Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Pupa Transformations and Primitive Magic
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Right after receiving the letter from the Sword Saint, Leyzon sent his reply at once.
In response, he was told that he'd head to Sahā Village in the near future after wrapping things up.
'He's fully made up his mind to join forces with me.'
The information he'd shared this time seemed to have played a big role.
Even in the Sword Saint's eyes, the imperial family was now an entity that couldn't be trusted.
"Leyzon, I've also sent word to Aegis."
Rafila had gotten a response as well.
Aegis was the younger sister of the Blue Sparrow Knight Order's captain.
And the daughter of the 29th White Lion Knight Order captain, too.
'Aegis has never once brought up her father.'
He needed to look into that matter.
Aegis surely must have sensed something off herself.
Uncovering it would help when dealing with the ossuary's child.
"Good. We'll meet up as soon as she arrives."
The incident surrounding the Blue Sparrow Knight Order, shrouded in secrecy for so long.
The chance to finally dig into it had come.
'Why did the empire need to erase not just the Blue Sparrow Knight Order, but even the White Lion Knight Order captain?'
The Blue Sparrow Knight Order might just be a critical weakness for the empire.
"I've gone through all the documents. Looks like we can start poking at the financial side now. Rafila, Crow, good work."
Rafila smiled and bowed her head.
The five now called Crow stared in stunned disbelief.
Leyzon stepped outside, leaving the two with their contrasting reactions.
"Syria, Eden."
He took the two undead with him, one on each side.
Vampire Queen, Syria Nosferatu.
Curse King, Eden Yfera.
Both followed at Leyzon's side, their full power on display.
"No one enters this room for the next 100 hours."
"Yes, Leyzon!"
"Leave it to me. Not even an ant gets in."
Sorry, but the ants are already inside.
Leyzon stationed the two undead in front of the door and opened it.
Inside were two more undead.
Serpent Dragon, Estelle Aragon.
The Walking Black Fortress, Pauli Beatriche.
In front of each lay their final evolution materials.
Estelle's was a magic stone, Pauli's insect bait.
"Estelle, Pauli—you're both ready?"
"Yes, we're prepared."
"Ready to evolve anytime!"
Following Syria and Eden, Estelle and Pauli had completed preparations for their second evolution.
It was time for both to shed their growth phase.
"Good. Begin."
Estelle and Pauli each consumed their materials.
A light began to leak from their entire bodies.
Leyzon opened his briefly closed eyes.
Their forms soon changed.
Estelle transformed into a small serpent.
Pauli became an ant wearing a tiny crown.
They had entered the pupa state, transitioning from growth phase to mature phase.
Leyzon approached them and extended his hand.
Estelle cautiously climbed up his arm.
Pauli, on the other hand, boldly scaled his finger.
Their innate personalities shone through.
"Grow big and strong, both of you."
I'll definitely watch over you in the meantime.
Leyzon kept them close and opened the Poison Necromancer basic magic tome.
Pressing on without rest, not even for a day.
It was utterly like Leyzon.
Time flew by swiftly.
During Syria and Eden's evolutions, incidents had piled up one after another, so Leyzon stayed on high alert this time too.
But nothing happened—his vigilance proved unnecessary.
It almost felt unfair how events had chained back then.
'It can pass this peacefully.'
What a bittersweet feeling.
Thanks to the peaceful time, though, he gained plenty of study hours.
Leyzon had studied nonstop to keep Estelle and Pauli at ease.
And after investing all that time...
"It worked! I got it!"
He had finally mastered a basic poison spell.
A plump poison droplet formed in Leyzon's palm.
It had taken Leyzon nearly a week to master it.
Startled by his shout, a dozing Estelle hid under her blanket.
"Ah, sorry, Estelle."
Leyzon quickly soothed her.
Pauli, unperturbed, stacked blocks into a castle—he'd scavenged from somewhere.
He seemed eager to build a grand fortress someday.
"Congratulations, Leyzon."
A Poison Spider stood before the jubilant Leyzon.
The Poison Spider had moved beyond basics to research the next spell, dedicating himself daily.
But today, he'd come specifically to hear Leyzon's news.
"So this is basic magic."
Leyzon rolled the activated Fierce Poison orb in his palm.
His first primitive spell.
Leyzon owed his mastery of primitive magic entirely to the Poison Spider.
"I never imagined Siliel's fanciful research would lead to this."
Pyran's husband, killed by the creeping ossuary.
Siliel.
The Poison Spider smiled bitterly, recalling him.
A mad genius obsessed with the unheard-of field of primitive magic.
The Poison Spider had delved into Siliel's primitive magic research as well.
A field whose existence was merely rumored.
Leyzon's reminder had spurred his research forward.
"Siliel would've been thrilled to know."
"He definitely would've. Pyran carried it on."
Siliel's eccentric nature.
It lived on in Pyran's talent, making his legacy real.
The seed Siliel had planted had bloomed through Pyran.
"Fierce Poison Formation at the sprouting stage—the basic spell."
"Yes, that's how the stages were noted in Siliel's research notes."
Completing primitive magic was like growing a massive tree.
Skills advanced grade by grade.
Primitive magic, however, focused on spell proficiency and growth.
Thus, each spell had five stages of progression.
'Even this Fierce Poison Formation I just used is divided into five stages.'
The Fierce Poison Formation Leyzon had cast was at the sprouting stage.
The stage right after first grasping the spell.
Mastery here would lead to seeding—the pinnacle.
That was primitive magic's growth path.
"Seeing it laid out like this, you realize just how absurd the skill system is."
"I feel the same."
The Poison Spider nodded in agreement.
Skills could be used immediately upon absorption from a skillbook.
Primitive magic was hard even to enter.
On the surface, skills seemed far superior.
"But from what we've confirmed, there's one clear difference between primitive magic and skills."
The Poison Spider spread his hand as he spoke.
In an instant, Fierce Poison Formation [F] activated in his palm.
"This is Fierce Poison Formation activated as a skill."
Then he called for Pyran.
Pyran approached at his summons and raised her hand.
A vivid crimson poison orb formed—unlike before.
Fierce Poison Formation's 4th stage, maturing.
Pyran had reached stage 4 through mastery of Fierce Poison Formation.
Both were spells of the same name.
Yet Fierce Poison Formation [Maturing] looked far more potent at a glance.
"Our checks show skills max out at stage 3, blooming."
"Primitive magic's hard to learn, but its ceiling is much higher."
"Exactly."
Leyzon's gaze fell on his own Fierce Poison Formation.
Still just stage 1 sprouting.
This spell wouldn't fell even a passing chicken.
But primitive magic had no limits like skills.
That fact promised boundless potential.
'It means fusion magic's power can skyrocket too.'
Leyzon met the Poison Spider's eyes.
They burned with zeal for research like never before.
"Poison Spider, I won't skimp on support."
If materials are needed, I'll excavate ruins to get them.
"Research as much as you can."
The Poison Spider was Leyzon's window to the future.
So Leyzon resolved to invest in him without restraint.
"I'll repay your expectations, Leyzon!"
Flames of research fervor blazed in the Poison Spider's eyes.
Now he was carrying on his close friend's legacy too.
No wonder his venomous aura was sharper than before.
Now that's a Poison Necromancer.
Leyzon approved.
"I'll be waiting."
He looked forward to the future of Poison Necromancy the Poison Spider would show.
Knock knock—
A knock echoed in Leyzon's ears then.
Since Syria and Eden hadn't stopped it, it was someone Leyzon knew well.
"Leyzon, it's Rafila."
Sure enough, it was Rafila.
"Come in."
Rafila entered, bowing to Leyzon.
"Aegis has arrived."
Aegis had beaten the Sword Saint here.
She must have hurried.
"Eden, look after Pauli and Estelle."
"Yup, I'll keep a good eye on 'em."
Leyzon's words drew a voice from between the walls.
Rafila shuddered at the eerie sight but said nothing.
To serve at Leyzon's side, she'd grown used to such things.
"Syria, let's go."
"Yes!"
Syria appeared promptly, slipping into Leyzon's shadow.
Leyzon followed Rafila's lead to the guest room.
As Leyzon opened the door, Aegis was there.
Aegis lit up at Rafila's sight but quickly schooled her expression.
Classic can't-hide-a-crush-on-a-woman face.
"Aegis, long time no see. You heard the news, right?"
"About the White Lion Knight Order captain."
Aegis's speech was more formal than before.
She'd realized Leyzon was her lover Rafila's superior.
No big deal.
Leyzon pulled out a chair and sat without fuss.
"Yeah, the Sword Saint's on his way back with what he left behind. Won't take long."
Aegis swallowed hard.
"Why did it take until now to realize something was off with my father's memories? I couldn't even recall when he vanished."
"Must be some power that erases that sense of wrongness."
Leyzon didn't know the details either.
That was what they were about to find out.
"Aegis, tell me everything you remember, from the start."
Aegis nodded, about to reply—
BAM BAM BAM BAM!
Sudden massive footsteps boomed from outside.
All eyes turned to the door.
Rafila scowled deeply.
This was Steel Wolf Guild headquarters.
They'd been told to stay quiet during the important meeting.
This racket was like a slap to his face.
But that made it all the more urgent.
"Huff, huff... Rafila, sorry! Urgent news!"
A frantic voice came from beyond the door.
Rafila glanced at Leyzon for permission.
No reason to refuse.
He nodded.
"Speak."
"Pensaldor was found collapsed at the city wall gate, covered in blood."
All three shot to their feet.
Pensaldor, the Sword Saint's aide.
He'd shown up drenched in blood.
Which meant...
Something had gone down with the Sword Saint.