Chapter 291
Late at night.
The party was all fast asleep.
Ever since entering the Hero’s World, they had been swept up in chaos, so collapsing into sleep as though fainting wasn’t surprising.
Velkia too had just returned from training, so exhausted that she wouldn’t have noticed even if she were carried away.
Clack–!
Sharing the same room, Leo stepped out while Carr still slept.
He sat at the dining table in the living room and looked out the window.
A heavy silence had descended.
‘This silence is welcome. In the past, I hated it to the point of sickness.’
Leo sank into thought, recalling the past.
‘The current Hero Record we’ve entered is the Battle of Guardslone.’
[Raid Objective: Repel the Giant King.]
As his eyes fixed on the raid objective floating before him, Leo’s gaze darkened.
The Battle of Guardslone.
After winning many times against Tartarus and slaying several Legion Commanders, the world had kindled sparks of hope.
But at the Battle of Guardslone, devastating losses were dealt.
‘Tartarus also took heavy damage, but still…’
The world, which had barely managed to grasp hope, soon faced crushing despair once again.
The Giant King’s invasion at the time was that overwhelming.
‘Even if they were still called Legion Commanders back then, their strength was on another level.’
The Era of Calamity.
The age when Erebos was alive.
Tartarus’s power was in a different league compared to now.
The time when the world was on the brink of destruction was also the peak of Tartarus.
The armies led by the Legion Commanders were immeasurably more powerful than anything now.
‘There were countless mighty demons too. But above all, the scale was different.’
When one Legion Commander moved, an endless flood of demons followed.
Last year, when Sillatna invaded Seiren—compared to then, the size of the army she led was almost laughable.
‘And most importantly… back then, Legion Commanders had [Authorities].’
The Authorities.
They were the unique powers bestowed upon the Legion Commanders by Erebos.
Even without them, a Legion Commander was a terrifying monster—but with an Authority, they became disasters incarnate.
In this age, the Legion Commanders had no such Authorities.
‘Because Erebos is gone.’
The Authorities weren’t their own power—they were Erebos’s.
With Erebos destroyed and sealed away by Kyle, the Legion Commanders could no longer wield them.
But this time was different.
‘The Giant King lost his entire army during the invasion of Guardslone.’
Yet even then, Guardslone had nearly been destroyed.
‘If Guardslone had fallen… I don’t even want to imagine it.’
Leo shook his head.
In this age, the miracle of the Hero Record existed.
God’s gift to pass on the power of heroes and give rise to new ones.
Thanks to it, far more heroes lived now than in the Era of Calamity.
But back then, it was different.
There were Great Heroes, but far too few ordinary heroes to stand beside them.
‘In some ways, our positions with the Legion Commanders have flipped.’
In the current age, the Legion Commanders still held immense strength.
The only one capable of standing against one single-handedly was Melina.
But their armies had lost their might.
‘The true strength of a Legion Commander is their army. A single hero isn’t much of a threat—but countless heroes together are an overwhelming danger.’
The Giant King’s invasion came at a time when Kyle, Lysinas, and Luna were absent, leaving a gap in power.
And that invasion was close at hand.
‘Many will die.’
Leo’s expression grew heavy as he gazed out at the city.
Even Depeser lost his life in that battle.
‘He died saving Velkia.’
For the people of this age, it was a painful history.
For Leo, it was the memory of countless acquaintances who perished.
‘And now… the situation is even worse.’
His face hardened.
The course of the coming Battle of Guardslone would not follow history.
‘Because in this era, there are two Giant Kings.’
Leo clenched his fist.
To shatter Dweno’s Hero Record, the Giant King had entered the Hero’s World.
Even in the past, it was barely repelled.
But if there were two Giant Kings?
‘Guardslone… will fall.’
Leo’s grip tightened.
The outcome was clear—defeat would burn away Dweno’s Hero Record.
A chilling aura glinted in his eyes.
‘I won’t allow it.’
Looking out at the cityscape, Leo swore to himself.
‘I’ll stop it no matter what.’
If Tartarus had the Giant King—Guardslone had Leo.
‘I won’t let the same tragedy repeat.’
“What’s on your mind?”
Puff– puff–
Arms crossed with a pipe in his mouth, Dweno turned to him.
“I was thinking about the kids who arrived at Guardslone today.”
“Oh, them?”
Arron chuckled.
“Isn’t it a good thing? Kids like them will definitely help in the fight against Erebos one day.”
“True.”
Tap–!
Knocking out the ashes, Dweno spoke.
“But that Leo kid. He’s incredible. Reminds me of Kyle.”
“Isn’t that just because he’s All-Class?”
“That’s part of it, but… his presence, you know? It was similar to Kyle’s.”
“….”
Dweno paused.
Memories of Leo surfaced.
‘The essence of fire isn’t destruction, right?’
Recalling Leo’s words, Dweno’s lips curled faintly.
“Interesting.”
Stroking his beard, Dweno spoke.
“Arron.”
“Hm?”
“Have you thought about teaching those kids?”
Arron’s eyes widened.
“There are a few of them I’d like to train myself.”
Seeing Dweno’s meaningful grin, Arron thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Yeah, I will.”
“Good. Then I’ll be busy too.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ll need to make weapons.”
Dweno rose to his feet.
“Weapons to gift those kids called Hope.”
—
The next morning.
“Leo, you’ll definitely make a great husband.”
At Carr’s remark, Velkia nodded.
“Yeah. You’re good at cooking.”
“But you helped, Velkia.”
“That’s true!”
Velkia puffed out her chest proudly.
“But Eiran helped too. Good, good.”
She patted Eiran’s head, then glanced toward Driana.
“Driana’s stew was tasty too, even if the vegetables were carved weirdly.”
“Thank you. That was art.”
“Art? You mean monster-shaped veggies?”
Scooping up a potato from the stew with his spoon, Carr narrowed his eyes.
Driana smacked his back with her tiny hand.
“You sure know how to joke.”
“Gah?!”
The pain made Carr roll on the floor.
Barely recovering, he sat up and looked to Lunia and Ar.
“You two worked hard too.”
He stifled a laugh.
“Of course, standing around still is about the extent of your help.”
“Carr. Want me to tell you one thing?”
Lunia smiled sweetly, stretching out her hand elegantly.
Then she grabbed his collar and glared.
“I quit pretending to be an honors student. Push me further and you’ll regret it.”
“Dropping honors student act doesn’t mean you become a thug!”
“Huh? Got a problem with the real me?”
“Eek!”
Carr screamed as Lunia radiated menace.
Watching him, Ar flexed her claws.
“My claws are itching. Want me to scratch you instead of a tree?”
“I’m too soft, no fun to scratch!”
Carr cried out when—
“Enough. Eat.”
Sighing, Leo set food on the table.
Velkia quickly grabbed a plate and started eating.
“Tastes… familiar.”
With curiosity, she munched away, and soon the others filled their stomachs too.
Then—knock knock.
“I’ll get it.”
Carr opened the door.
“Good morning.”
It was Arron.
Ar leapt up, but Eiran and Carr pressed her shoulders to keep her seated, recalling last night.
Arron flinched a little at her sharp glare.
Ar’s body tensed like a cat ready to pounce—
Squeeze–!
“Yowch?!”
Ar jumped as Leo tugged her tail.
“How many times have I told you not to lunge at people?”
“Then stop twitching like you’re about to pounce.”
With that dry remark, Leo set food in front of Arron.
“Thanks.”
Eating, Arron’s expression softened.
“This tastes really familiar.”
As Arron and Velkia ate happily, Leo chuckled.
“So, what brings you here this early?”
“I came to make you an offer.”
“An offer?”
Leo tilted his head.
Arron nodded.
“Yeah. I want to teach you martial arts.”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
“You two. I’m not the best teacher, but will you learn from me?”
He looked at Ar and Eiran.
“Yes! Please teach me!”
Ar shouted in excitement, and Eiran added in a trembling voice.
“It… it would be an infinite honor.”
Carr looked on enviously.
“Lucky.”
Arron chuckled.
“Carr, Lunia, Driana—you three will be trained directly by Dweno.”
“What?”
“B-by Master Dweno himself?”
Carr froze, Driana lit up with excitement, and Lunia was stunned.
‘So this was the test Leo mentioned?’
To learn from a Great Hero—it was the highest honor for a hero candidate.
“What about Leo?”
All eyes turned to him.
Leo gave a small smile.
“I’ve got something else to do. Don’t worry about me.”
“Something else?”
Ar tilted her head.
“Yeah. I’ll make preparations.”
At his words, everyone’s expressions changed.
They realized what he meant.
‘He’s preparing the raid alone?’
“So learn as much as you can.”
—
After breakfast, everyone but Leo left the house.
His companions looked at him worriedly.
They knew they would eventually have to face a Legion Commander here in the Hero’s World.
Especially Lunia, Eiran, and Carr—who had felt that terror firsthand—wore grim faces.
‘For them, this is an opportunity. Arron and Dweno have much to teach.’
That guidance could be the stepping stone for their growth as heroes.
Leo left the house.
‘First, I need power to counter that Gias who entered the Hero’s World.’
If there were two Legion Commanders, Guardslone’s current power couldn’t withstand the invasion.
‘But Gias also has a weakness.’
His eyes narrowed.
‘He can’t reveal himself to his past self.’
The true terror of a Legion Commander lay in the absolute obedience of their army.
Their full power manifested when they commanded their troops.
In this age, there were two Giant Kings.
But their armies hadn’t multiplied.
‘And they can’t join forces. He moves alone.’
Leo’s eyes sharpened.
The Giant King Gias, despite his terrifying bulk, was cautious and suspicious by nature.
If the past Gias met another Gias?
‘He’d definitely try to kill him.’
Traveling from the future to the past was impossible.
If something unnatural appeared, Gias’s way was to eliminate it.
The past Gias would never trust his future self.
‘That means they can be taken down separately. The raid isn’t hopeless.’
Step– step–
Leo walked through Guardslone.
Though people’s faces were heavy, hope still flickered in their eyes.
Soon, he veered into a deserted street.
He knew every path of Guardslone by heart.
Eventually, he stopped in front of a shabby mansion.
‘Lysinas’s mansion.’