Book 1 Chapter 607

"It seems like everyone had a reasonably good day today."

Celia, who had arrived first at the meeting spot and was waiting for the group, mumbled as she watched them return.

Avad, sitting on the bench, smiled at her words.

"Moreover, they seem a bit softer than yesterday. Was the hardship worth it?"

In the first place, the knights of Zerdinger and the wizards of Lwalin were of similar age, so if there was an opportunity to get closer, they could become friends quickly.

Celia and Avad, who had doubted whether it would have a significant effect, were surprised.

"Will those two be okay too?"

At Celia's words, Avad's face clouded slightly.

Niel and Matchel.

They were the two people Celia and Avad trusted the most, and they were the most worried about.

"The ones who haven't arrived yet are Chelsea and Leo. Is it Matchel and Senior Niel?"

As Avad looked puzzled, four people appeared in the distance.

"You're late."

Celia narrowed her eyes as she looked at Leo, who had arrived in front of her.

"Sorry, sorry. Something came up this morning, and I was a bit flustered."

"What happened?"

Leo glanced back.

There, Niel and Matchel stood with their heads turned away from each other.

"We stayed in the same lodging as last night. There was a bit of an accident then."

"Ugh? Did those two fight again?"

"Don't worry, they've made up. They'll get along from now on."

"That's a relief, but…"

Celia looked between the two people, from whom a cold wind seemed to be blowing.

"They seem even colder than yesterday?"

Celia tilted her head.

Leo glanced at the two.

'Young Master Leo. Please keep what happened today a secret from Miss Celia.'

'How can I keep it a secret?'

'What happened today was a mistake due to alcohol. So…!'

'It must have been something that required good coordination for a mistake.'

'Young Master!'

Remembering his conversation with Niel, Leo chuckled.

'Well, even though they said they hated each other to death, they couldn't let go of their lingering feelings. So, it will be just as quick for them to become close again.'

Leo, who had decided to keep Niel and Matchel's affair a secret for the time being, spoke.

"It looks like everyone is here. Shall we go then?"

The pristine building of Retin appeared before their eyes.

Behind it, a grand palace could be seen.

The royal palace of the old Tongken Kingdom.

Decades ago.

When it was destroyed by the invasion of Tartarus, the Tongken royal palace was also sealed shut.

"It's sealed."

Avad, who had come next to Leo, looked up at the Tongken royal palace and murmured softly.

"Looking at the power sealing the royal palace, it's definitely the power of a spirit."

"But they used magical formations to wield that power. I saw it in a book before, but it's amazing to see it in person."

Chelsea, picking up on Avad's words, exclaimed.

Hearing their words, Leo said,

"It is indeed surprising."

Celia, listening to the three of them, tilted her head.

"Combining spirit magic with magical formations is Wardens' specialty, isn't it? Is that so surprising?"

"Wardens use it simply, but it's an amazing ability."

"What?"

"Even spirit mages, who are dual-class users of both magic and spirits, cannot wield magic solely with the power of spirits."

"Don't mana and spirit power retain the exact properties of mana?"

"That's right. Mana amplified by magic power, and mana resonated by spirit power. Both powers, unlike aura which is contained and processed by the body, retain the exact properties of mana. So, at first glance, it's easy to think they are similar powers, but amplification and resonance have distinctly different wavelengths."

"So, a spirit summoned by spirit magic resonates with the summoner's spirit power and is summoned, meaning the summoned spirit's power cannot activate magical formations? Because the wavelengths are different?"

"That's right."

"Then what about Wardens?"

"Wardens amplify the spirit power resonated by spirit power again."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

Like the excellent student Celia, she quickly grasped how technically unstable Warden's ability was from Leo's simple explanation.

"That's why Wardens are amazing."

The basic of special abilities is the ability to awaken mana.

Depending on the user's inclination, mana is divided into aura, magic power, and spirit power.

Occasionally, there are individuals who can awaken mana into other forms, and these are dual-class users.

However, making an already awakened ability similar to another form is a different matter entirely.

An ability that can cause mana surges if done incorrectly.

Celia was once again astounded by Warden's ability, which they had used as if it were natural since their first year.

"Is that an impossible ability for you too?"

"It's possible. Not just me. There are rare individuals who can amplify spirit power to match magical formations. However, they don't have the same efficiency as Wardens."

It's an ability only Wardens can achieve.

Even Lisinas, whom Leo knew as one of the strongest summoners and mages, would find it difficult to imitate Warden's spirit magic.

'Well, he's a monster who contracted with a great spirit from his second year.'

Although Leo, who reincarnated, has a contract with the three great divine beasts, Wardens contracted with a great spirit purely with their own power, unlike Leo.

'If nothing else, if I weren't here, Wardens would have been the strongest in our grade.'

"So? I understand that it's difficult to activate magical formations with spirit power. Then what is that sealing magic in the castle?"

"That's when a spirit used magical formations."

"What?"

Celia's expression turned surprised.

"The Great Spirit of Fire, the Spirit of Purification, is famous among summoners and mages for being a spirit that uses magic. Well, it's a spirit that hasn't shown itself to the world for a very long time, so those not interested in this field wouldn't know."

"A being as powerful as a Great Spirit used magic?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't know. That's why it's so fascinating."

Spirits are exceedingly natural beings.

They are beings only interested in harmonizing the world.

And magic is a technique that twists the laws of nature.

As such, spirits are inherently not very interested in magic.

Crucially, magic was created by terrestrial races to imitate the power of spirits.

Over a long period, magic has moved beyond merely imitating spirit power.

However, its fundamental basis has not changed.

Therefore, most things that magic can do, spirits can also do.

Consequently, spirits have no need to learn magic.

Yet, it is astonishing that a being as powerful as a Great Spirit has learned magic.

"Anyway, it's still a hot topic of debate in the magical academic community. Whether spirits have magical talent."

"We've conducted experiments, but most have failed."

"Hmm. Magical talent for spirits. That sounds interesting."

As Avad, Chelsea, and Leo talked only about magic academy related topics, Celia, who was watching, grabbed Leo's arm and pulled him towards her.

"Why?"

"You're a direct descendant of Zerdinger. This way, the balance is right."

Feeling left out of the magic conversation she couldn't participate in, Celia grumbled.

Leo chuckled at that.

Seeing that, Chelsea said,

"Regardless, due to that magic, the Spirit of Purification once had a reputation as the strongest Great Spirit. Tartarus also invaded this place, the stronghold of Istar, the Spirit of Purification, twice for that reason."

After the first battle, Tongken was founded, and after the second, Tongken was destroyed.

Hearing Chelsea's words, Celia said,

"Once the strongest spirit. The Great Spirit called the strongest now is the Great Spirit of Water, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's right. Undine, the Spirit of the Deep Sea."

Elsi, having listened to Chelsea and Celia's conversation, said.

-The Great Spirit of Water seems to have a very humble personality right now? For a Great Spirit to use the same name as a low-level spirit.

The Spirit of the Deep Sea was famous for using the same name as low-level water spirits.

Given that Great Spirits are fundamentally proud, this was a highly unusual occurrence.

-It's because she's a pretense.

Laruel, who was acquainted with the Spirit of the Deep Sea, said coldly.

-Hmm. Let me see. The currently existing Great Spirits are Istar, the Great Spirit of Fire, the Spirit of Purification. Sylphet, the Great Spirit of Wind, the Spirit of Gentle Wind. Titaum, the Great Spirit of Earth, the Unbreakable. Undine, the Great Spirit of Water, the Spirit of the Deep Sea. Ignitus, the Great Spirit of Darkness, the Abyss. And then there's you, Laruel?

-Yes. Istar has a bad temper, and Sylphet is rude. Undine is a pretense, and Ignitus is sinister. Titaum is, well, relatively decent. We'll have to wait and see what happens with him, as he's the youngest Great Spirit.

-Aren't your evaluations of your fellow Great Spirits a bit harsh?

As Elsi gave a troubled smile, Laruel said,

-Because it's the truth. They are such base creatures that you, Lady Elsi, would not even spare a glance at them.

Laruel deeply respected the nobility of Elsi, who was like an ancient senior.

-Ignitus was a good spirit.

Elsi smiled faintly, recalling Ignitus, a direct junior she had met.

Indeed, when they first met, Ignitus disliked people.

However, after talking with Elsi, he has been staying in Lumern and is looking for a contractor.

Hearing Elsi's words, Laruel looked at her with admiration.

-Ah, as expected of you, Lady Elsi. To give such a generous evaluation even to that gloomy spirit.

-You understand even spirits with ferocious personalities like yourself. If you think about it, aren't you the one who has a bad temper, is rude, is a pretense, and is sinister?

Laruel throttled Kiruan, who was provoking her.

Leo seriously pondered as he looked at the summoned beasts visible only to him.

-What are you contemplating so deeply?

'I intend to make contracts with all the Great Spirits from now on.'

Contracts with Great Spirits were necessary to fully utilize Lisinas's power.

'But I'm worried if it's okay to increase them further.'

The summoned beasts are already so noisy that my head aches.

He was worried if he could handle them if they increased further.

-If that's the case, leave it to me. I'll guide them well.

Elsi smiled brightly.

Leo looked at Elsi with a strange expression.

-Why?

'No. You didn't gain a single subordinate spirit in the past 5,000 years.'

Elsi, who was born in a dying world, never had a subordinate spirit.

'It's nice to see you aiming to take in Great Spirits now, considering that.'

-Hey. How could I take in fellow Great Spirits?

Elsi laughed as if it were absurd.

Then, she said to Laruel and Kiruan, who were causing a commotion.

-Laruel. I'm thirsty.

-I will gather the morning dew for you immediately!

Laruel disappeared like a flash of light.

-Hoooh hooooh hoooong! Thank you. Thank you.

-Stop teasing Laruel. She always gets bullied.

Elsi patted the head of Kiruan, who was clinging to her crying.

-For me to rule over Great Spirits. It's unthinkable.

As Elsi shook her head as if it were impossible, Leo thought.

'Didn't Laruel and Ignitus treat Elsi like a high-ranking spirit already?'

Laruel also follows Elsi.

Elsi can already control the Great Spirits of Light and Darkness as if they were her own subordinates.

'And she also commands the three great divine beasts.'

There has likely never been a spirit like this in history.

'Well, with Elsi around, it shouldn't be a big problem, right?'

Among Leo's contractors, Elsi was undoubtedly the most influential.