Book 1 Chapter 59

"Surprise."

Leo, who had closed the door and turned around, was startled to see Rune standing there silently.

"Did you really talk with Eiran until now?"

"Yes."

"Ooooh…!"

Rune put on an emotional expression, then took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his tears.

"It's been so long since that child talked to someone like this! I heard they couldn't even make proper friends at school!"

Leo clicked his tongue as he watched Rune, who was moved with a grandfatherly face.

"I know you're busy, but you should pay more attention to your granddaughter."

"I wish I could, but my work is very busy… My son and daughter-in-law also lost their lives in an accident, so I haven't been able to pay much attention to my granddaughter."

Rune, who had a bitter smile, then laughed.

"I wanted to stimulate that child, but it seems they've opened up to you more than I expected. Well then! I want to repay you! I'll do anything I can!"

"…Is it okay for the chairman of a national council to make such a promise carelessly?"

"What's not okay about it!"

'This elf is surprisingly doting.'

"I don't really want anything. I didn't do anything amazing."

"The young man has no greed. And he's humble, too! I like it!"

Rune patted Leo's shoulder, *tap, tap!*

"But this is a small token of my appreciation as a grandfather. If you don't want anything, I'd like to give you a magic item that might be helpful. One more thing, Leo. In elven society, refusing a gift is considered rude."

"Then I'll gratefully accept it."

Rune smiled as if genuinely delighted.

"Let's go to our family's treasure vault."

'It feels like I'm receiving a gift from my rich friend's grandfather.'

Leo followed Rune with a look of disbelief.

Rune led Leo to the mansion's basement and opened a magic door, guiding Leo inside.

As expected of the most prestigious elven family, the interior of the treasure vault was luxurious.

"Treasures of our family are keys to opening the world of our ancestors' heroes, so I can't give them to you… but I can certainly gift you items like these."

Rune pointed to the magic items displayed in cabinets near the entrance of the treasure vault and smiled.

They were all amazing items.

Leo admired them and looked at them one by one.

Then, he suddenly stopped in front of a fist-sized blue gem.

'This is…'

"That was obtained by the previous head of our family 1000 years ago. It's a jewel imbued with the power of a fairy. It's a precious item, but its use is unknown. Do you like it?"

Rune asked with a slightly puzzled expression.

"It's quite beautiful."

"Yes. The fairy carved inside the gem is beautiful."

It was as Rune said.

Inside the gem, a small fairy was curled up, eyes closed, as if sleeping.

"I'll take this one."

Rune was surprised by his words.

"Are you sure? It's a precious item, but its use beyond that…"

"It's fine. I like this one."

"If you like it, then."

Rune nodded and took a jewelry box from the display cabinet, handing it to Leo.

Leo received it and fiddled with the jewel.

'It's certain. It's not a carving.'

Leo laughed inwardly.

'This is a real fairy.'

***

Upon returning from the Ersar family, Leo ate dinner first.

'If I break the seal on the jewel, I think I can contract with a fairy?'

His mind was filled with contracting with a fairy.

After dinner, Halind and Sena visited their lodging to relay some information.

"This is an announcement. As you all know, the school trip is also part of education."

Halind said, glancing at the students in charge.

"I don't expect any students in our class to have the naive thought that they're just here for fun."

At that, some people looked guilty.

"Starting tomorrow, wake-up time is 6 AM. After waking up, completing breakfast and personal grooming, you will go to Fairy Forest at 7:30 AM for individual training."

"Individual training?"

"We're already doing enough of that at school."

Some students looked puzzled.

"I know you are conducting your individual training according to the curriculum. However, during the school trip, we plan to focus on supplementing your weaknesses. There will be monsters in Fairy Forest, so practical training will also be possible."

"Ah."

"In that case, then."

"After the morning training, we plan to conduct mission practice in the afternoon."

"Mission practice?"

"Yes. It's about solving the problems of Berkyia's residents."

"Ooh!"

"That is all for the announcement."

Leaving the enthusiastic students behind, Halind called Leo and Nella.

"Take good care of the kids."

"Yes."

"Understood, Professor Halind."

After that, Halind and Sena left the lodging.

"Nella, I'm sorry, but I'm a bit tired, so can I go up early today?"

"Huh? Okay."

Leo asked for Nella's understanding, who was the vice-class representative, and went up to his room.

At that moment, Carl followed.

"Leo, are you going to sleep early?"

"Yeah. Is there something you need?"

In response to Leo's question, Carl grinned and subtly showed something from his pocket.

"Ta-da! Look at this, elven mead."

Carl said in a low voice.

"It's okay to have a drink or two when we've come this far, right?"

Seeing Carl's suggestive question, Leo reached out his hand.

"No. I'll hold onto that for you."

"Huh?"

"You know that drinking is prohibited for first and second-year students."

"Aren't you being too stingy? How can a student live by strictly following school rules? Sometimes you need to break them."

Leo laughed at Carl's pouting face.

"It's early in the school trip, so endure it. What do you think will happen if you get caught early on? I'll keep it until the last day, then we can drink it."

If it were entrusted and caught by Halind, it would be a big problem.

Halind had even designated some students for a personal belongings check before departure.

Carl was included in that group.

Leo was able to avoid the personal belongings check because Halind had shown him trust.

"Tsk, can't be helped. Then, let's have a drink on the last day?"

"Okay."

Carl, looking disappointed, handed the mead to Leo.

Leo returned to his lodging and went straight to his room.

Then, he took out the jewel he received from Rune and flowed his spiritual energy into it.

*Hum-* As he looked at the jewel shining in golden light, Leo narrowed his eyes.

'It's sealed with the magic of the Fairy King.'

This was why the Ersar family thought this gem was simply a jewel imbued with fairy power.

The magic of the Fairy King.

After the Age of Calamity, the Fairy King's contractors disappeared.

Elves also lost the opportunity to encounter the Fairy King's magic, and eventually, the Fairy King's magic also disappeared from records.

'Fairy King's magic is different from fairy magic.'

Fairy magic is merely a branch derived from the Fairy King's magic.

'It's not for nothing that the Fairy King, Phoenix Lord, and Elder Pegasus are called the three strongest mythical beasts.'

Furthermore, the power felt from the jewel was very familiar to Leo.

'Silod's mana.'

A fairy who was the successor of the Fairy King during the Age of Calamity.

A fairy that Leo, as Luna's sworn ally, had seen several times.

She was also a fairy who still held the position of Fairy King in the current era.

'By the way, why is this fairy sealed without wings?'

Leo felt a question about the sealed fairy.

If the Fairy King sealed it personally, there would be various reasons.

However, the only thought that came to mind was that she was a 'sinner.'

Leo, with a puzzled expression, flowed more spiritual energy into it.

Leo concentrated and moved the spiritual energy embedded in the jewel.

As if unlocking a lock.

He began to unravel Silod's magic using spiritual energy.

This was the only way someone like Leo, who knew about the Fairy King's magic, could do it.

A moment later.

*Woong-!*

A magic circle appeared on the surface of the jewel.

'I've broken through the first stage.'

Leo clicked his tongue as he looked at the magic circle that appeared on the surface.

'With my current strength, it will be difficult to break the seal.'

Even though he had the knowledge, he absolutely lacked the strength to break the seal.

As he clicked his tongue, Leo saw his right hand glowing.

Looking at his backhand with surprise, a summoning circle in fairy language appeared there.

'Fairy King's pact?'

The Fairy King's pact, obtained as a reward for conquering the hero's world during the entrance exam, reacted.

*Hwaak-!*

The jewel emitted a powerful golden light.

"Kkuh?"

At that light, Leo closed his eyes without realizing it and stepped back.

After a moment, the light subsided, and Leo opened his eyes and looked at the jewel.

*Kkadeuk-!*

As if an egg were hatching, the surface of the jewel began to crack.

"The seal is broken?"

*Jiiing-!*

The jewel floated in the air.

And the cracked fragments continued to flow down.

*Peoseok-!*

Along with it, the jewel shattered like a broken glass ball.

The fairy, who had been curled up inside the jewel, slowly unfurled.

The fairy boy, who looked slightly younger than Leo in human terms, stretched with a groan.

Then, he opened his golden eyes and looked around.

[Has my father finally released me from the seal?]

The fairy, speaking with a somewhat mischievous voice, spotted Leo and crossed his arms.

[What is this insignificant human doing in front of me?]

"What are you?"

[This body?]

In response to Leo's question, the fairy let out a smirk.

[Hmph. Insignificant human. You dare to try and know this body's identity. How audacious. But since I'm in a good mood after being released from the seal, I'll tell you. You'll probably faint if you know this body's identity.]

"What's your identity?"

[This body is the first son of the great golden Fairy King Silod and the successor to the Fairy King! I am Kirian, the silver fairy!]

Kirian said with a stern face and tilted his chin up.

[You look surprised. Well, as an insignificant human, it can't be helped. Even elves rarely get to see the face of a successor to the Fairy King in this era when they are seldom seen. How surprised you must be…]

*Thwack-!*

[Gyaak!]

"Silod treated me politely, so why is his son so arrogant?"

Leo frowned and slapped Kirian away like he was swatting a fly.

Silod, who had fallen miserably onto the table, bristling, lifted his head.

[You dare to commit violence against me, the successor to the Fairy King! I will never let you go…]

*Thwack-!*

[Gasp!]

This time, Leo hit Kirian with a textbook he had taken out earlier.

It happened to be a summoning textbook.

"Are you going to say arrogant things?"

[You! You! Insolent! To commit violence twice against this body, a Fairy Prince…!]

*Thwack-!*

[The fairies will not forgive you…!]

*Thwack-!*

[Are you not afraid of repercussions…!]

*Thwack-!*

[I will not let you go…]

*Thwack-! Thwack-! Thwack-! Thwack-!*

By now, Kirian was foaming at the mouth and unconscious.

"What kind of kid is so arrogant? Is he really Silod's son?"

Leo looked down at the unconscious Kirian with a bewildered expression.

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