Chapter 211
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‘She’s defeated.’
Leo caught his breath, staring at the spot where Silatuna had vanished.
The end of a dreadful fate.
One of the three greatest evils of Tartaros, whom the Great Heroes had repeatedly failed to subjugate.
Back when the subjugation party had gained the strength to face Erebos, the Legion Commanders had begun avoiding direct confrontation with the Great Heroes, targeting other heroes instead.
Though the party had grown stronger, they were still only five. It was impossible to simultaneously defend against the Legion Commanders' coordinated attacks on multiple fronts.
Judging that the party's strength alone wasn't enough to defeat both Erebos and the Legion Commanders, they had focused on taking down Erebos.
‘At the time, it was the best we could do.’
They couldn't afford to divert their forces to the Legion Commanders while the colossal disaster known as Erebos loomed.
Taking a deep breath, Leo turned his head.
And from before Leo returned from the World of Heroes.
He walked toward Kalian, who had held Silatuna at bay.
*Step— Step—*
His entire body screamed in protest.
But Leo paid it no mind.
A moment later, upon reaching Kalian, Leo closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
Kalian was standing.
His body must have already reached its limit.
He was a man praised as the hero of his era, but in the end, he was an old hero who had lived for a century.
Even with the help of the dragon Liven, holding off Silatuna was a feat worthy of being called a miracle.
Kalian, who stood leaning on his sword as if it were a cane, looked at Leo and smiled faintly.
“…As expected of a Great Hero. To think you defeated the Demon Queen…”
Leo’s eyes grew somber.
The Sword Saint, who revered the Hero of the Beginning, was slowly fading.
He had burned his very life force to stop the Demon Queen.
“I didn’t do it alone.”
Leo looked behind him.
“Ooh… Lady Luna…”
“…And these people?”
Luna asked cautiously.
“They are the ones who held off Silatuna before we arrived.”
“All we could do was endure.”
Kalian bowed his head.
“With our strength, we could do nothing.”
Kalian’s eyes fell.
“If not for you… many heroes… many students would have died. As the one responsible for an era, I was lacking.”
Watching Kalian reproach himself with trembling hands, Leo spoke.
“No, you held out because you weakened Silatuna by holding her back. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to last until Luna arrived.”
“You have every right to be proud as a hero.”
Luna approached Kalian, took his trembling hand, and spoke with conviction.
“So, raise your head.”
At Luna’s words, Kalian lifted his head and said.
“…I have admired you since I was young. The peace you passed down to us… I wanted to protect it.”
Kalian’s voice trembled.
“As one who carries the weight of an era… it is only natural to use one’s life for the sake of future generations… The words you’ve said to me… are an honor I do not deserve.”
The strength in his voice gradually faded.
“I have one request. Hero of the Beginning.”
Kalian squeezed out his last bit of strength to look at Leo.
“…To this old man… would you please show me hope?”
The Sword Saint voiced his earnest wish.
“What is… your relationship with Leo Flove?”
At that question, Leo took a deep breath.
And he dispelled Luna’s magic.
Beneath the setting sun.
Kalian’s eyes widened as he watched the Great Hero transform into the form of a boy.
Then, as if relieved, he smiled brightly… and soon closed his eyes.
Luna gently caught the falling Sword Saint and whispered to him in his final moments.
“…You’ve worked hard. May your story be remembered for all time…”
After blessing the hero’s end, Luna carefully laid Kalian down and watched Leo’s back as he approached Liven.
Liven, too, was facing his end.
Leo, silhouetted against the sunset, looked down at Liven and said.
“Don’t worry. Follow the Sword Saint.”
“…Yes.”
“The hero you chose was the best. Lisinas would be proud of you for honoring his will and choosing the greatest hero.”
“That is… too great an honor.”
Liven, managing a faint smile, also slowly closed his eyes.
Looking at the two heroes who had drawn their last breaths, Luna said.
“I’ve watched countless people die… but I never get used to it.”
Luna closed her eyes, clasped her hands, and offered a prayer for the two of them.
Leo silently watched her noble figure.
A moment later, Luna opened her eyes, looked at Leo, and smiled softly.
Her body began to glow faintly.
The end of the miracle was approaching.
Leo clenched his teeth.
“Lu… na.”
He called out to her, his voice trembling.
“Shh.”
Luna brought a finger to her lips and whispered.
“Can’t you send me off with a smile? Just like that time.”
Remembering how Leo had once shown her magic that made flowers bloom, Luna smiled brightly.
“We’ll meet again someday. Of course, I can’t guarantee that another me like this will retain these memories, but…”
Luna closed her eyes for a moment.
“Still, I’m sure we can meet again.”
Like friends who would see each other again tomorrow.
Luna approached Leo with light steps.
“So, Kyle.”
Luna reached out and caressed Leo’s cheek.
The light emanating from her body grew brighter and brighter.
“Please don’t give up.”
Luna kissed Leo on the cheek.
“Because that wonderful, unyielding side of you is what made me fall for you.”
With a shy smile, Luna stepped back.
“I’m sure… we’ll meet again.”
*Fwoosh—!*
Luna’s body dissolved into particles of light and disappeared.
Feeling the warmth lingering on his cheek, Leo subconsciously brushed his right cheek.
He then looked at the empty space where Luna had been and smiled bitterly.
“…Would it have killed you to show it a little?”
The sun had set, and darkness had fallen.
Snow began to fall upon the cooling battlefield.
Thus, the Battle of Seirun, which would mark a page in history, came to an end.
***
News of the Demon Queen’s subjugation shook the entire world.
The end of a calamity that had threatened the world for so long.
What excited people even more was the second coming of the ‘Great Heroes’.
Luna, the progenitor of the nebula.
And Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning, whose existence had recently been proven.
When news first broke that the Great Heroes, beings of the distant past, had appeared in the present day, many refused to believe it.
But when Lumerne and Seirun officially acknowledged it, the world was thrown into a frenzy.
The subjugation of the Demon Queen who had threatened the world for ages.
And the appearance of the Great Heroes.
It was, quite literally, a festive atmosphere.
But the mood in Lumerne was somber.
Lumerne’s Erek Grand Parade Ground.
The students were all lined up, dressed in black.
In the solemn atmosphere, they offered flowers to a portrait of Kalian on the parade ground.
It wasn't just the students.
Countless graduates from all over the world had come to Lumerne.
Among them were some who shed tears.
A great hero who had served as Lumerne’s principal for a long time, becoming a guide and a goal for many heroes.
The death of such a Sword Saint was enough to cause massive ripples.
After the flower offerings, while everyone was mourning the Sword Saint.
Halind stepped up to the microphone on the podium.
—A letter left by the principal during his lifetime has been discovered.
All eyes turned to Halind.
—He wished for it to be read before everyone gathered here, so I will now read the principal’s final words.
Halind, with his characteristically expressionless face, held up the letter and began to read.
[I had hoped this letter would never be made public, but it seems I am leaving my final words in this way.
I can only pray that no students have tragically lost their lives.
Do not grieve too deeply for this old man's death.
For a hero, it is only natural to draw one's sword for the sake of future generations.
I have only done what was natural.
Do not place great significance on my death.
I am merely one person fading into history.
Move forward.
As I did.
As countless heroes before me have done.
Always remember these words.
Surpass your limits.
Continue to surpass them, and I hope that all who hear these words will become great heroes who will lead the world.
I believe in you all.]
The reading of Kalian’s letter concluded.
Afterward, the heroes gathered and paid their highest respects to the departing Sword Saint, and the funeral came to an end.
Thus, the era of the Sword Saint was coming to a close.
***
Lumerne’s Hero Tower.
In the principal’s office at the very top, someone was looking down at the Lumerne landscape.
“…He was a playful man. But he was still a respectable one.”
The man spoke in a heavy voice.
“Whenever I came to see him, he would be here, looking down at Lumerne. As if he were trying to watch over each and every student.”
The man let out a bitter sigh and turned around.
“But as his last will stated, we cannot mourn forever. The positions of Lumerne’s principal and vice-principal cannot be left vacant.”
“I agree with you on that, Chairman.”
Halind said calmly.
“In that case, who do you think is suitable for the principal’s position? Many have recommended Professor Halind and Professor Sedzen as candidates.”
The hero known as the Infinity Speller.
Altech Jer-on, the head of the Jer-on family and the chairman of Lumerne, asked the two professors.
Halind and Sedzen.
Neither of them had their names on the Hero Record.
But they were renowned as Lumerne’s master professors who had produced countless heroes.
It was clear that not only the current professors at Lumerne but also numerous graduates would support one of the two becoming the next principal.
However, Halind and Sedzen shook their heads.
“I am not of the caliber to be principal, Chairman.”
“I, too, agree with Halind’s opinion.”
“This is troubling. I was hoping one of you would become the principal.”
Altech wore a disappointed expression.
“In that case, may I delegate the matter of the principal candidates to you two?”
Originally, the authority to appoint the principal belonged to the chairman.
But Altech was trying to delegate that immense authority to Halind and Sedzen.
The two professors had been part of the faculty since before Altech became chairman.
Therefore, they were men Altech trusted and relied on as much as he had Kalian.
“Understood. We will look for candidates.”
As Sedzen nodded, Altech nodded back.
Then he spoke seriously.
“Then I would like to discuss the academic schedule with you two.”
At those words, Halind let out a deep sigh, as if troubled.
“…This is not a situation where we can finalize the academic schedule.”
The Sword Saint was dead.
For now, people were excited about the Demon Queen’s subjugation and the appearance of the Great Heroes, but…
They would soon realize.
Just how large the void left by the Sword Saint was.
Of course, Tartaros had also lost the Demon Queen.
That was undoubtedly a massive blow.
But the Sword Saint’s death was an equally massive loss.
It was no exaggeration to say that the peace of this era had been maintained by the great deterrent that was the Sword Saint.
It had been a literal, delicate balance.
A pillar of that balance had crumbled.
Now, there was no telling what kind of provocation Tartaros might attempt.
“I understand that the internal movements within Seirun are also unusual.”
All academic activities at Seirun had currently come to a halt.
“The identity of that unknown Legion Commander is still a mystery, but… it’s highly probable that he is a Legion Commander from the distant past. After scholars searched through literature, they reached the conclusion that it might be ‘Poison King Jerdiac’.”
The Great Heroes had already revealed themselves.
There was no rule saying a Legion Commander from the past couldn't appear in the present.
The question, then, was how that past Legion Commander had appeared in the middle of Seirun.
“Great Heroes… a Legion Commander from the past… there’s only one thing it could be. The Hero Record.”
At Sedzen’s words, Altech nodded.
“That’s right. And it’s highly likely that traitors within Seirun summoned a past Legion Commander. After all, a Legion Commander subjugated by the Sword Saint once appeared in Lumerne as well. And in fact…”
Altech said in a firm voice.
“It is said that one of Lady Luna’s Hero Records has been completely destroyed.”
Hearing Altech’s words, Halind and Sedzen’s expressions turned grave.
“That is why I am requesting a faculty meeting to be convened on this matter.”
“What is the agenda?”
“Moving the vacation up. I believe we should first send the students home and have Lumerne also reorganize for what’s to come.”