Chapter 504
Chapter Title: Purebloods and Potions
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Luna, with her arms crossed, glared at the elves blocking their path.
Lunia flinched at the sight of Luna's defiant posture, her head tilted slightly.
‘Come to think of it, Lady Luna…’
She recalled the events in Luna's world.
Barharun.
The city of the high elves.
There, Lunia had played the role of an elven princess to conquer the world.
‘The attitude of the high elves I saw then wasn't much different from the Pureblood Society.’
Moreover, Lunia remembered clearly how the high elves had treated Luna back then.
Later, when she entered Dweno's world, Lunia had been able to read records about how the elves had fallen during the Age of Calamity.
That's why she could understand Luna's reaction.
"What is it?"
Lunia took a step forward and faced the members of the Pureblood Society.
Her distinctive red eyes glinted coldly.
Even in current elven society, the Pureblood Society had a poor reputation.
Lunia, too, had never held a favorable view of the group, so her response was not pleasant.
However, she also knew that many elves were still steeped in pureblood ideology.
Thus, Lunia could guess why they were blocking her path.
"Miss Lunia El Lundua. You are the future of Seirun and a candidate for student council president. Have you forgotten that you must always maintain your dignity?"
‘So they really did come to spout nonsense.’
Lunia let out an exasperated sigh.
"Such a defiant attitude again."
"I understand better than anyone that I am Seirun's student council president. And I haven't done anything to tarnish my reputation."
"The very fact that you are walking through a dirty alley like this damages the prestige of the elves."
Lunia looked up at the sky and muttered, "Wow, this is driving me crazy."
"You shouldn't use such vulgar language. In the first place, why are you associating with such a low-class elf?"
The Pureblood Society elf at the front frowned at Luna.
"Rumors have been circulating. That there is someone in this district who gets drunk, wanders the streets, and brings shame to the elves."
"Who could that be?"
As Luna muttered with feigned curiosity, her arms still crossed, the faces of the Pureblood Society elves contorted.
"Isn't it you?"
"Was it?"
Luna smiled brightly.
"A disgrace to the elves."
"Lunia El Lundua. To associate with an elf like this. You should be ashamed."
"Are you not ashamed before the name of the Progenitor?"
Lunia looked dumbfounded.
‘Who do they think they're talking to, bringing up the Nebula Progenitor!’
They were invoking the Progenitor right in front of the Nebula Progenitor herself.
And insulting Luna at the same time!
Lunia fidgeted, glancing anxiously at Luna.
But Luna wore an amused expression, as if she found the situation quite refreshing.
"What's wrong with the Lunia of today? The Nebula Progenitor would probably find this Lunia even more endearing."
Chuckling, Luna pulled Lunia into her embrace.
"Oof?!"
Her face buried in Luna's chest, Lunia's eyes widened as she looked up.
Luna looked down at her and winked.
Held awkwardly in Luna's arms, Lunia gasped.
‘It's like being in my mother's arms.’
Feeling a sense of warmth and comfort, Lunia suddenly muttered to herself.
‘But she's surprisingly... impressive.’
The thought came to her quite naturally.
"Who are you to presume the Progenitor's will?"
"This is surprisingly fun."
Luna beamed, watching the elf counter her every word by invoking her own name.
"Lunia El Lundua. Associating with a mere human like Leo Flove is why your relationships are becoming such a mess."
But at the words that followed, Luna's cheerful expression vanished.
Lunia, still in Luna's arms, also sensed the sudden shift in atmosphere and looked bewildered.
"What about Leo?"
*Step-*
Releasing Lunia, Luna took a step forward.
"He's a thief who carelessly took an elven treasure."
"And he struts around as if he were chosen by the Progenitor."
"A base human who gained fame by exaggerating his achievements."
The Pureblood Society members bad-mouthed Leo.
They had no hesitation in tearing others down.
‘For this type of person, the truth doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is what they want to believe.’
The corner of Luna's mouth curled up.
She was sick of dealing with elves like this, all too familiar with their kind.
But being familiar with it didn't mean it didn't make her angry.
‘And I especially can't tolerate them insulting Kyle.’
"How dare you speak such nonsense to—!"
Lunia, about to lunge at the Pureblood Society with a fierce expression, caught sight of Luna's face.
Luna, whose expression hadn't changed when they insulted her, now had a face as cold as ice.
The moment Lunia flinched.
Luna reached out her hand.
*Grasp-!*
"Gah?!"
The elf at the very front clutched his neck.
His body floated up and was dragged before Luna.
"Gagagagk!"
"What is the meaning of this!"
"How dare you attack us!"
The elves angrily tried to cast their magic.
At that moment, Luna flicked her fingers.
*Snap-!*
*Whoosh-!*
A small gust of wind blew.
"No...!"
"Wh-what is this!"
"The magic won't activate?"
The Pureblood Society elves looked horrified.
They couldn't use Star Magic.
It wasn't on the level of magic simply failing to activate.
The very stellar mana needed to use Star Magic had vanished.
"From now on, you won't be able to use Star Magic."
Luna said it as if it were nothing.
"What absurd nonsense!"
The elf, still held by Luna's mana, screamed in fury.
"With ordinary magic, it would be impossible. But with Star Magic, it's possible. Your Star Magic is incomplete, you see."
The current Star Magic formula is the one Seirun passed down to later generations.
Of course, it is still incredibly powerful on its own.
But if it has a fatal flaw, it's that as Luna's unique magic, the Star Magic Seirun passed down could only be an inferior copy.
And even that wasn't properly completed.
If Seirun had had more time, it would have been perfected, but sadly, the Comet Mage ran out of time.
"You know how using magic formulas carves invisible traces into the body, right? They're pathways for mana. I just destroyed those pathways."
"Impossible...!"
"Yep. Normally, it would be. But I can do it."
"What?!"
"Because I'm the creator of this magic."
Luna smiled sweetly.
The other Pureblood Society elves yelled, demanding to know what she meant.
But the face of the elf held by Luna turned deathly pale.
Just because he had twisted ideals didn't mean he was slow or stupid.
He finally understood what was happening.
"P-Progenitor...?"
Luna, having released her perception-inhibiting magic, smiled cruelly.
"I'm not as benevolent or kind-hearted as the stories say. When I'm in a bad mood, I have to punish someone to feel better."
With a blank expression, Luna pushed the Pureblood Society elf away.
"Keuk!"
Scrambling on the ground, he hastily bowed his head.
"O-Oh, Nebula Progenitor! Please forgive me for my insolent words!"
Seeing him shout, trembling in fear, his followers in the Pureblood Society also sensed that something was terribly wrong.
"I didn't create this magic for the likes of you to learn. And I certainly never intended for it to be used to create a class system among elves."
Luna said coldly.
"And most of all, I will absolutely not tolerate you insulting him."
Luna turned her head.
"You will never be able to use Star Magic for the rest of your lives."
"P-Progenitor!"
Luna scoffed and snapped her fingers again.
With that, their movements froze.
"What did you do to them?"
Lunia rushed to Luna's side and asked.
"I erased their memories of what just happened."
Looking at Luna, who answered as if it were nothing, Lunia turned back with a surprised expression.
Indeed, the Pureblood Society members who had picked a fight with Luna were looking around, bewildered.
Despite the commotion, the surroundings were quiet.
She had controlled the area with magic.
"You're amazing."
"Lisinas or Dweno would scold me if they found out. But well, they're not here right now."
Luna smiled wryly.
Looking at Luna, Lunia wore an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry for showing you such a sight."
"It has nothing to do with you. I know full well that's just a typical elven trait."
Luna shrugged as if she didn't care.
"Alright, then. Since we're in a sour mood, shall we go have some fun?"
"Yes! Where should we go first?"
"When it comes to cheering up, nothing beats spending money."
***
The place Luna and Lunia headed to was Kuraju Street.
Befitting the Twilight Festival, Kuraju Street was also bustling with activity and prosperity.
Small-scale auctions were in full swing all over the streets.
Tourists, caught up in the festive atmosphere, eagerly participated in the auctions to buy nice souvenirs.
In addition to commerce and auctions, street performances were also in full swing.
Luna, once again, got her hands on some street-sold alcohol.
As Luna was enjoying the sights with a cup of alcohol in one hand, a street lined with storytellers appeared before her.
Among them, stories about the Great Hero were overwhelmingly popular.
"Now! Then! Who was the man loved by the Nebula Progenitor, Luna!"
At the voice, Lunia's ears perked up.
"It was none other than the Divine Blacksmith! Dweno!"
At that cry, Lunia burst into laughter and looked at Luna's face.
Luna's face had turned murderous.
Seeing Luna's expression, Lunia covered her mouth.
"What was it like with Sir Dweno?"
"You said you met Dweno in person, right?"
"Yes. I met him in the World of Heroes."
"He asked you to be his nude model, didn't he?"
"...Yes."
"Do you think I would like a pervert like that?!"
Seeing Luna's scrunched-up face, Lunia scratched her cheek.
"Then were there no couples among the Great Heroes?"
"Nope. There were no couples. Though, of course, some people had feelings for others."
"R-really?"
Lunia's eyes widened.
"Of course."
"Wh-who had feelings for whom?"
Lunia asked, swallowing dryly.
Looking at Lunia, Luna drained her cup and said with a grin.
"Kyle was in love with me."
"What?"
"He loved me very passionately."
Luna said it nonchalantly, words that would have earned her a kick in the butt if Leo had heard them.
"Ah," Luna sighed, clutching her head as if to say he was hopeless.
"He wooed me with such desperate love. He always looked at me with such passionate eyes, you know?"
"...When I met him in person, I thought he was a cold person. That's unexpected."
Lunia recalled the Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, whom she had met briefly in Dweno's world.
He had seemed somewhat dry and emotionless.
Looking at Lunia, Luna said.
"Yep. He was that kind of person. But it's true that Kyle loved me. For the record, you have to keep this an absolute secret. Especially from that brat Leo."
"Ah, yes. But why specifically a secret from Leo...?"
"Because it's a secret."
Luna smiled playfully, pressing a finger to her lips.
As Lunia nodded in confusion at her smile, Luna grabbed a passerby and said.
"Did you know?! The Hero of the Beginning, Kyle, was in love with the Nebula Progenitor, Luna!"
Watching Luna, with her perfectly sober face, act exactly like a drunkard, Lunia wore a grave expression.
‘It doesn't really seem like a secret, though?’
"Come one, come all! I present to you a mysterious potion! Its name is the Love Potion!"
At the familiar name of the item from the street auction, Luna's eyes narrowed, and Lunia looked incredulous.
Anyone with magical knowledge knew how absurd a thing like a love potion was.
As expected, boos erupted from all over, and the auctioneer said.
"I cannot reveal the exact origin of this potion, but why not take a chance and buy it! You never know, your love might truly be fulfilled!"
But the auctioneer shamelessly continued his pitch.
In truth, ridiculous items like that sometimes appeared in these kinds of auctions.
Since it was a festival, some items were just for fun.
The love potion up for auction was in a beautiful bottle.
The golden potion, which emitted a beautiful hue, looked valuable enough as a decorative item alone.
The liquid itself looked like a work of art, and a few young couples, swept up in the festival atmosphere, showed interest and joined the bidding.
"They're selling all sorts of things."
Just as Lunia let out a hollow laugh.
"That potion."
"Yes?"
"It looks a bit like a potion a certain pervert made. Let's buy it and check."
"Ah, yes."
With a bewildered expression, Lunia joined the auction.
Staring at the love potion, Luna let out a dry laugh.
‘Nah, it can't be.’