Chapter 370
Leo stared at the spirit before him.
It hadn’t taken him long to reach the top of this Pleasure Castle.
The illusions spread out here were clearly dangerous ones that could even steal lives.
But they didn’t work on Leo.
Thud— Thud—
Leo approached Laurel.
Laurel watched Leo approach with an expressionless face.
“How could you have arrived here so quickly?”
Laurel’s illusion wasn’t something that could be broken through just because the one stepping into the illusion was strong.
Regardless of strength, it was a fair ‘test’ for everyone.
Yet he had passed through such a test with absurd ease.
To Laurel’s question, Leo replied.
“Because I’ve already experienced all of this.”
At Leo’s words, Laurel’s eyes twitched.
“Experienced… it?”
“Yeah. It’s a little awkward to say it myself.”
Leo chuckled and opened his mouth.
“Surpassing my own limits.”
Leo’s red eyes stared directly at Laurel.
“Believing in myself to the very end.”
Thud— Thud—
“Having the courage to move forward in the face of endless despair.”
Thud—
“Pursuing possibilities in the face of the impossible.”
Leo, standing before Laurel, said.
“I’ve done it so much that I’m sick of it. So, I won’t be broken by mere illusions.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not as easy as you make it sound!”
Laurel shouted.
“There are those who sacrifice themselves for thousands of years because they can’t do it! Don’t speak so carelessly!”
“Are you talking about the Heroes of Genesis?”
“……!”
Laurel’s eyes widened.
Leo had never met the Heroes of Genesis except for Seiren.
But he knew what kind of lessons they had left in the schools they each founded.
Surpass your limits.
Believe in yourself.
Move forward.
Pursue possibilities.
The people of later generations thought that these lessons were the values pursued by the Heroes of Genesis.
But the reality was different.
Lumene ultimately thought he had failed to surpass his limits.
Seiren thought she had given up without believing in herself to the end, and Azonia blamed herself for not having the courage to move forward.
Damienne eventually gave up, not believing in his own potential.
The teachings of each Hero Academy were the things they themselves felt they had failed to achieve.
Words left behind with the wish that the heroes of later generations would, unlike themselves, surpass their limits, believe in themselves to the end, move forward, and realize possibilities.
‘Foolish bastards.’
Leo sighed inwardly.
Leo could vaguely understand what the Heroes of Genesis were thinking when they had such thoughts.
The only Hero of Genesis Leo had met was Seiren.
But when Seiren recognized Leo’s true identity, she couldn’t even make eye contact.
She simply lowered her head with a guilty heart and trembled.
The Heroes of Genesis saved the world.
‘But they didn’t think so themselves.’
They succeeded in defeating Erebos, but failed to subjugate him.
‘Because the flames of disaster with immortal power burn endlessly.’
After seeing the black flames that burned over and over again, the Heroes of Genesis had no choice but to trap Erebos in their world.
And they destroyed the Hero Record to prevent him from escaping.
The Heroes of Genesis thought they had failed, entrusting the fate of the world to later generations.
‘If they hadn’t surpassed their limits, they wouldn’t have been able to endure the loop that repeated for thousands of years. If they hadn’t believed in themselves, they would have given up in despair. If they hadn’t had courage, they wouldn’t have been able to make the choice to sacrifice themselves. And because they pursued possibilities, they were able to pass on hope to the future.’
After meeting Seiren.
Leo began to think that he wanted to meet the Heroes of Genesis as soon as possible.
‘What on earth did those guys see while conquering our Hero Record?’
Even great heroes were no different.
How many times had they faced their limits?
How many times had they despaired, unable to believe in themselves?
They had been afraid many times, and there were countless times when they had not believed in possibilities.
They probably saw their pathetic selves countless times.
And yet, the great heroes saved the world.
‘Because they didn’t give up.’
The Heroes of Genesis were the same.
To be so pessimistic about themselves despite having accomplished great things.
‘I’ll have to nag them a bit if I get the chance.’
Leo clicked his tongue and said to Laurel.
“So, what are you? How do you know about the Heroes of Genesis, and why are you testing what they pursue?”
“My name is Laurel. I am the Great Spirit of Radiance who governs light.”
“The Great Spirit of Radiance?”
Leo tilted his head.
“The spirit who contracted with Rodia, the Dragon of Genesis?”
There have been countless contractors of Great Spirits in the world.
But since 3,000 years ago, there has been no one who has contracted with the Spirit of Light.
In fact, the Spirit of Light was special in history.
That specialness was a word that had been used since the distant past.
Since the Era of Gods.
The Spirit of Light was only qualified to contract with someone who had the qualifications to lead the world, not just the qualities of a spirit mage.
Luminous, the Great Spirit of Radiance who contracted with Lysinas, also chose her as her contractor because she thought Lysinas was someone who would lead the world.
As the Spirit of Light only contracted with such noble beings, its existence was only known in history.
It was very rare for it to actually appear.
Therefore, it was not impossible for a contractor not to exist for thousands of years.
But…….
“I didn’t expect you to not even have a change of generation?
“Rodia left me a request.”
Laurel’s eyes turned cold.
“To find a hero to save the world.”
“I see, so that’s why you created those illusions.”
He understood why such powerful illusions had blocked his path.
“Was it a test?”
“……It used to be.”
Darkness fell over her pale golden eyes, which seemed as if they would shine brilliantly at any moment.
Watching Laurel, Leo crossed his arms.
“Then, am I qualified as a contractor, having broken through all the illusions?”
“……Don’t you think you’re being too arrogant? Leo Plov.”
Laurel sneered.
“The illusions are only part of the test. There are many other tests besides the illusions.”
“Really? What are those tests?”
“Well, I never said I was going to test you.”
Laurel’s body floated up.
Laurel crossed her legs, swept back her golden-tinged white hair, and narrowed her eyes.
“Over the past thousands of years, heroes who were far greater than you, a hero candidate… heroes who were incomparably greater than you have come to me to contract with me. Fully prepared.”
-A hero greater than Leo… that doesn’t sound right.
“Who are you?”
-I’m Elci.
“A spirit of darkness?”
-Yes. Nice to meet you, Spirit of Radiance Laurel.
Elci slightly lifted her skirt and bowed politely.
Watching Elci, Laurel narrowed her eyes.
“I hate spirits of darkness. They’re unnecessarily gloomy.”
-Spirits of darkness also hate spirits of light. They’re just unnecessarily bright. But I like that brilliance.
Laurel thought Elci was a spirit with something wrong in her head.
Great Spirits have the power to dominate lower spirits.
Even if they are not of the same lineage, lower spirits cannot dare to resist Great Spirits.
But Elci retorted Laurel’s words without hesitation.
That was only possible for Great Spirits.
The only Great Spirit of Darkness Laurel knew was Ignite, the Spirit of the Abyss.
‘I’ve never heard of a change of generation for the Spirit of Darkness.’
Laurel lost interest in Elci.
Watching Laurel turn away from her, Elci smiled slightly bitterly.
“It’s unfair to not give me a test just because I came uninvited. I passed one of the tests, didn’t I?”
“So you’re greedy for the title of my contractor? You’re so greedy. You’re already a contractor of the Three Great Summoned Beasts, aren’t you? Or what is it? Do you have a desire to collect summoned beasts? Unfortunately, I gave up on this world a long time ago.”
Laurel curled up the corners of her lips.
“If you’re greedy for the title of contractor of the Spirit of Light like other heroes, then wait for the next Spirit of Light.”
At Laurel’s sneer, Leo and Elci looked at each other.
Leo burst into laughter, and Elci covered her mouth and tried to hold back her laughter.
At that reaction, Laurel’s eyes twitched.
“What’s so funny?”
-Of course it’s funny, isn’t it? The Spirit of Light, who is said to be nobler than any other spirit, is acting as the ruler of this dark city and saying, ‘I gave up on this world.’
At Elci’s words, Laurel’s eyes were filled with anger.
“Do you even know how I feel? Do you know how I feel after searching for a contractor for thousands of years and seeing all the ugly things in the world?”
An ominous light emanated from Laurel’s body.
Watching Laurel, Elci made a slightly disappointed expression.
Elci had a strong longing for light.
A longing for light that she had gained while living in the darkest era, born as the darkest being.
Naturally, she longed for the Spirit of Light, who was full of light that she could never have or see.
In the Era of Calamity. The Spirit of Light did not exist when Elci opened her eyes.
That’s why she had been constantly yearning to meet the Spirit of Light of this era.
But Laurel was different from the Spirit of Light Elci had imagined.
As Elci was the Spirit of Darkness, she could feel the deep darkness that had taken root in Laurel’s heart.
“Why would someone who is supposed to be the Spirit of Light give up on the world?”
Watching Leo ask as if he couldn’t understand, Laurel shouted.
“I’ve been searching for thousands of years! For someone to save my contractor! For a hero to save the world! But the so-called heroes are so caught up in their own achievements that they don’t try to move forward!”
Laurel shouted as if frustrated.
“I haven’t seen a proper hero in 3,000 years! They’re not trying to move forward as light themselves, but only those who are filled with the desire to elevate themselves by becoming a contractor of my existence! Do you know how I feel after seeing those who are so caught up in their petty arrogance just because they’ve put their names on the Hero Record, and who boast that they can do anything for 3,000 years!”
Laurel’s voice, expressing her anger, trembled roughly.
As the Spirit of Light, she was disgusted with herself for having to give up on the world… and on her precious contractor in the end.
“Yes! There were those who challenged the World of Genesis! But! None of them were spirit mages who could contract with me! And even the great and noble heroes end up repeating their failures!”
If frustration continues, you will be trapped in darkness.
“Those who are worthy of contracting with me run away at the mere sight of a part of the darkness I have seen!”
Laurel shouted as if she was fed up.
“It’s not just the heroes! Look at this country! The land where the Dragon of Genesis was born has become so ugly. Is it worth saving these things?!”
Knowing what kind of future awaits the world, the pain was even greater.
“Don’t speak carelessly! You’re just humans who have lived for a hundred years! And a young spirit! Do you even know what real despair is!”
Laurel, who had poured out her pent-up emotions, hung her head.
Watching Laurel, Leo and Elci spoke at the same time.
“Wouldn’t we know much better than you?”
-Wouldn’t we know much better than you?
“What?”
“I understand how you feel, but do you even know?”
Leo said nonchalantly.
“What it’s like to see a world destroyed.”
“What are you talking about……”
“Tsk, tsk. The Spirit of the Abyss I met before also acted like he had seen all the ugly things in the world. And now even the Spirit of Light is doing this? What’s wrong with you youngsters these days?”
-Leo, do you know that you sound really old-fashioned right now?
Elci, shaking her head, approached Laurel and said.
-Would you like to see it? The era I had to live in?
(T/N: Chills man…chills)