Chapter 294
Late at night.
When Leo returned home, he found his party members in utter disarray and shook his head.
“I can guess what happened… but I’ll ask anyway. What exactly went on here?”
He directed the question to Carr, who looked the most intact—though even he was acting strangely, hunched over a book like a model student.
“Ar spent the whole day listening to Master Arron’s theory lessons.”
He gestured to Ar, who was curled up beside him, clawing at her head like she was losing her mind.
“So… the breath here has to align at this timing… and the sound… gahhh!”
As she scratched furiously, her eyes spun in circles.
Carr shifted his finger toward Eiran and Velkia.
“As for them…”
“Come on. Spar with me.”
“A-again? I’m too exhausted! And you keep winning, Lady Velkia!”
“Shut it. Get up. You’re fighting me.”
Expressionless, Velkia dragged Eiran toward the door.
Leo caught her and pulled her back.
Eiran quickly hid behind him.
“Why are you trying to fight someone who doesn’t want to?”
“I need to prove I’m stronger.”
“B-but you are! You already beat me several times today!”
“I still don’t accept it!”
Velkia shouted.
Leo nodded.
“I see. So you’re frustrated because your ability as a Magic Swordsman is inferior to Eiran’s.”
Velkia froze, staring at him.
As a knight, as a mage—she was superior.
Raised by Luna and Arron, who had poured everything into her, Velkia’s growth was undeniable.
Though she never mastered Star Magic and couldn’t fully learn Arron’s Aura Skills due to her race, her overall strength surpassed Eiran’s.
‘She was the direct disciple of both Luna and Arron, the pinnacles of magic and martial arts.’
And most of all, Velkia was born with the blessing of the fairies.
Eiran only carried fragments of that power.
Velkia wielded fairy magic itself—there was a natural gap.
But as a Magic Swordsman, Eiran was overwhelmingly ahead.
Her techniques were those Velkia herself would only complete in the far future.
In some sense, Eiran was Velkia’s future self.
“You’ve been neglecting your training as a Magic Swordsman.”
“N-no! I trained hard!”
‘She lies so easily.’
Leo narrowed his eyes as Velkia flared up.
“Anyway! You! I heard you’re sixteen! Is that true?”
Velkia marched up and planted her hands on her hips.
“How dare you talk so casually to an older lady! From now on, you’ll address me with respect like everyone else and—aaaagh?!”
Leo ground his fists into her temples.
Velkia, eyes watering, clung to Eiran for comfort.
“You really don’t spare even historical figures, do you?”
Carr muttered. Leo smirked.
He then pointed at Driana, sitting blankly in the corner.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Master Dweno told her to quit art and just make weapons.”
“….”
“It was terrifying.”
When he approached, Driana was mumbling nonsense like, “I’m trash. Forgive me, oh great Art.”
‘She must’ve shown him one of her ridiculous ‘artworks.’’
Leo sighed.
“What about Lunia?”
“She’s resting in her room. She had it the hardest.”
“Why?”
“She swallowed Master Dweno’s Essence of Flame.”
Leo’s eyes widened.
“She swallowed it?”
“Yes.”
The Essence of Flame.
Leo himself carried Dweno’s flame—though not the same.
What he had was Dweno’s fire in its entirety.
What Lunia received was a fragment.
‘Sharing one’s flame weakens it. Unless a successor is certain, that’s a huge loss.’
Given the times, it was an enormous sacrifice for Dweno.
“What are you reading?”
“Me? The alchemy manual Master Dweno gave me.”
‘He never even showed that to Luna…’
‘You’re the kind of elf who’d read this and brew some ridiculous potion.’
‘You stingy old dwarf!’
‘I never made a love potion. If you want love, earn it yourself.’
‘I wasn’t asking for that!’
Red-faced, Luna had once shouted at him.
‘Love potion?’
‘Nothing.’
The moment Kyle appeared, Luna had fled.
‘What trouble is she up to now?’
‘Who knows. She’s the most foolish elf I ever met.’
‘Agreed.’
‘And you’re the biggest fool of a human I ever met.’
Recalling Dweno’s merciless words, Leo asked,
“Does that book have anything like a love potion?”
“Yeah.”
Leo gave a hollow laugh, falling into thought.
‘What are you thinking, Dweno?’
Freely giving away his flame’s essence, handing out his secret manual he’d never shown even comrades…
‘Why?’
Clang–! Clang–!
That night, Dweno’s forge burned bright.
Arron, watching, raised a brow.
“Strange.”
“What is?”
“At night, you usually paint or carve. But now you’re hammering weapons.”
Clang–! Clang–!
“This body is an artist. Smithing is just a side job.”
“Isn’t smithing your main job?”
“Arron, do you know why I call that fool Kyle and that idiot Luna a fool and an idiot?”
“Why?”
“Because they dare treat me like a blacksmith.”
His voice turned gentle.
“Do you want to join them?”
“…No.”
Dweno resumed hammering.
Clang–! Clang–!
He quenched the glowing blade in water.
Sssshhh—!
Steam hissed as the water boiled.
“Good. Looks new.”
Nodding at the blade, he turned to Arron.
“Tell me—are you still afraid of the future?”
“Yes.”
Arron’s gaze sank.
“You are too.”
“I am.”
Dweno smiled faintly.
“But don’t lose courage.”
He fed ore into the furnace.
“Your courage is our hope.”
—
Boom–! Boom–!
The earth shook.
Terrified humans bowed to a towering figure greater than mountains.
“O great Giant King! Why have you graced this humble place?”
Gias gazed down at the prostrated humans like insects.
They were traitors, who had abandoned the world for Tartarus.
Even now, he despised them.
‘The Necromancer King sees them as pawns. But once traitors, always traitors.’
Even if they betrayed Tartarus again, it wouldn’t matter.
But Gias loathed their kind regardless.
“You know I’ll attack Guardslone soon.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“I need soldiers. I’ll use you.”
“U-us? But you command mighty legions! How could wretches like us aid you?”
The man stammered in fear.
He was right. Against Guardslone, the strongest fortress in the world, they were useless.
But their words were really just a plea to avoid suicide.
Betrayers feared Guardslone more than Tartarus itself.
“Of course, you alone are worthless.”
Rumble—
Gias raised his hand.
A rift tore open, spewing weapons.
“But if you wield arms forged by me, the Giant King—then you’ll be of some use.”
Crash–!
Demonic weapons clattered before the traitors.
“Take them.”
His eyes gleamed.
“And attack Guardslone.”
They scrambled to snatch the weapons, ecstasy spreading across their faces.
At this time, Gias’s weapons were famed as the strongest in existence.
He sneered at their cheers.
They were imitations, not his true craft.
Copies of Dweno’s masterpieces.
‘Wait for me, Dweno. I’ll crush you with your own creations.’
Murderous intent flared across his face.
—
“Why not rest for a day?”
On the ninth day in the Hero’s World, Leo approached Dweno calmly.
“You haven’t shown yourself once and suddenly tell me that? Hmph. You must be worried about your friends.”
“Not just them.”
“…?”
“I mean the whole city.”
Dweno stared at him.
“Be direct. What are you?”
“I can’t say.”
“You’re not even surprised I asked. As if you knew I’d see through it.”
Dweno closed his eyes, exhaling smoke.
“So. What’s coming?”
“The Giant King. Gias.”
“I see.”
Dweno’s eyes dimmed.
He rose with a grunt.
“Tell Depeser. Order the city guard to rest for one day.”
“…Thank you.”
“One more thing.”
Dweno smiled faintly.
“Is the future beautiful?”
“…Not as much as you’d hope. But enough.”
“A satisfying answer.”
Dweno laughed brightly.
Leo turned away, jaw tight.
‘He must have suspected we came from the future from the start.’
Dweno was too perceptive not to. Their subtle slips surely gave it away.
So he confirmed it himself.
But Leo couldn’t reveal the whole truth.
How could he tell his comrade—
That he would fall to Erebos, never seeing the world saved?
It was enough to reassure him their struggle hadn’t been in vain.
—
That evening, at Kyle’s house, the party rested.
This time, Dweno and Arron joined them.
Carr and Driana sat with Dweno, listening to tales of alchemy and smithing.
Velkia held Eiran captive, explaining fairy magic.
“I-I see.”
Eiran scribbled furiously, amazed. Velkia puffed up proudly.
“All fine, but Eiran.”
“Yes?”
“Why do you keep looking at me like I’m your grandma?”
“I-I don’t!”
“Your eyes do.”
Velkia scowled.
Meanwhile, Ar hounded Arron.
“So you wiped out everything, Master Arron!”
“No, Kyle did…”
“Then you gave Kyle courage!”
“No… Kyle gave me courage.”
But she twisted every tale to exalt him.
Watching, Leo muttered,
‘What a sight.’
The present and the past, talking as though they belonged.
For these people, the past was a fleeting illusion.
But to Leo, both were real.
‘If this experience helps them move forward, then it’s worth it.’
He turned and frowned.
“Why so gloomy?”
Lunia sat slumped, ears drooping.
When he asked, she whispered,
“Carr, Driana, Eiran… even Ar. They’ve all advanced these past days.”
She bit her lip.
“But I’ve gained nothing.”
“You have Dweno’s Essence of Flame.”
“…Master Katariu told me to give up. Said I lack talent.”
“Don’t take that bird’s words to heart. She’ll crush your confidence if you do.”
But Lunia still slouched.
“I’ve been arrogant. As Seiren’s representative, I thought too highly of myself. I was proud to learn Lady Luna’s magic from you… but I never stopped to think. Maybe I don’t deserve it.”
Her face clouded.
“Maybe I shouldn’t inherit her magic.”
“Which is why you shouldn’t—”
Leo stopped.
Dweno and Arron’s faces had suddenly darkened.
‘No way…’
[Raid Objective: Repel the Giant King’s invasion.
Protect the [Divine Blacksmith] and the [Brave].]
The updated objective flashed before their eyes.
The party leapt up.
“W-what’s wrong?”
Velkia asked, bewildered.
Leo’s face twisted.
“He’s here.”
ROOOOAAARRR—!
A chilling bellow ripped through the city.