Chapter 613
Chapter Title: The Spirit King and Bad News
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613.
Late at night.
Chelsea gazed at the Tungken palace with anxious eyes.
A long time had already passed, yet there was still no word from Leo and Celia.
'He did say time could flow differently in a spirit's domain.'
About half a day had gone by since Leo entered the palace.
But Chelsea felt on edge.
It wasn't that she was worried about Leo.
He was, after all, Kyle, the Hero of the Beginning.
No matter that he had invaded a spirit's domain, Leo would surely be able to make it out.
The problem was the news that had just arrived from Rodren.
'Who on earth would do such a thing?'
Chelsea bit her lip.
The news of Torua losing consciousness and Reina's kidnapping.
Chelsea worried about how Leo would react when he heard the news.
'How could something like this happen right in the middle of Jerdinger territory?'
Torua had been on a battlefield with rebels.
But Reina's location was different.
A city that boasted security comparable to the imperial capital.
A major incident that occurred in Peion.
And the one targeted was none other than Reina.
She was no longer a direct descendant of the Jerdinger family, nor was she a key figure.
Just the mistress of a noble family in a remote kingdom.
There was only one thing special about such a woman.
The fact that she was Leo's mother.
It was easy to see who they were targeting by kidnapping Reina.
'The traitors?'
Chelsea thought of the Hero Hunters.
'Or another enemy from within?'
Just as Chelsea clenched her fists.
Swoooosh-
A winter wind blew.
In that instant, Chelsea's eyes sharpened.
Fwoosh-!
Whipping out her staff, Chelsea turned and began to chant a spell.
Sharp blades of wind enveloped the person approaching her.
"Wow, Chloe's the same. Are you guys really students about to become third-years?"
The other person exclaimed in admiration.
"Anyas Vegus?"
They weren't close, but she was the daughter of the Northern Magic Tower's master, whom Chelsea had seen a few times before.
Chelsea looked at the half-elf, Anyas, with a slightly baffled expression.
She was someone who had no reason to be here.
Seeing Chelsea's reaction, Anyas spoke.
"I came because I have a message for Sir Leo. But since he's currently absent, I'll tell you instead."
"Why are you telling me?"
"Sir Leo told me that if he were absent, I should relay it to Miss Llewellyn."
Anyas's eyes curved into a smile.
Seeing her, Chelsea was reminded of someone.
'My aunt?'
The head librarian of the Imperial Magic Archives and the younger sister of the current head of the Llewellyn family.
Cherna Llewellyn.
Of course, that was her public identity; in reality, she was the one who led the shadows of the Llewellyn family.
In other words, the Shadow of Llewellyn.
Chelsea didn't know this fact.
But for some reason, she sensed a similar aura from Anyas as the one she felt from her aunt.
Shaking off her stray thoughts of Cherna, Chelsea asked.
"What is the message?"
"It's the identities of those who kidnapped Lady Reina and those involved in the incident."
"Who are they?"
Chelsea's expression hardened.
Looking at Chelsea, Anyas said.
"The Hero Slayers. And the ones suspected of collaborating in the incident are..."
Anyas trailed off, then let out a sigh.
"The Jerdinger Council of Elders."
At those words, Chelsea's eyes widened.
It was then.
Ruuuumble-
The palace began to shake.
Chelsea and Anyas, both surprised, turned their heads toward the palace.
***
Fwoooosh-!
Leo dodged the shimmering blue flames before him.
'The power of the Spirit of Purification.'
Celia was certainly enhanced in every aspect.
The firepower of her flames, as well as her strength and speed.
Craaash-!
When Celia struck the floor with her sword, a great tidal wave of fire surged forward.
Leo dodged it and said.
"But you've only gotten stronger."
If anything, her swordsmanship has regressed.
It was only natural.
What need would a spirit have to practice swordsmanship?
It was simply swinging a sword.
"You're a far cry from the real Celia."
Fwoosh-
With an indifferent expression, Leo dodged Celia's sword as it aimed for his head.
And then...
Thwack-!
"Keuk?!"
He landed an uppercut on Celia's stomach.
Whoooosh! Kra-ka-ka-boom-!
Celia was sent flying straight into the palace wall.
But, protected by the Spirit Armor, Celia seemed to have taken little damage as she shot back to her feet.
The brilliant red dress erupted with even more powerful flames.
Watching Celia charge, radiating flames stronger than before, Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.
Then, he brought his fist down on Celia's head.
Kra-ka-ka-boom!
Celia was slammed into the floor.
Leo stomped on her back.
Craaash-!
Celia's body broke through the floor and crashed into the level below.
Watching this, Laruel looked flustered.
-S-Sir Leo. Even so, don't you think you're attacking the unconscious Celia a bit too harshly?
To Laruel's words, Leo replied indifferently.
"That's why I'm attacking her harshly."
-What?
"I never taught her to let someone take control of her body so easily."
Leo looked down at Celia with disapproval.
Since they first met, Celia had trained with Leo.
Of course, he hadn't taught her swordsmanship or how to wield aura.
But he had guided her in combat know-how, as well as stamina and mental fortitude.
He had been by her side, ensuring she lacked in no area.
For such a Celia to lose consciousness and give up her body, even to a great spirit, was something Leo found unacceptable.
"Hah? You lack grit!"
-Th-that's not something you can overcome with just grit...
Before Laruel could stop him, Leo leaped down to the floor below, landing in front of Celia.
And seeing Celia push herself up, he scowled.
"This won't do. I think I've been too soft in your training."
At those words, Celia's body, which had been about to raise her sword, flinched and froze.
"From now on, I'll have to be even more thorough."
Celia's body trembled.
"Don't... be... ridiculous!"
Flames of aura erupted from Celia's body.
The crimson flames of Jerdinger pushed back the blue flames.
Fwoosh-!
Even the high-grade spirit sword and dress were pushed back by Celia's flames.
"When were you ever soft on me! You were always viciously tormenting me! And what? You'll be even more thorough? Are you even human!"
Celia shrieked, pointing an accusing finger at Leo.
"You've finally come to your senses."
Leo said indifferently, crossing his arms.
"The fact that your body was taken over is proof you're lacking. To build grit, pushing you hard is the best way."
"Do you have any idea how much of an old geezer you sound like sometimes?!"
Celia shouted, stomping her foot with an incredulous look on her face.
Looking at her, Leo said.
"By the way."
"What!"
"You should put something on."
"...?"
At his words, Celia looked down at her body with a puzzled expression.
And her face turned bright red.
"Wh-what is this!"
As Celia hugged herself and squatted down, Leo said nonchalantly.
"It seems that dress burned away all your clothes."
"That perverted spirit! I'll kill it!"
Shaking his head at Celia, whose eyes glinted as she radiated killing intent, Leo took out some clothes from his subspace, handed them to her, and turned away.
After hastily putting on the clothes, Celia let out a deep sigh.
"Anyway. What should we do about the Spirit of Purification?"
Seeing Celia's worried expression, Leo said.
"You won't have to worry about that."
"Huh?"
Just as Celia looked puzzled.
Ruuuuuumble-
Suddenly, the palace began to shake.
Celia's face filled with alarm.
"What's going on?"
"The spirit's domain is collapsing."
This place isn't just a palace; it's a space connected to Ista, the Spirit of Purification.
When Ista suddenly loses control over it, it collapses.
"W-what do we do? Shouldn't we escape?"
"It's a spirit's domain, so escaping would actually be more difficult. We just have to stay put."
"Just stay put?! What if we get caught in the collapse!"
"It's just a building collapsing."
"This huge palace is collapsing, and you say 'just'?!"
Leo casually sat down on a chair in the corner of the room as if to ask, 'What's the problem?'
"This much won't kill you."
"No! But what if we get seriously injured!"
"How did I train you? You'd get seriously injured from being caught in a collapse of this scale? That would just mean your training was insufficient."
"Hey! You really...!"
Kra-ka-ka-ka-boom-!
Celia, her face pale, screamed.
And then, the palace of Tungken collapsed.
***
"What's happening?!"
Abad, who had rushed over, stared at the collapsed palace with a look of disbelief.
Despite the massive palace collapsing, there was no damage to the surroundings.
Literally, only the palace had collapsed, cleanly.
Rattle- Rattle-
Then, amidst the ruins of the palace, something stirred.
Kra-ka-ka-kak-!
"Seriously!"
Celia, bursting out from the pile of rubble, looked utterly exasperated.
"When a palace is collapsing, you should be thinking about escaping! Who in the world lets themselves get buried just because they know they won't die!"
"Celia! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine..."
Seeing Abad rush over, grab her by the shoulders, and look her over, Celia looked flustered.
Abad sighed in relief.
"You're safe."
Though they had known each other for a long time, Celia had never seen this side of Abad. She averted her gaze, scratching her cheek in embarrassment.
"Of course. I'm perfectly fine."
"What about Leo?"
Chelsea hurried over.
"Leo is..."
"He's over there."
The one who answered was none other than Anyas.
"Who?"
"Anyas Vegus?"
At the sudden appearance of the half-elf, Celia looked puzzled, and Abad looked baffled.
Smiling at the two of them, Anyas spotted Leo sitting cross-legged atop the highest point of the rubble and murmured.
"It looks like a throne."
An overwhelming sense of pressure emanated from Leo, who sat there with a composed expression.
Meanwhile, in Leo's eyes, he could see Ista, subdued by the high-grade fire spirits, kneeling on the ground amidst the ruins.
Elsie stood before her.
Alsia knelt before Elsie and spoke.
-Our new master.
-Our master.
All the fire spirits in Ista's domain were kneeling to Elsie.
Watching the scene, Laruel wore an expression of disbelief.
-My word... A great spirit of darkness is ruling over fire spirits...
Was such a thing even possible?
Looking at the thrilling sight, Leo let out a smirk.
"Come to think of it, I believe I've heard of such a being in the distant past."
The noblest of spirits.
A legendary being who ruled over all spirits.
A name forgotten in this era.
"The Spirit King."
Elsie's figure, bathed in the moonlight, brought back memories of the past, 5000 years ago.
'She took control of the Undead King's army and led an impossible battle to victory.'
But as a price for using too much power, Elsie, too, had perished.
Watching Elsie, Leo stood up.
It was then.
"Leo!"
Chelsea ran toward him, her face urgent.
"Lady Reina! Lady Reina's been kidnapped!"
At those words, all expression vanished from Leo's face.
Goooooooo-
Thud-
Chelsea, who had been approaching Leo, suddenly found her legs giving out from under her, and she collapsed.
It wasn't just Chelsea.
Everyone nearby gasped.
Swoooosh-
The wind blowing under the moonlight scattered his white hair.
A sharp glint shone in Leo's red eyes.
"What did you say?"