515. The Demon King’s Invasion of Lumeran
The world was shaken by the news that Tartarus had launched a large-scale invasion of Lumeran, following last year’s attack on Seirun.
It was truly an era of turmoil.
Since the end of the Era of Catastrophe, the world hadn’t seen this much chaos in 2,000 years, not since the Rebirth of Catastrophe.
“In a sense, our current era might be even more chaotic than the time of the Rebirth of Catastrophe,” Mel said as she taught her class.
“Even back then, the Pieces of Erebus that awakened and the Legion Commanders of Tartarus caused havoc.”
Click!
Mel snapped her fingers, and a map from the other side of the lecture hall flew towards the blackboard, unfolding as it stuck to it.
“This shows the direction of Tartarus’s advance at the time. As you all know, this was before the abilities of the ‘Hero Record’ had awakened, a time when our forces were very weak. The ones who changed that unfavorable situation were the Heroes of the Cataclysm.”
Toc-toc-toc. Mel walked to the center of the classroom.
“Our forces now are much stronger than they were back then. However, Tartarus’s current offensive is also fiercer than before.”
With a solemn voice, Mel continued speaking.
“The reappearance of Legion Commanders, the resurrection of the Pieces of Erebus. And…”
Mel took a deep breath.
“Also, those whose names were once recorded in the Hero Record are now rising as undead under the Demon King’s influence and have become our enemies.”
The sound of people swallowing nervously could be heard from various places in response to her words.
Presently, not only all the students but also every professor of Lumeran had gathered in the lecture hall to listen to Mel’s lecture.
“Now, here’s a question. Even in this chaotic situation, we still have hope. What is it?”
Mel smiled lightly to lighten the mood as she asked.
However, the classroom remained silent.
She widened her eyes at the response.
“Is there no one willing to answer?”
The students remained silent.
Seeing this reaction, Mel hesitated before asking the professors.
“How about any of the professors?”
Mel was a new professor at Lumeran this year.
Even though she treated the experienced professors of Lumeran as if they were students, no one complained.
It was already widely known that Mel’s true identity was that of the Dragon Lord.
No matter how esteemed a professor of Lumeran might be, none could recklessly approach the Dragon, the strongest existing force.
Snap!
At that moment, someone enthusiastically raised their hand.
“Yes~ Professor Ren.”
Among the many eccentric professors of Lumeran, Ren stood out as the top-ranking one.
“The discovery of new potential within the Hero Record,” Ren answered.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Mel responded with a bright smile.
“Of course. That’s because Professor Ren represents the Department of Magic, the best department at Lumeran,” Ren said smugly.
Watching Ren’s conceited expression, Assistant Professor Anna covered her face with both hands and bowed her head, while Alby sighed deeply.
Ren was treating Mel as he always did.
The reason was simple.
“Lo, Lordship. For the time I didn’t know…”
“Who said I was a Lord?”
“Huh?”
“Who said I was a Lord?”
“But… Professor Mel, you are Dragon Lord Melina…”
“I’m Professor Mel from the Lumeran Department of Magic.”
During the process of settling matters, when Lumeran’s professors had come to greet Mel, she cheerfully denied any such title.
She even went so far as to say,
“I’ll scold anyone who calls me Dragon Lord from now on.”
Although Mel’s definition of “scolding” was just a light tap on the head, due to the dragon’s position as the strongest existing power, it was an implicit threat that none at Lumeran could ignore.
“We stand at a crossroads in this current era. It’s indeed a tumultuous time.”
Mel spoke gravely.
“But if we overcome this crisis, we will surely be able to attain true peace.”
As the chaos began to settle, Mel felt the need to strengthen the Hero Candidates who would shoulder the future.
That’s why she prepared this special class.
“Believe in yourselves. Now is the time to move forward.”
“Yes!”
A week had passed since the Demon King’s aerial assault.
The Twilight Festival had to be cut short.
Miraculously, no one had died, but the damage inflicted on Rumelia City was severe.
Lumeran students voluntarily left school every day to participate in service activities for the reconstruction of Rumelia City.
“You know, it feels like I’ve become a construction worker,” Chelsea muttered as she used wind magic to levitate a giant rock.
“Helping people is something we as Hero Candidates should naturally do. Stop complaining,” Celia said.
“I’ve never complained! You just think I have because you’re narrow-minded. Ba-!”
“Chelsea!”
With her tongue stuck out at her long-time rival Celia, Chelsea responded childishly.
As Celia moved to lunge at Chelsea, Abad nearby interjected.
“Chelsea, your attitude is inappropriate, as Celia said.”
“Urgh! Yes, Brother. I’m sorry.”
“You need to apologize to Celia, not me.”
“Ugh… Sorry.”
At Abad’s words, Chelsea apologized.
Looking at Chelsea, Celia flicked her hair back and said,
“How long are you going to be under Abad’s control?”
Confused at Celia’s comment, Iliana, passing by, interjected,
“Something seems off…”
“What?”
“When did Celia start calling Abad by his name instead of ‘Butter’?”
“It’s weird?”
“It’s weird! You two! Are you secretly dating?!”
Iliana exclaimed, scandalized.
“Kya~ Look! Abad and Celia are secretly in love amid rival families! So exciting…!”
Before Iliana, hyped up by her own gossip, could go further, Celia immediately struck, sending Iliana falling to the ground clutching her side.
Watching this, Chloe sighed,
“Why do you do things that deserve a blow?”
“Lovers’ talk is interesting.”
Iliana, responding excitedly, suddenly stood up,
“In terms of romance, the champion has to be Lady Luna!”
Her excitement levels peaked, Iliana clenched her fists tightly.
“She confessed her love to Hero of Beginning Kyle in front of countless people! It was truly a historical moment!”
Iliana’s words left Chelsea perplexed, and she hurriedly turned her head to where Leo stood wordlessly gazing at the spot where Luna had vanished, atop the ruins.
Although Leo was somewhat far away, since Iliana’s voice was so loud, there was no doubt that he could hear her.
Leo’s companion, Kal, also appeared flustered and gestured to Chelsea in panic, silently yelling for her to stop Iliana.
“He wrote a new legend and confessed so impressively! It’s such a pity that Mr. Kyle didn’t hear her confession!”
Iliana said with disappointment.
“E-Eran. Now is the time for service activities rather than idle chatter,” Kal urged.
“Huh? But you were just excitedly discussing this topic with me moments ago,” Iliana countered.
“No, I wasn’t excitedly discussing it, I said it was very sad!”
“That’s what I meant. Anyway, it’s definitely a moment that will be remembered in history… Hey, what are you doing? Why are you grabbing my arms?!”
Suddenly, Chelsea and Chen Sia had grabbed Iliana by the arms, preventing her from moving.
Stunned by this unexpected situation, Iliana struggled.
“Eran, please silence Iliana.”
“Yeah, idle chatter during sacred service time? She deserves to be disciplined.”
Agreeing with Chen Sia, Chelsea chimed in.
“No! That’s going too far! And Chelsea, you were complaining just now…!”
“Buhuck-!”
“Huh?!”
Eiran swiftly delivered a precise strike to Iliana’s chest with a pressure point attack.
Iliana’s eyes nearly popped out in shock before trembling and collapsing, frothing at the mouth.
Seeing the dangerously unexpected attack by Eiran, Chelsea was taken aback,
“Eiran, we just wanted to gently silence her.”
“Huh, huh?”
“Iliana! Breathe. Breathe. Please breathe…”
“Iliana!”
“Nella, heal Iliana quickly!”
Chen Sia slapped the unconscious Iliana’s cheeks lightly, while Eiran cried out in alarm.
A crowd began to gather, wondering what had happened.
Watching them, Kal sighed exasperatedly.
‘What are they doing?’
For others, it might have been just another tale of the Great Hero’s legend.
But from Leo’s perspective, it was likely more of an emotional wound.
Neither Kal nor anyone else who knew about Leo’s circumstances could fully appreciate how deeply Leo was affected by the departure of Luna.
That’s why, to the best of their ability, they tried to prevent such stories about Luna from reaching Leo’s ears.
“They’re having fun.”
“Huh?”
While Kal was wondering about the scene, he heard Leo’s voice beside him.
Turning his head, Kal saw Leo smiling.
Seeing that smile, Kal asked cautiously,
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I’m used to it. Thank you for caring.”
The word “used” made Kal grimace.
‘That means he’s experienced things we can’t even imagine.’
Kal couldn’t fully comprehend the pain Leo must have felt, moving forward while leaving a cherished person behind.
“Just thinking about all the stories that come from that idiot’s actions makes my head ache.”
As Leo muttered irritably, Kal burst out laughing.
Seeing Kal laugh, Leo said,
“Kal, after we return to school, could you come with Chloe, Abad, Chelsea, Iliana, and me to Professor Ren’s office?”
“Huh? Sure, that’s easy. But why?”
“I think there’s a gift Luna left that we need to give.”
At Leo’s words, Kal’s eyes widened.
That evening.
As Leo walked towards Prof. Ren’s office, he was lost in thought.
“How did Berkiya become an undead?”
The words Luna left behind before departing had lingered, weighing heavily on Leo.
It wasn’t just a matter of bad taste or bad feelings.
It was sheer shock.
Thud… Thud…
As he walked down the hallway, Leo pulled out the dagger from his coat.
It was the dagger that had been placed at his tomb when Luna appeared as a spirit.
“I thought it belonged to Bihar.”
Bihar had always harbored darkness in his heart.
“But if Berkiya left this behind…”
It complicated things.
“Bihar clearly left behind Erquent as a memento.”
Erquent, the magical sword created for Luna by Dwenno.
Luna, in turn, passed it on to her apprentice, the Magician.
But during the final battle against Tartarus in the Tar Maita War – before the Great Heroes embarked on their final journey – Berkiya had lost Erquent.
And Bihar had promised Berkiya that he’d help retrieve the sword.
“I thought their paths simply didn’t cross after the Era of Catastrophe ended.”
After the era concluded…
Berkiya likely spent her time rebuilding the world.
Likewise, Bihar would have done the same, perhaps needing to stay hidden in the dark.
Even if they were comrades trained by the same master…
They may not have had a chance to meet.
When Bihar had finally retrieved Erquent, perhaps too much time had passed for them ever to meet again.
Or maybe Berkiya had passed away first?
Or perhaps Bihar, who was fated to live in darkness, had been unable to personally meet Berkiya because of personal circumstances.
Leo was certain that something had happened between the two students.
“But the fact that Berkiya had this…”
It meant that they had definitely met.
They might have exchanged items as symbols of their friendship, given to them by their master.
But…
“Berkiya turned into an undead. And she went out of her way to leave this at my grave.”
Leo gripped the dagger tightly.
“What happened 5000 years ago?”
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
