Chapter 285
“This golem seems to have powerful fire resistance.”
“Hrngh!”
Driana swung her battle hammer with both hands.
She looked like a little girl straining her strength—almost cute.
‘Crash—!’
Of course, what happened next was anything but cute.
The massive golem went flying and slammed into the floor.
‘Thud—!’
It rose again, seemingly unharmed, but Driana didn’t so much as blink.
Her role was to hold the enemy at the front.
And the one who would bring it down—
‘Fwoosh—!’
Flames flared in Lunia’s hand.
The fire soon shaped itself into a massive spear.
She spread her palm, the blazing weapon floating above it.
‘Whoosh—!’
With a flick, the spear shot forward at terrifying speed.
‘Boom—!’
It struck the golem, detonating into a fiery storm.
Watching, Driana muttered,
“Terrifying magic power.”
Though her brilliance had been overshadowed by Leo, the youngest student council president in Lumene’s history, Lunia was no less of a prodigy. Many believed she would rise to that position herself—if not by the end of this year, then by the next.
‘Crackle—!’
The temperature around Lunia spiked.
Her eyes burned with firelight.
‘If this is Master Dweno’s world… maybe I’ll see her again.’
She thought of the one she had admired since childhood, lips curling into a smile.
The flames around her surged higher.
‘Whoosh—!’
Wings of fire spread from her back.
The fire burned through mana and Spirit Power alike, blazing hotter.
The flame of House Lunda.
“[Sacred Flame].”
The fire pouring from Lunia’s body devoured the surrounding blaze, growing stronger still.
The flame seared her flesh.
But Lunia didn’t care.
‘Stronger.’
Her eyes flared brighter.
‘Like Lady Luna…’
She recalled the smiling figure she adored.
‘Like Leo!’
And with the memory of the boy’s mature back as he walked ahead of her, Lunia unleashed her spell.
‘Rumble—!’
The [Sacred Flame] swallowed the golem whole.
‘Boom—!’
The massive body buckled.
Watching, Driana exclaimed,
“Subduing a flame-resistant golem with fire itself? You’re a monster.”
Just as the golem fell still—
“Well done.”
A voice of admiration came from within the fire.
Lunia and Driana’s faces stiffened.
“But that flame is dangerous.”
‘Step, step—’
Pushing through the blaze, a dwarf appeared.
The girls’ eyes flew wide.
“My name is Dweno.”
Stroking his beard, the dwarf smiled kindly.
“You’ve intruded into one of Guardslone’s sanctuaries. Trespassing here is a grave offense. Are you spies of Tartarus?”
“N-No!”
“We’re just—!”
As they floundered, Dweno chuckled.
“Then I’ll give you two choices. First, come with me quietly and be questioned. Or second—be subdued by me, and then questioned.”
Though he wore a gentle smile, his tone was firm.
The natural pressure radiating from him made both girls tremble.
Both Lunia and Driana had grown up in noble houses, accustomed from childhood to meeting celebrated elders and many heroes.
But this dwarf was different.
The sheer aura that flowed from him…
The charisma of a veteran hero who had once saved the world pressed down upon them.
The two girls lowered their strength.
Dweno stroked his beard again.
“Good girls.”
—
Half a day had passed since Ar, Eiran, and Carr were thrown into prison.
Now, in the pitch-dark underground cell, Carr clutched his head.
“What do we do now?! We could’ve cleared up the misunderstanding, but you messed it up!”
“Uwuh?!”
Ar shrank, ears and tail drooping.
Eiran soothed Carr,
“Please don’t be too harsh, Carr. It was the Hero himself. Ar only lost control because she finally met the one beastkin she most admired. And besides, Arron said himself we weren’t Tartarus spies, didn’t he?”
Carr slumped against the floor with a sigh.
“Yeah, that’s true…”
“See? Arron was merciful!”
“Sure. The problem is you scared him half to death.”
Carr remembered the look of sheer dread on Arron’s face as he glanced at Ar.
“That’s what bothers me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Arron. Didn’t he seem… timid?”
In the records, Arron’s image was clear:
White hair, golden eyes.
The indomitable Hero who never retreated, the vanguard of the expedition that slew Erebos, the God of War who carved through countless foes on the frontlines.
The very symbol of courage.
But the man they had just seen looked nothing like that image.
Even if Ar had rushed him with crazed eyes, it shouldn’t have shaken him so badly.
Eiran slowly nodded.
“Yes… I could see it too. Arron definitely looked afraid of Ar.”
“That’s impossible! Arron would never be afraid!”
Ar blinked her blue eyes, baffled.
“Now I get why Leo calls you a dumb cat.”
Carr sighed heavily.
‘Creak—!’
The door to the dungeon swung open.
“Looks like more prisoners.”
“Makes sense. It’s the Era of Genesis—security must be harsh.”
As Eiran muttered, Carr exhaled.
“Eiran?”
A startled voice called out.
Turning toward the bars, Eiran’s eyes widened.
“Lunia!”
Standing there were none other than Lunia and Driana.
“You came to rescue us!”
Eiran beamed.
“Hurry along!”
Guards shoved the two into a cell across from theirs.
‘Clang—!’
As the guards left, Lunia finally answered, a beat late.
“No… we were captured too.”
Eiran’s shoulders sagged.
“Where’s Leo Plov?”
Driana asked, arms crossed.
Carr tilted his head.
“Wasn’t he with you?”
“No. He wasn’t there.”
“Then he must’ve been dropped somewhere else entirely.”
Carr stroked his chin, scanning the cell.
No guards inside.
‘They’re probably stationed outside.’
Recalling the heavy security, Carr inhaled deeply.
“At least we’re together now. Let’s pool what we’ve learned.”
“Alright. We’ll go first.”
Lunia crossed her arms.
“We landed in a forbidden zone—full of Spirit Flame. That’s where we were captured by Master Dweno.”
Carr froze.
“We started at a place called the Spirit Lake. And the one who caught us was Arron.”
“Arron?”
Lunia’s eyes widened.
“And this city is Guardslone. If Dweno’s here, it wouldn’t be strange if the other Great Heroes are too. We might even meet all five.”
At that, everyone gasped.
All five Great Heroes in one place!
Because the [Hero Records] were always fragmented, no Record in history had ever contained all five at once.
“This scale is insane.”
Carr wiped sweat from his brow.
The Wise King, the Founder of the Nebula, the Beastkin Warrior, the Divine Blacksmith, and the Hero of Begginings.
A Hero’s World with all of them gathered… meant it would be impossibly difficult.
“Anyway, it’s just speculation. At least this isn’t a possession-type Hero’s World.”
Possession-type meant becoming one of the Record’s characters—or even a Hero themselves.
“Yeah. Thank the heavens for that.”
Carr let out a deep sigh.
If they had been forced to play the role of a Great Hero… the thought alone was terrifying.
“But this isn’t a normal Hero’s World. It’s a [Hero Dungeon]. We can’t let our guard down.”
Lunia spoke gravely.
Ar chimed in,
“Then let’s set our priorities. First, regroup with black rabbit. Second, figure out the mission objective.”
“I agree.”
Back in their first year, they would have panicked. But now, with experience, they calmly prepared for the conquest.
“For now, we need to clear suspicion. Master Dweno said we’d be questioned soon. When that happens, just don’t act suspicious.”
‘Creak—!’ ‘Clang!’
The cell door opened.
The five tensed.
‘Step, step—’
A man with golden hair and eyes entered.
His sharp, investigative gaze swept over them.
‘A dragon!’
He looked at them once, then drew out an object wrapped in cloth.
“We found something very interesting among your belongings.”
‘Slide—!’
Unwrapping it revealed a peculiar dagger.
“Ah! That’s mine!”
Eiran gasped.
The dragon’s eyes flashed.
“So it’s you.”
“Huh?”
“This blade was a gift from Lady Luna to her disciple, Velkia.”
“……!”
“We’ve confirmed it’s genuine.”
At the mention of her ancestor, Eiran’s eyes widened.
“And Velkia has been away training for the past week.”
The dragon’s expression turned cold.
“Why, then, is the dagger she treasures above all else in your possession? What have you done to her?”
Eiran’s face went pale.
Not only hers—everyone’s.
The dragon’s fury radiated in waves.
‘This is bad.’
Lunia swallowed hard.
The situation screamed guilt.
Two of the same dagger could not exist in this era—yet one had turned up in Eiran’s belongings.
Things had gone terribly wrong.
“Velkia is the beloved disciple of Kyle, Luna, and Arron. She is also the future of this world. To harm her would be…”
“N-No! I would never—!”
“Silence!”
The dragon roared, pointing at Eiran.
“Drag her out! I will interrogate her myself!”
“W-Wait! Please listen!”
Carr shouted desperately. Ar hissed at the guards storming in.
Lunia and Driana clutched the bars, yelling.
But stripped of their mana, the five could do nothing.
As she was dragged out, Eiran cried,
“D-Don’t worry about me! I’ll clear this up somehow!”
She tried to reassure them even as she was taken away.
Once she was gone, the dragon’s icy gaze turned back to the remaining four.
“When her interrogation is finished… you’re next.”
‘Creak—!’ ‘Clang!’
The cell fell silent.
Lunia grit her teeth.
This had spiraled far out of control.
The suspicion was unavoidable.
And they had no argument against it.
‘This is dangerous.’
The Era of Genesis was harsh beyond compare—especially regarding anything linked to demons.
And Velkia was no ordinary disciple. She was the pupil of Luna, Arron, and Kyle.
The dragon had even used honorifics for them. Clearly, they were seen as the hope of the world.
And now, they were suspected of harming Velkia.
With proof.
It was dire.
Lunia’s shoulders trembled as she clenched her jaw.
‘We have to save her!’