Book 1 Chapter 619

619.

“We’re here.”

Leo looked at the Plove family estate visible in the distance and mumbled before turning around.

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

Leo’s hometown, the Delard Kingdom, is a small kingdom on the frontier.

And the Plove family is a rural estate even within that.

As such, there was no direct warp gate connecting the kingdom’s capital, Delan, and the estate.

They had used the nearest warp gate and then traveled here at maximum speed.

It might have been different for Reed, Jamua, or Ulta.

For the three, who were now becoming third-year students, merely keeping up with Leo’s speed inevitably depleted their stamina and magic.

“We should thank Kyle.”

Abad smiled bitterly, looking at the potion bottle.

“It’s helpful that he sold us a large quantity of potions before winter break, in case something happened during the break.”

‘Oh. Well. I told you I was selling them specially just for you, right? Keep it. Keep it. Don’t you know about special sales? There’s also the saying, ‘Be prepared’~’

“He said the same to me. He said he was selling them specially just for me.”

“He also said he was selling them specially just for me?”

Abad and Celia looked puzzled.

“He especially emphasized that something might happen to us… That guy. Sometimes he really seems to have foresight.”

At Celia’s words, Chelsea, who had been gulping down a potion, let out a “Phew-!” and caught her breath, then wiped her mouth and said,

“He just said that.”

“What?”

“He said he needed to get rid of his stock, so he approached rich kids like that and sold them. Kyle’s potions are effective, but their shelf life is short, right?”

Chelsea said indifferently.

“You two aren’t the only ones who got tricked, are you?”

“That guy…”

Celia clenched her fist tightly.

“But why do Kyle’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 based on Dwayno’s recipe.”

“Huh?”

Leo spoke without taking his eyes off the Plove estate.

“It’s a recipe created by the Divine Blacksmith during the Age of Calamity. Since there was no need to store the potions for long, he probably focused on their efficacy rather than their shelf life.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Though it seems Kyle is improving on that.”

Indeed, Kyle was steadily conducting research based on Dwayno’s alchemy book.

“It seems you juniors have a lot of free time, chatting away?”

At that moment, Jamua approached the four.

Seeing Jamua, Leo said,

“It’s better to be a little relaxed than too tense.”

“That’s certainly true.”

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

Far from where the group was taking a short break.

There, Rhys was staring at the Plove estate with an expressionless face.

The current Rhys was different from usual.

Normally, Rhys possessed a gentle and mild demeanor.

But the current Rhys was like a flame about to explode at any moment.

He looked as if he would ignite if merely touched.

“Is Senior Torua alright?”

Chelsea asked cautiously.

At that question, Jamua’s face clouded over.

“His life isn’t in danger. But he hasn’t regained consciousness. And he also lost his magic.”

“……”

For a mage, losing one’s magic is akin to a death sentence.

Chelsea bit her lip.

It wasn't just anger because a school senior was harmed.

Any magic student who attended school with her couldn't help but respect Torua.

Torua’s passion for magic.

Even as a fifth-year, Torua would seek out juniors and freely enjoy discussions about magic.

Torua’s image, always with sparkling eyes, engaging in heated discussions about magic, was still etched in her mind.

It was as if magic had been stolen from such a Torua.

“I can’t forgive them.”

As Chelsea mumbled blankly, Ulta called Leo.

“Leo.”

“Yes.”

“It seems we need to make things clear before we go. Rhys is not normal right now. So, I hope Rhys… I mean, you clearly instruct us on what we need to do.”

“Are you sure?”

At Leo’s question, Ulta nodded.

“As a knight, a mage, and a summoner. You are superior to anyone else here. It’s not strange to be under your command anew.”

There was definitely an ambush lurking.

Combat was an unavoidable situation.

Therefore, Leo had intended to leave the combat decisions to Rhys, Jamua, and Ulta once they entered the Plove estate.

He thought that even with his overwhelming skill, being ordered by a junior wouldn’t sit well with the three of them.

‘They’ll do well even if I don’t interfere.’

But Ulta specifically entrusted the command to Leo.

‘More precisely, it means they want me to decide what they should do.’

The reason for this troublesome request was simple.

It was to prevent Rhys from potentially going berserk.

Even to Leo, Rhys’s current demeanor was unusual.

‘He’s definitely the kind of person who would uphold his duty even when on the verge of losing his reason to anger. If we set a minimum boundary, we can prevent him from losing control.’

Ulta judged that this would be Leo’s command.

“Why is Senior Rhys so angry?”

Of course, it was perfectly natural to be angry when a close friend, with whom he had been since first year, was harmed.

However, Rhys was a man with the capacity to maintain his composure even in such situations.

Rhys’s current anger was definitely different from his usual self.

At Leo’s question, Ulta said,

“It’s because of love.”

“Love?”

Leo momentarily looked confused by Ulta’s sudden words, as Ulta often talked about love at all times.

“Yes. The two of them are in a romantic relationship. What’s more, Torua currently has their child in her womb.”

“Phoooh!”

Celia, who was recovering her stamina by drinking a potion, inadvertently spat what she was drinking onto Abad.

“S-sorry. I was so surprised…!”

“No, I completely understand.”

Abad wiped his face with the handkerchief Celia offered and said it was okay.

“It’s enough to make one lose their mind.”

Leo nodded.

“Then, let’s formulate a plan.”

“Rhys! It’s a strategy meeting!”

At Jamua’s words, Rhys approached.

“Before we make a plan, there’s something I want to say.”

As Rhys opened his mouth, everyone except Leo looked at Rhys with tense eyes.

It would be troublesome if he were to say he would deal with the Hero Slayer himself.

It was unknown how strong the Hero Slayer was.

However, as a being who had massacred countless heroes in the past, it was clear that no one here, except Leo, could handle him.

“What is it?”

“The state of the Plove estate is strange right now.”

At that, Ulta tilted his head.

“It doesn’t look much different from when I came last summer?”

Of course, the Hero Slayer was inside.

But currently, it was nothing more or less than a quiet, peaceful rural estate.

“Yes. That’s what’s strange. After last year’s incident, the Plove estate became the land where the hero Arion reappeared and subjugated a fragment of Erebus. Some even consider this place a holy site.”

At those words, everyone except Leo widened their eyes.

Indeed, it was just as he said.

Until last year, it was a quiet rural estate, but not anymore.

“Yes. That place is currently completely controlled by the Hero Slayer.”

‘Mel contacted me. She said that contact with the dragons in the Plove estate was suddenly cut off yesterday morning.’

The Plove estate was now a special place.

As such, the dragons were also hiding their identities to protect the Plove estate.

Contact with those dragons had been severed.

“Since he is holding the people of the Plove estate hostage, the six of you should focus on rescuing the villagers. It won’t be easy. He might have even brought in Tartarus’s forces.”

At Leo’s words, Ulta nodded.

“Formation?”

At that, Leo set up a formation.

“Why am I in the rear?”

Rhys asked in a chilling voice.

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

“Because it’s the most difficult position right now.”

“……”

At Leo’s words, Rhys looked at the formation Leo had designed.

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

Celia and Chelsea supported Jamua from behind.

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

And in the rear, Abad, the mage, was positioned.

If it were a dead end or a situation requiring only advancement, there would be no need to worry about the rear.

However, the current party was entering the heart of enemy territory and taking up positions.

In that case, someone was needed to protect the rear.

In any party, if the mage in the rear collapses, it’s over.

That’s why the rear inevitably receives concentrated attacks.

In the current situation, Rhys, as a knight class combining powerful offense and defense, was the optimal person for rear defense.

“And the Hero Slayer?”

“I’ll take him on alone.”

“……”

At that, Rhys took a breath, then eventually nodded.

“Understood.”

If it were up to him, he would have wanted to attack the Hero Slayer with Leo.

But…

‘Was this how Celia’s classmates felt?’

Rhys let out a bitter laugh.

Leo’s eyes were firm, saying,

‘You’re not ready yet.’

Leo told them everything about the potential situations that could arise in the Plove estate and the countermeasures.

Listening to it, Rhys looked down at his hands.

‘Still a long way to go.’

***

After finalizing the plan, Leo entered the Plove estate without hesitation.

And the moment they entered.

What greeted Leo’s party was a powerful wave of magic.

Leo’s eyes twitched.

‘This magic?’

It was the familiar magic of a dragon.

And the dragon language magic manifested by that power was also familiar to Leo.

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

‘Nightmare.’

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

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

‘Moreover, the magic has been altered.’

Leo quickly analyzed the magic.

“Kyle…”

Just as Lyven, the vice-principal of Lumern, had used it before, Lysinas appeared before Leo.

“Why… did only you survive?”

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

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

Leo silently drew his sword.

At that moment.

Swish-

Suddenly, a stretching darkness swallowed Lysinas’s illusion.

Leo paused.

The entire space suddenly distorted, and a path opened.

‘Magic failure? No, this is!’

Leo, who had been wearing a bewildered expression, shook off extraneous thoughts.

‘I need to get out first.’

Before throwing himself into the distorted space.

Leo looked back.

Whoosh-!

What he saw immediately after escaping the magic was the Plove family mansion.

“Welcome, Leo Plove.”

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

It was Reina in her youth.

“My name is Zora Inel! The one you call the Hero Slayer…”

Slash-!

Leo, without hesitation, slashed Zora’s neck.

Zora’s eyes were instantly filled with shock.

“To cut down someone who looks like your mother without hesitation!”

Leo tilted his head askance, looking at the astonished Zora’s severed head.

“So what?”