Book 1 Chapter 619

"We're here."

Leo muttered as he looked at the Flob family's territory in the distance and turned around.

There, Chelsea, Celia, and Abad were drinking potions to replenish their stamina and magic.

The Kingdom of Delad, Leo's hometown, is a small kingdom on the frontier.

And the Flob family is a rural territory within it.

Therefore, there was no direct warp gate between the capital, Delan, and the territory.

They used the nearest warp gate and then raced here at full speed.

If it were Reed, Jamua, or Ultar, perhaps.

For the three who were about to become third-years, merely keeping up with Leo's speed consumed their stamina and magic.

"I should be thankful to Kal."

Abad said with a bitter smile, looking at the potion bottle.

"It's helpful that he sold us a large quantity of potions before the winter break in preparation for anything that might happen during the vacation."

'Ah, well. I told you I was selling them specially to you? Put it away. Put it away. Don't you know about special sales? There's even a saying, "Prepare for the unexpected," you know~'

"He told me the same thing. He said he was selling them specially to me."

"He told me he was selling them specially to me too?"

Abad and Celia looked puzzled.

"He especially emphasized that anything could happen to us… That guy, sometimes he seems to have real foresight."

Chelsea, who had been gulping down potions at Celia's words, let out a breath with a "Puhaha-!" and wiped her mouth, saying,

"That was just a line."

"What?"

"He said he had to get rid of excess stock, so he approached rich kids like that and sold them. Kal's potions are effective, but they have a short shelf life, right?"

Chelsea said indifferently.

"There must be a lot of kids who got tricked like you two."

"That guy…"

Celia clenched her fist.

"But why do Kal's potions have a short shelf life?"

As Abad shook the potion bottle in front of his eyes with a puzzled expression, Leo said,

"It's probably because they're made based on Dueno's recipe."

"Huh?"

Leo said without taking his eyes off the Flob territory.

"It's a recipe made by a divine blacksmith during the Age of Calamity. He probably focused on efficacy rather than long-term storage, as potions weren't meant to be kept for long."

"Ah."

"Although it seems Kal is improving on that."

Indeed, Kal was steadily conducting research based on Dueno's alchemical texts.

"You seem to have plenty of time, chatting away? Juniors."

At that moment, Jamua approached the four.

Looking at Jamua, Leo said,

"It's better to be a little relaxed than too tense."

"That's true."

As he said that, Jamua turned his head with a slightly worried look.

Far from where the group was taking a short break.

There, Rise was glaring at the Flob territory with a blank expression.

Rise was different from usual now.

Normally, Rise had a gentle and soft impression.

But the current Rise was like a flame about to explode.

It felt like it would ignite if touched.

"Is Senior Torua okay?"

Chelsea asked cautiously.

At the question, Jamua's face darkened.

"His life is not in danger. But he hasn't regained consciousness. And he's lost his magic."

"…"

For a mage, losing magic is like a death sentence.

Chelsea bit her lip.

She wasn't angry simply because a senior from school had been attacked.

Any magic department student who attended the same school as her couldn't help but respect Torua.

Torua's passion for magic.

Torua, who, despite being in his fifth year, would visit his juniors and freely engage in discussions about magic.

The image of Torua, always with sparkling eyes, passionately discussing magic, was still vivid in her mind.

It was as if his magic had been taken away from such a Torua.

"I can't forgive him."

As Chelsea mumbled blankly, Ultar called out to Leo.

"Leo."

"Yes."

"I think we need to clarify things before we go. Rise isn't stable right now. So, I'd like you to clearly instruct Rise… on what we need to do."

"Is that okay?"

Leo asked, and Ultar nodded.

"As a knight, a mage, and a summoner, you are superior to anyone else here. It's not strange to receive your command."

There were definitely traps lurking.

Combat was unavoidable.

Therefore, Leo had intended to leave decisions regarding combat to Rise, Jamua, and Ultar after entering the Flob territory.

Even with overwhelming skill, he thought it would be difficult for the three to take orders from a junior.

'They'll do well even without my interference.'

But Ultar insisted on entrusting the command to Leo.

'More accurately, it probably means to decide what they should do.'

The reason for this fuss was simple.

It was to prevent Rise's potential rampage.

Even Leo could see that Rise's current demeanor was unusual.

'He's someone who would still uphold his duties even if he's on the verge of losing his mind to anger. If we create at least a minimum line, we can prevent him from going berserk.'

Ultar judged that was Leo's order.

"Why is Senior Rise so angry?"

Of course, it was natural for his close friend since their first year to be furious.

However, Rise was a man who possessed the composure to remain calm even in such a situation.

Rise's current anger was definitely different from his usual state.

To Leo's question, Ultar said,

"It's because of love."

"Love?"

Leo showed a moment of confusion at Ultar's sudden remark, as he often talked about love.

"Yes. The two are lovers. And Torua is carrying their child."

"Poo-hep!"

Celia, who was recovering her stamina by drinking potions, accidentally spat what she was drinking onto Abad.

"S-sorry. I was so surprised…!"

"No, I understand completely."

Abad said it was fine, wiping his face with the handkerchief Celia handed him.

"It's understandable that he's not in his right mind."

Leo nodded.

"Then let's devise a plan."

"Rise! It's a strategy meeting!"

Jamua called out to Rise, who approached.

"I have something to say before we make a plan."

When Rise opened his mouth, everyone except Leo looked at him with tense eyes.

They were worried that he might say he would deal with the Hero Slayer himself.

They didn't know how strong the Hero Slayer was.

But as a being who had massacred countless heroes in the past, it was clear that anyone here except Leo would have a hard time dealing with him.

"What is it?"

"The state of the Flob territory is strange."

At that remark, Ultar tilted his head.

"It doesn't look much different from when we visited last summer?"

Of course, the Hero Slayer was inside.

However, for now, it was just a quiet and peaceful rural territory, nothing more and nothing less.

"Yes. That's what's strange. After last year's incident, the Flob territory became a land where the hero Arion was reincarnated and vanquished the remnants of Erebus. Some even see it as a holy site."

At that, everyone except Leo's eyes widened.

It was indeed as he said.

It was a quiet rural territory until last year, but not anymore.

"Yes. Currently, the Hero Slayer has completely taken over."

'Mel contacted me. Yesterday, at dawn, contact with the dragons in the Flob territory was suddenly lost.'

The Flob territory is now a special place.

As such, the dragons also conceal their identities to protect the Flob territory.

Contact with those dragons was lost.

"Since he's holding the people of the Flob territory hostage, the six of you, please focus on rescuing the villagers. It won't be easy. Tartarus's forces may have been involved."

At Leo's words, Ultar nodded.

"The formation?"

At that, Leo created a formation.

"Why am I in the rear?"

Rise asked in a cold voice.

At that, the others looked at Leo with tense faces.

"Because it's the most difficult position right now."

"…"

At Leo's words, Rise looked at the formation Leo had created.

Jamua was in charge of the vanguard, leading the charge to the front.

Celia and Chelsea supported Jamua from behind.

Ultar took on the role of supporting the front and rear from the middle.

And the mage Abad was positioned in the rear.

If it were a dead end or a situation where they had to advance, there would be no need to worry about the rear.

But the current party was entering enemy territory and establishing a position.

Therefore, someone was needed to guard the rear.

In any party, if the mage in the rear falls, it's over.

That's why the rear was bound to be the target of concentrated attacks.

In the current situation, Rise, who possessed both powerful offense and defense as a knight, was the optimal person for rear defense.

"What about the Hero Slayer?"

"I'll handle him alone."

"…"

At those words, Rise took a breath and then nodded.

"Understood."

He would have liked to attack the Hero Slayer with Leo.

But…

'Was this how Celia's classmates felt?'

Rise let out a wry smile.

Leo's eyes clearly stated,

'It's too early for you yet.'

Leo explained all possible situations in the Flob territory and their countermeasures.

Listening to that, Rise looked down at his hands.

'Still a long way to go.'

***

After the strategy was completely devised, Leo entered the Flob territory without hesitation.

And the moment they entered.

They were greeted by a powerful wave of magic.

Leo's eyes twitched.

'This magic?'

It was the magic of a familiar dragon.

And the dragon tongue magic materialized by that magic was also familiar to Leo.

Magic created based on the curses used by the demons of Tartarus.

'Nightmare.'

One of the unique magics of Lysinas, the King of Wisdom.

It was an illusion magic that made one fight an enemy they didn't want to fight.

'And he's tampered with the magic.'

Leo quickly analyzed the magic.

"Kyle…"

Just as Riven, the vice-principal of Rumern, had used before, Lysinas appeared before Leo.

"Why… did only you survive?"

Lysinas, covered in blood, glared at Leo with hatred.

"Why did you only survive and enjoy life? I wanted to enjoy it too! The age of peace!"

Leo drew his sword without a word.

At that moment.

*Screech-*

Suddenly, a stretching darkness swallowed Lysinas's illusion.

At that, Leo flinched.

The entire space suddenly distorted, opening a path.

'Magic failure? No, this!'

Leo, with a bewildered expression, shook off his stray thoughts.

'Get out for now.'

Before throwing himself into the distorted space.

Leo looked back.

*Fwah-!*

The moment they escaped the magic, they saw the Flob family mansion.

"Welcome, Leo Flob."

And standing there was a beautiful woman with black hair and red eyes.

It was Reina in her youth.

"My name is Jorua Iner! The Hero Slayer you speak of…"

*Thwack-!*

Leo decapitated Jorua without hesitation.

For a moment, Jorua's eyes were filled with shock.

"You'd swing your sword at someone who looks like your mother without hesitation!"

Looking at Jorua's shocked head, Leo tilted his head.

"So what?"