Chapter 533
Chapter Title: A Brilliant Disguise
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The northern part of the continent is elven territory.
Of course, not the entirety of the northern region belongs to the elves, but it is an undeniable fact that they occupy most of the vast northern lands.
Thus, countless elven nations existed in the north.
“Among them, Eldon is, to put it nicely, a special country.”
Lunia said as they headed for Eldon.
“To put it badly, it's a strange place.”
Hearing Lunia's words, Leo looked puzzled.
“What exactly do you mean?”
“How should I explain it? Ah, right. You can think of it as a place similar to Barharun.”
“So you mean it's a town of blockheads.”
“That's right.”
As Leo clicked his tongue, Lunia let out a small sigh.
Listening to their conversation, Eiran asked curiously.
“What was Lady Luna like during her school days?”
“From what I heard from Luna, her school days weren't exactly smooth sailing. She grinds her teeth at the mere mention of Barharun.”
“What was it like?”
“It was literally a city for nurturing High Elves. And those High Elves were the type to treat even their fellow elves as an inferior race.”
“Ah...”
At those words, Lunia and Eiran naturally thought of a certain group.
*The Pureblood Society.*
“Sounds like the modern concept of royalty or nobility.”
“Something like that. And Luna, who was an orphan, got into Barharun solely on her pure magical talent.”
In Barharun, where most students were the children of prestigious families that produced many High Elves, Luna was bound to be an anomaly.
*A kind of invasive species.*
When it came to magic, her ideas and applications transcended common sense.
And the magical power to make it all possible.
To be certain, in the entire history of magic, there has never been a wizard as great as Luna.
Watching such a wizard grow up from the sidelines could be considered an incredible stroke of luck.
Due to the nature of magic, simply observing such a wizard could influence you and lay the foundation for your own advancement.
But the elves of Barharun merely kept Luna in check.
Another reason for Barharun's existence was to cultivate the Elf King.
They could not, under any circumstances, allow Luna, a lowly orphan, to become the Elf King.
Chen Xia nodded.
She, too, was familiar with discrimination, albeit in a different form—that between a hero and a shadow—so she could sympathize with Luna's feelings.
“I see. Having had such a difficult time in school, it's no wonder she hates that place.”
“Not at all. She didn't hate Barharun just because the kids around her gave her a hard time.”
“Huh?”
“It wouldn't be Luna if she let something like that get her down. I heard she went around and smashed anyone who picked a fight with her.”
“Uhm...”
Chen Xia was flustered, not knowing what to say.
“She seemed quite proud of being the school's biggest troublemaker.”
The three girls fell silent at Leo's words.
Indeed, from what the three of them had seen of Luna's personality, she wasn't the type to just take it; she would thoroughly retaliate if provoked.
“Well, and there were good people, too.”
Akint.
The man Leo had once possessed was someone who had taken good care of the lonely Luna.
He had heard that he was like a father figure to Luna.
“The reason Luna hates Barharun is that they failed to fulfill their duties.”
When Erebos appeared and Tartaros emerged, Barharun, the most powerful force at the time, collapsed all too easily.
As if that wasn't enough, they even backstabbed the elves who were risking their lives for the world, all for their own wealth and glory.
The countless acts of betrayal committed by the High Elves to preserve their own power were enough to enrage many.
Even after the elven forces were annihilated and the world was rapidly declining, it was the High Elves who caused internal strife, becoming a major obstacle to the unity of the races.
“They're my kin, but... my conscience won't let me say the Pureblood Society wouldn't do something like that.”
Lunia scowled and ground her teeth.
In fact, the Pureblood Society had a history of colluding with the Necro King.
*Although they vehemently deny it.*
The evidence is crystal clear.
The investigation into those involved was slow due to the Pureblood Society's considerable influence within elven society, but the net was currently closing in.
“Their headquarters is Eldon, right over there.”
Lunia said with a slight frown.
A very tall tower was visible in the distance.
“An observatory?”
“Yes, Eldon's observatory is famous for being the second tallest after Seirun's.”
Eiran nodded and replied to Leo's murmur.
Watching them, Lunia crossed her arms and muttered.
“The problem starts now.”
“A problem?”
As Chen Xia tilted her head, Lunia tsked.
“Eldon is a city-state, but its influence is immense. It's special, being the base of the Pureblood Society. And not just special in the sense that they're blockheads.”
“Then?”
“Eldon is a country where only users of Star Magic can live.”
It meant that every single citizen was a mage, and a Star Mage at that.
This came about because the Pureblood Society looks down on even fellow elves who cannot use Star Magic.
“Plus, there's another problem. No race other than elves can ever enter Eldon.”
“They're disgustingly thorough when they inspect outsiders.”
“Wouldn't it be possible for Young Master Leo and me to sneak in?”
“It's possible, but it won't be easy.”
Eiran nodded at Leo's reply.
“That's right. The entire city is protected by magic, so sneaking in is next to impossible.”
The fact that everyone in the country could use magic also meant that their magic was incredibly advanced.
“Come to think of it, I think I've heard it called the Mage Tower of the elves.”
Leo said nonchalantly, and Lunia nodded.
“That's right, as much as I hate to admit it. In any case, it's true that Eldon's Star Magic is incredibly advanced. They even produced a headmaster of Seirun.”
“Then what should we do? It seems like it won't be easy even with a disguise.”
Berkia hadn't mastered Star Magic either, but she doubted he would have been denied entry.
Even if swordsmanship was his focus, his magical talent was personally recognized by Luna.
Besides, didn't he possess overwhelming power that was incomparable to their own?
Lunia approached Leo and asked.
“Leo, can't you do something with your power?”
“I don't know. If we have to sneak in, doing it quickly will be difficult.”
If the magic protecting all of Eldon is Star Magic, dispelling it would be easy enough.
But if it's a matter of infiltrating stealthily, that's a different story.
*Spells like that are usually very sensitive.*
No matter how proficient Leo was with Star Magic, he wasn't on Luna's level.
*If my magic power was on par with Seirun's, it might be possible, but my current level isn't that high.*
Leo looked down at his own hands.
“What if not quickly? How much time would you need?”
“I'd have to see the barrier myself to know for sure, but given the city's size, wouldn't it take about a week?”
City-scale formulas are so vast that they take a long time to decipher.
“So it'll take at least that long?”
While Lunia was seriously contemplating, Chen Xia asked.
“Can you two enter Eldon right away?”
“Yeah. We can.”
Lunia took off her coat, revealing her Seirun uniform underneath.
“Seirun students don't need a pass to enter Eldon... Ah!”
Lunia snapped her fingers.
“Leo! You can use magic to disguise yourself as an elf, right?”
“Hmm? So there was that method.”
As Leo stroked his chin, Eiran tilted her head.
“But isn't there a high chance a disguise spell would be detected during the entry inspection?”
“Who do you think you're talking to? Leo is the most proficient in Star Magic after Lady Luna!”
Lunia gave him a look of trust.
“He can easily fool the magical tools they use for inspections.”
“What about me?”
Chen Xia asked, pointing to herself, and Lunia answered.
“If Leo casts an illusion spell on you, you can easily fool them. Because of the star magic on you, the inspection tool will register you as having star magic. Of course, you'd be caught if you changed your entire appearance, but just changing your appearance to an elf's should be enough to trick it!”
No matter how exquisitely crafted a magical tool is, it is ultimately just a tool imbued with intricate magic.
In that case, it can be easily deceived with even more intricate magic.
At Lunia's words, Chen Xia fiddled with her ear.
Lunia's eyes sparkled.
“If we wear our uniforms, we'll be perfect Seirun students, so they won't question us too deeply! How about it?”
“That sounds like a great idea!”
Eiran smiled brightly.
“Great! Leo! You still have the uniform you got when you came as an exchange student, right?”
“I returned it.”
“Ugh! It was a perfect plan!”
Lunia clutched her head.
“Can't we make a fake uniform?”
Leo shook his head at Chen Xia's question.
“They'd spot it as a fake. The Seirun uniform itself serves as an entry pass for a reason. It's enchanted with all sorts of magic.”
“Ah, it's true, Lumerne's uniforms aren't exactly ordinary either.”
“Right. And I heard the Seirun uniforms aren't made at a uniform shop but are produced and distributed by the school itself.”
“That's a problem.”
Chen Xia wore a disappointed expression.
“Um! Um! Excuse me.”
Just then, Eiran raised her hand.
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke with a look of courage.
“I, I have an idea.”
The group looked puzzled as Eiran spoke, swallowing nervously.
***
In front of Eldon's checkpoint.
Outsiders were being inspected to enter Eldon.
Two girls whose turn it was walked up to the inspector, who was examining people with sharp eyes.
“What brings you... huh?!”
The inspector, who had been asking mechanically, flinched.
“A-Are you students from Seirun?”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
The silver-haired girl, Eiran, greeted him with a gentle smile.
Beside her, the black-haired girl, Chen Xia, simply followed Eiran's lead and smiled gently.
“We're visiting Eldon to study magic.”
The inspector checked the crystal ball on his table.
A golden light, indicating they were Seirun students due to the magic in their uniforms, was floating above it.
“Ah, yes! Your names...?”
“I'm Eiran Ersar. This is Sirin Rel.”
“Huh! L-Lady Eiran!”
At the visit of the second-year salutatorian, the inspector's gaze fixed on Eiran.
“We sincerely welcome you to Eldon!”
He shot up from his seat, bowed, and opened the gate for them.
Eiran smiled warmly at the inspector and said.
“Please take good care of my friends who are coming behind us. Let's go, Miss Sirin.”
“Yes.”
Eiran entered Eldon with Chen Xia, who was using an alias.
*For Seirun's top student to visit at a time like this! This must be a good omen for Eldon!*
The inspector had a flushed expression.
“Div...ne...ment. I'll be...punished.”
A red-haired girl walked up, muttering incomprehensible words under her breath.
The inspector gasped when he saw her.
*N-No way! The Seirun student council president, Lunia El Lundua!*
The one who became Seirun's student council president at such a young age, and even attained the rank of Hero!
The inspector's hands trembled at the appearance of Lunia, who was hailed as the successor to Luna, the Progenitor of the Nebula.
“Aren't you going to inspect us?”
A female student with white hair peeked out from behind Lunia and asked with a puzzled look.
“Hup! Y-Yes! You two students! Y-Your names?”
“My name is Leona. This is Lunia.”
“L-Lady Lunia and Lady Leona! Confirmed! We sincerely welcome you to Eldon!”
“Let's go.”
“I'll be divinely punished. I'll definitely be punished. To make the Great Hero look like this... The gods will surely be furious.”
“Hurry up.”
Leo pushed Lunia's back.
As they exited the checkpoint, Lunia asked with a reddened face.
“How can you be so calm!”
“Is there a problem? We got through easily thanks to this. It's efficient and good.”
Leo, wearing Lunia's uniform, shrugged as if it were no big deal.
As Lunia looked at Leo, her shoulders trembled.
“L-Lady Leo... you're beautiful... haah... haah... a p-picture! I must capture this in a picture!”
“Perhaps because Lady Reina is so beautiful, you also look quite lovely when dressed up, Young Master Leo. Shall I start calling you Lady Leo?”
Eiran muttered while covering her face, and Chen Xia teased with a gentle smile before getting a flick on the forehead from Leo.
“Those two are definitely weird. So weird!”
Only Lunia, her face flushed, tore at her hair.
“Hurry up and find us a place to stay. I need to change out of these clothes quickly.”
Leo, who had been walking calmly, stopped in his tracks.
*Voom-!*
He felt a small vibration from his waist.
The moment he felt the familiar energy, Leo's expression stiffened slightly.
*Vihar?*