Chapter 87: Exploding Volcano
He didnt like visiting the Heros Abode.
Who in the world would want to be in a place where their mind was completely transparent? His imagination was too poor to give a good example, but if he had to, it felt like running naked through the streets.
Thats why he didnt meet Latera unless it was an absolutely extreme situation.
But it seemed like now was that moment.
Did you say that there is an accursed woman who uses mind control randomly?
Yes.
Hmm she must be a witch or a sorcerer.
As he nodded towards Latera, she came close to his face.
I reapplied the Blessing of Anger and put the Blessing of Spell Understanding to help identify what magic shes using. I left the Blessing of Indomitable as a countermeasure to mind control.
Latera stroked his chest with a sad face.
If it wasnt for the chest-stroking, her face was so sorrowful it reminded him of a mother sending her son off to war.
He could easily tell why she was so gloomy, even though he usually didnt care about others emotions.
Latera could read my thoughts. She must have felt my anger, fear, and various other emotions.
Isnt there a stronger blessing? Like the Blessing of Invincibility or the Blessing of Lethality?
Such things dont exist
Latera chuckled, seemingly amused by his joke.
The Blessing of Anger is the best for maximizing physical abilities. It gives strength proportional to the users anger.
Right. I was being too greedy.
More importantly, my lord.
Latera firmly grasped his hand.
Youre almost at the limit of demerits. If you accumulate a bit more, you wont be able to enter here. Surely, you havent forgotten the promise you made to me?
Of course not.
He was being careful and aware of that.
Not swinging the holy sword at Elise right away was proof of that.
Killing Elise without solid evidence would surely earn the hatred of the servants in the mansion and of Siriel.
He stroked Lateras hand and smiled.
There are people who have come here, right? Maybe we should come in the way those guys did?
Seeing his smile, Latera began to press her temples.
Please come to the holy land. And climb the highest tower. Then, youll be able to recognize it at a glance.
Alright.
He slowly nodded and closed his eyes.
A sunny spring day.
Shiron watched quietly as Siriel and Lucia sparred.
The training ground where they sparred was chaotic with the wind of swords and sword aura.
Lucia was getting stronger than expected, and Siriel also achieved much more than anticipated. Whether they were stimulating each others growth or it was the effect of the elixir he had given them, he, as a layman, couldnt tell, but the reason didnt matter.
Whats important was that the cards he could use were getting stronger.
Sigh
But for some reason, Shiron sighed repeatedly.
Usually, he would have proudly smiled at their growing strength, but living under the same roof with an enemy, he couldnt relax.
It had been quite some time since he started to be wary of Elise. He visited the auction house at the end of winter, and now, two months later, it was the height of spring.
Elise should have acted by now, but she continued her pathetic slave act.
If shes not going to do anything, why did she infiltrate?
According to Encia and Ophilia, Elise hadnt shown any unusual behavior. She didnt touch the mansions property, nor did she absorb the servants energy like a low-quality specter. She didnt even retaliate against Shirons continuous provocations.
It only heightened his guard that she, powerful enough to force Siriel, who had stronger mental fortitude than ordinary people, to act against her will, kept showing tepid and moderate reactions.
Young master.
Ophilia, who was attending to him, whispered into his ear.
That woman requests a private audience with you, young master. What should we do?
A private audience?
Shiron turned his head and stared in the direction Ophilia was conscious of. There, Elise was standing, unnoticed until now.
Hello.
Elise faced Shiron with her usual faint smile. Shiron smirked, recalling the amount of nosebleeds he had suffered because of her.
A private audience? You mean you want to talk just with me right now?
Yes.
Shiron, stroking his chin while looking at Elise, lifted one corner of his mouth in a sneer.
Why would I?
You think you can do something to me. Like suddenly slit my throat when were alone?
I couldnt do that. I dont have the ability.
I cant, huh That was a laughable statement. Shiron wiped the smile off his face and glared.
Why cant you? I almost died from excessive bleeding because of you. Ive lost enough blood to fill a bucket.
Just can we talk alone for a moment? Just briefly. I want to clear up a misunderstanding.
A misunderstanding?
Yes, a misunderstanding.
Elise, Seira bore a throbbing headache and forced a smile on her face.
To deal with this annoying brat sober is so painful.
Seira internally ranted while raising the mana in her core.
What she was about to perform was space transfer magic.
Though it required a tremendous amount of mana and time, Seira hesitated no more. Her mind was filled with thoughts of throwing Shiron into a wasteland and making him beg for mercy.
So arrogant because of the strong guards beside him, but not for much longer, kid.
The demons guarding the brat both were certainly high-ranking demons, but not unbeatable. Seira had fought with high-ranking demons hundreds of times in the past and knew how to deal with them.
Finally, Seiras spell was complete.
Just as a deep smile formed on Seiras face.
Hey. Instead of this, lets do this.
What?
Seeing you challenge me head-on like this, you seem pretty confident in your abilities. Why dont we just have a fiery fight?
What are you?
Seira couldnt understand what this crazy kid was suggesting. Fight, hit, and get hit with whom?
With me?
The facade of the obedient slave that Seira had been maintaining cracked. She stopped using formal speech.
You want to fight with me?
Scared?
Shiron laughed heartily as the act broke. He noticed Siriel and Lucias attention was on them.
Then, no complaints.
No. You refused a private meeting, and now this? Are you mocking me?
Im not mocking you.
Shiron gestured to Ophilia. She nodded in response.
And then. The scenery around them changed.
Where is this?
Seira was startled.
Instead of the well-kept garden, grey castle walls filled her sight, and the sunny spring weather was replaced by dry winter air.
This was Dawn Castle, where Shiron had stayed until recently.
Why cant I choose the place for a direct fight?
Ophilias ability to phase out. It was really a last resort, but now was not the time to worry about worms for fear of birds.
I have to make the first move.
The magic he saw through the Blessing of Spell Understanding was definitely long-range teleportation. He didnt know where she was trying to move him, but long-range teleportation was one of the more dangerous spells Shiron knew of.
Of course, it was dangerous to be thrown into boiling lava or underground rock, but the fact that she alone could perform teleportation, a spell that required a tremendous amount of mana from multiple magicians, made Shiron realize the seriousness of the situation.
Is she an apostle?
He thought so for a moment, but it couldnt be.
The descendants of the Prient bloodline inherently sensed the presence of an apostle.
Then what the heck is it?
Not an apostle, yet possessing such magical skills? Did she think she was some Archmage or ancient dragon?
Shiron narrowed his eyes, observing Elise.
Even now, she was hiding her true identity.
But it didnt matter.
She would soon be beaten to the point of having no choice but to reveal it.
Sigh.
Seira tried to maintain her composure, but it was impossible. It was one thing to change locations, but the kid had disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Ive been had.
Seira gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.
She raised her head towards the massive energy approaching.
From afar, a one-horned woman was coming towards her.
Seira knew her well.
Yuma of Dawn Castle, the keeper of the holy land.
Hello Yuma. Its been a long time.
Do you know me?
As expected, you dont remember.
You are dangerous, just as the young master said.
Yuma crumpled her face and spoke to Seira. Seira never imagined shed meet an acquaintance from hundreds of years ago in this way.
The young master ordered me to subdue you.
Suddenly, demons surrounded Seira.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m