Chapter 472

472.

Chirp-chirp.

The birds heralded the arrival of dawn.

“Ugh.”

Buried under the blanket, Lil let out a pained groan and tossed and turned.

Her head was throbbing from a massive hangover.

“Water….”

“Here you go.”

After sitting up and clutching her aching head, someone beside her handed her water.

“Ahhh?! Keh-hek?! Cough! Cough!”

Then, hearing a sneeze, she began coughing madly.

“Why, why, why, why, why is Leo here!”

Watching Lil’s panicked face frantically asking, Leo sipped on the water from his own glass and replied.

“This is my room. Last night, Senior Lil was so drunk that instead of going back to your room, you ended up sleeping here.”

Upon hearing that, Lil fell into thought and soon clasped her face with one hand.

“I must have made a fool of myself. Sorry, Leo.”

Rarely seen, even her ears had turned red as Lil took a deep breath and got out of the bed while speaking.

“Leo, if something like this happens again, please send me out of the room, even if you have to forcefully.”

“I didn’t entertain any strange thoughts.”

“I know you’re not that kind of person, Leo. What I mean is that unnecessary rumors could cause trouble.”

“Indeed, it might cause you, as a senior, trouble on various fronts.”

“I think it would cause more trouble for you than me.”

Lil let out a small sigh.

“Leo has been the center of global attention ever since last year. Now, you’re officially the hero as well. Many people admire and look up to you. But conversely, there must also be countless people who envy and resent you.”

“That’s probably true.”

“Indeed. Such people will likely try to tarnish your reputation. A messy history with women would be just the thing they’d latch onto.”

Lil sighed.

“To be fair, if we look at history, there have been many heroes who indulged in pleasures. There are quite a few heroes who violated moral codes. The Justice Guild, for example, wasn’t exactly an upright organization. People know that nobody is perfect.”

Creak.

Lil walked to the window and opened the curtains.

Sunlight poured in.

Basking in that sunlight, Lil wrinkled her forehead in contentment and then turned back.

“But still, people desire an ideal hero. In the minds of the people, Leo is that sort of hero.”

“I don’t particularly care about other people’s opinions, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Hmm. Leo’s mental strength is certainly impressive, but personally, I hope Leo continues to be seen as a flawless hero.”

“Why?”

“It’s because I like you, Leo.”

Facing the sunlight but standing with her back to it, Lil smiled faintly.

“I’ve admired you since the first time I met you. Even though you’re a junior, I thought you were amazing. I’ve been your fan since day one.”

“That’s an honor.”

“With that in mind, I’d like to officially request your help again.”

Lil approached Leo, kneeled in front of him, and earnestly declared,

“I want to be your disciple. Please take me in, Leo.”

Lil said this with a devout expression.

“…”

‘I’ll study hard. Please take me in as a disciple.’

At that moment, the image of a young Elf girl, filled with hope for an unseen future, came to mind.

‘Please accept me as a disciple.’

And the image of a human girl with hateful eyes burning for the present came to mind as well.

The two disciples, born in the darkest of times, had vastly different pursuits.

But…

‘Then what will you do when you get stronger?’

Kyle casually asked his two disciples.

‘To be of some help to this world, even if it is just a little.’

‘I want to dedicate this body to helping the world.’

‘That’s completely different from Verkia or Bihar.’

“I want to become the kind of person who can be of help to the world.”

‘Why does the look in your eyes feel exactly the same?’

Unwavering eyes.

A heart that prioritizes the world over oneself.

In some way, Leo felt this resembled Lissinas.

‘What a strange coincidence.’

Leo said aloud with that thought.

“It will be merciless.”

“Exactly what I was hoping for!”

“I will speak to you casually.”

“That’s fine! In fact, from the start, you’ve always felt like an older brother.”

Lil, smiling brightly, thought for a moment and asked a strange question.

“Come to think of it, if I call you ‘teacher’ in front of others, it would feel odd since I’m the senior in their eyes.”

“Just act as usual. From this point, why don’t we speak casually when others are around as well?”

“That’s not possible. Titles for those above us cannot be used carelessly, regardless of age.”

Lil shook her head firmly, her military background showing her strong adherence to rank.

“Hmm. If calling you teacher bothers you, how about ‘older brother’?”

“Isn’t that stranger?”

“That’s true.”

Lil thought for a moment and then bluntly said,

“Then… Brother?”

‘Why are the ones who want to be my disciples always so odd?’

Leo pondered seriously.

If Luna were here, she’d probably answer, “Because you’re not normal,” but there was no Luna here today.

*

That morning,

Leo and Lil, having changed into their school uniforms, headed towards the audience chamber to meet with the king.

The king had asked to postpone the meeting, citing the aftereffects of the banquet, pushing it to the evening.

Though Leo was somewhat baffled that the meeting was delayed until evening instead of the afternoon, he understood.

‘A king who can use national funds to host grand banquets amid a crisis is the kind who can probably do even worse.’

“If you don’t want to see us now, we’ll judge that you’re unhelpful and return to Lumeran. Handle the situation on your own, whether the kingdom thrives or falls.”

Upon hearing this, the frantic advisors mobilized, and they finally managed to secure an audience for the morning.

“His Majesty, Lord Leo Flobe and Lady Lil Luche have arrived.”

“Audience granted.”

Creeak—

The door opened.

And with that, Leo and Lil entered the meeting hall where state affairs were discussed.

The most prominent figure was, of course, King Karnel seated at the farthest upper seat.

With bloodshot eyes from indulging in liquor, he gazed at Leo and Lil with dissatisfaction.

“Long time no see, Lord Flobe and Lady Luche. However, it’s not like I’m fully recovered from the aftereffects of the banquet, and yet you bring me such urgent news. What is it?”

His manner bore no resemblance to a king whose nation was in dire straits.

‘He’s the kind of person who thinks standing above others is justly his right.’

Even during the Era of Catastrophe, people like this existed.

People who do nothing but enjoy the benefits of their noble birth.

Of course, their ends were rarely good.

‘Even in the Age of Peace, it’s silently tolerated.’

During peaceful times, the additional benefits of bloodline can shield such individuals.

But in the lawless and lost world, lineage was worthless.

Nevertheless, their insatiable greed for more than others lingered.

Because of this, countless members of royalty and nobility were slaughtered during the Era of Catastrophe.

‘Of course, after that, a lot of capable rubbish seized power.’

When Lissinas ruled Guardstron, the city was meticulously run based on ability.

‘Lissinas not only had administrative skills but also an uncanny ability to judge people.’

In fact, his influence was significant in stopping Tartarus’ invasion rather than merely suppressing Erebus.

Leo narrowed his eyes and observed carefully.

Lil seemed on the verge of saying something due to indignation but suppressed herself because of Leo.

Leo then opened his mouth.

“Is there any reason why the Justice Guild aims to destroy the Kanel Kingdom?”

“I don’t know either. Why would a guild that shouts about justice aid the petty, newly formed kingdom of Petimon instead of our Kanel, glorified by history and legitimacy?”

He snickered.

“Still, they must have a reason, right?”

“Hmph. From what I see, they’re trying to loot the hero’s tomb because they covet our Kanel’s heritage.”

“Does Kanel have something the Justice Guild might covet? If so, how does that relate to excavating the hero’s tomb?”

Upon Leo’s question, King Karnel flinched slightly before clutching his head.

“Urgh—My head hurts terribly. Hey, over there!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The servant behind him bowed his head.

“My head is killing me from the aftereffects of alcohol!”

“Understood. We will soon bring food and drinks that are good for hangovers.”

‘He doesn’t intend to say anything.’

Leo narrowed his eyes.

‘Was it really the Justice Guild that looted the hero’s tomb?’

The reason was unclear.

However, from what King Karnel said, it was certain that the Justice Guild was indeed plundering a hero’s tomb in this country.

‘Could it be related to the Demon King?’

He had already realized that the Justice Guild was not a group bound by common sense.

And the Demon King knew perfectly well how to exploit such a group.

“Regardless, what’s important now is that the Justice Guild intervenes in the war without cause and threatens our kingdom. We request that Lumeran mediate officially.”

Watching King Karnel playing dumb, Leo’s lips twitched into a smirk.

After a brief exchange of words, Leo left the audience chamber and clenched his left fingers tightly.

Crack—

A chilling sound of bones cracking emanated from his left hand.

’Screw making him talk?’

It was no effort to make the incompetent king confess.

After Bihar obtained and tore a part of Kayle’s Hero Record following his d*ath, she kept the records of his shadowy exploits.

Among Kayle’s shadowy deeds, there were some truly brutal tortures.

Thus, Bihar tore a part of the Hero Record for future generations so her mentor wouldn’t be painted in a negative light.

Walking down the hallway, Leo had a sinister thought.

Beside him, Lil was lost in thought.

“It seems like he’s hiding something. What could it be?”

“Regarding that part, would it be okay if I explained it to you?”

At the voice from behind, both Leo and Lil turned around.

There stood a boy who looked to be in his late teens.

His eyes sparkled with intelligence.

Yet, there was a shadow over his face.

“Who are you?”

When Lil tilted her head and asked, the boy introduced himself.

“My name is Jeremyn Kanel. The crown prince of this country.”

Jeremyn bowed respectfully and continued seriously,

“I have something urgent to tell both of you. Would you spare some time?”

The place Jeremyn led them to was outside the royal palace.

They traveled by carriage.

Meanwhile, Lil slightly pulled back the curtain to look outside.

Seeing the royal insignia, the people of the capital hurriedly bowed.

However, the looks in their eyes weren’t kind.

The appearances of the capital’s inhabitants were uniformly shabby.

“The country seems to be in a lot of trouble.”

Upon Lil’s statement, Jeremyn let out a deep sigh.

“There’s nothing we can do. It’s becoming worse day by day because of my father and the ministers’ tyranny.”

There was an air of melancholy in Jeremyn’s expression.

“They neglect governing the country and indulge in extravagance. When the Petimon Kingdom made a large-scale invasion, they were too scared even to hold a banquet, but the moment they heard about you two, they decided to let loose all their pent-up desires…”

Jeremyn’s face was distorted.

He seemed to genuinely hate his father and the ministers.

“So, what is it you’re going to explain?”

At Leo’s question, Jeremyn stated,

“The reason the Justice Guild is targeting our kingdom. And it’s something Lumeran might also be interested in.”

“What is it?”

“The Justice Guild is after the tomb of the Knight of the Yellow Spring. They’ve heard rumors that somewhere in our kingdom, it rests, and are therefore targeting it.”

“The tomb of the Knight of the Yellow Spring? Isn’t that something that only exists in legends?”

Lil tilted her head.

But Jeremyn shook his head.

“No. It’s a secret that’s been passed down through the royal family, so it’s accurate. Although the precise location isn’t clear.”

At Jeremyn’s words, Leo fell into thought.

‘The Knight of the Yellow Spring.’

Leo was also familiar with this hero.

He had heard about the countless relics this hero left behind.

‘The Knight didn’t just seize the relics of those who followed him but also the items of those he defeated, if I recall correctly?’

The Yellow Spring Knight is also well-known by another alias.

The Hero Emperor.

Another famous nickname is…

‘The Conqueror.’

Earning such titles by expanding vast territories and defeating countless heroes.

It is said that all the relics used by these fallen heroes were buried in his tomb.

Undoubtedly, finding them would be a tremendous boon for Lumeran.

’But it’s not just Lumeran. The same goes for other races, right?’

After all, heroes who fell to the Yellow Spring Knight weren’t just humans.

“If it’s a secret passed down through your royal family, but the exact location isn’t clear, how can we trust it’s true? Every royal family has such legends.”

When Lil tilted her head, Jeremyn smiled.

“You don’t need to worry about that. The key to opening the treasure vault of the tomb is surely being passed down in our royal family.”

“Hmm.”

Upon hearing Jeremyn’s words, Lil crossed her arms and fell deep into thought.

Meanwhile, the carriage exited the capital and stopped in front of an old, giant training ground.

“Where are we?”

“The tomb of losers.”

“The tomb of losers?”

Lil widened her eyes, prompting Jeremyn to offer a bitter smile.

“Yes. It’s said to be the place where the bodies of heroes who lost to the Knight of the Yellow Spring in the past were abandoned. Still, it’s just a legend.”

“Why did you bring us here?”

As Leo stepped out of the carriage, he asked.

“To make a deal. Come, please follow me.”

And with that, Jeremyn started walking ahead.

Lil followed behind.

Upon scanning the surroundings, Leo was about to step forward when…

[Listen carefully, Kyle.]

The voice behind him, so familiar, made him stop dead in his tracks.

[To the voices of spirits.]

Caught completely by surprise, he instinctively turned around.

“Rissinas?”

Aaaaah—

In response to Leo’s call, there was no answer.

All he could see was a vast, empty landscape.