Chapter 509
Chapter Title: An Unattainable Dream
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*Whoooosh—!*
“Aaaahhh!”
“It’s a demon!”
“The legions of Tartaros are attacking!”
“Quickly, ask Lumerne for help…!”
Screams echoed through the streets.
It was utter pandemonium.
“Hey! Get a hold of yourself!”
“She’s unconscious! She won’t wake up!”
“Move the injured over here!”
Wounded people were strewn everywhere.
“Eljenie, the Queen of Blood, has invaded!”
“All who can fight, to the front!”
“Stop the legion!”
“Evacuate the people!”
Information about the source of the chaos spread throughout the city.
Those who could fight advanced toward the battlefield.
Those who couldn't evacuated to safer locations.
Watching the scene from a distance, Lunia took a deep breath.
Then, she stood before the Queen of Blood, Eljenie, who was exuding a sinister aura.
A beastman warrior approached Lunia’s side.
“The student council president of Seirun.”
Lunia glanced at the one who had spoken to her.
He appeared to be in his early thirties, a man with the robust physique typical of a beastman warrior.
“Who are you?”
At Lunia’s question, the beastman warrior introduced himself.
“My name is Gale. Have you heard of me?”
“The Storm Sword.”
Lunia uttered his title.
Gale, the Storm Sword.
He was a man who had begun to gain fame as a young beastman hero.
Despite his youth, he was a young hero who, true to his bellicose beastman nature, had experienced countless battlefields against Tartaros.
Lunia wore a puzzled expression as he addressed her.
“What is it?”
“Shouldn’t you fall back?”
Gale gestured toward the rear with his chin.
“I’ve heard rumors of your skill. But this battlefield is too much for a mere second-year student like you.”
Gale wasn’t trying to dismiss Lunia.
But objectively speaking, Lunia was still only a second-year student at a hero academy.
*Even if she’s the student council president, she’s not like that monster, Leo Flove.*
Leo had not only become the student council president as a first-year but had also recently had his name inscribed in the Hero Record.
But Lunia was different.
From Gale’s perspective, Lunia’s position as Seirun’s student council president seemed heavily influenced by the rivalry between Lumerne and Seirun.
*Seirun must have seen the future of Lunia El Lundua.*
Lunia’s reputation was already world-renowned.
It was a certainty that in the near future, Lunia would become a hero representing the elves.
Gale judged that the position of student council president had been given to Lunia in preparation for that time.
It seemed Gale wasn't the only one who thought so, as the other heroes who had stepped forward to stop Eljenie nodded in agreement.
Just as Lunia was about to open her mouth to address them, it happened.
*Whoooosh! Fwoooosh—!*
Crimson flames erupted from Eljenie’s body.
Seeing this, the other heroes flinched.
“Everyone, fall back!”
“Mages and summoners, create a barrier to block Eljenie’s flames!”
The heroes moved with perfect coordination.
Although this was the first time most of the heroes here had fought a Legion Commander, their movements were remarkably systematic.
Even for a hero whose name was in the Hero Record, opportunities to fight a Legion Commander were rare.
Furthermore, surviving a battle with a Legion Commander was no easy feat.
For that reason, those who had fought against them made sure to leave behind records of their experiences.
Heroes active on the front lines against Tartaros studied the information on Legion Commanders left by their predecessors in case of such an event.
The heroes present had a firm grasp of the strategy to defeat Eljenie.
All except for one person.
Gale’s eyes widened.
“What are you doing, Lunia El Lundua!”
While everyone else prepared for Eljenie’s attack, Lunia alone was approaching her.
In what everyone considered a suicidal act, Lunia took a deep breath and drew upon her mana.
*Woooong—!*
A magic formula materialized above Lunia’s palm.
Lunia clenched her fist around the formula and then opened her hand.
*Fwoosh—!*
Flames swirled above her palm.
“Sacred Flame.”
It was the flame passed down through the Lundua family.
The sacred flame of the Lundua family, which had burned away impurities for generations.
*The will of the Lundua family to purify evil, even if it means burning themselves.*
For that reason, the Sacred Flame was a forbidden magic.
The Lundua family.
No, among all the flames used by the elves of the present day, it possessed the greatest power, but it was also the most dangerous.
In the long history of the Lundua family, no one had ever perfectly controlled the Sacred Flame.
*Until now.*
Lunia smiled faintly.
Crimson flames enveloped her, forming wings of fire.
Lunia’s hair, now turned pure white, billowed upwards.
Her contractor, Linea, transformed into flames and merged with Lunia.
*Whoooosh—!*
The flames enveloping Lunia burned even more fiercely.
At last, Lunia completed her magic.
“Flame Monarch.”
The flames of Lundua and the flames of the Phoenix.
And the trinity completed by the star flame created by Luna.
Three types of flames blazed around Lunia.
*Craaaackle—!*
Lunia swung her hand toward the crimson flames rushing to engulf her.
*Kra-koooom—!*
Flame clashed with flame, and a pillar of fire shot into the sky.
After neutralizing Eljenie’s flames, Lunia clenched her fist tightly.
*Is neutralizing it all I can do?!*
Lunia gritted her teeth.
What would Leo have done?
*He would have overwhelmed it.*
Lunia took a deep breath, thinking of the distant figure she still chased.
“How…!”
“Is this stage still too much for me?”
As Lunia asked with her arms crossed, Gale, who had been staring in astonishment, hardened his expression.
“How did you do that?”
“I just blocked it. My flame was made by Lady Luna. It wouldn’t make sense for it to be weaker than a Legion Commander’s flame.”
Lunia said it as if it were nothing.
But the process had been anything but easy.
*…It was a kind of awakening.*
The catalyst had been the training retreat during summer vacation.
Having been chosen by the Dragon Lord, Lunia had been full of dreams.
But in the battle against Erebos, there was nothing Lunia could do.
She had trembled with the helplessness of only being able to watch from afar.
The same was true for Ar.
*After the retreat, I had a huge fight with that stupid cat and that perverted dwarf.*
Proclaiming themselves successors to the Great Hero, they couldn't be satisfied with their current level and immersed themselves in training.
This was the result of that process.
*Looking back now, it was all part of Leo’s plan.*
Even possessing the phoenix by letting it merge with her body was inspired by seeing how Leo handled Piora.
*And the same goes for controlling flames.*
Lunia clenched her fist.
Now she understood.
*It was because Leo was the Great Hero.*
If so, she could also understand the sentiment with which he had watched over her.
*I thought I would follow in Leo’s footsteps.*
The person she had chosen as her life’s goal.
*That feeling hasn’t changed.*
Whatever Leo’s true identity was, Lunia would follow him.
*So I have to get stronger.*
Merely blocking a Legion Commander’s attack once wasn't enough.
*I have to push forward!*
The heroes stared at Lunia with dazed expressions.
Gale laughed, as if finding the situation absurd.
“First Leo Flove… and now you. Lumerne and Seirun are on another level these days, aren't they? The juniors at Azonia will have to step up.”
“Ar Tune is no less capable than I am.”
“What?”
“If you get complacent just because you’re in the Hero Record, we’ll catch up to you in no time.”
Lunia grinned.
Seeing her expression, Gale smirked.
“Hey, hey. Unlike those old-timers, I’m still a spry man in my thirties. I can’t let some juniors from way behind catch up to me just yet!”
“That arrogant brat.”
A few heroes glared at Gale.
The tense atmosphere eased for a moment.
“Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Gale Ernedida. They call me the Storm Sword. I’ll leave the rear to you.”
Starting with Gale, the heroes began to introduce themselves to Lunia.
It was a sign that they no longer saw her as a child unsuited for this place, but as an equal.
Looking at them, Lunia took a deep breath.
“I’m Lunia El Lundua. It’s a pleasure to work with you.”
*Whoooooooosh—!*
Once again, crimson flames soared.
The real battle between the heroes and the Legion Commander had begun.
* * *
The streets were a veritable festival.
Countless races were cheering.
More grandly than ever before.
There were no worries, no anxieties.
For today, they forgot everything.
They had no choice.
“Because today is the day of complete liberation.”
Lisinas smiled brightly.
“The perfect subjugation of the Primordial Evil, the Flame of Ruin.”
Lisinas looked at Leo with pride.
“This is the day you finally achieved the ambition you so longed for. We’ve gathered today to celebrate your achievement.”
Leo was in the middle of a parade procession.
“…”
Leo watched the scene in silence.
Receiving the welcome and blessings of the immense crowd, Leo arrived at the central plaza of Lumeria City.
There stood Luna, Ar-on, and Dweno.
Watching them, Leo spoke.
“Why… are you all in this era?”
At Leo’s question, Dweno crossed his arms.
“What a strange thing to say. Weren’t we all reincarnated together? To subjugate the Primordial Evil we had passed on to a later generation.”
“Yeah, that’s right. And because of that, we were finally able to achieve true peace!”
Ar-on burst into a bright laugh.
Leo stared intently at Luna.
“What? What are you looking at?”
With a sullen expression, Luna crossed her arms and turned her head away. Dweno clicked his tongue and muttered under his breath, “So dishonest.”
Luna’s eyes narrowed.
Amidst it all, Lisinas spoke.
“I’m so glad. That we could all be reborn together in the future.”
“…”
“I’m glad we can live in this world together.”
Leo looked up at the sky.
“Don’t you think so too, Kyle?”
Leo closed his eyes.
*It’s fake.*
That was the terrifying thing about the Mirror Queen’s illusions.
Even if you knew it was fake, you couldn’t easily escape it.
You would soon forget it was fake and become immersed.
But even so, Leo did not sink into the illusion.
Because the person the Mirror Queen remembered and the person he was now were completely different.
The Kyle of that time was a person who couldn't even properly see hope.
But…
This illusion was deeply poignant.
*How many times have I thought about it?*
When he realized he had been reborn as Leo Flove.
Leo had thought.
*If I was reincarnated, maybe the others were too.*
But in the end, he was the only one reborn into this world.
*How wonderful it would have been if they had also been reborn.*
It was a wish that could never be fulfilled.
The illusion before him was too sweet.
“…”
That was why Leo turned his back.
“Kyle?”
Lisinas called out, his eyes filled with bewilderment.
But Leo walked on without hesitation.
And he reached his hand out toward the empty air.
*Grip! Cra-crack—!*
A crack appeared in the air.
“Kegh?!”
A pained groan burst out.
“How… why?”
Kaneshi wore an expression of disbelief.
“This illusion… it should be the dream you desire most, shouldn't it? Why?”
“Because it’s a dream that can’t be fulfilled.”
Leo stated flatly.
Kaneshi’s face contorted.
“You won’t suffer in this world. You can pass away peacefully. Why do you insist on going to hell?”
“Because there’s something I want to see.”
Leo smiled.
“I’m curious to see how they’ll grow.”
He thought of the hero candidates living in the same era as him.
The children he had acknowledged, the ones to whom he had shown the way.
His future comrades with whom he had spent time laughing.
Leo wanted to see their future.
“I’m curious to see what kind of adults they’ll become.”
Leo smiled gently.
“And one more thing.”
*Grip—!*
The strength in Leo’s hand, which was gripping Kaneshi’s neck, increased.
Accordingly, the cracks on Kaneshi’s body widened.
“My reason for wanting to subjugate Erebos isn’t just to save the world.”
*Whoosh—!*
Leo pulled Kaneshi right up to his face.
“You’re all mistaken. You’re not the only ones who hate me.”
Leo’s eyes burned with vengeance.
“Erebos, who killed my friends, and all of you in Tartaros. I want to wipe you from this world. Only then will I be satisfied.”
His heart might very well be nothing but ashes.
But even within that heart of ashes, there were precious things.
It wasn't for the world.
And it was certainly not for some greater cause.
It was revenge for having his precious things taken away.
*Flash—*
A spark ignited in Leo’s heart.
*Cra-cra-cra-crack—!*
The world began to crack.
*Shatter—!*
Like a breaking mirror, the world went dark.
Leo glanced at the collapsing world, then, without any lingering attachment, walked into the darkness and muttered.
“I still have a long way to go before I can rest.”
Beyond the darkness.
He couldn’t see it, but the place Leo was heading toward was a definite future.