Chapter 239
“My fault?”
Leo furrowed his brow.
“Don’t say ridiculous things.”
Fritz adjusted his glasses and narrowed his eyes.
His violet gaze locked onto Jane.
“Walking the path of a hero is a matter of personal will. So how is any of this Leo’s fault?”
Jane whipped her head to the side in response to Fritz’s cold tone.
“She must have a reason for saying that.”
Unbothered by Jane’s sharp tone, Leo began walking ahead.
“Either way, what matters now is bringing Chen Xia back to Lumene.”
“How?”
Jane clenched her teeth as she asked.
It seemed she agreed with the goal of bringing Chen Xia back, since she believed Chen was fit to be a hero.
At her question, Leo crossed his arms.
“First, we need to meet with her.”
“That won’t be easy.”
Jane’s shoulders slumped.
“Shan’s royals aren’t allowed to participate in public affairs. They must live entirely behind the shadows of the imperial palace.”
“I figured. Still, Chen Xia is technically still a Lumene student.”
Leo spoke calmly as he headed toward the warp gate.
“If we can’t meet her, we’ll just have to negotiate directly with the Emperor of Shan.”
Jane flinched.
“The Emperor?”
“Yeah.”
Leo patted his chest pocket.
“I’ve got the Principal’s letter.”
He grinned.
“They probably won’t ignore it.”
Leo stepped into the warp gate.
Fritz followed without hesitation.
After a moment of hesitation, Jane reluctantly stepped in as well.
The mages stationed at the gate gave them odd looks.
It was unusual to use the warp gate for a mission at this hour.
While it wasn’t entirely unheard of, the presence of Fritz and Jane—who looked like first-years—alongside a second-year like Leo naturally raised some questions.
‘On a mission already with the Student Council President?’
The gate operators looked on with curiosity but kept silent as they activated the warp gate.
Flash—!
With a bright burst of light, the three vanished.
—
The warp gate led Leo’s group to the outskirts of Shan’s capital, Xing.
Leo paused as he stepped out.
He took in the unique architectural style, distinctively characteristic of Shan.
The exotic structures gave him a strong sense of having entered another culture.
“It definitely feels like we’ve come to a different world.”
Hearing his mutter, Jane—who had exited the gate first and neatened her uniform—spoke.
“Welcome. This is Shan’s capital, Xing.”
Though slightly curt, she showed proper decorum, much like Fritz beside Leo.
Leo looked puzzled.
“You’re acting completely different from earlier.”
“From now on, I am not a Lumene student. I am a Shadow candidate of Shan, assigned to guide Hero Candidate Leo Plov.”
“Huh.”
Fritz narrowed his eyes.
“You talk big for someone who was mouthing off a moment ago.”
“Are you picking a fight?”
Jane glared at him sharply.
Fritz responded with a cold smirk.
“I’m the one assisting Leo.”
Leo shot a glance at Fritz.
Taller than Leo, Fritz offered a graceful bow with an elegant gesture.
“Leo, I will ensure you experience no inconvenience during this mission.”
Seeing Jane and Fritz instantly switch into competitive mode the moment they arrived in Shan, Leo looked to the sky and sighed.
‘So this is why the Principal stuck these two with me.’
Just as there are many kinds of heroes, there are different types of Shadows as well.
Shadows generally fall into three categories:
The Reapers, who track and eliminate traitors and Hero Killers.
The Guardians, who defend specific regions from Tartarus invasions.
And the Shadows, who stay close to heroes and protect them at all costs.
What sets the Shadow class apart is their willingness to die for their hero.
Reapers and Guardians are often scouted by hero candidates, but Shadows are usually trained from birth for that role.
Fritz and Jane were both Shadows.
Especially at Lumene—
Fritz, the Zeron family’s Shadow, and Jane, from the Shan Empire, harbored a subtle rivalry.
‘They’re both top-tier first-years. Probably the best among this year’s Shadow candidates.’
Shan is the most well-known nation for producing Shadows.
But Lumene’s Shadows—backed by access to the [Hero Record] and elite hero training—are no less exceptional.
In both skill and background, they were bound to compete.
‘The problem is, they’re competing in the wrong way—as Shadows.’
Leena had accepted them hoping to steer them toward the path of heroes.
But these two had no interest in that.
Leo didn’t care whether someone was a hero or a Shadow.
But seeing people who prioritized others’ lives over their own was… frustrating to him.
“Let me make this clear. Right now, you’re not Shadow candidates—you’re hero candidates.”
Fritz and Jane both turned to look at him.
“Our relationship is that of senior and juniors at school.”
“But Leo, I’ve lived my whole life to become a hero’s Shadow—”
“You think I need the protection of brats like you?”
“…!”
“…!”
At Leo’s dry remark, both Fritz and Jane widened their eyes.
“Hmph! Fine. If you’re going to say it like that, I’ll treat you like a proper senior.”
Jane snapped back with a huff.
Fritz placed a hand on his chest, closed his eyes, and trembled slightly.
Jane scoffed.
“What? Is your pride hurt because he ignored you—”
“Leo—no, Senior! I completely understand your noble intentions!”
“Huh?”
Jane blinked at Fritz’s inspired expression while Leo gave a face that said, ‘What now…’
“You’re telling us to push ourselves harder because we’re not worthy of being Shadows yet, right? Understood! I’ll strive until the day you recognize me!”
“You’re not even offended by that?!”
Jane yelled in disbelief, while Fritz looked genuinely confused.
“Why would I be offended?”
Watching Fritz throw off his cold image and blindly agree to everything he said, Leo looked at him with disbelief.
‘Seriously… when did he even start looking up to me like this?’
With a bewildered expression, Leo turned and exited the warp gate.
“How do we get to the imperial palace?”
“We can’t go there today.”
“Why not?”
“Xing is divided into four main districts.”
Jane began to explain.
Xing was one of the oldest cities in the world, and its size was immense.
“District 1, where the imperial palace is located, becomes off-limits after sunset. That rule applies to everyone—regardless of status.”
They had arrived in District 3, where the warp gate was located.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. For tonight, we’ll stay at a nearby inn and head to the palace first thing in the morning.”
At her words, Leo nodded.
“Lead the way.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jane took the lead toward a nearby inn.
Leo and Fritz followed behind.
As they walked, Leo observed the streets of exotic Xing.
Most people wore flowing garments and had distinctly foreign appearances.
There were some outsiders present for trade, but not many.
The locals stared curiously at the trio in their Lumene uniforms.
While they made their way through the crowd—
Step—!
Three people suddenly appeared in front of Jane.
Startled, she flinched and lowered her stance.
Swish—!
Seven more men appeared around Leo.
Fritz raised his right hand and clenched it.
Crack—
His knuckles cracked ominously.
Step—step—
One of the men, presumably the leader, stepped forward.
He gave a respectful bow to Leo.
“Leo Plov, I am the Captain of the Imperial Guard of Shan. By order of His Majesty the Emperor, we’ve come to escort you.”
Jane looked surprised.
Fritz stayed alert.
Leo asked,
“As far as I know, the school didn’t inform Shan we were coming.”
The man bowed deeper and replied,
“Leo, Shan is the nation of Shadows. Shadows are everywhere.”
At that brazen reply, Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘So they even know why I’m here.’
He smirked.
“No need to wait until tomorrow then.”
—
Splurt—!
Blood sprayed.
Step—step—
A man in pure white clothing swung a long sword.
“Shan’s Shadows are as persistent as ever.”
With black hair and black eyes, the man stepped carefully between the bodies at his feet and smiled.
Despite the pile of corpses, not a drop of blood stained his clothes.
“Pointlessly tenacious.”
Shaking his head, the man flicked his wrist.
Slash—!
“Guh?”
A shadow hiding in wait had their throat slit by a blade aura.
“You think that would work? I taught you those tricks myself.”
Grinning, the man came to a halt.
Squelch—
Standing on blood-soaked earth, he pulled out a black crystal orb.
Injecting mana into it—
Vwoooom—!
A pitch-black rift opened in the air.
Within it, a massive black eye gleamed.
[Is that you, Xian.]
“It’s been a while, Giant King.”
Xian bowed respectfully toward the eye.
[What do you want?]
“I heard something interesting from the Necromancer King. I came to confirm it.”
Xian stroked his chin.
“There’s an old sword passed down by the emperors of Shan.”
His eyes gleamed.
“They say it’s connected to the Hero of the Beginning.”
[That name brings back unpleasant memories.]
“Unpleasant? Just a few months ago, the Queen of Monsters was defeated by the Hero of the Beginning and the Founder of the Nebula.”
[The messengers who brought me that news all died before they could even say that name.]
The Giant King radiated intense displeasure, and Xian nodded.
“I see.”
[That old sword is indeed connected to the Hero of the Beginning. Why do you ask? Haven’t you severed all ties with Shan?]
“I have. I’ve no intention of going back.”
Xian smiled nonchalantly.
“But a relic of the Hero of the Beginning? That’s too tempting to ignore.”
[Tempting… So now you wish to inherit the Hero of the Beginning’s power?]
“Yes. I plan to use your kind to achieve that.”
[You’re insane.]
Hatred flared in the Giant King’s massive eye.
[No matter how foolish the gods may be, you will never be recorded in the [Hero Record].]
“What does that matter? I’ll become a great hero by my own hand.”
Xian grinned.
“I’ll wipe out every last one of you, and become a hero recognized by history. So don’t worry about that.”
Disgusted, the Giant King cut the connection.
Though he possessed monstrous size and brutal strength, the Giant King was cautious and calculating.
To him, Xian—who openly declared he’d betray the world and use Tartarus to become a hero—was nothing more than a mad dog.
But Xian didn’t care.
“Guess I’ll be seeing dear Father again soon.”