Chapter 240
Step—step—
Leo walked down the long corridor of Shan’s imperial palace.
Leading the way was the captain of the imperial guard, the same man who had greeted Leo moments ago.
“A Guardian.”
A Shadow who operates in the dark to defend against Tartarus’s invasions.
Of course, someone holding the title of imperial guard captain would naturally stand out too much for a typical Shadow.
But the man’s strength far exceeded what that title would suggest.
‘He’s as strong as the professors at Lumene.’
Most professors at Lumene are powerful enough to earn their place in the [Hero Record].
To think someone of that level would remain unnamed, serving quietly as the imperial guard captain—it was a testament to this being a true nation of Shadows.
Stop—
The captain came to a halt.
They had reached a massive door at the end of the hallway.
The door was pitch black.
So dark that it could be mistaken for a gaping hole.
“This is the place.”
As he spoke, the door slid open—swish.
Beyond it was pitch darkness.
A gloom so thick it made any living soul instinctively uneasy.
As even moonlight could not pierce the blackness, Fritz instinctively tensed in caution.
But Leo stepped forward without the slightest hesitation.
“Leo… no, Senior.”
Fritz looked alarmed.
Jane, too, stared in surprise.
Even they, trained Shadow candidates, felt a chilling fear at the darkness before them.
The captain watched Leo’s back with glowing eyes.
Fritz hurried to follow.
But the captain stretched out an arm to stop him.
“Only Leo Plov may have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”
At those words, Leo glanced back.
“I’ll be back.”
Step—step—
He vanished into the dark.
Thud—click!
The heavy door closed with a deep sound.
In the absolute pitch darkness, Leo’s steps did not falter.
His sharpened senses weren’t consumed by the dark—they only became keener.
Humans instinctively fear the dark.
But for Leo, who lived through the Age of Calamity, darkness wasn’t something to fear.
‘If anything, it feels familiar.’
Step—step—
His footsteps echoed through the silence.
Fwoosh—!
Suddenly, a flame lit beside him.
A candle had caught fire.
In the darkness, Leo’s red eyes gleamed.
Fwoosh—fwoosh—fwoosh—
One by one, the candles in the room ignited.
As the darkness faded, the room came into view.
It was overflowing with luxury.
Furniture adorned with gold and jewels.
Artworks of all types crammed throughout the space.
A chaotic mess with no sense of unity.
Even one side of the wall was lined with countless weapons.
At the center of the room—
Lying sideways on a massive bed, head propped up by his hand, was a handsome, broad-shouldered man.
Scratching his calf with one foot and fanning himself idly, the man in traditional red Shan robes fixed his dark eyes on Leo.
“You must be Leo Plov.”
“Are you the Emperor of Shan?”
“I am Shau, the 74th Emperor of Shan.”
Emotionless black eyes stared at Leo.
Their gaze alone carried a suffocating pressure.
Shau’s presence alone weighed down the very air.
Though not listed in the [Hero Record], he was said to rival any hero—except for the Sword Star.
“Come closer, won’t you?”
At his call, Leo approached.
When the distance narrowed to about three meters, Shau stroked his impressive beard and said,
“Handsome, and Student Council President of Lumene at such a young age… you must be quite popular. Tell me, you’ve already broken a few hearts, haven’t you?”
Leo answered flatly.
“Romantic relationships between students are prohibited at Lumene.”
Shau’s eyes widened.
“What nonsense is that?! A bunch of passionate young people cooped up together with no entanglements? Don’t lie to me!”
As Shau barked out his disbelief, Leo stared blankly back.
Anyone else would’ve looked stunned.
The man known as the Emperor of Shadows—his other title—was questioning a boy about romance.
Though he had never been officially recorded in the [Hero Record], he was recognized as one of the strongest living beings of his time.
A reclusive, near-mythical dark hero.
Feared, brutal, and commanding a terrifying charisma.
And here he was, asking a teenage boy about dating.
It was baffling.
But Leo didn’t so much as blink.
“You really haven’t dated anyone?”
“I’ve been focused on studying.”
“A boring model student, eh? Still, I suppose that earns you a passing grade.”
‘Passing what, exactly…’
Shau grinned meaningfully and waved his fan.
“Apologies for the awkward question. Being Emperor of Shan is a dull role.”
He said it casually.
“Guests rarely visit. Most are afraid of me.”
Stroking his chin, Shau gave a slight smile.
“That’s why it’s a great pleasure to have my daughter’s friend visit.”
He stared directly at Leo.
“So, you’ve come to take Xia back?”
“Yes.”
“She chose to become a Shadow of her own will. You intend to persuade her?”
“If that truly was her own decision, I wouldn’t interfere.”
Leo stared into Shau’s black eyes.
“But if she made that decision while burdened by things she shouldn’t have to carry, then I will bring her back.”
“And why go that far? You and Xia are just classmates, nothing more.”
“Because Chen Xia is one of the heroes who will become the cornerstone in defeating Tartarus.”
“There are countless hero candidates in the world. And even the greatest heroes in history never managed to destroy Tartarus.”
Shau sneered.
“And yet you speak of its destruction as if it’s certain. Isn’t that arrogance?”
“Not at all.”
Leo replied with a calm smile, causing Shau to narrow his eyes.
‘Now that I think about it, didn’t he once say he would completely annihilate Erebos?’
He had declared such an absurd goal in front of all his peers.
‘And now, just one year later, he’s Lumene’s Student Council President and the foremost hero candidate of his generation.’
Shau closed his eyes.
‘Some say reckless confidence is the privilege of the young… but in his case, it doesn’t feel reckless.’
“You’re trying to pull a child born in the shadows into the light?”
“Yes. So will you let me meet Chen Xia? If she refuses even after I try, I’ll step aside.”
“Then I have even less reason to let you see her.”
Leo’s eyes narrowed.
“If she hears you, she’ll choose the hero’s path without a doubt.”
Shau sighed and opened his eyes.
“She’s admired heroes since she was little.”
Shau stood.
“Leo Plov, I’ve seen many heroes from the darkness. They are, truly, extraordinary. Noble souls willing to sacrifice themselves for the world.”
Step—
He stepped down from the bed and walked up to Leo.
Leo looked up at Shau, who was at least a head and a half taller than him.
Swish—
The emperor extended a massive finger toward Leo.
“Now I understand. You are exceptionally special.”
His black eyes locked onto Leo.
“People say you’ll succeed Kalian… but in my view, that’s not quite right.”
His gaze sharpened.
“You might reach the level of the founders of the Hero Academy… perhaps even beyond. You may become a Great Hero.”
Leo said nothing as he looked up at him.
“That’s why I can’t let you meet Xia. To her, you’d be blinding. She’d lose her way.”
Thud—
Sitting back down on the bed, Shau continued.
“Heroes are heroes. Shadows are shadows. Do not cross that boundary.”
“You mean we live in different worlds?”
“Exactly.”
Shau gave a crooked grin.
“Chen Xia is destined to fulfill the long-cherished wish of Shan.”
“You mean to enter the [Hero Record] as a Shadow?”
“So you knew. Was it Leena who told you?”
“Is that really so important?”
“Of course.”
Shau chuckled.
“For our clan, being unacknowledged by the gods is practically a curse.”
Shadows have always been needed, in every age.
For thousands of years, Shan’s royal family lived as Shadows.
Not because they wanted recognition, but because someone had to do the work.
But perhaps, after so long without recognition, they began to desire it.
The acknowledgment of the gods.
“Isn’t there a way to walk away from that duty?”
“As a descendant of the proud Shadow King, Bihar, that’s not possible.”
“Bihar?”
Leo paused at the familiar name.
“Yes. A great Shadow who fought in the Age of Calamity… yet never recorded in history.”
‘That Bihar…?’
Leo was stunned to learn of Shan’s true origin.
“And besides, keeping Xia as a Shadow might be a good thing for your future too.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Xia will one day carry Shan on her back.”
Shau looked at Leo slyly.
“And the goal you aim to achieve—Shan’s secret ambition aligns with it. Xia will follow you as a Shadow. Shan itself will become yours.”
“What does Chen Xia following me have to do with the entire Shan Empire?”
“…Are you stupid?”
Shau gave Leo a flat stare.
“You seriously didn’t know Xia has feelings for you?”
“Huh, really?”
Leo tilted his head, genuinely surprised.
Shau’s face contorted further at Leo’s blank reaction.
“You knew and still act like that? Is my daughter really that unattractive?!”
“She’s a kid. How could I see her as a romantic interest?”
“She’s older than you.”
Leo shrugged.
What did it matter if she looked older?
‘She’s an old man on the inside.’
Seeing Leo’s indifferent expression, Shau clutched the back of his neck.
‘What kind of punk is this…?’
He couldn’t support his daughter’s dream because she bore the burden of their legacy.
But that didn’t mean he didn’t love her.
She was more precious to him than anything.
And this was the response he got?
“In any case, please let me meet Chen Xia.”
“I refuse.”
Shau looked directly at Leo.
“While you’re in Shan, you’ll be treated as an honored guest. But you will not see Xia.”
“What if I insist on meeting her by force?”
At that, Shau’s lips curled up.
“Go ahead and try. But someone born in the light will never find one who lives in the dark.”