Chapter 420
Chapter Title: The Book of Shadows
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“A Hero Record?”
“The Book of Shadows? What in the world is that!”
A stir went through the conference hall.
“What do you make of it?”
The patriarch of the Jer-on family, one of Lumerne’s three great houses and chairman of its board of directors.
Altech Jer-on asked his younger brother.
Albi, who had received the Mystic Eyes as a gift from the Fairy King, possessed the ability to see through falsehoods.
At Altech’s question, Albi, who had been staring at the Book of Shadows, opened his mouth.
“I can feel a power similar to the Hero Records we know.”
At Albi’s answer, Altech stroked his chin.
“A new Hero Record.”
Altech looked at the Book of Shadows with interest.
He wasn’t the only one.
Beside him, Dejean Liguard and Nishella Turcia also let out gasps of admiration, examining the Hero Record closely.
Dejean Liguard.
The head of the Liguard family, which governed Lumeria City.
In other words, he could be called the master of Lumeria, the center of the world.
Nishella Turcia was the guild master of Twilight, the world's largest hero guild.
The Twilight Guild was founded 3,000 years ago.
It originated from the Knights of Twilight, once led by Lumerne.
The so-called three great families of Lumerne—Jer-on, Liguard, and Turcia.
All of them were disciples who had followed Lumerne long ago.
The Jer-ons, in accordance with Lumerne’s will, took over the academy he founded.
The Liguards, the land Lumerne had cultivated.
And the Turcias inherited the knightly order Lumerne had led.
These three families were the ones who had protected and managed Lumerne Academy’s Hero Record for the past 3,000 years.
Therefore, the heads of these three families knew more about the Hero Record than anyone else.
Including everything about its history.
“Lord Altech, have you ever heard of something called the Book of Shadows?”
“I have not.”
“Lord Dejean?”
“I have not either, Matriarch Turcia.”
Nishella, in her mid-twenties, gazed at the Book of Shadows with fascination.
Nishella Turcia.
A woman who had become the head of the Turcia family at the age of 26.
As a contractor to the Great Spirit of Wind and the Phoenix, she was a young hero who had earned her name in the Hero Record five years ago by thwarting the subjugation of the Undead Legion.
As all eyes were fixed on the Book of Shadows.
King Luckit spoke.
“The Book of Shadows. What is that?”
“A Hero Record where shadows have inscribed their names.”
“Such nonsense…! Even if it were real, it must be a fake!”
“King Luckit, I don't believe you are qualified to determine whether a Hero Record is real or fake. You are neither a hero nor a shadow, are you?”
“Hmph!”
At Shau’s words, King Luckit’s face twisted in frustration.
While a hero's title is earned by overcoming trials and tribulations through one's own strength, a king's is merely inherited by bloodline.
Although the existing nations were all founded by those who had inscribed their names in the Hero Record, making their rulers descendants of great heroes.
Being a hero's descendant didn't automatically make one a hero.
For that reason, many of the kings attending the summit were not heroes, and King Luckit was one of them.
As everyone stared at the Book of Shadows with disbelief.
Melina raised her hand.
At her gesture, one of the dragons waiting behind her approached the central stage, asked for Shau's permission, and brought the Book of Shadows to Melina.
Receiving it carefully, Melina opened the Hero Record.
Everyone held their breath, watching the scene.
The power emanating from the Book of Shadows was unmistakably that of a Hero Record.
‘The records of shadows, who have never once had their names inscribed in a Hero Record in 5,000 years, are discovered now?’
‘And in such a pristine state?’
No matter the evidence, it was difficult to accept, as it contradicted a truth held for 5,000 years.
But if Melina, the Dragon Lord, acknowledged it, they would have no choice but to accept it as well.
That shadows, too, were beings equal to heroes, who could proudly have their names recorded in a Hero Record.
While examining the Hero Record, Melina spoke.
“...Indeed, this is a record of the shadows.”
“How can that be…!”
“Impossible…!”
“You mean it’s not a fake?”
“This is real. Furthermore…”
“Furthermore?”
“The deeds of the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, are recorded here.”
“The Great Hero’s records, you say?”
“Are you saying Sir Kyle’s records are in there?!”
A wave of shock, similar to when the Book of Shadows was first revealed.
No, an even greater astonishment erupted.
As everyone shot up from their seats in surprise.
“Yes.”
Melina nodded with a gentle smile.
“Could it be that the Hero of the Beginning was a shadow?”
“If so, it would make sense why the records of the Hero of the Beginning were never known until now.”
The heroes reacted with bewilderment.
Amidst the confusion, Melina asked Shau.
“Emperor Shau of Shan. Where did you find this Hero Record?”
Melina already knew the identity of the Book of Shadows.
Not only that, but she had also heard from Leo how this Book of Shadows came to be.
But she couldn't speak the truth as it was.
Shau glanced at Leo.
Then he spoke.
“It was stored deep beneath Shan for a long time and was only recently discovered. After a thorough verification process, we determined it to be a Hero Record never before revealed to the world, and so we decided to make it public like this.”
At Shau’s words, Rune, the acting principal of Seirun, spoke up.
“This is well. It is a fact that shadows have long been discriminated against simply because they could not inscribe their names in the Hero Record.”
Rune, who had the appearance of a handsome young man but was an elder-class figure even in elven society, spoke with a smile that bespoke his great age.
“Does this not prove that shadows, too, are among those who have protected the world for the past 5,000 years?”
“Ahem.”
“That may be so, but…”
A few individuals showed their discomfort.
“To think the Hero of the Beginning was a shadow. A surprising tale, indeed. So his records were hidden away in the annals of history along with those of the other shadows.”
King Luckit muttered, not bothering to hide his displeasure.
“Ahem. Are we to equate someone who was a shadow with a Great Hero?”
“Shouldn't this be a matter for discussion?”
Several kings voiced their unease.
Even though the Dragon Lord had acknowledged it and a Hero Record with their deeds had been found, the perception that had persisted for thousands of years showed no signs of changing easily.
For as many heroes held a positive view of shadows, there were just as many who did not.
It was then.
“Do you know why the Hero of the Beginning is called the Hero of the Beginning?”
All eyes turned to Melina.
“This may be a fact you are unaware of, but…”
Melina closed the Book of Shadows and spoke calmly.
“The first of the Great Heroes to lose his life was Sir Ar-on.”
At her words, everyone held their breath.
The story of the Great Heroes vanquishing the Primordial Evil, Erebos, is well known.
This world itself was the proof.
But…
The story of the final battle between the Great Heroes and Erebos did not survive.
3,000 years ago.
When the Heroes of Genesis sealed the endlessly resurrecting fragments of Erebos into the Hero Record, many records were burned and lost.
And in the process of being torn, many more records were lost again.
Countless lost records were burned away by Tartaros.
In that process, the records of the Great Heroes’ final journey also vanished into the mists of history.
Thus, it was not known who ultimately defeated Erebos.
The only known fact was that all the Great Heroes died in the process of subjugating Erebos.
As the Great Heroes themselves were revered beings for each race, the stories of the final battle differed among the races.
However, hero scholars and historians alike conjectured.
The final battle was one where all the Great Heroes joined forces to barely defeat Erebos, and in the process, they all lost their lives.
No one knew the truth of history.
A story that had vanished beyond the veil of history.
Melina, who had heard the story from one who was there, began to speak of this forgotten history.
“The Brave Hero sacrificed himself because he was afraid of seeing his comrades die. And he entrusted his everything to the Hero of the Beginning.”
‘He chose to be the shield… because he was afraid of watching us die.’
It wasn't the grand or courageous sacrifice many imagined.
In a way most befitting of Ar-on, as a coward…
He met an end unbecoming of a Brave Hero, terrified.
‘I’m sorry… for not keeping my promise to protect you until the end.’
Leo closed his eyes, remembering the coward who had apologized through tears.
“Even after Sir Ar-on’s sacrifice, the Great Heroes did not stop.”
At Melina’s solemn words, everyone was captivated.
They all realized.
What was coming from Melina’s lips was the forgotten truth of history.
“The second to lose his life was Sir Dweno. He left behind a weapon to defeat Erebos before he drew his last breath.”
‘Go forth, Kyle. For those who will follow… pave the way. That sword was made for that purpose.’
Leaving behind his only creation, the weapon called ‘Beginning,’ Dweno closed his eyes.
“The third was Lady Luna.”
‘Sorry for leaving this to you, too.’
Luna, who had entrusted everything to him, saying that between the two of them, he was the better choice.
“The fourth was Sir Lisinas.”
‘We’re going to save the world.’
Lisinas, who had never doubted that fact until the very end.
“In place of all the Great Heroes, Sir Kyle defeated Erebos alone. He was the final hero, and…”
Melina looked at the breathless heroes.
“He was the Hero of the Beginning who opened the age of heroes. That is why he is called the Hero of the Beginning.”
“My Lord… how do you know this?”
When one person asked in a trembling voice, Melina smiled faintly.
“Many of the world's truths lie dormant in Dragonia.”
Melina gently stroked the Book of Shadows as she spoke.
“I’m sure in that era, there was no distinction between hero or shadow. Because it was something someone had to do… the Hero of the Beginning must have willingly shouldered that burden.”
Rising from her seat, Melina personally returned the Book of Shadows to the dais.
“The world is in turmoil. The return of the Hero of the Beginning and the Progenitor of the Nebula, followed by the return of the Comet Magician.”
Melina glanced toward the Seirun delegation, then toward Demian.
“The appearance of hero cadets who have inherited Dweno's legacy.”
Finally, Melina’s gaze briefly rested on Leo.
“And now, the records of the Hero of the Beginning.”
Melina took a deep breath.
“The forgotten legacies of the Great Heroes and the Heroes of Genesis are returning to us. Accordingly, the movements of Tartaros are also becoming ominous. How long do you intend to be bound by the flawed customs of the past?”
“Urk!”
“Th-that is…”
“Before being beings who wield great power and achieve god-acknowledged feats, heroes are agents of change.”
Clip, clop—
Everyone focused on Melina's words, each one delivered clearly and forcefully.
“This is not the time to be concerned with such things as heroes… or shadows. Now is the time to completely eradicate the threat of the calamity that has persisted for 5,000 years. As the Dragon Lord, I declare.”
Everyone held their breath.
“From this moment on, shadows are the equals of heroes.”