During my years on Spirit Mountain, the person I spoke with most after my master was Senior Brother He Lou.
I heard plenty of stories from Third Senior Brother as well, but he was so talkative and fond of muttering to himself that calling those exchanges conversations would be a stretch.
That was why the thought suddenly struck me as strange: despite all the time I had spent speaking with Senior Brother He Lou, I realized I knew almost nothing about him. Unlike with my other seniors, I had never even learned what kind of world he came from.
There was, however, one question he often asked me.
" What was your name? "
" I see. So your surname isn't Lu and your given name isn't An."
The way he reacted whenever he heard my name was unusual. Because of that, I had never once considered that Senior Brother He Lou and I had possibly come from the same world. If that was the truth, had he been lying to me all along? And for what reason?
—Let's have a quick lesson. Do you like history?
"Not really," I answered without hesitation.
I had never been good at studying. I took a history class at the academy, but not out of genuine interest.
—I see. Then let me start with a simple question. Do you know which point in time humanity today recognizes as the start of ancient history?
"Let's see... Wouldn't it be the Warring States period before the Nameless King? That was when dozens of nations and hundreds of factions still existed across the continent."
It was an age of endless war. The description may sound like a cliché, but the phrase a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood fit that time perfectly.
Back then, the Dark Church had not yet been formally established. Ironically, that was when the continent was at its most desolate and chaotic. Although conflicts still existed between races today, people now shared a common identity as citizens of the same empire.
During the Warring States period, however, different races treated each other as enemies to be slaughtered on sight. In the midst of that chaos, a deranged cult devoted to the gods of disaster appeared and spread its influence at a terrifying pace. For the first time, races that had been intent on mutual destruction found a reason to unite.
That unity would have been impossible without the Nameless King. In the end, it was the threat of the Dark Church that served as the true catalyst for the alliance. Perhaps because the times were so violent, records from the Warring States period are almost nonexistent.
It was unsurprising, given that it was over 2,000 years ago. Yet even by that standard, many aspects seemed strange.
A thought suddenly crossed my mind. Could the empire have deliberately suppressed records from that time?
—Is it the Warring States period? I see. Intelligent beings existed on the continent even before then.
"I know that, but humanity's intelligence back then was inferior, so they left almost no traces."
The Martial God laughed.
—Impossible. Scientific and cultural development may vary, but intelligence itself has not changed much. Even if it was long ago, there is no way a time when humans lived would leave no traces.
"Did the empire erase the records of that era?" I asked.
—No. Just...
The Martial God paused, then sighed.
—There is still much I cannot tell you. I have obtained only one of the seven fragments, so I must not be impatient. But you need to remember what I told you in the past.
"What did you say?"
—The Forgotten Era... Once, this world was a battlefield. Mighty beings were as numerous as the giant trees in the great forests. Every time they competed for power, the continent's shape changed. These battles occurred simultaneously across the land, so it is no wonder few traces remain.
"Why did they fight?"
—The causes varied, but the purpose was always the same: to achieve what they desired.
"What did they desire?"
It seemed the Martial God could not speak freely on this, either from restriction or discretion. I felt a twinge of worry. Fortunately, he continued.
—Messenger, you already know the reason. Haven't you sensed the uniqueness of this world?
"Uniqueness?" I echoed.
—I told you before. The heir to Dark Fairy Kuset, the ancestor of your family, will reveal the truth I cannot speak of.
He meant the Iron-Blooded Lord. I frowned, lost in thought, and then recalled the conversation I had with him at the main house.
"The Pantheon?" I blurted.
The Martial God nodded and continued.
—Yes. A world where one can become a god. I do not know how many wars like this have raged on this earth. Yet one being stood out with overwhelming presence in the war I witnessed.
"Who?"
The Martial God stared at me without answering. A sudden thought struck me. "Don't tell me..."
—Your master. I was defeated by him, stripped of the title of Martial God, and became a forgotten god.
I fell silent, and the Martial God chuckled softly.
—It was a war with as many winners as losers. Yet the one who truly dominated the battlefield, the real victor, was Bai Luguang. Moreover, the losers were granted enormous rights.
"What rights?"
—This...
He fell silent and sighed.
—That is all I can say.
" Ugh ..." It was so frustrating that I felt like I was going to die.
—There is one thing I can tell you clearly.
"What is it?"
—The being who was once my disciple—the Nameless King of the past, a present god of disaster, and your senior brother—his purpose is clear.
I silently waited for the Martial God's next words.
—Reenactment.
"Reenactment?"
The Martial God spoke bluntly.
—He intends to wage the war of the gods once more on this land.
***
I left the Tomb of the Nameless King quietly and returned to my room. Fortunately, it seemed the servants hadn't entered while I was away.
Normally, I would have smiled at pulling off a perfect crime, but I didn't feel that way now. Sleep eluded me, so I didn't lie on the bed. I sat in the chair by the window and rested my chin on my hands.
The cool moonlight brushed over my hair. My overheated mind felt a bit cooler.
Beings with overwhelming power, the Pantheon, the war of the gods... I had heard a string of incredible things. Without Spirit Mountain, my connection to Senior Brother He Lou, and the existence of the Martial God, I would have dismissed it all as nonsense.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't intimidated. Beyond that, I sensed a need to adjust my goals. Originally, I aimed to meet Senior Brother He Lou, confront him if he had truly changed, and drag him back to Spirit Mountain under my master's orders, regardless of whether I could succeed.
However, things were different now. Senior Brother He Lou had changed from what I remembered, but not drastically. Somehow, he still felt like the same person.
The person I needed to see now wasn't him. It was Bai Luguang—the First Under Heaven, the greatest in history, a transcendent, the true Martial God.
I couldn't shake the feeling that my master, who bore so many illustrious titles, was hiding something from me.
***
The next day, I visited the Tomb of the Nameless King again with Glenn.
At dawn, the place had felt oppressive and unsettling, every shadow heavy with the weight of the word tomb . In daylight, that atmosphere had almost entirely vanished. Smooth, well-paved paths gave the site the unmistakable appearance of a tourist attraction. Naturally, very few people in the empire—probably fewer than 100—would ever actually visit.
"They say the Nameless King's greatest challenge was his battle with the dragons. He fought the Red Blood Dragon for seven days and nights before finally triumphing. Afterward, the dragons presented him with the King's Red Armor as a token of friendship," Glenn explained.
"Didn't he fight the dragons only at the end?" I asked.
"That's right."
"In the mural earlier, he's wearing the King's Red Armor from the start," I pointed out.
"It can't be helped. No one knows the Nameless King's face... and this mural wasn't painted at that time." Glenn stood beside me, reciting the Nameless King's deeds, achievements, and even speculations about his identity.
Knowing now that the Nameless King was Senior Brother He Lou made his words feel strange. I kept my reaction carefully neutral.
After finishing the conversation with Glenn, I decided to return to the academy. I still hadn't checked Alderson's notebook, which held clues about Leone. I would probably leave the academy soon, so securing it became urgent.
"You're not going back?" I asked Glenn.
"No. I want to stay a few more days. I'm also curious about my sister's health."
He must mean Princess Perist. I nodded, surprised by his tenderness. Meeting him again anytime soon would be difficult.
Did Glenn feel the same way? He looked at me seriously and said, "You're going to be a great hero."
"Why say that all of a sudden?"
"It's not sudden. I felt it in the Otherworld. You are our lantern. Neither I, the dean, nor anyone else could fulfill that role," he replied.
The imperial family certainly had a way with burdensome words. I felt a sudden, inexplicable embarrassment and said bluntly, "My future goal isn't to be a hero."
"Then what?"
"Let's see... The First Under Heaven?"
Glenn raised an eyebrow. "What is that?"
"The strongest man under heaven. Isn't it cool?"
Glenn chuckled. "The strongest on the continent. That dream is also remarkable."
"Anyway, see you again."
"Yeah. Take care."
The capital was unnecessarily large, so by the time I returned to my dormitory, the sun was already setting. Using my movement technique would have been faster, but I couldn't run across rooftops in a crowded city. Taking the streetcar was probably the quickest option.
To my surprise, a familiar face greeted me as I entered the dormitory.
"I finally see you," the familiar voice said.
"Kayan?"
It had been a while since I had seen the old but steadfast steward. Not much time had passed, yet everything I had endured made it feel longer. Somehow, Kayan looked older than I remembered.
"I thought you might still be unwell, but seeing you move about, it seems my worry was unnecessary," Kayan said. "Please forgive my delayed greeting."
It sounded like he was saying, "You have been wandering around so much that I haven't seen you until now."
I nodded slightly. "Sorry. You were looking for me."
"I dealt with some challenges alongside Arjan, but it's nothing serious."
"I'm sorry." I apologized again.
If I had subordinates, servants, or followers, it would have been proper to inform them of my condition as soon as I woke up. I would have to get used to having people like that in my life.
Kayan shook his head. "No, it's nothing. More importantly, I heard you met the family head."
"How do you know that?"
"It seems something was delivered from the family for you. It is the list of goods you are supposed to receive from the family head," he explained.
"Goods?"
"I heard they are auction items."
I suddenly remembered some of the items I had purchased at the Abyss Auction. The auction had collapsed, and I had completely forgotten about them. Did the Iron-Blooded Lord buy them from Raizen afterward? Somehow, I doubted he paid full price. For Raizen, the moment the auction fell through, those items became a liability. He probably had no choice but to sell them cheaply.
"The quantity is significant, so they were delivered to the Small Iron Hall. Here's the inventory. If you need anything immediately, check it and I'll bring it to you," Kayan said.
"Got it. I'll check it later."
I tucked the notebook he handed me into my pocket, and he spoke again. "Did you come back from the imperial palace?"
"That's right. How did you know?"
"You received an exit permit from the academy."
As expected of a perfect collector. His work was frighteningly meticulous.
Kayan gave a slightly embarrassed smile. "In fact, you wouldn't have needed to make an unnecessary trip if you had stayed there."
"What do you mean?"
"There is a ceremony at the imperial palace today. Everyone else has already departed," he explained.
"When?"
"Early this morning," he replied. "Judging by the time now, the ceremony is probably already underway or over."
Things really aren't going my way.
"I won't be punished for being late or not attending, right?"
"The imperial court's notification was one-sided, so it will likely end with only a slight reprimand. After all, the main purpose is to congratulate you for your achievements," Kayan reassured me.
Then he added, "I heard Young Master Hector explained the situation as best he could."
"I see."
Was this my first time being indebted to Hector?
"Even if it is late, I should still attend the imperial court, right?"
"It's too late today. We will leave at dawn tomorrow," Kayan replied.
"Okay."
Then I would have to take care of all the remaining errands at the academy today.
***
Hector had been extremely busy lately.
Although Luan had made the greatest contribution, somehow Hector bore the brunt of external demands. Was it because Luan had been unconscious? Who could say? Even if Luan had been awake, it was unlikely he would have handled such troublesome matters.
Life inevitably demanded tedious tasks, and this was one of them. Appearing before influential figures across various circles was unavoidable for someone from a prominent family.
Hector accepted it as his duty as an older brother, moving tirelessly in all directions. His responsibilities extended beyond meeting with the imperial Special Forces to include the heroes of the Hero Society, multiple media outlets, the priest of the Sun Church, and even a few Middle Names.
Hector's stomach ached from the constant pressure, but he did his best to mask it, responding as calmly as possible to their probing, interrogation-like questions. Still, he sensed some eyes on him were hostile. Hector had been trained from a young age to read such subtle cues. Some treated him less as a hero and more as a political opponent.
When he heard that Luan had awakened, Hector felt a surge of relief and hurried to see him. Yet Luan seemed to have developed a wandering habit and didn't remain in his room.
Hector's schedule left him no choice but to continue handling the backlog of work. That was when an unexpected visitor arrived.
" Haha. Are you Hector?"
"And you are...?"
"I am Hellstar from the Seventy-Two Churches."
Hector immediately bowed. "I've heard much about you."
Hellstar, the youngest Bishop of the Seventy-Two Churches, was renowned not only for his natural talent but also for being the Pope's youngest son. His influence in the church was considerable, though rumors of his moral corruption circulated widely.
"Baal spoke to me last night," Hellstar said. "He told me to look after the academy's heroes. I apologize for my delay."
He turned to a passing student. "Where are your injuries? Any discomfort? If you feel even slightly unwell, come to me. I will remain at the academy for the time being."
He pressed further, "Do you understand? You must come to me. Even a trace of miasma in your body can be dangerous."
Contrary to the rumors of authoritarianism, vulgarity, and greed, Hellstar's demeanor toward the students was almost saintly.
So much for trusting rumors, Hector thought quietly while admiring him from the side.
Then Hellstar glanced at Hector. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Honestly, I want you to focus on Luan more than me."
"Luan..." Hellstar murmured.
Hector hurried to clarify. "He is the hero of this incident and my youngest brother. He now goes by the Golden Fairy..."
"He... I've already met him," Hellstar said.
"Ah, I see." The timing must have aligned perfectly.
Hector asked, "How is Luan? I think he was exposed to the miasma the longest."
"He is healthy. Almost too healthy. But does Luan tend to have a rough temperament?"
"Eh?" Hector asked in surprise.
Hellstar backtracked quickly. "Oh, nothing. Forget I asked."
At that moment, Hector couldn't help feeling a subtle sense of kinship with Hellstar—the same sense he had felt with Charon and Butterfly.
Don't tell me... It is impossible. No matter how strong his youngest brother was, there was no way he could beat a Bishop of the Seventy-Two Churches. He sincerely hoped that Luan possessed that much discernment.