Chapter 476

476.

Gooouuuuu!

A dry wind swept across the plains.

bl**d and flesh were crushed and scattered everywhere, with broken weapons strewn about.

In the midst of the horrific battlefield, an elf woman clad in a brown robe knelt on the ground, muttering.

“I can’t forgive, I can’t forgive, I can’t forgive.”

Step by step—

Those wearing pure white armor and robes approached the elf woman.

“You’ve been done up splendidly.”

The magician at the forefront stroked his beard as he spoke.

“Are you the Iron bl**d Mage Tiar?”

To the kind inquiry of the old magician, the elf woman Tiar did not even glance at him.

“I shall accept silence as affirmation. But truly, this is a curious matter.”

The old magician chuckled as if it were amusing.

“The Iron bl**d Mage was a hero a thousand years ago. But suddenly appearing in this era, how fascinating.”

Even with such a clever remark, Tiar did not cease her murmuring, clutching her head.

“Oh, I’m not saying you are not the Iron bl**d Mage yourself.”

The knight standing beside the old magician nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, this age has seen the reemergence of the hero Aron, the progenitor of the Star Cloud Luna, and the Comet Wizard Seirun.”

In that moment.

Tiar’s movement, which had monotonously repeated the same words, abruptly stopped.

“What… did you say?”

With a vacant expression, Tiar turned to look at the knight.

“That’s a lie. It can’t be. Those individuals… there’s no way they… they can’t be like me… they can’t be as ugly as me…”

Seeing Tiar start to ramble like a broken doll once more, the Spirit Master woman in pure white robes scoffed.

“Of course, they are nothing like you. Their emergence on this land is the will of the great god.”

A look of disgust crossed the Spirit Master woman’s face.

“They are plainly different from the you who was resurrected with the dark magic of the wicked Tartarus.”

Yet, even in response to those words, Tiar could only mutter, “It can’t be.”

Watching Tiar, the magician in the pure white robe spoke.

“I shall let you rest now, spirit of the past.”

Flames erupted from the magician’s hand.

“I will allow you to close your eyes peacefully by recalling the feats you accomplished in the past. It is just that… your name must inevitably fall to the ground.”

The old magician spoke gravely.

“A hero is a being chosen to lead the world. A hero who dances at the whims of the wicked Demon King is unacceptable.”

From the beginning, among elves, the Iron bl**d Mage Tiar was considered a heretical hero.

“With this incident, I shall erase your name from the pages of history.”

Kwahghahghah-!

With a powerful explosion, flames soared.

As a massive pillar of fire rose, the old magician donned his white robe and murmured.

“Everything is under the name of justice.”

“I expected it to end a bit more dramatically.”

The Spirit Master, a hero known as White Inferno, Kelleny scoffed.

“Even if you were once a hero, you are now just a pitiful soul in the palm of the Demon King. There’s no way you can be a real opponent for our true heroes.”

“The words of Sir Nergian ring true.”

At the words of the hero, the Flashing Spear Nergian, the Purification Staff Nogeurn nodded.

These three were all heroes whose names were recorded in the Hero Record, members of the Justice Guild.

“Hmph, after defeating the Iron bl**d Mage, I should be adequately promoted to Queen Class, right?”

“Though the merit belongs to you, Nogeurn.”

“Oh, I don’t know. It was a joint effort, wasn’t it?”

“I have no intention to monopolize the merit. But tell me, can one truly be promoted just for defeating a spirit, no matter how past a hero they may be?”

“I think this already sufficiently elevates the guild’s prestige! Hohoho!”

Seeing Kelleny laugh, Nergian clicked his tongue.

As he observed his two distracted companions, Nogeurn hesitated, then muttered.

“Leo Flove.”

“What?!”

“You said Leo Flove?”

Kelleny and Nergian stared in shock ahead of them.

There stood Leo Flove overlooking the three heroes.

“Hah, has that arrogant little brat come here looking to d*e?”

“I won’t forget the resentment of the guild members.”

“How strange. I never killed any member of the Justice Guild.”

At Leo’s words, Nogeurn replied.

“I don’t suppose you’re unaware that we are aiding the Petimon Kingdom, Leo Flove.”

The old magician hero stepped forward and spoke.

“Leo Flove, leader of Justice. The Light Seeker has expressed great regret over your hostile actions.”

“You needn’t express regret.”

Leo chuckled.

“However, it was also said that there is a strong desire to accept you into the Justice Guild. Should you join, your promotion to Queen Class will be guaranteed. Furthermore, your act of killing a guild member will be overlooked.”

“Nogeurn, is that true?! I cannot allow this! How can someone like him attain Queen Class!”

“Indeed! The title of Queen is too much for someone who has done nothing for the guild!”

Kelleny and Nergian opposed with shocked expressions.

Queen Class.

That was a position of executive authority.

The Justice Guild called the guild leader a King and bestowed the title of Queen upon the executives who controlled the guild.

For heroes, knights were given the title of Knight, wizards were given the title of Look, and spirit masters were given the title of Bishop.

Normal guild members were given the title of Pawn.

The Queen Class was also a candidate for the next King.

Thus, it was a position that one could only attain after showing contributions within the guild.

To grant such a title to a brat who stands against the guild!

“This is not just the guild leader’s will. It’s the will of all executives. And Leo Flove possesses sufficient qualifications for it.”

At Nogeurn’s words, Leo opened his mouth.

“Is that title of Queen truly that valuable?”

“It holds value. Depending on the rank, we will be given territories in the nation we will establish in the future.”

“A nation?”

“Indeed. Our Justice Guild plans to create a new and ideal nation ruled by heroes.”

“A nation ruled by heroes has existed since long ago. What is new about that?”

“It is different. The plan is for heroes to create a legal nation.”

“…”

“Heroes are like representatives of the gods. Only the special can become heroes. Therefore, it is only natural that they have the right to rule the world, isn’t it?”

Nogeurn said in a kind voice.

“We have the qualification and obligation to guide the foolish commoners toward the light.”

“Is there truly no guilt in resolutely starting a war that need never take place, artificially accumulating karma to become heroes?”

“There is none. Their sacrifices will be the foundation for creating a just world.”

Leo sighed with his eyes closed.

“My view of what a hero is differs from yours.”

“What do you consider a hero?”

“Someone who dares to risk everything for others.”

“That sounds like something a child would say. It’s a delusion only uttered when one knows nothing of the world.”

“Regardless of being a delusion or not, you are at least not heroes.”

Leo spoke coldly.

“You are merely fools who believe themselves to be great and special.”

“I have no interest in your opinion. The reason we are heroes is that the Hero Record and the gods prove it.”

“Those gods must be fools.”

Leo knew the essence of the gods.

Some gods sought order and righteousness, while others pursued chaos.

Pure hedonists only pursuing enjoyment.

If such gods watch over the mortal realm.

“It must be quite amusing for those gods to see fools like you become heroes and parade around.”

In response to Leo’s words, Nogeurn answered coldly.

“Do not blaspheme the divine. And if you refuse our guild’s offer, the path laid before you is only destruction. You might very well d*e at our hands here and now.”

At Nogeurn’s words, Leo crossed his arms.

“How about caring for your own back before coming at me?”

“What do you mean…?”

Kwahghahghahghahgah-!

The towering pillar of fire vanished, and a deep crimson magic circle erupted in the air.

The heroes of the Justice Guild were taken aback by the surging magical power.

“It, it can’t be!”

“There’s no way a mere spirit could possess such immense magical energy!”

Kelleny and Nergian wore expressions of shock.

Leo narrowed his eyes while watching the magic.

“Is that the Magic of the Stars?”

Even Leo felt chills at the distorted magic.

The magic left by the Iron bl**d Mage remained as hero magic and was passed down to Lumeran.

Yet it was one of those spells avoided due to the complex difficulty that matched its immense power.

“Only Elena possesses such potential.”

He recalled Elena Zeruon, the fourth-year from the Department of Magic with a poor temperament in Lumeran.

“Now I understand why she was shunned as a heretic among elves.”

Tiar’s magic was filled with hatred.

“With that level of hatred, she would be ideal undead material for the Demon King.”

Just then, Leo furrowed his brow.

“Nergian! Kelleny! Form ranks!”

Nogeurn adjusted his grip on his staff.

“We must deal with that spirit!”

At those words, Nergian summoned his aura and Kelleny called forth spirits.

“I will show that spirit that sullies the name of heroes what true hero power is!”

*

The battle of the disaster-like heroes came to an end.

In the center of the charred battlefield.

“d*mn it… how dare… how dare… filthy spirit…”

Nogeurn, with his lower half missing, struggled to escape the battlefield.

Approaching him to finish him off was Tiar.

Thud—

Before such Nogeurn, Leo walked forward.

“L-Leo Flove. P-Please help me…!”

At those words, Leo looked down at Nogeurn with a cold gaze.

“W-We are heroes whose names are inscribed in the Hero Record… is it not right to unite our strength to fight against the evil undead of Tartarus?”

While looking down at Nogeurn, Leo walked towards Tiar.

“Benefit! You stinking brat! Save… save me! I am not one who should d*e in such a futile manner… kuhack!”

Nogeurn, hurling insults and begging for his life, collapsed, spewing bl**d.

It was literally an instant that all three heroes of the Justice Guild fell.

The disparity in capability between the Iron bl**d Mage and the three heroes was too great.

“Well, I suppose that’s the limit of a manufactured hero.”

Unlike those forged through karma, the magician in front of him was a true hero.

Even if resurrected and burned with endless hatred for the world through the Demon King’s power, the effort and accomplishments of the hero in front of him were undeniably real.

Leo looked at Tiar’s face.

There was no focus in her eyes.

The only thing present was hatred toward the world.

The undead revived by necromancy hold hatred toward all living things.

Leo, who had dealt with countless undead, understood this very well.

“But this one is fundamentally different.”

A magician can gain insight into a person by observing their magic.

The Iron bl**d Mage’s magic was contorted with hatred by its very nature.

As far as Leo understood, all elves in this world revered Luna.

They highly valued the Magic of the Stars she left behind.

Magic, after all, is the heart of the magician.

To recklessly tarnish the great legacy left by Luna is regarded as an act of blasphemy against Luna herself.

“This one is no different.”

Gooouuuuu!

“Aizen an Blute.”

A brutal spell flowed from Tiar’s mouth that would tear apart her opponent with iron and bl**d.

Tiar had no semblance of rationality remaining.

Only hatred remained, seeking to tear everything apart.

“I cannot let this go unchallenged.”

An undying entity filled with hatred is a calamity that invokes slaughter just by its existence.

It would surely not cease until it killed everything in its sight before meeting its own end.

“I will take it down.”

The moment Leo began to summon his magic.

Fwoosh-!

In an instant, dense black mana erupted from Leo’s hand.

“What?”

Seeing the mana spinning out of control, Leo’s expression hardened.

“Is it rampaging?”

He thought that for a fleeting moment.

But the mana did not run amok.

After dodging Tiar’s rampaging spell in haste, Leo landed on the ground.

And he looked down at the swirling black mana still flowing from his right hand.

“Mana of Lissinas?”

As he found himself flustered by the suddenly revealing mana of Lissinas.

The black mana began to radiate a bright light.

Fwoosh-!

“Ugh?”

Leo closed his eyes.

“Please… may you find peace in the next life.”

In the midst of the battlefield.

Kneeling, Lissinas offered a prayer.

Surrounding her, pure white spiritual energy flowed.

It was Lissinas, honoring the spirits of thousands of d*ath Knights after defeating them under the command of the Demon King as a Spirit Magician.

Fwoosh-!

The light vanished.

And before long, the black mana transformed into pure white energy.

With a dazed expression, Leo asked.

“To… save that one?”

Buzzing—!

In response to Leo’s question.

Lissinas’s spiritual energy resonated.