Chapter 501

Chapter 501

“Luna, how on earth did you get here?”

Chen Shia beamed at Kale, whose jaw had dropped in sheer disbelief.

“Honestly, I’m more amazed that Kale was able to pick Luna out instantly.”

Though taken aback by Kale’s immediate recognition of Luna, Chen Shia—ever the most composed and quick-witted among the second-year pupils—had already smoothed her expression back into her familiar, bright smile.

“Wait, what?”

Caught off guard by Chen Shia’s remark, Kale quickly wore a look of sudden realization, as if he had accidentally let a secret slip.

“Oh ho?”

Luna let out an amused cry.

“So you’ve finally pierced together his true identity, have you? Did you actually know all along?”

Leo merely shook his head in response, watching with amusement as Luna playfully nudged his ribs.

“I had no idea.”

In truth, Leo was genuinely astonished to see his closest companion in this current life shielding his face in utter mortification.

“When exactly did you catch on?”

As they made their way toward the club facility, Leo initiated the conversation. They had paused to sit on one of the benches scattered across the school grounds.

“The very first instance where things felt out of place was back in Lord Dweyno’s world.”

Seated beside Leo, Kale scratched the back of his neck rather awkwardly.

“Your familiarity with that era was simply too unnatural. On top of that, your rapport with Lord Berkia, Lord Arion, and Lord Dweyno was incredibly intimate.”

In the realm of historical heroes, maintaining an act is paramount. One must portray a resident of that specific time period as flawlessly as possible, blending in effortlessly and reacting exactly as an contemporary would.

Yet, even accounting for that necessity, Leo’s conduct had been bizarre. It was a faint, nearly imperceptible discrepancy that only someone as perceptive as Kale could catch onto—an underlying warmth, as though Leo were interacting with his everyday classmates, or perhaps reuniting with companions he hadn’t crossed paths with in ages.

“Later on, during the summer break, watching you alongside Lord Arion made the picture fall into place.”

He had begun connecting the scattered fragments of information gathered throughout his time spent by Leo’s side: his staggering pace of development, his unceasing ties to the Legendary Heroes, and his mastery over all classes—a trait unique to the Hero of Beginnings. From the fleeting moment that an impossible suspicion entered his mind, the conviction that Leo was actually Kyle only intensified.

Leo offered a soft, self-deprecating chuckle at Kale’s explanation.

“I suppose I became careless.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Isn’t it just proof of how sharp my instincts are?”

“Why didn’t you just confront me with the truth?”

“To be perfectly frank, my tongue was practically itching to say something. But the person standing before me is Leo Flov.”

Kale gave Leo a warm, genuine grin.

“You are my companion Leo, not Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.”

Ever since the matriculation ceremony, Leo had stood on equal footing with everyone else. He naturally forged bonds with anybody who sought his company. Despite his extraordinary standing, he never hid behind status or decorum. When Kale first took notice of Leo, he used to ponder why the boy carried himself with such egalitarian grace. Was it the boundless tolerance and magnanimity of a savior who had delivered the world from ruin?

Yet, as far as Kale could discern, Leo poured absolute sincerity into every single endeavor. Whether he was confronting grueling challenges or dealing directly with those who opposed him head-on, he consistently spearheaded the charge into peril while offering solace to those walking in his footsteps.

Consequently, Kale resolved to simply view Leo as his friend. Because regardless of whatever grand identity lay beneath, he was undeniably Kale’s dearest comrade.

“Well, aren’t you speaking with quite a bit of maturity?”

“Whoa?!”

Right at that moment, Luna’s head abruptly materialized between Leo and Kale. Startled out of his wits by her sudden intrusion, Kale gripped his chest and tumbled entirely off the bench. Luna doubled over, clutching her midriff as she dissolved into helpless laughter at his reaction. She then stepped toward the fallen boy and proffered a hand.

“Your name is Kale Thomas, correct?”

“That’s right.”

Kale grasped Luna’s hand to haul himself back up. As he began brushing the dirt off his trousers, Luna continued watching him closely.

“I am Luna Rubina. You can simply refer to me as Lu.”

“Understood, Lady Lu.”

“No, no. I explicitly instructed you to just call me Lu, without the formalities.”

Luna flashed a brilliant smile and gestured toward Leo.

“You view this fellow as a comrade, yes?”

“Indeed I do.”

“I am his companion as well.”

With that declaration, she casually slung her arm over Leo’s shoulders, leaning her weight against him. Leo pushed her face away with a flat palm, appearing thoroughly exasperated.

“In that case, wouldn’t that make the two of us friends as well?”

Kale scratched his cheek thoughtfully as he observed Luna’s radiant, open expression.

“Is that how companionship works?”

“Naturally. Aside from this discourteous individual, I would be delighted to welcome another ally.”

Luna let out a small grumble, playfully pinching Leo’s hand as he continued trying to fend her off.

“My closest associates always treat me with far too much reverence.”

Wriggling free from Leo’s defensive grip, Luna bounded over to Chen Shia and Eiran, pulling both of them into a sudden embrace. Eiran froze, looking completely flabbergasted, while Chen Shia could only muster a strained, polite smile.

“Is it truly appropriate for someone of my standing to be counted among your friends?”

“Whatever do you mean by that?”

“I possess very little innate magical capability, and I harbor no realistic prospects of ever rising to the rank of a hero.”

“What bearing does that have on anything?”

Luna let out a soft, amused laugh. She detached herself from the two girls and stepped back to stand beside Leo, striking a thoughtful pose.

“Do you honestly believe that our circle, or any of the champions who breathed the air of that era, rescued the world entirely through our own individual might?”

“Is that not how history unfolded?”

Eiran blinked, her expression clouded with confusion.

“Utterly incorrect!”

Eiran’s shoulders slumped slightly at Luna’s cheerful declaration.

“We succeeded precisely because every single soul enduring that period pooled their collective strength together. Neither I nor Leo achieved it alone. And you can rest assured that Arion, Dweyno, and even Lysinas share that exact sentiment—none of us believe for a second that our power alone saved existence.”

To be sure, there are always extraordinary individuals who wield the capacity to achieve far greater feats than the populace. They are the beacons who illuminate the path through pitch-black darkness, steering the masses forward. Society labels those capable of taking that perilous first step into the unknown as “heroes.”

However…

“Choosing to tread along that illuminated path is entirely up to the populace themselves.”

Luna remarked, idly twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.

“In the grand scheme of things, it was the countless everyday individuals who held us up.”

Shouldering the weight of an epoch does not mean that the era itself is merely a heavy cross to bear. On the contrary, whenever one is on the verge of collapsing, that very era provides the support necessary to keep them upright. The assistance one receives invariably matches the effort one expends. In that regard, Luna firmly believed that all people dwelling within a specific age existed in absolute parity with one another.

“The only thing that truly matters is that you and I occupy the exact same span of history. Looking at it from that perspective…”

Luna proffered her hand to Kale once more.

“My name is Luna Rubina. And yours?”

Hearing her words, Kale eagerly clasped her hand.

“I am Kale Thomas.”

Discerning exactly what Luna sought to establish, Kale resolved to cast aside his lingering hesitations.

‘In the grand scheme of things, if a patron makes a request, a merchant complies. Likewise, if a champion steering the course of a conflict makes a request, a supporter must adapt.’

“Speaking of which…”

Kale reached into his garments, retrieving a spatial storage pouch and pulling an item from its depths.

Chwararak!

“My goodness?!”

“Incredible.”

Eiran let out a small gasp of shock, while Chen Shia murmured in pure fascination. What Kale had produced was none other than an elaborate memorabilia binder. It was a highly sought-after album popular among common folk, designed to hold cards depicting celebrated champions, meticulously sorted by classification.

“Securing one of these must have required a small fortune, correct?”

Kale offered a proud smirk as Chen Shia questioned him while eyeing the completely finalized binder.

“It certainly wasn’t cheap.”

Eiran swallowed hard.

“Oh my, this is gorgeous!”

Luna beamed creatively as she laid eyes on the specific card bearing her own likeness. Kale then produced a writing instrument from his pocket.

“As your newfound companion, I must ask for a small favor. Would you kindly provide your signature?”

“An autograph?”

Luna looked thoroughly perplexed by the request.

“Precisely. Just because we stand as equals doesn’t diminish my admiration for you. Speaking as a practitioner of magic, I hold Luna Rubina, the very originator of the Nebula, in the highest esteem.”

Kale spoke with smooth nonchalance. Luna nodded understandingly and took great care to sign every single card dedicated to her.

“Though, does obtaining a signature actually serve a practical purpose?”

Entirely unfamiliar with such modern fan culture, Luna questioned him with absolute innocence. At her inquiry, Kale’s face split into a massive, greedy grin.

“Most assuredly. This single book is going to secure my financial future.”

Hearing that, Chen Shia narrowed her eyes at him with a look of disapproval.

“Kale.”

“Yes?”

“Divine retribution will surely find you for this.”

“Think nothing of it. It is merely a small transaction between comrades,” Kale countered shamelessly.

Having successfully secured every single autograph, Kale let out an enthusiastic cheer, clearly riding a wave of immense satisfaction.

“Fantastic! Allow me to treat everyone to a splendid feast this evening!”

“Oh! Are you truly certain about that?”

Kale burst into laughter as Luna clapped her hands in delight.

“Absolutely. I am a wealthy man now, after all.”

Luna and Kale began strolling forward side by side, projecting an incredibly amicable aura. Chen Shia and Eiran quickly hurried their steps to keep pace behind them. Watching their retreating backs, Leo could only shake his head with a fond smile.

Wheeeeeoooosh-!

Across the northern territories of the continent—a frozen, unforgiving expanse that had transitioned into the dominion of the elven race—there existed a multitude of sovereign states. However, unlike the territories governed by humanity, these elven domains did not answer to individual monarchs.

During the dark epoch known as the Age of Calamity, the elves—who were widely recognized as the most formidable race and wielded unparalleled authority across the lands—shattered disastrously under the relentless onslaught of Tartaros. This downfall was entirely rooted in their obsessive pride regarding ancestral lineages. They had established a rigidly centralized governance revolving around a singular elven monarch; consequently, when that core authority rotted from within, their entire civilization imploded with tragic ease.

Following the conclusion of the Age of Calamity, Fairy Knight Berkia Ersar, who stood at the absolute forefront of the global restoration efforts, completely dismantled the caste structure within elven civilization. Though traditionalists vociferously protested the change, the royal line and the high-ranking nobility had already met their demise. Elven society was painstakingly reconstructed upon the fundamental principle that every single elf shared equal standing.

Yet, as the centuries march onward, even the loftiest principles inevitably degrade.

Thousands of years down the line, the elves once more fell captive to the allure of their own inherent exceptionalism. Their striking countenances, their unparalleled mystical faculties, and their profound resonance with elemental spirits compared to other species provided more than enough justification for them to view themselves as an elite caste. This sentiment only solidified with the rise of Seirun, which firmly positioned the elves as the undisputed authorities of mystic arts. It was this historical shift that birthed the ‘Pureblood Society.’

Nonetheless, even the formidable Pureblood Society had found its foundations shattered in recent times. This devastation was wrought by none other than the definitive source of their ultimate validation: ‘Seirun’ himself.

A singular decree from Seirun effectively invalidated the core purpose of the Pureblood Society’s existence. With their ideological bedrock thoroughly compromised, the treacherous actions of several prominent elven figures were brought to light, causing the organization’s standing to plummet into absolute ruin. Even so, an entity that had woven its roots deep into the fabric of elven civilization over millennia could not simply be eradicated in the span of a single evening.

“This cannot be countenanced! Allowing a mere human to remain in possession of an ancestral elven heirloom is an outrage!”

An elf spoke out, his features twisted in absolute revulsion.

“Even if Lord Seirun saw fit to designate Leo Flov as his true inheritor… Kometes remains an invaluable treasure belonging strictly to the elven race.”

“A few simpletons argue that because it functions as Lord Seirun’s personal catalyst, we are bound to honor his dictates… However, Kometes originally graced the hands of Lady Luna herself. Relinquishing it to a human being based solely on Lord Seirun’s decree is utterly ludicrous.”

“We have already dispatched an official envoy to confront Leo Flov, timed perfectly to coincide with the ongoing Twilight Festival. Our explicit objective is to demand the formal restitution of Kometes.”

An intense, volatile argument was tearing through the council chambers of the Pureblood Society. Observing the escalating discourse, a particular elf knit her brows in deep irritation.

“Remind me again why I was dragged into these proceedings?”

The speaker was Rune Ersar.

At present, she filled the role of acting chancellor for Seirun and stood as one of the most revered elven patriarchs. She was a figure wielding staggering mystical authority. Yet, throughout her long existence, she had consistently distanced herself from the machinations of the Pureblood Society. In fact, from their perspective, she was viewed as an incredibly problematic presence. Her philosophical outlook was deemed radically progressive, even by contemporary elven standards.

As a result, Rune was currently in an exceptionally foul mood.

‘I was right in the middle of perusing Eiran’s correspondence!’

To be pulled away from a heartwarming update from her own granddaughter simply to sit through such petty, circular grievances gave her an immediate migraine.

‘I had arrived under the impression that this gathering would serve a practical purpose, such as the formal dissolution of the Pureblood Society.’

The presiding member of the Pureblood Society addressed Rune, completely ignoring her evident distaste.

“Lord Rune, do you not carry the blood of Lord Berkia, one of the greatest luminaries to ever grace our race?”

“Should we not strive to uphold the desires of the one who studied directly as Lady Luna’s primary disciple?”

Internally, Rune could only summon a bitter, mocking laugh at their transparent rhetoric.

‘Now that Lord Seirun has completely cast them aside, they intend to use Lord Berkia as their new shield, do they?’

Historically, the reason why Berkia—despite being revered as one of the three foundational elven pillars—held a comparatively muted legacy in textbooks was precisely due to the historical interference of the Pureblood Society. Berkia, who had dedicated her existence to rebuilding civilization, was a figure who passionately advocated for deep alliances with foreign races. Naturally, her philosophical teachings were antithetical to everything the Pureblood Society stood for.

Thus, despite her legendary status as Luna’s direct pupil, Berkia’s memory had been systematically marginalized among the populace over time. While the Ersar family maintained its status as a distinguished house, their political leverage had been severely constrained given the magnitude of Berkia’s historical contributions. Of course, the successive generations of the Ersar family had never paid the slightest mind to such political maneuverings. They simply continued to champion an open-minded, forward-thinking path in strict accordance with their forebear’s wishes.

Yet now, with Seirun having completely severed ties with the Pureblood Society, the organization was desperately attempting to pivot, reframing Berkia as the primary idol of their devotion. They calculated that it would be infinitely simpler to distort the ancient doctrines of a figure from five millennia ago to suit their current agenda, rather than contend with Seirun, who was actively alive and repudiating them.

Just as Rune’s lips curled into a freezing sneer while watching these corrupt politicians attempt to desecrate her ancestor’s legacy—

Kiiiiiik-!

The heavy doors to the council chamber slammed open without warning.

“We are currently deliberating on matters vital to the survival of our entire species! Who dares barge into this sanctum with such blatant disrespect?!”

The high-ranking Pureblood Society official stationed at the head of the long table bellowed, his face flushed with sheer fury.

Cheobuk- Cheobuk-

A distinct sound echoed through the room—the wet, heavy thud of dragging footsteps. Moving in tandem with the ominous sound, an elven matriarch stepped into the light. She was completely drenched in crimson, her fingers tightly gripping a naked blade from which fresh blood dripped steadily onto the floor.

“W-What is the meaning of this?!”

“Identify yourself at once!”

Outcries of absolute shock and indignation erupted from the assembled council members. Simultaneously, an oppressive wave of concentrated magical energy flooded the chamber. The figures seated here were all formidable Star Mages; whatever one might say about their flawed ethics and bigoted philosophies, their lethality and magical prowess were undeniable.

Puwak-!

Yet, before a single incantation could even be brought to fruition—

In a fraction of a second, the heads of the leading Pureblood Society officials sailed through the air. What followed from that precise moment onward was nothing short of an absolute slaughter. The mysterious woman’s blade, having torn through the elite of the Pureblood Society with blinding, unnatural velocity, finally pivoted directly toward Rune.

Kagagang-!

Rune, however, managed to raise her own weapon just in time to deflect the oncoming strike. Yet, the instant their steel clashed, Rune’s gaze filled with unadulterated, paralyzing dread.

Puwak-!

A sharp spray of crimson erupted across Rune’s torso.

Cheolbak-

The attacking elven woman reached out, gently steadying her opponent’s chest. Had Rune unleashed the full, lethal extension of her martial capabilities, she would have undoubtedly severed her attacker, or at the very least inflicted a mortal blow. Such was the sheer caliber of Rune’s mastery. Yet, she found herself utterly incapable of committing to the strike.

Naturally, the exact same restraint applied to the woman standing opposite her.

“…A blessing… You take after Myde far more than you do me.”

With a tone laced with profound relief mixed with overriding melancholy, the enigmatic elven warrior turned and began walking away.

Cheolbak-

Tracking her departure with wide eyes, Rune forced her trembling body to stand.

“You are no simple insurgent. Will you truly not stand down?”

Rune coughed up a spray of dark blood, shouting after the figure who had spoken with such bizarre tenderness.

“Why must you do this…?”

“Is this not a cross that someone must inevitably bear?”

Rune shook her head in desperate denial, staring at the woman who could only offer a sorrowful, exhausted smile.

“Great progenitor… This… this cannot be the right path. The legendary figure I revered throughout my life would never commit such atrocities.”

Rune pleaded, her voice cracking with desperation as she addressed Berkia.

“You speak the exact same words Bihar once did.”

The ancient warrior momentarily recalled her old companion, the one who had studied under the very same mentor… and who had spent the entirety of her existence wandering through the shadows.

“I wonder if this is precisely what Bihar felt when she looked upon me all those millennia ago?”

She was well aware. She knew that the direct descendant standing before her was a righteous champion in her own right. Rune must have spent her years living as a true protector, shielding the world with a light more dazzling than anyone else could muster, ensuring her lineage remained unsullied and striving to honor the ancestral path.

And yet…

“I am deeply sorry. But this is who I am.”

With those final words, Berkia’s form dissolved entirely into the darkness.

Kiiik-

Teolseok-!

Rune collapsed heavily to the floorboards. Berkia had successfully cut her way out of the Pureblood Society’s stronghold. Rune would survive her wounds. And yet…

‘I have brought nothing but despair to her.’

Berkia wore a deeply sorrowful expression as she journeyed onward, the memory of Rune—who ultimately froze and could not bring herself to deliver a killing blow—weighing heavily on her mind. Beneath the expansive shroud of the evening sky, Berkia paused to look down at her own pale hands.

Sabak- Sabak-

A gentle flurry of snow began to drift down from the heavens. The cold flakes that brushed against her skin remained frozen, refusing to melt.

Sabak-

A solitary crystal of snow settled into the center of her palm. She remembered how utterly miraculous it had felt the very first time she had ever laid eyes on white snow.

“I will not permit it.”

A profound, pitch-black malice swirled within Berkia’s eyes.

“Those who dare desecrate their ultimate sacrifice… those who merely profit off the world they left behind… I will never allow them to persist.”