Book 1 Chapter 534

534.

Sreung-!

Leo, who had drawn Bihart's dagger, stared blankly at its blade.

Leo examined the sword back and forth before swinging it into the air.

Sak-!

The sound of it cutting through the air echoed sharply.

It was Dweno's work, and no one else's.

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

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

‘It wasn’t my imagination.’

A very fleeting moment earlier.

Bihart's dagger had clearly reacted to something.

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

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

It was while Leo was silently looking at the dagger.

Knock-knock-

"Young Master Leo, may I come in?"

"Come in."

Kwang-!

Chen Sia opened the door and entered.

She then made a subtle expression upon finding Leo standing stiffly in the middle of the room.

"Aren't you going to change your clothes?"

Leo was still wearing Lunia's school uniform.

"I have something to think about," Leo said calmly, crossing his arms.

His pure white hair, grown long by magic for his disguise, fell over Leo's face as he slightly bowed his head, still wearing Seirun's white school uniform. It shimmered like snow.

In addition to that, his skin was pure white.

His fiery red eyes were even more striking than usual.

"I realize it anew every time, but Young Master Leo is a pretty boy, and when you're dressed like that, you look very elegant."

Saying that, Chen Sia approached Leo from behind and braided his hair.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought braided hair would suit you too."

At her words, Leo shook his head.

Then his hair scattered.

Leo opened a subspace with magic and pulled out a pair of pants to put on.

Leo tied the long, loose drawstrings of his pants and threw his skirt onto the bed.

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

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

Leo massaged his shoulders, craning his neck back and forth, and circulated his aura.

Udeuk! Udeudeuk! Udeuk! Udeuk!

The sound of bones echoed throughout his body.

Then Leo's physique began to grow.

Soon, Leo, back to his original physique, stretched and mumbled.

"It hurts like hell."

Chen Sia gasped in admiration at Leo's grumbling.

"I felt it a little while ago, but it's really amazing. To change your skeletal structure with aura. Is it an aura skill Young Master Leo created?"

"Do you think I'd create something so useless?"

"Then?"

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

"Master Dweno?"

"Correct."

‘True beauty must transcend the time of the body! There’s no need for past appearances created by magic and illusion! That’s why I created this technique that can reverse the body’s time using aura!’

"It was a technique that started from that old man's perverted ideology. The problem is that it's difficult to master, so no one can learn it rashly."

"Hmm."

Leo used Dweno's aura skill to return to his appearance of a few years ago.

Since his physique had returned to a time similar to Lunia's, he was able to borrow Lunia's school uniform without much discomfort.

Chen Sia was skilled with her hands and tailored Eiran's clothes to fit herself.

"Can I learn that too?"

"Of course, you can definitely learn it. Why?"

"I thought it would be convenient in many ways if I mastered it."

"Is there a need for that? Even now, if you're with a first-year, you look younger."

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

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

Looking at Chen Sia, Leo said indifferently.

"It means you look young."

"Where is a teenager who looks young? Who looks young?"

For Chen Sia, who was teased for looking the same age as Chelsea, it was not a welcome remark.

Leo flicked Chen Sia's forehead with his finger.

Chen Sia rubbed her forehead, snorted, and turned her head away abruptly.

"Are you sulking?"

"I don't know."

Leo said, looking at Chen Sia's coy reaction.

"Don't be like that, come here. I need to talk to you."

"With me?"

Chen Sia wore a puzzled expression.

As Leo pulled up a chair and sat down, Chen Sia sat on the bed in Leo's room.

Leo showed Chen Sia Bihart's dagger and said, "This is the dagger I gave to Bihart as a gift."

"Ah…"

Chen Sia's eyes widened slightly at the mention of it being a dagger used by an ancestor.

"And the moment I entered Eldon, this dagger reacted. It was brief, but I also felt Bihart's aura. What do you think about that?"

At Leo's question, Chen Sia thought for a moment before opening her mouth.

"Master Bihart's death was due to the battle with Master Berkia, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

Originally, it wouldn't have been strange if the Shan Empire and the Ersar family had become sworn enemies.

But due to the nature of the Shan Empire, they had no choice but to conceal everything.

"…Did Master Bihart harbor resentment towards Master Berkia?"

"If it's the Bihart I know, he wouldn't have."

Leo's eyes sank slightly.

"Instead, he would have felt regret."

"That's also part of lingering attachment," Chen Sia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Assuming Master Berkia is here. Could Young Master Leo's spirit summoning have been activated?"

"Is that what you think too?"

"Yes."

Leo didn't have deep knowledge about spirit summoning either.

Of course, he knew more than most summoners, but even so, as Leo didn't have the abilities of a spirit summoner, he hadn't delved deeply into it.

However, after Lisinas's spirit summoning ability awakened, the situation changed.

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

The reason was simple.

It was to be of some help to Leo.

"First of all, you've summoned Lady Luna before, after all."

Hearing Chen Sia's words, Leo nodded and raised the dagger.

"Are you going to try summoning now?"

"Yes."

Leo nodded and generated spiritual power.

Wooong-!

Bihart's dagger, which had absorbed Leo's spiritual power, began to emit a resonating sound.

‘…If Bihart were to appear as a spirit, what words should I convey to him?’

Should he scold the disciple who ultimately failed to emerge from the darkness?

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

‘Or… should I comfort the one who blames himself for failing to stop Berkia?’

Leo looked at Bihart's dagger with slightly lowered eyes.

A moment later.

Flash-!

Bihart's dagger erupted with a bright light.

When Leo released it, the dagger floated in mid-air.

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

The contract circle was soon absorbed into the dagger.

And then.

Thud-!

Bihart's dagger fell weakly to the floor.

"…"

"…"

Leo and Chen Sia silently stared at the dagger.

"Nothing happened?"

Chen Sia approached the dagger, squatted down, and poked it with her finger.

As expected, there was no reaction.

Seeing that, Leo furrowed his brows.

"That's strange? It was clearly Bihart's aura?"

Chen Sia carefully picked up the dagger.

The dagger still showed no reaction.

"Young Master Leo, here."

Chen Sia hurried over to Leo and handed him the dagger.

Leo, who was staring blankly at the dagger, said, "That's yours now."

"Mine?"

"It's your ancestor's, isn't it?"

Leo said as he put on his top.

"You can use dagger techniques, right?"

"I can, but the problem is my bloodlust gets too strong."

"Train to control that."

"Yes!"

Chen Sia answered energetically and carefully put away Bihart's dagger.

Leo, fully dressed, asked, "Where are Lunia and Eiran?"

"They went to the Eldon Council. They said since they are important figures from Seirun, they needed to make an impression."

"Do we not need to go?"

"Miss Lunia said it seems fine if only they go. They asked us to investigate the city."

"Really?"

Leo, wearing his coat, looked out the window.

Snow had started to fall unnoticed.

"Then, shall we investigate?"

"Yes!"

Leo and Chen Sia left the lodging.

***

Hwiooooo.

"Phew-chew!"

Late at night.

A biting, icy wind blew.

Lunia, who had exited the building, raised her red eyes and looked back.

The building Lunia and Eiran had just left was, quite literally, a palace of extreme splendor.

Other races might have admired its magnificence.

But elves are a race that holds elegance as their aesthetic.

Therefore, an elf who values tradition might have frowned at the extravagant appearance of the palace.

And this building, in particular, was the center of the Pureblood Council, which championed tradition.

‘They kept calling other races’ palaces vulgar and then look at themselves!’

Lunia's face twisted in displeasure.

"Why do we have to curry favor with Eldon's old geezers as soon as we arrive!"

As Lunia fumed, Eiran said in a tired voice, "I guess we have no choice. If we want to freely investigate this city, that is."

"Seriously! I feel like I've gone back to the first semester of my second year!"

Lunia huffed.

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

"…I suppose so."

It was just as Lunia was burying her face in her hands.

Kwang-!

Suddenly, Lunia and Eiran's eyes widened at the sound of an explosion.

Even amidst the blizzard, flames blazed fiercely from the collapsed city wall.

Seeing that, Lunia and Eiran's faces hardened.

"An attack?"

"Could it be Tartarus's attack?"

A sudden, merciless attack, close to terrorism.

The word "demonic act" naturally came to mind for the two girls.

The two of them rushed without hesitation to where the explosion had occurred.

And then…

"Quick! Quick!"

"Hurry before the Purebloods come!"

Lunia and Eiran's mouths hung open as they saw elves stealing from a warehouse over the exploded city wall.

"E-elves?"

Lunia thought, seeing the masked elves robbing.

‘What the hell is wrong with this city?’

Elves robbing elves! It was unimaginable!

As Lunia was aghast.

"Who are you?!"

"Are you Pureblood stooges?!"

Elves wielding swords, who had been guarding the surroundings, quickly surrounded Lunia and Eiran.

"Miss Lunia. What should we do?"

"What do you mean, what to do?"

Lunia's face hardened.

"We can't just quietly get taken, subdue them!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

***

Leo and Chen Sia continued their investigation late at night on the streets.

And they discovered a few facts.

"It's a very wealthy city," Chen Sia said.

As Chen Sia said.

The elves walking the streets appeared noticeably wealthy.

Despite the harsh winter weather, they were all dressed lightly.

It wasn't simply because they were mages.

The clothes they wore were woven from mana, 'Mana Cloth.'

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

Everyone walking the streets wore clothes made of such Mana Cloth.

That's why they were fine in the cold despite wearing thin clothes.

Top-grade Mana Cloth was an item that even most nobles in human society found difficult to acquire.

Considering that where Leo and his companions had settled was not a street where the wealthy lived, they could tell how rich this city was.

"Moreover, it's very extravagant. It's a bit different from the elves I know?"

She looked at the streets with a bewildered expression.

This city looked very respectable on the surface.

The streets were very clean.

As all citizens were star mages, there were many shops related to magic.

Those walking the streets also exuded the demeanor of mages.

However, all the elves were adorned with jewels that showcased their status.

Their faces were filled with a sense of 'privilege.'

Moreover, when night fell, the entire street transformed.

The street of seekers who had been studying magic until daytime was nowhere to be seen, having all turned into pubs.

The entire street was steeped in luxury and pleasure.

Seeing that, Leo realized.

‘This city is essentially like Barharun.’

Outwardly splendid, but rotten within.

Leo's brow furrowed.

He felt an inexplicable foul odor.

‘If it were the current Berkia, he would have burned this city the moment he saw it?’

But this city was fine.

While Leo was pondering.

"Shall we investigate a bit more first?"

"Okay. Should we split up for a bit?"

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

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

To that question, all the elves replied with smiling faces that Eldon was peaceful.

But what about at night?

‘If they drink alcohol, things might be a bit different,’ Chen Sia muttered to herself as she walked the streets after parting ways with Leo.

Kwang-!

She suddenly stopped dead in her tracks at a small explosion sound from afar.

‘An explosion?’

The moment Chen Sia instinctively turned her head towards the direction of the sound.

"What beautiful black hair."

"…!"

Chen Sia felt a shiver run down her spine at the dry voice from behind.

Saraarak-

A cold hand toyed with Chen Sia's hair.

Yet, Chen Sia remained frozen, unable to move.

The hand touching her hair had no life in it.

Chen Sia's body trembled.

The hand that had been touching her hair soon reached Chen Sia's pointed ear.

Saa-

At that moment, Leo's magic unraveled.

The owner of the hand gripped Chen Sia's shoulder.

And turned her body to face him.

Chen Sia, with a pale face, looked up at the person standing beneath the snowy night sky.

"Bihart's descendant is still the same."

A voice filled with longing.

Her eyes held deep sorrow and apology.

Chen Sia uttered the name of the most beautiful elf she knew.

"Ber… kia."