Chapter 143
Luna’s face flushed as she listened to Leo’s encouragement.
Maybe if it had come from someone else, words like that wouldn’t have reached her.
But Leo’s words resonated clearly with Luna.
Even if history had become twisted, the bond they built before that remained.
Had it not been for Akint, who taught Luna magic and cared for her like a daughter, those words might have sounded empty.
‘Maybe I should thank the original owner of this body.’
Leo chuckled inwardly.
Luna’s eyes, once shadowed by darkness, began to shine like stars.
Her drooping ears perked up.
Color returned to her face as Luna smiled brightly.
“Right? You think so too, Professor!”
Luna, revived, straightened her chest with a confident expression.
‘To become someone who shines like the stars in the night sky.’
That was Luna’s catchphrase.
‘Everyone teased her for how childish it sounded.’
But Luna never felt ashamed.
She would proclaim it as if it were obvious.
And she really did become that way.
Leo burst out laughing as he watched Luna regain her confidence, her eyes sparkling like stars.
Whether in childhood or during the age of despair—
Luna was always Luna.
Ever the overconfident, spoiled young lady.
A beautiful elf who proclaimed herself the best—and truly was.
Thinking of his friend, who never hesitated to say she’d be a great mage, Leo couldn’t help but smile.
‘Yeah, this is the Luna I know.’
That slumped, defeated look—
Didn’t suit her at all.
If Arron’s back had guided Kyle,
Luna’s spell had pushed Kyle forward.
Recalling those distant, now nostalgic days, Leo stood up.
“Shall we go to the party, then?”
“Yes!”
Now, it was time to set everything right.
‘It’s certain that Tartarus is in the [Hero’s World].’
Leo clenched his fist.
‘That means there’s only one answer.’
From his previous life—
And forever unchanged—
‘Defeat them.’
—
The Elf King’s birthday was a holiday for the entire elf race.
On this night, all elves celebrated the king’s birth.
On this day, even acts normally considered sinful would be forgiven.
It was the only day elves, who prided themselves on their dignity, let everything go.
That didn’t change, even in the high elf city.
Everyone enjoyed a night of indulgence in the streets.
They believed that the darkness of night would conceal their sins.
But for those who didn’t know the reason, the elves’ behavior tonight was a marvel.
“Elves of old were really free-spirited,” Elena murmured, tilting her head as she watched from an alleyway.
Haddin frowned as he watched with her.
“They didn’t seem that way by day,” he said.
In the brief time Haddin had spent in this era, the elves seemed much more rigid and focused on etiquette than modern ones.
As the two talked, Merin hesitantly spoke up.
“Um… it’s because today is the Elf King’s birthday.”
“Hm?”
“Tonight, we’re given the freedom to do as we please. Or at least, that’s what I’ve heard.”
Even as a slave, Merin lived in Barharloon and had received basic etiquette and cultural education.
Hearing her, Elena nodded in understanding.
“Anyway, you said you saw Leo, right, Haddin?”
“Yeah. Looks like he’s in the body of a teacher named Akint.”
“A teacher, huh.”
Elena’s eyes narrowed.
For now, they had gotten out of Barharloon Academy.
The problem was what came next.
‘I defeated a demon while bringing Haddin out.’
For Elena and Haddin, it was just what had to be done—but not for the elves.
An intruder had committed murder within Barharloon—on the king’s birthday, no less.
They could see knights searching the crowds, a commotion rising.
‘They must be looking for us.’
Elena twirled the ends of her hair.
‘The age of gods…’
A distant age, barely preserved in historical records.
But it was known as the most peaceful era.
‘There aren’t any real threats here.’
Of all the elves in Barharloon, none had posed a threat to Elena or Haddin so far.
‘Well, it is an age of peace. They didn’t even have things like the [Hero Record] back then.’
Elena was strong even in reality, but in this era, she would have even fewer equals.
‘Still, I can’t be careless.’
There are always strong people in every era.
Especially in a city of this size, there might be someone even stronger than Elena.
‘And then there’s Tartarus.’
She had no way of knowing how long Tartarus had been infiltrating Barharloon.
But if they had come all the way to the underground prison to kill Haddin, then they must be deeply entrenched here.
‘No need to make the whole city our enemy. For now, we should quietly regroup with the others…’
Thinking that, Elena glanced deeper into the alley.
Haddin, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, straightened up.
Creeeak—kikikik—kikikikik—
A bizarre, metallic laughter echoed, like claws scraping iron.
“Merin.”
“Yes?”
“Could you close your eyes for a moment?”
Elena gave the elf girl a gentle smile.
At her words, Merin closed her eyes.
Fwoosh—!
A huge skeleton appeared behind Elena, swinging a jagged greatsword at her.
Clang—! Slice—!
Fwoooosh—!
With the sound of clashing metal, a silver arc of light flashed.
Haddin had drawn his sword and cleaved the skeleton in half.
Crumble—! Ssshhh—
The skeleton collapsed and turned to dust.
“Looks like there’s a necromancer,” Elena said, looking amused.
Crunch—crunch—!
Hee-hee! Kik!
Just then, a horde of undead surged from the alley.
“This city really is extreme,” Haddin said, narrowing his eyes and gathering [Aura].
“It’s so flashy on the outside, but so rotten inside.”
“Isn’t it? What an interesting city,” Elena replied with a faint smile.
No one would willingly come to such a filthy back alley.
That’s why Tartarus could run wild here.
“The way these undead found us so easily means they can track our location,” Elena said.
“Does that mean the whole city is in their grasp?” Haddin clicked his tongue.
There was no way they could shake their pursuers just by leaving the alley.
“In that case, there’s only one option,” Elena said, summoning her [Mana].
“Let’s take down the necromancer controlling this alley.”
“Are we not meeting up with Leo and Lunia? That could disrupt the mission.”
“You said Leo already met Luna, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s leave the rest of the world’s conquest to our juniors.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“No matter how talented he is, having a first-year clear the [Hero’s World] isn’t easy. Especially not Luna’s world. We can’t just hand it over to a first-year…”
“Leo is probably better than us. He’s already cleared another great hero’s world.”
“What?”
Haddin looked surprised.
“And… Leo is a bit different from the other hero candidates.”
“How so?”
“Hmm… it’s hard to explain.”
Elena bit her finger, thinking for a moment, then smiled.
“Leo is someone who makes the impossible possible.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he’s not just someone with the qualities of a hero.”
Just half a year.
That’s how long Leo has attended the [Hero Academy].
In that time, Leo has survived countless crises.
Everything he accomplished was nothing short of miraculous.
“Leo is—”
Elena smiled warmly.
“Someone born with the qualities of a great hero.”
—
World Tree Plaza.
Lavish decorations and luxurious food.
Expensive liquor.
A festival of gentle music.
It truly felt like a party for the chosen few.
Among it all, Princess Sergia sat on a lavish chair, taking deep breaths.
Countless elves came to greet the princess.
The protagonist of today’s party, the Elf King Ergen, had yet to appear.
So, naturally, Princess Sergia had to make the first impression.
As she exchanged greetings with many elves,
Eter, who was attending Sergia, looked at her with concern.
“Sergia, you haven’t looked well for a while now.”
“It’s nothing, Sir Eter. I just felt a little dizzy.”
Sergia—Lunia—forced a smile.
She still couldn’t shake what she’d seen in the audience chamber earlier.
Erebos, sunk in a deep sleep.
Just facing Erebos had terrified Lunia.
It was a miracle she hadn’t screamed.
If she had, and the monster had awakened…
Just imagining it was horrifying.
‘No… the truth is, I couldn’t even scream.’
Thinking of Erebos, Lunia’s hands trembled.
‘How… how could that thing be here? Is it just because this is the past? Then why can’t anyone else perceive it but me?’
A fake, inside the [Hero’s World].
Maybe it was just a coincidence she saw it.
She could think that—but Lunia didn’t believe it was a fake.
Her instincts as a living being told her.
That was real, just like herself.
Not a resident of this false world.
A true monster, like herself.
‘I’m scared.’
Without realizing it, Lunia hugged her own arms.
Eter’s face grew even more grim as he watched her.
“Princess, you really don’t look well. Perhaps you should rest…”
Eter tried to lead Lunia toward the World Tree.
“N-no, I’m fine, Sir Eter.”
Lunia shook her head desperately.
Her instincts as a living being rejected the idea of getting closer to Erebos.
For the first time, she truly felt the greatness of the heroes she had always admired.
How could they have faced that monster?
‘How did they defeat that thing?’
Was it even possible?
An unending fear engulfed Lunia.
She couldn’t pay attention to who she was greeting or speaking to.
She kept her eyes down, struggling to endure the terror.
Just confronting the primordial evil was enough to break her spirit.
While Lunia was fighting her endless fear, a pair of small feet entered her view.
A young girl’s feet.
“Um… I greet you, Princess.”
The owner of the feet knelt, bowing politely.
Her leaf-green hair was striking.
From her voice, she seemed to be about Lunia’s age—maybe even younger.
That young voice caught Lunia’s ear.
It was familiar.
Or rather, it sounded even younger than she remembered.
But she knew at once.
How could she forget?
In that moment,
The main character of the story she’d loved most, the one she admired and loved—
The voice of the great one she’d always wished to emulate, even if only at her heels.
How could she forget?
Lunia lifted her head.
And saw her.
A beautiful girl whose eyes shone like stars.
A Founder, about the same age as herself.
“My name is Luna Lubinence.”
The moment childhood admiration came to life before her eyes,
Lunia felt her fear fade away as if it were a lie.
—
‘…How could that detestable girl be here?’
Sid, vice principal of Barharloon, scowled as he watched Luna greet the princess.
That girl certainly hadn’t been invited.
So how was she here?
‘Is this the work of those rats?’
Sid’s unpleasant expression twisted into a grin.
‘Actually, this is perfect. A good chance to catch those rats…’
“You people never change. Hiding like rats, you’re really good at that, aren’t you?”
A voice from behind made Sid pause.
“What are you saying, Professor Akint?”
“Oh, going to play dumb? Tartarus.”
Leo gave him a cold smile.
“…How did you know?”
Sid turned around, his face icy.
Leo gave a small laugh as he looked at Sid.
“You might have fooled others, but once I know you’re here, you can’t hide the stench.”
“Stench?”
“Yeah. A stench so foul it could rot your nose right off.”
Leo’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.
“You’re going to pay for messing around in this world.”