Chapter 505

The Streets Ablaze with Blossoms

Petals of every hue drifted through the thoroughfares, matching the jubilant mood of the town as Leo walked on, deeply immersed in his own reflections.

‘Her lingering regrets concerning Berkia.’

If Luna herself believed that her unresolved attachment was tied to Berkia, then it had to be the truth.

Then again, such a sentiment felt profoundly characteristic of her.

‘Arion, myself… and Luna as well. We were all acutely aware of what Berkia could achieve.’

It required very little contemplation to realize he was destined to become an extraordinary magic bladesman.

‘That was precisely why Arion and I harbored few anxieties about Berkia when we departed for our final trek. Yet Luna viewed it differently.’

He visualized Luna once more, casting glances backward at Berkia until the very moment of departure.

She had undoubtedly been filled with apprehension.

An anxiety entirely separate from his martial prowess.

‘Possessing great power does not guarantee that one’s resolve will never fracture.’

In contrast to Luna’s view, Leo had faith that his pupil would navigate his path successfully.

‘If anything, my anxieties were directed more toward Bihar than Berkia.’

It was not a matter of Bihar possessing superior qualities compared to Berkia.

It stemmed purely from the history Bihar carried with him.

‘Regardless, I cannot think of a method to ease Luna’s lingering regret at this moment.’

With that final thought, Leo shifted his gaze toward Eiran, who was walking just ahead of him.

‘Once this celebration concludes, perhaps a journey to Elsalvekia is in order?’

He thought back to his encounter with the Ersar family during his inaugural year.

Remnants of Berkia’s life would undoubtedly be preserved there.

Seeing those physical reminders might offer Luna some measure of peace, wouldn’t it?

‘…I simply do not know.’

Leo tightened his fingers into a fist.

Though he maintained an exterior of absolute serenity, his internal thoughts were swirling with complexity.

In the past, following the defeat of Erebus, Arion had vanished.

Leo had desperately wished for Arion to remain within this current age.

He wanted his companion to experience the tranquil world they had fought to establish.

Yet Arion ultimately chose to journey back to his rightful place.

The present circumstances were no different.

Leo wished for Luna to bide her time in this era for as long as she possibly could.

It was a sentiment born entirely out of devotion to a comrade who had survived the harrowing Age of Calamity at his side.

An Unexpected Performance on Kurazh Street

“What has you looking so terribly serious?”

“I was just contemplating something regarding Luna.”

“Ah.”

Kal uttered a soft sound of comprehension.

“You mentioned previously that she is currently existing in a spiritual state, correct?”

“Indeed.”

“Then is there truly a reason to fret so early? It isn’t an issue demanding an instant solution. I believe we can ponder those grave matters at a much slower pace down the road.”

Kal was well aware that remaining in a spiritual form for an extended period carried risks.

Even so, he offered a carefree perspective:

“Personally, I think you and Lady Luna ought to focus on appreciating life a bit more right now.”

“You are a decent fellow, Kal.”

“Oh my~ Receiving compliments from the savior of the realm himself, I hardly know how to compose myself.”

Leo let out a quiet laugh, observing Kal’s playful antics.

“Oh! That reminds me, we should take a detour down Kurazh Street! I need to verify whether the item I put up for auction has found a buyer.”

Upon hearing this suggestion, Leo, Eiran, and Chen Sia gave their nods of assent.

Kal navigated through the crowded paths of Kurazh Street to locate the auction supervisor, parting from the group to collect his earnings.

Meanwhile, Leo, Eiran, and Chen Sia took the opportunity to explore the sights of Kurazh Street.

It was during this stroll that a voice rang out.

“Come listen to the breathtaking legends of the realm’s greatest champions!”

Minstrels and storytellers were eagerly pitching their narratives to the pedestrians.

It was a commonplace occurrence, and Leo was prepared to walk past with nothing more than a faint smile, until a specific introduction caught his attention.

“On this day, I shall unveil a hidden truth of our history. This is the chronicle of Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.”

The voice delivering the tale was unmistakably familiar.

Word of an alluring narrative must have traveled quickly, as a substantial crowd had already gathered around the speaker.

“There lived a maiden who held a deep affection for Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings. She represented the beacon of optimism throughout the bleakness of the Age of Calamity. She was none other than Lysinus, the King of Wisdom.”

The narrator infused her voice with a deeply tragic cadence.

“However, the Hero of Beginnings harbored a passion for an entirely different soul. His heart belonged to Luna, the first ancestor of the Nebula—an elf resembling a flawless, immaculate, gentle, and majestic blossom.”

Thanks to the enchanting delivery and the utterly scandalous premise, the storyteller was completely encircled by fascinated onlookers.

“Young Master Leo, it appears Lady Luna has indulged in far too much drink,” Chen Sia remarked in a hushed, careful tone.

True to her observation, numerous discarded alcohol containers were scattered around the storyteller, who was none other than Luna.

“Goodness me. To think that Sir Leo held such affections for Lady Luna,” Eiran murmured, covering her mouth in sheer astonishment.

Leo narrowed his eyes, fixing a sharp gaze upon Luna.

Oblivious to his presence, Luna pressed on with her tale with absolute fervor.

Her storytelling possessed an incredibly gripping quality.

She spoke with an intensity that suggested she had personally witnessed the events unfold.

Which was entirely accurate, given her actual presence during that era.

Every detail she spoke was historically precise, save for the fabricated romance between herself and Kyle.

“The ultimate hour arrived. ‘Luna, you must stay with me! You swore to grant me your love once this conflict concluded! You even bestowed a token of your affection upon this very cheek!’, ‘Forgive me, Kyle. I fear I cannot fulfill that vow.’”

‘…So she does retain the memory of my declaration to her, doesn’t she?’

Luna had previously asserted that she possessed zero recollection of what transpired upon exiting the Hero’s World.

Yet the instant he heard her mention the kiss on the cheek, the truth became instantly clear.

An icy grin formed on Leo’s face as he parted the wall of spectators, walking directly toward Luna.

“Kyle offered a sorrowful grin! Even Lysinus, in that fleeting instant, wept for the passing of the rival she had despised… Eek?!”

Just as the narrative reached its dramatic peak, Luna let out a sharp gasp.

Her eyes had locked directly with Leo’s, as he now stood at the very front of the gathering.

Leo commanded quietly, “Apprehend her and bring her over.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Chen Sia advanced toward Luna.

Eiran, however, showed clear reluctance.

To lay hands upon Luna, the revered progenitor of the Nebula, felt like an act of immense sacrilege for an elf.

“It is perfectly fine. You have my explicit authorization.”

Reassured by Leo’s words, Eiran steeled her nerves and moved forward to join Chen Sia.

Flanked on both sides, Luna was firmly escorted by Chen Sia and Eiran as though she were an escaped convict.

“H-Hold on! The two of you! How can you treat me this way when I have shown you nothing but fondness?! Eiran, especially you…!”

“I-I deeply apologize.”

“Rrrgh! See! Kindness yields absolutely nothing! Release me this instant! Take your hands off me, you lackeys of Leo!” Luna shrieked.

“What in the world? What is happening here?”

Kal had just returned from collecting his auction proceeds, accompanied by Lunia, who had been waiting to retrieve her own acquisitions. He could only stare in utter bewilderment as Chen Sia and Eiran marched Luna away.

A Gathering at the Festival Cafe

Once Leo’s companions merged with Luna’s associates, the entire group set out to experience the rest of the festivities.

Throughout the entire walk, Luna maintained absolute silence toward Leo.

Now that the effects of the alcohol had faded, the sheer absurdity of her performance left her too mortified to even glance in his direction.

Leo deliberately chose not to needle the embarrassed elf.

He merely kept his eyes on her, wearing a faint, knowing smirk that signaled his amusement.

‘I should punch that smug face just once!’ Luna thought, her fists trembling as her veins bulged, screaming her fury internally.

Many of the stalls and shops scattered throughout Rumeria City were operated by the pupils of Rumeln.

Among these setups was a temporary outdoor cafe.

“Oh? That appears to be an establishment managed by the third-year upperclassmen.”

“It seems so.”

Kal and Chen Sia both looked on with wide eyes as they recognized their school seniors.

Because it was run by aspiring heroes, the outdoor seating was entirely packed with patrons.

This level of patronage was standard, given that the Twilight Festival functioned as an academy-wide celebration for the pupils of Rumeln.

“Oh!”

A welcoming exclamation drifted over to them.

“Brother!”

Practically every customer in the vicinity turned their gaze toward a single spot.

The reaction was instantaneous.

A strikingly beautiful female student had just addressed a male classmate as ‘Brother’.

Kal and Chen Sia looked completely flabbergasted by the display.

“Do you possess no sense of modesty, Senior Lil?” Leo questioned quietly.

At his words, Lil’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

It was certainly not out of shame for the title she had used.

“Brother. I request that you speak to me with casual familiarity, even when we are in the presence of others.”

Her embarrassment stemmed entirely from the fact that Leo, whom she had vowed to serve devotedly, was addressing her with such formal politeness.

‘If that is truly your wish, wouldn’t it be far simpler to just call me master?’

As Leo offered a silent sigh to himself, Lil recorded their orders and retreated back into the cafe.

“What is the meaning of this? Since when has Senior Lil taken to calling you ‘Brother’?”

“It is simply how things developed,” Leo replied flatly, propping his chin in his palm.

The sun was steadily dipping below the horizon.

The makeshift establishment occupied a prime spot in the central square of Rumeria City, providing an unobstructed view of the main pavilion where the Twilight Festival’s live showcases were taking place.

Renowned musical ensembles and troubadours were taking turns entertaining the crowd from the stage.

“The setting is quite lovely,” Luna murmured softly, resting her chin on her hand as well.

Moments later, the musical collective from Rumeln took their places on the pavilion.

Positioned right at the center was a face they all recognized.

“Look, it’s Chelsea,” Kal pointed out.

The musical collective had orchestrated a special commemorative piece alongside their standard instrumental arrangement.

As the melody swelled from the instruments, Chelsea began to project her vocals.

“-♬”

With her eyelids closed, she utilized her gorgeous voice to weave a tale stretching from the Hero of Creation down to the Great Hero.

It was an anthem dedicated to honoring those who had sacrificed everything to preserve the realm.

The entire square fell into a rapt silence under the spell of Chelsea’s performance.

As the final note drifted away, Chelsea offered a radiant beam, prompting a thunderous wave of applause to erupt across the entire plaza.

Luna smiled gently as she took in the sight.

“Brilliant.”

The final rays of the setting sun were painting the sky in vibrant hues.

Yet to Luna’s eyes, the sheer warmth of the scene before her rivaled the brightest daylight.

Leo, who had been silently tracking her expressions, let out a slow, quiet breath internally.

Relics, Rumors, and Ruined Garments

As darkness fell, the companions made their way back to their quarters first.

The trip was necessary to store the massive haul of items they had accumulated throughout their day of sightseeing.

Retreating to her private chambers, Luna began sorting through her new possessions.

The vast majority consisted of artifacts and materials tied to the mystic arts.

Her gaze drifted to the spellbooks she had been actively drafting, which rested neatly in a corner of the space.

These texts held experimental magic she had conceptualized after observing the spellcasters whom she recognized as figures from a future generation.

Wearing a gentle smile, Luna retrieved a specific vial from her collection.

“Come to think of it, this truly bears an uncanny resemblance to that crude concoction.”

Just as she tilted her head to inspect it closer—

Knock-knock—

“Enter.”

In response to her prompt, the door swung open to reveal Leo stepping into the room.

Luna instinctively tensed and averted her gaze immediately.

“Tell me. You absolutely recollect making a confession to me, don’t you?”

“What sort of ridiculous babble is that?”

As Luna’s expression twisted in irritation, the corners of Leo’s mouth tugged upward into a smirk.

“There is no use pretending. I am fully aware that you retain the memory from the moment we overthrew Zerdiac within the Hero’s World.”

Realizing her deception had failed entirely, Luna looked furious for a brief second before letting out a sharp scoff.

“Fine! I recollect it perfectly! What do you intend to do about it?!”

“Then for what reason did you fabricate a lie claiming otherwise?”

“Because your absolute lack of agitation was incredibly infuriating!” Luna barked back.

Leo scowled slightly as he regarded her outburst.

“Furthermore, what possessed you to tell that narrative earlier? Thanks to your stunt, the entire district is buzzing with the rumor that I was madly in love with you!”

“And that is a marvelous outcome!”

“You could have easily stuck to historical accuracy. Why fabricate such falsehoods?”

“I shall ensure everyone accepts it as historical fact! I intend to convince the rest of the youngsters as well! I will tell them you were utterly smitten with me in the past!”

“You are an absolute menace.”

“I swallowed my own pride to confess to you! How can you remain so thoroughly unfazed?!”

“It is simple to remain composed. Had I revealed my true sentiments from the very beginning, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“Ah! This is maddening! Then explain how you discerned Lysinus’s feelings for you?! Her indicators were vastly more subtle than mine!”

In truth, Lysinus had dropped numerous hints, but Luna had simply been entirely oblivious to them.

“I uncovered the truth by reviewing the written message she left behind after her passing.”

“Meaning you were completely blind to it while she drew breath?”

“Correct.”

“Ah! Truly! What possessed me to develop feelings for such a dense fool! And what could she possibly have seen in this blockhead?!”

Leo let out a quiet chuckle, observing Luna as she stamped her feet in a full-blown tantrum.

“The individual who surrenders their heart first is the one who forfeits the game.”

“If you utter a single syllable more, I will end you,” Luna snarled menacingly.

“I offered you my confession along with a kiss upon the cheek! Return that confession to me this instant!”

“Speak logically. Besides, what is the grand significance of a mere kiss upon the cheek?”

“It carries immense significance! Lysinus would never have possessed the audacity to execute such an act!”

“Is that so? She actually pressed her tongue directly into my mouth.”

Crack—!

Overwhelmed by absolute shock, Luna applied an involuntary surge of physical might.

As a direct consequence, the glass vessel resting in her palm shattered entirely.

The liquid contained within erupted outward, drenching Luna completely from head to toe.

Stunned into silence by the revelation, Luna gasped for air.

In the next instant, she lunged directly at Leo, fist bunching into his shirt collar as she began to shake him with unrestrained fury.

“When! State the exact moment!”

“During our previous encounter within the Hero’s World.”

“Do not dare spin such fabrications! The reserved Lysinus would never indulge in such behavior! You clearly forced yourself upon her! That must be the truth!”

“Not in the slightest.”

“She behaved like an absolute, shameless dragon in that moment, then!”

“Or perhaps your own sensibilities are merely far too naive?” Leo countered, mocking her.

Driven to the peak of rage, Luna tightened her grip upon his collar and shook him even more violently.

As the two battled in such immediate proximity, an entirely bizarre sensation suddenly washed over them.

Zrrk—

The distinct sound of material dissolving echoed between them.

“Hold on, what is occurring with my garments?”

“Do not attempt to divert my focus!”

When Leo detected the bizarre anomaly and questioned it, Luna, whose ears had flushed a deep crimson, glared right back at him.

“Listen, stop for a moment. What exactly was the item you just shattered?”

“I purchased some ridiculous concoction crafted by some eccentric old fool at the auction—it was labeled as an aphrodisiac or a love charm of some variety.”

“What did you say?”

Leo’s face shifted into a rare expression of genuine panic.

He immediately shoved Luna away from himself.

Drip-drip—

Luna finally sensed that something was catastrophically wrong and cast her eyes downward.

A sharp gasp of pure terror escaped her throat as she watched her attire steadily melt away into nothingness.

“What in the world! Why is this genuinely occurring?!”

“That scoundrel Kal…”

As Luna let out a panicked shriek, Leo, instantly identifying the person responsible, clicked his tongue in profound annoyance.

Within moments, both Leo and Luna found themselves completely stripped of their clothing.

“To concoct such a vile liquid! I shall track down that degenerate old fool and end him!”

“The man is already deceased.”

“Then I shall slay him a second time!”

Luna’s furious declaration reverberated through the chamber.