Chapter 420

Book 1 Chapter 420

“The Hero Records?”

“What kind of thing is the Book of Shadows!”

An immediate uproar shook the interior of the assembly hall.

“What do you make of this?”

Altech Zeron, the patriarch of the Zeron household—one of Lumerin’s three legendary noble lines—and the presiding chairman of Lumerin, questioned his younger sibling.

Albi, who possessed the unique trait of detecting falsehoods after receiving a mystic eye from the Elf King, gave his answer.

Fixing his gaze intently on the Book of Shadows, Albi finally spoke up in response to Altech’s inquiry.

“The resonance I perceive matches the exact divine energy of the Hero Records we are familiar with.”

Altech thoughtfully rubbed his lower jaw upon hearing Albi’s assessment.

“An undiscovered Hero Record.”

Altech observed the Book of Shadows with a look of genuine fascination.

He was far from the only one captivated by it.

Dejean Ligard, stationed right beside him, along with Nishella Tursia, both let out soft gasps as they meticulously scrutinized the artifact.

Dejean Ligard.

The ruler of the Ligard lineage, the very clan that commanded Lumeria City.

To put it another way, he held dominion over Lumeria, the focal point of civilization.

Meanwhile, Nishella Tursia held the position of leader within Twilight, renowned as the grandest alliance of heroes across the globe.

The foundation of the Twilight faction stretched back three millennia.

Its lineage could be traced directly to the noble Knights of Twilight, who fought under Lumerin’s banner.

The three preeminent dynasties of Lumerin: Zeron, Ligard, and Tursia.

Each of these factions was born from the direct followers who had sworn allegiance to Lumerin in ancient times.

The Zeron clan took custody of the educational institution created by Lumerin, honoring his final wishes.

The Ligard clan took ownership of the territories that Lumerin had painstakingly developed.

The Tursia clan assumed command of the military order that Lumerin had commanded in battle.

For the past three thousand years, these three specific families had served as the guardians and overseers of the Hero Records housed within Lumerin Academy.

Because of this legacy, the current patriarchs of these three houses possessed a deeper understanding of the Hero Records than any living soul.

This included the historical context of how these registries came to be.

“Lord Altech, have you ever encountered a mention of an item called the Book of Shadows in our annals?”

“Never.”

“What about you, Lord Dejean?”

“It is entirely foreign to me as well, Lady Tursia.”

Nishella, who appeared to be in her mid-twenties, kept her inquisitive gaze locked onto the Book of Shadows.

Nishella Tursia.

A remarkable woman who had ascended to the leadership of the Tursia house at the tender age of twenty-six.

She was a brilliant young champion whose name was already etched into the Hero Records after she successfully halted the onslaught of the Undead Legion five winters ago, utilizing her pacts with both the Phoenix and the Great Spirit of Wind.

While the attention of the entire room remained fixed on the Book of Shadows,

King Luckit spoke up loudly.

“The Book of Shadows? What absolute rubbish is that?”

“It represents the sacred chronicle where the deeds of shadows are immortalized.”

“Preposterous nonsense…! Even if such an object exists, it cannot be anything but a counterfeit!”

“King Luckit. I hardly believe you possess the authority to determine what constitutes a genuine or forged Hero Record, do you? After all, you belong to neither the rank of hero nor shadow, isn’t that correct?”

“Pfft!”

King Luckit’s face twisted with bitter annoyance at Shau’s pointed remarks.

While a true champion earns their status by enduring trials and forging their destiny through raw capability, a monarch’s title is merely passed down through blood inheritance.

In truth, all contemporary nations were established by individuals whose grand achievements were documented in the Hero Records, meaning current royalty could be viewed as the offspring of legendary figures.

Even so, descending from greatness does not naturally grant someone the mantle of greatness.

As a result, a significant portion of the monarchs present at this grand council were devoid of heroic standing, and King Luckit fell squarely into that category.

As skepticism continued to ripple through the gathered crowd regarding the Book of Shadows,

Melina hoisted her hand into the air.

Promptly, one of the majestic dragons standing guard behind her stepped toward the central dais, requested authorization from Shau, and retrieved the Book of Shadows to bring to Melina.

Melina grasped the tome with immense reverence and peeled open the cover of the historical chronicle.

The entire chamber held its collective breath, watching her every movement.

The aura radiating from the Book of Shadows undeniably carried the distinctive essence of the authentic Hero Records.

‘Are we truly to believe that a testament to the shadows, whose actions went completely unrecorded in the Hero Records for five millennia, is only surface-level news today?’

‘And that it remains in such pristine, flawless shape?’

Even with physical validation right before them, accepting this reality was incredibly difficult, given that the opposing narrative had been treated as absolute law for five thousand years.

Be that as it may, if Melina, the revered Dragon Lord, verified its authenticity, the assembly would have no choice but to adjust their beliefs.

It would mean acknowledging that shadows were entities of equal stature to the heroes who occupied the pages of history.

Silencing the room, Melina, who had been analyzing the ancient script, raised her voice.

“…Without question, this stands as an authentic chronicle of the shadows.”

“How can this be…!”

“Simply stunning…!”

“Are you asserting that it is genuinely real?”

“It is entirely authentic. What is more…”

“What more is there?”

“The legendary exploits of the First Hero, Lord Kyle, are meticulously detailed within these pages.”

“A chronicle of the Great Hero himself?”

“L-Lord Kyle’s achievements are preserved there?!”

An identical,

No, an even more profound wave of shock reverberated through the hall compared to when the Book of Shadows was first introduced.

The delegates bolted upright from their seats in utter bewilderment.

“Indeed.”

Melina offered a soft, knowing smile and inclined her head.

“Is it possible that the First Hero was actually a shadow?”

“If that is the case, it perfectly explains why the records regarding the First Hero have remained completely shrouded in mystery until this day.”

The gathered champions exchanged deeply conflicted glances.

In the middle of the growing chatter, Melina directed a question toward Shau.

“Shau, Emperor of Shan. By what means did you come into possession of this chronicle?”

Melina was already well-aware of what the Book of Shadows truly represented.

Furthermore, she had previously received a detailed explanation from Leo regarding the circumstances under which this Book of Shadows had been manifested.

Even so, she could not lay bare the unvarnished reality to the public just yet.

Shau cast a fleeting look toward Leo.

Then, he addressed the crowd.

“It was unearthed quite recently, having been secreted away within the deep subterranean vaults of Shan for generations. Following rigorous validation protocols, we concluded it was a sacred archive never before witnessed by the public, prompting us to bring it forth to enlighten the nations.”

Following Shau’s statement, Rune, who was currently managing the affairs of Seirun as its acting principal, offered his thoughts.

“This is a welcome revelation. It is undeniable that shadows have faced severe marginalization for an age, simply because their contributions could not be logged into the Hero Records.”

Rune, who possessed the striking looks of a youthful lad but held the status of a revered elder within elven society, spoke with a warm expression that highlighted his profound insight.

“Does this not offer absolute validation that shadows have likewise acted as guardians of our world over the last 5000 years?”

“Hmph.”

“While that perspective might hold weight…”

A few individuals openly displayed their dissatisfaction.

“To claim the First Hero was a shadow is quite a radical notion. It implies his legacy was intentionally erased from history alongside the rest of the shadows back then.”

King Luckit grumbled under his breath, making no effort to hide his irritation.

“Harumph. Are we genuinely expected to place a common shadow on the same pedestal as a Great Hero?”

“Surely this matter demands a thorough and separate deliberation?”

A collection of monarchs voiced their deep unease.

Even with the endorsement of the Dragon Lord and the physical manifestation of a chronicle proving their deeds, a bias that had solidified over thousands of years was not going to vanish overnight.

The contingent of people who viewed shadows with disdain was just as formidable as the group of heroes who supported them.

It was precisely at that moment.

“Do any of you comprehend the true reasoning behind why the First Hero bears that specific title?”

Every set of eyes in the hall snapped back to Melina.

“You all might be entirely oblivious to this historical reality, but…”

Melina snapped the Book of Shadows shut and spoke with absolute serenity.

“The very first among the Great Heroes to perish in battle was Lord Arion.”

Hearing those words, the room fell into a dead silence.

Every child knew the legendary tales of how the Great Heroes threw down the primordial corruption, Erebus.

The existence of the current world stood as living testimony to that victory.

Regrettably…

No surviving documentation detailed the precise events of that final confrontation between the Great Heroes and Erebus.

Three thousand years in the past.

While the foundational heroes worked tirelessly to bind the endlessly reviving fragments of Erebus within the Hero Records, a vast quantity of historical documents were reduced to ashes and lost forever.

Furthermore, during the tumultuous period of tearing, an even greater portion of history was severed away.

Countless fragments of forgotten history were completely incinerated by the forces of Tartarus.

Throughout that chaotic era, the records concerning the ultimate campaign of the Great Heroes faded away into total obscurity.

Consequently, the identity of the person who delivered the finishing blow to Erebus remained a mystery.

The generally accepted belief was that every single Great Hero met their end while attempting to bring down Erebus.

Because the Great Heroes were revered as deities by their respective cultures, the folklore surrounding that climactic clash varied wildly depending on the race telling the story.

Be that as it may, professional scholars and historical experts had collectively surmised a single theory:

The final conflict required the collective, desperate expenditure of all the Great Heroes’ power to barely restrain Erebus, costing every one of them their lives in the process.

The actual truth of that history remained hidden from the world.

A tale that had been banished to the dark corners of antiquity.

Melina, who had received the unvarnished account from someone who actually lived it, began to unveil that forgotten past.

“The Brave One gave up his life because the thought of watching his companions perish was too much to bear. In doing so, he passed down his entire legacy to the First Hero.”

‘The sole reason he stepped forward to act as our bastion… was because he couldn’t handle watching us die.’

It was not the idealized, majestic sacrifice that the public often fantasized about.

In a manner most fitting for Arion, driven by fear…

He met an end entirely unbecoming of a Brave One, filled with terror.

‘Forgive me… I failed to honor my oath to shield you until the very end.’

Leo lowered his eyelids, visualizing the weeping, guilt-ridden coward from his memories.

“Even after Lord Arion fell, the remaining Great Heroes pressed onward without hesitation.”

Jaws dropped across the chamber as Melina delivered her grim narrative.

It dawned on everyone present.

The words falling from Melina’s lips were the long-lost realities of the past.

“The second individual to fall was Lord Dweno. He breathed his last only after forging and leaving behind the instruments capable of striking down Erebus.”

‘Advance, Kyle. Clear a path… for those who will follow in our footsteps. That blade was forged for this exact purpose.’

Dweno had closed his eyes forever, leaving behind his crowning masterpiece, the weapon known as the ‘Beginning.’

“The third to perish was Lady Luna.”

‘I am deeply sorry for placing the weight of my existence upon your shoulders as well.’

Luna had relinquished everything she possessed, proclaiming that if anyone was meant to carry the torch, Kyle was far more suited for it than she could ever be.

“The fourth champion to fall was Lord Lysinas.”

‘We shall deliver this world from ruin.’

Even Lysinas clung fiercely to that conviction without a shred of doubt until his final breath.

“Lord Kyle, who stood entirely alone to vanquish Erebus on behalf of his fallen comrades, was the Final Hero and…”

Melina scanned the room of stunned, silent champions.

“…He was simultaneously the First Hero who initiated the grand epoch of heroes. That is the true origin of his title as the First Hero.”

“My Lady… by what means have you come to possess this knowledge?”

When an individual posed the question with a trembling voice, Melina offered a gentle, serene smile.

“Deep within Dragonia, the hidden histories of countless realms remain preserved.”

Melina softly ran her fingers over the cover of the Book of Shadows before continuing.

“In that ancient era, arbitrary labels such as hero or shadow simply did not exist… The task required someone to execute it… and the First Hero willingly chose to shoulder that immense weight.”

Melina rose to her feet and personally returned the Book of Shadows to its place on the central platform.

“Our world currently stands on the precipice of massive upheaval. We have witnessed the re-emergence of the First Hero alongside the creator of the nebula, immediately followed by the resurgence of the comet mage.”

Melina shifted her gaze toward the representatives of Seirun, then let her eyes linger on Damian.

“We are seeing the rise of potential heroes who have laid claim to Lord Dweno’s historic inheritance.”

At last, Melina’s eyes rested briefly upon Leo.

“And now, we even have the unearthing of the First Hero’s actual chronicle.”

Melina exhaled slowly.

“The discarded legacies of both the Great Heroes and the foundational champions are finding their way back to us. In tandem with this, the machinations of Tartarus have become highly alarming. How much longer do you intend to remain shackled by the outdated prejudices of yesteryear?”

“Guh!”

“That… well…”

“A true hero is an agent who instigates meaningful transformation, far before they are merely an entity of immense strength performing deeds validated by divine powers.”

Unquestionably—

The crowd hung on every single syllable Melina uttered, delivered with absolute gravity.

“This is no longer an era where we can waste time bickering over the status of a ‘hero’ versus a ‘shadow.’ This is the moment we must utterly wipe out the looming shadow of ruin that has plagued us for 5000 years. By my authority as the Dragon Lord, I make this decree.”

The entire room held its collective breath.

“From this day forward, shadows shall walk as absolute equals alongside heroes.”