Chapter 419
Chapter Title: Shadow's Record
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419.
“Lumerne has so many nice shops.”
“It’s true. Every single cake is delicious!”
At Lunia’s words, Eiran, with a fork in her mouth, cupped her cheeks with a blissful expression.
Watching the two of them, the other representative from Seirun’s second year, Luca, smiled brightly.
“I wish our academy was like this.”
“I know, right?”
Despite being one of the top three most skilled students in his year, Luca had been stripped of his position as a class representative starting from the first semester of his second year, due to the policies of the Pureblood Society.
However, once Seirun returned to normal, he was reinstated to his representative position.
Known as the inseparable trio since their first year, the three of them were currently sightseeing in Lumerne together.
It was while the three were enjoying their time in Lumerne.
“Hey, hey.”
Karl came running over, out of breath.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your first-year junior! You know, Leah Tingel.”
“What about Leah?”
As Eiran tilted her head and asked, Karl spoke urgently.
“She just got caught by Professor Halind and was dragged off to his lab!”
“Professor Halind?”
“Halind is one of the most famous professors in Lumerne, isn’t he?”
Halind and Sedjen.
The two renowned professors of Lumerne were, naturally, highly respected even among the other races.
Therefore, Lunia and Eiran knew of them as well.
“Why would she get caught by him?”
As Lunia set down her teacup and asked, Karl replied.
“How should I know? She probably caused a scene in the hallway of the first-year building or something!”
“Ah, knowing her, she’s more than capable of that. She has these inexplicable outbursts sometimes.”
“Leah certainly does have a quirky side.”
“One time, she wrote the name of Leo’s mentee over and over in red letters. Said it was a curse or something.”
“Hehe. It seems she considers that boy, Luke, her rival.”
As Eiran covered her mouth and giggled at Lunia’s words, Luca shook his head.
“It’s a bit too scary to be considered a simple rivalry.”
Watching the Seirun representatives chat so casually, Karl scratched his head in frustration.
“You guys clearly don’t understand the gravity of the situation. You don’t know what kind of person Professor Halind is, do you?”
“What kind of person is he?”
“He’s known as the Wailing Wall of Lumerne. He’s the scariest professor at our academy!”
At Karl’s explanation, Lunia rested her chin on her hand.
“Seirun has scary teachers too.”
“It’s a different level! A completely different level! It’s not just the third, fourth, and fifth-year seniors, but also the professors who graduated from Lumerne! Even the alumni who made it into the Hero Record walk on eggshells around Professor Halind!”
The reason Halind was so terrifying.
It wasn't simply because he was called the Wailing Wall of Lumerne.
Before being the professor who expelled the most students, Halind was, fundamentally, a frightening person.
Eiran spoke urgently.
“B-But Leah is a Seirun student, right? Even someone that scary would be lenient with students from other academies…”
“Lenient? That’s a word I would never associate with Professor Halind.”
Karl muttered seriously.
“What’s going on?”
Just then, Illiana, who was passing by, asked with a curious expression.
“Ah, the only one here with firsthand experience.”
Illiana had been dragged to Halind’s office once, and only once, for violating the school rules during her first year.
Karl had also broken the rules several times, but he had always managed to stay just within the lines with his characteristic cunning.
Illiana, however, had not, and she had crossed the line that one time.
“Hey, I heard a first-year from Seirun got dragged to Professor Halind’s office?”
“Ah.”
Illiana let out a small gasp.
Then, she smiled brightly and said.
“If it were me, I’d rather smash my face into a plate and die than get dragged to Professor Halind’s office.”
‘Just what in the world happens in there?’
Lunia’s expression turned grim.
“W-What should we do?”
Eiran asked frantically.
“For now, all we can do is pray for her safe return.”
Watching Karl speak so seriously with his arms crossed, Lunia let out a deep sigh.
“Can you at least guide us to him?”
At her words, Karl and Illiana feigned ignorance.
“Are you scared to even go there? And you call yourselves hero candidates?”
“I’m not one.”
“I can’t help it if it’s scary.”
Seeing the shameless Karl and Illiana, Lunia grabbed Karl by the scruff of his neck.
“Guide us.”
“Why me?!”
Karl screamed as if wronged, but Lunia wasn't listening.
***
The summit chamber.
A place known as the Hall of Twilight, located in the upper floors of Lumerne’s Hero Tower.
Traditionally, the summit meetings held in Lumerne took place here.
On the central wall of the chamber hung five portraits.
They were none other than the portraits of the Heroes of the Beginning.
And below them stood statues.
Ar-on holding a sword.
Dweno holding an axe.
Luna gripping a staff.
Lisinas holding a book.
And finally, Kyle.
These were the statues of the greatest of the Great Heroes, who ended the Age of Calamity and brought a future to the world.
The kings and heroes entering the Hall of Twilight paid their respects to the portraits of the Heroes of the Beginning and the statues of the Great Heroes before taking their seats.
Beside Leo, who was attending the summit as a student council president, sat the student council presidents from the other academies.
With everyone seated.
All eyes turned to the head of the table.
To the vacant seat of the council chairman.
*Step— Step—*
A moment later, Melina appeared in the Hall of Twilight.
Melina still wore her veil, maintaining the appearance of a small girl.
Though she exuded a gentle aura, Melina’s mere presence overwhelmed the assembly.
Standing before the portraits of the Heroes of the Beginning and the statues of the Great Heroes, Melina clasped her hands and briefly paid her respects.
Then, she took her seat at the head of the table and looked around.
“I extend my gratitude to all of you who have gathered here for the sake of the world, despite your demanding schedules.”
Everyone’s attention was on Melina.
“The reason we have gathered here is simple. It is to discuss the recent, unusual movements of Tartaros. Is there anyone who wishes to speak on this matter?”
The moment Melina finished speaking, a dwarf with dark skin raised his hand.
“King of Neberum. You may speak.”
“First, may infinite blessings be upon the great Dragon Lord.”
Having been granted the right to speak, the King of Neberum bowed to Melina before opening his mouth.
“I have a question for Headmaster Jephia of Azonia.”
“What is it?”
“Recently, a large number of Hero Hunters of Beastkin origin have begun appearing in my kingdom. Our Kingdom of Neberum attempted to eliminate those wicked traitors.”
The King of Neberum’s face twisted with savagery.
“But those detestable traitors were strong, and showed no signs of being subdued. So, I dispatched the proud warriors of our kingdom. The 4th Division of the Iron Fist.”
At the King of Neberum’s words, a murmur spread through the chamber.
Neberum, being a nation of dwarves, was rich in mines.
As such, it could produce high-quality weapons and armor, which had allowed it to become one of the five major dwarf kingdoms representing the race.
The warrior corps that represented Neberum was the ‘Iron Fist’.
“The 4th Division was annihilated.”
Gasps of shock erupted from here and there.
The King of Neberum’s eyes flashed.
“And just before attending this meeting, we received testimony from a survivor who barely regained consciousness. He said there were Beastkin who could undergo their beast transformation, even though it wasn't a full moon!”
He glared at Jephia, his eyes wide.
“Tell me, Headmaster Jephia. I heard Azonia was already aware of this fact! So why! Why did you not make it public, leading the young talents of my kingdom to their deaths!”
At the King of Neberum’s shout, Jephia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“I apologize for not disclosing that information, Your Majesty. However, Azonia also needed to properly grasp the facts of the situation.”
“Properly grasp the facts! Did you not cover it up for the sake of Azonia’s honor! Because mere traitors accomplished something the Beastkin couldn't for 5,000 years! You were ashamed of that fact, were you not!”
“Watch your words, King of Neberum!”
The king of another Beastkin kingdom raised his voice.
“The King of Neberum speaks the truth! By what right do you tell him to hold his tongue!”
“The truth? Weren’t you hunted because you were weak! And with that, you dare attempt to tarnish the honor of us, the descendants of the Brave Hero!”
“What did you say!”
Heated words were exchanged between the agitated Beastkin and dwarves.
It was a sensitive issue.
For the Beastkin, the prestige and honor of their entire race were at stake.
For the dwarves, on the other hand, the promising talents of their race had been killed.
Once lit, the fire spread uncontrollably.
“Hush.”
Then, a quiet voice was heard.
The voice was very soft, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
The Beastkin and dwarves, ceasing their argument, looked at Melina.
“We did not gather here to fight, nor to assign blame.”
Melina looked toward the Beastkin.
“Azonia Academy’s actions, failing to announce this fact despite being aware of it, are certainly regrettable. However, on the other hand, considering the chaos it could have caused to the entire Beastkin race… and since it was a matter concerning the honor of the Beastkin… it is not entirely incomprehensible.”
Next, she looked at the dwarves.
“The deaths of the promising members of the Iron Fist are a great tragedy. I offer my condolences. But there is one thing that is also unfortunate. Hero Hunters are beings who hunt heroes, or those of equivalent strength. Countless powerful heroes have lost their lives to the cunning traps of those detestable traitors.”
A note of sorrow entered Melina’s voice.
“However, we have those who can hunt these Hero Hunters.”
Melina looked to one side of the chamber.
At the one and only existence of his kind in this place.
The one who most needed to be here, yet was also the most incongruous.
The emperor of the Shadow Nation, the Shan Empire, Shau.
“The reason the young Iron Fists lost their lives… I believe it was due to a lack of communication. It couldn’t be helped.”
Melina looked around the assembly.
“We are bound by our interests, and the information we need from each other can also be our own shame.”
A few individuals cleared their throats and avoided Melina’s gaze.
“But now is the time to forget such things and cooperate.”
Melina said forcefully.
“King of Neberum. Why did you not request aid from the Shan Empire?”
“...We solve our own problems. That is our pride.”
“That pride… I find it admirable. But is that truly all there is to it?”
At Melina’s words, the King of Neberum lowered his head and remained silent.
“I am aware that many consider receiving help from the Shadows to be shameful. That should not be the case. The Shadows are equals to the Heroes.”
At those words, a person from the human side raised his hand.
“King of Luckit. You may speak.”
The king of Luckit, a human kingdom located in the northern part of the continent, spoke.
“I understand what the Lord is saying. The Shadows are certainly specialized in hunting Hero Hunters. However, they are also beings who work in the darkness and commit many atrocities that are too terrible to speak of. They are a necessary evil.”
“The Shadows are not evil.”
“I have misspoken. But regardless, receiving help from the Shadows is a shameful thing for a hero.”
The King of Luckit narrowed his eyes.
“They are beings who thoroughly assist heroes. They can never be equals to heroes.”
“And your reason for thinking so?”
“Because they can never have their names recorded in the Hero Record. They will never be acknowledged by the gods.”
At the King of Luckit’s statement, everyone held their breath and looked at Shau.
Amidst the silence, Shau rose from his seat.
“This is opportune. Regarding the Hero Record, I have something to show all of you.”
“What is it?”
Shau looked at Melina.
When Melina nodded, Shau took a small box from his robes and approached the center of the Hall of Twilight.
He then placed the box on a display table made of orichalcum in the center and opened it.
Everyone’s gaze turned to it.
In that moment.
“The Hero Record?”
Someone muttered in a bewildered voice.
“Impossible! Not even the Hero Records kept at each of the hero academies are in such a perfect state!”
“Is it a fake?”
“But this power is unmistakably…!”
As everyone reacted in shock, Melina spoke.
“Emperor Shau, what is that?”
“The Hero Record, the Book of Shadows.”