Book 1 Chapter 534

Leo, having drawn Bihar's dagger, gazed at the blade.

After examining the sword here and there, Leo swung it through the air.

*Swish-!*

The sound of it cutting through the air echoed sharply.

This was the work of Dwenno, no one else.

As such, even after thousands of years, the dagger had not forgotten its essence as a weapon.

After swinging the sword through the air a few times, Leo looked at the dagger in his hand again.

'It wasn't my imagination.'

Just a moment ago.

Bihar's dagger had definitely reacted to something.

At the same time, he felt Bihar's aura.

But as if nothing had happened, the dagger was quiet.

Leo was staring at the dagger in silence when…

*Knock knock-*

"Young Master Leo, may I come in?"

"Come in."

*Creeaak-*

Chen Xia opened the door and entered.

Then, seeing Leo standing awkwardly in the center of the room, she wore a subtle expression.

"Aren't you going to change clothes?"

Leo was still wearing Lunia's school uniform.

"I have a few things to think about."

Leo said nonchalantly, crossing his arms.

As Leo tilted his head slightly, wearing Serun's white school uniform, his pure white hair cascaded forward.

The hair, grown magically for disguise, glittered like snow.

Adding to that, his skin was snow-white.

His fiery red eyes, as if about to ignite at any moment, were more striking than usual.

"I'm realizing anew, Young Master Leo, you are a handsome young man, so you look quite elegant dressed like this."

As she said this, Chen Xia approached Leo from behind and braided his hair.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought braided hair might suit you too."

At her words, Leo shook his head.

Then his hair scattered.

Leo opened a spatial rift with magic and put on pants.

After tying the drawstring of his loose, long pants, Leo took off his skirt and threw it onto the bed.

Then he took off his school uniform top and threw it onto the bed.

His firm muscles and abs, hidden beneath the uniform, were revealed.

Leo massaged his shoulders and cracked his neck in various directions, operating his aura.

*Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!*

Bone sounds echoed throughout his body.

Then Leo's physique began to grow.

Finally, Leo returned to his original physique, stretched, and muttered.

"Damn, it hurts."

Chen Xia marveled at Leo's grumbling.

"I felt it just now, but it's amazing. Changing your very skeleton with aura. Is this an aura skill you created, Young Master Leo?"

"Do you think I would create something so useless?"

"Then?"

"There's only one person among us who could create something like this."

"Dwenno-nim?"

"Correct."

'True beauty must transcend the limits of the body's time! Past appearances created by magic and illusion are unnecessary! That's why I created this technique that can turn back the body's time using aura!'

"It was a technique born from that pervert's twisted ideology. The problem is that it's difficult to learn, so not just anyone can learn it carelessly."

"Hmm."

Leo had returned to his appearance from a few years ago using Dwenno's aura skill.

Because his physique had returned to a state similar to Lunia's, he could borrow Lunia's school uniform without much discomfort.

Chen Xia, with her skilled hands, had altered Airan's clothes to fit herself.

"Can I learn that too?"

"Of course, you can definitely learn it, can't you? Why?"

"I think it would be convenient in many ways if I learned it."

"Is there a need for that? You look younger than the first-year students even now."

"Are you saying I look like a child right now?"

Chen Xia narrowed her eyes and poked Leo's side with her finger.

Leo said calmly, watching Chen Xia.

"I mean you look young."

"What kind of teenagers are considered young-looking? Young-looking?"

For Chen Xia, who was often teased for looking like she was the same age as Chelsea, these were not welcome words.

Leo gently tapped Chen Xia's forehead with his finger.

Chen Xia rubbed her forehead, snorted, and turned her head away.

"Are you sulking?"

"I don't know."

Seeing Chen Xia react primly, Leo said.

"Don't be like that, come here. I have something to discuss with you."

"With me?"

Chen Xia looked puzzled.

Leo pulled over a chair and sat down, and Chen Xia sat on the bed in Leo's room.

To Chen Xia, Leo showed Bihar's dagger and said.

"This is the dagger I gifted to Bihar."

"Ah…"

Chen Xia's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the dagger used by her ancestor.

"And the moment I entered Elden, this dagger reacted. For a brief moment, I also felt Bihar's aura. What do you think about that?"

In response to Leo's question, Chen Xia thought for a moment before speaking.

"Bihar-nim died because of the fight with Berchia-nim, right?"

"Yes."

Normally, the Shan Empire and the Ersar family would have become sworn enemies.

However, due to the nature of the Shan Empire, they had to hide everything about themselves.

"…Does Bihar-nim hold a grudge against Berchia-nim?"

"If I know Bihar, he wouldn't."

Leo's eyes darkened slightly.

"Instead, he would have felt pity."

"That's also a part of lingering attachment."

Chen Xia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Assuming Berchia-nim is here. Could it be that Young Master Leo's spiritual summon was activated?"

"You think so too?"

"Yes."

Leo didn't know much about spiritual summoning either.

Of course, he knew more than most summoners, but since he lacked the abilities of a spiritual summoner, he hadn't delved deeply into it.

However, the situation changed after Lisinas's spiritual summoning abilities awakened.

He began to study spiritual summoning, and Chen Xia, who could handle elemental magic, also started studying spiritual summoning with Leo.

The reason was simple.

It was to help Leo even a little.

"After all, you summoned Luna-nim once before."

Leo nodded at Chen Xia's words and raised the dagger.

"Are you going to try and summon him now?"

"Yes."

Nodding, Leo roused his spiritual power.

*Vwoooom-!*

Bihar's dagger, absorbing Leo's spiritual power, began to resonate.

'…If Bihar were to appear as a spirit, what words should I convey to him?'

Should I reprimand the disciple who ultimately couldn't emerge from darkness?

Or should I praise the disciple who dedicated his life to the world?

'Or… should I comfort him, who blames himself for not stopping Berchia?'

Leo gazed at Bihar's dagger with slightly darkened eyes.

A moment later.

*Flash-!*

Bihar's dagger erupted with a bright light.

When Leo let go, the dagger floated in the air.

Around it, a contract circle drawn with Leo's spiritual power was formed.

The contract circle was soon absorbed into the dagger.

And then.

*Thud-!*

Bihar's dagger fell to the ground weakly.

"…"

"…"

Leo and Chen Xia stared at the dagger in silence.

"Nothing happened?"

Chen Xia approached the dagger, crouched down, and poked it with her finger.

As expected, there was no reaction.

Seeing that, Leo furrowed his brow.

"That's strange. It was definitely Bihar's aura."

Chen Xia carefully picked up the dagger.

The dagger still showed no reaction.

"Young Master Leo, here."

Chen Xia rushed up to Leo and handed him the dagger.

Leo gazed at the dagger for a moment and said.

"It's yours now."

"Huh?"

"It's your ancestor's."

Leo said as he put on his top.

"You can use dagger techniques, right?"

"I can use them. The problem is that the killing intent is too strong."

"Train to control it."

"Yes."

Chen Xia answered with determination and carefully put away Bihar's dagger.

After Leo finished dressing, he asked.

"What about Lunia and Airan?"

"Those two went to Elden's council. They said they need to make an impression as prominent figures from Serun."

"Do we not need to go?"

"Lunia said it would be enough if they went alone. They asked us to investigate the city."

"Is that so?"

Leo, putting on his coat, looked out the window.

Snow had already begun to fall.

"Then shall we investigate?"

"Yes!"

Leo and Chen Xia left the inn.

***

*Whooooosh.*

"Pucheew!"

Late at night.

A fierce cold wind blew.

Lunia, who had left the building, looked back with her red eyes wide open.

The building from which Lunia and Airan had exited was, in a word, a palace of extreme luxury.

If it were another race, they might have marveled at the splendor.

But elves are a race that considers elegance their aesthetic.

Therefore, elves who value tradition might have frowned at the sight of the extravagant palace.

And this building, in particular, could be considered the center of the Pure Blood Council, which advocated for tradition.

'They used to curse other races' palaces as vulgar! But look at themselves!'

Lunia's face fell.

"Why do we have to appease the old folks of Elden as soon as we arrive!"

As Lunia grumbled, Airan said in a tired voice.

"It seems unavoidable. If we want to investigate this city freely."

"Seriously! It feels like I've gone back to the first semester of sophomore year!"

Lunia sputtered.

"We'll have to attend the party too, won't we?"

"…We probably will."

It was when Lunia buried her face in her hands.

*KABOOOM-!*

Lunia and Airan's eyes widened at the sudden explosion sound.

Even through the snowstorm, flames raged from the collapsed city wall.

Seeing that, Lunia and Airan's faces stiffened.

"An attack?"

"Could it be Tartarus's attack?"

The sudden, merciless attack, close to terrorism.

The words "work of demons" naturally came to the minds of the two girls.

Without hesitation, they rushed towards where the explosion had occurred.

And then…

"Quick! Quick!"

"Hurry before the Pure Blood Council guys arrive!"

Lunia and Airan's jaws dropped as they saw people raiding a warehouse over the exploded city wall.

"E, Elves?"

Seeing elves engaged in robbery while wearing masks, Lunia thought.

'What the heck is going on in this city?'

Elves robbing elves! It was an unimaginable sight!

As Lunia was shocked,

"Who goes there!"

"Are you a minion of the Pure Blood Council!"

Elves wielding swords, who were guarding the surroundings, quickly surrounded Lunia and Airan.

"Lunia. What should we do?"

"What do you mean, what should we do."

Lunia's face hardened.

"We can't just be captured meekly. Subdue them!"

"Yes!"

***

Leo and Chen Xia continued their investigation in the streets late into the night.

And they learned a few facts.

"It's a surprisingly wealthy city."

It was as Chen Xia said.

The elves coming and going on the street looked wealthy at first glance.

Despite the harsh weather, they were all wearing light clothing.

It wasn't just because they were mages.

The clothes they wore were made of 'Mana Cloth,' woven with mana.

The highest quality Mana Cloth was the fabric used for uniforms at the Hero Academy.

Yet, everyone walking the streets wore clothes made of such Mana Cloth.

Because of this, they were unaffected by the cold even in their thin clothing.

In human society, even most nobles would have difficulty obtaining the highest quality Mana Cloth.

Considering that the place where Leo's party was located was not a district where the wealthy lived, one could understand how wealthy this city was.

"And they are very extravagant. They're a bit different from the elves I know."

She looked at the street with a bewildered expression.

On the surface, this city appeared very respectable.

The streets were exceptionally clean.

As the entire populace were star mages, the streets were filled with shops related to magic.

The people walking the streets also exuded the demeanor of mages.

However, all the elves were adorned with jewels that could showcase themselves.

Their faces were filled with the perception of being 'privileged.'

Furthermore, at night, the entire street transformed.

The streets, which were places of magic exploration until daytime, became bars.

The entire street was immersed in luxury and revelry.

Seeing that, Leo realized.

'This city is fundamentally the same as Barharun.'

Gleaming on the outside, rotten on the inside.

Leo wrinkled his nose.

It felt as if an inexplicable stench emanated from it.

'If Berchia were like this now, he would probably burn this city down the moment he saw it?'

But this city was intact.

While Leo pondered,

"Shall we investigate a bit more?"

"Yes. Shall we split up for now?"

"Yes. We've been moving together, so let's split up and survey the city now."

During the day, they mainly stopped people on the streets and asked if anything unusual was happening in the city.

To these questions, all the elves responded with smiling faces, saying only that Elden was peaceful.

But what about at night?

'If they drink, things might change a little.'

As Chen Xia, having parted ways with Leo, walked down the street, she muttered to herself.

*KABOOOM-!*

She stopped walking at the sound of a small explosion from afar.

'An explosion sound?'

The moment Chen Xia instinctively turned her head towards the source of the sound.

"That's pretty black hair."

"……!"

Chen Xia felt a chill run down her spine at the dry voice from behind.

*Rustle-*

A cold hand played with Chen Xia's hair.

Yet, Chen Xia remained frozen, unable to move.

The hand touching her hair lacked vitality.

The hand touching her hair soon reached Chen Xia's pointed ear.

*Hiss-*

At that moment, Leo's magic was dispelled.

The owner of the hand placed it on Chen Xia's shoulder.

Then they turned her around to face them.

Chen Xia, with a pale face, looked up at the person standing under the night sky where snow was falling.

"Bihar's descendant still endures."

A voice tinged with longing.

Her eyes held deep sadness and apology.

Chen Xia spoke the name of an elf more beautiful than anyone.

"Ber… chia-nim."