Chapter 24
"I made a promise—to stand where they no longer can. This child isn't just their legacy… they're mine to protect now. And I'll burn the world down before I let anything happen to them." - unknown
- Basil's POV -
I waited until the last of the troops had dispersed before approaching the squad leaders, who'd gathered into a small, tense huddle.
They snapped to attention the moment they noticed me.
"Squad leader of Group One, step forward," I commanded. "State what you wish to be called, your job, rank, and level."
The giant stepped out without hesitation. "I am Juno. My job is Berserker, (A) Rank. My level is 72."
"Good. You're strong, no doubt—but your leadership today was a mess. You appointed someone unqualified to oversee your back line, and they crumbled. For your front line, you relied on volunteers, which resulted in most of your matches being lost."
I folded my arms. "You might be the strongest here physically, and I will put that to use—but until further notice, you're banned from physical training. You'll be focusing entirely on leadership development."
Juno clicked his tongue, clearly irritated, but nodded. "Yes, Commander. As you wish."
"Fall back. Group Two's leader—step forward."
A slim man with sharp eyes and subtle poise stepped up. "Commander, my name is Ivy. My job is Stalker, (B) Rank. My level is 63."
A rare job. Stalker wasn't as powerful as the Ranger class but had its advantages—stealth, mobility, ranged flexibility. Not often seen in front-line combat.
"Same as Group One. You focused too heavily on the front line and left your back line in disarray. I won't repeat myself—leadership means balancing both sides. You'll be training in both combat and command."
"Understood, Commander. Sir… may I ask a question?"
I studied him for a bit. Surprising. I didn't think any of them had the nerve to speak freely yet.
"Well, don't just stand there awkwardly. What is it?"
He shifted slightly. "Sir, I noticed there was no discrimination in how captains were chosen. Will it be the same when final decisions are made after the scores are posted?"
"I don't understand your question, Greenie."
To me, they were all Greenies now—until the formal ceremony, every squad leader besides my appointed captains held that rank.
"Well, Commander," Ivy said carefully, "I'm asking if demi-humans like me will be judged fairly. Some of the noble-born here… don't want us in the Legion. And technically, sir, you're now considered a noble."
I hadn't noticed at first—but now I did. Small horns protruded from his forehead, and a faint tail flicked behind him—ace-shaped at the end. Similar to a demon on the 15th floor.
Demi-human.
They used to just be called half-bloods. Back then, it wasn't a big deal—love was love. Humans and elves were the most common, other times a burly dwarve would capture a human woman's attention, even dragons.
Hell, I had a thing for a dragon once.
So it wasn't uncommon to see a half blood.
But that was centuries ago. Now? The lines had blurred. Demons had started using human women to breed hybrids—some willing, most not. Now most demi humans were demon and human offsprings. That blurred heritage caused prejudice and fear to fester. Most questioned which side demi-humans were loyal to.
I remembered reading about the Church of Life's purge fifty years ago. They executed every demi-human they found in the twelve kingdoms—whole families, burned away in the name of purity, whether they were innocent or not.
Mirian had changed that. She granted full citizenship to all demi-humans and made it illegal to discriminate against them. A bold move—but not one welcomed by all.
Obviously, there are still surrounding kingdoms that keep demi-human slaves—like the Trinity Kingdom, built on the backs of enslaved demi-humans still made its fortune selling demi-human slaves, and those who profited from it weren't happy.
So the nobles who had made fortunes selling demi-humans to the Trinity Kingdom disagreed with the Empress's decision. I'm sure their ideals passed down to their sons, who are now part of this legion.
I didn't care either way. Slave or not—it didn't matter to me. All I cared about was mindset and capability.
So about his question?
Did I care?
No.
You could be born a slave, raised in chains—but if you fought to break them, I'd help you rise.
But if you accepted your chains… then you could rot in them.
I eyed Ivy again. There was a slave mark on his neck. Old. Probably from childhood, before Ria liberated the markets.
Yet here he stood—elected squad leader by his own peers.
That said something.
Still, I needed to test him.
"And if I did discriminate—what would you do about it?" I asked, a mocking tone slipping into my voice.
He flinched, but straightened. "Then I leave. I won't follow a commander who sees me as less simply because of what I am."
He turned to walk away.
I couldn't help myself—I laughed. Loudly.
He froze mid-step. His shoulders were tense, his face stiff. Not anger. Just… pain. Like a child realizing the world didn't love him the way he hoped.
The others looked confused as I stepped forward, grinning.
"I could care less about what you are," I said. "The only thing I care about is what you can do."
I let the smile fade.
"And right now? You're average. Not especially strong. Not an exceptional leader. You're just another Greenie. That's not an insult—but it is the truth."
I leaned in slightly. "But I can change that—if you're willing to change yourself."
The weight of my words dropped into the air like a hammer.
"I thought I saw potential in you but I guess I was mistaken. But if I let you walk away, so kid– don't ever think it was because you're a demi-human. You're not being tested for your blood—you're being tested for your will. Do I make myself clear?"
Ivy turned slowly and stepped back into line.
"Yes, Commander. Apologies for my rudeness."
A small smirk tugged at the edge of his mouth. He understood now.
The tension lifted slightly as the next squad leader stepped forward without prompting.
"Commander, I wish to be called Varek. My job is Vanguard, (A) Rank. Level 89."
"Excellent. Your leadership and combat skills were outstanding. Your group took first place—no small feat. From here on out, you'll be instructing. Combat drills for the troops. Leadership for a selected few. These two—Juno and Ivy—will be in your class."
"Yes, Commander!" Varek saluted and stepped back.
"Next."
She stepped forward gracefully, her noble upbringing evident in every motion.
"Commander, my name is Aleis Moraine, daughter of Count Moraine. Please call me Lisa. My job is Divine Healer, (S) Rank. I am level 53."
Murmurs rippled through the others.
An (S)-Rank healer. The Empire only had twenty-eight known S-Ranks. Only three were healers. She was a major asset.
"Good. You managed the back line efficiently. However, you left your front line unsupervised. Thankfully, someone competent stepped up, or you might've ended up third—or worse. Make sure you thank them."
"Yes, Commander. I will."
She stepped back.
The last one moved forward and gave a slight bow.
"Greetings, Commander. I am Synn. I come from a noble house, though I'd prefer not to say which. My job is Waveblade, (E) Rank. Level 43."
This time, the murmurs were different—disbelief. An (E)-rank? Practically useless.
And yet… he'd managed to balance his group's scores so perfectly that none could be cut without cutting them all. Strategic. Clever.
His class was rare—similar to mine, combining swordsmanship and mana. With guidance, he might grow into something dangerous.
"Weak, unrefined—but sharp-minded. You'll focus on combat only."
"Understood, Commander. I won't disappoint."
"Good." I looked over them all. "Despite your placements, each of you is exceptional in your own way. You were chosen by your peers for a reason. Keep proving you deserve it."
They saluted and began to walk off.
"All but Group Three, dismissed. Lisa—stay behind."
She remained as the others left, posture composed but visibly tense.
"Do you know why I asked you to stay, Lisa?"
"No, Commander."
I circled around her, observing her features. She was a noble—a daughter of a Count at that—yet she had the most calloused hands out of them all. Her appearance was above average, and she had nice bodily features. Surely she could have married any man she wanted and lived a good, safe life with her title and her looks. Yet she chose to join my Legion. Why?
"Why are you here, Greenie? What do you fight for?"
She paused. "I hate seeing people suffer. I fight so I can heal those who risk their lives for others."
"Why?" I asked simply. It was one word, but it carried plenty of meaning.
"On occasion…. When I was younger, I'd always get picked on for being nice to the commoners. My older brother would always step in and break it up, getting hurt every time. When we got older, he became a Guardian and would go to small towns to protect their people. One day, he got into a big fight, getting severely wounded. The townspeople he protected laughed at him and told him he was stupid for even trying—that if he had just waited another day, stronger Guardians would have come to help.
Angry, I lashed out at the townspeople—used my title and money to hire mercenaries to beat them up. My brother, who was on his deathbed in the town, was the first to run outside and stop them. He died later that day from blood loss. All that moving around had reopened his wounds."
She swallowed hard.
"In the end, it was inevitably me who took his life.
So I made a promise that day—to be just like him. I'd fight for others even if they spoke badly about me, and I would gain the ability to heal injuries like my brother's, so that people like him could keep fighting.
The Goddess of Life answered my prayer and granted me this job and rank."
Just like Bella, I said under my breath.
She looked up. "You wouldn't happen to mean the hero Bella, would you?"
"Hm?" I blinked. "You know her?"
"Of course! She was my great-great-great-grandmother. The woman who helped defend humanity during the first demon invasion. Her party and the Guardian of Lukeauh acted quickly and were the first to manage a defense against Hell's Legion, allowing humanity to regroup and fight back. I've read all her diarys—though I doubt they're all true. No one can actually take down a pure blooded dragon, right?"
I gave a small laugh. "Yeah… that part was probably embellished."
As if. we definitely did—though she was more captured by my charm rather than us beating her in combat. Oh Illyria how I miss you sometimes.
"Yeah… her story was rather sad, though. It was said that she waited by a gate for twenty years. Waiting for the Guardian to return. Everyone said he died inside. But she believed… until the very end, that someday he'd return." she said softly "She eventually fell in love with a gardener who managed the headstones that were around the gate, and they had a family. Because of her prowess and her previous accomplishments, her kingdom made her a Count, and she taught her children to be good people and to help those in need. Her rules have carried from generation to generation.
Whenever the Empire was created, my father was the first to help those affected by the war. Seeing this, Empress Mirian reinstated his title of Count. Which brings us to today."
I felt something tighten in my chest.
So she waited after all.
And she lived on. Loved. Raised children. Passed her kindness down.
It made sense now—her face, her voice, her heart. Lisa really was Bella's legacy.
"I see, that's good to hear."
But...
"The reason I asked you to stay back- You broke one of my rules, Lisa. I said no skills during the trial. Yet you used healing magic."
She looked down at the ground already aware of her mistake.
"I know. I'm ready to accept the consequences."
"There were measures in place. Healers on standby. No one would've died. You acted on instinct, but rules exist for a reason. Tomorrow, you'll be punished in front of the others. It won't be light."
I bowed slightly.
"Please forgive me. But I will be using you as an example for the others, this must be done."
Forgive me Bella, but I will protect this one no matter what!
She bowed her head in return. "I understand, Commander. Thank you for telling me."
As she turned to leave, her eyes fell briefly on the charm tied to my belt loop. A small smile tugged at her lips.
She had choices—she could've joined any Legion, married any man. But she chose mine.
Because she sensed something familiar in me.
A warmth she couldn't explain.
I watched her go.
"Lace," I called aloud.
No response.
Ah, right—I'd sent him off early. He needed the rest.
I looked up at the stars that now blanketed the sky.
And for the first time that day—
I exhaled.
Finally.