438.
Aron looked at Chelsea, whose eyes sparkled as she gazed up at her, and her expression tensed.
“Truly, it’s such an honor to meet you! I never imagined I would get to meet the Great Hero in person! It feels like a dream!”
“Uh, uuhm. I-I’m glad to meet you too.”
“Huh?!”
“Why, why?”
Seeing Chelsea take a breath and open her mouth wide, Aron felt confused.
“Leo-nim! Aron-nim said he’s glad to see me!”
While Chelsea, holding her cheeks, didn’t know what to do, Aron scratched his cheek.
“Are you that happy to meet me?”
“Of course! You are the Great Hero who saved this world! I’m truly grateful! Thank you for saving the world!”
Aron’s eyes widened at Chelsea’s clear, innocent smile.
Seeing Aron staring straight at her face, Chelsea became slightly embarrassed.
Watching this, Aron smiled.
“Uh-huh.”
Reaching out his hand, Aron gently patted Chelsea’s head.
Chelsea’s eyes grew round.
“Thank you for saying that.”
While gazing up at the faintly smiling Aron, Chelsea soon beamed.
“Ar-nim! Me too! Please pat my head as well!”
“Sure, sure.”
When Ar pushed her head forward, Aron smiled and patted her head.
Seeing this, Kal spoke.
“Hey, Chelsea. I’m just warning you out of concern, but… the instructor Arkhan is actually Aron-nim, right…?”
“I know. I know I shouldn’t tell others, at least. Who do you think I am?”
Chelsea smirked slightly with a bit of a scoff.
“By the way, I do have a question.”
At that moment, Lunia looked thoughtful.
“How exactly did you appear in this world, Aron-nim?”
“Through something called the Hero Record.”
“Like how Lady Luna and Seirun appeared in this world?”
Aron nodded, and Driana crossed her arms.
“In that case, I have another question. Why can you remember Leo and Ar, but not us?”
“That, I’m not quite sure.”
Aron shook his head.
Lost in thought, Lunia raised her index finger and said:
“Perhaps the reason you only remember Leo and Ar is because they were the only ones who entered your world.”
“That does make sense…”
Kal stroked his chin.
“I guess so too. We met Aron-nim in Lord Dwenno’s world. When Lady Luna appeared in Seirun, she certainly remembered me.”
Recalling Luna fighting Zerdiaq in Seirun, Lunia spoke.
Looking at Lunia, Aron expressed his admiration.
“You’re clever. Just like Luna.”
“To what?”
“You two even have similar personalities!”
“That is quite an honor.”
Hearing Aron’s words, Lunia blushed shyly.
Upon hearing that, Ar cried out,
“Aron-nim! You must not be deceived! Aron-nim is being tricked!”
“Huh? What?”
“This wicked elf is pretending to be humble. You mustn’t fall for it.”
With her arms crossed, Driana seriously explained, and Ar nodded enthusiastically.
“You’re right, Aron-nim! Comparing the compassionate Lady Luna with this cruel elf is a disgrace to Lady Luna!”
“Them!”
Enraged, Lunia grabbed Ar and Driana by the neck with both arms.
Of course, the two, who were physically stronger than Lunia, didn’t stop talking.
“Indeed, there’s no one more like a gangster… choke!”
Kal’s laughter turned into a yelp as he was kicked in the stomach and collapsed.
“Comparing Lunia to Lady Luna is… a bit…”
“Eiran! You too?”
As Lunia’s eyes became more menacing,
Aron looked at the scene and laughed out loud.
“Yeah. Seeing that confirmed it. You’re exactly the same.”
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
“What do you mean?”
Everyone looked at Aron with puzzled faces.
“What kind of person is Luna to you?”
“Isn’t she kind and compassionate… and like a gentle goddess?”
When Eiran answered with a shocked expression, Aron tilted his head.
“Luna isn’t kind, and her heart isn’t especially broad. And gentle? Goddess?”
Aron’s face twisted strangely, and by the end, it slightly wrinkled.
“That’s absurd! There’s no way!”
Refusing to accept the shocking reality, Lunia clutched her head.
“Hey, Leo. Didn’t you meet Lady Luna with Lunia in the Hero’s world? How was she?”
At Kal’s question, after thinking for a moment, Leo answered.
“A reckless troublemaker?”
“You! Don’t you dare disrespect Lady Luna!”
“Didn’t you see it yourself?”
“That was when Lady Luna was younger and innocent! She can’t possibly have a personality like mine! Someone like me!”
While yelling and refusing to accept the reality, Leo looked at her with pity.
“You’re well aware you have a bad temper!”
“Yeah. Truly worthy as Seirun’s representative. You seem to understand yourself quite well.”
At Kal’s admiration, Chelsea nodded in agreement.
“These people!”
Lunia’s fiery glare made Chelsea quickly use him as a shield.
“Hey! What are you doing?! Chelsea!”
“Friend Shield.”
“Hey! Hey?! KYAAAAA!”
Kal’s scream echoed.
The credible testimony from the Great Hero made Leo look satisfied.
‘Luna’s true nature is about to be exposed.’
“Wow! That I was receiving teachings from the Hero? Incredible!”
Chelsea still looked excited, her heart obviously still racing.
“Heh! You’re genuinely pleased to receive Aron-nim’s teachings. You’re quite reasonable for a magician, Chelsea. Who’s your favorite Great Hero?”
When Ar put on a self-satisfied expression, Chelsea answered without hesitation.
“Hero of Beginning, Lord Kyle. I have to ask Aron-nim about Kyle next time!”
Ar’s face fell hearing Chelsea’s answer.
“Still, it’s shocking to learn Lady Luna had this kind of personality.”
“Exactly, since it’s coming straight from the Great Hero’s mouth… that means Lunia has an equally tough personality, right?”
As Chelsea spoke, Kal stroked his chin.
All the while remaining cautious about Lunia attacking, but Lunia was still stunned.
Previously, they refrained from asking detailed questions about the Great Hero in Dwenno’s world, worried it might affect their quest.
‘So, I’ve maintained the illusion until today.’
While Leo clicked his tongue,
Driana asked Eiran.
“Still, Eiran, you don’t seem too shocked.”
“Huh? About what?”
“About how Lady Luna’s personality is similar to Lunia’s.”
“To be fair, while Lunia does have a fiery side, she’s still an extremely just elf, isn’t she?”
Eiran smiled.
“Besides, Aron-nim mentioned that Lady Luna was incredibly curious and always sincere about magic. I can imagine what kind of person she must have been. Surely, she was someone full of confidence and always poised… a truly remarkable figure.”
At Eiran’s words, Lunia’s ears twitched.
“Yeah, at least she must have been similar to me, so she surely would’ve beaten up all the bad guys. Uh-huh.”
Lunia began to cheer up as she started to think positively.
While watching her, Leo recalled how in the past, Luna used to become overly proud whenever someone praised her but would then dig deep into herself when something went wrong.
While reminiscing, Leo spoke.
“Go ahead first. I’ll catch up soon.”
As Leo entered the thicket, Eiran approached.
“Shall I come with you?”
“I’d be in a bit of a bind if you followed.”
“Huh? What do you… Ah! I-I’m sorry!”
Looking puzzled, Eiran turned bright red and hurriedly stepped back.
Still pondering over the strange response, Eiran let out a sigh of embarrassment while covering her face.
Seeing Leo enter, a dragon named En, identical to Leo, bowed.
“Welcome, Leo-nim.”
“Thanks.”
“Understood.”
En, taking on Leo’s role, stepped out of the bushes.
“Hmm? You came back quickly!”
“Did I see something wrong just now?”
Kal looked curious, but En, disguised as Leo, shrugged and replied.
Somewhere else, the real Leo turned back to Aron, who was already gazing at the star-filled night sky as the sunset faded.
“He truly loves the night sky.”
Kiran, appearing in human form, crossed his arms and muttered.
“As if it would get old.”
Even in her human form, Fiora munched on candy with amazement.
“Will you turn into a pig again?”
Though Kiran teased her, Fiora didn’t care.
“You guys wouldn’t understand.”
At that moment, Elshi spoke.
“Someone born during the Era of Catastrophe finds the beauty of this night sky… beyond imagination.”
Elshi smiled gently.
Hearing this, Leo approached Aron and said,
“Did you have a nightmare? Why did you suddenly resort to sign language a while ago?”
“I’m not sure. I think I smelled something strange. Did anything happen while I was sleeping?”
“There was an earthquake.”
“Was that the cause?”
Even while tilting his head in doubt, Aron said,
“That Chelsea kid reminded me of the orphans.”
“Chelsea still has some innocence.”
Though only a year apart, she was more naive than other students.
And yet, there was also a side of her that was sharp.
“So? This made you realize once again how well you saved the world?”
“Yeah. I finally felt like my wish was fulfilled.”
Aron smiled brightly.
Unbeknownst to herself, the greeting Chelsea gave helped save Aron.
“Thus, I now want to find.”
Having seen what he desired when he came to the future, Aron found a new goal.
“Kai, the things I want to do for you.”
“Yeah.”
“How much time do I have left?”
“…”
Aron’s question left Leo silent.
‘When Lady Luna came from the Hero’s world into the present, she didn’t last long.’
Even so, Aron had remained in this era for a much longer time compared to Luna.
The reason for this was simple.
‘Luna expended vast mana to defeat Zerdiaq and Silatuna.’
As a result, the divine power that made up her body was used up extensively.
On the other hand, Aron has hardly used any Aura.
Hence, the consumption of divine power was slower.
‘If he were to participate in even one battle… Aron would likely disappear too.’
“Enjoy this peace while you can.”
“Yeah.”
Aron nodded with a smile.
“Ah! I have something I want to do.”
Aron stood up and smiled brightly.
“Didn’t Silrod say he was still alive? I want to meet Silrod!”
“That’s a good idea. He would surely be delighted to see you.”
It wasn’t difficult to open the warp to Fairy Land through Melina.
“Welcome, Lord Leo Flove. His Majesty has been waiting for Lord Leo Flove’s visit.”
Though forbidden to outsiders, Leo and Aron received a grand welcome.
As they followed the fairy’s guidance, Leo moved towards the Fairy King’s residence.
“Unfortunately, Kiran couldn’t make it. After all, it’s his hometown.”
“Karma, I suppose.”
“Wow! Piora-sama can now use big words quite well!”
“Ehem!”
Piora, walking beside Leo, placed her hands on her hips and raised her chin.
When they arrived at the Fairy King’s palace, there was no one but Silrod.
“Truly… it is you, Aron.”
“Good to see you. You’re still the old crybaby.”
“That’s coming from you, who’s still a coward.”
The Silrod flying before Aron wiped away tears.
As Silrod teared up, Aron smiled faintly for a moment, then suddenly looked surprised.
“What’s wrong?”
When Leo gave a puzzled look, Aron explained.
“It’s just… there’s a strange smell coming from Silrod.”
Perhaps sensing Aron’s expression, Silrod nodded heavily.
“Ah, it must be because of that.”
“That?”
“Yes.”
Silrod solemnly nodded.
“The Piece of Erebus.”
![[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")
