Book 1 Chapter 288
288
Everyone wore a bewildered expression, watching Katariu, who was clad in surging white flames.
‘Why was this guy summoned?’
But the most flustered was Leo, who had summoned Katariu.
He had merely used spiritual power to draw out Fiora’s strength even further.
But Katariu was summoned.
And in a contracted form at that.
Leo had never made a contract with Katariu.
It was the same during his time as Kyle.
A contract he didn’t know about had been made.
‘Is something like this… possible?’
Leo stared at Katariu with astonished eyes.
[I ask again, human. Why do you possess the crest of my contract?]
At Katariu’s words, Leo replied.
“I don’t know either. I just used spiritual power to draw out the strength of my contractor.”
[Contractor?]
Katariu glanced at Leo’s sword.
Hwarrk-
The flames surging from the sword soon took the form of a small bird.
“Peep.”
[……]
Seeing the round chick, about the size of an adult man’s fist, Katariu made an exasperated expression.
[A young Phoenix, I see. But why is it so fat?]
“How would I know?”
It was the aftermath of indiscriminately eating snacks given by other students, but Leo was unashamed.
‘It’s not my fault.’
Katariu, who had been watching Fiora for a moment, narrowed her eyes as she looked at Leo.
[Are you, All-Class?]
Katariu’s body was engulfed in flames as she instantly saw through Leo’s abilities.
Thud-!
Landing on the ground was a woman with pure white hair and crimson eyes.
“To think there was an All-Class ability user other than that rude Kyle. How surprising.”
Katariu, who had been gazing at Leo for a moment, narrowed her eyes.
“I ask. Is your family perhaps deeply connected to the Phoenix?”
Katariu saw through the Zerdinger family blood flowing in Leo’s body.
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Indeed. It’s not common, but is it a succession of contracts by inheritance? It seems a contract made by the previous Phoenix King was passed down through your family and awakened in you.”
Katariu was speculating, in her own way, why Leo, who had no contract, had summoned her.
Leo, too, thought to himself about the reason he was able to summon Katariu.
‘I see… Is it because I obtained Lysina’s Dragon Heart?’
Just before the final battle with Erebus.
Leo received the dying Lysina’s Dragon Heart and inherited her power.
A succession by Lysina’s will, not obtained by force.
In that process, he also inherited the contracts Lysina had with spirits and mythical beasts.
Lysina’s magic disappeared as Kyle’s body was consumed.
But the symbol of succession was imprinted on the soul, not the body.
‘Mel said it. Lysina’s magic, inherited in the world of heroes, follows my control.’
The contracts were the same.
It was clear that the contracts Lysina had made in this era recognized Leo as ‘Lysina.’
Leo looked down at his hands.
“Anyway, to have made a contract with a Phoenix, even at that young age.”
Katariu wore an amused expression.
“And to think there was even a Phoenix, seemingly newly born, that I didn’t know about. How curious.”
Peep- Peep-
Fiora, as if curious, flapped her wings and circled Katariu.
A slightly warm emotion arose in Katariu’s eyes, which had been filled with arrogant light.
Katariu was basically ill-mannered, but to her pact-holder and kin, she was a gentle Phoenix.
“I love those with talent.”
The last Phoenix King elegantly extended her foot to Leo.
“I shall grant you the honor of kissing my instep and showing your respects. Oh, pact-holder of the young Phoenix. Of course, after that is done, don’t forget to sever the contract.”
Katariu tilted her head slightly.
“Though you are talented, I have no desire to maintain a contract with a mere human. Especially not a contract I didn’t make myself.”
Peep- Peep!
Fiora, who had somehow walked up to Leo, chirped as if telling him to hurry up and do it.
She hadn’t existed in Fiora’s era, but she instinctively realized Katariu was the Phoenix King and took her side.
“Whose side are you on, exactly?”
Leo sighed and knelt down.
Seeing Leo, Katariu wore a smug expression.
Peck?
Leo simply grabbed Fiora from the floor and rubbed her against Katariu’s face.
“Pooh-hoot?”
Peck-aaaak!
Katariu flailed, and Fiora shrieked.
“You rude brat! Do you know who I am?! Do you wish to become ashes?!”
“Lysina told you not to harm people, didn’t she?”
“You brat! How do you know about the conditions of my pact with Lysina?!”
Peck-peck-peck-peck!
Regardless, he had never met a Phoenix contractor insane enough to think of rubbing his pact-holder on the Phoenix King’s face without fear.
It was while Leo and the two Phoenixes were causing a commotion.
“Ah! Master Arion! What brings you here?”
“You’re safe, Berkia.”
“Of course, I’m safe. Anyway…”
Berka, who had somehow returned, frowned as she looked towards Leo.
“Why is that annoying Phoenix here, and why is it fighting with him?”
“…It seems there’s a complicated reason.”
Arion chuckled awkwardly and scratched his cheek.
Then he mumbled, watching Leo even grab Katariu by the collar.
“He’s just like Kyle.”
Arion smiled gently, looking at the boy he had just met today, who reminded him of his friend in many ways.
***
Crash-!
“Cough?!”
The beastman, struck in the stomach by Ar’s powerful kick, rolled his eyes back and fainted.
Thud-!
Ar, who had landed on the ground, immediately bent her left knee and stretched out her right leg.
Then, using her left foot as a pivot, she spun rapidly like a top.
P-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-!
“Ugh?”
“Gah?!”
The soldiers surrounding Ar lost their balance and fell to the ground from the lightning-fast low attacks.
Ar’s white ears twitched.
Crash-!
A massive battle-axe was embedded in the spot where Ar had been.
“Impressive martial arts.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“And even Master Arion’s beast transformation ability. What is your identity?”
The bulky bear beastman retrieved the battle-axe and his eyes gleamed.
Ar bared her claws, looking at the bear beastman.
“A wonderful woman always has many secrets.”
“Hmph. I’d like to contend with you further, but I cannot allow suspicious individuals to run rampant any longer.”
Whoosh-!
An extraordinary aura and battle intent surged from the bear beastman’s body.
‘This beastman is strong.’
Seeing that, Ar wore a tense expression.
He was different from the riff-raff she had dealt with until now.
Ar, who had been confidently blasting away those in front of her to rescue Eiran, couldn’t help but feel tense.
It was when she was almost at the charging bear beastman’s nose.
“Flame Explosion.”
With the chant, a crimson spark burst in front of Ar’s nose.
Seeing it, Ar recoiled in shock and threw herself aside.
Kagagagagagagagagang-!
“Uwaaaah!”
The bear beastman, directly hit by Lunia’s magic right in front of him, was sent flying and crashed.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
Ar protested, thrusting her face close to Lunia, who calmly replied.
“It’s fine, he won’t die from that.”
Hiss-!
Ar bared her fangs, growling, as Lunia calmly pointed at the black-red charred bear beastman lying on the ground.
“That’s not it! I almost got caught in it too!”
“Surprise attacks should be done when the opponent is off guard, right? When he reached right in front of you, I knew he wouldn’t be paying attention, so a magical attack was effective. I thought your reflexes would be good enough to dodge it.”
“If that was your calculation.”
“Even if you were hit, you would have been fine in your beast-enhanced state.”
“So you used it thinking it didn’t matter if I got caught up in it!”
Ar was agitated.
“Time is of the essence right now! And now, if we just climb those stairs, we’ll be on the first floor!”
Releasing the mana seal, the two broke through the dungeon in literally an instant.
If they had fought the incredibly skilled bear beastman just now, even Ar would have struggled, but Lunia’s magic swiftly broke through even the final gatekeeper.
‘Eiran! Just hold on a little longer!’
It was when Lunia, gritting her teeth, stepped onto the stairs to the first floor.
“You’re causing quite a ruckus.”
“……!”
Despair shadowed Lunia’s face as she saw the dwarf appear before her.
Ar, too, realized that the dwarf was Dweno and bristled her tail.
The entrance to the dungeon was a huge open space.
No one else was present except Dweno.
But Lunia felt an enormous sense of despair.
The one before her was none other than the legendary great hero.
No matter how much Lunia and Ar struggled, he was an insurmountable being.
‘First, a retreat…!’
The moment Lunia quickly scanned her eyes, thinking of an escape route.
Whoosh! Crash-!
A massive axe flew and embedded itself in the spot Lunia thought was a gap.
“It would be unwise to even think of escaping.”
Dweno, accurately sensing Lunia’s intention, blocked her path.
It was when Lunia gritted her teeth.
“Representative of Seirun. Go first.”
Ar stepped forward.
“I’ll try to stop Lord Dweno!”
“You can’t do it alone!”
Ar grinned at Lunia’s urgent shout.
“It’s impossible for both of us anyway, since the opponent is Lord Dweno.”
“……!”
“But I can at least create an escape route for you.”
Ar stepped forward.
Dweno cocked his head, looking at Ar.
“A reckless little kitten.”
“Lord Arion would never have run away in this situation…”
“What nonsense, he would have run away immediately.”
“…….”
Ar, who was about to speak about the Arion she knew but was contradicted before she could finish, became speechless.
“Lord Arion is not such a cowardly man…!”
“He is the most cowardly man.”
“Don’t insult Lord Arion!”
Agitated, Ar puffed up her fur and hissed-!
“That idiot…!”
Lunia buried her face in her hands, watching Ar.
“An interesting young lady!”
Dweno chuckled, yet his eyes sharpened.
‘Beast transformation even when it’s not a full moon?’
Dweno glanced up at the sky, then looked at Ar charging towards him.
Ar seemed to be charging at Dweno recklessly, but in fact, she was moving along a meticulously planned route.
‘She’s trying to keep me busy so I can’t interfere with that elf girl.’
Dweno curled up the corners of his mouth, watching Ar’s sharp eyes observe his movements.
‘That elf girl was amazing, but this beastman girl is also remarkable.’
She was truly worthy of being called hope.
Flash-!
Ar’s movements changed rapidly.
She moved changefully, dazzling Dweno’s eyes.
‘I have to create even a small opening!’
Ar broke out in a cold sweat.
She knew the gap between herself and Dweno without being told.
He wasn’t a great hero simply because he created divine-grade artifacts.
He was a true warrior, one of the strongest legends who stood on the front lines with Arion and the subjugation force.
Thwack-!
Ar’s fist aimed for Dweno’s face.
And it was when she prepared for Dweno’s counterattack and tensed her body.
Kwaaaang-!
Whoosh!
“……!”
With a massive sound, a powerful blast of wind pushed away all the surrounding dust.
Ar’s eyes widened.
Surprisingly, Ar’s powerful fist was accurately embedded in Dweno’s cheek.
But Dweno didn’t budge, like a rock.
Ar felt goosebumps all over her body, seeing Dweno, who didn’t even flinch from an attack imbued with all her might.
And another nickname for Dweno, the Divine Blacksmith, flashed through her mind.
If the hero Arion was a warrior who butchered enemies on the front lines and held them back.
The Divine Blacksmith Dweno was…
‘The Absolute Shield… who blocked any attack…!’
The pillar of the great heroes who took on the toughest tasks in battle.
He didn’t budge at all from Ar’s full-power strike.
“Excellent.”
Dweno, who complimented Ar’s attack, simply grabbed Ar’s wrist.
Crash-!
“Cough!”
And then slammed Ar into the ground.
It was while Ar was writhing in pain.
Whoosh-!
The holy flame flashed.
‘This magic formula?’
Dweno, sensing familiarity in the magic formula, wore a surprised expression.
Kagagagagagang-!
Phoenix flames enveloped Dweno.
Flicker-!
But golden flames erupted from Dweno’s hand and swallowed Lunia’s magic.
“Welcome. To be a natural user of flames.”
Dweno smiled warmly, gritted his teeth, and looked at Lunia.
“Elves have a strong sense of kinship. Weren’t you going to rescue your captured friend?”
“I will go and rescue her. With her.”
Lunia gritted her teeth and shouted.
“That’s impossible. It’s true you are remarkable. But by my standards, you are just chicks. There would have been a possibility if one of you had given up.”
Dweno said coldly.
Dweno nudged Ar with his foot, who was at his feet, and said.
“You’ll be captured by my hands anyway, but if you’re going to give up, wouldn’t it be better to give up on this friend?”
“Don’t… make me laugh!”
Flash-!
Shards of light appeared around Lunia.
‘My flames won’t work on Lord Dweno! Then…!’
She had to face him with star magic.
Dweno’s complexion changed, seeing the shards of light that resembled starlight in the night sky.
‘Indeed, this magic is…’
The shards of starlight flew towards Dweno.
“Hmph.”
Dweno inhaled.
“WAAAK!”
With a scream that could tear ears, Lunia’s magic formula was destroyed.
“Crude.”
Lunia’s face was filled with terror, seeing Dweno, who had destroyed the magic formula with a mere shout.
‘This is… a Great Hero… the skill of the one who saved the world.’
It was strength that went beyond common sense, far beyond.
“It would be better for your health to give up and be captured obediently.”
Dweno said coldly.
***
As the commotion outside quieted down, Kal cautiously headed outside with Driana.
Kal, who came out to the first floor, turned pale at the sight before his eyes.
Ar was hanging limply, clutched by the collar in the hand of a dwarf.
Lunia was pressed down on her back by the dwarf, gasping for breath.
The dwarf, who had subdued the strongest second-year students of Seirun and Azonia as if dealing with children, had not a single scratch on his body.
“Did you two also escape from prison?”
Dweno’s emotionless gaze turned towards Kal and Driana.
The two’s eyes were filled with fear.
A powerful pressure resided in Dweno’s single word.
A power that made them lose their will to fight.
Their magic suppressed, they couldn’t resist and faced absolute terror head-on.
But Kal clutched the crossbow he had obtained while escaping the prison.
Driana was terrified and didn’t know what to do.
‘Normally, that girl’s reaction would be correct.’
When encountering overwhelming despair.
People collapse.
That’s normal.
Dweno’s eyes narrowed.
And he looked at the utterly shabby human mage boy.
‘But how can he even think of fighting in this situation?’
Grab-!
At that moment, Ar, who had completely lost her strength, grabbed Dweno’s wrist.
Ar’s blue eyes gleamed.
Groan-!
Lunia, too, who was being stepped on by Dweno’s foot, squeezed out mana.
‘Is it recklessness born of ignorance?’
Do these children not know their own strength?
He thought that but then shook his head.
‘No, these children seem to know my strength better than anyone.’
At first, in the realm of spirits, Lunia and Driana surrendered immediately without any resistance.
It was the same when they escaped from prison.
The moment they encountered him, the two girls felt deep despair.
These boys and girls knew his strength far better than Dweno thought.
Yet, they refuse to give up and steel their will to fight.
“It would be easier if you gave up. What stubborn foolishness.”
Dweno wore a look of disdain.
“I know someone… who absolutely never gives up.”
At that moment, Lunia, who was being trampled under Dweno’s foot, spoke with difficulty.
Her eyes gleamed with determination.
“I don’t want to be ashamed in front of him.”
Dweno gazed down at Lunia.
Then he looked at Ar, who was holding his wrist.
‘Girls who remind me of Arion and Luna… But…’
Dweno’s eyes narrowed.
‘Their gazes resemble Kyle’s. Even that mage boy over there.’
It was when Dweno curled up the corners of his mouth.
“That’s enough.”
A defiant voice was heard.
Lunia, Ar, Kal, and Driana widened their eyes and turned their heads.
Dweno realized that the human boy who appeared had the same clothes as Kal.
“Are you part of the prison breakers? It seems you’ve come to rescue your friends.”
Leo stood before Dweno.
“Berka has returned to Guardsron with Arion.”
Leo didn’t even flinch at Dweno’s murderous voice.
“And wouldn’t it be quite unpleasant for you, who loves beautiful things, to ruin those kids?”
“You speak as if you know me well.”
Dweno tilted his head and generated mana.
Flicker-!
Golden flames flared up, intending to turn Leo into ashes.
“Leo!”
Kal shouted urgently.
But Dweno’s flames did not burn Leo.
“Is this enough for the test?”
“…Aren’t you scared?”
Dweno chuckled hollowly and asked, but Leo shook his head.
“Not really.”
Leo said from within Dweno’s flames.
“The essence of flames isn’t destruction, is it?”
At those words, Dweno narrowed his eyes.
“You… who are you?”
“My name is Leo Plob.”
Leo calmly introduced himself to Dweno’s question.
Dweno, who had been staring intently at Leo, pointed at the other party members.
“Then who are these children?”
Leo smiled faintly at Dweno’s question.
“Hope.”