Chapter 619

619.

“So, we’ve arrived.”

Leo muttered while gazing at the distant estate of the Flove Family, then turned around.

There, Chelsea, Celia, and Abad were drinking potions to restore their stamina and mana.

Leo’s hometown, the Delrad Kingdom, is a small kingdom located on the periphery.

Furthermore, the Flove Family estate is situated in the countryside.

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

After using the nearest warp gate, they had traveled at top speed to arrive here.

Unless it were Reid, Jamua, or Ulta.

With the three of them now in their third year, just keeping up with Leo’s speed had drained their stamina and mana.

“We should thank Kal.”

Abad chuckled dryly as he looked at the potion bottle.

“Before winter break, he helped by selling a large quantity of potions in case anything happened during the holidays.”

“Ah. Well, it wasn’t just for you. I told him to stock up. He was having a special sale—haven’t you heard? It’s always good to prepare for the unexpected~”

“He told me the same thing. That it was a special deal just for me.”

“Didn’t he tell you that it was a special deal just for you too?”

Both Abad and Celia exchanged puzzled looks.

“He especially emphasized that something might happen to us… That guy sometimes seems to have an uncanny insight.”

Celia’s words were followed by Chelsea guzzling the potion, gulping loudly before wiping her mouth.

“That was just something he said.”

“What?”

“He just needed a way to clear out his inventory and targeted rich brats like you two. Kal’s potions work well but have a short shelf-life, right?”

Chelsea said this dismissively.

“There must’ve been plenty of others who fell for it like you two.”

“That guy…”

Celia clenched her fist tightly.

“But why do Kal’s potions have such a short shelf-life?”

As Abad swung the potion bottle in front of his face in confusion, Leo responded.

“It’s because they’re based on Dwenno’s recipe.”

“Huh?”

Without taking his eyes off the Flove estate, Leo continued.

“During the Era of Catastrophe, they were the recipes of God’s Blacksmith. Since there was no need to store potions for a long time, the recipes focused more on potency than on shelf-life.”

“Ah, I see.”

“But Kal seems to be improving that aspect.”

Indeed, Kal was steadily conducting research based on Dwenno’s alchemical notes.

“A pleasant exchange, aren’t you all? You seem to have plenty of energy, juniors.”

At that moment, Jamua approached the group.

Responding to her, Leo said,

“It’s better to be a bit relaxed rather than overly tense.”

“True,” Jamua agreed, then turned her head with a slightly worried expression.

Far from where the group was taking a short rest, Ris stood with a completely emotionless face, glaring at the Flove estate.

The current Ris was different from his usual demeanor.

Normally, Ris gave off a gentle and soft impression.

But now, he seemed like a fire about to erupt at any moment.

Just a touch away from exploding.

“Is Senior Toruah going to be alright?”

Chelsea asked cautiously.

At this question, Jamua’s face darkened.

“There’s no danger to his life. However, he hasn’t regained consciousness and has lost his mana.”

“……”

For a wizard, losing mana was akin to receiving a d*ath sentence.

Chelsea bit her lip.

It wasn’t merely anger because a senior from school had been harmed.

Any student of the Department of Magic would inevitably look up to Toruah.

His passion for magic.

Even though he was in his fifth year, he would frequently visit underclassmen and enthusiastically discuss magic without any reservations.

Her image of Toruah, eyes sparkling as he engaged in fervent discussions about magic, was deeply imprinted in her mind.

Effectively, they had stolen away what defined Toruah.

“I can’t forgive this.”

As Chelsea mumbled absentmindedly, Ulta called out to Leo.

“Leo.”

“Yes.”

“We need to finalize things before we go. Ris isn’t in his right mind right now, so we need clear instructions on what we need to do.”

“Will you be alright?”

Nodding at Leo’s question, Ulta replied,

“As a knight, wizard, and summoner, you’re more accomplished than any of us here. It’s only natural for you to take command.”

Certainly, there were traps lurking.

Engaging in battle was unavoidable.

Therefore, Leo had planned to leave all combat-related decisions to Ris, Jamua, and Ulta after entering the Flove estate.

Even with superior skills, it wouldn’t feel right for juniors to give orders to seniors.

‘Surely they’d handle things well without unnecessary interference from me.’

However, Ulta had insisted on giving Leo command.

‘Precisely, asking Leo to define the roles everyone would play.’

The reason was simple.

To prevent Ris from losing control completely.

To Leo, the current atmosphere around Ris was far from normal.

‘He’s on the brink of losing his mind to anger while still capable of fulfilling his duty. Having some boundaries will likely prevent a complete breakdown.’

In Ulta’s judgment, these would be Leo’s instructions.

“Why is Senior Ris this angry?”

Of course, it was understandable that someone who had been close since their first year would be enraged.

But Ris was the kind of person who could maintain his calm even in such situations.

This anger from Ris was undoubtedly out of the ordinary.

To Leo’s question, Ulta answered.

“It’s because of love.”

“Love?”

Caught off guard by Ulta’s sudden mention of love—a favorite topic of his—Leo momentarily looked perplexed.

“Exactly. The two are in a romantic relationship. Moreover, there’s a child growing in Toruah’s womb.”

“Puwha!”

While recovering her strength by drinking a potion, Celia accidentally sprayed it all over Abad.

“Sorry! I was just so surprised…!”

“It’s fine, I understand.”

Wiping his face with the napkin Celia handed him, Abad replied.

“He has every reason not to be in his right mind.”

Nodding, Leo said,

“Alright, let’s plan our strategy.”

“Ris! Time for the strategy meeting!”

At Jamua’s call, Ris approached.

“I have something to say before we plan.”

As Ris spoke, everyone except Leo looked at him tensely.

If he were to say he’d handle the Hero Slayer himself, that would be problematic.

There was no way to know just how powerful the Hero Slayer was, but given its history of massacring countless heroes, it was undoubtedly beyond anyone here except Leo’s capability to handle.

“What is it?”

“The current state of the Flove estate is strange.”

At this, Ulta tilted his head.

“From my visit last summer, it doesn’t seem much different?”

Of course, the Hero Slayer was hiding inside.

But, for the moment, it was a tranquil and peaceful countryside estate—nothing more, nothing less.

“Exactly. That’s what’s strange. After last year’s incident, the Flove estate became a land where the hero Aron returned and eradicated a Piece of Erebus. Some even see this place as a holy site.”

At these words, everyone except Leo opened their eyes wide.

Indeed, as he said, it was true.

“Right. Currently, that place is under the complete control of the Hero Slayer.”

‘Mel contacted me. Yesterday, around dawn, communication with the dragons guarding the Flove estate suddenly got cut off.’

The Flove estate had become a very special place.

Therefore, even dragons were guarding it, concealing their true identities.

Now, communication with those dragons had been cut off.

“Since this guy has taken the people of the Flove estate hostage, the six of you should focus on rescuing them. It won’t be easy. There’s a possibility Tartarus’ forces are involved.”

At Leo’s words, Ulta nodded.

“The battle lines?”

At this, Leo organized the formation.

“Why am I in the rear?”

Ris asked coldly.

The others looked at Leo with tense faces.

“Because it’s the most challenging position at the moment.”

“……”

With these words, Ris looked at the formation Leo had laid out.

The vanguard, leading the charge, was Jamua.

Supporting her from behind were Celia and Chelsea.

Ulta assumed a middle position, supporting both the front and rear.

The rear was where the wizard Abad set up his position.

If they were in a situation where they needed to proceed straight or were cornered, they wouldn’t need to worry about the rear.

However, as the current party was entering deep into enemy territory, someone was needed to guard the rear.

Once the rear magical support fell, any party was done for.

Thus, they would definitely be targeted.

In the current situation, a skilled knight like Ris was the best choice for guarding the rear.

“The Hero Slayer?”

“I’ll handle him alone.”

“……”

Upon hearing these words, Ris took a breath, then nodded.

“I understand.”

He wanted to fight the Hero Slayer together with Leo.

But…

‘This is how Celia’s classmates must have felt.’

A wry smile escaped Ris.

Leo’s eyes clearly said,

‘Not yet.’

Leo explained every possible scenario and countermeasure within the Flove estate.

As Ris listened, he looked down at his hands.

‘Still too far away.’

*

After setting the strategy, without hesitation, Leo marched into the Flove estate.

And the moment they entered,

they were greeted by a powerful wave of magical energy.

Leo’s eyes twitched.

‘This magical power?’

It was familiar—dragon magic.

Moreover, the magic constructed by that power was also something familiar to Leo.

A form of magic based on the curses used by the demons of Tartarus.

‘Nightmare.’

One of King of Wisdom, Lissinas’ proprietary magics.

A magical illusion that forces an opponent you don’t want to fight into combat.

‘On top of that, he’s refined the magic.’

Leo disassembled the magic quickly.

“Kyle…”

Before his eyes, the figure of Lissinas appeared as it had when Leo confronted Riven, the principal of Lumeran.

“Why… are you the only one still alive?”

Lissinas, covered in bl**d, gazed at Leo with hatred.

“Why are you enjoying life while you’re alive when I could have too! The Age of Peace!”

Without a word, Leo drew his sword.

At that moment.

Swish—

Suddenly, a stretch of darkness surged forward and enveloped the illusion of Lissinas.

At this, Leo hesitated momentarily.

The entire space began to twist, opening a path.

‘Was it a failed magic? No… this!’

Shaking off his bewilderment, Leo dismissed his thoughts.

‘I’ll escape first.’

As Leo threw himself into the contorted space, he glanced behind.

Whoosh!

The moment he escaped the spell, he found himself facing the Flove Family’s mansion.

“Welcome, Leo Flove.”

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

A younger version of Reina.

“My name is Zorea Iner! The one you call the Hero Slayer…”

In an instant, Leo struck her neck without hesitation.

In that moment, panic filled Zorea’s eyes.

“To cut down so decisively on someone who looked like your mother!”

As Zorea’s severed head looked up in shock, Leo tilted his head slightly.

“What is it?”