Chapter 465

Berkia Eisar

The trio of supreme legends among the Elven people, standing alongside the Progenitor of Nebulae, the Fairy Knight, and the Comet Sorcerer.

She is celebrated as the savior who spearheaded the world’s restoration and the revival of her kin following the conclusion of the Age of Calamity.

‘Yet in this modern era, when it comes to sheer fame, she actually trails behind that guy Seirun.’

Leo leaned his chin on his palm, staring down at his open manual.

‘It’s a natural consequence. The accounts detailing Berkia’s exploits are few and far between. Furthermore, even though she is grouped with the figures of the Age of Heroes, technically speaking, she belongs to the exact same generation as us.’

A staggering 5,000 years had slipped by.

Though Berkia’s legends had been preserved through her lineage, the Eisar household, those stories belonged to a bygone era.

To make matters worse, the ancient Chronicles of Heroes suffered severe damage three millennia ago amid the chaos of binding the shard of Erebus.

Three thousand years ago.

When compared to Seirun, who rescued civilization from Erebus a second time, it was only logical that her modern renown paled in comparison.

Leo had personally searched for any remnants concerning his former student, Berkia.

Yet throughout those numerous scrolls, he failed to uncover any precise descriptions regarding the true nature of Berkia’s martial power.

‘Nevertheless, Berkia’s ultimate ceiling was boundless back then. There is no way Berkia would have neglected her training.’

Leo let out a slightly melancholic smirk as he reminisced about his pupil.

He harbored no profound regrets concerning his previous incarnation.

He had existed in a time that hovered on the literal brink of global oblivion, yet he possessed companions who felt like true kin, and together, they ultimately rescued civilization.

Even if they bequeathed the task to subsequent eras in a flawed state, he had been granted a fresh destiny to eradicate the ancient malice in this current lifetime.

The passing of those loved ones who felt like family brought immense grief.

Yet not a single comrade lamented their own demise.

No one wept over a tomorrow they could neither experience nor witness.

Because of that, Leo merely mourned the loss of his battlefield companions.

He never pitied them.

The journey of Kyle was much the same.

His path had been defined by constant theft and profound loss.

Yet because he fulfilled a monumental purpose, he departed without remorse.

‘If there remained any lingering sorrow or unfinished business, however,’

It lay in the fact that he was unable to witness his students’ ultimate development to the very conclusion.

The fate of Bihart, in particular, was deeply sorrowful.

‘Despite possessing the capability to walk beneath the sun, he existed entirely within the shadows.’

He, too, undoubtedly traversed that dark road to safeguard the world passed down by the legendary champions, yet for Leo, the reality left a sour taste.

Berkia’s situation was no different.

Owing to the immense gulf of time, Leo remained ignorant of what befell his student after his own passing.

Berkia and Lumiern.

Because of this gap, it was nearly impossible to deduce which of the two possessed greater might.

Just how far Berkia had advanced.

What summit she had managed to conquer, Leo remained entirely unaware.

But…

‘She possessed a gift that both Luna and Arion openly praised. Her instincts as a hybrid spellsword were also peerless. She undoubtedly attained an unimaginable level of power, far beyond the Berkia of my recollections.’

Though she proved unable to master Luna’s stellar sorcery, she established her own distinct arcane framework utilizing the foundational principles passed down by her instructor.

Though she never fully inherited Arion’s precise aura methodologies, she forged her own unique martial styles using the fundamental concepts her instructor provided.

‘Reflecting on it once more, the melancholy runs deep.’

Leo shut his eyelids and let out a heavy breath.

‘What sort of individual did Berkia ultimately become?’

While Leo remained lost in his thoughts regarding Berkia.

A lively debate was unfolding among the gathered pupils.

For the most part, the collective sentiment leaned heavily toward championing the Knight of Twilight, a figure who felt immensely more relatable to their lives.

Observing the debating pupils, Mel chimed in.

“As everyone is well aware, Lumiern-nim represents the champion who delivered civilization from ruin once more following the era of the Great Heroes.”

Thump— thump—

“In contrast, Berkia-nim is recognized by most of us solely for organizing the reconstruction of civilization.”

The pupils gave affirmative nods.

“However, do you truly believe reconstructing an entire shattered world was a simple feat?”

“Well, it must have been incredibly grueling.”

“Naturally, it wouldn’t have been simple.”

“But wasn’t Erebus already vanquished by that point?”

Mel offered an understanding nod to the pupils’ remarks.

“That is true, but even with Erebus eliminated, did global harmony manifest instantaneously?”

“That’s…”

As the pupils’ voices diminished, Mel scrawled the phrase onto the slate.

“Scarcely any documentation survives, but surely you have all caught wind of the Great War?”

The Great War.

It was a campaign initiated by Tartarus to fulfill the grand ambitions of Erebus after the primary entity had been brought down.

“Historians frequently overlook this conflict. It erupted immediately after Erebus fell, and with Erebus eliminated, Tartarus was considered to have sustained a fatal blow.”

The pupils nodded along with Mel’s explanation.

“Yet during that specific window, Tartarus’s martial strength remained entirely whole. Even stripped of their supreme authority, a Legion Commander remains a force to be reckoned with. Tartarus’s military might was staggering back then. According to ancient logs, the era when Tartarus commanded its most terrifying strength across the entire 5,000-year Age of Heroes was precisely during that conflict.”

The battle for civilization’s survival did not conclude simply because Erebus was brought to an end.

“Historical scrolls indicate the Great War raged for an entire decade. It was Berkia-nim who steered that campaign to a triumphant finish.”

Hearing this, a pupil lifted their hand.

“Didn’t Gadstron successfully hold the line against Tartarus’s incursions even while Erebus loomed?”

“Indeed. Yet just as Tartarus could no longer rely on Erebus, the mortal realm had similarly bidden farewell to the Great Heroes.”

At those words, a hushed silence fell over the classroom.

Mel flashed a gentle grin.

“The core lesson of today’s lecture isn’t about deciding whether the founding champions were superior or if the modern champions reign supreme. It isn’t about determining whether Lumiern-nim outmatches Berkia-nim. The primary objective of today’s study is for all of you to grasp that the champions of the founding era were just as monumental and potent as those who followed.”

Ding-dong-dang-dong—

Right on cue, the chimes indicating the conclusion of the lecture echoed through the halls.

Mel maintained her pleasant expression as she stacked her texts.

“For our subsequent gathering, please draft an analysis regarding the narratives of the founding champions and the lessons we can extract from them. Dismissed.”

Groans materialized from various corners of the room following Mel’s directive.

Finding detailed context regarding the champions of the founding era was notoriously difficult.

“Argh! We’ve been lumped with a truly brutal assignment.”

Iliana scratched at her scalp in frustration.

“Though I honestly feel it’s a vital topic. At the recent gathering of leaders, the reality of historical archives detailing champions from before the Age of Calamity was formally validated, wasn’t it?”

“Correct. Documentation of champions that remained buried until now is steadily surfacing. Perhaps a time will arrive when we actively engage with their historical records. Preparing ahead of time is a smart move.”

Chen Shia grinned warmly before turning her attention toward Leo.

“Young Master Leo, which historic champion are you intending to analyze for your paper?”

“The Fairy Knight, Berkia.”

He intended to write a piece about his former student to keep things simple for himself.

“Oh, if that’s the case, as a fellow wielder of the spellsword, I would also love to focus on Berkia-nim…”

“I have no intention of sharing my notes.”

“How utterly cold!”

Iliana, who had been rubbing her jaw, snapped at Leo’s blunt rejection.

“Hey, everyone! A major update just dropped!”

In that instant, Carl, who had been conversing with a member of the maintenance crew working nearby, dashed over to Leo’s group with wide eyes.

“What’s the news?”

As Iliana’s gaze sharpened with curiosity, Carl blurted out.

“Word is a bulletin board for missions has just been erected in the central square of the second-year residential area!”

Upon hearing his statement, the nearby pupils stiffened.

The mission board.

This was undeniably the grading assignment for the second-semester martial curriculum that Sedgen had briefed them on earlier that morning.

Just as the pupils prepared to bolt from the room.

Whoosh—! Snap—!

“Ack!”

A binding lash sliced through the air and coiled tightly around Carl’s throat.

“For what reason are you delivering this critical intelligence to pupils of rival dormitories first, Carl Thomas?”

“What’s the harm? It benefits everyone if we’re all informed…”

“Have you completely slipped your mind that your loyalty lies with Noble?”

As Eliza delivered her frosty reprimand, Iliana crossed her arms, let out a mocking chuckle, and smirked.

“Weren’t you aware? Carl is an informant we managed to embed! In any case, everyone! We need to move fast! The premium assignments are going to get grabbed instantly!”

Iliana bolted out the door.

“Hey! If I’m an informant you embedded, at least help me out here!”

“You belong to Noble!”

Carl offered a self-pitying smirk, watching Iliana dash away without a backward glance.

“What a profoundly moving bond of companionship.”

As Eliza clicked her tongue, Carl countered.

“Even so, Leo, Chloe, and Chelsea didn’t leave, right? You guys are the real ones!”

“We merely remained behind because the nature of the assignment doesn’t particularly matter to us.”

When Chelsea replied with complete indifference, Carl let out a soft laugh.

“In that case, I suppose you won’t be needing these?”

Carl retrieved a handful of parchment sheets from his coat pocket.

Chloe’s eyes went wide the moment she spotted them.

“Aren’t those official assignment sheets?”

“Precisely. I requested the administration staff to secure the premium mission documents the moment the bulletin board was assembled. As I always say, connections are everything!”

Carl stroked his jaw, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

“Fascinating, I knew Carl wouldn’t just hand over all the premium intelligence without a fallback plan.”

As Chen Shia beamed, Chelsea inquired.

“Then why didn’t you offer a quiet warning to Iliana as well?”

“Consider it payback for leaving me behind.”

Carl smirked, smoothing out the assignment sheets.

“On a side note, Leo. I merely grabbed a tiny handful of documents, so it shouldn’t constitute an infraction of academy regulations, right? There won’t be an issue if I return them shortly.”

Carl directed his gaze toward Leo as he spoke.

“I have no plans to blow your cover.”

Leo chuckled softly, allowing Carl to let out a breath of relief.

“There really are some exceptional missions here.”

Among the top-tier A-rank assignments, there were numerous high-value options offering massive compensation or straightforward parameters coupled with excellent grade point potential.

“Carl, which objective are you planning to pursue?”

“The Northern Magic Tower requires an assistant proficient in transmutation. Chloe, you’re acquainted with the daughter of the Northern Magic Tower Master, correct?”

“Yes. Anais unnie is of mixed elven blood, but she is a wonderful person.”

“Oh, transmutation. They require a trio of aides; do you think I could tag along?”

Chen Shia expressed immediate curiosity.

Catching their exchange, Leo brought to mind the figure of Anais Begs.

‘Anais? The individual whose vision was compromised?’

Her public facade was that of the Northern Magic Tower Master’s child, but in truth, she operated within the shadows.

Chen Shia was privy to that reality, which explained her sudden intrigue.

“Young Master Leo, what are your thoughts on this specific objective?”

“I already have a particular task in mind.”

“Is that so?”

As Chen Shia broadcasted her disappointment, Chloe spoke up.

“In that case, perhaps I should take it?”

Chloe displayed genuine interest.

“Brother Leo, what sort of assignment caught your eye? Could it be that you received an exclusive nomination?”

As Chelsea tilted her head in curiosity, Leo’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“No, there is simply an objective that has been nagging at my mind.”

A week drifted past.

The transit portal area was packed with second-year pupils.

Beginning from today, the second-year contingent was being deployed on field assignments and sent beyond the perimeter of the academy.

Leo’s chosen path led him directly to an isolated territory situated in the northeastern quadrant of the mainland.

The task at hand was the [Investigation of the Tomb Robbery of a Hero] mission he had noted on the primary plaza board a while back.

‘The northeastern sector of the mainland is a territory where multiple minor principalities are locked in a struggle for dominance, correct?’

It currently stood as the zone plagued by the most volatile security and governance issues on the entire continent.

‘The faction requesting aid is a noble household of viscount rank within the Carnell Kingdom.’

It was while Leo was reviewing the parameters of the operation.

‘By the way, it appears other pupils selected this exact assignment besides myself?’

Given that it was a mission heavily shrouded in puzzle-solving elements, he assumed he would be operating solo, but it appeared some peculiar individual had opted for the same task.

‘Did someone shadow me simply because I selected this mission?’

Aware that the female student body had been directing an immense amount of focus toward him of late, the possibility crossed his mind.

Because unless an individual possessed a truly bizarre personality, they wouldn’t willingly sign up for an assignment of this nature.

It was while Leo remained deep in thought.

“Oh? Could you be Leo, the one who signed up for the [Investigation of the Tomb Robbery of a Hero] assignment?”

A recognizable voice drifted toward Leo, offering a pleasant salutation.

Leo shifted his stance and observed the student strolling toward his position.

The female pupil, moving with a perfectly composed stride, was none other than the third-year class chief, Lil Luce.

“Are you assigned as my partner, senior?”

“Spot on! Leo! I never would have guessed you possessed a fondness for solving mysteries!”

Lil beamed radiantly, taking hold of Leo’s hand to give it an energetic shake.

“Senior, is there a particular motivation behind your choice of this assignment?”

“Absolutely! Because it involves a mystery!”

‘As expected, she truly is quite an unconventional individual.’

Leo offered a silent, amused chuckle to himself.