Book 1 Chapter 756
A light flashed at the warp gate.
The figures that appeared above the gate descended.
The mage managing the gate went to the gate and asked,
"What brings you here?"
Basically, all warp gates managed by the Mage Tower are connected.
However, they are frequently used for travel within the same country or to nearby neighboring countries.
This is because the farther the distance, the more expensive it becomes.
If one were to travel long distances, there would usually be prior notice.
Therefore, it was natural for the gate manager to be perplexed.
This was because an emergency transport had suddenly been made from the Kingdom of Devian in the east to Letin, located at the northwestern tip of the continent.
In such cases, the use of the gate itself could be refused.
Of course, in the case of this particular user, there had been instructions from above, so permission for use had already been granted.
At the mage's question, Leo, who was at the forefront, said,
"I am…"
"Huh? Huk!"
The mage managing the warp gate was stunned.
He was affiliated with the Mage Tower, but even before that, he was also an administrator of the Resentown region.
As such, he recognized Leo's face instantly.
"Your Majesty the King!"
The mage knelt and bowed his head.
At his shout, the gazes of the people working at the warp gate all turned, and upon spotting Leo, they all knelt in surprise and bowed their heads.
Seeing their reaction, Leo sighed softly.
"It's nice having the King of a country. Usually, if you enter through a warp gate without prior notice, the procedures are complicated. I won't have to go through the troublesome immigration inspection."
Elena giggled.
"Everyone, please stand up."
At her words, people began to cautiously stand up, glancing around.
"Don't mind me, everyone, go back to your work. You must have a lot to do right now."
Letin is a tourist city famous for its hot springs.
With the problem that arose concerning those hot springs, it was no exaggeration to say that the entire city of Letin had suffered a major blow.
If things went wrong, the entire city's economy could falter.
Leo headed towards the warp gate entrance.
The group that had come with him moved, following behind Leo.
Then, Leo stopped and said,
"Why are you following me?"
"What do you mean?"
Leo pointed to the immigration inspection area with his hand.
"Immigration inspection."
Elena frowned at his words.
"Why immigration inspection when I'm with you, Leo?"
"I'm the only one who doesn't have to do it. Everyone else has to follow the procedures."
"Hmm! That's certainly true."
Lil nodded.
"Because laws are meant to be followed."
Following suit, Lunia, the representative of Seirun, also nodded readily and headed towards the immigration inspection office.
Elena, left alone in front of Leo, still wore a displeased expression.
"Can't you even afford me this small convenience between us?"
"Didn't they say the highest person should set an example? You're not the king of this country, are you?"
"…You've been speaking to me informally quite openly when we're alone lately?"
"Do you want me to treat you as older if you don't like it?"
"…"
After glaring at Leo, who wouldn't back down, Elena snorted and headed towards the immigration inspection office.
"Why don't you indulge her a little?"
At that moment, Lisinas, hidden in Leo's shadow, said.
"That one, if you indulge her, she'll climb all over you. So, no."
At his words, Lisinas burst into laughter.
The immigration inspection was over quickly.
Since they were students from Rumeln and Seirun whose identities were guaranteed, the inspection itself did not take long.
A student ID from the Hero Academy is the best form of identification anywhere.
As they exited the warp gate building, Shis Jigma was waiting with knights.
"Students of Rumeln and Seirun, welcome to Letin."
Seeing Shis Jigma himself come to greet them, the students from Rumeln and Seirun looked surprised.
They never expected that Shis, a hero of immense fame, would personally come to greet them.
It was a luxury rarely afforded even by the visit of a king.
"Your Majesty, shall we escort you to the reception hall?"
At Shis's question, Leo said,
"We will begin the investigation immediately."
With that, Leo continued,
"From now on, we will investigate Letin's underground. Contact me if you find the source of the intense cold."
The students who came to Letin with Leo were four from Rumeln and three from Seirun.
From Rumeln were Elena, Lil, Chloe, and Warreden. From Seirun were Lunia, Leah, and Luca.
All of them were students who were skilled in magic or adept at spirit manipulation, making the underground exploration not difficult.
"Meet at Letin's reception hall around sunset."
***
Leo entered a deserted alley and knelt, reaching out his hand towards the shadow.
Thump-
Lisinas emerged from the shadow, holding Leo's hand.
It was the Black Dragon's draconic magic.
At that moment, between the two, a small flame flared with a pop-! and Istar, now the size of a palm, appeared.
-Unacceptable! This land has been under my protection for ages! The hot springs of this land are like holy water to me!
"The hot springs are holy water?"
Leo looked incredulous, and Istar nodded as if it were obvious.
-That's right! When I provided the hot springs, the humans living here offered me their gratitude! It's only natural that the hot springs that represent my great deeds are holy water!
-Hmph. To curry favor with people using mere hot water. A cheap thought. You vulgar perverted spirit.
-Shut up! You lump of sewage!
-What did you say?! My covenant partner! This rude spirit has hurled insults at me! Punish them!
As if to prove they were sworn enemies, the great fire and water spirits emanated fierce energy.
Although both were palm-sized, their aura was not to be trifled with.
As the great spirits yelled and fought, Leo felt a headache coming on.
-Both of you, be quiet.
Larel appeared between the two.
-Get out, old hag!
-Get out, old man!
-You brats!
-Larel, be patient.
With eyes wide, Larel lunged to punish the two great spirits.
Elsie tried to stop Larel in panic.
She thought that if Larel also ran wild, Leo's headache would worsen.
"…"
Lisinas, watching the scene, blinked a few times and then spread his palm.
Lisinas's mana intertwined, forming the shape of a fly swatter.
Swish- Swish!
As the fly swatter swung towards them, Istar and Undine flinched and tried to evade.
However, Lisinas, accustomed to it, easily shot down the two fleeing great spirits.
Fiora, now round, appeared before the two great spirits who had fallen to the ground and began pecking at them with her beak.
Watching this, Kirian said,
-Pig. They're not for eating.
"Squeeeeeeal!"
Enraged by the word "pig," Fiora flapped her wings and tried to chase Kirian, but Kirian had already flown up.
-Hahaha! You've gotten fat again and can't even fly, can you? You pigeon phoenix…
*Chomp-*!
-Gasp!
Lisinas stomped on and subdued Kirian.
-Hic! Not only did you kill great spirits with a fly swatter, but you also stomped on a fairy! Do that to me too! Hit me!
Ati, who had revealed herself, grabbed Lisinas's trouser leg.
Seeing Ati, Lisinas smiled.
"You said your name was Ati?"
-Yes!
"Shall I make you dislike being hit?"
*Crackle-*
Ati froze at the chilling question.
Then, hiding behind Leo, she began to tremble.
As the covenant partners quieted down, Leo felt his headache subsiding.
If three mythical beasts and four great spirits caused such a commotion, Leo couldn't help but suffer from headaches.
"Are you okay?"
Lisinas asked with a smile, and Leo pressed his temples and said,
"As expected, you're truly the strongest summoner."
"You're surprisingly lenient with your summons, aren't you?"
"Well, I only had Elsie, who was a great spirit, and Albus, who was the highest-ranking mythical beast."
"Indeed… they were quite gentle-tempered summons."
-Lisinas handles his summons well.
Elsie exclaimed, and Leo said,
"The spirits he contracted with in the past all had terrible temperaments."
They were embodiments of pride who stubbornly refused to make a covenant with the same summoner even as the world was ending.
And in the case of mythical beasts, there was the Phoenix King Katariuda, famous for his foul temper.
The summons Leo had contracted with now seemed cute in comparison to the pride and temperaments of Lisinas's covenant partners.
"Considering that they rose to the position of great spirits and mythical beast kings, the world really was heading for ruin, wasn't it?"
Lisinas couldn't refute Leo's words.
After all, it was Lisinas who had subdued those spirits and mythical beasts with their terrible tempers through sheer force.
Lisinas held Istar and Undine, who were lying limply on the ground, in each hand.
"There's something I need you two to do."
-What is it?
Undine asked, tucking her neck in, and Lisinas said,
"If the hot springs are cooling down in this land, there are two possibilities. Either the land itself through which the hot spring water flows has cooled down, or there's a problem with the source of the hot springs."
-That's right.
Istar crossed his arms.
"The students are investigating the area where the land has problems. So, we intend to stimulate the source from which the hot spring water flows."
-How do we do that?
"Using the hot spring water as a medium, I intend to send Istar's heat back into the ground."
At that, Undine flinched.
-Wait a minute! That means I have to embrace that damned fireball!
"That's right."
-I refuse! Absolutely not! I'd rather do it with that chick Phoenix!
"Spirits and mythical beasts are not efficient. Spirit and spirit are the most efficient."
-Still!
-I don't want to either.
Istar also frowned and expressed his refusal.
Lisinas smiled at the two spirits who were in sync.
"You don't want to? Then shall I make you want to?"
-…….
-…….
At that threat, the two great spirits trembled.
Watching them, Elsie cautiously asked,
-Even so, is it okay to do that? Forcing them might have the opposite effect.
"Usually, no. Great spirits are not simply beings with strong power, but kings of the elements they rule."
Even if one possessed greater power than a great spirit, a subordinate relationship could not be formed.
This was the same for the three great mythical beasts.
This was why Leo took time to pacify his covenant partners.
"But with Lisinas, it's different."
-Why?
"Because he is the king of the world."
The only being to whom the gods gave the title of 'King' among heroes.
He once bore the world on his shoulders.
Although it wasn't for dominion, it meant responsibility for the world, so Lisinas was recognized as the king of the world.
"That also means he is the master of the world."
If he wished to reign, he could wield absolute authority.
It wasn't a visible power.
Literally, an invisible power.
"His commands are close to absolute."
-My word, that's like the power of gods!
"That's right. It's close to divine power."
Leo nodded.
"Arion with his super senses and martial arts. Luna with her magic. Dwenno with his ability to forge weapons. Those who have reached the realm of gods… have reached miracles."
Leo looked at Lisinas and said,
"He has entered the realm of gods through his leadership qualities."