Chapter 471
Chapter Title: The Decadent Kingdom
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471.
CRASH-! CRACK-!
The battle axe shattered under the force of Lil's swinging battle hammer.
“……?!”
Joren's face twisted in horror.
THUD-! CRUNCH-!
“Keuk!”
Struck squarely by the hammer, Joren collapsed to the ground.
Lil rushed over to him, raising her hammer.
“W-Wait a minute! You claim to want to be a hero, yet you'd mercilessly attack a defenseless opponent…!”
He desperately begged for his life.
“Shut up!”
CRUNCH-!
Lil's hammer mercilessly crushed Joren's skull.
“Hah… hah…”
Lil retrieved her battle hammer, breathing heavily.
Thud-
Leo approached the panting Lil, who had slumped to the ground, and offered his hand.
“You’re amazing, Lil.”
“Hah… hah… Didn’t you take down four of them in an instant by yourself, Leo?”
Lil took Leo's hand with a trembling one and pulled herself up.
“Hoo. Hoo.”
Lil took a deep breath to steady her ragged breathing and spoke.
“Besides, I received a lot of help from you. I still have a long way to go.”
During Lil and Joren's fight, Leo had simply watched.
But Joren had witnessed the shocking scene of Leo eliminating four Justice Guild members as if swatting flies.
The moment Leo intervened, everything would be over.
That pressure had shattered Joren's concentration.
“Regardless, it's a fact that you defeated an opponent who was clearly stronger than you.”
No matter how great Lil was, she was still only a third-year at Lumerne.
In contrast, her opponent had attended Lumerne up to the fifth year.
Moreover, he was a formidable fighter who had never neglected his training in his quest to become a hero.
The ability to pull off such an upset was a testament to Lil's true potential.
‘Even if I hadn't been here, Lil would have won.’
It was true that Leo's presence had pressured Joren, but even so, Lil's combat ability was beyond imagination.
She had displayed skills far beyond her limits.
‘The clear makings of a hero.’
While Leo was inwardly assessing Lil, she looked at the battle scene with troubled eyes.
“It's shocking. To think there were people in the Justice Guild with such ideas.”
An ideology of treating others as mere sacrifices to become a hero.
For Lil, it was completely unacceptable.
“This probably isn't an ideology they came up with on their own.”
“I suppose so. There must be someone at the top with such insane ideas. I'd like to crack their heads open and pull out their brains to see how they could harbor such delusions.”
“…”
Leo stared intently at Lil.
Covering her mouth, Lil cleared her throat. “Ahem.”
“I got a little carried away. My mouth gets a bit rough when I'm drunk.”
“It seems like more than a little.”
“Please just consider it drunk rambling.”
Leo nodded, looking at Lil who was playing innocent.
Just then, Viscount Eshimon, who had withdrawn his troops, approached them.
“Lord Leo, Lady Lil.”
“Viscount Eshimon. Are the soldiers safe?”
“Yes, thanks to you two, the soldiers are safe. Really, I don't know how I can ever repay this kindness…”
“We only did what was natural as Lumerne students. Please don't worry about it!”
Lil waved her hands dismissively.
“Thank you, truly. By the way, there is someone who wishes to meet you.”
As Viscount Eshimon spoke cautiously, Lil looked puzzled.
‘It seems someone from the top has arrived.’
Leo easily grasped the situation.
Viscount Eshimon was the commander of this front.
He wasn't a low-ranking individual.
Yet for him to be so deferential meant…
‘Did the King of Kanel send an envoy to us?’
Leo's guess was correct.
In the middle of the battlefield.
A man who appeared to be a high-ranking official was walking towards them, stroking his goatee.
He was wearing ornate armor unsuited for a battlefield.
Armor that showed no practicality whatsoever.
It was an outfit worn solely for show.
‘If the war is going this badly and the person from the capital looks like that… I can see what kind of country this is.’
Leo let out a dry laugh.
Lil, seemingly having similar thoughts, furrowed her brow slightly.
Unaware of their thoughts, the high-ranking official shouted with a moved expression.
“My name is Duke Kernville Dotarn. I heard that Lumerne dispatched Lord Leo Flove and Lady Lil Luce to aid our Kanel Kingdom, and I rushed here at once!”
At his words, Lil corrected him.
“That's not it. We came here to search for the group robbing the hero's tomb…”
“Now, now! Isn't that a trivial matter?”
“A trivial matter?”
Lil's expression changed instantly.
The hero's tomb in this land was the final resting place of a heroic spirit who had fought to protect this land long ago.
Even if they were a figure from history, from a time before this country was even founded.
To the people of this land, they were beings who could never be taken lightly.
Desecrating their graves was an act of profound disrespect.
Lil had taken on this request not only out of personal interest but also to punish those committing such shameless acts.
All expression vanished from Lil's face, but Duke Dotarn failed to notice and continued to chatter excitedly.
“Our Kanel Kingdom needs the salvation of great heroes. Those wicked Petimon Kingdom bastards are using the Justice Guild to oppress our kingdom! Shouldn't Lumerne rightfully help us?”
Duke Dotarn said, stroking his beard.
“This is no place for such a discussion. The King wishes to meet with you to explain the kingdom's situation.”
At those words, Leo looked at Lil.
In any case, they needed to hear the details to understand the situation.
When Lil nodded, Leo spoke.
“Understood.”
“Haha! The Petimon Kingdom is finished!”
Duke Dotarn laughed heartily, as if he had already secured Lumerne's aid.
They then used a temporary warp gate to arrive at the royal palace.
As soon as they arrived, a huge number of servants and maids were waiting for them.
The palace staff grabbed Leo and Lil and pushed them into a dressing room.
“It is an honor to serve you. We will get you ready right away.”
“What are you talking about? Why are you touching my clothes? W-Wait! Leo is right next to…”
As Lil's flustered voice echoed, a curtain was drawn.
The sound of a struggle could be heard from inside.
“I'll take it off myself…”
“That will take too long!”
“Then please explain the situation!”
Rustle- rustle-
It seemed the maids were forcefully changing her clothes.
Leo caught Lil's school uniform jacket as it flew out.
‘What is going on?’
Leo narrowed his eyes at the sudden turn of events.
Meanwhile, the servants quickly measured Leo, prepared a fancy suit, and helped him into it.
“His Majesty has prepared a welcoming banquet for you.”
A man who appeared to be the head chamberlain came and whispered to Leo.
Swoosh-!
A moment later.
The curtain was pulled back, and Lil, magnificently dressed in a gown, walked out.
Seemingly unused to the crystal shoes, Lil stumbled a few times and frowned.
“This is uncomfortable. Please return my shoes.”
“No way! You look so beautiful right now, how could you wear shoes fit for a soldier!”
The maids firmly hid Lil's shoes behind their backs.
Watching this, Lil sighed deeply and stood beside Leo with her arms crossed.
“You look handsome, Leo.”
“You look pretty too, Lil.”
“I know you're just being polite, but it feels nice.”
Lil said, her expression softening slightly.
Of course, Leo was being sincere.
A dolled-up Lil was incredibly beautiful.
“Anyway, what in the world is all this? I heard from Viscount Eshimon that the country itself is in peril. We should be having a serious discussion about the state of affairs, but instead we get a welcoming banquet? And with the money spent on these expensive dresses and accessories, it would be better to provide supplies to the soldiers…”
“Since they're officially asking for help, they probably want to show courtesy. High-ranking people love their formalities.”
Leo calmed the agitated Lil.
In response, Lil took a deep breath.
“I see. Well, since the situation is serious, we should have a sincere conversation and then report back to the academy.”
Lil straightened her back and puffed out her chest.
She had returned to being the proud year representative of Lumerne.
Leo adjusted his tie and stood beside Lil.
The two were guided to the banquet hall.
A moment later.
The doors to the lavish banquet hall opened.
And what unfolded before their eyes was, quite literally, the epitome of luxury.
The first thing that caught their eye was the fountain in the center of the hall.
Wine, not water, flowed from it.
The food was also abundant, with all sorts of high-end dishes regardless of the season.
The hall was adorned with brilliant flowers, jewels, and gold.
The nobles attending the party were also dressed in incredibly extravagant attire.
To the point that Leo and Lil's outfits looked almost plain in comparison.
A massive orchestra was playing music.
It wasn't just a welcoming party but a social gathering; in one corner, nobles were even gambling.
It was, in a word, a free-for-all.
It seemed most of the kingdom's nobles had gathered.
This time, all expression truly vanished from Lil's face.
Just then, the king on the highest platform pointed at Leo and Lil.
“Behold! My loyal subjects! The heroes who will save this nation have arrived! Everyone, give them a grand welcome!”
Cheers erupted from the nobles.
Looking at the scene, one might mistake this country for being in a golden age of peace and prosperity.
Leo heaved a deep sigh.
“Leo.”
“Yes.”
“The king of this country… no. The nobles of this country are definitely insane.”
“I agree.”
***
In conclusion, Leo and Lil were unable to exchange a single word with the King of Kanel about the current situation.
The king was too busy enjoying the banquet to pay them any mind.
Whenever Leo and Lil tried to approach him, nobles would block their path and strike up conversations.
In the end, Lil, judging it impossible to discuss important matters, could only swallow her anger.
While doing so, she exuded a powerful "don't come near me" aura towards the surrounding nobles and drank wine nonstop from the fountain.
After the banquet ended, the two were guided to the guest chambers.
“Seriously! Does this make any sense?! The soldiers are risking their lives for the country! And the higher-ups who sent them to the battlefield are indulging in luxury and pleasure!”
Lil, who had entered the room with Leo, exploded in a rage.
“They're crazy! The leaders have lost their minds! Don't you think so?! Leo!”
The drunken Lil turned to Leo and shouted.
‘She's drunk.’
Lil, who usually respected her juniors and always used formal speech with them, was shockingly speaking informally.
“It's always like that.”
“I know it is! I know the world is a dirty place! But there should be a limit to the madness!”
Showing her intense emotion, Lil irritably removed her hair ornaments.
“I barely stopped myself from just smashing all their heads in!”
“We'll probably be able to have a proper conversation tomorrow.”
“What if they're still like this tomorrow morning?”
“Then we'll have to act on our own. We can't just leave the Justice Guild be.”
Regardless, Leo intended to wipe out the Justice Guild entirely.
“Right.”
Lil nodded.
Leo looked at her and said.
“Then you should go back to your room and rest. You've been through a lot today.”
“Before that.”
Lil approached Leo.
Coming right up to his face, Lil cupped his face with both hands and pulled him towards her.
They were so close that their breaths could mingle.
Leo said.
“Senior, you're drunk.”
“Yes, so I'll say it while I'm drunk.”
Lil, reeking of alcohol, spoke with slightly unfocused eyes.
“Leo Flove.”
“Yes.”
“Take me as your disciple.”
Leo let out a laugh at the unexpected words.
“I'm your junior, Lil. How can I take my senior as a disciple?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Reverting to her usual speech pattern, Lil walked to the bed, plopped down, and kicked her feet.
Her crystal shoes came off and flew through the air.
“One should always learn from someone more skilled than oneself.”
“You've always wanted to be my disciple? Is that what you were thinking?”
“No. If I were a Beastmancer, I might have felt that way, but I'm a Spiritmancer.”
Publicly, Leo was known to be better at beast summoning than spirit summoning.
“But after seeing your Spiritmancy earlier, my thoughts have changed.”
Lil had seen Leo during the battle.
“Your Spiritmancy was too perfect.”
‘Of course. I was just imitating Lisinas.’
Lil wiggled her freed feet a few times, then heaved herself up and approached Leo.
And looking up at her junior, she said.
“I know full well it's not right to just ask you to teach me Spiritmancy. That's why I'm making this request. To become your disciple. A disciple does whatever their master tells them. You can leave anything to me. If you tell me to do homework, I'll do it. If you tell me to buy bread, I'll buy it.”
“That's not a disciple, that's a gofer.”
“Anyway.”
Lil smiled brightly.
“I want to be your disciple, Leo. I will serve you well as my master.”
“I don't want to become a shameless junior who bosses his senior around.”
“Make me your disciple.”
Lil grabbed Leo by the collar.
“I said, make me one.”
Looking at the stubbornly insistent Lil with her unfocused eyes, Leo gazed up at the ceiling and sighed.
‘I should avoid drinking with her from now on.’
***
Soldiers of the Petimon Kingdom, holding shovels and pickaxes, were digging up the ground.
The monument honoring the hero was already destroyed and lay scattered on the ground.
The soldiers' faces were filled with guilt.
“Stop dawdling and dig!”
The knight in charge of supervision yelled.
“Ah, to think we have to dig up this great hero’s grave…”
“They sacrificed and shed blood for this land 3,000 years ago.”
The soldiers lamented.
He was a hero from the epic tales they had heard since childhood.
A hero with a famous legend in the northeastern region.
The soldiers felt immense guilt at the fact that they were digging up such a person's grave.
“You idiots, if you get caught chatting, you're dead!”
A veteran soldier next to them whispered harshly.
A moment later.
A coffin emerged from the excavated grave.
The supervisor ripped open the coffin lid.
CRACK-!
“Not this one either.”
Inside the coffin was only dust.
The knight scoffed and yelled at the soldiers who were trying to restore the grave even a little.
“What are you doing!”
“Sir? We should at least restore it a little…”
“There's no time for that! On to the next grave!”
At his words, the soldiers departed, deeply apologizing in their hearts to the hero from 3,000 years ago.
CRACKLE-!
A moment later, lightning flashed across the sky.
Plink- PSHHHHHHH!
Rain began to pour, turning the dug-up grave into a muddy pit.
A moment later.
Thwack-!
A hand burst out from the mud.
Squelch- squelch-
A man emerged from the mud and rose to his feet.
[How dare you…]
The eyes of the man, caked in mud, glowed a dark crimson.
[Unforgivable!]
A voice filled with resentment and hatred flowed from his lips.