LHAHS Chapter 549
"Hero of the Beginning, what are your plans after rescuing the Fairy Knight?"
"What do you mean? Beat up that Lich King bastard who did that to Velkia, and finally, wipe out all the fragments of Erebos too."
Inside the Akashic Record library, Leo answered Rian's question nonchalantly after viewing all of Velkia's records.
"Come to think of it, when I met the god Pivua in Luna's world, she seemed incredibly surprised to hear I was fighting Erebos."
"She couldn't help but be surprised." Rian said, pouring tea into Leo's cup. "Because it's the gods who best understand what it means to fight against the Primordial Abomination."
"……" Leo drank his tea calmly.
Rian looked at him with sympathy. "It must have been painful?"
The sorrow of losing comrades like family, and the fear of facing Erebos alone. Countless things must have brought despair.
More than those, however, what likely tormented Leo most was the black flame that must have burned his body.
The Flame of Calamity that had burned since the very moment this world came into existence. The flame of Erebos, like an incarnation of evil itself, inflicted pain that felt like it could destroy even the soul.
Seeing a mere mortal human intending to once again fight against that flame, which terrified even the gods, any god couldn't help but be moved, and that held true even if that person possessed the power of Erebos's natural enemy.
Leo didn't answer, just sipped his tea. He wasn't the only one who had felt such terrible pain.
Aaron, Dweno, Luna, Lysinas too. They all died like that.
Recalling his friends' deaths, he smiled.
Rian looked puzzled. "Why are you smiling?"
"Because those fools all smiled, even though it must have been painful."
"The meaning of that smile… did you not know why?"
"I know it now."
It was absolute trust in the one who remained. It was the unwavering belief that although they couldn't achieve it, Kyle definitely would.
That must have been why they could smile amidst the extreme, soul-crushing agony.
"Well, in the end, I was left alone like this, though." Leo rested his chin on his hand and gently swirled the teacup. "It would have been nice if those guys could have enjoyed this peace too."
He recalled what happened with Luna earlier. Remembering her happy smile left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Rian silently watched the lonely-looking Leo, then created two mirrors in his hands. "Hero of the Beginning, are you aware of the Many-Worlds Interpretation?"
"The what?"
"It's like when you place mirrors parallel to each other like this." Rian set the mirrors facing each other. "An infinite space unfolds within, right?"
"Are you talking about parallel worlds?"
"Yes. It's the same concept as the theory used in magic. To be precise, it's a slightly more advanced concept." Rian brought the mirrors together. "In the Many-Worlds Interpretation, countless branching points occur in the world. Using the tree as an analogy, those branching points are these branches."
Rian grew a small tree in his palm, then pointed to the branches growing in various directions. "When an event occurs and creates a branching point, a world where that event happened and a world where it didn't come into existence. This is the Many-Worlds Interpretation theory."
"So you're saying if parallel worlds exist, there could also be worlds where those guys survived?"
"Yes." Rian grinned and flicked his hand, making the tree disappear. "Therefore, you don't need to blame yourself too much regarding that. Somewhere in another world we cannot reach, other Great Heroes might have revived and be living in that world."
"Do those parallel worlds actually exist?"
"That's something even I, a god, do not know. It exists merely as a possibility."
"It would be nice if they did."
"Ahh, indeed, the Hero of the Beginning is kind. Could you bestow your warm grace upon this humble servant as well?"
"Gross."
Rian's shoulders slumped. "In any case, thanks to you, this world has been reborn as one that no longer requires the care of the gods." He stood up from his seat. "The reason the gods gave you the title of 'Beginning' wasn't simply because it was the start of a new era. The very fate of the world left the hands of the gods, who were its managers, and passed into the hands of the residents of the mortal realm. In a sense, it's the true beginning."
That must have been why Pivua was surprised as well.
It must have been clearly visible to a god's eyes. The nobility and conviction possessed by this person's soul.
How could one not be surprised seeing a great hero intending to repeat the world's most terrible pain for the sake of his friends?
"Before achieving the complete subjugation of Erebos, there are surely things that you must do."
"Yeah."
"In that sense, might this humble servant of yours dare to offer a suggestion?"
"I'm not going to listen to someone who refers to himself like that."
"Then, your little lamb."
Leo gave up on having a proper conversation with the god before him. "Fine, whatever. What advice are you planning to give me?"
"Dear heavens! How could someone like myself possibly advise you!"
"Cut the crap and get to the point already." Leo growled lowly.
Rian said, "First, the truth regarding the Heroes of Dawn must be revealed to the world. Until now, fearing great chaos would befall the world, the Dragon Queen has kept that fact secret through generations, but…"
"Now the Heroes of Dawn are also at their limit?"
Rian nodded. If it's a bomb that could go off at any moment, the truth must be revealed so preparations can be made. Especially now, at a time when the world is divided by conflict.
"Next, your existence must be made known to the world."
"Aren't I already quite famous?"
"That's not enough." Rian said seriously. "5000 years ago, the world collapsed in vain because it lacked a focal point. Only when the Wise Queen appeared and gave the world a single purpose was it united. Sir Leo, you should also know, right? The Wise Queen didn't simply lead the heroes, and I know that you are now trying to fulfill Lysinas's role."
Preparing for the battle with Erebos by raising hero candidates. Making allies and taking countermeasures.
"That alone is not enough, however." Rian looked at Leo and said firmly. "Just as she did, the Hero of the Beginning must also become the King of the World."
The King of the World. A king recognized by the gods, reigning over the entire world. In the long history of the mortal realm, the only one recognized as a king by the gods was Lysinas.
"Because only when a single, absolute leader unites the world's will can the world exert its true power."
"That won't be easy."
During the Age of Calamity, everyone faced the desperate situation of the world's destruction, which allowed them to unite in purpose.
What about now? Countless conflicting interests were intertwined, making it far too complex.
"That's why the special status of being a unique existence in this world is needed." Rian smiled faintly. "And the sense of crisis that the Return of Calamity isn't over. Please allow me to help with that."
Rian placed a hand on his chest. "Although I am no longer a proper god… I can mimic one."
"What's your reason for going that far?" Leo asked, narrowing his eyes. Regardless of the reason, the favor of a godlike being felt burdensome.
"Because I want to write it." Rian spread his hands open, wearing an ecstatic expression. "With these hands… the new legend you will create. Since the current world needs a king… Hero of the Beginning." Looking up at Leo, Rian's eyes shone as he said, "Please become the King of the World."
Recalling their earlier conversation, Leo sighed quietly to himself. He hadn't revealed the fact that he was Kyle so far, and the reason was simple.
If I reveal that I'm Kyle, they'll keep relying on the past.
The moment he revealed he was Kyle, the world would unilaterally come to depend on him.
Speaking rationally, the story of the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, ended 5000 years ago. If such a being from the past were to resurrect in the modern era and set a precedent by saving the world again?
That would mean a ghost from the past saved the world. That shouldn't happen.
That was why it was unnecessary to let people know.
After all, only the people living in the current era can solve the problems of the current era.
Perhaps the name Leo Plov was added to the Hero Record without any detail because I haven't achieved any great deeds while living in this era.
After the special class ended, students poured out of the large lecture hall.
"Oh, it's the class president."
"Ah."
At someone's murmur, the crowd parted widely.
Chelsea, walking alongside Leo, looked slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected such a reaction.
For the two of them (Chelsea and Carl), who knew Leo's identity, Rian's words about him saving the world weren't particularly novel.
Others felt differently, though. Rian was still an unknown entity, yet clearly an extraordinary one. Such an unknown being had declared Leo the sole savior who will rescue this world.
Even until now, Leo's actions had been extraordinary. The unprecedented All-Class. The youngest student council president as a first-year. An unimaginable growth speed surpassing countless others.
Witnessing such things, they had simply thought of it as an all-time great talent. The moment they heard the story that he was born with a special power capable of defeating Erebos, however, his past actions stood out even more.
Perhaps we are now… looking at the hero who will fulfill the world's destiny.
The world worshipped great beings it found hard to understand, but at the same time, it also ostracized them because the incomprehensible was frightening.
The vast majority of the student body couldn't figure out how to treat Leo.
The entire student body's attention focused on him, and everyone kept their distance from Leo.
Leo remained impassive, however.
I'm used to it.
He had received this kind of treatment often enough during his time as Kyle to be accustomed to it. The Surviving Hero was reliable, yet also an uncomfortable presence people preferred not to associate with.
He calmly made to continue walking.
"Oh? Looks like we can walk comfortably?"
"Yeah! Thanks to Sir Leo, we can get through easily!"
Suddenly, Lunia and Eiran came up beside Leo.
"From now on, if we go to the cafeteria with Sir Leo every time, we won't have to wait in line, right?" Chen Xia remarked.
"Yep. Looks that way." Celia chimed in agreement.
Starting with that, the second-year students flocked around Leo. The surroundings immediately became boisterous.
To them, what kind of existence Leo was didn't matter much. He was simply a goal they had to keep chasing.
"How does it feel to be the savior of the world?" Duran asked in his characteristic sarcastic tone.
Leo chuckled. "I hope you can keep up."
Duran snorted at those words.
Leo looked up at the sky. King of the World, huh? It's not like you particularly wanted to be king either, right?
Lysinas had only became a king because she kept pursuing a foolish conviction.
He recalled his friend shouldering the dying world on her slender shoulders. Leo had never shouldered it, not even once. He had merely saved it.
He realized now that saving it alone wasn't enough.
I'm feeling it anew, but… Leo placed a hand on his shoulder. It's heavy.
He smiled bitterly.
"Should I help if it's heavy?" Chelsea, standing beside him, asked with a grin.
Leo looked at her for a moment, then burst out laughing. "When you're a bit older."
"Okay." Chelsea nodded. "We'll definitely help you."
Watching Chelsea walk forward without hesitation, Leo smiled.
Maybe you felt like this too.
Understanding Lysinas, Leo walked ahead together with his future comrades who would someday stand against the calamity.