Chapter 565

565.

“Leo Flove?”

“Yeah.”

“But Leo Flove is a fellow student, right? Sure, he did ascend to the rank of Hero before you, but how does someone on an equal footing have the authority to evaluate your potential?”

“He’s more than qualified. And who said anything about being equals?”

From the moment Ar first met Leo, she sensed a fierce competitive spirit.

The instinct to battle against the strong was a natural trait of beastmen.

Ar couldn’t recall seeing a single beastman born without this instinct, except for one ironically – Aron.

‘It’s ironic that Lady Aron is the one all beastmen revere as the greatest warrior. Though she was unbelievably cowardly, that’s precisely why she possessed a courage greater than anyone else’s.’

Ar thought of another figure she admired.

‘Thinking of the Black Rabbit makes my heart skip a beat.’

It was a strange feeling – similar yet different from how she felt thinking about Lady Aron.

Though Ar still had that strong competitive spirit toward Leo, she no longer saw him as a rival.

‘At least, not the way I first did.’

Ar wasn’t foolish. She was all too aware of the gap between them.

“If I see Leo as someone I need to surpass, I’ll never be able to move forward.”

‘The person I need to defeat is her.’

Ar glanced at the red-haired elf standing beside her.

Lunia El Rundah – the rival Ar needed to overcome.

To Ar, Leo wasn’t competition. He was a goal.

“As a Hero… as a strong person… someone I need to catch up to. Yeah, like…”

An image of someone’s back came to Ar’s mind.

Someone whose back alone inspired awe and courage in her.

“Lady Aron.”

Ar didn’t know why, but her instincts whispered to her.

“Perhaps the Black Rabbit is on the same level as Lady Aron, at least to me.”

One day, they would stand side by side.

Until then – even on that day – Leo would remain the only leader Ar would ever truly recognize.

Riden was surprised by Ar’s words.

“What kind of person is Leo Flove?”

From what he could see, both Lunia and Ar were special.

Lunia had earned the title “The Chaser of Star Clouds” and ascended to the position of successor to the progenitor of star clouds.

“As for Ar Tune, she’s similar. Though she hasn’t received the title of Hero yet… she was once entrusted with the Braver by the current-world-descended warrior.”

It was only a matter of time before she proved herself as the successor to the warrior.

“To think they both recognize Leo Flove as their leader.”

Riden’s eyes sparkled with newfound interest.

“I must meet Leo Flove!”

“And what do you plan to do after meeting him?”

“I want to become his guide.”

“What?”

“Of course, my intention to become your guide hasn’t changed either.”

Riden smiled warmly.

“Throughout history, the greatest Heroes were always accompanied by their dragon partners. I may be lacking now, but I’ll do my best to become a suitable partner for you all.”

Lunia stared at him, looking bewildered.

“Does he really think he can be Leo’s guide?”

Not even Melina, the current Dragon Lord, nor Rodea, the Dragon of the Cataclysm, could fulfill that role.

Leo was guided by King of Wisdom, Lissinas.

“What would Leo’s expression be if he heard this?”

“What a troublesome guy. What should I do?”

Ar murmured quietly into Lunia’s ear.

“If his wish is to meet Leo, we might as well grant it.”

Lunia rolled her eyes.

“He’ll figure out to back off once they meet.”

*

In the audience chamber of the Dragon Lord.

Melina gazed upward at the magnificent depiction of the black dragon painted on the ceiling.

The pride and glory of all dragons – the great dragon hero, King of Wisdom Lissinas.

With her eyes closed, Melina clasped her hands in prayer.

“Great King of Wisdom, your comrade and co-savior of the world, the Hero of Beginning, is about to embark on a difficult path once more. Please watch over him as his guide and grant me the strength to assist in his journey.”

Though she knew these prayers were meaningless.

There was no way her words could reach Lissinas, who had long passed away, and even if they could, no power would come from it.

This was merely a daily ritual she had continued for the past hundred years to steady herself.

Melina’s hands trembled as she thought about the events to come.

“A great battle crucial to the world’s survival is about to begin, and our battle against Erebus is unavoidable.”

Unbeknownst to her, her lips clenched tightly.

A hundred years ago, Melina, alongside the heroes she had chosen, attempted to conquer the final chapter of the world’s upheaval. The outcome was tragic.

Only one survived that mission, limping home with severe injuries. Even he passed away not long after.

The ones who perished during the final chapter left no final words.

The only reason Melina returned unscathed was by what could only be described as a miracle.

“Sorry, Melina. It’s because of our insufficiencies that we leave you with such a heavy burden. But… we trust you’ll take on the challenge once more and defeat the great evil.”

That was the last statement from the elven swordsman, Rudvi.

Melina tightened her fists.

“Rudvi, Hallock, Dermen, Tiel… none of you were insufficient. It was my arrogance that was the problem.”

An elven swordsman, a dwarf warrior, a beastman magician, and a human spirit master – these were the heroes who dominated the era a hundred years ago and were among the greatest heroes after the rebirth of calamity.

But before they could fully realize their potential, they had no choice but to close their eyes.

“Because of me…”

Melina had been extraordinary since her early days.

Revered as the reincarnation of Rodea, her talents were unmatched. But those same talents bred arrogance within her, and in the end, cost her the lives of her closest friends.

That’s why she became silent – now called the Silent Dragon.

Being Silent Dragon wasn’t originally her title.

Rather, it was more of a derogatory term for a dragon lord who had accomplished nothing in a hundred years despite holding the prestigious position.

Understanding it was her responsibility to prevent history from repeating itself, Melina willingly embraced the title.

The devastating defeat a hundred years ago continued to haunt Melina’s memories, reminding her of her fear of Erebus.

Even in the battle against the third fragment of Erebus’s revival, though they succeeded in extermination, it wasn’t because of her efforts.

“It was only possible because of Lord Leo and Lady Aron.”

Erebus remained a terror that made Melina quake.

“Still, I can’t keep being held captive by past failures.”

Melina clenched her teeth, holding back trembling hands.

“It’s a promise to everyone.”

To atone for the deaths of her friends caused by her negligence.

“I must defeat Erebus with everything I have.”

Knock, knock.

The sound of a gentle knock drew Melina out of her reverie. In an instant, she regained her composure as Dragon Lord and took her seat.

“Enter.”

The one who entered was a golden-haired girl with golden eyes, Enkinias.

She, Melina’s successor, was also the dragon who had been assisting Leo since the summer vacation.

She had returned briefly to Dragonia with Leo’s arrival.

“En, what brings you here at this hour?”

While smiling gently, Melina noticed the young one bow her head.

“The students from Wisdom seem to have made contact with the visiting Hero Candidates this time.”

Wisdom.

Founded by dragons post the Era of Catastrophe to carry on the legacy of King of Wisdom Lissinas.

Just as the world-renowned heroes mostly graduated from Hero Academy, the dragons who led those heroes were all from Wisdom.

Even the legendary Dragon of the Cataclysm Rodea, and Melina herself, were taught at Wisdom.

“For the students of Wisdom, it’s a good opportunity. It’s not easy for students to meet Hero Candidates while still in school.”

Guides choose and lead Heroes to achieve great deeds.

Partners to the Heroes who show them the way.

This meeting would undoubtedly prove a valuable learning experience for Wisdom’s students.

Melina noticed the worry on Enkinias’s face as she smiled gently and cocked her head.

“Is something troubling you?”

“Ah, yes. The students from Wisdom who met the candidates are very talented. But the more talented they are, the stronger their pride, and emotionally, they are still quite immature.”

“Aaah, I understand now.”

Dragons are the strongest race.

Thus, their racial pride is strong.

“Put simply, we possess great pride, or to be blunt, arrogance. Much like the old me.”

“Did you say old me? That’s a memory I’d rather forget.”

“You too, En.”

“Impossible to imagine.”

“Everyone is. Dragons who are unaware of the world tend to be arrogantly proud, but that also means they become humble once they understand the world.”

Melina knew.

And that humility was the greatest virtue of Lissinas.

“During the Era of Gods, dragons were even more noble and prestigious than today.”

The honor of being agents of the gods themselves.

It turned dragons arrogant.

“At that time, kingdoms had fallen merely for offending dragons.”

Even among them, Lissinas stood out.

Calling himself a fool in a world that mocked him as such, Lissinas continually preached hope and held himself humbly.

He kept smiling and extended his hand to the Hero of Beginning who mocked and spurned him, until the very end.

That virtue saved the world.

“A guide isn’t simply a leader of Heroes.”

Melina stated firmly.

“Of course, there are times when the guide must stand ahead and give orders.”

Just like how King of Wisdom Lissinas and the Dragon of the Cataclysm Rodea led the Great Heroes and Heroes of the Cataclysm.

“But they cannot always stand high above. They should know how to serve the Hero from the lowest position, when to lead from the front, follow from behind, and always be there to support and prevent the Hero from falling.”

“That sounds incredibly difficult.”

“Yes, it’s very challenging and exhausting. But keep in mind, during the Era of Gods, our ancestors simply reigned as guardians, which led to the world’s crises.”

Believing only in their own supreme power, they failed to see the potential in other races.

They simply reigned, issuing orders.

The arrival of the Era of Catastrophe was certainly the fault of the entire world.

All races failed to unite or resolve their conflicts, walking the path to their own destruction.

“Lissinas believed we were born strong to fulfill our role in protecting the world.”

He made that the pride and creed of his race.

“Because of Lissinas, I didn’t give up until the very end.”

Recalling the words Leo had once said, Melina smiled faintly.

“Remember, that’s what leadership is.”

“Yes. But even so, can we really allow the Wisdom students to be disrespectful to Lord Leo?”

“That experience will be good for them. Even if it gets a bit rough.”

Enkinias sighed deeply, having learned the truth about Leo from Melina before changing the topic.

“Still, it’s strange, isn’t it?”

“Hmm?”

“Didn’t Lord Lissinas both command and serve Lord Kyle, lead him, follow him, and support him?”

“Yes. And Lord Kyle probably treated Lord Lissinas similarly.”

“Such an ideal relationship… almost like a married couple.”

“I’ve never thought about it that way, but you’re right. Although, it obviously never happened that way.”

Melina gave a faintly wistful smile, and Enkinias nodded.

“Lord Kyle has Lady Luna, after all.”

The tales of Great Heroes are among the world’s most famous and popular stories.

Even thousands of years later, the flood of fairy tales and novels about the Great Heroes continues.

Popularity transcending time, space, and race.

Recently, the world’s attention is focused on the relationship between Kyle and Luna.

It was a shocking declaration made by the founder of the Star Cloud when she descended into the current world, loudly proclaiming her love for Kyle in public – an unprecedented event in history.

Consequently, novels based on the relationship between Kyle and Luna have been pouring out.

“Both Lord Lissinas and Lord Kyle seemed to fit very well, but since Lady Luna is in a romantic relationship with him…”

“Did you ever inquire about it?”

“I didn’t dare ask out of fear it might be difficult for you.”

Melina chuckled wryly.

The world now took it as a given fact that they were in a romantic relationship due to Lady Luna’s bold declaration of affection.

Even Melina, who had never heard of any stories about Lissinas or Luna from Leo, believed it to be the case.

“Could you ask about Lady Luna the next time you see her?”

Enkinias looked at Melina with sparkling eyes, her face bright with anticipation.

Melina hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.

“I’ll casually bring it up. For now, let’s go meet the Wisdom students.”

“You said meeting the Hero Candidates would be a good experience. Are you planning to mediate?”

“Yes. A good experience is good, but we don’t want it to become a trauma.”

“Ah.”

Enkinias nodded and followed behind Melina.