Book 1 Chapter 609

Leo looked at the firmly shut entrance of the royal palace.

Behind the Retin Consulate was an entrance connected to the royal palace.

'To be precise, the structure is such that one must pass through the consulate to enter the royal palace. Is this how they guard this palace?'

After the Kingdom of Tunkun fell, this sealed royal palace held many of Tunkun's legacies.

It was natural for the Tussen Knights, who had long searched for the royal family of Tunkun, to guard it.

"Hmm? From up close, the structure of the sealing magic is clearly visible?"

"It seems similar to spirit magic, yet it's different."

Abad and Chelsea exclaimed "Ho! Ho!" and examined the firmly shut palace gate from all angles.

As mages, they seemed intrigued by the magical formation composed of spirits.

"Chloe would have gone crazy if she saw this!"

Leo chuckled at Chelsea's mumbling.

"She might have even set up house here."

Leo recalled his most studious friend from the magic department and looked at Sis.

"Is there a spirit of purification inside this royal palace?"

"Yes, Lord Leo."

After the Kingdom of Tunkun fell.

The Great Fire Spirit, Istar, had also not shown himself.

It seemed he had not left this royal palace since then.

Leo, who had been silently gazing at the magical formation sealing the palace entrance, narrowed his eyes.

Having finished most of the interpretation, Leo muttered.

"It seems only those with qualifications can open it."

"Qualifications?"

Celia tilted her head.

Upon hearing Leo's words, Abad and Chelsea also quickly interpreted the magical formation.

"It looks like a magical formation related to bloodline?"

"Yeah. It seems like only those who carry the blood of the Tunkun royal family can open it."

Abad and Chelsea, guided by Leo's hint, quickly interpreted the entire magical formation.

Leo nodded at their words and reached out his hand to the palace gate, which was made of iron bars.

Clang—!

At that moment, unseen red chains suddenly appeared.

Chains made of spirit power.

Sis, seeing them, muttered in surprise.

"I can't believe it. The palace gate, which hasn't even reacted for decades…!"

Sis looked at Leo with teary eyes.

'As expected, Lord Leo is definitely the Tunkun royal that we have long awaited!'

It was at that moment, as he wore a profoundly moved expression.

Leo put force into opening the palace gate.

Swoosh—!

The red chains were pulled taut.

'It's rejecting me?'

The palace's seal reacted to Leo's hand but did not grant him passage.

The palace entrance remained firmly shut by powerful spirit energy.

Leo, removing his hand from the gate, stepped back a few paces.

Chelsea approached with a flustered expression.

"It's not opening?"

"Yeah."

"Why isn't it opening? Is the condition to break the seal different?"

"It seems the spirit of purification is rejecting me?"

"Rejecting Leo-oppa? Why?"

"I don't know."

Chelsea glared at the gate with a sullen look.

Then, she grabbed the iron bars and started shaking them violently.

"Why are you rejecting Leo-oppa!"

However, unlike when Leo touched it, the iron bars didn't react at all.

"Whoa. Whoa."

Abad scooped up his younger sister by her armpits, calming her down.

Then he handed her to Leo.

Leo, taking Chelsea, put her down on the floor after she made a sulky face, and patted her head.

"Well, I do have one guess as to why it's rejecting me."

"Huh? What is it?"

Chelsea tilted her head.

"It's…"

Just as Leo was about to explain.

"Does it react to me too?"

Celia, who had been watching the situation, grabbed the gate with apparent interest.

At that moment.

Clang—

"Huh?"

Celia's eyes widened as she saw red chains wrapped around her wrist, not knowing when they had been attached.

"What is this?"

As she fumbled to loosen the chains.

WHOOSH—!

"Kyaak?!"

Celia was suddenly dragged inside the royal palace.

"Celia!"

Abad summoned a staff from his subspace.

WHOOSH—!

CRASH—!

Sharp, colossal winds instantly split the palace entrance.

An immense wind, as if a typhoon had struck, engulfed the surroundings.

Sis lowered his stance, bracing himself to avoid being swept away by the wind.

Chelsea stood in front of Leo, controlling the wind to prevent Leo from being harmed.

"Without incantation? Is this even possible?"

The power of the magic surpassed the capabilities of an ordinary second-year Lumern student.

But what was more surprising was the magic that activated without warning.

Incantation-less spell.

It was a magic formation that Luna had gifted to Abad.

Abad's expression grew more chilling as he looked at the palace gate, which was not even scratched.

Pale sky-blue mana swirled around him.

Seeing Abad truly enraged, Leo said.

"Calm down, this isn't like you."

At his words, Abad let his staff hang to the floor.

And took a deep breath.

"What happened? Why was Celia suddenly dragged away?"

Chelsea asked in a flustered voice, and Leo looked up at the royal palace.

"It seems the owner of this royal palace took her."

"Why?"

"Because Celia is also of Tunkun royal blood. She has the qualification to open the gate. Though I don't know the reason she was taken."

Leo stood in front of the palace gate.

And narrowed his eyes.

'I could forcefully break the seal, but.'

If he destroyed the seal with force, the surrounding damage would undoubtedly be severe.

After gazing at the seal for a moment, Leo drew his sword.

Screech—

Abad looked bewildered at the sword.

'It's a sword I've never seen before!'

It wasn't the sword Leo usually used.

He knew Leo didn't shy away from swords.

Even so, he usually used a high-quality sword among the ranks of famous swords.

But the sword he held now was an ordinary longsword that could be found anywhere.

Posteritas.

The final artifact made by Dwen, who had been dormant in the obsidian cloak Leo received from Lian.

Leo's eyes briefly turned gray.

'Bible.'

Activating his unique magic, Bible, Leo quickly interpreted the magic formation.

Along with it, a gray magic circle appeared on the surface of the sword.

"Dispel formation?"

Abad looked bewildered.

Leo swung the sword.

Swish—!

The sword, shimmering with gray mana, sliced through the palace entrance.

At that moment.

Clang—!

The palace gate opened.

Leo's eyes returned to their original color.

He had broken the sealing formation by imbuing the sword with dispel.

While it appeared to be a simple action, it was actually an extremely complex process.

Sealing magic constantly changes its formation pattern to prevent deconstruction.

He calculated each change and created a dispel formation to release the magic at a fleeting moment to break the seal.

The result was effective, but the process was inefficient.

Abad couldn't even fathom attempting it.

'Could Chloe do it?'

Abad shook his head inwardly.

"How did you do it?"

Chelsea also asked in surprise, and Leo pressed his temples, which ached slightly, and said.

"I just followed what a mage I know would do."

"Ah…"

"There are many monsters in this world. When will I get to meet one?"

"If there's an opportunity."

Chelsea immediately knew that the mage Leo mentioned was Luna.

Abad, unaware of this fact, merely marveled at how vast the world was.

"Since the seal is broken, can we go in now?"

At Chelsea's question, Leo shook his head.

"No. I didn't completely destroy the seal. I just made a gap."

"Ah. So only Leo-oppa can pass through?"

"Yes."

Leo had the qualification to open the seal and enter, but he was rejected by Istar, the owner of the seal.

He had only removed that particular condition of the seal.

"I'm enough on my own."

Leo looked at the royal palace entrance with a slightly crooked eye.

Seeing his expression, Abad chuckled bitterly.

"I envy you. You look like a knight going to save a princess."

Seeing Abad with a vaguely resentful expression, Leo said.

"Celia isn't a princess, though."

At Leo's words, Chelsea nodded emphatically.

"If she gets caught, she can escape on her own. So don't worry too much, older brother."

"Right."

At Chelsea's words, Abad let out a bitter laugh.

"Then I'll be going in."

Leo entered the royal palace.

Watching him, Abad let out a deep sigh.

"You don't need to worry too much. The spirit of purification is not an evil spirit. It certainly won't harm the bloodline of Tunkun, its long-time sworn ally."

"It better not."

Abad smiled faintly.

"If something happens, I won't forgive even a Great Spirit."

At his words, Sis marveled inwardly.

'Indeed, is he the next master of Rualin?'

Though still young, a sense of pressure emanated from him.

It was then.

"Young Master Leo! Miss Celia!"

The door to the consulate opened, and Niel rushed out.

This was a place only permitted individuals could enter.

Chelsea looked flustered by Niel's sudden appearance in such a place.

Sis also realized something had happened and didn't comment on the entry.

"Leo and Celia just went inside the royal palace. Is something wrong, Senior Niel?"

To Abad's question, Matchel, who followed Niel, said urgently.

"We just received word from Zerdinger. Senior Torua, who was visiting Zerdinger… is in an unconscious state!"

"What?"

"Senior Torua?"

Abad and Chelsea's eyes widened.

"That's not all! Lady Flov, Leo-nim's mother, has been kidnapped by an unidentified assailant!"

***

Screech—!

Celia drew her sword, seeing the red chains wrapped around her wrist and pulling her with immense force.

WHOOSH—!

From Celia's hand, Flame Storm, a family heirloom of Zerdinger, erupted with fierce flames.

Swish!

With a sharp sound, she swung Flame Storm towards the chains.

CLANG—!

However, it didn't cut through and bounced off.

Celia gritted her teeth.

ROAR! WHOOSH—!

A fiery aura, capable of burning and cutting with a mere touch, emanated from Celia's body.

Celia's red eyes blazed as if aflame.

SLASH—!

Celia's sword ki, concentrated at the tip of her sword, cut through the chains.

For an instant, the force pulling Celia disappeared.

Celia felt a sensation of floating in the air and steadied herself before landing on the ground.

Thud—!

She raised her head and quickly scanned her surroundings.

'The audience chamber?'

Celia's eyes narrowed.

At that moment.

Clap- Clap- Clap-

"As expected. When the blood of Zerdinger and the blood of Tunkun mix, does it emit such flames?"

A haughty voice was heard along with the sound of applause.

Celia's eyes widened as she looked towards the source of the sound.

There sat a man on a throne.

The man, with light blue hair reaching his waist and matching eyes, was covered in tattoos all over his body.

His tanned skin, like that of a southerner, exuded presence.

He was tall and had well-defined muscles.

The problem was that he was shirtless.

Celia, seeing the man laughing heartily, was taken aback.

'What? This pervert?'

Celia got up with a bewildered expression.

"You are the Spirit of Purification, Istar, aren't you?"

"That's right, maiden. Consider it an honor."

"Huh?"

"For at this moment, you have been chosen by me."

"Excuse me, but I don't have talent for spirit channeling."

"Indeed. That is a great pity."

Celia said, looking at Istar stroking his chin.

"My cousin can handle spirits too. He would be a better fit for your sworn ally."

"That fellow who first knocked on the palace gate?"

Istar's face contorted.

Celia flinched at his reaction.

For some reason, this spirit was hostile towards Leo.

"Know this well, maiden."

Istar said irritably.

"I despise womanizers the most in this world."