Chapter 466
Chapter Title: A World Without War
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465.
“It’s been almost a year since I've gone on a mission with you, Leo!”
Lil exclaimed cheerfully.
Last year, during a mission to meet Ignit, the Great Spirit of the Abyss summoned from the darkness by Lumerne, Leo had formed a party with Lil at her request.
“And it's a mystery-related mission, too! I never thought you'd share the same hobby as me, Leo!”
With a genuinely happy expression, Lil pulled something from her pocket.
“What do you say, Leo? Won't you join our club? There's no rule that says the student council president can't be in a club.”
Leo looked at the club application form Lil was handing him and asked.
“We have a mystery club at our school?”
“Yes! It’s a club that investigates ghost stories and mysterious events around the world! We also research many of the enigmas related to the World of Heroes!”
“It doesn’t sound like an official club.”
“That’s because we only have two members!”
Lil declared proudly.
To that, Leo replied.
“I’m not that interested in mysteries. This was just a request that I found personally intriguing.”
“I see.”
At his words, Lil’s shoulders slumped.
But she quickly regained her spirits.
“Anyway, I heard all about your exploits during the summer vacation. Ah, to become a Hero at your age! As your senior, I’m so proud!”
Leo let out a small laugh, seeing Lil rejoice in her junior’s success as if it were her own.
“I heard your achievements were quite impressive too, Senior Lil.”
The third-year representative, Lil Luce.
She was a brilliant Spirit Summoner, her skills so overwhelming that her seniors had nicknamed her the 'Monster Girl'.
Her incredible talent with spirit arts, already evident in her second year, had advanced by leaps and bounds since she became a third-year, as if she had undergone an awakening.
At Leo’s words, Lil waved her hand dismissively.
“It’s nothing compared to you, Leo. Even my junior in the Summoning Department, Woreden, is more amazing than I am.”
“Woreden?”
“Yes. He formed a contract with the Great Spirit of Earth, didn’t he? Ah, having such brilliant juniors makes this senior feel so small.”
Currently, Woreden was the most famous student in Lumerne’s Summoning Department.
Leo was considered an exception, having already surpassed the level of a student.
It was only natural that public attention would focus on Woreden, who had contracted a Great Spirit as a mere second-year.
In the history of Lumerne, the number of summoners who had contracted with one of the Three Great Phantom Beasts or a Great Spirit in their second year could be counted on one hand.
‘But if you evaluate them based on pure combat power rather than flashy appearances, it’s a different story.’
She was known as the Spirit Summoner of the Gale, but that was merely a nickname she’d earned for her frequent use of the wind attribute.
Lil had contracted spirits of every element.
‘Compared to Woreden, who only commands the spirits of the four main elements, she can certainly employ a more diverse range of attacks.’
In addition, her mastery of each elemental spirit art was exceptional.
An all-rounder who could do it all: front-line, rear-guard, and support.
The combat power derived from that solid foundation was immense.
Lil certainly lacked flashiness.
That was to be expected, as she possessed neither overwhelming firepower nor a special mana attribute.
‘But that’s what makes her formidable. She has no specialized strengths, but every aspect of her ability is outstanding, and she has no weaknesses.’
On top of that, Lil’s spirit arts, which had shown promise since her first and second years, had fully awakened upon entering her third year, leading to explosive growth.
Even the professors of the Summoning Department predicted her skills had already surpassed the fourth-years and would soon rival those of the fifth-years.
[With skills like that, wouldn't she be the third strongest at Lumerne?]
At Elsie’s words, Laruel tilted her head.
[Not fourth?]
[You have to exclude Leo from the count.]
[Right.]
Listening to the conversation between the Great Spirits of Light and Darkness, Leo also shook his head internally.
‘She’s definitely third.’
The speed of Lil’s growth, as seen through Leo’s eyes, was tremendous.
‘I can’t tell if she’s being overly humble or just timid.’
While Leo was inwardly shaking his head.
“Student Leo, Student Lil. It’s your turn.”
The mage managing the warp gate approached and said.
“Shall we go?”
As Lil stepped onto the warp gate, Leo followed behind her.
A moment later, with a bright flash of light, the two vanished.
***
Flash—!
The warp gate emitted a brilliant light.
Stepping out of the warp gate, Leo tilted his head at the surrounding scenery.
“It’s in ruins.”
“It is.”
At Leo’s words, Lil nodded nonchalantly and stepped off the warp gate.
‘A one-way trip.’
Leo could easily tell that the warp gate they had used was not being maintained.
Warp gates weren’t permanent installations that could be used forever.
They required constant maintenance, and if neglected, they would become unusable.
In the case of this one, it was possible to arrive, but impossible to depart from it to anywhere else.
Leo looked around.
It wasn't just the warp gate that was in ruins.
Typically, warp gates were only built in prosperous cities.
The devastated cityscape came into view at a glance.
The expression on Lil’s face vanished.
“A war must have happened here not long ago.”
Smoke was rising from various parts of the city.
The embers of fires not yet extinguished were still consuming the wreckage of buildings.
The flames of war had swept through here only recently.
Gazing at the gruesome scene, Lil took a deep breath, steadying her turbulent emotions.
Then she looked at Leo in admiration.
“As expected, you’re amazing, Leo.”
“What is?”
“I’m used to sights like this, yet my heart is still shaken. But I don’t see any of that in you.”
“I’m just trying my best not to be shaken.”
“I think it’s something more fundamental than that.”
“Are you used to battlefields, Senior Lil?”
“Yes.”
Lil nodded.
Born into a military family, she had received education related to warfare from a young age.
“My family, the Luce, is from the Tebern Kingdom in the continent’s southeast. It’s a military kingdom, famous throughout the land.”
Lil said as she walked toward the battlefield.
“It’s not as frequent as here in the northeast, but it’s still a region with many wars. My father said that as a member of the Luce family, I needed to understand war, so he started taking me to the front lines during every vacation after I enrolled in Lumerne.”
At those words, Leo’s brow furrowed.
“You’re not the heir, are you, Senior Lil?”
“I’m not. But I believe my father thought I could assist my older brother. And it’s a natural duty for a member of the Luce family.”
Lil said, her expression unreadable.
Leo now understood the reason for Lil’s rapid improvement.
‘Real combat experience.’
No matter what anyone said, combat experience was the ultimate catalyst for growth.
However, the battles Lil had experienced were not against Tartaros, but against other humans.
“Do you like it, Senior Lil?”
“I do not.”
“Then you could just not go to the battlefield.”
“I cannot do that.”
Lil said firmly.
“Heroes are born on the battlefield. Whether it’s in a fight against Tartaros or a fight against humans.”
At that, Leo stared intently at Lil.
Lil, her face still devoid of emotion, kept her gaze fixed on the ruins ravaged by the flames of war.
After a moment, Lil met Leo’s eyes.
“Leo, I have to become a hero. Not just any hero, but a brilliantly shining one, like you.”
“Why do you want to be a hero?”
“You won’t laugh, will you?”
“No.”
At Leo’s response, Lil brought a fist to her mouth and cleared her throat. *Ahem-hem!*
“I’m going to achieve world peace.”
At those words, Leo simply stared at Lil’s face.
Under Leo’s gaze, Lil added.
“I want to create a world without war.”
Infinitely vast.
And because of that, her dream seemed utterly absurd, yet Lil was completely serious as she spoke of it.
She didn't seem to care much how others reacted to her goal.
Most people had probably looked at her strangely or responded with ridicule.
She had likely grown accustomed to any and all reactions.
“That’s a wonderful dream.”
Leo smiled gently.
At his reaction, Lil, who had been looking up at Leo with a blank face, saw her eyes widen slightly.
Lil knew.
She knew her dream was absurd.
That was why, whenever she spoke of her reason for wanting to become a hero, people would either laugh at her or think she was joking.
Even if they didn't outright deny it, no one ever affirmed it.
They would just offer empty encouragement out of politeness.
That’s why Lil knew instantly.
She knew that Leo had just ‘affirmed’ her dream.
“Isn’t my dream strange and absurd? Everyone else laughed.”
“I once laughed at someone else’s dream.”
He recalled Lisinas declaring he would save the world.
“Because I was once saved by that dream I’d laughed at. After that, I swore I’d never mock anyone’s dream again.”
Leo smiled as he thought of Lisinas.
“And I think there needs to be at least one hero who dreams of such things. Besides, my own goal is pretty audacious, isn't it?”
Lil remembered what Leo's goal was.
It was a story famous throughout the entire school.
‘The complete subjugation of Erebos.’
A feat that not even the Great Hero or the Hero of the Beginning had accomplished.
And Leo had already taken a step closer to that goal.
“In a way, the goal you’re pursuing, Senior Lil, and my goal could be seen as the same.”
Leo had already seen it.
He had seen the one who led the world to salvation from the brink of ruin.
He had seen, right beside him, a friend who had made an absurd ideal a reality.
“Somehow, my heart is pounding.”
Seeing Lil so overjoyed she didn't know what to do, Leo unconsciously reached out and stroked her head.
Leo was genuinely proud of Lil for having a goal that was for the good of this world.
‘If Lisinas were alive, he would have been so happy.’
Slightly flustered by Leo’s action, Lil touched her cheek.
“You know, normally I should feel bad being treated like this by a junior.”
From their first meeting, Lil had always emphasized her seniority and tried to take good care of Leo.
While Lil naturally enjoyed looking after others, she also had a strong desire not to lose her dignity as a senior.
“My apologies.”
As Leo removed his hand, Lil shook her head.
“It’s not a bad feeling. I actually like it. It feels like being praised by an older brother.”
Lil nonchalantly fiddled with her hair, then smiled gently.
“Well then, we can’t stay here forever. Shall we get going?”
Leo nodded and took a map out from his pocket.
“Let’s figure out our location first. This is the border territory of the Kanel Kingdom, right?”
“That’s right. It was originally the domain of Viscount Tibun, who commissioned the request, but it’s currently under invasion by the neighboring Petimon Kingdom. First, we need to find our client, Viscount Tibun…”
*Dong-dong-dong-*
Just as they were about to discuss their plans, the sound of drums began to echo.
Leo and Lil, who had been talking over the map, stopped and looked up.
*Bwooooooooooo-!*
The sound of a horn began to blow.
Lil raised her hand.
Wind began to gather at her fingertips.
“Oh no.”
Lil’s face hardened.
“What is it?”
“The Petimon Kingdom’s army is attacking.”
“Lumerne students aren’t allowed to interfere in wars.”
“Yes. But the Petimon army isn't targeting the Kanel Kingdom's soldiers. They're after the refugees.”
At those words, Leo narrowed his eyes and activated his supersense.
A vast amount of information from the surrounding area instantly flooded into his mind.
Lumerne students were forbidden from intervening in the wars of other nations.
But civilians being attacked was a different story.
*Shing—*
Drawing his sword, Leo said.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, Leo.”
Leo and Lil flew swiftly toward the sounds of battle.