’s Seirun?”

“That the most fitting pair is Lissinas-sama and Kyle-sama!”

Rodia’s serious tone left Leo perplexed with an expression akin to ‘What nonsense is this?’

Rodia’s story went:

In the Hero’s World, Luna and Lissinas had an argument to determine which pair was the best match.

“Are you just fooling around?”

“This is a crucial matter! Demian was on my side, but the Azonia brats were on Seirun’s side! And Lumeran shamefully stayed neutral!”

Watching the juniors unnecessarily waste their energy on a trivial matter, Leo sighed deeply.

“Seirun, the talented brat, used her good writing skills to even publish weird novels, attempting to brainwash people. How wicked.”

“…So, you guys called each other idiots?”

Rodia, pinched on the cheek, made a pained expression.

At that moment, the inn door opened and ten people entered.

Leo’s gaze turned towards them.

They were all familiar faces.

Faces that fought beside him in past battles.

And…

‘Those who lost their lives so early…’

None were weak or lacked resolve.

It was simply because the battlefield they confronted was unimaginably harsh.

Rodia’s previously light-hearted demeanor vanished as she adopted a slightly stern expression.

Clunk – clunk – clunk

Nine of them, excluding Lissinas, took their seats.

Most eyes were directed towards Leo.

“Amazing.”

A woman sat beside Leo and smiled.

“Kyle, I’d heard about your participation in Lissinas’ journey, but I couldn’t have imagined it until now.”

A woman clad in light armor with brown hair and green eyes.

Alene Prilène.

“It has been a while.”

“Hmm, we fought in the battle before last, so it’s not that long ago… Nevertheless, it has been a while. Kyle.”

Though perplexed, Alene went along with Leo’s remark.

“Hmph, a journey with the Hero of Survival.”

A sharp-eyed elf sorceress with an injured eye smirked coldly.

“Perhaps not everyone will d*e, after all.”

“Hahahaha! Ferric, though you say such things, you’re still sitting next to Kyle. Did Kyle’s words just now move you?”

Ferric, called by the elf sorceress, sat with a massive beastman, Alrox, who burst into laughter.

“Tch. Don’t treat me like some simple-minded beastman. I came here to assist Lissinas. I’m merely sitting here out of curiosity as to why this pessimist changed his mind.”

Upon seeing Ferric and Alrox, Rodia seemed surprised.

‘These are the people Lissinas tried but failed to recruit for the expedition?’

Despite all his efforts to persuade them, they ultimately refused to join.

“How did you convince them?”

Rodia asked with a light smile, and Leo responded casually.

“I had a brief time teaming up with these two, along with Alene Prilène. We didn’t see eye-to-eye, however.”

“Hah! Their perspectives were far too skewed, so we had to part ways! Thinking back, it was probably for the best!”

Alrox patted Leo on the shoulder,

While Leo merely sipped his drink.

“…I’ve noticed it too before, but you’ve changed.”

Alrox tilted his head in confusion.

Meanwhile, Lissinas spoke up.

“First off, this gathering is meant to foster camaraderie before the expedition embarks.”

Lissinas smiled faintly.

“Also, let’s enjoy this drink before risking our lives.”

“Sounds good!”

“We drink for the sake of it!”

As laughter echoed through the inn, the camaraderie flourished.

There is none in Guardstron who wishes to be involved with Kyle and Lissinas,

Yet once the decision is made to join,

Such considerations become meaningless.

In this era, each moment bears the threat of d*ath,

And once the decision is made,

One doesn’t worry about who the companion may be.

It could be the last feast they ever have,

Be it for themselves or the world.

Everyone raised their glasses together,

“Before we start, I’d like to ask the Hero of Survival about this expedition.”

At that point, a teasing jeer rang out.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Kyle.

Kyle stood up from his seat.

“To be clear, I don’t want to delay things unnecessarily, but…”

Leo replied casually.

“I heard some information about the King of Gluttony earlier.”

A moment of silence followed.

The King of Gluttony Jormungand.

The strongest Legion Commander.

“There’s information that he’s passing between Guardstron and the Elf’s Forest.”

At Leo’s statement, murmurs broke out among the group.

“What? Where did you get that information?”

Lissinas asked with a perplexed expression.

“Through personal channels. It’s probably quite reliable.”

Upon hearing this, everyone grew serious.

Leo continued,

“As a precaution against any unforeseen circumstances, we could postpone this expedition as a sensible move.”

“Are you suggesting that?”

Alrox crossed his arms and asked,

“No.”

Leo replied matter-of-factly.

“I’m saying we should eliminate the threat.”

“What?”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

Jormungand, as the strongest Legion Commander, possesses overwhelming power.

Nevertheless, even though he leads no legions, the reason he became so difficult to tackle was because he always moved with other Legion Commanders.

5000 years ago, the reason they didn’t avoid fighting Jormungand was due to this very reason.

For this expedition team, encountering Jormungand was an immense crisis, but conversely, it was also an opportunity to eliminate the strongest Legion Commander.

Lissinas chose combat over retreat, and Kyle, along with the others, followed his decision.

A wildly reckless battle,

And the result? They miraculously managed to eliminate the King of Gluttony.

This victory became the opening chapter of hope.

“Now, let me say this. Those who want to back out should do so now.”

Everyone looked at Leo upon hearing this.

“If what you say is true…”

Alrox smiled wryly.

“My heart is racing!”

“It’s ridiculously reckless.”

Though Percik clicked his tongue, he made no move to leave either.

No one made a move to withdraw.

Leo knew this well.

That none of them would back out.

“A battle against Jormungand! It will be worth the risk!”

Alrox shouted enthusiastically.

Watching this, Leo thought to himself.

‘5000 years ago, everyone died. But… Not this time.’

He knew that even by saving them now, they wouldn’t survive forever.

Yet, these were people who staked their lives for the world.

People who became the foundation of hope without ever seeing it themselves.

‘I don’t want to see them d*e again.’

Leo clenched his hand.

‘This time… I’ll save them.’