Chapter 419

Book 1 Chapter 419

419.

“There are so many wonderful boutiques in Lumerne.”

“Absolutely. Each and every pastry tastes heavenly!”

Hearing Luniar’s comment, Eiran, with a fork still nestled between her lips, pressed her palms to her cheeks and wore a look of pure bliss.

Observing the pair, Luca, who also served as a second-year representative for Seyrun, offered a gentle smile.

“I truly wish our own academy possessed an atmosphere like this.”

“Agreed. Entirely agreed.”

Even though he ranked among the three most talented pupils in the sophomore class, Luca had been stripped of his leadership title during the initial term of his second year because of the regulations enforced by the Pureblood Council.

Nevertheless, once order was restored within Seyrun, his status as a representative was returned to him.

Known widely as an inseparable triumvirate since their freshman days, the three friends were currently touring the sights of Lumerne as a group.

They spent some time soaking in the pleasures of Lumerne.

“Listen, you guys!”

Cal arrived at a frantic sprint, completely winded.

“What’s the matter?”

“That freshman underclassman of yours! Leah Tingle, you remember her.”

“What happened to Leah?”

As Eiran questioned him, cocking her head to the side, Cal spoke with desperate haste.

“She was apprehended by Professor Halind and taken straight to his research laboratory!”

“Professor Halind?”

“Isn’t Halind one of the most prominent faculty members in Lumerne?”

Halind and Sedjen.

These two individuals, celebrated as legendary educators within Lumerne, commanded immense reverence across various races.

Consequently, Luniar and Eiran were well aware of their reputations.

“For what reason did he apprehend Leah?”

Cal answered as he observed Luniar setting her teacup aside to question him.

“I have no idea! Perhaps she threw some kind of tantrum in the corridor of the freshman academic building!”

“Ah… that sounds exactly like her. She does have those sudden, bizarre outbursts from time to time.”

“Leah definitely possesses a strange streak.”

“Just a while ago, she scrawled the name of Leo’s understudy everywhere in crimson ink, claiming it was some sort of hex.”

“Heh, it appears she views that boy, Luke, as her personal competitor.”

Hearing Luniar’s remark, Eiran giggled behind her hand, whereas Luca simply shook his head in disapproval.

“Calling it a mere competition makes it sound far less terrifying than it actually is.”

Cal rubbed the back of his neck, observing how nonchalantly the Seyrun delegates were conversing.

“You guys clearly don’t comprehend how dire this actually is. You have no inkling of what sort of individual Professor Halind truly is, do you?”

“What sort of person is he then?”

“He is famously dubbed the ‘Wailing Wall of Lumerne.’ He stands as the most terrifying academic in our entire institution!”

As Cal elaborated, Luniar leaned her jaw against her palm.

“Seyrun has its share of frightening instructors as well.”

“The scale is entirely different! Entirely different! It’s not just the upperclassmen in their third, fourth, or fifth years, or the fellow faculty of Lumerne! Even prominent alumni who have left their mark upon the Hero Record grovel in submissive terror before Professor Halind!”

The true cause behind Halind’s fearsome reputation extended beyond his title as the Wailing Wall of Lumerne.

Long before earning notoriety as the instructor responsible for the highest rate of student dismissals in Lumerne, Halind was fundamentally an inherently frightening human being.

Eiran spoke up with growing anxiety.

“B-but Leah belongs to Seyrun, right? Surely someone that intimidating would show some leniency toward visiting scholars from other academies…”

“Leniency? That concept is completely foreign to Professor Halind.”

While Cal was muttering with a grave expression, someone else approached.

“What’s all the commotion about?”

Illiana, who chanced to walk past their table, inquired with a look of confusion.

“Well, look who it is, the sole veteran of that ordeal.”

During her freshman year, Illiana had been escorted to Halind’s workspace exactly once after breaking the academy regulations.

While Cal had frequently breached school rules, he always managed to skirt the edge of expulsion using his exceptional resourcefulness.

Illiana, however, lacked that craftiness and had overstepped the boundary on that single occasion.

“Listen, we were just saying a Seyrun freshman was hauled off to Professor Halind’s quarters.”

“Oh no.”

Illiana let out a sharp intake of breath.

A weary smile touched her lips as she remarked,

“If I were in her shoes, I would genuinely prefer to drown myself in a bowl of soup than endure being taken to Professor Halind’s office.”

‘What kind of torment does he inflict?’

Luniar’s expression grew increasingly grim.

“W-what action can we take?”

Eiran pressed, her panic rising.

“At this point, our only option is to offer prayers for her safe release.”

Observing Cal posture solemnly with his arms folded over his chest, Luniar released a profound sigh.

“Could you at least direct me to his location?”

Upon hearing her request, both Cal and Illiana averted their eyes.

“Are you actually terrified to even venture near there? Are you truly supposed to be future heroes?”

“I make no such claims.”

“Fear isn’t something I can just switch off.”

Staring at the uncooperative duo, Luniar reached out, seized Cal by the back of his collar, and yanked him forward.

“Lead the way.”

“Why does it have to be me?!”

Cal yelled out in protest, but Luniar completely ignored his complaints.

The grand council chamber.

An area designated as the Twilight Hall, situated within the upper tiers of Lumerne’s Hero Tower.

For countless eras, the high-level convocations hosted in Lumerne had been convened within these walls.

Suspended upon the central wall of the chamber were five painted likenesses.

These depicted none other than the iconic Heroes of Creation.

Directly beneath these portraits stood a row of sculpted figures.

Arion, clasping a blade.

Dweno, wielding a massive axe.

Luna, grasping a mystical staff.

Lisinus, clutching a tome.

And lastly, Kail.

These monuments represented the preeminent Grand Heroes who had brought a conclusion to the Age of Disaster, securing a subsequent era for civilization.

Sovereigns and champions crossing the threshold of the Twilight Hall offered their profound reverence to the visages of the Heroes of Creation and the effigies of the Grand Heroes before claiming their designated positions.

Flanking Leo, who was present at the conference in his capacity as the student council president, were the student council heads representing the remaining academies.

Once the entire assembly had taken their places, all eyes gravitated toward the primary throne—the currently unoccupied chair reserved for the Council Chairman.

Step, step—

Shortly thereafter, Mellina emerged into the Twilight Hall.

Shrouded behind her usual veil, she retained the appearance of a young maiden.

Yet, despite the soft and serene energy she radiated, Mellina’s sheer essence cast a dominant weight over the entire room.

Positioning herself in front of the likenesses of the Heroes of Creation and the monuments of the Grand Heroes, Mellina joined her palms and offered a brief, respectful inclination of her head.

Following this, she ascended to the premier seat and scanned the gathered crowd.

“I offer my deepest appreciation to each of you who, notwithstanding your pressing responsibilities, have assembled today for the preservation of our world.”

The attention of the entire room converged upon Mellina.

“The purpose of this assembly is straightforward. We have convened to deliberate on the strange developments reported recently within Tartarus. Does any individual wish to initiate the discussion on this subject?”

The moment Mellina concluded her statement, a dark-complexioned dwarf elevated his hand.

“King of Neveroom, you have the floor.”

“To begin, I invoke boundless fortunes upon the esteemed Dragon Lord.”

Having been granted permission to address the chamber, the King of Neveroom offered a bow toward Mellina before continuing.

“I wish to pose an inquiry to Headmaster Zephia of Azonia.”

“State your query.”

“Lately, a significant number of beast-kin Hero Hunters have infiltrated my realm. Our Kingdom of Neveroom resolved to eradicate these despicable defectors.”

The expression of the King of Neveroom grew intensely hostile.

“Yet, these vile turncoats proved remarkably potent and resisted all attempts at suppression. Consequently, I deployed our realm’s most revered combatants, the 4th Iron Fist Regiment.”

A wave of whispered conversations rippled through the gathering at his words.

Neveroom, as a subterranean dwarven empire, boasted immense mineral wealth.

This abundance allowed them to forge exceptional armaments and protective gear, securing their status as one of the prominent five dwarven realms that championed their species.

The elite military force serving as the vanguard of Neveroom was none other than the ‘Iron Fist’.

“The entire 4th Regiment was completely wiped out.”

Audible expressions of dismay and astonishment echoed across the chamber.

The gaze of the King of Neveroom gleamed with fury.

“Furthermore, right before I arrived at this summit, a report was delivered by a sole survivor who had only just awoken. The account detailed beast-kin communicating through manual signs, despite the absence of a full moon!”

He fixed Zephia with an intense, wide-eyed stare.

“Explain this, Headmaster Zephia. Word has reached me that Azonia was aware of this reality quite some time ago! Why then? Why did you conceal this information, effectively sending the bright youth of our domain to their slaughter?”

Faced with the dwarf sovereign’s bellowing accusation, Zephia shut her eyelids and inhaled deeply.

“I express my regrets for withholding that piece of intelligence from you, Your Majesty. Nonetheless, Azonia required sufficient time to thoroughly verify the details.”

“Thoroughly verify the details?! You suppressed it to preserve the reputation of Azonia, did you not? Because a band of rogue outcasts achieved what your entire beast-kin lineage failed to do over five millennia! The sheer embarrassment of that truth is what stayed your hand!”

“Mind your tongue, King of Neveroom!”

The ruler of a neighboring beast-kin domain interjected sharply.

“The King of Neveroom speaks nothing but the honest truth! What authority do you possess to silence him?”

“The truth? Your forces were slaughtered simply because of their own frailty! How dare you attempt to defile the legacy of us, the inheritors of the heroes’ bloodlines, with such claims?”

“What did you just utter?!”

Heated arguments erupted back and forth between the incensed beast-kin monarchs and the dwarven delegates.

The subject matter was highly volatile.

To the beast-kin, the standing and collective dignity of their entire species hung in the balance.

For the dwarves, the future leadership of their civilization had just been butchered.

Once the spark caught, the confrontation escalated past any immediate restraint.

“Silence.”

A quiet utterance reverberated through the hall.

Though the sound was remarkably gentle, that solitary command carried an absolute, undeniable authority.

Ceasing their dispute instantly, both the beast-kin and the dwarves turned their attention back to Mellina.

“Our purpose in assembling here is not to engage in bickering or to trade accusations regarding who holds the blame.”

Mellina directed her gaze toward the beast-kin representatives.

“The choice made by Azonia Academy to withhold this disclosure despite their awareness is indeed unfortunate. Yet, considering the alternative, the collective beast-kin population might have been thrown into utter chaos by such a revelation… and given how deeply interwoven this is with the pride of the beast-kin, their hesitation is not altogether without reason.”

Following that, she turned her eyes toward the dwarven delegation.

“The demise of the gifted vanguard from the Iron Fist is a matter of profound grief. You have my sincere sympathies. Even so, there remains an unfortunate reality to consider. The Hero Hunters exist specifically to assassinate champions and individuals of comparable standing. A great many formidable paragons have succumbed to the insidious ploys of those abhorrent renegades and met their ends.”

A subtle note of sorrow permeated Mellina’s tone.

“Nonetheless, we possess allies who are fully capable of tracking down these very Hero Hunters.”

Mellina shifted her gaze to a specific quadrant of the assembly hall.

This individual possessed an entirely distinctive aura within the congregation.

An entity whose presence was absolutely essential, yet simultaneously felt the most detached from the rest.

This was Shau, the monarch ruling over the Shadow Empire known as the Shan Empire.

“The tragedy that claimed the lives of the youthful Iron Fist fighters… stems, in my view, from a failure to share vital intelligence. It is a natural consequence under current circumstances.”

Mellina observed the gathered dignitaries.

“Each of us is bound by conflicting agendas, meaning the insights one faction requires might simultaneously expose the weaknesses of another.”

Several individuals cleared their throats uncomfortably, shifting their eyes away from Mellina’s steady gaze.

“However, I maintain that the present crisis demands we set aside these divisions and present a unified front.”

Mellina infused her voice with resolute firmness.

“King of Neveroom, for what reason did you refrain from seeking the assistance of the Shan Empire?”

“…We manage our internal crises independently. Such is our cultural dignity.”

“Such dignity… is indeed commendable. Yet, can you genuinely claim that was your sole motivation?”

Confronted by Mellina’s inquiry, the King of Neveroom lowered his gaze and offered no further response.

“I am aware that a great number of you perceive relying on the Shadows as a blemish upon your reputation. This perspective is flawed. The Shadows stand on equal footing with the heroes themselves.”

In response to her statement, a figure among the human delegates raised his hand.

“King of Ruckitt, you may speak.”

The sovereign, representing the northern human domain known as the King of Ruckitt, voiced his thoughts.

“I comprehend the points you raise, My Lord. It is undeniable that the Shadows possess unique expertise in combating Hero Hunters. However, they operate within the concealment of darkness and perpetrate numerous unspeakable deeds. They resemble nothing so much as a required malice.”

“The Shadows do not represent malice.”

“Perhaps my wording was imprecise. Nonetheless, requesting the aid of the Shadows remains a disgraceful option for any true champion.”

The King of Ruckitt squinted slightly as he continued.

“Their fundamental role is merely to support heroes. They can under no circumstances be considered their peers.”

“What leads you to that conclusion?”

“The simple fact that their achievements are forever barred from being inscribed within the Hero Record. They receive no validation from the divine.”

Upon hearing the King of Ruckitt’s assertion, a tense silence fell over the chamber as every gaze shifted toward Shau.

In the middle of this suspense, Shau stood up from his place.

“The timing is quite fortuitous. I happen to possess an object relevant to the Hero Record that I wish to display to this assembly.”

“What might that be?”

Shau directed a glance toward Mellina.

Receiving an approving nod from Mellina, Shau extracted a compact container from his attire and walked toward the center of the Twilight Hall.

He then deposited the container onto a pedestal crafted from solid orichalcum located in the middle of the room and unsealed it.

The collective attention of the hall focused entirely on the object.

Right then.

“A Hero Record?”

An unbidden whisper broke the silence.

“That cannot be! Not even the official Hero Records preserved within the various hero training academies boast such a flawless state of preservation!”

“Could it be a counterfeit?”

“But the energy radiating from it is undeniably…!”

While the entire room reeled in shock, Mellina spoke up.

“Emperor Shan, explain the nature of this item.”

“This is a Hero Record—the Book of Shadows.”