Chapter 459
Chapter Title: The Newest Hero
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459.
Leo unfolded the letter from the Emperor of the Rhodren Empire.
Everyone watched with tense expressions as Leo read the handwritten letter.
“What is it? What did His Majesty say to you?”
Celia, who was beside him, asked hurriedly.
“Why are you making a bigger fuss than I am?”
Celia looked at him in disbelief at his indifferent tone.
“Because you’re being unusually calm!”
Lumerne students were respected and well-treated wherever they went.
Even so, for the Emperor of Rhodren to send a personal, handwritten letter was a different matter entirely.
The Emperor of Rhodren was the absolute ruler of the western continent, a figure beyond comparison with the kings of most nations.
Unlike the Shan Empire, which possessed similar national power but was known as the Land of Shadows, operating covertly with little external activity, the Rhodren Empire was an empire that did not hide its strength and actively wielded it.
Its external influence was so great that it extended beyond the western continent to affect the entire world.
“So? What does it say?”
At Abad’s question, Leo tucked the letter back into the envelope and replied.
“It’s an invitation to join Imperium, the hero guild of Rhodren.”
“What?”
“Was it really about that?”
Surprised reactions came from all around.
Reina nodded, her expression showing she had expected as much.
“Whoa, this is huge, isn’t it? Even if you’re the youngest student council president, you’re still just a student. And you got an offer to join a guild. From Imperium, no less?”
Karl exclaimed in awe.
The Imperium Guild.
As the hero guild under the Rhodren Imperial Family, it was practically the only hero guild in the western continent.
Its strength and influence were second only to Lumerne’s Twilight, considered the strongest among the human hero guilds, and it had achieved countless merits on the front lines against Tartaros.
“That’s incredibly unconventional. For Imperium, this is an exceptional case, changing even their own entry requirements.”
Chloe said, looking surprised.
The Imperium Guild only permitted entry to those whose names were listed in the Hero Record.
Imperium was the only guild in the world where every single member had attained the status of a hero.
Even Jis Jerdinger and Roseth Llewellyn, who had come as the emperor’s messengers, held important positions within the empire but had not obtained the title of hero and thus were not members of Imperium.
“Man, even Imperium wants Leo, who’s still just a hero candidate? But why would they make such an unconventional move? Isn’t Leo part of the Jerdinger family anyway? Wouldn’t he naturally join Imperium after graduation?”
“There must be a reason why Imperium had to move so quickly. By the way, shouldn’t it be impossible to join a hero guild as a student?”
Just as Iliana voiced her question, Nella let out a small sigh.
“How long do you intend to block our path?”
“We are in the midst of delivering a letter from His Great Majesty, the Emperor of Rhodren. Please refrain from causing a disturbance.”
“Do you think the authority of a human emperor has any sway over me?”
Raised voices, along with an arrogant one, could be heard from outside.
A moment later.
Just as the commotion outside grew, the door was thrown open violently, and an elf with handsome features entered.
Seeing him, the students’ eyes widened.
Eiran looked troubled, and Lunia frowned slightly.
“A real piece of work has arrived.”
“Is he famous?”
Ar asked in response to Lunia’s murmur.
Beside them, Karl swallowed nervously.
“Isn’t that the Crescent Sword, Amedius?”
“The Crescent Sword?”
“That hero from Stella Illuminus?”
The students looked startled.
The Crescent Sword, Amedius Glaise.
A hero belonging to the elven hero guild, Stella Illuminus, he was a new-generation hero whose name had been added to the Hero Record three years ago.
He was the most famous among the new generation of elven heroes.
The reason was that he was a man with a fanatical side, absolutely revering the teachings of Luna and Seirun and glorifying the great deeds they left behind.
Because of this, he was notorious for being an extreme racial supremacist.
“It would be a problem if he starts spouting nonsense to Leo like, ‘I cannot acknowledge you.’”
Lunia furrowed her brow.
The story of Leo receiving the staff from Seirun and becoming his official successor was already well-known.
However, within elven society, there were still elves who refused to accept this fact, insisting it was wrong.
Considering that all of them were extreme racial supremacists.
It was entirely possible that the notorious Amedius would say such a thing.
‘If a man who has attained the status of a hero makes such a claim when it’s already officially known that Leo is Lord Seirun’s successor, it will become a huge problem.’
Lunia stood up to stop Amedius.
Eiran also stood up, looking restless.
‘The Crescent Sword must not show disrespect to Lord Leo.’
For Eiran, who knew Leo was the Hero of the Beginning, the situation was agonizing.
Just as Eiran tensed up, determined to stop Amedius at all costs if he tried anything foolish.
While everyone watched tensely, Amedius strode—thump, thump—toward Leo.
“If you have business with Leo Flove, how about you wait your turn?”
Jis blocked his path, showing his displeasure.
But Amedius scoffed, pushed Jis aside, and stood before Leo.
Just as Jis was about to explode with anger at his action.
Thud-!
Everyone stared blankly at the scene unfolding before them.
“It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time. My name is the Crescent Sword, Amedius Glaise. Lord Leo Flove. It is an infinite honor to meet you.”
Amedius knelt on one knee and greeted Leo with extreme politeness.
Moreover, it was not an action an elder would take toward someone younger.
Furthermore, Leo was still a hero candidate, while Amedius was a hero.
In terms of both age and public status, Amedius was superior.
Despite this, Amedius treated Leo with the utmost courtesy.
And above all, Leo was a human.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. But why are you using such formal language with me?”
“Lord Leo, you are the official successor to the noble Lord Seirun. As an elf, it is only natural to show you respect. Please, speak comfortably.”
Amedius looked up at Leo, his gaze unwavering.
‘What’s with this guy’s eyes?’
Leo clicked his tongue as he briefly stared at the elf, whose clear eyes were not just sparkling but gleaming.
This type of elf was usually impervious to reason and common sense.
Leo, knowing this well, had come to expect it.
“In that case, I’ll speak comfortably.”
Amedius smiled at Leo’s words.
“So, what’s the reason you came looking for me?”
“It is to deliver this letter to you, Lord Leo.”
Amedius took a sealed letter from his coat and handed it to Leo.
The letter was stamped with the guild mark of Stella Illuminus.
Seeing it, Jis’s and Roseth’s eyes narrowed.
“Stella Illuminus wishes for you to join us, Lord Leo.”
Amedius’s eyes gleamed.
“Stella Illuminus is the hero guild founded by Lord Seirun himself! It is, without a doubt, the most suitable hero guild for you, Lord Leo!”
“So that’s why Imperium made their move.”
“For Stella Illuminus to try and recruit Leo too, this is a huge deal.”
“Considering Leo is Lord Seirun’s successor, it’s not that strange, but… it’s still shocking.”
Stella Illuminus.
The most prestigious of the elven hero guilds.
While not all its members were heroes like in Imperium, in some ways, it was the most difficult hero guild to join.
Only elves were allowed to join, and among them, only a select few were chosen.
The fact that they were willing to break that tradition to bring Leo in was certainly shocking.
“Leo is a citizen of the Rhodren Empire. It is only natural that he joins Imperium, the empire’s guild. How could he possibly join an elven guild?”
As Jis stepped forward and spoke, Amedius, who had risen to his feet, curled his lip.
Unlike when he had bowed his head to Leo, he wore an incredibly arrogant and insolent smile.
“It seems far more natural for Lord Leo, the successor of Lord Seirun, to join Stella Illuminus, does it not?”
An unusual tension began to flow between the two.
The atmosphere had been tense from the moment he had forced his way in.
With the added conflict over Leo’s guild admission, the air became so thick with tension it felt like it could explode at any moment.
Everyone wore tense expressions.
In the midst of this, Leo, who had sealed the letter again, spoke.
“I don’t really have any intention of joining Imperium or Stella Illuminus.”
At Leo’s words, everyone’s eyes widened.
Offers from guilds everyone dreamed of joining, and he had no interest?
“Hey, are you planning to join Twilight?”
“No.”
“Then which guild will you join?”
As everyone watched with puzzled faces, Leo opened his mouth.
“I was planning on making one.”
“What?”
Everyone looked utterly astonished.
“This is perfect. Should I establish one now?”
Seeing Leo speak as casually as if he were starting a school club, Chloe said.
“You can’t just create a hero guild because you want to. First, you have to meet the qualifications to establish one.”
“The qualification of having attained the status of a hero?”
“That’s right.”
Chloe nodded in response to Leo’s question.
Of course, Leo also knew that requirement.
However…
‘I can just tell Melina to change the convention.’
In the first place, Leo’s name was already in the Hero Record as Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.
On the very first page, no less.
It was impossible for Leo’s name to be added again.
For Leo, it was uncertain whether he could even meet the qualifications.
‘I thought about having someone else be the founder, but the one who authorizes the creation of hero guilds is Dragonia, isn’t it?’
And the highest authority in Dragonia was none other than the Dragon Lord, Melina.
From anyone else’s perspective, founding a guild by changing the convention would be absurd.
‘Is there anything impossible in this world? If it’s not possible, I just have to make it possible.’
Leo was the kind of person who could make such absurdities possible.
‘The best-case scenario would be for me to obtain the title of hero myself. But that’s difficult.’
***
In the deepest part of Lumerne.
In the very center of the Forbidden Archives, where countless heroic relics and records lay dormant, slept the Hero Record of humanity.
When a new human hero was born, their name was written here.
Only one specially appointed by the Dragon Lord could become the archivist here.
The Archivist of Lumerne.
Desitian was guarding the entrance to the Forbidden Archives with a blank expression.
Flap-!
Suddenly, the closed Hero Record flew open.
Seeing this, Desitian fell to his knees.
Having served as the archivist for a long time, he knew.
This was a divine revelation.
It was the moment a noble hero, who had accomplished a deed acknowledged by the gods, would have their name written in the Hero Record.
Whirrrrr-!
Countless pages flipped open.
Thwack-!
At last, the final page was revealed.
Fwoosh-!
Along with a brilliant light, a name began to materialize.
Desitian trembled as he witnessed the glorious moment that heralded the birth of a new hero.
A moment later, the light faded.
Desitian, who had remained kneeling motionlessly and reverently before the Hero Record while the name was being written, approached it.
And his eyes widened.
Normally, the Hero Record was filled with numerous writings.
Not only the hero’s name but also the epithet bestowed upon them by the gods.
And the great deeds they had accomplished were recorded.
For this reason, the Hero Record was densely packed with text.
But now, it was literally a blank page.
There was no name bestowed by the gods, nor were there any deeds.
All that existed was a single name.
[Leo Flove.]