TIRS 92

CHAPTER 92……………………………………

 The Hero from a Thousand Years Ago
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“Lady Sasenia was once a princess of the ancient Lu Kingdom.”

The foreign minister continued his explanation.

Another name for the Kingdom of Lu was “the land with the longest history on the continent.”

After all, it had carried its legacy on since a thousand years ago—what we now call “ancient times.”

Of course, the kingdom hadn’t survived unbroken for a full thousand years.

The ancient Lu Kingdom had collapsed once, and centuries later, its descendants revived it into the present Lu Kingdom.

So Sasenia, a hero from such a distant past, felt more like a figure from legend than from reality.

Even in the original novel Light and Shadow’s Fate, she was described only as the owner of an ancient ruin.

Perhaps because she had received a prophecy from the Oracle, just as I had.

Maybe that was why my gaze lingered on her statue, why an odd stirring welled up in my chest as I stared at her.

And just then—

“That’s wrong.”

“Ancelot…?”

I turned to see him looking up calmly at the statue of Sasenia Lu.

“Sasenia Lu never became the chosen of the prophecy. She died in the dragon’s flames.”

…What?

Sasenia Lu died in the fire of the Light Dragon?

This was the first I’d heard of such a thing.

“There is a version of the tale that says so.”

The foreign minister coughed uncomfortably, correcting him.

“But the most widely accepted version is that Lady Sasenia cut out the Light Dragon’s heart and restored peace to the land. Even the Great Temple acknowledges this as the true account.”

“…”

Ancelot didn’t press the issue further.

The minister, satisfied, turned to me with a pleased smile.

“In any case, this is truly a historic sight. The first meeting between Lady Sasenia and Your Highness Princess Luibel—the second chosen one of the prophecy after a thousand years!”

His voice was tinged with excitement, which only made me feel embarrassed. I forced an awkward laugh.

Soon after, he guided us to the royal audience chamber.

As he droned on with miscellaneous explanations about Lu, I stole a glance at Ancelot.

‘Was it just me? A moment ago, he looked… troubled.’

But when I looked now, his face was as calm as ever. Perhaps it really was just my imagination.

“…Are you all right?”

Quietly, I brushed my fingertips across the back of his hand as I asked.

He suddenly looked at me—then gave a soft laugh.

“How could I not be, with Your Highness by my side?”

“…?”

“I’ve never once felt unwell while being with you.”

Maybe it was also my imagination… but the way he looked at me seemed too tender, so tender that it made me feel oddly shy.

I tried to pull back, but he suddenly clasped my hand tightly.

Startled, I looked at him—he smiled at me with a warmth so firm, so certain, that my face flushed hot.

“Y-You…! How dare that bastard touch Lady Luibel’s noble hand…!”

—Get away from Lulu!

Maria’s faint, venomous mutter and Piya’s angry squeaking—while poking Ancelot’s hand with her beak—forced me to withdraw my hand in a hurry.

We were received with royal hospitality and settled into our guest chambers.

Because our party had grown larger, we were each given our own room.

Maria was disappointed she couldn’t share mine, but honestly, it was a relief—since I had many things to do in secret.

“Is there anything else you require, Lady Luibel?”

The servants of Lu Kingdom asked as they tidied up my room.

“Could you bring some extra desserts for my bird companion?”

“Oh? At this hour, my lady?”

“This is a secret…”

I leaned close and whispered conspiratorially.

“My bird is actually… a pig bird.”

“Ah…!”

“So make sure it’s as sweet and rich as possible, enough to make its tail feathers shine.”

“Of course, Lady Luibel.”

Pyyuit?

—What did you just whisper behind Piya’s back?

“I asked for the sweetest, softest dessert.”

—Hmph! I don’t believe you! Lately you’ve been keeping secrets from Piya everywhere you go. Especially with Ancelot—you’re always exchanging strange signals with him! Tell me the truth, something happened between you two, didn’t it… pbbbt, pyyut, pbbb…

“Haha, Piya, nothing happened!”

I quickly covered her beak, smiling awkwardly.

Pbbt! Pbbbtbbb!

She struggled furiously, flapping her wings, until—

Sniff sniff.

The aroma of dessert calmed her down.

Ppyurit!

—Pudding! Sweet, soft pudding! Piya’s absolute favorite pudding!

“Here, Piya. Say ahh—”

Pyaa—!

She immediately forgot her suspicions about Ancelot, obediently opening her beak.

Pyyut!

—So delicious, Lulu! Pudding is the best! Pudding is irresistible!

Thank goodness.

My pig bird really was too simple to resist pudding.

Pyaaa—!

As Piya cried out with joy, I spoon-fed her the dessert and glanced at the System message that had just arrived.

[SYSTEM] Main Scenario Unlocked!

[SYSTEM] Main Scenario <Chapter 4. Light of the People> has begun! (▶Preview)

[You have arrived in the Kingdom of Lu, where the legend of the ancient hero began!
Here, you will uncover traces of the ancient hero and make final preparations to face the Light Dragon Helheim…]

I recalled the original story as I read the scenario.

In the novel, Hezen and his party were also welcomed as royal guests upon arriving in Lu.

So far, my path was similar.

Afterward, Hezen’s group went to the ancient ruins before visiting the Great Temple—searching for traces of Sasenia Lu, said to have cut out the Light Dragon’s heart a thousand years ago.

There, Hezen obtained the Hero’s Sword.

But the real problem came when he returned with the sword.

While the party was away, a rebellion broke out.

The palace was surrounded by insurgents. Many royals and nobles were slain, and even the king himself had fallen into the rebels’ hands.

In the end, Hezen defeated the rebels and saved the king.

Their leader, Targo, was left in despair, having lost his comrades.

He crept through the shadows, intent on assassinating Hezen.

But instead, he was caught in a reversal—at Hezen’s mercy, a blade at his throat.

Just one move, and Targo’s life would be gone.

But instead of killing him, Hezen said: violence is not the answer.

“Your way of seeking peace through violence is unjust, Targo, leader of the rebels.”

“Then just kill me, Hero Hezen.”

“You’ll gain nothing if you give in to despair. Come with me. If you fulfill the prophecy and become a hero, the gods will answer you.”

“The gods… will answer?”

“Yes. They will grant you what you truly desire.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. The gods have never once granted my wish—or the people’s.”

“The latter part of the prophecy: ‘He who takes the dragon’s heart shall scatter his holy name across the land.’”

Hezen, in the gravest tone, urged him:

“If your name spreads across the land, it will be possible. Overthrowing Lu, building the world you truly desire.”

“…”

“Become the true Light of the People, Targo, and return anew.”

Moved by Hezen’s words, Targo chose to become his companion—believing that if he fulfilled the prophecy, he could achieve his wish.

And indeed, he later succeeded. After completing the Oracle’s prophecy with Hezen, he returned as a hero—only to overthrow the Lu Kingdom itself.

It was an episode meant to show Hezen’s magnanimity in sparing even one who tried to kill him…

“…What nonsense.”

I scoffed.

For all his talk about violence being unjust, Hezen also used force to subdue Targo—and to pierce the dragon’s chest with his sword.

Why had young Yoon Sena adored such a contradictory story and protagonist so much?

‘Guess I must’ve been under some weird spell back then.’

I grumbled as I read the new quest.

[Main Quest: Light of the People (1/3)]

Seek out the ancient ruins of Lu and retrieve the Hero’s Sword, the blade that cut down the Light Dragon Helheim a thousand years ago!

▷Clear Condition: Find <Hero’s Sword>
▶Reward: EXP +47,000, Skill Points +10

Normally, I should set out for the ruins.

But since I’d read all the side stories too… I couldn’t proceed so easily.

Because in those side stories, it was revealed what triggered Targo’s rebellion.

It was during the time when the heroes had left for the ruins.

In Hanana, the capital of Lu, there were groups who kidnapped children to sell them.

A fire broke out, killing many of those children.

The culprits had ties with Lu’s nobility, so the incident was quietly buried.

That tragedy became the spark for the long-smoldering resentment of the oppressed, igniting the rebellion.

‘And among the dead children… was Targo’s younger sibling.’

Targo, who dreamed of a world where his little sibling could laugh and live freely, became the Light of the People and forged such a world—yet grieved that his sibling would never return.

I remembered crying under the covers while reading that scene, my heart aching.

‘If I leave for the ruins, that incident will happen.’

I stared at the quest window.

I knew the future.

And there was no way I could allow such a tragedy to happen.

Even if it meant breaking the scenario itself.