Chapter 547

That era felt like an absolute fantasy for both Berkhia and Bihal.

Their physical lives had ended an incredibly long time ago.

Berkhia had departed the living world with eyes closed in profound bitterness toward existence, while Bihal had passed away in deep sorrow, hollowed by his failure to save Berkhia from her dark path.

Five millennia slipped away. In that vast stretch of time, Berkhia lingered as a restless revenant, whereas Bihal endured as a wandering spirit.

The conclusion of their mortal journeys had been an undeniable disaster.

And yet…

Berkhia quietly watched Eiran as the young girl forced herself to swallow her food.

“Eiran.”

“Yes, my lady?”

“I must apologize for presenting myself to you in such a pathetic state. It must have lessened your opinion of me, hasn’t it?”

Hearing those words, Eiran blinked her wide eyes, momentarily shifting her gaze away before offering her response.

“It didn’t lessen my opinion of you at all… I was simply terrified.”

“…”

“It truly felt as though the Berkhia standing before me wasn’t the legendary figure I admired. I couldn’t comprehend the immense agony you must have suffered to become that way… and that is what frightened me.”

She had once carried the crushing fate of the realm on her shoulders, exhausting her entire being to build a more just domain.

The reward for her selflessness had been utter betrayal.

It made complete sense that Berkhia’s agonizing resentment had twisted her into an undead creature.

“Even so.”

A bright, genuine smile spread across Eiran’s face.

“Lady Berkhia will always be Lady Berkhia to me.”

The champion who had fought with greater fervor than anyone else for the sake of the realm.

The simple truth that she remained Eiran’s most beloved and respected icon was entirely unaltered.

Observing the young girl’s warmth, Berkhia softly closed her eyes.

She could feel an absolute, unshakable devotion radiating from Eiran.

“I dream of becoming just like Lady Berkhia one day.”

A sudden realization washed over the ancient warrior.

This steadfast devotion provided a profound sense of peace and validation beyond anything else she had experienced.

‘Did Master Luna experience this very same feeling?’

Even now, the anchor binding her undead soul to this realm was her lingering malice toward the world.

Even in this moment, a deep exhaustion weighed on her.

The reality that she had surrendered everything for a world so ungrateful.

The reality that her closest companion had walked through the shadows, laboring away his existence for such a place.

The reality that legendary champions had thrown away their lives to rescue such an ungrateful land.

And yet…

‘Perhaps I ought to have persevered just a bit more.’

A faint prickle of sorrow emerged within her upon hearing the declaration of her young descendant.

It felt as though a spark of genuine existence was breathing life back into Berkhia’s exhausted spirit.

Berkhia stepped closer to Eiran, gently pressing her cheek against her young descendant’s face.

It was the exact gesture Luna used to offer her during her own youth.

Then, she whispered the words that Luna had so frequently spoken to her when she was a small girl.

“You possess the strength to achieve it.”

Her face lit up with a brilliant expression, one that carried a striking resemblance to Luna’s old smile.

“Five thousand years have gone by, yet your essence remains untouched.”

Berkhia turned her attention toward Leo.

“The path forged by those magnificent champions of old…”

She then shifted her focus to Bihal, who stood silently at her side.

“The journey we dedicated our lives to…”

Taking a step back, Berkhia finally locked eyes with the three young women.

“Now, the task falls to you to tread that very same road.”

One age slipped into the next.

The domain preserved by the legendary champions had been entrusted to her.

The domain she had successfully restored was now being handed down to the next generation.

‘Our choices were not in vain.’

Just moments ago, she had been consumed by the thought that everything had fallen apart.

But she had been mistaken.

“The world truly was a place worth protecting, Bihal.”

Berkhia beamed with genuine happiness as she faced the companion standing adjacent to her.

Noticing the serene, unburdened look on her face, Bihal gave a slow nod of agreement.

-Indeed. It is simply that the age we inhabited was merely the break of dawn.

A period when the sun had not yet ascended past the horizon.

A somber interval where light and shadow clashed and mingled.

An era when the early morning twilight was only beginning to pierce the darkness.

Berkhia gave a small nod at Bihal’s perspective, her eyes lingering on the youths who represented what was to come.

“We were denied the chance to participate in the ultimate conflict.”

The lifespan permitted to them had been cut far too short.

“That reality filled me with an intense bitterness.”

Berkhia’s gaze grew noticeably heavier.

“The struggle awaiting you will likely be incredibly brutal. I beg of you. Do not allow the catastrophe of five thousand years ago to play out once more.”

Berkhia poured the entirety of her spirit into her plea.

“Rely on one another as you forge ahead. And when the final battle settles, ensure that every single one of you returns alive. Come back home, and…”

Berkhia gestured toward the dining setup.

“Gather around a table just like this to share a peaceful moment.”

The simple, mundane routines they enjoyed after the age of cataclysm had drawn to a close.

They had grown so accustomed to that tranquil rhythm that they had simply allowed those quiet days to pass by without a second thought.

Yet occasionally, as the first light broke in the morning sky, they would notice the poignant absence of the legendary champions.

In those fleeting instances, they would truly comprehend how incredibly precious their normal daily existence actually was.

And a quiet sorrow would take root.

‘If only we could have shared these moments together.’

If only they could have welcomed the morning in a radiant world, completely free of distress and fear.

‘It truly would have been wonderful.’

It was a fantasy that could never be fulfilled.

Yet right now, that impossible fantasy had transformed into reality.

For both Berkhia and Bihal.

The conclusion of their mortal existences had undoubtedly been a sorrowful affair.

Yet because of that very path, they managed to fulfill their deepest yearning long after their passings.

-Master.

“What is it?”

-Would you care to accompany us on a stroll?

“Sounds far too tedious.”

Leo gave a completely indifferent reply to Bihal’s suggestion.

Stepping up from behind, Berkhia applied her strength and shoved Leo forward.

“Quit complaining and move, old man.”

“This is ridiculous.”

Muttering under his breath, Leo walked out into the open air under the guidance of Berkhia’s firm grip, offering no real resistance.

The three girls quickly abandoned their meals to hustle right behind them.

Creak-!

The sharp groan of an opening doorway echoed through the air.

The surrounding environment had been blanketed in a pristine white coat by a fresh snowfall that had arrived entirely unannounced.

Crunch- Crunch-

Their boots compressed the snow as they made their way down the devastated roadway.

Berkhia and Bihal positioned themselves flanking Leo on either side.

“Master.”

“Speak.”

“We truly pushed ourselves to the absolute limit.”

“And your point is?”

-Do you truly have no words for us?

Bihal inquired in a blunt tone.

“…”

A soft laugh escaped Leo at their prodding, and he lifted both of his hands.

Reaching outward, he gently rested his palms atop the heads of his two disciples.

“The pair of you performed exceptionally well.”

The declaration was entirely uncomplicated.

It was a heartfelt acknowledgment, lacking any false modesty or dramatic exaggeration.

“You have my deepest gratitude for ensuring that our ultimate sacrifices were not rendered meaningless.”

He offered his profound appreciation to the students who had spent their entire existences honoring the memory of the legendary champions, himself included.

The young followers he remembered had grown into mature adults and had met their ends after surrendering their lifetimes to the realm, mirroring the path he had walked long ago.

Even though their journeys had pulled them down separate tracks.

What did that matter now?

It could never diminish the magnitude of what they had achieved.

The early morning hours had now completely arrived.

Brilliant beams of sunlight cascaded downward, striking the surroundings and fracturing into countless shimmering points.

That shattered radiance entirely dissolved the lingering shadows.

An flawless morning had begun.

This ethereal, wondrous encounter was drawing to its inevitable close.

Leo, gently smoothing his disciples’ hair, gave them a soft push from behind.

Berkhia and Bihal stepped forward into the descending brilliance without a single shred of sorrow.

They cast away every remaining bond holding them to the mortal plane, whether as an undead entity or a lingering spirit.

Every microscopic trace of regret from their living days simply melted away.

“Oh.”

As she walked forward, Berkhia abruptly halted as though a sudden thought had struck her.

By this point, the oppressive, dark aura had entirely dissolved from her form.

Only a brilliant, pure radiance—identical to the energy surrounding Bihal—enveloped her being.

Berkhia leaned in and offered a quiet murmur into Bihal’s ear.

Bihal gave an understanding nod, and then both of them turned their gazes back toward Leo simultaneously.

Leo watched them with a look of utter confusion, observing his two former pupils framed beautifully by the morning rays of the sun.

“Hang in there, Dad.”

The pair delivered the phrase in perfect unison, letting out a shared laugh at Leo’s completely flabbergasted expression before dissolving entirely into the pure light.

“Good grief…”

Leo let out a long, weary exhalation, thoroughly stunned.

“Who on earth are they calling Dad, those ridiculous kids.”

Muttering the words under his breath, Leo kept his eyes locked for a long time on the precise patch of ground where his two followers had vanished.

The trio of girls observing the scene from behind could not catch even a glimpse of the expression written across Leo’s features.

Rustle- Rustle-

Their footsteps echoed as they traversed the academy grounds, which were blanketed in crisp, fallen foliage.

The dried leaves crumbled beneath Leo’s boots.

Lunia, Eiran, and Chen Sia maintained a respectful, quiet distance as they trailed behind his lead.

“Did Lady Lunia truly travel all the way to Lumerne on our account?”

“Given the magnitude of the crisis that just unfolded, how could I possibly remain detached?”

Lunia cast a deeply concerned gaze at Leo’s receding figure.

Observing his posture, which carried an undeniable air of isolation, Lunia spoke softly.

“What could possibly be running through his mind right now?”

“It is beyond my comprehension.”

Chen Sia gave a slow shake of her head.

The three young women found themselves unable to easily initiate a conversation with Leo.

They had been forcefully reminded of the staggering burden that Leo was forced to endure.

While the two of them quietly observed Leo charting the path ahead,

Tap-tap-tap-!

“Wait, Lady Eiran?”

“What do you think you are doing?!”

Lunia and Chen Sia were caught entirely off guard as Eiran suddenly broke into a sprint, heading straight for Leo.

“Lord Leo!”

“…?”

“I request that you begin my rigorous personal instruction this very day!”

Eiran project her voice firmly as she drew parallel to Leo.

“I am prepared to endure any level of instruction! I will push myself far harder than before! In the exact manner of Lady Berkhia and Lord Bihal! Just like the rest of those magnificent champions, I want to become a pillar of support for you, Lord Leo!”

Leo looked down at Eiran, noting her tightly balled fists, and let out a soft laugh before boisterously ruffling her hair.

“I intend to elevate my own efforts far beyond my current limits!”

“As do I.”

Lunia and Chen Sia voiced their agreement with newfound vigor as they joined the group.

Leo simply chuckled as he observed the absolute resolve radiating from the three of them.

“Well, well, isn’t that Leo over there?”

“Where? Let me see! Oh! It truly is Big Brother Leo!”

“Leo, Sia, Eiran, you’ve finally returned?”

“How did the deployment turn out?”

Karl, Chelsea, Chloe, and Avad caught sight of Leo and began waving enthusiastically.

“Sia!”

In that exact instant, Iliana came rushing toward Sia, her expression completely overwhelmed with distress.

“The students from both the Knight Department and the Magic Department have been treating me like an absolute turncoat since yesterday!”

“Well, Lady Iliana, you certainly possess the qualities of a turncoat, do you not?”

“Pre-sident! Everyone is isolating me like a turncoat! This is a direct insult to the entire student body presidency! You must discipline them!”

Following Chen Sia’s dismissive response, Iliana directed her grievances toward Leo this time.

“How incredibly pitiful.”

“This is hardly an unusual occurrence, is it?”

Celia uttered with a dismissive snort, while Nella simply shook her head at the display.

Duran maintained a thoroughly detached countenance.

“The student body leader from Seirun has made an appearance as well. What brings her here?”

“There is undoubtedly a valid explanation for it.”

Eliza and Woredan directed the bulk of their curiosity toward Lunia.

The students seemed to be organizing themselves according to their respective fields of study.

It wasn’t merely the second-year pupils who had gathered.

It appeared as though the entire campus population was actively converging on the area.

Observing the gathering crowd, a peculiar look manifested on Leo’s face.

“President! President! Are you paying any attention to me?”

“Cease pestering Leo the moment he arrives back from a grueling deployment.”

“Act your age, you flighty turncoat.”

Celia and Chloe physically intervened, seizing Iliana and hauling her away from the center of attention.

Leo let out a quiet laugh as he took in the chaotic scene.

Witnessing the lively, noisy spectacle caused a wave of ancient memories to spontaneously flood his mind.

The tumultuous period spent at Guardsron, where everyone was constantly bickering and competing, seemed to perfectly mirror the environment before him now.

‘Nothing has truly changed.’

A legacy of inspiration that had sparked five millennia ago.

The foundational source of every champion in existence, he tightened his grip as his eyes swept over these aspiring candidates—the future protectors of the realm.

What kind of world would manifest once these youths ascended to take up the mantle of true heroes?

Five thousand years prior.

Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings, had never mapped out a vision for what was to come.

Rather, it had been his closest companions who shaped that grand vision on his behalf.

‘I simply trod the path toward the future they laid out.’

Leo turned his eyes toward the open sky above.

There was no longer a predefined path left for him to lean on or follow.

‘Therefore, from this point forward, the task falls to me to envision it on my own.’

The realization brought him no sorrow or resentment.

‘In fact, the very prospect fills me with a sense of anticipation.’

Visualizing a distant day when he might finally lay down the crushing weight of his responsibilities.

The Hero of Beginnings allowed a soft, tranquil smile to grace his features.

The entire student body had assembled in one place.

In the midst of the massive crowd, every single gaze was locked onto a solitary target.

“What reason could the student body leader of Seirun possibly have for being here?”

“I haven’t the slightest idea. Word is she arrived alongside our own student president today?”

“This session is specifically for our academy’s advanced division, isn’t it? Is a student from Seirun even permitted to take part?”

“If you look at it from that perspective, we host exchange students all the time, don’t we?”

“True… that makes sense. But there is one absolute certainty here.”

The students of Lumerne nodded in agreement.

‘She possesses incredible nerve.’

Despite being the sole focus of hushed whispers from hundreds of staring students, Lunia did not show a single hint of discomfort.

On the contrary, she maintained an entirely poised and self-assured demeanor.

“Well now. Greetings, Lunia.”

“Ah? Lady Elena?”

At that moment, Elena Zerion, a fourth-year pupil at Lumerne who held the title of the most powerful individual within the Magic Department, took a seat directly beside Lunia.

Lunia’s expression turned somewhat strained at Elena’s sudden arrival.

The two young women had previously pooled their strengths to overcome the challenges within Luna’s domain.

While she had proven to be an incredibly dependable ally during that ordeal, Lunia simultaneously found Elena’s presence quite overwhelming.

As the older student closed the distance to offer her greetings, Lunia couldn’t help but feel a bit cornered.

Elena offered a sweet, pleasant smile as she regarded Lunia, posing a question.

“Lunia, have you ever considered transferring over to our academy?”

“Lest you forget, I happen to hold the position of student body leader at Seirun.”

“Oh, I am well aware. That is precisely the reason I am suggesting the transfer. Should you make the switch, I will ensure you are granted the position of vice president of the student body. Even with the ‘vice’ title, I suspect the actual authority you would wield would match or exceed that of the top spot at Seirun, don’t you think?”

“I must respectfully decline your offer.”

“A pity.”

Elena gave a casual shrug of her shoulders as the conversation ended.

Creak-!

The heavy doors providing entry to the great auditorium swung wide open.

Instantly, a profound silence washed over the entire assembly of students.

Stepping into view was an individual possessing a striking, beautiful appearance, making it nearly impossible to determine if the youth was a young man or a young woman.

Following directly behind this figure was Melina, distinguished by her silver locks and matching silver eyes.

Sitting adjacent to Karl, Leo’s eyes gave a slight, sudden twitch.

“I offer my greetings to the prospective champions who carry forward the legacy of Lumerne, the direct inheritors of the path walked by Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings. I am known as Lian.”

Every student in attendance stared back at Lian with looks of total bewilderment written across their faces.

“Were I to delve into a comprehensive explanation of my background, the matter would quickly grow exceedingly intricate, so I shall provide an entirely basic introduction instead.”

Lian offered the room a gentle, calm smile.

“I am a deity.”