Chapter 530

Chapter 530

Leo regarded Rune, who offered a respectful bow, before finally speaking.

“How were you able to deduce it?”

A faint trace of curiosity colored his tone.

Noticing that Leo did not attempt to refute the claim, a gentle smile appeared on Rune’s face as he answered.

“As the Hero of Beginnings likely understands, time and experience bring many realizations to light.”

“Regrettably, my lifespan hasn’t been nearly as extended as yours. Though I suppose I can grasp your meaning.” Observing Leo give a slight shrug, Rune let out a somewhat wry smile.

“I did find things rather unusual from the start.”

Ever since their initial encounter, Rune had detected something distinctive within Leo’s gaze.

It went far beyond merely appearing exceptionally bright or possessing the promising future of someone bound for greatness.

Those were the eyes of a person who had already endured countless tribulations. They were certainly not the eyes expected of a standard hero candidate, much less a freshman student.

Furthermore, Leo’s deeds had been nothing short of astonishing.

What amazed him above all else was Leo’s feat in reconstructing the ‘flower-blooming magic’ that had been left behind by the very progenitor of the nebula.

This was no ordinary reconstruction, either. As an Elf, Rune had committed his entire existence to the study of star magic. When it came to comprehending the intricacies of star magic, he stood as one of the preeminent authorities alive, ranking comfortably within the world’s top five.

From Rune’s perspective, the flower-blooming magic that Leo had brought back to life transcended a mere historical restoration.

“It appeared as though an individual who naturally possessed the flower-blooming magic was simply writing out a spell they had always known by heart.”

It was a common occurrence for forgotten magics, of which only fragments remained, to be pieced together by subsequent generations and reintroduced to society.

Yet, unless a person actually belonged to that ancient epoch, the spell could never be truly flawless, even if it was successfully restored and cast.

Moreover, the flower-blooming magic remained a deeply intricate spell that remained incompletely deciphered, even now, over a year after its flawless revival.

Because of this, Rune could not help but question Leo’s true identity.

Following that, Leo’s accomplishments as a hero candidate continued to defy expectations.

While he was undoubtedly a brilliant student who surpassed his peers, there came a point where his feats grew entirely too massive for someone who was supposedly just a hero candidate.

As he balanced his deep respect with growing suspicion regarding Leo’s achievements, his granddaughter, who had successfully triumphed over Dwenho’s world, approached him with a bright expression:

‘Grandpa! I actually encountered Lord Verkia. And you won’t believe it! Lord Leo was there too!’

The moment he witnessed Eiran speaking with gleaming eyes about the legendary exploits of their ancestor alongside Leo.

And his suspicion only deepened upon receiving word of Seyrunn’s reincarnation and the grand arrival of Luna, prompting him to ponder Leo’s nature with far greater intensity.

Piecing together the complex web of evidence bit by bit, he eventually arrived at the singular truth.

That Leo was, in reality, Kyle, the revered Hero of Beginnings.

“When everything fell into place, it actually made perfect sense. Lord Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, was a legendary figure capable of utilizing every class. And throughout the entire chronicle of this world, only two such all-class individuals have ever existed.”

Namely, Kyle and Leo.

“Furthermore, despite his name being inscribed upon the Hero Record, he never received a distinct title. Reflecting on it, if he ‘already’ possessed a title from the past… it stands to reason that a new one would be entirely redundant.”

“That is true.”

“Besides, nothing is ever set in stone. In this current era, absolutely anything is possible.”

An army commander who had been obliterated during the catastrophic Age of Calamity had made a reappearance.

Even ancient champions had been resurrected in the form of the undead.

Certain names had even been struck from the Hero Record entirely. On top of that, legendary figures such as Luna, the nebula’s progenitor, Arion, the courageous combatant, and Seyrunn, the Comet Mage, had all manifested within the contemporary world.

“Given the state of affairs, it didn’t seem far-fetched that the Hero of Beginnings might be reborn into this world. After all, you were invariably present whenever these miraculous events occurred.”

In addition, Leo himself consistently accomplished feats that ordinary people would spend an entire lifetime attempting without success. A number of those achievements could easily be classified as miracles.

“Even so, connecting those dots couldn’t have been an easy task, could it?”

“The pursuit of magic commences by never discarding any potential outcome. Those were the words that Lord Verkia passed down to our lineage.”

“That sounds exactly like the lecture Luna used to constantly give Verkia.”

Leo found himself reminiscing about bygone days.

“She kept at it right up until the moment he set out on his final path.”

“It appears that Lady Luna’s magical principles were ultimately inherited by Lord Verkia.”

“Not in the slightest. Luna was born with the innate belief that nothing is truly impossible, and if something fails, you simply force it to work. She didn’t possess what you’d call a philosophy on magic. She merely scolded Verkia incessantly because he was incredibly obstinate and refused to pay attention.”

A soft smile touched Rune’s lips as he watched Leo recount the past so casually.

‘He really should have just permitted me to remain deeply moved.’

The moment would have been far more poignant had it been framed as a legendary master’s parting guidance to a beloved pupil.

“Passing down an earful that he got sick of hearing to his own descendants? The man must have lost his mind.”

Naturally, Leo completely dismantled any lingering sense of romanticism.

Noticing Rune’s affectionate smile, Leo sank heavily into a nearby seat.

He shifted his gaze directly toward Rune and inquired.

“Did you face Verkia?”

“I did.”

“…”

Leo slowly lowered his eyelids.

‘He must have experienced immense grief.’

For Rune, discovering that a forefather he revered so deeply had returned as an undead creature must have been a devastating revelation. Furthermore, it was undeniable that Verkia was the opponent who had bested Rune in combat.

Anyone would feel a profound sense of heartbreak seeing a legendary ancestor reduced to a mindless state.

It was right as Leo bit down on his lip in contemplation.

“I believe I can guess the thoughts weighing on the Hero of Beginnings. However, there is no need for you to feel troubled.”

“What do you mean?”

Leo raised his eyes, looking at Rune with a touch of astonishment at the old Elf’s serene demeanor.

Meeting his gaze, Rune gave a comforting smile.

“I harbor no resentment or disappointment toward Lord Verkia. In fact, no member of the Ersahr bloodline could ever feel disappointed in him.”

Leo remained quiet, observing Rune closely.

He could detect absolutely no deception in Rune’s demeanor.

“As the Hero of Beginnings is well aware, I have become an old man.”

With a soft groan, Rune stood up and gently massaged his lower back. Though his outward countenance mirrored that of a youth, Rune’s actual physical form carried the weight of many years.

Within his gaze lay the undeniable mark of vast experience, and the faint, fluctuating mana surrounding him gave away the immense span of time he had lived through.

“Having existed for so long, I have come to realize that the world is not a place of pure innocence. Nor does a flawless individual exist within it.”

Rune’s expression softened into melancholy.

“It brings only grief. The Lord Verkia I encountered possessed remarkably clear and untainted eyes.”

In his capacity as the patriarch of the Ersahr family, Rune had previously cleared Verkia’s world. It was during that trial that he came face-to-face with Verkia.

Because of that encounter, Rune understood completely just how magnificent their forefather truly was, as well as the deep kindness he held in his heart.

Overwhelmed by a profound sense of mourning, Rune spoke up.

“Is the Hero of Beginnings aware of what ultimately befell my ancestor?”

Leo stepped closer to the portrait of Verkia that was mounted on one side of the study.

The depiction of Verkia within the frame was entirely devoid of emotion. He had always been a man of few expressions, yet… there was an unmistakable sharpness to his features here. ‘This painting must have been crafted in the wake of that terrible catastrophe.’

Gazing upon the likeness of his former pupil, Leo began to speak.

He revealed the unvarnished reality that he had uncovered via the Akasha Record—a historical truth that had never been shared with the Ersahr family.

By the time the explanation concluded, Rune’s hands were visibly trembling. Closing his eyes tightly, Rune managed to speak through his emotion.

“If it lay within my power, I would desire nothing more than to alleviate his profound grief and suffering.”

Rune pressed his lips together firmly.

“Yet, my words are incapable of reaching Lord Verkia.”

Rune tightened his fingers into a fist.

It was highly probable that no one else across the globe possessed that capability, save for the single individual standing directly before him.

Rune lowered his head in a deep bow toward Leo.

“Hero of Beginnings, I recognize that this is an incredibly bold plea coming from a descendant. Even so, I implore you. Please… bring salvation to Lord Verkia. Take away his immense agony.”

‘Your lineage, even after the passage of five millennia… despite not knowing the full extent of your journey and suffering because of your state, still holds you in the highest esteem and affection, Verkia.’

Rune’s steadfast devotion to Verkia was entirely genuine.

It did not stem merely from the fact that Verkia was the founding father of the Ersahr family. More than that, it was because Rune understood perfectly that Verkia was an individual genuinely earning such reverence.

The collective memory of humanity had lost sight of the monumental accomplishments Verkia had achieved—the grand feat of reconstructing civilization following the departure of the ancient heroes and snatching it back from the precipice of ruin.

It wasn’t as though the world had deliberately abandoned Verkia’s legacy. As the centuries march on, all things naturally fade from memory.

However, the members of the Ersahr family refused to let that legacy vanish. From one generation to the next, they ensured the legendary deeds Verkia performed were passed down to their children.

‘Utilizing the sheer influence and deep roots of the Ersahr family, they easily possessed the means to ensure Verkia remained prominent in the annals of history, yet they chose not to.’

Not a single member attempted to do so.

‘They undoubtedly desired to honor Verkia’s personal wishes.’

A virtuous existence silently offered up for the sake of the world. He likely believed that public recognition was of no consequence, for the survival of the world itself was what held true value.

The descendants of the Ersahr family had faithfully honored their forefather’s intentions, treading the exact same path he left behind.

‘I take great pride in you. Had I left behind a lineage of my own, they likely wouldn’t have compared to yours, but—’

Leo clenched his teeth tightly.

‘Even so, you really should have allowed yourself to be selfish just for once.’

Throughout Verkia’s entire existence, as Leo had witnessed it, the man had never once acted purely for his own benefit.

He never viewed his own monumental accomplishments as anything extraordinary.

He consistently maintained his humility and never abandoned his drive to reach even greater heights.

That distinct image, which had been revealed to him through the Akasha Record, remained vividly imprinted within his thoughts.

If that had simply been Verkia’s natural temperament from the beginning, it wouldn’t feel quite so heartbreaking.

‘Just wait and see. Once an era of tranquility arrives, I intend to become far more renowned than Master Kyle and completely eclipse his legacy. I will ensure that future generations view Kyle as lesser compared to the other legendary figures. Hmph—!’

The memory of him playfully sticking out his tongue and mocking him rushed back vividly.

‘He used to frequently boast that during a time of peace, he would transform into a magnificent figure whose name would echo through the generations, just like Luna.’

Yet, despite achieving monumental feats that rightfully deserved to be celebrated by posterity, he had been unable to hold his head high, acting as though he committed some grave error.

As if he were constantly offering an apology to someone. He proved unable to enjoy the rewards he richly deserved, relentlessly driving himself forward without pause.

As though some unseen force were pursuing him, he surrendered his entire existence to the protection of the realm.

The exact same could be said for Bhaar.

‘We wound up transferring our own responsibilities onto your shoulders.’

The moment he finally brought down Erebus and closed his eyes for what he assumed was the last time, Leo had felt no anxiety regarding the future of the realm.

This was because he placed absolute confidence in his pupils.

He possessed zero doubt that they would successfully find their footing even in his absence.

And indeed, those two had established a solid bedrock for the world, managing both its light and its hidden depths.

Throughout the entirety of their natural lives.

Leo had failed to foresee that both he and his students would remain permanently shackled by a relentless sense of obligation to protect the realm that the ancient heroes had preserved.

Just like Lysinas, Luna, Arion, Dwenho, and Kyle.

He had mistakenly assumed that they were obligated to lead lives entirely sacrificed for the greater good.

‘The two of you were never meant to endure that kind of existence.’

Leo ground his teeth together, his knuckles turning white as he balled his hand into a fist.

If his own peers represented the generation that had been stripped of the peace that other legendary figures, aside from Arion, managed to experience, then Verkia and Bhaar belonged to a generation that never even had the opportunity to taste it.

Because they had been deprived from the very start, they grew utterly desperate.

Had the original champions managed to survive, even Lysinas would never have driven himself to such desperate lengths as Verkia and Bhaar did.

He had overlooked the reality that the stable world Kyle considered normal was an entirely unfamiliar environment to those two.

He ought to have informed them that they were under no obligation to bear the weight of everything on their own—that they were entirely permitted to seek out and enjoy their own individual lives.

The existence of those two, having never been taught that simple truth, had been remarkably brutal.

‘We effectively robbed you of your lives.’

And that immense, crushing obligation was currently being borne by the offspring of his pupils.

The descendants of Bhaar spent their existence navigating the shadows.

The descendants of Verkia spent their existence embracing absolute humility.

Verkia and Bhaar. Did these two truly pale in comparison to the legendary figures? Could anyone genuinely claim they were inferior to the Heroes of Genesis?

“I hold a single condition.”

“Please, speak it.”

“Do not lead your life in the manner that Verkia did.”

“What?”

Rune, who had kept his head lowered, raised his gaze to look at Leo with an expression of profound shock.

“I have come to understand, in broad terms, the manner in which the Ersahr family has conducted itself over these past 5000 years.”

Leo’s gaze grew heavy and solemn.

“You must have endured continuously as the hidden pillars supporting the realm… the entire race of Elves.”

Shifting his gaze away from Rune, Leo looked back toward the likeness of Verkia.

“I never once instructed any of you to abandon everything for the sake of sacrifice. Your lineage has consistently given its absolute all. You… the Ersahr family… represent a magnificent lineage of champions, far grander than any other in existence, and therefore.”

Leo spoke with absolute certainty.

“You are no longer required to keep yourselves hidden in humility.”

“…”

Rune slowly lowered his head once more.

For reasons he couldn’t entirely control, moisture began to gather at the corners of his eyes.

‘To become so emotional at my advanced age.’

Yet his entire being shuddered at the realization that the silent burdens they had carried for 5000 years, their entire hidden legacy, had finally been validated by an individual outside their bloodline.

“Verkia would undoubtedly desire this outcome as well.”

‘Ancestors, could there possibly exist a grander recognition than this?’