Chapter 506

506.

“What is this!”

Luna raised her voice, exasperated.

“Because of that pervert’s potion, we’re in this indecent situation!”

Completely n*ked, Luna, with her back pressed against another’s, had her face blushed all the way to her ears, clearly embarrassed, as she raised her voice.

“That’s the potion you asked me to make,” Leo retorted, leaving Luna speechless.

With nothing more to say, Luna hugged her knees and buried her head.

Because of the body heat transmitted from Leo’s back, it felt like her face was on fire.

‘This is too stimulating!’

Each time Leo moved, the contact between their skin evoked near-silent gasps that Luna struggled to suppress.

Her heart felt like it was about to break down, pounding like crazy.

Though they had fought countless battles together and had even saved the world till the end, they had never been in a situation like this.

The real culprit was none other than Dwenno.

Regardless of his character, his appearance was so beautiful that even goddesses would weep in envy, so Dwenno had wanted to use both Luna and Lissinas as models for his art. Naturally, this artistic vision included them as n*de models, making Dwenno undoubtedly a madman in some ways.

Both Lissinas and Luna had always been cautious about bathing or changing outdoors.

Moreover, although Luna was rough in words and actions, she had been educated as a High Elf and had dedicated her life to magic. She found it incredibly embarrassing to be in this situation with the person she liked.

“Don’t you dare turn around. If you do, I won’t leave you alone!”

“It won’t happen.”

At Leo’s nonchalant response, Luna snorted.

“I have a question.”

“What?”

When Leo asked, Luna replied snappishly.

“Why did you hide your feelings from me? Lissinas might have hidden her emotions for the greater good, but you didn’t seem like that.”

“Hmph.”

Luna tilted her head back, feeling oppressed.

She relaxed and leaned back against Leo.

By now, the sun had set, and it was deep into the night.

Runia, Eiran, and Chen Sia, alongside Kal, had gone to see the festival, thanks to an excuse made by Leo and Luna about having an important conversation.

The curtain was completely closed.

The dim light of the magic stone lantern cast shadows of the two sitting back-to-back.

Luna glanced at the shadow, noticing the silhouettes of herself and Leo sitting like that.

Leo was silently looking forward.

After a moment of observing him, Luna let out a soft chuckle.

“I even proposed to you, you know?”

“What? When?”

Surprisingly, Leo turned around unknowingly, startled.

Luna immediately struck his face with her elbow.

“I said don’t look!”

“Urgh!”

Watching Leo clutch his face, Luna gave a smug little laugh and puckered her lips, saying,

“I’ll be your future. If you can’t draw the future, I’ll be your unchanging dream. I’ll make sure our lives connect.”

“That was the proposal?”

“Yes, it was. You idiot. That was the proposal. That perv used to tell you, didn’t he? That you’re an idiot. Yes, that’s right.”

“When did you start having feelings for me?”

“Since then.”

To confess so suddenly upon liking someone certainly was very much like Luna.

‘Luna being Luna, I guess.’

As Leo chuckled to himself, Luna clenched her teeth and spoke.

“I made a vow then. I’ll never say ‘I like you’ again. And I definitely won’t show it. I’ll make you like me!”

“But you confessed when we were battling Zerdiaq and Silatuna.”

“That was a special situation. It doesn’t count.”

Watching Luna grind her teeth, Leo chuckled again.

Leo silently looked up at the ceiling.

An old inn, clean but marked by the passing of time.

Deep into the night.

The faint magic stone lantern flickered.

The scent of Luna was clear from their closeness.

Leo could feel the nervous movements of Luna’s tensed body.

As a brief silence enveloped them, Luna spoke.

“How did you feel when you first realized you had reincarnated?”

“I was bewildered. I woke up from a long sleep, and my body had become smaller.”

“And then?”

“Relieved that the world was still at peace 5000 years later. I thought, this time, I need to put an end to it.”

Leo looked down at his hands.

“Because it wasn’t a perfect peace.”

“Didn’t you ever think of just forgetting everything and enjoying life?”

“I did consider it. But I didn’t think you would.”

“No, I probably would have ignored the threats to the world if I had been reborn in this era.”

Luna’s hands tightened around her knees.

“This world feels like a dream.”

This era was the world that Luna had always dreamt of.

How enjoyable was this world?

Luna herself was hailed as the greatest mage in history.

The magic theories she had planted had evolved and branched out into countless disciplines and schools.

Magic theories had advanced in ways that even Luna herself could not have imagined.

Was there a world more worth studying for a wizard?

“Aron would be the same.”

Given her timid nature, she would have chosen a peaceful life.

“Dwenno too.”

Though he possessed a steel-like mental strength, Dwenno would nurture the world’s beauty.

“Lissinas…?”

Luna paused for a moment and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Lissinas would probably have tried to completely eradicate Erebus.”

“Exactly, that’s the kind of person she is. But…”

Agreeing with Luna, Leo added,

“You all would eventually have chosen to fight Erebus again, just like me.”

Luna, Aron, Dwenno.

They would all eventually have stood up to defend the world they had protected.

The peace which their friends had given everything to achieve.

“I would have thought, someone else will do it; I’ve done my part. But if I were that kind of person, I wouldn’t have started this difficult journey 5000 years ago.”

“Is that so?”

Luna laughed.

“Indeed, we’ve faced quite a lot of hardships.”

“Right.”

“Do you remember when Lissinas and Aron….”

They reminisced over old memories.

Long ago, now turned into cherished stories.

Their natural tension eased as they shared these memories.

“Ah… this feels great.”

Luna leaned back further against Leo and gazed at the ceiling.

“Come to think of it, is there anything you still want to do after saving the world?”

Luna changed the topic.

“I want to give you all the future you desired.”

“Hmm?”

“I want to find someone who will carry on your wishes and keep the future you dreamt possible.”

Leo grinned.

“I want my future to be your future. I want the stories of your lives to continue through mine.”

‘Ah… this guy really is something.’

Why was his messy personality so selfless?

‘That’s why Lissinas fell for Kyle.’

Understanding her friend’s feelings, Luna spoke,

“Close your eyes.”

At her words, Leo obediently shut them.

Standing up from her spot, Luna walked to Leo and leaned her back against his chest.

“I won’t forgive you if you try anything funny.”

“Doing that makes avoiding anything funny quite hard.”

As Leo spoke with an air of difficulty, Luna pressed herself harder against Leo’s chest and said,

“Let’s just stay like this today.”

Closing her eyes, Luna’s voice trembled as she spoke. Her heart raced, and though she felt so embarrassed, she wanted to feel more of Leo’s warmth.

Night deepened.

The peculiar time brought on by the mysterious drug flowed.

*

The next day.

Leo and Luna walked out into the streets.

“What’s the matter? Not going to school?”

Lunya, who had come along, asked while linking her arms.

To which Leo replied,

“I was tired.”

“You?”

With a suspicious glare, Lunya gave him a sidelong look.

Watching her, Leo gave a faint smile.

After observing Leo for a moment, Lunya spoke,

“Can I ask you for some advice?”

“About what?”

“Regarding Lady Luna.”

Watching Luna, who was enjoying the festival alone on the street, Leo spoke,

“What’s the matter?”

“A few days ago, the Pureblood Society disrespected Lady Luna.”

Lunya seemed troubled as she spoke.

“I’m worried she might be disappointed with this era because of that.”

It bothered Lunya deeply.

To this, Leo chuckled,

“I don’t think so.”

“Hmm?”

“You saw it too, didn’t you? The place where Luna grew up in the past.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Surely, she wouldn’t be disappointed by something as trivial as the Pureblood Society? She’d likely only see the brighter side.”

“True. Consulting you was a good idea.”

Lunya brushed aside her worries and smiled.

Then she squinted her eyes.

“Still, you seem to understand Lady Luna better than I do.”

“Shouldn’t I?”

“Nothing wrong with that, but I’ve been officially recognized as her heir.”

Lunya puffed her chest out proudly.

“I should understand her better.”

“But I’ve been recognized by Lady Seirun.”

“Urgh. It’s different though.”

Lunya seemed to want to understand Luna more deeply.

‘Since she’s someone Lunya admires.’

“You’re human and also an all-class type, so you’re Kyle’s heir.”

‘And I am Kyle.’

Just as Leo chuckled to Lunya’s words…

“Um! This square would look super cool if it were brimming with flowers!”

At this moment, Luna, clasping her arms, looked disappointed.

Seeing this, Lunya remarked,

“Shall we buy all the flowers from the city?”

True to her position as the heir to the prestigious Rune family of elves, Lunya possessed considerable wealth. If she wanted, she could gather all the flowers from the city.

“There won’t be any flowers elsewhere if you do that.”

Luna smiled as she glanced at Leo.

In response, Leo put on a bland expression and unfolded his hand. Magic swirled, and flowers began to bloom in great abundance across the square.

Gasps of amazement erupted from everywhere.

Lunya stared open-mouthed at the sight, while Luna approached Leo with a wide smile.

Leo smirked, conjured a flower in his hand, and placed it in Luna’s hair.

“Doesn’t wearing a flower make you look pretty?”

“Having a flower in your hair makes you look strange.”

With Leo’s response, Luna giggled a little, then gave him a cool look and swung her fist. Leo, in a familiar manner, dodged it.

Seeing their playful banter, Lunya was somewhat surprised.

‘Even in the Hero’s World, they seem really close friends.’

She envied their bond.

Just as Lunya admired the pair with envy,

Saaa-!

A wind blew.

Both Leo and Luna paused.

With tense faces, they simultaneously turned their heads.

There, they saw a peculiar woman.

The transparent-haired and eyed woman exuded nothing. However, the flowers around where she stood began to wither.

“Long time no see, pure-hearted heroes.”

At the woman’s emotionless greeting, Leo frowned.

“Mirror Queen, Kinesh.”

The reappearance of the legion commander they had defeated 5000 years ago filled Leo with murderous intent.

Kinesh smiled at the sight of Leo.

“Shall we settle the unfinished business from 5000 years ago? Hero of Survival, Kyle.”