Chapter 115
Leo stared blankly at Elci, who was clearing her throat and puffing herself up with pride.
He wondered if this really was the same shadow spirit, Elci, with whom he’d once made a contract.
‘She’s so different…’
“So, where’s Lysinas?” Elci asked, clasping her hands, her eyes sparkling.
“She’s on her way to Reysar right now,” Leo replied.
“Oh! Then I don’t need to go looking for her?”
“That’s right.”
“Thank goodness! I was thinking of visiting Lysinas today or tomorrow! Glad we won’t miss each other!”
At that, Elci started fixing her clothes and smoothing her hair like a job-seeker preparing for an interview.
Watching her, Leo asked, “Why do you want to contract with Lysinas? There are plenty of other famous people, aren’t there?”
“I heard she was chosen by the Spirit of Radiance.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s not all! I heard stories from the wind spirits! That they all defeated Legion Commander Jomungard! Isn’t that true?”
“It is.”
“See!!”
Elci spun around in place, then struck a pose with her hands on her hips.
“In an era like this, someone who defeats a legion commander and declares war on Erebos—doesn’t that make her the perfect contractor for me?”
‘She’s so different, I can’t get used to it.’
“Why do you want to save the world?”
“I was born during the Age of Calamity. That’s why I want to see the night sky filled with stars! I heard it’s so beautiful it’s blinding!”
Elci’s eyes sparkled with imagination.
During the [Age of Calamity], the night sky—filled with a creepy red moon—had no starlight.
‘I never knew that.’
Even though they were once contracted, Leo barely knew anything about Elci.
Whenever he tried to talk, Elci never answered.
‘Now that I think about it, she did show some interest whenever the night sky came up, before the Age of Calamity.’
For someone always silent, Elci would show interest whenever talk of the stars before the Age of Calamity came up.
“So! When will Lysinas arrive?”
“It’ll be a while.”
“Oh no…”
Elci looked deeply disappointed, so Leo asked one last serious question.
“One last thing I’m curious about. How long have you been here?”
“I’ve been here for ten years. Don’t tell Agon—it’s a secret, okay? The sword that devours darkness, Shatten, that’s me.”
She winked, revealing her true identity with a smile.
—
“Agon refused my request?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Lord of Reysar, Rodean’s hand trembled as he listened to the bowing Levaiathan.
“Agon! Why would my comrade refuse my plea!”
Rodean, a dwarf, could barely contain his rage, but it was a pitiful sight.
Dwarves, though small, were sturdy and each a formidable warrior.
While beastkin relied on wild strength, dwarves were skilled and experienced fighters.
But nothing about the frail, emaciated Rodean resembled a warrior now.
He, too, had once been a battlefield hero, celebrated for his achievements.
Because of those feats, the people of Reysar had made him their lord.
In chaotic times, it was only natural for a hero to take the throne.
But after seizing power, Rodean changed.
To be exact, he lost his will after the first campaign as lord.
He’d become lord ten years ago, when an unprecedented alliance of heroes was formed.
At that time, people thought the alliance would destroy Erebos and bring peace to the world.
‘But the result was a crushing defeat.’
Erebos’s power was terrifying, and many heroes died.
Even the survivors lost their will.
Rodean was among those heroes.
Terrified, he hid deep in the inner castle, focusing only on his own safety.
“He’s still caring about those orphans in the Cursed Land!” Levaiathan said.
“Foolish! Refusing the greater cause just to protect those worthless wretches!”
“He’s hopelessly trapped by his ideals,” Levaiathan said, bowing again.
“And right now, there’s a plague in the Cursed Land.”
“A plague?”
Rodean’s face went pale.
If a plague broke out among the crowds of refugees in Reysar, the whole city would be shaken.
And that would weaken the city’s defenses.
“Wh-what should I do, Levaiathan!”
“You must nip it in the bud before it spreads.”
Rodean took a deep breath, watching Levaiathan’s resolute face.
“If the plague spreads, the whole city is in danger. If we stop it beforehand, the people will thank us. Of course, it pains me to cut down helpless orphans, but…”
Levaiathan bit his lip, wearing a pained expression.
“It’s all for the greater good. The people will understand.”
“But Agon won’t sit still for this, will he?”
“Agon is your longtime friend. If you ask for advice about the future of Reysar, he can’t refuse to come to the castle.”
“Getting Agon away isn’t the problem! If we get rid of the orphans, Agon will go berserk!”
Even if he was old and past his prime, Agon was still considered one of the greatest heroes of his time.
If he turned his wrath on Reysar…
The whole city would suffer a devastating blow.
“As I said before, the greater cause lies with you, my lord.”
Levaiathan spoke without hesitation.
“Rumors of the plague are already spreading throughout the city. Stopping the plague is what the people want. No matter how foolish Agon might be, he won’t endanger a city full of people.”
Levaiathan smiled.
“After all, he’s still a ‘hero.’”
“R-right…”
“And if any trouble arises, I’ll take responsibility.”
Hearing Levaiathan’s firm promise, Rodean looked relieved.
“As always, I’ll trust your judgment!”
“A wise decision, my lord. And if all goes well, about Shatten…”
“You can have it. Who else but you, who cares so much for me, deserves such a mighty sword?”
“I’ll do my best to be worthy of your favor.”
Levaiathan bowed and left the lord’s chambers, wearing an expression of mock gratitude.
‘Once, a powerful warrior called a hero—now, nothing more than a feeble, corrupt loser.’
He sneered.
Levaiathan.
He was the true ruler of this city, manipulating Rodean from behind the scenes.
People in Reysar praised him as a hero.
He’d never once set foot on a battlefield, but people thought he’d saved the city many times.
The reason was simple.
Levaiathan was greedy for glory, with no qualities befitting a hero.
His so-called achievements were all exaggerated or fabricated, taking advantage of chaos.
‘Idiots. As long as you dangle hope before them, people will worship you.’
The plague rumor was the same.
‘I’ve been calling the southern tip the Cursed Land for ages.’
The southern edge of Reysar wasn’t cursed.
He didn’t know why it had changed, but it hadn’t caused any real problems.
It was just a scheme to thoroughly isolate Agon.
People forget quickly. Even if someone once risked their life to protect them, they’ll forget.
‘The plague rumor has spread far and wide. Now I have the justification and cause to sweep out that filthy place. Hehehe.’
He didn’t care if the plague was real or fake.
‘As long as I can ease their anxiety, no one will care. And they’ll praise me—of course they will! Levaiathan, the hero!’
Ambition sparkled in his eyes.
Save the world?
‘Who cares about impossible dreams. As long as I protect Reysar and live comfortably, that’s all that matters. Even in the Age of Calamity, with power, you can have everything!’
Levaiathan grinned.
‘The day I own this land isn’t far off!’
—
After talking with Elci, Leo left Reysar’s southern district to gather information.
He checked the rumors about the orphanage district in the streets and taverns.
“The cursed place? Ugh, it’s insane! A plague, they say!”
“What is the lord doing? If the plague spreads here, we’re doomed! He needs to do something!”
‘The city is already filled with rumors of a plague outbreak.’
Back at the orphanage, Leo grimaced, deep in thought.
‘Elci has been dwelling in Shatten since the sword broke ten years ago.’
She’d been waiting here for a hero to save the world.
Now, she planned to leave for Guardslone today to meet Lysinas.
Leo’s eyes landed on Elci as she took care of the other orphans in the clearing.
On the surface, she looked like an elf girl named Ria, and among the orphans, she was just like their big sister.
Elci smiled brightly as she cared for the children.
Seeing her, Leo remembered the Elci he’d meet a year later.
‘She was disillusioned with the world. And Agon…’
When he first met Agon, the man’s will was broken.
Lysinas had said he was filled with hatred.
Leo’s face hardened at the memory.
‘These children didn’t die of the plague.’
His fist clenched tightly.
‘Levaiathan, that bastard, killed them!’
Leo knew Levaiathan all too well, and could easily guess why he orchestrated all this.
He wanted Shatten for himself.
Levaiathan was always armed with countless weapons.
But for all his collection, he was a worthless fighter.
He only sought glory to stand above others.
And when things got dangerous, he’d betray his allies without hesitation.
He laughed at those who wanted to save the world and spat on their dreams.
‘He was eventually exposed as a collaborator with Tartarus and executed by the people.’
A fake hero.
A traitor.
Even as he died, Levaiathan screamed for mercy, insisting he was innocent.
Leo’s face twisted with disgust at the memory.
‘I never understood how that bastard became a lord in my previous life…’
Leo looked at the orphans.
To Arron, these children were like siblings.
He remembered how Arron hated himself for not being able to protect them because he was a coward.
At that moment, a murderous gleam flickered in Leo’s eyes.
“Black Rabbit, there you are. Help me with dinner.”
“Before that—where’s Mr. Agon?”
“Mr. Agon? Oh, the lord called him to the castle earlier.”
“What?”
The sun was already setting.
Clang—clang—clang—
Just then, the sound of metal scraping echoed.
Ar’s ears perked up, her eyes sharpening.
A moment later, the same knights from earlier appeared in the clearing.
The children started to tremble at the knights’ intimidating presence.
Elf girl Ria hurried forward.
“Sirs, Mr. Agon went to the lord’s castle a little while ago—”
“Filthy, plague-ridden brat, don’t come near us!”
One of the knights shouted and swung his sword at Ria.
Ria squeezed her eyes shut—
“You crazy?”
Ar said in a cold voice.
The knight’s face went pale at her force.
Leo caught Ria, who staggered back and almost fell.
He steadied her, then said,
“Don’t worry.”
“Huh?”
“We’ll protect you.”