Chapter 496

496.

Under the gray sky.

The GreatHeroes, having finished their battle with the Legion Commander, panted for breath.

“This…I really thought we were going to d*e this time.”

Aron spoke with a pale face.

“I agree. No way did I expect there to be a Legion Commander with such abilities.”

Even Dwenno, who was usually collected, put down his battle axe and muttered gravely.

“Still, with this we’ve taken down our second great enemy after Jormungand. Good work everyone.”

Lissinas took a deep breath and encouraged his companions.

“Where are Kyle and Luna?”

Dwenno asked with a puzzled look.

“Luna said she’d take Kyle to the library in this area.”

“Tch. The person who needed rest the most got taken off by the person who looks the least affected.”

At that, Lissinas gave a bitter laugh.

This Legion Commander had truly been a nemesis for Kyle.

On the other hand, Luna had strong resistance to the Legion Commander’s power.

‘If it weren’t for Luna, this battle would have been really dangerous.’

Lissinas himself felt a chill.

“Why does Luna always bring so many magic books from the library in the liberation city?”

Aron, the only member of the party unfamiliar with magic, asked curiously.

“To study magic.”

“Luna is already the greatest magician in the world. Is there more to learn?”

Even after Dwenno’s explanation, Aron seemed confused.

Seeing this, Lissinas explained.

“There’s a saying among magicians – Even the greatest magician has something to learn from a street fortuneteller.”

“Aha. So Luna reads other magic books to improve further, huh?”

“Simply put, yes. But before that, Luna has a dream.”

“Dream? What kind?”

Aron tilted his head.

“Luna wants to know all the magic that exists in this world.”

“That’s way too unrealistic, isn’t it?”

Aron’s mouth dropped open.

Even Aron, who knew little about magic, understood that countless types of magic existed in this world. Knowing them all would be practically impossible.

“Unrealistic. Magic is a study of endless mysteries.”

Lissinas smiled faintly.

“But for a magician like Luna, learning new magic is probably an irreplaceable joy.”

Woo-!

A dry wind blew.

“Probably for Luna, a world full of unknown magic is like heaven.”

[Ah.]

The Fairy King, who had lived for 5000 years, trembled upon seeing the Vow Keeper from the past.

[Is….this not a dream?]

“You’ve really grown a lot. Silrod. Of course, it’s been 5000 years.”

[Luna!]

Silrod flew toward Luna, who was smiling while crying.

Silrod, hanging onto Luna’s hair, was shaking her shoulders.

“Hmm. Well done. You’ve done well.”

Luna smiled as she gently stroked Silrod’s hair with her fingertips.

Luna’s eyes were filled with tears.

Looking at this, Leo gave a bitter smile.

‘To see the scene of Luna and Silrod together again in this era.’

Luna was there at the moment Silrod was born, and they had formed a vow from that moment.

Though they were bound by a vow, they were also like family.

‘One of Luna’s regrets might be not keeping her promise with Silrod.’

Before her final journey.

Luna promised Silrod.

That she would surely return.

But in the end, she closed her eyes without keeping that promise.

If that regret remained, this reunion would surely help Luna.

The three, who sought to save the world during the Era of Catastrophe, gathered at the Fairy King’s residence and shared stories.

“So, who did Berkiya marry?”

“She married an ordinary Elven youth. Surprising, isn’t it?”

“Ordinary Elven youth?”

Luna’s eyes widened.

Leo hadn’t heard this story either.

“Didn’t she go around proclaiming she’d never marry someone weaker than herself?”

“Yeah, she definitely did.”

Luna also wore an amazed expression.

“An ordinary but incredibly humble and kind youth. Someone fitting for the new era.”

Silrod recalled the past as if reminiscing.

“Maybe that’s why Berkiya chose Maide.”

“So she did?”

Luna tilted her head.

“At that time, Berkiya was rather exhausted.”

Silrod let out a small sigh.

“It wasn’t easy to rebuild the world. We had to reestablish the destroyed orders. The order established by Lissinas in Guardstron transformed into chaos after his disappearance.”

Perhaps if the Great Heroes who saved the world had remained, there wouldn’t have been major issues after peace was found.

In the process of defeating the final Erebus, they all disappeared.

Without a doubt, the Great Heroes were saviors of this world.

But they were also a deterrent.

Not everyone is virtuous.

Where some carry a benevolent nature, others bear a twisted one.

Yet at the brink of the world’s destruction, such warped nature would swiftly lead to its demise.

Lissinas did not tolerate such beings.

‘ I took care of those who operated in the dark.’

[Among the residents of Guardstron, many who succumbed to their desires turned into evil individuals.]

“It’s hard to believe. Guardstron was a place where everyone was good.”

Luna looked perplexed.

[Now thinking about it, it might have been everyone suppressing their true nature.]

The Great Heroes and countless Heroes who sacrificed for the world provided a model.

The world on the brink of doom seemed, in some ways, a highly virtuous and orderly one.

Many people prioritized others over themselves.

“Was our power so fearsome that they hid their true nature?”

At Leo’s mutter, Luna fell into thought and then seriously spoke.

“I think it’s not all that. Perhaps it was a world where d*ath could come at any moment, so people wanted to live meaningful lives?”

Luna gave a bitter smile.

“Whenever there was a crisis in Guardstron, people helped each other. I don’t think the sight we witnessed was false.”

Listening to Luna, Leo recalled the past.

What felt like long ago to the reborn Leo was vivid to Luna as if it happened yesterday.

“Ironic, isn’t it? The people on the brink of the world’s destruction seemed to have purer souls.”

“The very reason why the world didn’t perish, perhaps?”

At Leo’s words, Luna seriously replied.

“So, during the process of rebuilding and restoring order, did she find love with the man she met?”

[Yes.]

“Were you happy?”

Leo asked bluntly, and Silrod smiled faintly.

[When I was with Maide, I felt very happy. It reminded me of the time with the two of you.]

“That’s good to hear.”

Leo smiled slightly.

“What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you say that after all the quarrels with Berkiya, she needed to endure hardship with an unusual man to mature? Why are you suddenly worrying about a disciple?”

“What do you think of people?”

“A complete moral wreck.”

Luna grinned and answered without hesitation.

Looking at such Luna, Leo clicked his tongue.

“I also care about those who were left behind. Besides…”

“Besides?”

“That boy seemed to regard me as a father.”

Unexpected words made Luna’s eyes widen.

“You… as a father?”

“That’s right.”

“How do you know?”

“Didn’t he say so himself? I heard it in the Hero’s World.”

At that, Luna stared at Leo and then burst into laughter.

“Oddly suitable.”

‘Clearly, felt like a nagging father and a rebellious daughter.’

Giggling, Luna wore a slightly excited expression.

“Then, am I the mother?”

“Mother? Pfft. Just the same level of playing around, probably regarded as a sister.”

Luna kicked Leo’s behind.

Of course, Leo dodged.

As Luna fumed, Silrod smiled and spoke.

“Berkiya considered both of you as parents.”

“See! I was thinking of Berkiya like a daughter!”

Luna crossed her arms and looked proudly.

“If you thought of her like a daughter, why didn’t you educate her properly? Pampering her made her haughty day by day.”

At Leo’s muttering, Luna covered her ears and pretended not to hear.

Watching such Luna, Leo clicked his tongue and spoke to Silrod.

“Silrod, let’s talk alone for a bit.”

[Okay.]

“What secret are you going to share?”

“It’s about Bihar.”

Leo and Silrod headed to a corner of the Fairy King’s residence.

Leo crossed his arms and spoke.

“You said the world was in chaos after we died?”

[Yes.]

“Let me ask you directly. I have an idea, but what kind of life did Bihar live after that?”

[… ]

At Leo’s question, Silrod closed his eyes.

Then he opened his mouth heavily.

[She lived a life eliminating those who caused harm to the world. As if she couldn’t tolerate them living happily. Wherever she appeared, it was always a sea of bl**d. That’s why people feared Bihar more than demons.]

*

“So, Berkiya. She thought of me and Leo as her mother and father, right?”

On the morning of the expedition.

She recalled the disciple who had come looking for her.

‘Fortunately, she lived happily.’

‘Definitely will not tarnish the names of my teachers. And if there are ever those who tarnish the names of my teachers, I will never forgive them.’

‘We will definitely return, Berkiya.’

‘Still! Even after you return, there will be those who secretly disparage you, right? I will absolutely never forgive such people!’

The recollection of Berkiya’s words surfaced.

‘Such a pity. It would have been good to have known earlier.’

Luna’s eyes blurred.

‘I really wanted to see Berkiya being happy.’

Even knowing she lived happily wasn’t enough.

She felt a greater longing akin to thirst, feeling an even bigger regret.

As she felt a regret for not seeing Berkiya’s happy face, Luna muttered.

‘But it’s good anyway.’

The world they had saved was truly beautiful.

Magic had advanced.

It was a genuinely happy world, even though she lived only for a few days.

‘Oh no.’

Luna looked at Leo.

‘I feel like I’ll have regrets.’