Chapter 238
Chapter Title: The Path of a Shadow
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The duty of a Shadow is one that someone must bear.
They are the ones who root out traitors in the darkness and protect the heroes.
One of the pillars supporting the age of peace established by the Great Heroes.
Yet, since the creation of the Hero Record, the Shadows have never been recognized by the gods.
“I cannot claim to know the will of the gods.”
Reina said calmly.
“But it’s true that many Shadows grow to resent their lot in their later years.”
“Are you one of them, Principal?”
“Me?”
Reina brought the cup to her lips and chuckled.
“I became a Shadow for my own personal vengeance. I have no interest in having my name on the Hero Record.”
Reina shrugged.
“However, I do hope that the generations to come will receive the gods’ recognition.”
Reina spread her hand.
“I wish for the Shadows to be able to live in the light, not in the darkness.”
That was why Reina had integrated the Shadow cadets into the Hero program.
Watching her, Leo sighed to himself.
‘I think I can guess why the Shadows can’t get their names on the Hero Record.’
Just as Reina said, it was likely because the gods simply refused to acknowledge their deeds.
‘Gods have always been a self-serving bunch, after all.’
During the Age of Calamity, the gods vanished from the mortal realm.
Exiled from the world by Erebos, the gods could no longer descend to the mortal plane, even after the dawn of the Age of Heroes.
However, they left behind the Hero Record for the people of the world, and for this great legacy, the mortals came to praise them.
‘They’ve been deified to an absurd degree in the process.’
It was absurd to say gods were being deified, of course.
But for Leo, who had lived through the Age of Gods, it was the only way to describe it.
It was true that gods were transcendent beings with absolute power.
But they were not the wise and noble beings people imagined them to be.
Leo recalled something Dweno had once said.
‘You must never go near those creatures called gods. If one speaks to you, your best bet is to run with all your might.’
At that, Ar-on had looked bewildered.
‘Why treat them like that? It’s not like they’re some kind of plague.’
‘They are a plague.’
Dweno had clicked his tongue.
‘Do you have any idea how many have had their lives ruined by getting involved with the gods?’
To that, Luna had said,
‘But gods are beautiful, aren’t they? From your point of view, shouldn’t you be praising them?’
At Luna’s words, Dweno’s expression had turned grim.
‘Do not attach the modifier “beautiful” to the gods. That would be a blasphemy against beauty itself.’
Beings that could make even Dweno—a self-proclaimed aesthetician who worshipped beauty—deny the very concept of it.
Such were the creatures called gods.
‘Though there are occasional exceptions, like Pibua.’
The guardian god of the elves he had met in the Hero Record.
Thinking of Pibua, Leo shook his head.
‘She was a very special case.’
To Leo, who knew the gods well, it was clear that the Shadows’ lack of recognition was a simple matter of divine preference.
But the people of this era, who knew nothing of the gods, seemed to believe there was some profound meaning behind it.
‘Is that what caused this rift?’
From the Shadows’ perspective, it must be utterly disheartening.
Just as Leo let out a deep, internal sigh,
“If your goal is to help the Shadow cadets get their names on the Hero Record, then I understand even less. Why is Chen Xia withdrawing from the academy?”
“Because Chen Xia is the imperial princess of the Shan Empire.”
“The imperial princess of the Shan Empire?”
Leo’s expression turned to one of surprise. He had never imagined she was a princess.
Seeing his reaction, Reina explained.
“They are the oldest and most traditional of the Shadows. As such, they live their lives strictly by the code of a Shadow.”
“What does that have to do with her withdrawal?”
“The Shan Empire wishes to have a name placed on the Hero Record purely as a Shadow.”
Reina grimaced.
“Their goal is to gain the gods’ recognition as a Shadow, not a hero. That’s why they don’t want to leave Chen Xia at a hero academy.”
Even if Chen Xia, trained as a hero cadet, managed to get her name on the Hero Record, it would be meaningless to the Shan Empire.
Leo’s eyes narrowed.
Kyle, too, had buried countless traitors in the darkness.
He had killed so many in the process.
He had no regrets.
If he hadn’t bloodied his own hands, his friends would have had to.
It was a job someone had to do, and he believed he was the one best suited for it.
It was the path he had chosen.
‘But… is that what Chen Xia wants?’
If she wanted to walk the path of a Shadow of her own free will, then fine.
If she chose to remain in the shadows, there was nothing Leo could do.
But for the past year, Chen Xia had been a more brilliant hero cadet than anyone.
A girl who dreamed of being a hero.
And now, that same girl was suddenly withdrawing from Lumerne.
‘Is this truly her own decision?’
“I understand you’re worried about your friend, but this is a family matter. It would be best not to get deeply involved with the Shan Empire.”
Reina said, genuinely concerned for Leo.
In her eyes, Leo was the hope of the world.
‘The hero cadet destined to succeed the Sword Saint.’
A raw gem that needed to be polished until it shone brilliantly.
Reina didn’t want that gem to be buried in the darkness of the Shadows before it had a chance to shine.
‘This is a burden he should only take on after he’s more mature.’
Before being a Shadow, she was the principal of a hero academy. And an adult.
She couldn’t just stand by and watch a hero cadet get entangled in the affairs of Shadows and take on a burden he couldn’t handle.
The world of the Shadows was far deeper and darker than people imagined.
Nothing good could come from knowing about it.
Hearing Reina’s words, Leo smiled.
Seeing that smile, Reina felt a sudden chill.
For a fleeting moment, she glimpsed in his red eyes a darkness that mirrored her own.
Reina, hailed as the greatest in the world of Shadows, realized that Leo was the same kind of person as her.
“You… what are you?”
As Reina’s expression hardened, Leo replied, his smile never faltering.
“The student council president of Lumerne.”
“…”
“I don’t know what Chen Xia is thinking, but if this isn’t what she wants, I want to stop her.”
“Why?”
“Because Chen Xia is a brilliant hero cadet who will one day shoulder the future.”
Leo said calmly.
“I don’t think it matters whether someone is a hero or a Shadow. And I don’t think the Hero Record is all that important, either.”
Leo glanced down at his hand.
“Anyone who fights for the world is a hero in my eyes.”
“Even if the gods don’t recognize them?”
“To hell with what the gods think. They’re a bunch of cowards who can’t even set foot on this world anymore.”
Reina’s jaw dropped at his near-blasphemous words.
But Leo’s fundamental values were different from those of the people of this age.
“What does their recognition matter? I say it’s so.”
It was a profound statement.
The words of the Great Hero who had saved the world.
But Reina, unaware of Leo’s true identity, could not fully grasp its meaning.
Yet, one thing was clear.
‘This boy truly doesn’t discriminate between heroes and Shadows.’
Looking at the boy who affirmed the Shadows, who considered themselves abandoned by the gods, Reina couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
‘That’s right. What does the will of the gods matter?’
Hadn’t she chosen this path to fight against Tartaros?
‘I claimed not to care about the gods’ recognition, but it seems I was the one most obsessed with it.’
“What do you want to do?”
“I’m going to bring Chen Xia back.”
At that, Reina nodded.
“Alright. Then, by the authority of the principal, I will assign you a mission.”
Reina scribbled a mission order on a piece of paper from her desk.
“Go to the Shan Empire and make contact with the emperor. Then bring Chen Xia back to Lumerne. If it’s you talking to her, I’m sure she’ll change her mind.”
Reina flicked the paper over to Leo.
“Take this letter as well. You won’t be able to get an audience with the emperor of Shan if you go alone. Even an emperor as stubborn as Shan’s can’t openly ignore a message from the principal of Lumerne.”
“Yes.”
“And I’ll assign two others to assist you on this mission.”
Reina moved her pen.
She wrote their names on a student roster and handed it to Leo.
He looked at the names on the list with a surprised expression.
[Fritz Edgon]
[El Jane]
They were familiar names.
The first-years he had met in the magic wing earlier.
“Edgon and El Jane. They’re Shadow cadets. They don’t show off their skills, but they’re easily among the top ten first-years. And while I can’t speak to their raw combat power, their practical experience is on par with the second-years.”
“So they’re Shadow cadets.”
“That’s right.”
Reina smiled.
“They’ll be a great help to you. I’m also hoping you’ll be a good influence on them.”
“An influence?”
“They’re the type who, despite my telling them to consider the path of a hero, are dead set on walking the path of a Shadow.”
Reina grumbled.
“I’m hoping that seeing you might change them a little. Don’t try to do anything special. Just be yourself.”
At her words, Leo nodded.
“Understood.”
“Then I’m counting on you, Leo Flove.”
***
That evening,
Leo left the dormitory for his mission.
‘A one-week mission period. That’s not a lot of time.’
It was a sudden assignment, so they probably couldn’t give him any longer.
‘Well, if it’s just a matter of persuasion, a week should be enough, right?’
Leo muttered to himself as he waited for his two juniors.
A moment later,
two students appeared before the warp gate.
Fritz, with a blank expression, and Jane, with a slightly sullen look, stood before Leo.
“I am Fritz Edgon. I have been assigned to assist you on this mission, Leo.”
“We already introduced ourselves.”
“I am aware.”
Fritz said, his face full of resolve.
“I am prepared to lay down my life for you at any moment.”
“Ugh, I can’t believe I have to work with some stiff-necked Shadow who’d fawn over any so-called hero without a second thought.”
Watching from behind, Jane clutched her head.
Fritz looked at her and said,
“It is only natural for a Shadow to lay down their life for a hero.”
“Hmph. I’m a Shadow cadet from Shan. Don’t you dare lecture me on the mindset of a Shadow.”
Jane scoffed.
Then she shot a glare at Leo.
“You. You’re going to persuade Lady Chen Xia, right? Why would you do that?”
At her question, Leo replied,
“Do you also think Chen Xia should live as a Shadow?”
At his words, Jane’s shoulders trembled.
“Don’t be ridiculous! Lady Chen Xia is more suited to be a hero than anyone! She’s the noblest person I know! I want her to live as a hero, too, and I’d gladly give my life for her! But… but…”
Jane bit her lip hard.
“The reason Lady Chen Xia gave up on the path of a hero is because of you!”