Chapter 496

Book 1 Chapter 496

Underneath an overcast, leaden sky.

The legendary champions, having finally concluded their fierce clash against the Legion Commander, caught their breath heavily.

“I—I genuinely believed my life was over just now,” Arion admitted, his complexion utterly drained of color.

“You aren’t the only one. It never crossed my mind that a Legion Commander could possess such a terrifying talent.”

Dwenno, typically unbothered and stoic regardless of the circumstances, set his heavy battle-ax aside and spoke in a grim tone.

“Even so, this means we have successfully overcome the second major crisis since our encounter with Jormungandr. Exceptional work, everyone,” Licinas remarked, drawing a long breath to soothe his weary companions.

“By the way, where did Kyle and Luna get off to?” Dwenno inquired, looking around inquisitively.

“Luna dragged Kyle along, mentioning that they were heading toward the regional archives here.”

“Hmph. The one who desperately requires recuperation gets hauled away by the one who barely took any damage.”

Licinas could only offer a faint, wry smile at those words.

In truth, that particular Legion Commander served as an absolute counter to Kyle’s specific strengths.

Conversely, Luna possessed an innate immunity to the adversary’s unique capabilities.

‘If Luna hadn’t been here, the outcome of this engagement might have been truly catastrophic,’ Licinas thought, a cold shiver running down his spine.

“I don’t get why Luna is always collecting piles of sorcery texts from the libraries of every town we free,” Arion remarked, being the solitary warrior in the group without any arcane training, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“To further her arcane research, obviously,” Dwenno replied.

“But Luna stands at the absolute pinnacle of wizardry across the globe. What could possibly be left for someone of her caliber to discover?” Arion pressed, unconvinced by Dwenno’s brief response, his lack of understanding evident.

Turning his gaze toward Arion, Licinas intervened, “Spellcasters share an old saying. Regardless of a wizard’s supreme mastery, they can still gather wisdom from a common street-side diviner.”

“Oh, I see. So she examines different grimoires just to broaden her own horizons.”

“Put simply, that is true. However, beyond that practical motivation, Luna harbors an ultimate ambition.”

“An ambition? Like what?” Arion asked, tilting his head to the side.

“Luna desires to master every single form of sorcery that has ever existed in this world.”

“That sounds completely ridiculous, doesn’t it?” Arion’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

Even a person like Arion, completely ignorant of the mystical arts, understood one fundamental truth.

The varieties of spells scattered across the realm were truly limitless.

Gaining mastery over every single one was a borderline unachievable endeavor.

“It certainly sounds impossible, given that magic is a field dedicated to uncovering an infinity of mysteries,” Licinas agreed with a gentle grin. “But to a spellcaster like Luna, deciphering an unfamiliar enchantment brings a sense of unparalleled euphoria.”

A sudden, arid gust of wind swept past them.

“To someone like her, a realm overflowing with undiscovered spells must feel like paradise itself.”

“…Could this actually be paradise?”

Upon entering the repository of the second-year magic department, Luna stood frozen, whispering in sheer awe as she took in the massive arrays of esoteric texts spread out before her.

With trembling fingers, she pulled a foundational spellbook meant for modern novices, flipped it open, and suddenly pressed the back of her wrist against her forehead, letting out a dramatic groan before swaying on her feet.

“I am overflowing with such joy that my heart might stop. Seriously, I wouldn’t even mind if it did.”

“Your heart stopped a long time ago,” Leo interjected dryly from her side, though Luna completely tuned him out, her gaze entirely locked onto the pages of the grimoire.

‘An introductory textbook like this is bound to focus heavily on modern activation formulas.’

Leo had only truly begun analyzing contemporary spellcraft after enrolling at Lumerin.

That was his very first encounter with the concept known as an activation formula.

Despite his historical status as an unrivaled master of the craft, his paradigm was rooted in the knowledge of 5000 years ago, leaving him initially baffled by how these modern mechanisms functioned.

“Incredible, generations later they’ve designed frameworks that trigger entirely through simple recitation.”

Yet Luna, upon inspecting the structural blueprint of the formula, deciphered its underlying logic almost instantly.

“I kind of want to test it out.”

“Since this is the academy’s dedicated arcane library, minor spellcasting is permitted.”

“Perfect. Watch this.”

Utilizing the modern framework, Luna effortlessly channeled a basic enchantment.

“Fascinating.”

She let out a soft cry of admiration.

It was a standard ignition spell meant to produce a tiny flame.

Without missing a beat, Luna altered the activation matrix right then and there, compacting the flame into a concentrated sphere of fire.

“Still as brilliant as ever, I see.”

“Hehe. Who do you think you’re talking to? I am the illustrious Lady Luna herself!”

Luna beamed with undeniable pride.

She had completely deciphered and adapted a foreign casting method after just a single glance.

Dispersing the heat, she suddenly gasped softly.

“Do you think my lingering attachment to life stems from not witnessing the boundless evolution of spellcraft?”

Hearing her muse aloud, Leo rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“That seems highly probable.”

“Haha, absolutely. My yearning to unravel the mysteries of magic was always intense.”

“You did have a habit of looking at unfamiliar books with an insatiable hunger.”

“What a terrible way to phrase it. Do you honestly think a word like ‘insatiable’ applies to a pure, innocent soul like me?”

“It describes you flawlessly.”

Luna promptly jabbed Leo in the ribs.

Wincing from the impact, Leo clutched his side and grumbled, “At any rate, you’ll have all the time in the world to pore over these archives later. Let’s pause for now.”

“But I want to keep reading right this second!”

As she clutched the tome tightly to her chest, Leo sighed and shook his head.

“There is someone waiting who needs to see you.”

“Someone waiting for me?”

Luna blinked in confusion, her attention shifting.

[Ah…]

The venerable Elf King, a being who had walked the earth for 5000 years, began to shake as he gazed upon the ancient partner of his life-binding pact.

[This… this cannot be an illusion, can it?]

“You have truly grown into someone magnificent, Silode. Then again, five millennia have drifted by.”

[Luna!]

Silode rushed through the air toward her, as Luna smiled warmly through a sheen of tears.

Clinging tightly to Luna’s hair, Silode wept with intense emotion.

“Yes, you did wonderfully. Truly wonderfully.”

Gently tracing Silode’s head with the pad of her finger, Luna offered a tender smile as tears finally spilled over.

Observing the scene, Leo could only smile softly with a hint of nostalgia.

‘To think I would witness Luna and Silode reunited in this current age.’

Luna had been there the very moment Silode came into the world, establishing their mystical bond right then.

Even beyond the constraints of their magical contract, their connection was that of genuine family.

‘Perhaps one of Luna’s deepest regrets was failing to fulfill the vow she made to Silode.’

Right before setting out on her ultimate, fateful campaign.

Luna had given Silode her word.

She promised that she would return without fail.

Ultimately, fate cut her life short, forcing her to close her eyes forever without fulfilling that oath.

If that unkept promise had chained her spirit as a lingering regret, this moment of reunion would undoubtedly grant her peace.

Within the sanctuary of the Elf King, the trio who had once fought to preserve existence during the Age of Calamity sat down to converse.

“Tell me, who did Berkhia end up marrying?”

“She chose a completely ordinary young Elven man. Quite unexpected, isn’t it?”

“A regular Elven youth?”

Luna’s eyes widened in sheer astonishment.

This was a piece of history that Leo was discovering for the first time as well.

“That stubborn girl always insisted she would never wed anyone who couldn’t best her in combat, didn’t she?”

“She certainly did.”

Luna looked equally mystified.

“He possessed no extraordinary power, but he was incredibly genuine, gentle, and warm-hearted. He was precisely the sort of individual meant to inhabit a peaceful new era.”

Silode spoke softly, his expression reflecting deep remembrance.

“He was an Elf who brought profound serenity to anyone in his presence. It was likely that very quality that drew Berkhia to Myde.”

“So that was the reason?”

Luna tilted her head thoughtfully.

“Berkhia carried an immense amount of weariness during those days,” Silode explained with a quiet sigh. “Mending a broken world was an arduous task. The shattered societal structures demanded reconstruction. The stabilizing order that Licinas had established in Gadthron dissolved into utter turmoil the moment Licinas was gone.”

Had the legendary figures who preserved the world managed to survive, the transition into peacetime likely would have proceeded without such severe friction.

Tragically, they all perished while eliminating the final threat of Erebus.

Those champions were undeniably the protectors of civilization.

But above all else, they served as an absolute deterrent against human malice.

Not all souls are inherently noble.

While many display genuine altruism, others harbor deeply twisted impulses.

Yet, when society hovers on the brink of complete annihilation, such dark impulses accelerate total ruin.

Licinas never permitted such corruption to take root.

‘I made sure to eliminate those who operated maliciously from the shadows.’

[A vast number of Gadthron’s citizens eventually reverted into wicked individuals driven purely by greed.]

“I find that hard to accept. The people of Gadthron always seemed entirely righteous to me.”

Luna looked visibly distressed by the revelation.

[Reflecting upon it now, I suspect they were merely suppressing their darker inclinations.]

The grand champions and the endless sea of brave souls had laid down their lives for the realm.

Because they stood as shining paragons, the world facing extinction had ironically manifested as a highly unified and virtuous society.

Countless individuals had chosen selflessness over selfishness.

“So they simply masked their true malice out of terror regarding our strength?”

As Leo voiced his thought, Luna fell silent for a moment before offering a thoughtful perspective.

“I doubt fear was the sole motivator. Don’t you think they simply desired to live with profound purpose, precisely because tomorrow was never guaranteed?”

Luna offered a bittersweet smile.

“Whenever Gadthron faced a catastrophe, every single person stood shoulder to shoulder to help. The unity we witnessed back then was definitely not a lie.”

Listening to her words, Leo drifted back into his memories.

To a reincarnated soul like Leo, those events felt like an ancient epoch, but for Luna, the memories remained as clear as the previous day.

“It is a strange paradox. That humanity displays its most benevolent nature only when staring down total destruction.”

“Perhaps that collective kindness is exactly why the world survived in the first place,” Luna countered with deep sincerity.

“So, she ended up falling for a partner she met while laboring to piece society back together and implement order?”

[Indeed.]

“Was her life a happy one?” Leo inquired in his usual blunt manner, prompting a gentle, warm expression from Silode.

[She appeared radiates with joy whenever she was beside Myde. It mirrored the happiness she felt when she was in the company of you two.]

“I am glad to hear that,” Leo murmured with a low chuckle.

“What is this? After all the endless bickering you did with Berkhia? Why the sudden concern for your student, especially after you boldly claimed she would only grow up once she suffered a bit alongside some bizarre man?”

“What kind of person do you take me for?”

“A completely heartless cynic.”

Luna beamed radiantly, answering without a shred of hesitation.

Leo simply sighed, shaking his head at her behavior.

“I naturally worry about those we left behind. Furthermore…”

“Furthermore?”

“That girl… it seems she viewed me as a parental figure.”

At that sudden revelation, Luna’s eyes went wide.

“You? Like a father?”

“Yes.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“She confessed it herself. I caught wind of it back in the Hero’s World.”

Luna stared intently at Leo for a moment before bursting into a fit of stifled giggles.

“You know, that actually makes perfect sense.”

‘They always did behave exactly like a lecturing father and a rebellious teenager.’

As her giggles subsided, a spark of playful excitement lit up Luna’s face.

“Does that make me the mother then?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re just as reckless as she was, so she undoubtedly viewed you as an older sister at best.”

Luna promptly aimed a kick at Leo’s backside.

Naturally, Leo anticipated the movement and slipped away.

While Luna huffed in annoyance, Silode offered a gentle smile and intervened, “Berkhia truly regarded both of you as her parents.”

“See! I knew it! I always looked at Berkhia as my own flesh and blood!”

Luna crossed her arms, wearing a look of absolute triumph.

“If you truly considered her a daughter, you should have actually corrected her behavior. You pampered her to the point where her ego grew more insufferable by the day.”

Luna clamped her hands over her ears, deliberately ignoring Leo’s complaints.

Rolling his eyes at her antics, Leo turned back to the spirit.

“Silode, step aside with me for a brief moment. Just between us.”

[Understood.]

“What kind of classified information are you two whispering about?”

“It concerns Bihar.”

Leo and Silode walked over to a secluded corner of the royal Elven chamber.

Folding his arms, Leo got straight to the point.

“You mentioned that the realm plunged into disorder following our deaths, correct?”

[Yes.]

“Let me ask you plainly. I have my suspicions, but what path did Bihar walk during those years?”

[….]

Faced with the question, Silode lowered her eyelids.

When she finally spoke, her voice carried a heavy, somber weight.

[She dedicated her existence to hunting down and executing anyone who brought harm to the peace of the realm. She lived with an absolute intolerance for those who thrived on chaos. Everywhere her path crossed, a trail of blood followed. Because of this, humanity came to fear Bihar even more than they feared the demons themselves.]

“I see. Berkhia… she truly looked at Leo and me as her mother and father.”

On the dawning morning of their new march.

Her thoughts drifted back to the pupil who had sought her out long ago.

‘At the very least, she found happiness in her life.’

‘I swear I will never allow my teachers’ legacies to be dishonored. And should anyone ever dare to slander their names again, they will answer to me.’

‘We will return to you without fail, Berkhia.’

‘Even so! Long after your return, there will always be cowards whispering malice behind your backs, won’t there? I will absolutely, unequivocally never show them mercy!’

The echoes of Berkhia’s fierce declaration resonated in her mind.

‘What a shame. I truly wish I had realized it back then.’

Luna’s vision grew slightly misty.

‘I wanted so badly to witness Berkhia’s days of joy with my own eyes.’

Even with the reassurance that her student had lived a fulfilled life, the knowledge alone wasn’t enough to satisfy her heart.

A profound sense of longing washed over her, like an unquenchable thirst.

Struggling with the quiet melancholy of missing out on those beautiful chapters of Berkhia’s life, Luna softly murmured to herself, ‘Even so, it really is wonderful.’

The civilization they had sacrificed everything to protect had blossomed beautifully.

Arcane knowledge had reached incredible new heights.

Though her time in this era had spanned mere days, it was an undeniably beautiful world.

‘This poses a massive issue.’

Luna turned her gaze toward Leo.

‘I fear I am starting to develop a profound attachment to this life.’