Chapter 249
“The Book of Shadows…?”
Shau stared at the Hero Record in disbelief.
It wasn’t just a fragment or page—this was a complete Hero Record, of which only five were known to exist in the world.
Three thousand years ago.
After the Return of Calamity, the Hero Record had been split into five.
Since then, every race had filled pages of the Hero Record with records of their own kind.
But now, a sixth Hero Record had appeared.
And under the name—the Hero Record of Shadows.
For a moment, he considered whether it might be fake.
But as the emperor of Shan, Shau had seen genuine Hero Records many times.
There was no denying it—this one was real.
With trembling hands, he flipped through the pages.
And when he saw the name recorded on the very first page, he gasped.
[Hero of the Beginning, Kyle]
The first page of the Hero Record titled The Book of Shadows.
There, the name of the Hero of the Beginning—Kyle—was written.
Shau touched the name with his finger.
At that moment, ripples spread across the page, and Kyle’s records emerged.
‘This is…’
Shau’s eyes trembled.
‘The first Shadow… was the Hero of the Beginning?’
Five thousand years ago.
After the Hero Record had first manifested on earth.
Bihar had extracted a portion from it and entrusted it to her descendants—records of the very first Shadow.
The one whose name was unknown until now… turned out to be none other than the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle.
“A Great Hero… was a Shadow?”
Seeing Shau’s expression of disbelief, Leo spoke.
“Back then, they probably didn’t even distinguish between ‘hero’ and ‘shadow.’”
Shau looked at Leo.
“I think the Hero of the Beginning simply did what had to be done.”
“…”
Shau closed Kyle’s record and flipped to the next page.
And when he saw the name Bihar written there, his grip tightened.
He had wondered when he saw the title The Book of Shadows.
‘This… is the Hero Record of the Shadows.’
It wasn’t just Bihar.
There were records of all the Shadows who had lived in darkness and sacrificed themselves for the world.
Shan’s long-held records of its Shadows were now written in the Hero Record.
“Why now…?”
“Maybe it’s a whim of the gods. Or maybe…”
Leo looked at Shau and smiled.
“Maybe it means it’s time to stop looking down on yourself.”
“…”
“The gods would never acknowledge someone who doesn’t even believe in themselves.”
“Heh… Hahaha…”
Shau covered his face with his hands.
“Bwahahahaha!”
He couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
The biting remark from a hero cadet, who he thought could never understand the darkness, pierced him deeply.
Shadows step into the dark for different reasons.
Like Shan’s Shadows, some are born into it.
Others choose it for their own reasons.
All of them willingly step into the blood-soaked mud out of conviction.
None of them regret it.
But…
‘In the end, we all lament the fact that we’ll never be acknowledged by the gods.’
Some curse the gods.
Others despair that they became Shadows and die quietly.
Even those who don’t—still see themselves as beings separated from divine glory.
Shau was no different.
‘Of course. Why would the gods acknowledge someone like us?’
For thousands of years, the people of Shan had obsessed over the Hero Record, all while deeply believing that they could never become heroes.
They clung to the idea of one day getting their names recorded through the path of Shadows.
‘It’s contradictory.’
He had known it all along—but denied it.
Only after seeing the Hero Record could he finally admit it.
“I was foolish.”
Shau clenched his fists tightly.
Then looked at Leo.
“Leo… just what are you?”
He had already received reports about Leo.
‘They said he moved like a shadow. And he broke the seal that only our ancestor’s direct heir could undo.’
Only Bihar’s legitimate successor could undo the aura seal.
‘The first Shadow was the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle. And Leo Plov is the second All-Class since Kyle.’
Shau narrowed his eyes.
‘And when Leo Plov touched it, the erased Hero Record regained its name. When he touched it… that’s when the Shadows were finally acknowledged by the Hero Record. Could that really be coincidence?’
Since the era of heroes began…
This boy was unprecedented.
As he looked into Leo’s red eyes, Shau saw the corners of Leo’s lips curl into a smile.
It looked mischievous.
But it wasn’t the kind of playful grin a boy his age would make.
It was more sly, mature—and carried an inexplicable sense of pressure.
“…!”
Shau’s eyes widened.
But then he closed them.
He took a deep breath and stood from his seat.
As if to show his respect, he bowed his head.
“You are… not just Shan’s—but all Shadows’ benefactor.”
Shau’s voice trembled.
“If you ever need Shan’s help, just say the word. We will give everything to support you.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Leo nodded politely and exited the audience chamber.
Thud—
Slumping back into his chair, Shau looked at his sweat-soaked hands.
He had just uncovered a tremendous secret.
‘…He’s divine. The god of Shadows.’
Shau let out a hollow laugh.
He now understood why the world had begun to shift.
‘The world is heading for upheaval.’
The subjugation of the Monster Queen.
And now, the birth of the Hero Record of Shadows.
‘And the return of the Great Hero.’
Once these facts became known to the world, chaos was inevitable.
‘For now, it’s best to keep the Book of Shadows secret.’
Even if they had a Hero Record, it was nearly impossible to manifest a Hero’s World through the Book of Shadows.
Most Shadows had disappeared without leaving descendants or heirlooms.
Thus, there were few keys to open those worlds and inherit their powers.
‘But gradually, more inheritable worlds will appear.’
Shau’s eyes gleamed.
‘Until Leo Plov begins moving in earnest… Shan will remain his shadow.’
With that thought, Shau raised his head.
Step. Step.
Under the moonlight, he saw Chen Xia approach and gave her a bittersweet smile.
“I’ve wronged you, haven’t I?”
“I chose this path myself.”
Chen Xia replied with a soft smile as Shau gently set down the Book of Shadows.
“This foolish father has no right to say anything, but… it’s time you chased your dream.”
“I intend to.”
“But remember this.”
Shau locked eyes with his daughter.
“One day, Shan will be yours. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Yes.”
Chen Xia smiled brightly and disappeared into the shadows.
Watching her leave, Shau looked up at the moonlight.
“Even for the Shadows… a new dawn is coming.”
—
“Ahh! The tragedy! To have missed Senior Leo’s glorious deeds with my own eyes—how devastating!”
“Can you tone it down a little?”
Inside Leo’s room, Fritz was banging his head on the floor while Jane looked at him with disgust.
It was said that Tartarus had withdrawn after Xian was killed by Leo.
‘They must’ve realized there was more to lose than gain if they stayed.’
Leo opened a subspace and pulled out bandages and potions to treat his wounds.
Seeing that, Fritz suddenly leapt up.
“Senior Leo! Please allow me the honor of treating your wounds—!”
As Fritz adjusted his glasses and his eyes sparkled—
Knock, knock—
A soft knock sounded, and the door opened as Chen Xia stepped inside.
“Your Highness!”
Jane ran over with a bright face.
“I’m so glad you’re safe!”
“I’m glad you’re safe too, Jane.”
Chen Xia patted Jane’s head as she sniffled, then turned to Fritz.
“You’re safe as well, I see.”
“Thanks to you, Senior.”
Fritz bowed his head.
Chen Xia smiled as she looked at the two of them, then turned to Leo.
“You look much better now.”
“It’s thanks to you, Leo.”
Smiling brightly, Chen Xia looked at Fritz and Jane.
“You two, would you mind leaving me alone with Leo for a bit?”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“But I have a duty to help Senior Leo with his wounds—”
“Quit whining and get out!”
Jane grabbed Fritz by the collar and dragged him away.
Fritz tried to shake her off, but as a Magic Department student, he had no chance against her Knight Department strength.
“Such brute force…”
“You say something?!”
“I didn’t say enough, actually.”
As Jane yelled with dagger eyes, Fritz replied with an icy smile.
Click—
The door closed, leaving only the two of them inside.
Chen Xia blinked her large eyes.
“Want help treating your wounds?”
“Would you?”
Leo took off his shirt.
Chen Xia had already been treated by a healer after the incident, but Leo hadn’t had the chance, having gone straight to his meeting with Shau.
Archduke of Mourning, undead of Shadows, and Xian…
One battle after another had left Leo’s body a mess.
Dried blood was stuck to his skin.
Seeing it, Chen Xia carefully used her [Aura of Water] to wash his body clean.
As Leo sat in a chair, she opened a potion bottle and soaked a towel with it.
“I wish I had Nella’s healing aura.”
“You’re not the type to regret not having something.”
“Just crossed my mind. Water aura is a good attribute for awakening healing powers.”
Chen Xia smiled bitterly as she gently wiped Leo’s wounds.
“I feel like you’re going to get hurt a lot in the future.”
“Probably. Especially with all the battles we’ll fight together. It’d be nice, but don’t worry about it too much. You’re fine as you are.”
‘I want to always stand right behind you, Leo.’
Chen Xia smiled bitterly to herself.
“Thank you for stopping Xian, Leo.”
“I just did what I had to.”
If he had been left alone, Xian would’ve grown into a villain who threatened countless heroes.
And even if the enemy deserved death, seeing family execute family always left a bitter taste.
“You don’t need to thank me.”
“No, there are plenty of other things I’m thankful for.”
Chen Xia’s voice trembled slightly.
“Thank you for validating the dream I had even rejected myself.”
Her hand paused.
“Thank you… for showing me a light to move forward.”
It might not have meant much to Leo.
But he had pulled Chen Xia out from the darkness.
“You’re my savior, Leo.”
“I’ll pass on the dramatic titles. Sounds like a lot of pressure.”
Leo answered flatly.
Chen Xia couldn’t help but laugh.
They had known each other for a year, but he was always so indifferent.
She resumed wiping his wounds with the potion-soaked towel and began wrapping them in bandages.
‘He didn’t seem that different when I first met him.’
Their first conversation had been around this time last year.
Back then, Leo had still looked like a young boy.
But now, seeing him again, she realized how much he’d grown in just one year.
‘Why did he come to rescue me?’
The question suddenly popped into her head.
Because they were friends?
‘That’s probably the biggest reason.’
Even so, her heart fluttered a little.
‘Or maybe… he thinks of me as something a little more?’
She had grown very close to Leo over the past year.
“Why did you come to get me, Leo?”
She asked, trying to hide the small hope in her voice.
Leo turned around at her words.
When their eyes met, Chen Xia smiled.
“Because you’re arrogant.”
“…What?”
Caught completely off guard, Chen Xia blinked in confusion.
“What does a kid who’s barely lived know about saying something as hopeless as ‘I can’t be a hero’?”
Chen Xia pouted.
“I’m older than you, you know?”
“So what if you are? You still act like a child.”
Leo chuckled and stood.
“That’s why you came to get me?”
As Chen Xia looked at him incredulously, Leo nodded.
Seeing him grin slyly, Chen Xia sighed.
“What a ridiculous reason. That’s so anticlimactic.”
She stood up with a grumpy look.
Leo reached out and flicked her forehead.
“Ow!”
The unexpected force made her stumble back and clutch her head.
The first light of dawn broke through the window.
Backlit by the morning sun, Leo smiled like a grown-up.
Looking at him—this younger boy who always treated her like a child—Chen Xia’s face turned red.
“Leo, do you realize how much like an old man you look right now?!”
“Yeah, I probably look like a total geezer.”
“No, I mean… not like that…”
‘He has this… grown-up aura. Like he’s dandy or something…’
For some reason, with the dawn at his back, Leo seemed incredibly irresistible.
Chen Xia smiled awkwardly.
‘Wait… was I always into younger guys?’