Chapter 119
Chapter Title: The Hunter and the Contract
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119.
*Thud- Thud-*
Ar-on walked toward Talatunia.
Seeing him, Talatunia’s expression soured.
“A beastman?”
The spider princess looked up at the sky, puzzled.
“A transformed beastman? But it’s not a full moon today.”
Talatunia, her expression one of confusion, let out a sneer.
“A mutation?”
“Let that child go.”
“This?”
Talatunia gave Elsie, whom she held captive, a little shake and scoffed.
“I don’t want to.”
Watching her, Ar-on lowered his stance.
“Why are there so many meddlesome beasts?”
With an annoyed look, Talatunia extended a foreleg to kill Ar-on.
Talatunia did not know.
That the beastman before her was a hunter.
*GRAB-!*
“Hm?”
The foreleg that had been flying at a terrifying speed to pierce Ar-on was caught.
*CRACK!*
As Ar-on tightened his grip, the tip of her foreleg snapped.
Compared to Talatunia’s massive body, a broken foreleg tip wasn't a significant blow.
But as Ar-on pulled with all his might, the spider princess’s enormous body was dragged forward.
“Wh-what!”
Talatunia shrieked and resisted, but having already lost her balance, the spider princess’s body collapsed in front of Ar-on.
*SQUEEZE-!*
Looking down at the spider princess who had fallen right before him, Ar-on clenched his fist.
Talatunia instinctively felt that something was terribly wrong.
*FWHOOM-!*
Ar-on threw a punch.
A heavy sound tore through the air.
*FWHOOOSH-!*
Wind blasted out in all directions.
Ar, who was watching, lowered her stance as much as possible to avoid being blown away by the fierce gust.
The wind died down, and Ar lifted her head.
She saw Talatunia’s body, its upper half blown away, twitching and convulsing.
At the sight of such overwhelming power, Ar’s jaw dropped.
Elsie, freed from Talatunia’s grasp, also wore a look of disbelief.
“Who in the world are you.”
“You’re one of the orphanage kids too, right? Are you okay?”
After Schatten was broken, Elsie had watched over Agon and Ar-on from the shadows for ten years.
However, she only revealed herself after Ar-on left the orphanage and its management became difficult.
That was why Ar-on didn't know Elsie.
“I’ll take care of this demon right away.”
“Who’s taking care of whom? How dare an insolent worm like you speak to me, the daughter of Silatuna!”
The upper half of Talatunia’s body, which had been blown away, regenerated in an instant.
As her flesh squirmed and reformed, Talatunia’s face twisted into a hideous expression.
Her earlier composure was gone.
Facing Talatunia, who had opened her mouth to reveal poison fangs, Ar-on unleashed his aura.
*Flinch-* Talatunia’s body trembled.
*WHOOSH-!*
Ar-on vanished from sight.
Talatunia frantically scanned her surroundings, trying to find him.
*THWACK-!*
“Keuk?”
A pained groan escaped Talatunia’s lips.
Her body, bent at a bizarre angle, shot into the sky.
Ar-on had kicked her upwards.
“I’ll kill you!”
Talatunia’s voice, filled with murderous intent, echoed from the air.
Chilling runes began to resonate.
Her true power was black magic.
Until now, she had only engaged in physical combat to toy with her opponents.
But Ar-on had no intention of quietly waiting for her spell to be completed.
*Crack-crack-*
Ar-on cracked his knuckles and sharpened his claws.
*WHOOOOM-!*
Golden aura gathered at his fingertips.
At the sight of this extraordinary power, Talatunia’s face turned pale.
*SHRRRRRRIP-!*
Ar-on’s claws tore through the air.
The space in the surrounding area momentarily warped.
“KYAAAAAAAAAAK!”
Golden trajectories shot into the sky, instantly shredding Talatunia to pieces.
Watching Talatunia vanish without a trace, Ar trembled.
‘This is… Ar-on-nim! The Great Hero who saved the world!’
***
“Pant! Pant! Dammit! Dammit!”
Levaiten cursed as he fled the southern district of Reysar.
He never dreamed that the woman who had approached him six months ago was a demon.
‘I have to get back quickly and figure out a plan!’
Though Agon had been forgotten by the people of Reysar, he hadn't vanished from their memories.
They had only temporarily forgotten him because he had gone into seclusion; his fame was still high.
If Agon were to reveal that he had been colluding with a demon, everything he had built up until now would crumble.
Dealing with demons was an unforgivable, capital crime.
*Swish-!*
Suddenly, a chillingly sharp sound reached his ears.
“Was that just…?”
*Splat-!*
As Levaiten wore a puzzled expression, he heard something fall.
At the same time, he felt a lightness at the end of his right hand.
“GUWAAAAAAAAAAH!”
Levaiten screamed, clutching his right wrist.
Blood was gushing from the stump, and his right hand lay tumbling on the ground.
“What a strange feeling.”
Screaming in agony, Levaiten turned his head.
He saw a pair of emotionless red eyes.
“To be dealing with a traitor I’ve dealt with in the past, once again.”
Leo flicked the blood from his sword and approached Levaiten.
“You, you bastard! You think you’ll get away with this?!”
“I think I will. Who’s here to help you now?”
“If, if you spare me, I’ll guarantee you status and fame!”
“Not interested. Besides, what good are status and fame if the world is destroyed?”
A chilling killing intent crept into Leo’s voice.
Realizing his opponent couldn't be persuaded, Levaiten screamed and ran.
“Is anyone there? Help me! Help me!”
But the streets were empty.
Not even a common vagrant could be seen.
Thanks to someone spreading a rumor that this was a cursed land, the area was completely isolated.
*THWACK-!*
Levaiten’s head, which had been screaming pathetically, flew into the air.
“Someone, please save….”
His desperate words were cut short.
*Thud- Thump-*
Levaiten’s headless body collapsed to the ground.
Watching it, Leo sheathed his sword.
‘If I had known this happened back then… maybe more heroes would have helped us.’
With a somber expression, Leo returned to the orphanage.
“Ar-on-nim! Ar-on-nim! I’ve admired you ever since I was little!”
“I-I’m telling you, I’m not someone worthy of admiration! And hurry up and treat your wound!”
Excited by her meeting with Ar-on, Ar was running wild.
Her frenzied appearance, with blood streaming down her head as she charged at him, was bizarre even to Leo’s eyes.
One could only imagine how terrifying it was for the timid Ar-on.
“Ah, Kyle. You’re here.”
Elsie, who had been watching the scene, approached him.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. More importantly, we’ve defeated the spider princess!”
“She won’t die from something like that.”
Leo, who had seen Ar-on’s slash from a distance, smiled bitterly.
Talatunia, who had swallowed the Fairy King’s Ring, wouldn't die so easily.
Even without the ring, she could have easily recovered from such a wound.
She wasn't a monster who had destroyed a nation for nothing.
“Anyway, Kyle! How about recommending Ar-on to Lisinas? With that power, he’ll surely be a great help in saving the world!”
“It’ll happen even if you don’t say anything.”
“Right, I suppose so.”
Elsie smiled brightly and spoke.
“And I. I’ve changed my mind.”
“About what?”
“Instead of Lisinas, I want to make a contract with you, Kyle.”
*Point-* Elsie pointed a finger at Leo and smiled radiantly.
“I like you.”
“I’m honored. But I don’t have the power to make a contract with you right now. And I’m not Kyle at the moment.”
“Pardon?”
Puzzled by his cryptic words, Elsie pondered for a moment before nodding.
“True. It did seem strange. Even for an All-Class, your power doesn’t seem that strong yet.”
She had assumed he was Kyle because he possessed the Orb of Light and was an All-Class, but his power was too weak to be Kyle, the ‘Surviving Hero.’
“Still, I want to make a contract with you.”
Elsie smiled as if it didn't matter and took Leo’s right hand.
“I’m sure you can defeat Erebos. That’s why I want to bet my future on you.”
Placing her hand on the back of Leo’s, Elsie smiled sweetly.
“Don’t worry about the power for the contract. I am a shadow spirit. As long as there’s an object to act as a medium, I can dwell in your shadow and lend you my strength.”
“A medium?”
“Yes. In your case, you have the Orb of Light.”
Though it didn't hold great power, it was a symbol passed down through generations of Great Light Spirits, imbued with a powerful affinity for spirits.
Elsie placed her hand on the back of Leo’s.
“My name is Elsie, a shadow spirit. I swear to be your sword and shield for the duration of our contract.”
The seal of the contract formed on the back of Leo’s hand.
Seeing the familiar mark, Leo smiled wistfully.
“I’ll be in your care.”
Though the contract would be broken the moment the World of Heroes ended, the fact that he had made a pact with Elsie once again stirred a strange emotion within him.
“Hah! Hah! Ar-on-nim! I admire you! You’re so cool!”
“I told you to get away from me!”
Meanwhile, the rampaging Ar was clinging to Ar-on’s leg.
Seeing Ar-on’s terrified expression, Leo approached the two.
*Smack-!*
“Nyak?!”
“She said she doesn’t like it, you perverted cat.”
Leo smacked Ar on the head.
Blood was still flowing from the wound she’d received from Talatunia.
Ar, who had frozen like a broken cat, clutched her head and rolled on the ground.
“It huuuuurts! Why would you hit my wound! You little rabbit!”
“You seem fine.”
“It really hurts, you know!”
Tears welled in her eyes as she furiously pulled on Leo’s rabbit ears.
Just then, they saw Agon running toward them from the distance.
He had felt Ar-on’s aura surge from the lord’s castle and had rushed over at once.
The moment Leo saw Agon.
[You have met Ar-on in Reysar.]
[You have saved Agon, the Guardian of the Azure Sky.]
The objective was completed.
***
After Agon arrived, the cleanup began.
Though the cleanup mostly consisted of comforting the frightened children and scolding Ar-on, it truly felt like the incident was over.
Watching Agon, who seemed a little brighter after seeing his disciple, Leo recalled the past.
‘If all these children had died, Agon would no longer have been a hero.’
How could one call a person who had come to hate the world a hero?
And yet, Agon had said nothing to the departing Ar-on.
It must have been Agon’s consideration, hoping that his disciple, who had set his mind on saving the world, would not be broken as he had been.
Perhaps if Agon had told him the truth back then, the Brave Hero Ar-on might never have existed.
Naturally, saving the world would have been impossible.
While Leo was lost in old memories, Ar was thoroughly excited.
“I completed a World of Heroes before I even enrolled in Azonia! And it was Ar-on-nim’s world! This is an unprecedented event in Azonia’s history!”
“You’re still bleeding from your head. Aren’t you going to treat it?”
“Black Rabbit! It’s all thanks to you! Let’s work hard in our school life from now on! Let’s make Azonia the strongest hero academy!”
“Sure, you work hard.”
“You have to do it with me!”
Completely unaware that Leo was a student at Lumerne, Ar imagined their school life together.
“It’s frustrating, but I’ll let you be the class representative. You seem more skilled than me right now.”
Ar grumbled, then puffed out her chest.
“But don’t let your guard down! I’ll take that spot from you anytime.”
‘…This is getting more and more awkward. Should I tell her now?’
Just as Leo was contemplating this, Agon approached them.
“It seems I’m in your debt.”
“Did you finish scolding Ar-on-nim?”
“For now.”
“In that case! Ar-on-nim!”
“St-stay away!”
As Ar charged again, Ar-on yelped and fled.
“…Did that girl hit her head and lose her mind?”
“She seems to be like that normally, so just leave her be.”
Leo clicked his tongue.
“In any case, thank you. We would have been in big trouble if not for you two.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Still, I want to repay you if there’s anything I can do, but I have nothing to give. So I’d like you to take this, at least.”
Agon handed Leo a book.
“This is?”
“My aura technique.”
In the current era, aura techniques were easy to come by, but that wasn't the case during the Age of Calamity.
“It’s the same technique Ar-on learned. Well, Ar-on made it his own and gained the ability to freely transform.”
‘Is this the original version of the Brave Hero’s Breath?’
He wanted to read it right away.
But…
*Crack-k-krak-*
Leo saw cracks forming in the night sky.
He knew what it meant.
‘The collapse of the world due to its completion.’
This world had fulfilled its role.
“Thank you.”
Leo tucked the book from Agon into his coat.
It was time to part with his friend.
“We have to go now. If you have something to say, say it quickly.”
At Leo’s words, Ar flinched and looked up at the sky.
Then, with a regretful expression, she spoke to Ar-on.
“Ar-on-nim.”
“Yes?”
“Um… could you pat my head just once, for encouragement?”
The young girl made a small request to the Great Hero she had admired since childhood.
Hearing this, Ar-on, with a puzzled look, patted Ar’s head.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but do your best from now on. You can do it.”
Ar-on smiled gently and removed his hand from Ar’s head.
Ar fiddled with her own blood-soaked hair and muttered.
“I’m never washing this hair again. Hehehehe.”
Seeing Ar spouting more unhinged nonsense, Ar-on recoiled in fear.
Leo sighed and used a healing spell.
The wound healed, and the bleeding stopped.
“Oh! Thanks! Black Rab—.”
*SPLASH-!*
Then, using a simple water spell, he washed Ar’s hair clean.
“You damned black rabbit!”
Ar, on the verge of tears, pulled at Leo’s rabbit ears.
“Ar-on-nim! Just one more pat…”
“Ar-on.”
“Yeah?”
“Things are going to be very hard from now on.”
Ar-on looked at Leo, unable to understand.
“There will be people you can’t protect, and you’ll face despair from constant trials.”
“What…?”
Listening to Leo, Ar-on looked completely clueless, while Ar wore a solemn expression.
Ar, too, had remembered.
The fact that the young Great Hero before her was about to begin an unimaginably difficult journey.
“But… you’ll make it through. Because you’re braver than anyone.”
Ar-on looked at Leo in confusion.
“Why do you think I’m brave? I’m just a coward.”
*CRACK-K-KRAK-*
The world crumbled.
“Because you saved the world.”
“I did?”
“Yes.”
Leo smiled at his friend, whose eyes had gone wide.
In the next moment, everything had vanished.
Only Leo and Ar-on stood in a black void.
Looking at his timid friend who had always given him courage… now standing there with a shocked face as he slowly faded away, Leo spoke as if making a vow.
“So I’ll do my best, too.”
So that he could completely annihilate Erebos.
[Ar-on’s World. Chapter: Prologue - The Beginning has been completed.]
[Completion Rewards: Ar-on’s Breath, Agon’s Book, Great Shadow Spirit Elsie]