Chapter 119
Step—step—
Arron walked toward Talatunia.
Talatunia scowled sharply at the sight.
“Beastkin?”
The Spider Princess looked up at the sky as if something was odd.
“A beastkin who’s transformed? But it’s not even a full moon tonight.”
Wearing a puzzled expression, Talatunia sneered.
“A mutant?”
“Let that child go.”
“This one?”
Talatunia shook Elci, whom she had grabbed, and sneered.
“No.”
Arron lowered his stance as he looked at Talatunia.
“Why are there so many meddling beasts?”
Irritated, Talatunia stretched out her front leg to kill Arron.
She didn’t realize it.
That the beastkin before her was a hunter.
Tap—!
“Huh?”
Talatunia’s front leg, which had shot out to skewer Arron at terrifying speed, was caught.
Crack!
With a squeeze from Arron, the tip of her leg broke off.
Compared to Talatunia’s gigantic body, a broken leg tip wasn’t a serious injury.
But when Arron pulled, the Spider Princess’s huge body was dragged toward him.
“W-what?!”
Talatunia shrieked in disbelief and struggled, but having lost her balance, she collapsed at Arron’s feet.
Slam—!
Staring at the Spider Princess now at his feet, Arron clenched his fist.
Talatunia instinctively sensed something was very wrong.
Wham—!
Arron threw his punch.
A heavy sound cut through the air.
Whooooosh—!
Wind blasted in all directions.
Watching this, Ar crouched as low as possible to avoid being blown away.
When the wind died down, Ar looked up.
She saw Talatunia’s upper body, ripped away, twitching and convulsing.
Ar’s jaw dropped at the overwhelming power.
Elci, freed from Talatunia’s grip, also looked stunned.
“Who are you…?”
“You’re one of the orphans too, right? Are you okay?”
After Shatten broke, Elci had watched over Agon and Arron from the shadows for ten years.
But she only showed herself to the two after Arron left the orphanage and running it became difficult.
So Arron didn’t know who Elci was.
“I’ll deal with this demon quickly.”
“Who do you think you’re going to deal with? You insolent maggot! How dare you go after Sillatna’s daughter!”
Talatunia’s body, despite its upper half being destroyed, instantly regenerated.
As her flesh crawled back together, her face twisted into something hideous.
The composure from before was gone.
Baring her venomous fangs, Talatunia watched as Arron unleashed his [Aura].
Talatunia flinched.
Fwoosh—!
Arron vanished from her field of view.
Frantically, Talatunia searched her surroundings for Arron.
Whack—!
“Keugh?”
A cry of pain escaped Talatunia’s mouth.
Her body bent at a strange angle, sent flying into the air.
Arron had launched Talatunia with a kick.
“I’ll kill you!”
Suspended in the air, Talatunia’s voice was filled with murderous intent.
A chilling rune language echoed.
Her true power was [Black Magic].
Up until now, she’d been fighting physically just to toy with her opponent.
But Arron had no intention of letting her finish her spell.
Crack—
Arron flexed his fingers, claws sharpening.
Fwooooosh—!
A golden [Aura] condensed at his fingertips.
Talatunia’s face went white from the ominous force.
Slash—!
Arron’s claws tore through the air.
The space in the area twisted instantly.
“KyAAAAAAH!”
Golden streaks shot up to the sky and tore Talatunia apart in an instant.
Not a trace was left.
Ar trembled as she watched Talatunia vanish.
‘This is… Arron! The great hero who saved the world!’
—
“Huff! Huff! Damn it! Damn it!”
Levaiathan spat curses as he fled the southern region of Reysar.
He never imagined the woman who approached him six months ago could have been a demon.
‘I need to get back and make a plan—fast!’
Agon might have been forgotten among the people of Reysar, but he wasn’t erased from their memories.
He’d only gone into hiding for a while, but his reputation remained strong.
If Agon ever revealed that Levaiathan had colluded with demons, everything he’d built would collapse.
Colluding with demons was an unforgivable crime.
Shick—!
Suddenly, a chilling, sharp sound rang out.
“Just now…?”
Plop—!
Something wet hit the ground near Levaiathan’s ear.
He suddenly felt his right hand go numb.
“AAAAAAAH!”
Levaiathan clutched his wrist and screamed.
Blood sprayed from where his wrist had been, and his right hand was rolling on the ground.
“What a strange feeling.”
Still screaming, Levaiathan turned around.
Cold, emotionless red eyes stared back at him.
“It’s a weird feeling, finishing off a traitor from the past all over again.”
Leo shook blood from his sword and approached Levaiathan.
“You—you! Do you think you’ll get away with this?!”
“I think I will. Who’s going to help you here?”
“If you let me live, I’ll guarantee you fame and status!”
“Not interested. If the world ends, what does status or fame matter?”
There was a chill of killing intent in Leo’s voice.
Realizing there was no room for negotiation, Levaiathan screamed and tried to run.
“Anyone! Help! Please, help me!”
But there was no one.
Not even a single vagrant could be seen.
Thanks to the rumors about the cursed land, Levaiathan was completely isolated.
Slash—!
Levaiathan, shrieking in disgrace, lost his head in midair.
“Someone… save…”
The desperate words were cut off.
Thud—thump—
His headless body collapsed to the ground.
Leo sheathed his sword.
‘If I had known something like this happened back then… maybe more heroes would have helped us.’
With a complicated expression, Leo returned to the orphanage.
“Arron! Arron! I’ve admired you since I was little!”
“I—I’m not someone worth admiring! And hurry up and get that wound treated!”
Ar was running wild, unable to contain her excitement at meeting Arron.
Blood was pouring down her head as she rushed about, looking half-mad even to Leo.
How must it feel for the timid Arron?
“Ah, Kyle. You’re back.”
Elci approached as she watched.
“You alright?”
“I’m fine. More importantly, we defeated the Spider Princess!”
“That alone won’t kill her.”
Leo laughed wryly, remembering Arron’s slash from a distance.
Talatunia, who had swallowed the Fairy King’s ring, wouldn’t die that easily.
Even without the ring, a wound like that was something she could recover from.
There was a reason she was a monster who destroyed nations.
“Anyway, Kyle! How about recommending Arron to Lysinas? With that power, he’d be a huge help in saving the world!”
“You don’t have to say it—it’s going to happen anyway.”
“True, huh?”
Elci grinned.
“And I’ve changed my mind.”
“About what?”
“I want to make a contract with you, Kyle, instead of Lysinas.”
Elci smiled brightly, pointing at Leo.
“I like you.”
“I’m honored, but I don’t have the strength to contract with you now. And I’m not Kyle right now.”
“Huh?”
Elci looked confused for a moment, then nodded after thinking.
“I suppose so. Even as an All-Class, your power didn’t seem that strong.”
She’d thought Leo was Kyle because he had the [Jewel of Light] and was an All-Class, but he didn’t feel strong enough to be ‘Kyle the Surviving Hero.’
“Still, I want to contract with you.”
Elci smiled unconcernedly, taking Leo’s right hand.
“If it’s you, I’m sure you’ll be able to defeat Erebos. I want to bet on your future.”
Elci smiled and laid her hand on the back of Leo’s.
“Don’t worry about having the power to contract. I’m a shadow spirit. As long as there’s an item to act as a medium, I can inhabit your shadow and lend you strength.”
“A medium?”
“Yes. In your case, you have the [Jewel of Light], don’t you?”
It wasn’t a great power, but it was an heirloom of the great spirits of light, and contained a powerful affinity for spirits.
Elci laid her hand over Leo’s again.
“My name is the shadow spirit Elci. For the duration of this contract, I swear to be your sword and shield.”
A contract mark appeared on the back of Leo’s hand.
Leo looked at the familiar sign and smiled bitterly.
“I’m counting on you.”
The contract would end the moment the [Hero’s World] closed, but making a contract with Elci again filled him with strange emotion.
“Huff! Huff! Arron! I admire you! You’re amazing!”
“I said, let go!”
By then, the wild Ar was clinging to Arron’s leg.
Leo approached the two as Arron shrank away in fear.
Thwack—!
“Nyaa?!”
“He says no, you perverted cat.”
Leo slapped Ar on the head.
Blood was still flowing from the wound she got fighting Talatunia.
Ar, frozen like a broken cat, grabbed her head and rolled around on the ground.
“Owww! Why’d you hit my injury, you stupid rabbit!”
“You’re fine.”
“It really hurts!”
Tearing up, Ar yanked hard on Leo’s rabbit ears.
Just then, Agon could be seen running over in the distance.
He had sensed Arron’s [Aura] surging from the lord’s castle and came running instantly.
The moment Leo saw Agon:
[You have met Arron in Reysar.]
[You have rescued Agon, Guardian of the Firmament.]
The quest objective was complete.
—
Agon arrived, and the aftermath was handled.
Not that there was much to handle—mostly comforting frightened children and scolding Arron—but the incident really felt over.
Watching his disciple, Leo remembered old times as he noticed Agon’s face was a little brighter.
‘If all these children had died, Agon could never be called a hero again.’
How could you call someone who comes to hate the world a hero?
And yet, Agon had never said a word to stop Arron from leaving.
It was surely Agon’s way of hoping his disciple, who decided to save the world, wouldn’t break like he had.
If Agon had told him the truth back then, the hero Arron might never have existed.
Naturally, saving the world would have been impossible.
While Leo was lost in thought, Ar was absolutely elated.
“I cleared the [Hero’s World] before even enrolling in Azonia! And it was Arron’s world! This is a once-in-a-lifetime event for Azonia!”
“You’re still bleeding. Aren’t you going to treat your wound?”
“Black Rabbit! It’s all thanks to you! Let’s do our best in school together from now on! We’ll make Azonia the greatest hero academy ever!”
“Sure, do your best.”
“You’re joining too!”
Not knowing Leo was a student at The Human Hero Academy, Lumene, Ar pictured a future of going to school with him.
“I’ll give you the spot as grade representative, even though it stings. Right now, I think you’re better than me.”
Ar puffed out her chest.
“But don’t get too comfortable! I’ll take it back whenever I can.”
‘…This is getting more awkward. Should I just tell her now?’
Leo was still wondering when—
“I owe you.”
Agon approached.
“Did you scold Arron enough?”
“For now.”
“In that case! Arron!”
“G-go away!”
Ar lunged at Arron again, making him flinch and run away.
“…Did she hit her head a bit too hard?”
“She’s always like that. Just leave her.”
Leo clicked his tongue.
“Anyway, thank you. If it weren’t for you, this could have been a disaster.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Still, if there’s anything I can do to repay you, I’d like to. I don’t have much to give, but please take this.”
Agon handed Leo a book.
“This is…?”
“It’s my [Aura Technique].”
These days, it’s easy to find an [Aura Technique], but in the Age of Calamity, it was not.
“It’s also what Arron learned. Well, Arron made it his own and gained the power to transform freely.”
‘Is this the original [The Hero’s Breath]?’
Leo wanted to read it right away.
But—
Crack—
He saw a crack appear in the night sky.
Leo knew what it meant.
‘The world collapsing after the quest is completed.’
This world had served its purpose.
“Thank you.”
Leo tucked Agon’s book into his jacket.
It was time to say goodbye to his friend.
“I have to go now. If there’s anything you want to say, say it quickly.”
At Leo’s words, Ar flinched and looked up at the sky.
Then, with a regretful expression, she spoke to Arron.
“Arron.”
“Yeah?”
“Um… could you pat my head just once, to cheer me on?”
The girl who had admired the great hero since childhood made a small request.
Looking puzzled, Arron patted Ar on the head.
“Whatever’s ahead, hang in there. You can do it.”
Arron smiled gently as he removed his hand from Ar’s head.
Ar, touching her blood-soaked hair, mumbled to herself.
“I’m never washing this hair ever again. Hehehehe…”
Arron stared in fear as Ar started babbling nonsense again.
Leo sighed and used [Heal Magic].
The wound closed and the bleeding stopped.
“Oh! Thanks! Black Ra—”
Splaaash—!
Then, using a simple [Water Magic], Leo thoroughly washed Ar’s hair.
“You damn Black Rabbit!”
Ar, on the verge of tears, pulled hard on Leo’s rabbit ears.
“Arron! Please, just one more pat—”
“Arron.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s going to get much harder from here.”
Arron looked at Leo, unable to understand.
“There will be people you can’t save, and you’ll be crushed by hardship again and again.”
“What do you mean…?”
Hearing Leo’s words, Arron looked confused and Ar’s face turned solemn.
Ar remembered, too.
The boyish great hero before her was about to begin an unimaginably hard journey.
“Even so… you’ll do it. Because you’re braver than anyone.”
Arron looked at Leo in confusion.
“Why do you think I’m brave? I’m just a coward.”
Crack—
The world began to collapse.
“Because you saved the world.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
As Leo smiled at his friend, whose eyes widened in surprise, everything faded away.
In the empty black space, only Leo and Arron remained.
Watching his timid friend slowly disappear, the friend who had always given him courage, Leo spoke with determination.
“That’s why I’ll keep fighting, too.”
So he could finally defeat Erebos.
[Arron’s World. Chapter: Prologue—The Beginning has been cleared.]
[Quest Rewards: Arron’s Breath, Agon’s Book, Great Shadow Spirit Elci]