Chapter 115
Chapter Title: The So-Called Cursed Land
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Leo stared blankly at Elsie, who cleared her throat with an "Ahem!" and shrugged.
He found himself doubting if this was truly Elsie, the shadow spirit he had once made a pact with.
‘She's so different.’
"So, where is Lisinas?"
Leo said, looking at Elsie, whose hands were clasped and eyes sparkled.
"She's on her way to Reysar now."
"Oh! Then I don't need to go looking for her?"
"That's right."
"What a relief! I was thinking of going to find her today or tomorrow! I'm glad we won't miss each other!"
Hearing this, Elsie began to adjust her clothes and tidy her hair, like a job seeker preparing for an interview.
Leo asked the primping Elsie.
"Why do you want to contract with Lisinas? There are plenty of other famous people out there."
"Because I heard she was chosen by the Spirit of Radiance."
"Just for that?"
"That's not all. I heard from the wind spirits! They said you defeated the Legion Commander, Jormungar! Is that right?"
"Yes."
"See?!"
Elsie spun around on the spot, then placed her hands firmly on her hips.
"Someone who defeats a Legion Commander and declares they will subjugate Erebos in this day and age! Isn't she the perfect person to be my contractor?"
‘She's so different, I can't get used to it.’
"Why do you want to save the world?"
"I'm a spirit born in the Age of Calamity. That's why I really want to see the stars in the night sky! I've heard they're so beautiful it's blinding!"
Her eyes twinkling, Elsie drifted into a daydream.
In the nights of the Age of Calamity, when the terrifying red moon rose, even the starlight vanished.
‘I never knew that.’
Though they had a contract, Leo knew almost nothing about Elsie.
Whenever he tried to talk to her, she never answered.
‘Come to think of it, she did show a little interest when I talked about the night sky.’
The usually silent Elsie had only ever shown interest when he spoke of the starlight from before the Age of Calamity.
"So! When is Lisinas coming?"
"It'll still be a while."
"Aww!"
Leo asked the deeply disappointed Elsie seriously.
"I have one last question. How long have you been in this area?"
"I've been here for ten years. This is a secret from Agon, though."
"I'm Schatten, the Sword that Devours Darkness."
Elsie revealed her identity with a smile and a wink.
***
"Are you saying Agon refused me?"
"Yes, my lord."
The hands of Rodean, the Lord of Reysar, trembled as he looked at the bowing Levaiten.
"Agon! How could you refuse the request of a brother-in-arms!"
Though the dwarf Rodean showed his anger, it was utterly pathetic.
Dwarves, short but stoutly built, were each exceptional warriors.
If beastmen were valiant warriors who used their feral strength, dwarves were veteran warriors who utilized superior techniques and weapons.
But in Rodean's gaunt and haggard appearance, there was no trace of a warrior's bearing.
He too was once a celebrated hero, a warrior active on the battlefield.
It was because of such great deeds that the people of Reysar had acclaimed him as their lord.
In an age of chaos, it was only natural for a hero to rise to power.
But Rodean changed after taking power.
To be precise, he had lost his will to fight after his first expedition as lord.
He had ascended to the lordship ten years ago.
It was when a coalition of heroes, so powerful it was unprecedented in history, had been formed.
Until then, people believed the coalition of heroes would subjugate Erebos and bring peace to the world.
‘The result was a crushing defeat.’
The power of Erebos was terrifying, and countless heroes were slain.
Even those who survived had their spirits broken.
Rodean was one such hero.
Terrified, Rodean had since degenerated into a figure who hid deep within his castle, caring only for his own safety.
"It seems he's still concerned with the orphans of the cursed land!"
"Foolish! To defy the greater cause just to protect those insignificant things!"
"He is a man hopelessly trapped by his ideals, is he not?"
Levaiten bowed his head.
"And what's more, it is said a plague is rampant in that cursed land."
"A plague?"
Rodean's face turned white as a sheet.
If a plague were to break out in Reysar, which was flooded with refugees, the entire city would surely be crippled.
If that happened, the city's defensive lines would be compromised.
"W-What should we do, Levaiten!"
"We must nip it in the bud before the plague can spread."
Rodean gasped, looking at Levaiten's resolute expression.
"If the plague spreads, the entire city will be in danger. The citizens will be pleased if we prevent that. Of course, it pains my heart to cut down orphans with nowhere to go, but..."
Levaiten bit his lip, his face contorted in anguish.
"For the greater good, it cannot be helped. The citizens will surely follow our lead."
"B-But Agon won't just stand by, will he?"
"Lord Agon is your long-time friend, Lord Rodean. If you say you wish to seek his counsel for the future of Reysar, he will have no choice but to come to the castle."
"Luring Agon away isn't the problem! If we deal with all those orphans, Agon is sure to go on a rampage!"
Even if he was old and past his prime, Agon was still considered one of the strongest heroes of his time.
If he were to turn his spear on Reysar in a rage...
The entire city would undoubtedly suffer immense damage.
"As I said before, the greater cause is on your side, my lord."
Levaiten said without hesitation.
"Rumors of the plague have already spread throughout the city. Preventing it is what the public wants. No matter how foolish Agon may be, he wouldn't do something so stupid as to endanger a city where so many people live."
The corners of Levaiten's mouth curled up.
"After all, he is, at least for now, a 'hero'."
"Y-You have a point..."
"Besides, if any problems arise, I will take full responsibility."
Seeing Levaiten speak so decisively, Rodean looked relieved.
"As always, I'll leave it to you!"
"A wise decision. And, my lord. If all goes well, Schatten..."
"It's yours. Who else but you, who thinks of me so, should possess such a mighty sword?"
"I will do my utmost to repay your grace, my lord."
With a look of deep gratitude, Levaiten bowed and left the lord's chambers.
‘The mighty warrior once called a hero is now nothing but an old, corrupt loser.’
A sneer spread across his face.
Levaiten.
He was the true power in this city, manipulating its lord, Rodean, from the shadows.
The people of Reysar praised him as a hero.
Though he had never once set foot on a battlefield, people believed he was a young hero who had saved the city multiple times.
The reason this was possible was simple.
Levaiten was a man who greedily coveted achievements, a man completely unbefitting of a hero.
The accomplishments attributed to him were all either exaggerated or fabricated, taking advantage of the chaotic times.
‘Fools. Dangle a bit of hope in front of them, and they're too busy singing praises.’
This rumor of a plague was no different.
‘I've been spreading rumors for a long time that it's a cursed land.’
The southern outskirts of Reysar were not a cursed land.
He didn't know why it had changed, but it wasn't as if there was a problem.
It was merely a ploy to completely isolate Agon, who lived there.
The masses forget easily, even a hero who once risked his life to protect them.
‘The rumors about the plague have already grown grim. With this, I have a cause and a justification to wipe out that filthy place. Hehehe.’
It didn't matter whether the plague was real or fake.
‘As long as their anxiety is relieved, they won't care about the details. Instead, they’ll start singing my praises. 'As expected of Leviathan!'’
Ambition glinted in her eyes.
A hero who saves the world?
‘I have no interest in impossible tasks. I just need to protect Reysar and live out the rest of my days in comfort. Even in the Age of Calamity, with power, you can have anything!’
Levaiten thought, bursting into laughter.
‘The day I take this land for myself is not far off!’
***
After talking with Elsie, Leo immediately left the southern district of Reysar to gather information.
He moved through the streets and taverns, checking the rumors about the district where the orphanage was located.
"The cursed place? This is crazy! A plague!"
"What in the world is the lord doing? What if the plague spreads here? He needs to take action!"
‘The city is already filled with rumors of a plague outbreak.’
Returning to the orphanage, Leo's face twisted as he was lost in thought.
‘Elsie is the spirit dwelling in Schatten. She settled here ten years ago after the sword broke.’
She said she was waiting here for a hero who would save the world.
And then today. She said she was planning to leave for Gardsrone to meet Lisinas.
Leo's gaze fell upon Elsie in the clearing, taking care of the other orphans.
Her appearance was similar to the elf girl, Lia, so among the orphans, her position was like that of an older sister, just like Lia.
Elsie was smiling brightly as she looked after the children.
Seeing her, Leo recalled the Elsie he would meet a year later.
‘She was disillusioned with the world. And Agon.’
Agon, whose will was broken when they first met.
Lisinas had said he harbored hatred.
Thinking that far, Leo's expression hardened.
‘These kids didn't die from a plague.’
His fists clenched tightly.
‘Levaiten, that son of a bitch, killed them!’
Leo, who knew the man named Levaiten nauseatingly well, could guess the reason for this scheme.
It must have been to get his hands on Schatten.
He had armed himself with countless weapons.
Of course, compared to the weapons he possessed, his skills were utter trash.
He coveted achievements only to stand above the masses.
And when his own life was in danger, he abandoned his comrades without hesitation.
He mocked and insulted those who claimed they would save the world.
‘In the end, he was discovered to have been colluding with Tartaros and was executed by the public.’
A fake hero.
A traitor.
Remembering Levaiten's face as he screamed that it was unfair and begged for his life until the very moment he died, a look of disgust appeared on Leo's face.
‘In my past life, I couldn't understand how that bastard became the lord...’
Leo looked at the orphans.
To Ar-on, these children were like his own siblings.
He remembered Ar-on, who had loathed himself for being a coward, unable to protect the children.
A murderous glint appeared in Leo's eyes.
"Black Rabbit, there you are. Help me with dinner."
"Before that. Where's Agon?"
"Agon? The lord summoned him to the castle a little while ago."
"What?"
The sun was already setting, the sky growing dark.
Clank— Clank— Clank—
Just then, the sound of scraping metal began to echo.
The sensitive Ar perked up his ears, his eyes turning fierce.
A moment later, the knights from before appeared in the clearing.
The children began to tremble at the knights' murderous aura.
The elf girl, Lia, hurriedly stepped forward.
"Sirs, Mister Agon just left for the lord's castle."
"Don't you come near me, you filthy, plague-ridden wench!"
One of the knights shouted and swung his sword at Lia.
Seeing this, Lia squeezed her eyes shut.
"Are you out of your mind?"
Ar said in an icy voice.
The knight who had swung his sword turned pale at the sheer intensity.
Leo caught Lia from behind as she stumbled back, losing her balance.
Leo helped the trembling Lia stand straight and said,
"Don't worry."
"Huh?"
"We'll protect you."