Chapter 473

It was a considerable duration after the collective of Great Heroes had been finalized, marking the time following Dweyno’s induction.

The territories where the Great Heroes had carried out their missions were steadily transitioning toward a state of peace, breaking free from the grip of hopelessness and turbulence.

Among those regions, the earliest to re-establish order was Gardeslon, the very place the Great Heroes had established as their headquarters.

It was during this same period that Lisinas, a man who had endured mockery as an idiot for the longest time, received his appointment as the ruler of Gardeslon.

One afternoon, in the midst of handling the arduous tasks of governance,

Kyle approached Lisinas to present a specific request.

“You are asking me to instruct you in the ways of spirit summoning magic?”

Lisinas, who was currently reviewing official papers, shifted his gaze toward Kyle with a look of astonishment.

“What has brought this on so suddenly?”

“It occurred to me while observing your spirit summoning magic in our previous engagement. Possessing that capability would serve as an immense advantage in the conflicts ahead.”

“Is that so?”

Resting his face against his palm in response to Kyle’s statement, Lisinas squeezed his eyes narrow and let a cynical grin form on his features.

“When I previously offered to guide you in the arts of summoning magic, you claimed you had no requirement for it, yet here you are making requests?”

Lisinas let out a sharp chuckle.

“That was owing to my inability to grasp the principles behind the summoning magic you described.”

“Then what of Luna and Arion? Would you say their interpretations are simpler to comprehend than mine?”

Kyle had already attempted to seek instruction from both Luna and Arion.

However, even prior to those attempts, Lisinas had extended an invitation to instruct Kyle in elemental magic.

That gesture had been turned down at the time.

‘The way you explain things is far too convoluted; I have no use for it.’

Kyle addressed Lisinas, who was currently scowling as the memory resurfaced.

“To be fair, their methods of explanation are packed with ideas that make no sense to me. Because of that, I am committing them to memory through physical repetition and forcing the arcane structures into my mind. Through that approach, I can comprehend them to a degree. Conversely, the core concept of your summoning magic isn’t something that yields to simple memorization. Furthermore, I was already mimicking your elemental magic on a basic level back then, so I failed to see the necessity.”

“Ah, is that the case?”

Lisinas gave a detached reply, though he conceded that specific point.

Kyle had previously endeavered to replicate the combat styles of Luna and Arion without formal training, only to meet with failure.

On the other side of things, Leo frequently managed to mirror Lisinas’s elemental magic with relative ease.

“What makes it impossible for you to replicate Luna and Arion, whereas you can mirror my elemental magic?”

“I have spent the greatest amount of time watching you, and out of everyone in our circle, you are the one I observe the most.”

“Oh, truly?”

Lisinas offered an indifferent remark, averting his eyes from Kyle to stare out toward the window.

Faced with such a cold reception, Kyle let out a quiet breath.

It appeared as though Lisinas possessed absolutely no desire to guide Kyle through the principles of spirit summoning magic.

‘He watches me the most?’

Yet within his own mind, Lisinas felt a tiny bit of…

Actually, he was immensely pleased.

Hidden from Kyle’s perspective, his leg was vibrating with excitement beneath the surface of the desk.

The truth was, Lisinas had been harboring a bit of resentment toward Kyle as of late.

‘He spends the majority of his time alongside Luna, acquiring magical knowledge.’

During the initial days of his lordship, Kyle used to drop by frequently, but ever since his training regimens with Luna and Arion commenced, it became a rare occurrence to catch sight of him.

Naturally, he held no genuine anger regarding the matter.

‘It is undeniably a positive development that Kyle has found his drive. Even so, we are the original creators of this vanguard force. Surely he could show a shred of consideration, couldn’t he?’

He genuinely desired to instruct him in spirit summoning magic.

Consequently, he wished to share some private time with Kyle.

Even so, prior to granting that, he felt an urge to tease him slightly.

“Even if I held the desire to instruct you, my schedule is far too packed at present, leaving me with no available time.”

“If it suits you, the late hours of the night would work perfectly. Should I present myself at your residence? If you prefer that I do not breach your personal quarters, you are welcome to visit mine.”

‘In the evening hours? At my place?’

“Hee-hee-hmm~ Hmm~ Hmm~”

With his mood escalating further, Lisinas began to vocalize a light melody.

From Kyle’s point of view, however, it seemed as though the man was merely dodging the issue.

Right as Kyle’s eyebrows knit together more tightly at the display.

“Providing you with instruction might not be a terrible option.”

Lisinas permitted a subtle smirk to cross his lips.

“Make your way to my quarters whenever you find yourself free during the night. I shall provide you with the incantation required to unseal the entrance.”

“Is there a reason to instruct me in an unsealing incantation?”

“It becomes tedious to unlatch it manually each time you arrive. Oh, and it goes without saying, if you sneak inside during my absence, I will end your life.”

“Do you take me for someone who would execute such an action?”

“Feel free to visit whenever boredom strikes or when matters weigh heavily on your mind. I am perfectly willing to serve as a companion for talk or drinks at any hour.”

“I appreciate that. Oh, as an aside.”

“What is it?”

“Do I possess even a shred of aptitude for spirit summoning magic? It seems wise to determine that prior to commencing my studies.”

Hearing those words, Lisinas experienced a sudden pang of inner guilt.

‘Kyle is completely devoid of aptitude for spirit summoning magic.’

He brought to mind a conversation he had shared with Luna a while back, who had been marveling at Kyle’s nature as an All-Class.

‘Lisinas, is he capable of wielding spirit summoning magic as well?’

‘Kyle holds zero affinity for spirit summoning magic. He wouldn’t grasp its essence even if he perished and underwent reincarnation.’

‘Oh? It seems he is not entirely flawless after all.’

Precisely as she had remarked, Kyle was missing any innate connection to spirit summoning magic.

As a result, achieving success in using spirit summoning magic was a physical impossibility for him, regardless of instruction.

Lisinas merely wished to secure some individual interactions with Kyle.

Most significantly, he felt jealous of the bond between Kyle and Luna, who had grown as familiar as siblings.

“Well, such a thing cannot be determined outright. The potential of your All-Class nature is without bounds. I believe an opening exists.”

“Understood.”

Kyle gave a single nod.

“In that case, I shall make my way over tonight.”

“This very evening?”

‘My workspace is in disarray. Is it necessary to organize it somewhat? No, more critically, do I possess any respectable attire to wear?’

While Lisinas was debating various considerations internally.

“Greetings!”

Luna strode directly into Lisinas’s workplace.

“Kyle! This evening, I shall grant you a session of unique instruction! View it as a massive privilege!”

“There is no need. Is your intention to invade my quarters once more, consume alcohol, and leave a disaster behind? Refrain from ever setting foot in my home again.”

Kyle’s features twisted into a deep grimace.

“What sort of demeanor is that to exhibit toward your mentor! Such disrespect!”

“Mentor, my foot. I assist you in formulating your arcane formulas as well. This is an equitable trade of services, is it not?”

Kyle pushed back with irritation against Luna’s face, as she was currently gripping and tugging at him.

Luna gave Kyle’s hand a sharp pinch.

“Regardless, I have an existing commitment this evening.”

“An existing commitment? Are you scheduled to drink alongside that degenerate old man and Arion?”

“No, my commitment is with Lisinas.”

“With Lisinas?”

Luna appeared slightly bewildered, shifting her focus between Kyle and Lisinas repeatedly.

“Kyle requested that I provide him with guidance on summoning magic, you see.”

“Is that so? Then I shall participate in the learning process as well.”

Luna offered a radiant grin.

She herself was a practitioner of summoning who had formed a pact alongside a fairy.

Lisinas found himself caught off guard by Luna’s declaration.

“Luna, I shall provide you with separate instruction on another occasion.”

“Correct. You can undergo your own lessons at a later date. I intend to grasp spirit summoning magic this very day.”

Luna’s gaze intensified upon hearing Kyle’s assertion.

“You are simply pestering Lisinas and coercing him into providing lessons, aren’t you? Keep dreaming.”

“What did you say?”

“Lisinas explicitly stated in the past. That you would only manage to manifest spirit summoning magic in a future incarnation.”

Luna crossed her arms together, adopting a smirk of victory.

“Quit wasting time and receive magical training from me instead!”

Following Luna’s revelation, Kyle lowered his eyelids and fixed his attention on Lisinas.

“Tell me, you deceptive reptile. You were attempting to pull a fast one on me, weren’t you?”

“Hardly, I was merely taking into account your latent abilities which could perhaps…”

“Is it not due to your habitually poor conduct that Lisinas is behaving spitefully toward you?”

Luna clicked her tongue, observing Kyle with an expression of pure pity.

Kyle reached out to seize one of Luna’s cheeks, giving it a firm tug.

“What do you think you are doing?!”

Her eyes widening in shock, Luna reached up to yank at Kyle’s hair.

Lisinas directed a slightly bitter look toward Luna.

Following that encounter, no further prospects arose to study spirit summoning magic.

Sifting through his memories of the past, Leo fell into deep thought.

‘Could that have been nothing more than a trick of the mind?’

Neither within his previous existence nor during his current life did he hold any innate capacity for spirit summoning magic.

‘Yet for a mere trick of the mind, the sound was remarkably clear.’

It carried the distinct impression that Lisinas had truly uttered those words to him.

It was during Leo’s period of scowling that a voice interrupted.

“Lord, has a problem arisen? Your countenance appears quite grave.”

Lil, having drawn closer, inquired in a hushed tone.

“I was contemplating the nature of spirit summoning magic.”

“Spirit summoning magic?”

Lil’s eyelids lifted in surprise.

“Is that not an area determined entirely by birthright? Lord, are you perhaps capable of utilizing spirit summoning magic as well?”

“I am not.”

‘Had I possessed the capability to command spirit summoning magic, I might have managed to obliterate Erebus entirely.’

Leo’s features settled into a complicated expression.

‘The fundamental reason I proved unable to wipe him out completely back then was due to my own deficiencies.’

During the campaign to bring down Erebus.

The core of power gathered by his allies was entirely funneled into the vessel known as Kyle.

Kyle overcame Erebus by utilizing that collective power.

Nonetheless, it remained nothing more than temporary power in the end.

Kyle was incapable of fully converting that power into his own essence.

‘It amounted to nothing more than the vessel being topped off, causing the output to escalate. The vessel that comprised ‘myself’ did not experience true growth.’

Evaluating pure martial capability.

Kyle’s combat prowess was never destined to match Arion’s standard.

It was an impossibility for his sorcery to attain Luna’s height, and his summoning capabilities could never run parallel to Lisinas’s.

‘Furthermore, I lacked the capacity to act as a defensive barrier in place of Dweyno.’

Had he managed to master the absolute pinnacle that even a single one of his allies had achieved, the outcome would not have concluded with a mere sealing of Erebus.

Leo cast his gaze down toward his open palms.

‘As an All-Class individual, I was forced to aggregate every single trait just to occupy the same level as them.’

In a particular light, even that feat was not pulled off solely through his personal capability.

‘I simply trod along the trails that they chose to clear.’

He lacked the inherent power to forge a path into uncharted domains on his own.

‘Was it always their role to forge paths for me to discover fresh territories each time I encountered a barrier?’

His greatest strength had always resided in analyzing and copying.

Even throughout the concluding conflict against Erebus, Leo did nothing more than mimic his companions.

To illustrate, Arion’s authentic strength originates from heightened awareness.

Arion’s peak heightened awareness attained a level where he could catch fleeting glimpses of what was to come, yet Leo had still not crossed into that territory.

In the same vein, to comprehend Lisinas’s summoning magic flawlessly, one must possess the capability to utilize spirit summoning magic.

‘If that voice was not a trick of the mind, but genuinely the voice of Lisinas.’

Not long ago, as a recompense for dominating Lisinas’s domain, Leo had acquired the core mana of Lisinas.

Should that strength stir within him and grant him the aptitude of a spirit summoner.

‘Would that not signify that I could attain the exact same tier as Lisinas?’

While Leo remained lost in these reflections.

“Our destination is before us.”

Jeremin brought the dialogue to a halt.

The remnants designated as the Tomb of the Vanquished.

Functioning as an ancient stronghold in a bygone era, these remnants featured a zone hemmed in by massive urban barriers.

Upon crossing the threshold, a multitude of youths were emitting synchronized shouts, grasping spears within the open courtyard.

The scene mirrored automated martial drills.

Leo and Lil directed bewildered looks toward Jeremin.

“These youths are entirely casualties of conflict who lost their parents. They represent the hidden misery of this nation, having spent their existences stripped of everything.”

Jeremin adopted a somber countenance.

“The individuals holding command over the armed forces in this domain have maintained these youth sanctuaries for a generation.”

“Is that not a benevolent act?”

Lil tilted her head to the side.

“From an external perspective, it appears benevolent.”

Jeremin’s features contorted with revulsion.

“However, their youth sanctuaries were essentially a covert branch of the armed forces.”

“What?”

“They function as drill facilities designed to manufacture powerful combatants. The motive behind rounding up these young parentless youths is to deploy them to the front lines the moment they achieve an age suited for combat.”

All emotion drained from Lil’s face.

Leo crossed his arms over his chest.

“I shall lay out the parameters of our arrangement.”

Taking a profound breath, Jeremin stood firmly before Leo and Lil, declaring.

“I implore you to prevent those youths from entering the theater of war.”

“That is a simple matter. We can simply break the skulls of the leadership immediately!”

As Lil snarled out her response, Leo spoke up.

“The issue will not resolve itself through that action alone.”

“What?”

Lil paused in her tracks.

“Those youths will choose of their own volition to enter the war.”

“For what reason?”

“Because that is the precise methodology by which they have been instructed and conditioned.”

Leo, offering an answer to the perplexed Lil, fixed his gaze on Jeremin.

“Crown Prince Jeremin, I require an answer to a question.”

“State it.”

“Has this scheme to transform orphaned youths into combat assets been active for a period of several years?”

“Its inception would trace back five years.”

“Are the youths present here the inaugural group?”

“By what means did you uncover that piece of information?”

Leo had encountered this exact scenario previously.

Five millennia in the past, within the sanctuary settlement of Leisar.

And he was fully aware of whose design this belonged to.

‘Grand Duke of Funerals, Artkan.’