Chapter 203
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“—All esteemed guests in the spectator stands, please evacuate to the main Seirun building immediately! I repeat! All esteemed guests in the spectator stands, please evacuate to the main Seirun building immediately…”
An urgent voice echoed throughout the campus.
Those who had come to Seirun to watch the Lumerne-Seirun Tournament hurriedly followed the students' guidance and evacuated into the main building.
“That foolish Demon Queen.”
Before the Demon Queen had even arrived.
Among the gathered heroes and guild members, the first to speak was none other than Virias.
He was a man active on the front lines against Tartaros, a sector managed by Seirun.
Although he had yet to have his name recorded in the Hero Record, his skills were said to be comparable to those of active heroes.
“This is an unprecedented situation, but it’s actually for the best.”
Virias declared forcefully, looking around at the assembly.
“This is the hero academy, Seirun. A place not even a Legion Commander would dare to invade. For her to walk right in on her own two feet, shouldn’t we be grateful?”
Virias’s lips curled into a smirk.
“Crisis is opportunity! Let us subjugate the Demon Queen Silatuna here today!”
Though often overlooked due to its title as a hero academy, the institution possessed many hidden strengths beyond its students and educators.
Combined, the forces stationed within the academy were formidable enough to wage war against the entire world.
And now, a hero convocation had been called to prepare for Tartaros’s provocations.
Virias displayed his confidence, and a few others nodded in agreement.
“That might be possible with an ordinary Legion Commander… but our opponent is the Demon Queen Silatuna.”
Just then, Jin, the Undine Knight from Lumerne, spoke up.
“If we attempt a rash subjugation, we might be the ones who get wiped out, you know?”
“My, my. To be so frightened with this much power at our disposal. That’s not very befitting of someone whose name is in the Hero Record.”
As Jin frowned at the rude remark, Nerjia spoke coldly.
“Virias. Is this really the time to be sowing discord with such words?”
“My apologies.”
Virias bowed his head deeply to Nerjia, who sighed at the sight.
Seeing this, Jin shook his head inwardly.
‘This is why I can’t stand those racial supremacists.’
Jin, being accustomed to this type of elf, knew it was best to simply ignore them.
Just then, Seirun’s principal, Benett, opened his mouth.
“It is true that our current strength is immense. However, our opponent is a Legion Commander who has existed since before the Age of Calamity.”
Benett addressed the assembly with his characteristically expressionless face.
“She is a being we must never try to understand with our common sense. For now, it would be right to aim not to subjugate the Demon Queen, but to hold her back.”
“I agree with Benett.”
Nerjia nodded.
At this, a few of the elf heroes showed their displeasure.
However, no one dared to openly challenge the words of Seirun’s principal and vice-principal, who were in charge.
“What are your thoughts, Kalian?”
Benett asked Kalian.
Everyone held their breath, their attention fixed on Kalian.
Sword Saint Kalian.
The strongest hero of the current generation, who had subjugated a Legion Commander.
“I, too, agree with your words.”
At Kalian’s response, Benett nodded.
“Then let’s assign our duties.”
One of the elf heroes raised his hand.
“Principal. Then who will be facing the Demon Queen Silatuna…?”
“I and the heroes I select will hold back Silatuna,” Kalian stated calmly.
“You all will hold back Silatuna’s ‘legion’.”
***
“First and second years, to the rear!”
“We want to fight too!”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Does this look like a game to you? This is a real battle! Don’t get any foolish ideas about being a hero, and prepare for support from the rear!”
The professors from Lumerne and the teachers from Seirun quickly led the students.
“Vice Professor Sera! I can’t find Leo!”
Karl shouted urgently.
Sera’s expression turned to one of alarm.
“Student Leo?”
“Yes! I can’t find him anywhere!”
The students of Class 5 paced anxiously, their faces filled with worry.
“What on earth should I do…”
“Don’t worry about Leo Flove.”
“Vice-Principal?”
Sera’s eyes widened at Liven’s appearance.
The Class 5 students asked Liven.
“Vice-Principal! Do you know where Leo went?”
“I have entrusted him with a mission. He will be joining the first years soon, so do not worry.”
“Ah.”
“Thank goodness.”
The Class 5 students let out sighs of relief.
“Vice Professor Sera, please lead Class 5.”
“Ah, yes!”
After calming the students, Liven looked toward the spectator stands where Leo had disappeared just moments before.
‘…I don’t know why, but I’m certain Leo Flove is in the World of Heroes right now.’
The phenomenon just now, when Leo vanished before his eyes, was identical to the reaction of entering the World of Heroes.
Liven took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.
The downpour continued relentlessly.
But the ominous crest of the Demon Queen that had been visible in the sky was gone.
‘She must have already descended to the ground.’
And she was undoubtedly summoning her legion to slowly advance on Seirun.
‘What on earth are you scheming, Tartaros?’
***
Outside Seirun’s towering walls.
The allied hero forces of Lumerne and Seirun stood ready.
“I agree with establishing an outer defensive line here… but what’s the plan?”
As the elf hero, Rubeche Teigra, wore a puzzled expression, Ellen Lundua spoke calmly.
“Just watch.”
The one who stepped forward to construct the defensive line was Sedjen.
*Thud— Thud—*
With a staff in hand, Sedjen walked forward alone.
He stopped a good distance from Seirun’s walls, and as a few elves watched with curiosity,
*Thwack—!*
*Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble—!*
Sedjen struck the ground with the tip of his staff.
The earth began to shake, and a massive wall started to rise from the ground.
*Rumble-rumble-rumble!*
“……!”
Many of the elves’ eyes widened as they watched Sedjen create a high fortress wall in an instant.
“Professor Sedjen’s alchemy is as impressive as ever.”
Chade Llewellyn, holding a staff in the rear, remarked in admiration, and Ain nodded.
“Both Professor Sedjen and Professor Halind are individuals who would have had their names in the Hero Record long ago if they had been active on the front lines instead of in education.”
Although not a combat-specialized trait, Sedjen’s alchemy boasted a power so immense it could easily change the tide of a battlefield.
Once the wall was complete, mages quickly cast reinforcement and defense spells upon it.
Having created a new fortress in an instant, the hero alliance finished their preparations for the legion’s attack.
Kalian, perched on the wall, asked Halind.
“Professor Halind, are communications with the outside still cut off?”
“Yes.”
“Tsk. They’ve prepared thoroughly.”
Teleportation was also impossible.
They were completely cut off from any outside support.
But the eyes of the hero alliance burned with fighting spirit.
Everyone here knew it.
No matter how terrifying the Demon Queen’s legion, existing since the Age of Calamity, a single legion could never overcome the combined hero forces of Lumerne and Seirun.
It was then, as the hero alliance awaited the Demon Queen.
*Thump! Thump! Thump!*
The sound of the earth shaking began to be heard.
In the vanguard, a unit of Gigantes could be seen.
Atop the head of the largest one, a woman sat on a grotesque throne made of flesh.
Everyone who saw her swallowed dryly.
‘The Demon Queen, Silatuna.’
*Thud—!*
The demon legion, led by the Gigantes, came to a halt.
At a considerable distance, the hero alliance and the Demon Queen’s legion faced each other.
*Swoooosh—!*
As the downpour showed no signs of stopping, Silatuna, who had been sitting with her legs crossed on her throne, spoke.
“Greetings, you insect-like filth.”
Silatuna’s eerie voice echoed throughout Seirun.
Her voice reached not only the hero alliance at the defensive line but also the civilians inside Seirun and the lower-year students on standby.
“My name is Silatuna, a loyal servant of the great calamity, Lord Erebos.”
Her booming voice held the power to instill terror in people.
“I have personally graced you with my presence to hunt you down, so you should be honored…”
“Shut up! You filthy demon!”
Virias shouted.
“How dare you invade this place! This is Seirun! Today is the day we will subjugate you and avenge our progenitor’s grudge… Gack!”
“Insolent worm.”
*Whoooosh!*
A crimson-black dark magic enveloped Virias’s body.
Those nearby hurriedly tried to dispel the dark magic to save him.
Virias, too, tried to raise his resistance to counter Silatuna’s power.
But he could not resist Silatuna’s curse.
“Who said you could interrupt me?”
Without even glancing at Virias, Silatuna sneered.
“Just because you’ve conquered a few Worlds of Heroes, what? You think you’ve become some great hero?”
“Gurg-gack—!”
Virias made a choking sound.
Just as his body was about to swell up,
*Fwoosh—!*
His body was engulfed in crimson flames.
*Thud!*
“Hah! Hah—! Th-thank… you, Lord Ellen.”
Ellen, who had conjured the phoenix flames, had burned away Silatuna’s power.
Virias, having narrowly escaped death, expressed his gratitude.
“Do not rashly provoke the enemy.”
Ellen warned Virias in a cold voice.
As Virias lowered his head,
“You talk too much, Demon Queen.”
“Sword Saint.”
Kalian stepped forward, and Silatuna narrowed her eyes.
“Did you receive my gift?”
“I did. And I went through quite an ordeal because of your rude gift.”
Kalian chuckled and nodded at Silatuna’s provocative words.
“In the end, though, it allowed us to eliminate all the spies you planted within the academy. I’m glad you’re an ignorant one, Demon Queen. The Necro King or the Giant King wouldn't have plotted so carelessly.”
Watching Kalian burst into joyous laughter, Silatuna’s smile turned murderous.
“You damn old geezer.”
“So, did you invade Seirun to vent your anger?”
“And if I did?”
“That works out well for us.”
Kalian flashed a murderous smile.
*Whoooooosh—!*
Even the hero alliance flinched at the Sword Saint’s formidable killing intent.
*Groooowl?*
*Keeeek?*
The Demon Queen’s legion began to stir.
“Because your infamous reputation as the most malevolent will now become a ‘legend’.”
At those words, Silatuna began to cackle, laughing like a madwoman.
*Rumble-rumble-rumble—*
Her laughter alone began to shake the walls Sedjen had created.
The hero alliance trembled at her formidable power.
Silatuna’s frantic laughter abruptly stopped.
“Keep dreaming.”
Silatuna raised her hand.
“I’m tired of talking, shall we begin?”
In response, Kalian also drew his sword.
“Go ahead and struggle. Just like your heroic predecessors did.”
Silatuna beckoned with her finger.
*Groooooooowl!*
*Thump—! Thump—! Thump—!*
The Demon Queen’s legion began to charge all at once.
“All units, prepare for battle.”
At Kalian’s low command, the members of the hero alliance gripped their weapons.
“Attack!”
Simultaneously with Kalian’s shout, the mages’ spells filled the air.
*Cra-cra-cra-ka-boom—!*
Brilliant magic exploded across the ground.
Countless monsters began to be obliterated by the spells.
Dark magic fired by the demons crashed against the walls, causing explosions.
Watching the scene, Silatuna rested her chin on her hand and smiled.
“It’s about time.”
***
*Pitter-patter—*
Rain was falling.
Realizing this, Leo opened his eyes.
“…Black rain…?”
He muttered blankly.
The black rain that symbolized the Age of Calamity.
‘Right, I entered the World of Heroes.’
The moment he registered this, Leo realized he was lying flat on his back and pushed himself up.
He looked around.
The area was in ruins.
A ravaged castle site.
It looked familiar.
‘The Battle of Jerdiac.’
Poison King Jerdiac.
A Legion Commander who wielded terrifying poison.
The most dangerous monster among the Legion Commanders that the Great Heroes had succeeded in subjugating.
The battle where Jerdiac was defeated was known as the Battle of Jerdiac.
‘History says that the other Great Heroes dealt with Jerdiac’s legion while Luna subjugated him alone, but…’
The actual history was different.
‘Luna and I joined forces to defeat him.’
Recalling that time, Leo scanned his surroundings.
‘The Hero Record I touched back then was the record of this time. But why did it activate now of all times?’
Leo felt a sense of doubt.
‘And… why isn’t a battle taking place?’
In the battle against Jerdiac, Kyle and Luna had fought without rest.
This was the castle site where Jerdiac was subjugated.
Normally, a fierce battle should be raging.
But there was no sign of it anywhere.
‘What on earth happened? Did those Tartaros bastards meddle here too?’
In Luna’s world before, things were clearly different from actual history.
There was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen again.
‘Unlike Lumerne, which has expelled all its traitors, Seirun still has them. If so, those Tartaros bastards might have invaded Luna’s world again…’
“You…?”
Leo was lost in thought when he heard a voice.
It sounded slightly surprised.
He quickly turned his head to see a very familiar elf woman standing there.
Not the young girl he had seen before, but a mature woman.
Looking at her staring at him in surprise, Leo unknowingly called out her name.
“Luna.”
Having instinctively called Luna’s name, Leo found himself in a predicament.
From Luna’s perspective, it would surely seem like a boy she’d never met was calling her name.
But contrary to his worries, Luna smiled and answered his call.
“Yes, Kyle.”