Chapter 503

503.

With a jolt—

Lunia woke up suddenly, blinking her eyes a few times before hastily getting up and looking around.

Last night.

Lunia, who had passed out from a shocking scene, realized she had unknowingly fallen asleep.

“Ugh…”

Groaning, Lunia rose and approached a corner of the room where a note was left.

It was a message from Eiran saying she would attend a lecture in Lumeran.

‘Leona Kal… and that Chen Sia must have gone to Lumeran too.’

If that was the case, then the remaining person here now is…

‘Lady Luna.’

With a complicated heart, Lunia left the room and headed for the first floor.

Unlike the night before, it was morning, and the first floor was quiet.

Creak— creak—

The old staircase groaned as Lunia descended.

And the moment she reached the first floor—

“Ahhh…”

Lunia involuntarily gasped in surprise.

In the inn’s first floor dining area, several guests were having breakfast. However, what caught Lunia’s attention was the elf sitting near the window.

Her silvery hair shimmered in the morning sunlight, and her brilliant golden eyes sparkled with intelligence.

This was the image of Luna, the progenitor of the Star Cloud, as Lunia knew her.

‘It really was just my imagination getting ahead of me yesterday!’

Letting out a sigh of relief, Lunia approached Luna.

Just as Lunia was about to reach her, Luna looked at the contents of her glass and muttered.

“Ugh… wine is definitely overpriced and not my type. What on earth did Lissinas and Dwenno find so delicious about this?”

Luna’s grumbling face resembled that of a laborer from a construction site as she complained. Lunia involuntarily tripped and fell without realizing it.

Clang—!

The elegant elf with bright red hair was seen slipping and falling in the morning, causing the guests eating breakfast to whisper among themselves.

“Look at that elf.”

“She seems to still be a little drunk.”

“Both the elf drinking in the morning and her falling… it’s breaking every stereotype about elves.”

Lunia, raising her head, glared at the onlookers, causing them to instantly avert their eyes.

After taking a deep breath and standing up, Lunia approached Luna.

Standing in front of Luna, Lunia tidied her clothes, cleared her throat, and began her introduction.

“Nice to meet you. My name is—”

“Yeah, I know. You’re Lunia, right?”

Luna replied, scribbling something down with a quill.

“Really?”

“We’ve met twice… no, once before, in the Hero’s World, right?”

“Do you remember that?”

“Yeah, we fought Erebus together, didn’t we?”

As Luna smiled at Lunia while meeting her gaze, Lunia’s eyes widened in surprise.

Not only was Luna’s presence in the current world surprising, but the fact that she remembered the events from the Hero’s World was astonishing!

Perplexed, Lunia looked at Luna as she rested her chin thoughtfully.

“So? Aren’t you supposed to be my successor?”

“Wha… what does that mean?”

Lunia’s face turned red.

“I heard everything from Leo.”

Luuna chuckled teasingly, leaving Lunia at a loss.

Lunia truly wanted to follow in Luna’s footsteps. However, being named successor without Lunia’s knowledge made her uncomfortable.

‘Why did he have to say that?!’

As Lunia thought about Leo, Luna continued.

“With a successor like you, it’s reassuring.”

Lunia’s eyes widened.

“Do you not like the fact that I’m your successor?”

“Why wouldn’t I like it?”

“You don’t know much about me, do you?”

“Well, no, I don’t know much about you.”

Luna smiled faintly.

“But I can tell what kind of elf you are.”

“What?”

You can tell a person’s nature by observing their mana.

To Luna, Lunia appeared as a white flame.

“You’re a straightforward and talented child. That’s probably why you were able to perfect your fire magic.”

‘That’s more than enough,’ Luna thought to herself.

“It wasn’t something I accomplished alone, of course. Katariu’s help was also significant.”

“The d*mn chicken-head?”

“C, chicken-head?”

Luna’s use of such an unconventional term for the Phoenix King left Lunia speechless.

“I should’ve caught one and boiled it a long time ago.”

Lunia stared blankly at Luna as she stuck her tongue out, then inadvertently burst out laughing.

“Huh? What is it?”

“Well… it’s nothing. Hmm… It’s just that both yesterday’s and today’s impressions of you are a bit different from what I imagined.”

“What do you imagine me to be? Or rather, what does this generation imagine me to be?”

“Beautiful, compassionate, and elegant… the epitome of a perfect elf.”

“You mean… like me?”

Luna said it sincerely.

Looking at such an unpretentious Luna, Lunia hesitated to answer, fearing a smack if she contradicted her.

‘Was this how Aron felt?’

Lunia thought of her beastman friend Aron, who was extremely timid but still respected her despite their contrasting personas.

‘After last night’s encounter with Lady Luna, I feel rather embarrassed for having been so surprised.’

Taking a deep breath, Lunia looked at Luna with clear eyes.

“Anyway, Lady Luna, what have you been doing this morning?”

“I’ve been creating magic.”

“Magic?”

“Yep! This world is incredible!”

Luna said excitedly.

“Magic has advanced so much compared to 5,000 years ago that it’s beyond comparison! It’s brimming with possibilities!”

Although normally Luna was known as an exchange student at Lumeran and was supposed to attend classes, today she decided to stay and focus on her magic research.

Hearing Luna’s words, Lunia perked up her ears and listened intently.

Impressed, they exchanged thoughts about magic.

As they enthusiastically discussed magic, time flew by, reaching well past noon.

Ordering lunch, Luna leaned back in her chair and smiled.

“Like Cloe, and also like you… your thoughts on magic are just remarkable!”

“I am so happy to hear you say that!”

“Verkiya kind of disliked studying, so discussions like this were difficult with her.”

As Luna hummed a little tune, Lunia blushed as she smiled shyly.

“You, Eiran, Chelsea, Cloe, Aron, and that Iliana girl too… watching all of you is truly delightful. You’re all destined for greatness in magic. Oh, though that Iliana is somewhat similar to Verkiya.”

Luna thought about all the promising young mages she’d met in this era.

She’d already exchanged many thoughts with the top students of the second year at Lumeran.

Meeting Lunia now made her even happier.

Lunia, who Leo described as her successor, possessed limitless potential.

Just by observing her, magical inspiration flowed.

“Ah… I don’t want to leave.”

At this, Lunia’s shoulders trembled slightly.

Then she opened her lips.

“Milady Luna.”

“Hmm?”

“Could you… possibly remain in this world longer?”

Luna’s eyes widened.

“Though it’s forward, umm… Lord Aron saved the world once more recently.”

The elimination of the pieces of Erebus.

The world’s long-desired triumph.

This brought the world one step closer to ultimate salvation.

And talking with Luna, Lunia firmly believed.

‘If Lady Luna stays… the history of magic will surely change once again.’

It wasn’t difficult for Lunia to notice that the magic Luna was creating was special, a unique magic.

With Luna’s knowledge combined with the current age’s knowledge, this magic was enough to make Lunia tremble in anticipation.

Instinctively, she realized that magic would advance immeasurably with Luna’s presence.

And…

‘I want to spend more time talking to Lady Luna.’

Luna seemed somewhat pitiful to Lunia.

Even as they conversed, Luna looked happily out the window at the peaceful scenery.

The hustling townsfolk and the busy streets.

Though it seemed like an ordinary day, Luna gazed at this scene and appeared genuinely delighted as if she’d discovered something wonderful.

Seeing this, Lunia realized.

‘She… has never truly enjoyed anything.’

Sacrificing everything to save the world, Luna never enjoyed anything.

Lunia, who had only ever seen Luna as a lofty figure through stories and history, now understood this.

Luna was human before being a great hero.

“Amazing…”

Luna smiled.

“People who learned my true identity would always revere me, but you’re the first to show pity.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No apologies needed. It means you truly understand me.”

Luna reached out and gently patted Lunia’s red hair.

“Thank you.”

With Luna’s soft touch, Lunia’s face turned red.

“I’m curious… what kind of hero will you grow into?”

“I want to become someone like you, Lady Luna.”

“Of course you should!”

Luna chuckled as she stood up.

“Alright, then let’s go out together, this big sister.”

“Out?”

“Yeah. We should enjoy the festival, shouldn’t we?”

Taking Lunia’s wrist and pulling her up, Luna marched confidently towards the door.

Just as Lunia burst into laughter following behind her…

“Halt.”

As soon as they left the inn and took a few steps down the alley, a group of elves blocked their way.

Seeing this, Luna tilted her head in confusion while Lunia frowned.

“The Pureblood Society.”

“The Pureblood Society? What’s that?”

“They’re Elven supremacists.”

“Elven supremacists…”

Hearing Lunia’s reply, Luna furrowed her brows.

“Like High Elves?”

*

“All elves from the Pureblood Society connected to us have been wiped out.”

Upon receiving Duke Artkan’s report, the Demon King rested his chin and exhaled.

“You’ve been searching for a long time. Looks like Berkiya took action.”

The Elven Pureblood Society.

A significant number of them connected to the Demon King had previously died or fallen due to Leo’s efforts.

However, it didn’t mean the link had been completely severed.

“Elves, their racial characteristics truly never change. And yet, it makes them predictable.”

5,000 years ago.

During the Era of Catastrophe, it was the Demon King’s scheme that brought down the massive Elven power effortlessly.

Elves, trapped in racial superiority, are mostly stubborn-minded.

Their arrogance in believing themselves to be the best had given them a firm faith that they could control everything.

Even if it was Tartarus’ hand cutting their throats.

Though all Pureblood Elves connected to the Demon King were killed, it didn’t create much of an impact for him.

He was confident that some Elves would reconnect with him sooner or later.

Duke Artkan bowed to the Demon King.

“I still don’t understand Lord Hel Kaiser’s intentions in reviving the Fairy Knight.”

The Fairy Knight, Berkiya.

She was the most powerful hero resurrected by the Demon King Hel Kaiser through his might.

However, even Duke Artkan, who had been close to the Demon King for a long time, found it difficult to grasp his true intentions this time.

Despite the Demon King’s power being enhanced by the might of Erebus, power has its limits.

And reviving Berkiya as an undead consumed an immense amount of it.

Yet, the resurrected undead Berkiya escaped the Demon King’s control.

“He could have used that power to awaken other Legion Commanders…”

“Perhaps waking old comrades might have offered immediate help.”

The Demon King responded calmly.

“But regretfully, Tartarus faced defeat under the hands of the Great Heroes during the Cataclysmic Era.”

At that time, the forces of Tartarus were dealt a devastating blow by the Great Heroes.

“The heroes they bring back to life would only serve as sacrifices for the Hero of Survival’s young followers.”

“But the Fairy Knight is a monstrous being stronger than the Heroes of the Cataclysm. If she turns her blade against Tartarus out of control…”

“That would indeed be unbearable. However, Berkiya will never turn her blade against Tartarus.”

“Why’s that? Teach me, for I am ignorant.”

“Because the hatred that consumed her wasn’t caused by us.”

The Demon King smirked.

“She’ll never tolerate the current world. In some ways, it’s even more twisted and grotesque than it was 5,000 years ago.”

Berkiya will absolutely refuse to tolerate such a world.

Countless forces will be destroyed under Berkiya’s rampage.

“But if she encounters the Hero of Survival…”

“His voice won’t reach her. The sins she’s committed will block her ears.”

Although Demon King Hel Kaiser couldn’t control Berkiya after resurrecting her,

Neither could anyone else.

A chaos that destroys everything.

That’s the current state of Berkiya.

“I’m curious. How will the Hero of Survival react if he sees his fallen disciple?”

The corners of the Demon King’s mouth twisted.

“And what expression would he have if he learned his disciples turned on each other?”