Four Hundred Years Ago
Four hundred years had passed since
the day Leo destroyed the Hero Academy and vanished without a trace.
Long before anyone discovered where he
had gone, the world had already begun to tear itself apart.
The fragile balance between the mortal
races and the demons had finally collapsed, plunging the continent into an
endless war.
Kingdoms fell one after another.
Cities were reduced to ashes.
Every victory came at the cost of
countless lives.
For humanity, survival had become
their only objective.
Massive fortresses were constructed
along every border. Ancient magic was fused with newly developed technology,
creating weapons powerful enough to threaten entire nations. Every blacksmith,
mage, and engineer devoted themselves to a single purpose.
Prepare…
For the day the demons arrived.
Morning sunlight streamed through the
tall windows of the Human Capital's royal conference hall.
The atmosphere inside was heavy.
Around a circular table sat the
kingdom's greatest military commanders, scholars, nobles, and advisors. Their
expressions were grim as maps covered with red markings lay scattered before
them.
At the head of the table sat the Human
Ruler.
Unlike ordinary monarchs, she
possessed neither a crown nor extravagant robes. Her calm expression alone
commanded everyone's respect.
"…What are we supposed to do now?"
One advisor finally broke the silence.
The ruler rested her chin on her
intertwined fingers.
"I don't know."
Her answer caused the room to become
even quieter.
"Our final contingency…"
She slowly stood from her seat.
"…the Hero Academy we spent years
building…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"…has already fallen."
Nobody dared to respond.
The king, seated nearby, quietly
watched her.
Although he ruled the kingdom
politically, everyone present understood one undeniable truth.
When it came to war…
She was humanity's true pillar.
After a long silence, she smiled
faintly.
"I suppose…"
"…I'll have to prepare for battle
myself."
The smile on her face wasn't one of
confidence.
It was one of acceptance.
"…I suppose so."
Her chief advisor lowered his head.
"If you enter the battlefield
yourself…"
"…then we've truly reached our final
option."
Before anyone could continue—
The conference room doors suddenly
opened.
Everyone turned.
Princess Marla stepped inside.
Unlike the others, her expression
carried hesitation rather than determination.
"…Can't we talk to the demons?"
The room froze.
The ruler looked toward her before
gently shaking her head.
"No."
"It isn't that simple."
She slowly walked toward the princess.
"I understand."
Her voice softened.
"Your friends were caught in the
massacre when Leo destroyed the academy."
Marla lowered her gaze.
The memories still haunted her.
"But this…"
The ruler stopped directly before her.
"…is war."
She gently placed a hand on Marla's
shoulder.
"Do not allow grief to cloud your
judgment."
Marla bit her lip.
Silence lingered for several seconds
before she quietly spoke again.
"…Then…"
"…what if we ask Leo for help?"
The room immediately became silent
once more.
For the first time since the meeting
began—
The ruler's eyes widened with
interest.
She studied Marla carefully.
"…Tell me."
"What exactly was your relationship
with Leo while you attended the academy?"
Marla looked surprised by the
question.
"Our relationship?"
She thought for a moment before
shaking her head.
"It wasn't anything special."
"We were…"
"…just normal friends."
"I think."
The ruler exchanged glances with both
the king and her advisors.
None of them spoke.
"…May I say something?"
A timid voice echoed from the doorway.
The guard who had been standing
outside stepped inside after receiving permission from the king.
He respectfully knelt.
"I believe…"
"…Leo genuinely cared about Princess
Marla."
Marla's cheeks immediately turned
pink.
"W-What?"
The king slammed his hands against the
table.
"What nonsense are you saying?"
"Are you suggesting my daughter had
some kind of relationship with that murderer?"
Before his anger could continue—
The ruler simply raised one hand.
The king immediately fell silent.
"…Continue."
The guard nodded.
"The day the academy was destroyed…"
"I don't know whether it happened
before the massacre or afterward…"
"…but Leo suddenly appeared before
me."
The room listened carefully.
"He was carrying Princess Marla in his
arms."
Marla's eyes widened.
"He calmly told me…"
"'She fell asleep during class.'"
"'The destruction started.'"
"'I didn't want it to reach her.'"
The guard swallowed before continuing.
"Then he asked me to tell the
princess…"
"'Everything she saw today…'"
"'…was only a dream.'"
Silence.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
"He was already leaving when he said
one final thing."
The guard lowered his head.
"'No matter how much this situation
escalates…'"
"'…do not place the blame on the
princess.'"
"I kept silent until now because I
believed those words should remain buried."
For several moments…
Nobody spoke.
Then—
The Human Ruler laughed.
It wasn't mocking laughter.
It was genuine amusement.
"So…"
She smiled toward Marla.
"It seems Leo cared about you far more
than either of you realized."
Marla's face became completely red.
"W-What are you saying?!"
Unable to endure everyone's gaze, she
hurriedly left the room.
The doors shut behind her.
A small smile appeared on the ruler's
face.
"It seems…"
"…humanity still possesses one final
card to play."
"But not today."
She looked toward the window.
"Our weapons are finally prepared."
The advisors nodded.
Moments later…
Everyone gathered atop the highest
tower of the castle.
Far below, countless soldiers stood in
perfect formation.
Thousands of mages simultaneously
released their mana into an enormous magical weapon that stretched across the
fortress walls.
Ancient runes illuminated the entire
capital.
The ground trembled.
The sky itself seemed to distort.
An attack powerful enough to erase an
entire continent slowly took shape.
The Human Ruler silently watched.
"…Fire."
BOOOOOOM!!
A pillar of condensed mana erupted
into the heavens before splitting into hundreds of smaller beams.
Like countless falling stars…
The barrage raced toward the Demon
Realm.
Deep within the Demon Realm—
A general rushed into the throne room
before kneeling.
"My Lord!"
"An enormous attack is approaching!"
The Demon Ruler slowly opened his
crimson eyes.
Instead of concern—
He smiled.
"So…"
"So she chose not to come personally."
He gently tapped the armrest of his
throne.
The surrounding space rippled.
The approaching barrage…
Vanished.
Without an explosion.
Without resistance.
It simply ceased to exist.
The ruler closed his eyes once more.
"…Pathetic."
One demon officer laughed.
"I can't believe humanity thought
something like that could threaten us."
The general shook his head.
"No."
"If the Human Ruler herself had
launched that attack…"
"…it would never have disappeared so
easily."
The room became quiet.
After several seconds, the Demon Ruler
spoke again.
"…Have you found the boy?"
The general immediately understood.
"…Leo."
He lowered his head.
"Unfortunately…"
"…we still have no information."
He hesitated before asking,
"If I may ask…"
"…why are we searching for him so
desperately?"
The Demon Ruler smiled.
"When Leo destroyed the academy…"
"…he secretly left ten survivors
behind."
"Each of them inherited a fragment of
his power."
"If we locate every one of them…"
"…this war will already be won."
Understanding finally crossed the
general's face.
"I see."
He stood and bowed.
"I'll increase every search operation
immediately."
Back within the Human Capital…
The ruler stood at the castle balcony,
watching the distant horizon.
One advisor approached.
"…The attack never even reached the
Demon Realm."
"I know."
She answered without looking back.
"But…"
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"That was never its purpose."
She turned and began walking away.
"It was merely a declaration."
Her footsteps echoed across the stone
floor.
"A message to every race watching this
war…"
"…that humanity…"
"…has made the first move."