Chapter 288
Chapter Title: Hope
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Everyone stared in bewilderment at Katariu, who was wreathed in surging white flames.
*Why was this one summoned?*
But the most surprised of all was Leo, the one who had summoned Katariu.
He had only used his spiritual power to draw out more of Piora's strength.
But Katariu had been summoned.
And in a contracted form, no less.
Leo had never made a contract with Katariu.
The same was true even in his days as Kyle.
A contract had been formed without his knowledge.
*Is... something like this even possible?*
Leo stared at Katariu with astonished eyes.
[I will ask again, human. Why do you possess the crest of my contract?]
Leo replied to Katariu's words.
"I don't know, either. I only used my spiritual power to draw out the strength of my contractor."
[Contractor?]
Katariu glanced at Leo's sword.
*Fwoosh-*
The flames surging from the sword soon took the form of a small bird.
"Peep."
[......]
Katariu looked at the round chick, about the size of a grown man's fist, with an expression of disbelief.
[A young phoenix. But why is it so plump?]
"How should I know?"
It was the aftereffect of indiscriminately accepting snacks from other students, but Leo was unashamed.
*It's not my fault.*
After looking at Piora for a moment, Katariu narrowed her eyes at Leo.
[You, are you an All-Class?]
Having seen through Leo's ability in an instant, Katariu's body was engulfed in flames.
*Thud-!*
What landed on the floor was a woman with pure white hair and red eyes.
"To think there was another All-Class user besides that rude Kyle. How surprising."
Katariu studied Leo for a moment, her eyes narrowed.
"I will ask. Is your family, by any chance, one with deep ties to phoenixes?"
Katariu saw through to the Jerdinger family blood flowing in Leo's veins.
"Yes."
"Hmm. I see. It's uncommon, but is this a succession of the contract through genetics? It seems a contract made by a previous Phoenix King has been passed down through your family and has now awakened in you."
Katariu was trying to deduce her own reason for why Leo, who had not made a contract with her, had summoned her.
Leo, too, was inwardly contemplating the reason he was able to summon Katariu.
*I see... Is it because I obtained Lisinas's Dragon Heart?*
Just before the final battle with Erebos.
Leo had received the dying Lisinas's Dragon Heart and inherited her power.
It was a succession by Lisinas's will, not something taken by force.
In that process, he also inherited the contracts Lisinas had with spirits and phantom beasts.
Lisinas's mana had vanished along with the consumption of Kyle's body.
But the proof of succession was imprinted on his soul, not his body.
*Mel said it. That Lisinas's mana, inherited in the World of Heroes, would follow my control.*
The contracts were the same.
The contracts Lisinas of this era had made clearly recognized Leo as 'Lisinas'.
Leo looked down at his own hand.
"Still, to have a contract with a phoenix at your young age."
Katariu wore an amused expression.
"And on top of that, for there to be a phoenix I don't know of, one that seems to have been born not long ago. How curious."
*Peep- peep-*
Piora flapped her wings curiously, circling around Katariu.
A hint of warmth appeared in Katariu's eyes, which had held an arrogant light.
Katariu was fundamentally ill-mannered, but she was a gentle phoenix to her contractors and her own kind.
"I do love talented individuals."
The last Phoenix King extended her foot to Leo with an elegant face.
"I shall grant you the honor of kissing my instep and showing your respect, contractor of the young phoenix. Of course, do not forget to break the contract after that is done."
Katariu tilted her head slightly.
"You may be talented, but I have no desire to maintain a contract with a mere human. Even more so if it's a contract I didn't make myself."
*Peep- peep!*
Piora, who had walked in front of Leo, chirped as if urging him on.
She had not existed in Piora's era, but she instinctively realized Katariu was the Phoenix King and took her side.
"Whose side are you on, anyway?"
Sighing, Leo knelt down.
Seeing this, Katariu wore a smug expression.
*Peep?*
Leo grabbed Piora from the floor and rubbed her against Katariu's face.
"Phwuh?"
*Peeeeeeep!*
Katariu flailed, and Piora shrieked.
"You insolent brat! Do you know who I am! Do you wish to become a pile of ash!"
"I believe Lisinas told you not to harm people?"
"You brat! How do you know the terms of my pact with Lisinas!"
*Peep-peep-peep-peep!*
Even so, she had never met such a deranged phoenix contractor who would dare to rub his own contractor on the face of the Phoenix King.
Just as Leo and the two phoenixes were causing a commotion.
"Ah! Master Ar-on! What brings you here?"
"You're safe, Verchia."
"Of course, I'm safe. By the way..."
Verchia, who had returned at some point, narrowed her eyes at Leo's group.
"Why is that damn phoenix here, and why is she fighting with him?"
"...There seems to be a complicated reason."
Ar-on laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek.
Then, watching Leo grab Katariu by the collar, he muttered.
"He's really like Kyle."
Ar-on smiled softly at the boy he had met for the first time today, who reminded him of his friend in so many ways.
***
*Kwang-!*
"Keuk?!"
A beastman, struck in the stomach by Ar Tune's powerful kick, rolled his eyes back and fainted.
*Thud-!*
Landing on the floor, Ar Tune bent her left knee and extended her right leg.
Then, using her left foot as a pivot, she spun rapidly like a top.
*Th-th-th-thud-!*
"Ugh?"
"Guk?!"
The soldiers surrounding Ar Tune lost their balance from the lightning-fast low attack and fell to the floor.
Ar Tune's white ears twitched.
*Kwang-!*
A giant battle-axe slammed into the spot where Ar Tune had been.
"Impressive martial arts."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"And on top of that, Lord Ar-on's Beastification ability. What is your identity?"
The massive bear beastman retrieved his battle-axe, his eyes gleaming.
Looking at the bear beastman, Ar Tune extended her claws.
"A cool woman has many secrets."
"Hah. I'd like to test our skills further, but I can't let suspicious individuals run rampant any longer."
*Gwooooooooh-!*
An extraordinary aura and fighting spirit poured out from the bear beastman's body.
*This beastman is strong.*
Seeing this, Ar Tune's expression tensed.
He was different from the riffraff she had faced so far.
As Ar Tune, who had been ruthlessly blowing away her opponents on her way to rescue Eiran, she couldn't help but be tense.
Just as she reached the charging bear beastman's nose.
"Flame Explosion."
With the sound of the incantation, a crimson spark flared right in front of Ar Tune's nose.
The moment she saw it, Ar Tune threw herself aside in fright.
*Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang-!*
"Guaaaaaaaargh!"
The bear beastman, hit directly by Lunia's magic at point-blank range, was sent flying and slammed into a wall.
"What was that for!"
As Ar Tune shoved her face right in front of her to protest, Lunia said calmly.
"It's fine, he won't die from that."
*Chiiiiik-!*
As Lunia pointed at the charred, fallen bear beastman and spoke calmly, Ar Tune bared her fangs with a *grrr-!*
"That's not the point! I almost got caught in it too!"
"A surprise attack should be done when the opponent is off guard, right? When he got right in front of you, he wouldn't have been paying attention to me, so a magic attack is effective. I figured you'd be able to dodge it with your reflexes."
"If that was your calculation."
"Even if it hit you, you're in an enhanced state from Beastification, so you probably would've been fine."
"So you're saying you cast it thinking it didn't matter if I got caught in it!"
Ar Tune got agitated.
"We're short on time right now! And if we just go up those stairs, we'll be on the first floor!"
After breaking the mana seal, the two of them broke through the underground prison in the blink of an eye.
If she had fought the incredibly skilled bear beastman from a moment ago, even Ar Tune would have struggled, but with Lunia's magic, they quickly broke through the final gatekeeper in an instant.
*Eiran! Just hold on a little longer!*
Just as a clench-jawed Lunia stepped onto the stairs to the first floor.
"Quite the flashy rampage you're on."
"......!"
Seeing the dwarf who appeared before her, despair clouded Lunia's face.
Ar Tune, too, realized the dwarf was Dweno and her tail shot straight up.
The area around the entrance to the underground prison was a large open space.
No one was there besides Dweno.
But Lunia felt an immense sense of despair.
The person before her was none other than the legendary Great Hero.
No matter how much Lunia and Ar Tune struggled, he was not someone they could do anything about.
*First, escape...!*
The moment Lunia quickly darted her eyes around, thinking of an escape route.
*Whoooosh! Thud-!*
A giant axe flew and embedded itself in the spot Lunia thought was a gap.
"It'd be best not to think about running."
Dweno, who had accurately sensed Lunia's intentions, blocked the path.
Just as Lunia gritted her teeth.
"Seirun's representative. You go first."
Ar Tune took a step forward.
"I'll try to hold Lord Dweno back!"
"You can't do it alone!"
Ar Tune grinned at Lunia's urgent cry.
"It's impossible even with two of us, since our opponent is Lord Dweno."
"......!"
"But I can at least create an escape route for you."
Ar Tune took another step forward.
Watching her, Dweno tilted his head.
"A reckless little kitten."
"If it were Lord Ar-on, he would never run away in this situation..."
"What are you talking about? He would've run immediately."
"......"
Ar Tune, about to speak of the Ar-on she knew, was struck speechless after being refuted before she could even finish her sentence.
"Lord Ar-on is not such a cowardly man...!"
"He's more cowardly than anyone."
"Don't you insult Lord Ar-oooooon!"
The agitated Ar Tune puffed up her fur and hissed.
"That idiot...!"
Watching her, Lunia buried her face in her hands.
"An interesting young lady!"
While laughing heartily, Dweno's eyes turned sharp.
*Beastification without a full moon?*
Glancing up at the sky, Dweno watched Ar Tune charge at him.
Ar Tune seemed to be charging recklessly at Dweno, but she was actually moving along a meticulously planned path.
*She's keeping me in check so I can't interfere with that elf girl.*
Seeing Ar Tune's sharp eyes observing his movements, Dweno's lips curled into a smirk.
*That elf girl was impressive, but this beastman girl is impressive too.*
They were at a level worthy of being called hope.
*Fwaht-!*
Ar Tune's movements changed rapidly.
She moved unpredictably, dazzling Dweno's eyes.
*I have to create even the slightest opening!*
Ar Tune broke into a cold sweat.
She knew the gap between herself and Dweno without being told.
He wasn't a Great Hero simply because he crafted divine-grade equipment.
He was a veritable warrior, one of the strongest legends who stood at the forefront of the subjugation party with Ar-on.
*Kwak-!*
Ar Tune's fist aimed for Dweno's face.
And just as she tensed her body in preparation for Dweno's counterattack.
*Kwaaaaang-!*
*Fwoosh!*
"......!"
With a tremendous sound, a powerful gust of wind blew away all the surrounding dust.
Ar Tune's eyes widened.
To her surprise, Ar Tune's powerful fist was planted squarely on Dweno's cheek.
But Dweno didn't budge an inch, like a rock.
Seeing Dweno not even blink at an attack containing all her strength, Ar Tune felt a chill run down her entire body.
And another of Dweno, the Divine Blacksmith's, nicknames flashed through her mind.
If the Brave Hero Ar-on was the warrior who slaughtered and held back enemies at the forefront.
Then Dweno, the Divine Blacksmith, was...
*The one who blocked any and all attacks... the Absolute Shield...!*
The pillar of the Great Heroes, who took on the toughest jobs in battle.
He didn't flinch at all from the all-out blow Ar Tune had delivered.
"Excellent."
Praising Ar Tune's attack, Dweno grabbed her wrist.
*Kwang-!*
"Keuk!"
And then he slammed her into the ground.
Just as Ar Tune writhed in pain.
*Fwoosh-!*
The flames of the Holy Fire flared.
*This magic formula is?*
Sensing a familiarity in the magic formula, Dweno looked surprised.
*Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang-!*
The flames of the phoenix engulfed Dweno.
*Fwoooosh-!*
But the golden flames erupting from Dweno's hand swallowed Lunia's magic.
"A pleasure. A natural-born user of flames."
Dweno smiled warmly as he looked at the clench-jawed Lunia.
"Elves have a strong sense of kinship. Weren't you on your way to save your captured friend?"
"I am going to save her. And I'm taking her with me."
Lunia shouted through gritted teeth.
"That will be impossible. It's true that you are impressive. But by my standards, you're nothing but chicks. You might have had a chance if you had given up one of the two."
Dweno said coldly.
Dweno nudged Ar Tune, who was at his feet, with the tip of his boot and said.
"You'll be caught by me anyway, but if you're going to give up, wouldn't it be better to give up this friend?"
"Don't... be ridiculous!"
*Flash-!*
Fragments of light materialized around Lunia.
*My flames don't work on Lord Dweno! In that case...!*
She had to face him with star magic.
Seeing the fragments of light, reminiscent of starlight in the night sky, Dweno's expression changed.
*As I thought, this magic is...*
The fragments of starlight flew toward Dweno.
"Hoo."
Dweno took a deep breath.
"Hah!"
With an ear-splitting shout, Lunia's magic formula was destroyed.
"Crude."
Seeing Dweno destroy her magic formula with a mere shout, Lunia's face was painted with terror.
*This is... a Great Hero... the power of one who saved the world.*
It was a strength that was far, far beyond common sense.
"It would be better for your well-being to give up and be captured quietly."
Dweno said coldly.
***
When the commotion outside died down, Karl cautiously headed out with Driana.
Emerging onto the first floor, Karl was dumbstruck by the scene before him.
Ar Tune was dangling limply, held by the scruff of her neck in a dwarf's hand.
Lunia was pinned to the ground with the dwarf's foot on her back, breathing heavily.
The dwarf, who had subdued the strongest second-years of Seirun and Azonia as if handling children, was completely unharmed.
"Did you two break out as well?"
Dweno's emotionless gaze turned to Karl and Driana.
Terror filled both of their eyes.
Dweno's single sentence carried an immense pressure.
A power that made one lose the will to fight.
Their mana suppressed, unable to resist, they faced absolute terror.
But Karl gripped the crossbow he had acquired while escaping the prison.
Driana was so frightened she didn't know what to do.
*Normally, the girl's reaction would be the correct one.*
When faced with overwhelming despair.
A person collapses.
That is normal.
Dweno's eyes narrowed.
And he looked at the utterly shabby human magician boy.
*But how can he even think of fighting in a situation like this?*
*Grip-!*
Just then, Ar Tune, who had completely lost her strength, grabbed Dweno's wrist.
Ar Tune's blue eyes flashed.
*Gwoooooh-!*
Lunia, pinned under Dweno's foot, also squeezed out her mana.
*Is this bravado born from ignorance?*
Do these children not know my strength?
He had that thought, but soon shook his head.
*No, it seems these children know my strength better than anyone.*
In the spirit's domain, Lunia and Driana had surrendered immediately without the slightest resistance.
It was the same during the prison break.
The moment they encountered him, the two girls felt deep despair.
These boys and girls knew his strength far better than Dweno had thought.
And yet, they refused to give up and steeled their will to fight.
"It would be easier if you gave up. What foolish stubbornness."
Dweno looked at them with pity.
"Because I know someone who never... gives up."
Just then, Lunia, trampled under Dweno's foot, spoke with difficulty.
Her eyes flashed with determination.
"I don't want to be ashamed in front of him."
Dweno gazed down at Lunia.
And he looked at Ar Tune, who was gripping his wrist.
*Girls who remind me of Ar-on and Luna... but...*
Dweno's eyes narrowed.
*Their gazes resemble Kyle's. Even that magician boy over there.*
Just as Dweno's lips curled into a smirk.
"That's enough."
A cynical voice was heard.
Lunia, Ar Tune, Karl, and Driana's eyes widened as they turned their heads.
Dweno realized the human boy who had appeared was dressed exactly like Karl.
"Part of the escapees' group, are you? Looks like you've come to save your friends."
Leo stood before Dweno.
"Verchia has returned to Gardsrone with Ar-on."
Leo didn't even blink at Dweno's murderous voice.
"And it wouldn't be very pleasant for someone like you, who appreciates beautiful things, to mess them up like this, would it?"
"You speak as if you know me well."
Dweno tilted his head and roused his mana.
*Fwoooosh-!*
Golden flames blazed, ready to turn Leo to ash.
"Leo!"
Karl shouted urgently.
But Dweno's flames did not burn Leo.
"Is this test enough?"
"...Aren't you afraid?"
Dweno asked with a hollow laugh, and Leo shook his head.
"Not really."
Standing within Dweno's flames, Leo spoke.
"The essence of flame isn't destruction, is it?"
At those words, Dweno narrowed his eyes.
"You... who are you?"
"My name is Leo Flove."
Leo calmly introduced himself in response to Dweno's question.
Staring intently at Leo, Dweno pointed to the other party members.
"Then what are these children?"
Leo grinned at Dweno's question.
"Hope."