Chapter 598

598.

“LeWalyn?!”

“Absolutely unacceptable!”

“How can the bloodline of Zerdinger mix with the detestable LeWalyns!”

Reina’s statement caused the Elder Council to react with near convulsions.

LeWalyn.

The premier magical hero family in Rodren and one of the two great pillars along with Zerdinger that holds up the empire.

Knights and wizards have been competing ever since the history of aura and magic began.

Thus, naturally, for the centuries the two great pillars of Rodren, Zerdinger and LeWalyn, came to be like water and oil to each other.

‘Now that I think of it, didn’t Abad mention something? He said that Celia and Chelsea get along well.’

Though the two are quick to growl at each other, for Zerdinger and LeWalyn’s direct lineages, it’s said that they get along.

Same went for Celia and Abad.

‘Hmm, they’ve been working together since the entrance exam, breaking through the barriers together.’

Among their peers, people didn’t see them as rivals but rather as partners who had each other’s backs.

‘Besides, most of the LeWalyn people I’ve met have been friendly towards me.’

Because of this, Leo never fully understood the Zerdinger-LeWalyn relationship tension and merely thought it was a case of strong rival consciousness.

‘But considering the reaction of the Elder Council, that doesn’t seem to be the case.’

Leo didn’t know it, but especially the collateral branches between the families didn’t get along.

For the direct lineages, their clashes were more about honor—deciding who was the supreme hero family of the Rodren Empire.

But among the collaterals, disputes often arose concerning their vested interests.

A collateral branch of the Zerdinger family cannot simply maintain their standing simply by their bloodline.

They must prove their worth as a knight to even achieve collateral status.

Once recognized as a collateral branch, there are many benefits.

Thus the collateral branches strive to increase their strength in order to maintain their status.

In this process, they often clash with similar branches of the LeWalyn family.

Conflicts between the collateral branches of Zerdinger and LeWalyn are so disruptive that they could potentially destabilize the very foundation of the Rodren Empire. This is why disagreements between the direct lineages never happen.

Still, even when the two families mediate disputes during heightened conflicts, they cannot help but clash frequently.

‘By the way, I think about twenty years ago there was a big clash between the collateral branches of Zerdinger and LeWalyn, right?’

In this process, some collateral branches even saw their fortunes decline.

There are still members among the elder knights of the Council who fought against LeWalyn’s wizards back then.

While Leo was deep in thought watching the uproar unfold in the Elder Council,

“Reina Zerdinger! Are you going to abandon the family just for your greed and become an enemy of Zerdinger?”

Eggerson bellowed furiously.

Upon hearing this, Reina, who had been smiling cheerfully till now, her expression drastically changed.

“Watch your words. I’m not Reina Zerdinger but Reina Flob. And do you think I am doing this for my personal greed?”

“What?”

“How can those elders who lead Zerdinger be less aware of global affairs than an old retiree like myself?”

Flashing fiery red eyes, Reina’s commanding presence made the Elder Knights shiver.

The retired knight, who had lost his aura long ago, now commanding a presence akin to a hero or someone with comparable power.

Goooo—

‘The surrounding mana is reacting to it?’

Leo also watched Reina in astonishment.

The will of the knight who lost his aura caused the surrounding mana to react.

As a result, the temperature around dramatically rose, and it was hard to believe that this was a knight who had lost his aura.

“Enough.”

Until now, Regas who had been observing the situation spoke.

“Reina. Though you may have estranged yourself from the family, I don’t believe you’ve forgotten Zerdinger.”

“……”

“I hope you will freely share your opinion for the family’s sake.”

At this, Reina subsided her energy and said,

“The current era is in turmoil as Tartarus moves, and great heroes are reappearing in this world.”

Reina looked at Leo.

“In such an era, the one who possesses abilities like the Hero of Beginning is this fellow right here, Leo. Don’t you have any idea what this means, Elders? As an individual hero, Leo is already on par with carrying the era.”

Heroes considered to bear an era are not many even in the lengthy Era of Heroes.

It’s only a matter of time before Leo stands shoulder-to-shoulder with such figures.

The Council cannot claim ignorance of this fact.

But they willfully avoided it.

“Great heroes leave immortal names, just like the Hero of the Cataclysm. As a hero family, Zerdinger should recognize this boy’s value and provide him with means to fully explore his potential. If so, the family’s reputation will only soar.”

“Cough!”

“Cough!”

At Reina’s words, the Elder Knights showed signs of discomfort.

‘If that happens, the family’s reputation will indeed rise.’

‘But isn’t this the end of it?’

Rodren already holds the majority of the western continent as an enormous empire.

Zerdinger commands no insignificant influence within the empire.

The fame obtained through Leo may only add more renown.

If Rodren doesn’t pursue expansionistic policies, Zerdinger might not gain any tangible benefits.

‘Moreover, it isn’t as if the direct lineage won’t continue to hog everything.’

As Leo observed the Elders covertly exchanging glances, he couldn’t help but scoff.

‘The more you have, the more you’re inclined to turn a blind eye to external crises.’

In the Age of Gods,

Numerous royal families and nobles ignored the world’s calamity until they faced the end, because the cost to counteract it was too great for them to bear.

By the time those who possessed the power to confront the world’s calamity realized its severity, it was already too late.

‘These people are no different.’

The Elder Council doesn’t understand the current times’ grave dangers.

Great heroes have reappeared, and the Demon Queen, who had threatened the world for thousands of years, has been defeated.

All over the world, the Catastrophe Flame arises, and the Piece of Erebus has been resurrected.

These were a series of major events—had Leo not existed, the world’s fate would be uncertain.

But the majority of people fail to comprehend the seriousness of the situation.

Because, without their knowing, the crisis has passed.

‘Furthermore, now even the gods who were thought to have disappeared have reappeared.’

To those directly involved in fighting Erebus, it was a terrifying crisis.

However, to those who’d only heard of it as stories in peaceful places, it might even seem like a hopeful miracle.

‘Even after the Era of Heroes began, the world has faced multiple crises, not just the Rebirth of Catastrophe.’

There were countless times when the world faced great chaos due to Tartarus’s actions.

Every time, great heroes saved the world.

Perhaps it would end in a similar manner as the close of the Age of Gods.

‘Those who cling to power might see this current set of events not as harbingers of crises but as an end to disasters.’

“Leo Flob is undoubtedly remarkable, something we are aware of. But calling this a chaotic era is an exaggerated thought.”

Said Eggerson.

“Reina Flob, calm yourself. Though what Leo Flob is receiving this time may seem little, don’t take offence. If Leo Flob chooses to dedicate himself to the Zerdinger family, naturally, he will enjoy many privileges.”

“That’s right, Reina. We’re not discriminating against you and your son. We’re not the same bloodline, after all.”

“If the lineage of Zerdinger falls into LeWalyn, people blinded by greed might turn their backs on our family.”

“Moreover, the ability of the Omega Class is property of Zerdinger. To allow the bl**d of any one who inherits it to flow outside is a great loss.”

The elders turned to persuading Leo and Reina.

“It’s not good to bestow excessively large territories on a juvenile figure. It will be no trouble even if he receives territory after graduation at his young age.”

At this statement, Reina exhibited an expression of irritation.

“Who knows when a calamity could strike the world, and yet are you elders putting your family’s interests before that of the world?”

“Your talk of calamity is but a mere thought. Even if calamity hits, getting overly worked up now would be a wasteful use of power. Once the crisis arises, we can handle it by uniting with other hero families as we usually do.”

“When the crisis hits, what will you do about those who d*e? Aren’t we a knight family before a hero family? Aren’t we the ones who protect the weak?”

“Reina Flob.”

Eggerson grinned.

“Are you still clinging on to dreams after losing your aura because of such idealistic talk?”

Kuukk…

Reina tightened her grip with effort.

Observing her, Regas opened his mouth.

“The situation is too heated, so I suggest we interrupt the meeting briefly.”

At this, the Elder Knights looked at Regas, nodded their heads, and exited the Elder Corridor.

“Leo.”

“Yes.”

“Marry Chelsea.”

“Isn’t it best to hear Chelsea’s and LeWalyn’s opinion as well?”

Coolly answering, Leo helped Reina to sit on a chair at the same time.

As Reina raised her hand to cover her mouth,

“Uggh—Uggh—”

She began to violently cough.

Leo sent his mana flowing to Reina.

Shortly afterward, once Reina had somewhat calmed down, she uncovered her mouth.

“Pushed myself too hard.”

The price of using that energy was great.

Looking at the bl**d-soaked hand with a bitter smile, Reina wiped the bl**d with a handkerchief Leo pulled out for her.

“Our son is indeed filial.”

As Reina patted Leo’s head, Regas approached them.

“Truly remarkable, it’s as if I’m seeing the past you.”

“The younger self would have probably already drawn his sword.”

Reina’s response made Regas bitterly smile.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of help.”

“That’s the job of the Chief Elder, isn’t it?”

The Chief Elder is such a position.

Thoroughly neutral, acting as an arbitrator in resolving family disputes.

The Chief Elder holds an absolute authority to punish those who err.

But this authority is unusable in regular circumstances.

Because it can only judge those who have truly committed a crime, regardless of their status.

A crucial role in such a powerful family as Zerdinger.

“I’m proud to have a father like you.”

Strategic marriage in powerful families is an obligation.

An obligation of those who enjoy many privileges under the Zerdinger name.

A knight might be exempt from such obligations but Reina was not a knight and thus bound to them.

But Reina went against the family’s wishes and was thus expelled as a consequence.

Back then Regas must have wanted to protect her.

Regas certainly had the power to protect her.

But Regas chose to uphold the law of his household.

He might seem like a cold-blooded man to some, choosing the family over his daughter.

But Reina knows.

When she left the family, no one cried more bl**d tears than Regas.

“Father has sacrificed himself for the sake of the family?”

“…”

“I’m proud of a father like you.”

At this Regas bitterly smiled and said,

“Reina, I can’t tolerate sending Leo to the LeWalyn house. Don’t threaten the elders with that.”

“Are you speaking as Leo’s grandfather or as someone from the Zerdinger household?”

“Both.”

The calm expression of Regas suddenly twisted.

“How exactly does Zerdinger lack anything that it should send a direct branch member into another family’s home as a son-in-law? Are you making me commit filial impiety by telling me that I have to tell the witch that Zerdinger can’t manage its own house and had to send a direct member as a son-in-law? Instead, Chelsea should marry into our family!”

Recalling a past head from the same LeWalyn family as himself, Regas frowned in distaste.

“Well, if father convinces the Elder Council to give Leo a territory suitable for him.”

“That cannot be.”

“The way things are now, it seems LeWalyn will even send a direct member as a daughter to the Zerdinger direct lineage that has nothing to offer.”

“It might be a disgrace for the family, even if the girl comes here.”

“What do you expect?”

“Because of that. Leo.”

Regas took out a small paper envelope from his robe.

“It’s the first and last gift from your grandfather.”

“Thank you.”

Leo received the paper envelope suspiciously.

“Though it’s problematic to separate the family’s territories, there’s no issue in handing down my private assets to my grandson.”

—