Chapter 468

468.

After concluding his audience with the king, Jerome walked leisurely through the palace hallway.

Behind him followed the woman who had just announced the news of victory to King Petimon.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Does it appear that way to you?”

Jerome rubbed his smiling face as he spoke.

“Yes. You seem genuinely pleased. Isn’t this victory merely a small one for you?”

“Indeed. To me, it’s nothing more than a small victory.”

Though the victory was packaged as an enormous event for King Petimon, to Jerome, it was no big deal.

A Hero possesses the power to alter the fate of the battlefield single-handedly.

And Jerome Kadigm is the Guild Master of Justice, a guild to which such Heroes belong.

He is, in other words, the leader of the great Heroes who revolutionize and guide the world.

Petimon Kingdom’s palace wizard, Berin, couldn’t understand why Jerome, who possessed so much power and influence, would be happy about this minor victory.

“But this victory wasn’t achieved through our strength; it was through Petimon’s strength. According to my standards, it may be an insignificant victory, but to the Petimon Kingdom, its value is worth a fortune.”

“Ah.”

Berin clasped her hands and exclaimed.

“Master Jerome. How can you think like that…”

Compared to a Hero, she might be like a firefly against the night sky, but as the palace wizard of a nation, it’s certainly not a low-ranking position.

She too had met many Heroes through the Mage’s Association.

But most of the Heroes she had encountered were arrogant.

Jerome was different.

Despite being the leader of Justice, he remained humble and considerate of others.

It was natural to think of him as a Hero of Justice.

Every word he spoke seemed genuinely in the interest of this country.

“Don’t worry, Berin, the palace wizard.”

With a gentle smile, Jerome extended his hand.

“As long as Justice is with you, Petimon Kingdom will only see victories. Trust in us.”

“Yes! Master Jerome! In the name of Justice, we shall repel evil!”

Berin knelt down and bowed her head deeply as she looked upon Jerome, whose smile resembled that of a saint.

It was almost as if she were worshipping a deity.

Sometime later, after returning to his room, Jerome opened his mouth with an expressionless face.

“How’s the situation?”

“It’s going smoothly, Master. The Canel Kingdom’s army has suffered almost complete annihilation across all battlefields.”

“If they’re carrying the name of Justice, doing this much is the least they should be able to do, isn’t it?”

“That may be true, but they’re still Hero Candidates.”

“Hero Candidates. What a nostalgic term.”

Smiling faintly, Jerome adjusted his posture.

“But don’t our young guild members dislike being called that? Officers.”

Jerome smiled as he glanced at the officers seated in a corner of the room.

“We don’t like it.”

“They hope to be called Provisional Heroes.”

“Then let’s change the title to Provisional Heroes.”

-Heeheehee, Jerome laughed.

“Titles, in the end, don’t really matter, do they? Anyone with the Karma fitting of a Hero’s status can become a Hero, after all.”

“What about that Karma Theory of yours? How credible is it?”

One of the officers of Justice asked with a curious look.

With a smile still on his face, Jerome stood up from his seat.

“The Hero Record is something only those chosen by the gods can register their names in. Which is to say, they are the gods’ proxies.”

Jerome opened both his arms wide.

“People think that only those wielding power akin to the gods, possessing noble goals, and achieving great deeds can become Heroes. That’s what the common folk believe.”

“Indeed, that’s right.”

“Yes, but having already become Heroes, surely we all know.”

Jerome glanced at the officers, the corner of his mouth curling upwards.

“There are those who became Heroes, yet they seem far from deserving the title—weak individuals, people with character flaws, hypocrites with vile natures.”

“Certainly true, Jerome, Master. Since even someone like you has become a Hero.”

The Vice Guild Master, Chain, said this, making Jerome crack a grin.

“There’s no such thing as qualifications to be a Hero. There are only standards. And as for me.”

Jerome looked down at the palm of his hand.

“I became a Hero on the battlefield.”

On the battlefield, one who brings about victory is truly a Hero.

The process doesn’t matter.

No matter how many enemies are killed,

No matter how many allies are sacrificed,

Or how many meaningless lives are ended,

Only leading the war to victory counts as a great deed.

“Is this war a kind of testing ground for your Karma Theory?”

One of the officers leaned his cheek on his palm and clicked his tongue.

“Yep.”

“Since getting involved in the war in the name of the guild can cause trouble, we had to disguise the guild members as part of the kingdom’s forces. But it’s worth all the inconvenience, isn’t it?”

“Then what was the reason for involving the dropouts from Lumeran in the experiment?”

Another officer, who had been listening to the story, asked.

“Guild Master, weren’t you someone who held animosity towards dropouts? You had always argued that only graduates of the Hero Academy qualified to be Heroes?”

“My thoughts changed. Even if one is not from a Lumeran graduate background, there are still many who have reached the rank of Hero, right? I realized that rejecting them wasn’t necessary. Excessive elitism doesn’t do any good.”

Jerome folded his arms.

“Besides, aren’t they technically juniors? Isn’t it only natural as seniors to give opportunities to desperate juniors?”

With his back to them, Jerome turned to look out the window.

“To achieve my goal, I need more Heroes.”

“What’s your goal?”

“Haven’t I already said it? It’s to create a righteous world guided by chosen Heroes.”

Jerome smiled cheerfully.

“In that sense, we need to find the treasure vault buried with Sir Tamus, the Knight of the Yellow Springs, somewhere in this land.”

The Knight of the Yellow Springs buried countless treasures with him in his grave.

Among those treasures were the weapons of the subordinates who followed him.

“The legacy of Tarrim will greatly aid in the birth of a new generation of Heroes. Our Justice Guild will help the Lumeran Academy in the birth of Heroes.”

“Are there plans to create a new Hero Academy?”

“What would be the point? We already have Lumeran, which is a perfect Hero Academy.”

Jerome shrugged his shoulders.

Watching him, Chain stretched out his palm.

“Your juniors from the academy you love so much might end up standing in your way.”

With his eyes closed, the magic circle on Chain’s forehead appeared.

“Clairvoyance?”

The Deputy Guild Master of Justice.

Chain Litna’s unique magic.

Jerome, showing a look of puzzlement, was awestruck when he saw the distant landscape that Chain revealed.

There was a boy with white hair and red eyes battling knights of Petimon.

Jerome’s eyes sparkled.

Among the people gathered here, there was not a single one who didn’t know this boy.

A classmate of Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.

The one who, in this era, assisted the reincarnated hero Aron in defeating a Fragment of Erebus and attained the status of Hero.

“Leo Flove.”

Jerome curled the corner of his mouth upward.

“I’m feeling quite excited. I’ve always wanted to have a conversation with Leo Flove.”

“Why is that? Is it because he’s famous?”

“No, because he’s among the select few who are chosen.”

Jerome smiled kindly.

“I’m curious about what sense of justice he possesses. I hope he’ll come to our guild.”

“But Leo Flove has declined all guild membership offers.”

“Understood.”

Upon hearing Chain’s words, Jerome returned to his seat and fell into deep thought.

“Leo Flove is surely an excellent Hero. He reached this position at such a young age without other people’s help—he is a real gem. However, he’s still young. He hasn’t fully shone yet.”

“Do you want to further polish him?”

“Yes.”

Jerome nodded.

“It wouldn’t hurt for him to understand how vast the world is. Trials make a Hero stronger.”

“What do you mean by that?”

At Chain’s words, Jerome grinned.

“Leo Flove needs to be baptized.”

*

That night.

Guided by Viscount Eshimon, Leo was led to the encampment of the Canel Kingdom army.

As Lumeran students, Leo and Lil received a lavish reception.

“It seems the Canel Kingdom wishes for us to coordinate this war,” Lil muttered while chewing on the dried meat served as their meal.

Though they endeavored to treat Leo and Lil with the utmost courtesy, this was the heart of the battlefield.

The food served was extremely rough.

Dried meat, hard rye bread, and warm soup were on the menu.

And there was even wine.

‘In the middle of this battlefield, at this late hour, having warm soup alone feels like royal treatment, I suppose. The Canel Kingdom seems to be in a tough situation.’

“You’re eating well.”

Leo commented as he watched Lil eat with precision.

“Military personnel must eat well when they can. Though, the taste might not suit Leo.”

Lil looked at Leo with a slightly worried expression.

To her, Leo appears like the young master of a noble household.

There’s no disdain in her gaze.

It’s just a purely concerned look at her younger peer.

Honestly, for Lumeran students, it’s common that they don’t find such food palatable.

“Not really a picky eater.”

As Leo dipped the rye bread into his soup, he lost himself in thought.

“Should we intervene in this war or report to Lumeran?”

At Leo’s question, Lil sighed deeply.

Then she poured herself a glass of wine and drank it down like water.

Although the wine was rather potent, there was no sign of drunkenness on her face.

It was both hearty and impressively tough.

-Whoo, such a manly guy.

Kirran whispered his admiration to Leo, audible only to him.

“Perhaps we won’t have a chance to intervene.”

“Why is that?”

“Justice Guild is likely secretly influencing this war in the northeastern region. I also heard about it from my home over the summer break.”

Lil let out another deep sigh.

“Much like Lumeran students shouldn’t interfere in foreign wars, guilds shouldn’t get involved in wars either. But even if it’s merely a hunch, there’s likely no clear evidence to be found.”

“Hmm.”

“Moreover, from our standpoint, Justice is not an enemy but an ally.”

Lil furrowed her brow.

“Although we do not know what they’re aiming for while active in this northeastern area, they won’t harm those on their side. Hence, investigating the Justice Guild carelessly won’t be easy.”

“You seem displeased.”

“Of course! Leo! I dislike politics! And this falls under the realm of politics!”

Lil frowned deeply, a rare sight.

To the upright and proper Lil, politics was clearly not a favorable element.

After all, in politics, it’s difficult to call something wrong when indeed it is.

‘I don’t particularly like this headache-inducing field either. Politics is more of Lisinas and Dwenno’s specialty, after all.’

“What exactly is Justice aiming for?”

“I don’t know. The guild master of Justice is just an inscrutable person.”

“What kind of person is he?”

“Jerome Kadigm. He’s one among the three great heroes chosen to carry the mantle after the Sword Saint Kalyan.”

“Are there three candidates to succeed the Principal?”

“Yes.”

Lil smiled while looking at the puzzled Leo and then took a sip of her wine.

“The hero known by the title ‘Light Seeker.’ He strives for justice in an upright manner, aiming to uphold righteousness.”

“Justice?”

“Yes. Someone who’s life goal is justice. Renowned for not hesitating on means or methods in order to eradicate evil for the sake of justice.”

At this, Leo narrowed his eyes.

“Sounds like it’ll get really messy.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve never met a decent human who shouts about justice.”

“Indeed, he’s not a Hero I particularly admire either. Though he’s popular among the masses, without a doubt, some of the deeds he’s attributed to have inhumane aspects. They’ve been forgiven under the name of justice, however.”

Lil sighed deeply and drank another sip of wine.

Now instead of using a glass, she was drinking directly from the bottle.

‘I hope her behavior when drunk isn’t too bad. On the surface, she seems fine, though.’

True, she appeared fine on the outside, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t drunk.

If someone acts uncharacteristically after drinking, that’s a sign they’re drunk.

While looking at Lil for a moment, Leo gazed at the tent ceiling.

Lil, too, halted her movements momentarily and pulled the bottle away from her mouth.

As Leo got up from his seat and clicked his tongue, a deafening explosion occurred.

Kwa-a-aang!

“What, what is it?”

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”

The sudden explosion sent the Canel Kingdom army into a panic.

“Lord Leo! Lady Lil!”

Just as Viscount Eshimon rushed over to call for Leo and Lil, who were in the burning tent,

Whoosh-

The fire distorted and then bunched together.

The flames gathered into Lil’s hand that wasn’t holding the wine bottle.

As Lil looked towards the sky, she said,

“Brilliant ambush. I didn’t detect it at all.”

“Indeed. That befits the student council president and the third-year representative of Lumeran. You couldn’t deal us a single blow.”

A wizard draped in robes appeared in the air, his robe floating dramatically.

There were four others around him.

“Who are you guys?”

At Leo’s question, the wizard who carried out the attack spoke.

“We are the Executives.”

“Executives?”

“That’s right.”

The wizard began mobilizing his magic power.

“I am here to enforce justice.”