Chapter 607

607.

“It seems everyone had a decent day.”

Celia, who had arrived first at the gathering spot and was waiting for the others, muttered to herself as she saw them returning.

Abad, sitting on the bench, grinned at her words.

“Plus, things seem a little smoother compared to yesterday. It looks like all the hard work paid off.”

Initially, neither Zerdinger’s knight nor LeWalyn’s mage were older or younger, so they could easily get along if given the chance. Celia and Abad, who had doubted the effect, were surprised by how quickly they bonded.

“Are those two finally getting along?”

Celia’s words caused Abad’s expression to slightly dim.

Niel and Marchel.

The two people Celia and Abad trusted the most were also the ones they worried about the most.

“People who are still late are Chelsea and Leo. Is it Master Niel and Marchel as well?”

As Abad wore a curious expression, four figures appeared from afar.

“They’re late.”

Celia narrowed her eyes as she saw Leo approach her.

“Sorry, sorry. Something came up in the morning, and I lost track of time.”

“What happened?”

Leo glanced behind him.

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

“Since we stayed at the same inn last night, there was an incident.”

“Ugh? Did those two have a massive fight again?”

“They’ve made peace, so don’t worry. From now on, they’ll get along.”

“Well, that’s a relief, but…”

Celia looked at the two, noting the icy atmosphere between them.

“If anything, it feels even colder than yesterday.”

Celia tilted her head in confusion.

Leo glanced at the two.

“Young Master Leo. Please keep today’s event a secret from Miss Celia.”

“How can I keep it a secret?”

“Today’s incident happened due to drinking too much. So…!”

“An incident that requires mutual compatibility to happen, right?”

“Master Leo!”

Recalling the conversation with Niel, Leo smirked.

“Well, no matter how much they disliked each other, they couldn’t let go of their feelings. Once they reconcile, getting close again will be quick.”

Leo decided to keep Niel and Marchel’s drama a secret for now.

“Everyone’s here. Let’s go, then?”

In front of them stood Retin’s official building. Behind it loomed a colossal palace.

The old Tengkan Kingdom’s royal palace.

Several decades ago, when it was attacked by Tartarus, the palace doors were sealed shut.

“Sealed, it seems.”

Abad, standing beside Leo, muttered as he looked up at the Tengkan royal palace.

“The force sealing the palace appears to be spirit energy.”

“But it seems like magic sigils were used to channel that energy. I read about it in books before, but seeing it in person is truly impressive.”

Receiving Abad’s words, Chelsea exclaimed in awe.

“It’s certainly an amazing feat.”

Listening to the three, Celia tilted her head.

“If we’re discussing combining spirit magic with magic sigils, isn’t that Warden’s specialty? So, is it really that surprising?”

“Warden makes it look easy, sure, but that’s an incredible skill he has.”

“What?”

“Even dual-class Spirit Mages, who use both magic and spirits, can’t purely employ spirit energy alone for magic.”

“Doesn’t magical power and spiritual force retain mana’s characteristics?”

“Yes. Mana that amplifies into power or resonates into spiritual force. Both forces, unlike processed auras stored in one’s body, retain mana’s characteristics. So, at first glance, they may seem similar, but amplification and resonance have distinct frequencies.”

“Are you saying that spirits summoned through spirit magic, resonating with the summoner’s spiritual force, cannot activate magic sigils due to differing frequencies?”

“Exactly.”

“Then how about Warden?”

“Warden amplifies the resonant spiritual force.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

True to her title as the top student, Celia quickly picked up on how unstable Warden’s ability was based on Leo’s brief explanation.

“That’s why Warden is exceptional.”

The basic ability to awaken mana is the fundamental power.

Mana splits into aura, magical power, or spiritual force depending on the user’s nature. Occasionally, some individuals awaken mana into different forms, which is what makes them dual-class. But to alter already-awakened power into a different form is an entirely different matter. Mismanaging it could result in mana explosion. Yet Warden used this ability as if it were the most natural thing in the world since the day he entered the school.

This impressed Celia once again.

“You also have impossible abilities?”

“I can do it. And others with the same ability exist, though they are rare. But their efficiency can’t match Warden’s.”

It’s an ability only Warden can achieve.

Even Lissinas, one of the strongest summoners Leo knew, would find it hard to replicate Warden’s skill.

“True, and given that Warden even contracted with a Great Spirit back in second year…”

Leo felt a tinge of regret since he’d contracted with the Three Great Beasts and overshadowed Warden’s achievements in his past life.

“But if I wasn’t around, Warden would undoubtedly have been the strongest in our year.”

“So? I understand that activating a magic sigil with spirit energy is hard. So what kind of seal is this on the castle?”

“It’s a case where the Great Spirit used a sigil.”

“What?”

Celia looked surprised.

“The Purifying Spirit, which is the Great Spirit of Fire, is famous among summoners and mages because it uses magic. However, it’s rarely seen these days, so those not interested wouldn’t know much.”

“A Great Spirit used magic?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. That’s why it’s fascinating.”

Spirits are inherently natural beings, solely focused on maintaining the harmony of the world and generally uninterested in magic, a technique that defies nature.

Moreover, magic was originally created by earthly races as a way to emulate spirit energy.

Over time, magic evolved beyond merely mimicking spirit energy, but its core principles remained unchanged. Hence, most of what magic can do is already within the abilities of most spirits, making the need for them to “learn” magic redundant.

Yet, the fact that such a high-ranking entity like a Great Spirit learned magic was astonishing.

“In any case, it’s still a hot topic in the magical community. Do spirits have the potential to use magic?”

“Experiments have mostly failed.”

“Hmm. The idea of spirits having magical potential sounds intriguing.”

As Abad, Chelsea, and Leo discussed matters related to the magical community, Celia, watching from the side, pulled on Leo’s arm and drew him toward her.

“Why?”

“You’re directly from the Zerdinger lineage. It keeps a balance this way.”

Perhaps feeling left out from the magical discussions, Celia complained.

Leo smiled.

At this, Chelsea said,

“In any case, due to this magic, the Purifying Spirit was once known as the strongest Great Spirit, with high prestige. Tartarus attacked this place twice because it was the stronghold of the Purifying Spirit Ista.”

After the first battle, the Tengkan Kingdom was established, and after the second, it fell.

“Once the strongest spirit, right? Isn’t the current strongest called the Great Spirit of Water?”

“Yes, that’s correct. The Sea Spirit, Undine.”

Upon hearing Chelsea and Celia’s conversation, Elshi commented:

—Isn’t the current Great Spirit of Water really humble to use the same name as lower spirits? It’s surprising for a Great Spirit to share a name with lower-level spirits.

The Sea Spirit, known for sharing the same name as a lower water spirit, was an unprecedented case, given Great Spirits usually had strong egos.

—It’s all an act.

Lael, who had a history with the Sea Spirit, responded coldly.

—Ah, let’s see. Among the existing Great Spirits, the Great Spirit of Fire is the Purifying Spirit Ista. The Great Spirit of Wind is the Cyclone Spirit Shileton. The Great Spirit of Earth is the Impregnable Titaum. The Great Spirit of Water is the Deep Sea Spirit Undine. The Great Spirit of Darkness is the Abyss Spirit Ignit. And of course, Lael.

—Yes. Ista has a nasty temper. Shileton is rude. Undine is an attention-seeker, and Ignit is sinister. Titaum, well, is solid enough. As the youngest Great Spirit, we’ll see what they bring.

—Isn’t that a rather harsh judgment on fellow Great Spirits?

Elshi gave an awkward smile at Lael.

—It’s the truth. They’re far too lowly for someone with Your Grace’s attention.

—Ignit was actually a good spirit.

As Elshi thought about Ignit, her direct junior met in a past encounter, she smiled.

Indeed, when they first met, Ignit disliked people. But after conversing with Elshi, Ignit decided to stay in Lumeran and search for a contractor.

Lael looked at Elshi with admiration.

—Ah, indeed, Miss Elshi. Even that sinister spirit received your approval.

—You’re one to talk. Aren’t you the one who embodies rudeness, bad manners, attention-seeking, and sinisterness all at once?

Lael then strangled Kieran, who was nearby.

As Leo watched the summoned beings only he could see, he thought deeply.

—What is troubling you?

“I plan to contract with every Great Spirit.”

To fully utilize Lissinas’ power, it was necessary to have contracts with the Great Spirits.

“But I’m wondering if increasing their number is really okay.”

Already, the summoned beings were very noisy, giving him a headache.

If more were added, he wondered if he could handle it.

—Leave that to me. I’ll manage it properly.

Elshi beamed.

Seeing her, Leo had a peculiar expression.

—Why?

“Well, 5,000 years ago, you didn’t have even one subordinate spirit.”

Born in a world destined to end, Elshi had never had a servant spirit in her life.

“So, it’s interesting now that you aim to gather Great Spirits.”

—How could I ever gather fellow Great Spirits?!

Elshi chuckled at the absurdity.

Then, noticing the ruckus stirred up by Lael and Kieran, she said:

—Lael, I’m thirsty.

—I’ll gather morning dew for you immediately!

Lael turned into light and disappeared.

—Haha! Thank you! Thank you!

—Lael, stop teasing him already. Always falling for it.

Elshi patted Kieran, who was clinging to her, crying and pleading.

—And me, dominating Great Spirits? How absurd.

Shaking her head, Elshi seemed doubtful.

As Leo watched her, he thought:

‘It’s true that, like Lael and Ignit, they already treat Elshi with great reverence, don’t they?’

Even Lael follows Elshi willingly.

Elshi already commands Light and Darkness spirits as if they were her own limbs.

‘And she commands the Three Great Beasts as well.’

There might never be another spirit like Elshi.

‘Hmm, with Elshi around, things should be fine.’

Among Leo’s vow keepers, Elshi was undoubtedly the most powerful.