Chapter 291
Chapter Title: Preparations and Mentors
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291
Late at night.
The entire party was deep in sleep.
After the whirlwind of events since entering the World of Heroes, it was no surprise they had all passed out.
Verchia, too, had just returned from training and was so exhausted that she was dead to the world.
*Click-!*
Leo, who was sharing a room with Karl, opened the door and stepped out.
He sat at the dining table in the living room and gazed out the window.
A quiet darkness had descended.
‘This silence is actually welcome. I used to hate it to the point of being sick of it.’
Leo sank into thought, reminiscing about the past.
‘The Hero Record we’ve entered is the Gardsrone Defensive Battle.’
[Objective: Stop the Giant King.]
Leo’s eyes darkened as he looked at the objective floating before him.
The Gardsrone Defensive Battle.
After several victories against Tartaros and the subjugation of multiple Legion Commanders, the world had begun to fan the embers of hope.
But in this battle, they had suffered immense losses.
‘Though the blow Tartaros took was just as severe.’
The world, which had barely grasped onto hope, once again met with colossal despair.
The Giant King’s invasion at that time was that powerful.
‘A Legion Commander from back then and a Legion Commander now are on different levels of power, even if they share the same title.’
The Age of Calamity.
The era when Erebos was still intact.
The scale of Tartaros was on a completely different level from what it was now.
The period when the world was hurtling toward ruin was, in other words, the golden age of Tartaros.
The power of the legions led by the commanders was incomparably stronger than it was today.
‘There were many powerful demons, too. The scale was fundamentally different.’
When a single Legion Commander made a move, an endless legion of demons would swarm in.
When Silatuna invaded Seirun last year.
The scale of the legion she led would seem cute in comparison to this.
‘And most importantly… the Legion Commanders possessed Authorities.’
The Authority of a Legion Commander.
A unique power bestowed upon them by Erebos.
An Authority that made the already terrifying monsters known as Legion Commanders into even more horrifying calamities.
The Legion Commanders of the current era lacked that Authority.
‘Because Erebos is gone.’
The Authority was not the Legion Commander’s power, but Erebos’s.
Now that Erebos had been defeated and sealed by Kyle.
The Legion Commanders could no longer use their Authorities.
But it was different now.
‘The Giant King lost his entire legion when he invaded Gardsrone.’
But at that time, Gardsrone had truly been on the verge of annihilation.
‘If Gardsrone had fallen… I don’t even want to imagine it.’
Leo shook his head.
The current era had the miracle known as the Hero Record.
A gift from the gods that passed down the power of heroes to create new ones.
Because of it, the current era had an incomparably larger number of heroes than the Age of Calamity.
But the Age of Calamity was different.
There were Great Heroes, but there was a dire shortage of heroes to support them.
‘In a way, our situation and the Legion Commanders’ have been reversed.’
In the current era, the Legion Commanders still possessed immense power.
The only hero who could face a Legion Commander single-handedly was, at best, Melina.
But the legions that followed the commanders had lost their strength.
‘A Legion Commander’s true power is their legion. Individual heroes pose no threat to them… but a multitude of heroes is a massive threat.’
The Giant King’s invasion, aimed at the power vacuum created by the absence of Kyle, Lisinas, and Luna.
And that invasion was imminent.
‘Many will die.’
Leo looked out at the city landscape with a troubled expression.
Depesere had also lost his life in this battle.
‘He died saving Verchia.’
For the people of the current era, it was a painful part of history.
But for Leo, it was an event where countless people he knew had lost their lives.
‘And… the situation is even more serious now.’
Leo’s face hardened.
The upcoming Gardsrone Defensive Battle would unfold differently from the actual event.
‘In this era, there are two Giant Kings.’
Leo clenched his fist.
The Giant King had entered the World of Heroes to destroy Dweno’s Hero Record.
They had barely managed to fend him off in the past.
But what if there were two Giant Kings?
‘Gardsrone… will fall.’
Leo clenched his fist.
The aftermath of defeat was clear.
Dweno’s Hero Record would undoubtedly be burned to ashes.
A chilling killing intent filled Leo’s eyes.
‘I won’t let that happen.’
Gazing at the scenery outside the window, Leo made a vow.
‘I will stop it, no matter what.’
If Tartaros had a Giant King.
Then Gardsrone had Leo.
‘I will not repeat the tragedy of the past.’
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
*Puff- puff-*
Ar-on asked, looking at Dweno who was smoking his pipe.
“I’m thinking about the children who came to Gardsrone today.”
“Ah, them?”
Ar-on smiled faintly.
“Isn’t it a good thing? Children like them will surely be a great help in the fight against Erebos.”
“I suppose so.”
*Tap-!*
Dweno tapped out the ash from his pipe and spoke.
“But that boy, Leo, was quite impressive. He was like Kyle, you know?”
“Isn’t that because he’s an All-Class?”
“That’s part of it, but… something about his aura? It resembled Kyle’s.”
“…”
Dweno paused.
He then thought about Leo.
‘The essence of fire isn’t destruction, is it?’
Recalling Leo’s words, Dweno’s lips curled up.
“Interesting.”
Dweno stroked his beard and said.
“Ar-on.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have any intention of teaching those children?”
At those words, Ar-on’s eyes widened.
“There are a few I’d like to teach.”
Seeing Dweno’s meaningful smile, Ar-on thought for a moment before nodding.
“Yes, I will.”
“Good. In that case, I’ll be busy for a while too.”
“Why?”
“I think I need to forge some weapons.”
Dweno stood up from his seat.
“Weapons to present as gifts to those children of hope.”
***
The next morning.
“Leo, you’ll definitely make a good husband.”
At Karl’s words, Verchia nodded.
“Yes. You’re a good cook.”
“You helped too, Verchia.”
“That’s true!”
Verchia puffed out her chest proudly.
“But Eiran helped too. Good girl, good girl.”
Verchia patted Eiran’s head, then looked toward Driana.
“The stew Driana made is delicious too. Even though she cut the vegetables weirdly.”
“Thank you for the compliment. And that is art.”
“Art? Is it shaped like a minced monster?”
Karl used his spoon to pick up a potato from the stew and narrowed his eyes.
Driana hit Karl’s back with her dainty hand.
“You have a good sense of humor.”
“Gah?!”
The pain was beyond imagination, sending Karl rolling on the floor.
After barely recovering from the pain, Karl got up and looked at Lunia and Ar.
“You two worked hard too.”
Karl suppressed a chuckle.
“Though I’m sure just staying still was more helpful.”
“Karl. Let me tell you just one thing.”
Lunia smiled faintly and elegantly reached out her hand.
Then she grabbed Karl by the collar, her expression menacing.
“I’ve quit that honor student act, you see? If you get on my nerves again, you know what’ll happen, right?”
“Quitting being an honor student doesn’t mean you become a thug!”
“Huh? You got a problem with my true self?”
“Eek?”
Karl shrieked at Lunia’s murderous aura.
Watching Karl, Ar flexed her claws.
“My claws are itching. Do you mind if I scratch you instead of a tree?”
“I’m too soft, it wouldn’t be satisfying to scratch me!”
Just as Karl was screaming.
“Stop it and just eat.”
Leo, finished with the cooking, let out a sigh as he placed the food on the table.
Verchia was the first to snatch a plate and started eating, remarking.
“Somehow, this tastes familiar.”
As Verchia ate the food Leo made with a look of wonder, the others also began to sate their hunger.
Just then, a knock came from the door.
“Yes, coming.”
Karl opened the front door.
“Good morning.”
Seeing Ar-on enter, Ar shot up from her seat.
Eiran and Karl, remembering yesterday’s incident, pressed down on Ar’s shoulders, forcing her to sit.
Ar-on looked at Ar with a slightly frightened expression.
Just as Ar’s body twitched like a cat that had spotted its prey.
*Yank-!*
“Nyaaagh?”
Ar yelped at the pain that shot through her rear.
“How many times have I told you it’s rude to grab a lady’s tail!”
“Then don’t twitch like you’re about to pounce in excitement.”
Leo said nonchalantly as he pulled Ar’s tail.
After calming Ar down, Leo offered some food to Ar-on.
“Ah, thank you.”
Ar-on ate it, and his expression softened.
“This tastes incredibly familiar.”
Watching Ar-on and Verchia eat with relish, Leo chuckled and asked.
“What brings you here so early in the morning?”
“Well, I wanted to make you all a proposal.”
“A proposal?”
Leo tilted his head.
Ar-on nodded at him.
“Yes, I want to teach you martial arts.”
At Ar-on’s words, everyone’s eyes went wide.
“You two. I can’t say I’m the best teacher, but would you like to learn from me?”
Ar-on said, looking at Ar and Eiran.
“Yes! I’ll learn! Please teach me!”
Ar shouted in excitement, and Eiran also spoke in a trembling voice.
“It would be an infinite honor.”
Seeing the two of them, Karl looked on with envy.
“Lucky.”
Ar-on smiled faintly at Karl.
“Your name is Karl, right? Lunia, Driana. Dweno said he would teach the three of you himself.”
“What?”
“By, by Lord Dweno?”
Karl’s jaw dropped, while Driana’s face lit up with excitement.
Lunia also looked bewildered.
‘Was this the test Leo mentioned?’
To be able to learn from a Great Hero.
For a hero candidate, there could be no greater honor.
“Then what about Leo?”
At Lunia’s question, everyone’s gaze turned to Leo.
Receiving their stares, Leo smirked.
“I have something else to do. So don’t worry about me.”
“Something else to do?”
Ar tilted her head.
“Yeah. I’ll be making the preparations.”
Hearing Leo’s words, everyone’s expression changed.
They realized what kind of preparations Leo was talking about.
‘He’s going to prepare for the objective alone?’
“So you all learn as much as you can.”
***
After breakfast, everyone except Leo left the house.
The party members looked at Leo with worried eyes.
They knew they would have to fight a Legion Commander in this World of Heroes.
The faces of Lunia, Eiran, and Karl, who had personally experienced the terror of a Legion Commander, were particularly heavy.
‘This is an opportunity for them. They have a lot to learn from Ar-on and Dweno.’
Their teachings could serve as a stepping stone for them to make a great leap as heroes.
Leo left the house.
‘First, I need to secure enough power to deal with the Gias who entered the World of Heroes.’
With two Legion Commanders, Gardsrone’s current forces would be unable to fend off the invasion.
‘But the Gias who came to burn down this World of Heroes also has a weakness.’
Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘Right now, he can’t reveal himself to his past self.’
The true terror of a Legion Commander is when they are accompanied by their legion, which obeys their commands absolutely.
It was no exaggeration to say that a Legion Commander’s true power is only displayed when they move with their legion.
In this era, there were two Giant Kings.
But the Giant King’s legion remained the same as before.
‘He can’t join forces with his past self, either. He has to move alone.’
Leo narrowed his eyes.
The Giant King Gias, despite his terrifying bulk, had a very cautious and suspicious nature.
What if the Gias of the past met another Gias?
‘He would surely try to kill him.’
Traveling from the future to the past is impossible.
If something illogical occurred, the Giant King’s method was to eliminate the illogical element.
The Gias of the past would certainly never trust his future self.
‘This means they can be defeated one by one. In that case, clearing this isn’t impossible.’
*Step- step-*
He walked the streets of Gardsrone.
The people’s faces were dark, but hope flickered in their eyes.
A short while later, Leo turned into a deserted street.
He knew the paths of Gardsrone like the back of his hand.
After a moment.
In a place completely devoid of people, Leo stopped in front of a dilapidated mansion.
‘Lisinas’s mansion.’