Chapter 472

Book 1 Chapter 472

472.

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Small birds chirped to signal the arrival of the morning.

“Ugh…”

Lill let out a low moan of discomfort from beneath her blanket, shifting restlessly from side to side.

A severe hangover made her skull ache intensely.

“Give me some water…”

“Take this.”

Sitting up slightly while gripping her achingly painful head, Lill mumbled her request, and a hand beside her extended a container of water.

“Ah, I appreciate it, Leo.”

Offering a faint, weary smile, Lill drank the liquid in heavy gulps.

“Pfft-cough-cough?! Kehek?! Cough! Cough!“

Suddenly, she choked on the fluid and fell into a violent fit of coughing.

“Why—why on earth is Leo sitting right here?!”

Observing Lill ask in a frantic, utterly startled manner, Leo took a calm sip from his own cup before answering.

“This happens to be my quarters. Senior Lill was completely intoxicated last night and ended up resting here instead of returning to your own quarters.”

Hearing his explanation, Lill paused to reflect on the memory, quickly shielding her face with a single palm.

“I acted completely ridiculous. Forgive me, Leo.”

With her ears turning a rare, vibrant shade of crimson, Lill inhaled deeply, stepped off the mattress, and spoke.

“Leo, should a situation like this arise again in the future, please physically eject me from the premises.”

“I didn’t possess any improper motives.”

“I am well aware that you aren’t the type to engage in such behavior, Leo. My concern is simply that it would be highly problematic if baseless gossip began to circulate.”

“It is true that you could face numerous difficulties because of it, Senior.”

“Honestly, you would find yourself in far greater trouble than me, Leo.”

Lill let out a gentle sigh before continuing.

“Leo, you have been the absolute epicenter of global attention since this past year. On top of that, you are now regarded as a true hero. Countless individuals look up to and revere Leo. Yet, conversely, there are bound to be just as many who harbor deep envy and bitterness toward you.”

“That is a fair point.”

“Exactly. Individuals like that will search for any minor flaw to tear Leo down. A scandalous rumors involving women would serve as the ultimate ammunition for them to exploit.”

Lill let out another sigh.

“Granted, looking back through history, there have been plenty of unfaithful heroes. Many prominent figures have strayed from strict moral boundaries. Even if you look at the Justice Guild, it can hardly be considered an ethical group. People understand that reality. They know perfection doesn’t exist.”

Swish—

Lill stepped toward the glass window and drew the drapes aside.

The early morning sunlight flooded into the space.

Basking in the bright rays, Lill narrowed her eyes with a pleasant expression before turning back around.

“Even so, society constantly craves a flawless icon. And in the minds of the public right now, Leo fits that exact description.”

“I don’t particularly stress over the opinions of the public, so there’s no need for you to fret.”

“Haha. Leo’s mental fortitude is truly remarkable. Nevertheless, it is my personal desire to see Leo remain an unblemished hero.”

“For what reason?”

“Because I am fond of Leo.”

With the brilliant sunlight cascading behind her, Lill offered a soft, gentle smile.

“I have looked up to you from the very moment our paths first crossed. Despite you being my junior, I found you utterly incredible. I’ve basically been an ardent admirer from day one.”

“I am flattered.”

“With that being said, I am going to make a formal request of you once more, with absolute sincerity.”

Lill closed the distance between them and dropped down to her knees in front of Leo.

“I genuinely wish to become your pupil. Please grant me this request, Leo.”

Lill spoke with a deeply solemn expression.

“…”

‘I promise to be an excellent student. Please take me under your wing.’

The image of a young elf girl, her eyes gleaming with anticipation for a future she couldn’t yet see, surfaced in his mind.

‘I beg of you, accept me as your student.’

Next came the memory of a human girl, her gaze burning with intense resentment for the current reality before her.

Those two pupils, brought into the world during its most desolate age, ran after completely contrasting goals.

However.

‘What do you intend to achieve once you gain power?’

Kyle had questioned the pair of students, sounding rather irritated.

‘Because I wish to offer something back to this world, even in a small way.’

‘I want to dedicate my entire being to aiding the world.’

‘Their dispositions are completely opposite to Berchiana and Vihar, though.’

“I wish to become someone capable of offering something back to the world.”

‘Why do their expressions look so identical?’

A completely unwavering look.

A mindset that placed the well-being of the world far above their own lives.

Sensing that she bore a striking resemblance to Lisinas in that moment, Leo spoke.

“I intend to be brutally strict.”

“That is precisely what I am hoping for!”

“I will also address you casually from now on.”

“That is perfectly fine! To be honest, Leo… no, Master has always felt like an older brother to me anyway.”

Lill, who had been beaming with a radiant smile, paused to reflect for a moment before posing a rather unusual dilemma.

“Now that I think about it, wouldn’t people find it incredibly bizarre if I, your senior, refer to my junior as Master out in public?”

“Simply interact with me as you normally do. For that matter, why don’t you use casual speech when we are in the presence of others?”

“I absolutely cannot do that. Irrespective of age, I cannot bring myself to speak informally to someone of higher standing.”

Lill shook her head with absolute resolve.

Hailing from a family with deep military roots, she was unyieldingly rigid when it came to matters of hierarchy.

“Hmm. If using the title ‘Master’ feels too awkward, should I perhaps refer to you as ‘Oppa’?”

“Wouldn’t the public find that even more peculiar?”

“I suppose they would, wouldn’t they?”

Lill pondered deeply for a moment before suddenly blurting out,

“What about… ‘Hyung’ then?”

‘Why is it that every single person who desires to become my student possesses such an eccentric way of thinking?’

Leo found himself pondering this question in all seriousness.

Had Luna been present, she likely would have cracked a joke like, ‘That’s because you aren’t normal yourself,’ but Luna was nowhere to be found.

Later that same morning.

Leo and Lill adjusted their school attire and made their way toward the grand reception hall to obtain an audience with the sovereign.

The King had previously forwarded a message indicating his desire to push the meeting back until the evening hours, blaming the lingering physical toll of the prior night’s celebration.

Leo found the notion of delaying the meeting until the evening—rather than just the afternoon—utterly preposterous, yet at the exact same time, it made perfect sense to him.

‘If he is the type of ruler who would completely drain the royal treasury to throw a lavish festival while his territory faces annihilation, he would undoubtedly act this way.’

“If he has absolutely no desire to grant me an audience at this moment, I will conclude that our assistance is unneeded and return straight to Lumerne. Whether your kingdom falls or survives, resolve the crisis on your own.”

Prompted by those sharp words, the panicked state officials scrambled frantically, successfully securing an audience for the morning hours.

“Your Grandeur, Duke Leo Flov and Duke Lill Luce have arrived to see you.”

“Show them inside.”

Creak—

The massive doors swung open.

With the path cleared, Leo and Lill stepped into the formal council chamber where matters of the state were debated.

The figure that commanded their immediate attention was, unsurprisingly, King Cannell, who sat upon the elevated throne.

He glared down at Leo and Lill with eyes heavily bloodshot from spirits, making no effort to hide his irritation.

“Welcome, Duke Flov, Duke Luce. To press for an audience so urgently before the exhaustion of the celebration has even faded… Is there truly a matter of such critical importance?”

It was an attitude completely inappropriate for a sovereign whose domain was on the brink of ruin.

‘He belongs to that class of individuals who view being superior to others as an inherent birthright.’

Such figures were common even during the dark era of the Age of Calamity.

People who contributed absolutely nothing of value but happened to be born into elite lineages, taking every single luxury for granted.

Naturally, every last one of them met a similarly brutal demise.

‘Throughout the Age of Peace, they merely looked on without acting.’

When global conditions remain stable, the superficial privileges of bloodline can serve as a shield.

But in an environment completely stripped of established laws and societal structure, lineage holds absolutely zero worth.

Even so, their insatiable desire to claim more than the common folk could never be suppressed.

As a result, a countless number of royals and high-ranking aristocrats were utterly slaughtered during the Age of Calamity.

‘Though, in the aftermath, highly competent individuals with dark motives managed to grasp the reigns of authority.’

Back when Lisinas oversaw Gardthron, she administered the territory strictly according to individual capability.

‘Lisinas didn’t just possess exceptional bureaucratic talents; her ability to see through a person’s true nature was downright terrifying.’

In truth, the distinct talents of Lisinas played a monumental role in completely halting the forces of Tartarus, going far beyond the mere containment of Erebus.

Leo focused his gaze, watching the ruler intently.

Lill appeared to be on the very edge of snapping and voicing her anger, but she managed to suppress her temper out of respect for Leo.

Leo initiated the conversation.

“Is there an underlying motive behind the Justice Guild attempting to bring about the downfall of the Cannell Kingdom?”

“I am entirely in the dark regarding that matter. I cannot comprehend why the Justice Guild, an organization that claims to champion righteousness, would choose to back Pettiman—a primitive territory completely lacking in noble heritage—instead of our beloved Cannell, which possesses such rich historical depth.”

He let out a mocking sneer.

“Nevertheless, there has to be a specific objective behind their actions, correct?”

“Hmph. Given that those lawless thugs have recently been pillaging the resting places of ancient champions, they must be after the sacred legacy of the Cannell Kingdom.”

“Does Cannell possess some sort of treasure that the Justice Guild would desire so intensely? If that is the case, how does that connect to the desecration of the champions’ resting places?”

Faced with Leo’s direct inquiry, King Cannell flinched visibly before suddenly clutching his temples.

“Ugh—my skull is throbbing far too intensely. Chamberlain!”

“Right here, Your Majesty!”

The personal servant stationed behind the throne bowed low.

“My head is absolutely splitting due to the alcohol!”

“Understood, sire. I shall immediately procure refreshments and tonics designed to alleviate a hangover.”

‘He has absolutely no intention of revealing the truth to me.’

Leo narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

‘So the entities responsible for plundering the graves of the ancient heroes were indeed members of the Justice Guild?’

The precise motivation remained obscured.

Yet, going by the statements made by King Cannell, it was undeniably evident that the Justice Guild was actively raiding the historical tombs within this realm.

‘Could this be tied directly to the notorious Necromancer King?’

He had already deduced long ago that the Justice Guild was far from a rational or noble faction.

And the singular entity capable of masterfully manipulating an organization of that nature was none other than the Necromancer King.

“Regardless, the pressing issue at hand is that the Justice Guild is meddling in this conflict without any justifiable cause, posing a direct threat to our realm. I am officially requesting that Lumerne step in to mediate.”

Leo let the edge of his mouth curl upward into a faint smirk as he watched King Cannell deliberately act ignorant.

Following a brief exchange of superficial pleasantries, Leo exited the audience hall and tightly compressed the digits of his left hand.

Crack—

The distinct, unsettling sound of popping knuckles resonated through the quiet corridor from his left hand.

‘Should I simply compel him to speak?’

Extracting information from a physically helpless monarch would require minimal effort.

Vihar had previously extracted and preserved the specific pages chronicling Kyle’s covert operations as a shadow operative after the completion of the Hero Record.

Those hidden logs of Kyle’s shadow exploits contained detailed accounts of highly severe interrogation methods.

Vihar had intentionally removed and hidden that specific segment of Kyle’s Hero Record for that very reason.

She simply wished to protect her master’s reputation from being viewed in a dark light by future generations.

Leo continued down the stone hallway, letting a dark, aggressive thought swirl in his mind.

Walking right beside him, Lill was similarly immersed in deep reflection.

“It is glaringly obvious that he is withholding information. What could he possibly be concealing?”

“Would the two of you care to let me shed some light on that matter?”

Hearing an unfamiliar voice emerge from behind them, Leo and Lill turned around simultaneously.

Standing before them was a young man who appeared to be in his late teenage years.

His expression conveyed immense cleverness.

Yet, a distinct air of melancholy seemed to weigh heavily upon him.

“Who might you be?”

As Lill tilted her head to one side in curiosity, the young man offered a polite self-introduction.

“My identity is Jeremin Cannell. I hold the title of crown prince within this domain.”

Jeremin, having delivered a highly respectful greeting, spoke with absolute seriousness.

“I possess highly critical information that I must convey to you both. Could you perhaps grant me a moment of your time?”

The destination to which Jeremin escorted the pair was located completely outside the boundaries of the royal palace grounds.

They made the journey utilizing a royal transport.

As they rode, Lill casually parted the window drape to observe the passing environment outside.

The citizens of the capital, recognizing the royal crest emblazoned on the vehicle, quickly dipped their heads in respect.

However, the expressions they harbored were devoid of genuine warmth.

The garments worn by the local populace were universally tattered and impoverished.

“It appears the state of this realm is incredibly dire.”

Hearing Lill’s observation, Jeremin let out a heavy, weary sigh.

“There is little that can be done to alter it. It pains me deeply to admit this, but… the oppressive misrule of my sire and the high council grows more severe with each passing day.”

A wave of profound sorrow washed over Jeremin’s features.

“They completely disregard administrative duties to wallow in extravagance. Even when the Pettiman Kingdom initiated a massive, coordinated assault, their primary concern was organizing a grand festival… yet the moment news of your arrival reached them yesterday, it was as if they cast aside whatever remaining restraint they had left…”

Jeremin’s facial features contorted with anger.

It was entirely clear that he harbored deep resentment toward his royal sire and the ruling ministers.

“So, what is the nature of the revelation you intended to share?”

In response to Leo’s prompt, Jeremin provided his answer.

“The core motivation driving the Justice Guild’s assault on our domain. Furthermore, it is a prize that would undoubtedly capture the attention of Lumerne as well.”

“What exactly are they searching for?”

“The true objective of the Justice Guild is the ancient Tomb of the Knight of the Underworld. They are aggressively seeking it out after uncovering intelligence suggesting it rests hidden somewhere within our borders.”

“The fabled Tomb of the Knight of the Underworld? Is that not a concept confined purely to myth?”

Lill tilted her head, sounding skeptical.

Jeremin shook his head from side to side to dismiss her doubt.

“Far from it. This knowledge is a highly classified truth transmitted down through the lineage of the crown, making its existence absolute. Granted, the precise coordinates remain a mystery.”

Upon hearing Jeremin’s revelation, Leo became deeply lost in thought.

‘The legendary Knight of the Underworld.’

Leo was personally well-acquainted with the history of this particular champion.

Moreover, he was fully aware of the immense hoard of mythical relics that the warrior was rumored to have amassed.

‘Is it true that the Knight of the Underworld collected not only the armaments of his loyal comrades, but also the treasures of every single adversary he brought down?’

The Knight of the Underworld was known by a myriad of alternative titles.

The most prominent among them was the prestigious title of Hero Emperor.

Yet another highly renowned moniker associated with him was…

‘The Conqueror.’

An identity forged by aggressively annexing vast territories and bringing down countless legendary warriors.

Accounts claimed that every single relic wielded by those fallen champions was interred alongside him within his final resting place.

Unearthing such a treasure trove would undeniably provide a massive advantage to the forces of Lumerne.

‘And it wouldn’t benefit Lumerne alone. It would extend to the foreign clans as well.’

For the ancient champions who met their demise at the hands of the Knight of the Underworld included figures from various non-human lineages.

“Even assuming this is a legitimate secret preserved by the monarchy, if the exact location remains completely lost to time, how can it be pursued? Are such mythological tales not standard lore within practically any royal household?”

As Lill voiced her lingering skepticism, a knowing smile formed on Jeremin’s face.

“You need not concern yourself with that aspect. The specific artifact required to unlock the inner vault of the final resting place has undeniably been handed down through our royal line.”

“Hmm.”

Absorbing Jeremin’s claim, Lill crossed her arms over her chest and fell into silent contemplation.

In the meantime, the transport exited the main city hub and pulled to a halt in front of a massive, heavily decayed training arena situated on the rural outskirts.

“What is this location?”

“It is known as the Tomb of the Vanquished.”

“The Tomb of the Vanquished?”

As Lill’s eyes widened in surprise, Jeremin let out a melancholic, self-deprecating smile.

“Correct. Lore dictates that this is the precise ground where the remains of the champions bested by the Knight of the Underworld in the ancient past were cast aside. Of course, it is widely regarded as mere myth.”

“For what reason did you escort us to this spot?”

Leo inquired as he pushed open the transport door and stepped onto the ground, prompting Jeremin to speak.

“To propose a mutually beneficial agreement. For the time being, please follow my lead.”

Jeremin began walking forward to guide them.

Lill fell into step right behind him.

Just as Leo, having carefully analyzed the surrounding terrain, prepared to take his initial step forward.

[Pay close attention to my words, Kyle.]

His movements froze instantly as an incredibly familiar voice resonated from directly behind him.

[The whispers of the spirits.]

Overcome by sheer shock, he spun around on his heel completely by instinct.

“Lisinas?”

Swish—

No voice returned an answer to Leo’s sudden call.

Nothing but a desolate, empty stretch of land filled his line of sight.