Chapter 609

Leo stood before the tightly locked entryway of the grand royal palace.

The rear section of Retin’s primary administration center directly joined with this royal palace entrance.

‘To speak accurately, the architectural design demands that one must navigate through the administration center just to set foot inside the royal palace. Are they shielding this place?’

Following the destruction of the Tungan Kingdom, numerous artifacts and inheritances of Tungan remained undisturbed within this barricaded sanctuary.

For the ranks of the Tussin Knights, who had spent generations searching for descendants of the Tungan monarchy, guarding this spot was an absolute obligation.

“Oh? Looking at it closely, the framework of the sealing magic is completely discernible, isn’t it?”

“It bears a resemblance to spirit magic, and yet it feels entirely distinct.”

Abbad and Chelsea let out soft gasps of admiration, closely inspecting the firmly secured entryway of the palace with intense focus.

As expected of individuals trained in the arcane arts, they appeared deeply fascinated by a magical mechanism constructed entirely by spirits.

“Chloe would absolutely lose her mind if she were standing here right now, wouldn’t she?”

Leo offered a quiet laugh at Chelsea’s idle remark.

“She might have actually moved in and set up her living quarters right here.”

Bringing to mind his exceptionally studious companion from the Department of Magic, Leo shifted his gaze toward Sis.

“Is the Spirit of Purification resting inside this royal palace?”

“That is correct, Lord Leo.”

Ever since the downfall of the Tungan Kingdom, the Great Spirit of Fire, Ista, had vanished from the eyes of the world. It appeared to have chosen to remain isolated within these palace walls from that moment onward.

Leo, who had been silently evaluating the intricate magical flow binding the palace doors, focused his gaze. Having completed a rough assessment of the structure, he spoke in a low voice.

“It appears that entry is restricted solely to those who possess the proper credentials.”

“Credentials?”

Celia tilted her head to the side in confusion.

Prompted by Leo’s observation, Abbad and Chelsea shifted their focus back to the seal to analyze its properties more deeply.

“Does this magical formula appear to be linked directly to a specific ancestry?”

“Indeed. It looks like passage is granted only if you carry the inherited blood of the Tungan royal family.”

Abbad and Chelsea successfully decoded the core nature of the seal using the clue Leo provided.

Nodding along with their deduction, Leo reached forward and pressed his palm against the iron bars forming the palace’s main gate.

Clank—!

The moment his skin made contact, a vibrant crimson chain that had previously been completely obscured to the naked eye manifested out of nowhere. It was a binding forged entirely from raw spiritual energy.

Sis gasped softly in astonishment upon witnessing the phenomenon.

“Good heavens. The royal gates, which have remained entirely inert for decades…!”

Sis gazed upon Leo with eyes full of deep reverence and emotion.

‘Just as expected, Lord Leo is undeniably the true Tungan royalty we have spent all these long years waiting for!’

While the knight was lost in this profound sentiment, Leo applied physical strength to force the palace gates open.

Chaa-ruruk—!

The crimson binding pulled incredibly taut.

‘An active rejection?’

The ancient palace seal responded directly to Leo’s touch, yet it completely denied him entry. The palace entryway remained unyielding, held fast by the immense, stubborn power of a spirit.

Leo removed his hand from the metal bars and retreated a few steps back. Chelsea quickly stepped forward, her expression filled with confusion.

“It refused to budge?”

“Yes.”

“Why won’t it open for you? Could the parameters required to undo the seal be different than we thought?”

“It seems more like the Spirit of Purification is actively denying me passage.”

“Denying big brother Leo? For what possible reason?”

“I am entirely unsure.”

Chelsea glared at the barrier with a thoroughly displeased pout. She lunged forward, gripping the thick iron bars and shaking them with all her might.

“Why are you refusing entry to big brother Leo!”

However, unlike when Leo had touched the gate, the iron structure showed absolutely no response to her actions.

“Easy now. Calm down.”

Abbad slid his hands under his younger sister’s arms, hoisting her up into the air to halt her tantrum. He then carefully passed her over to Leo.

Taking hold of Chelsea, Leo gently placed her back onto her feet and lightly stroked her hair to soothe her visibly annoyed expression.

“Actually, I do have a single theory as to why it might be turning me away.”

“Oh? What theory?”

Chelsea looked up at him, tilting her head.

“Well, it’s…”

Right as Leo prepared to deliver his explanation, Celia, who had been quietly monitoring the entire sequence of events from the periphery, approached the bars with a look of genuine curiosity.

“I wonder if it will show any reaction to me?”

She placed her hands firmly onto the gate.

Right at that instant.

Clank—

“Huh?”

Celia’s eyes widened in sheer shock as she realized a heavy crimson chain had suddenly materialized and wound itself securely around her wrist.

“What on earth is this?”

Before she could even attempt to wildly untangle herself from the spiritual binding, a sudden force erupted.

Hwaak—!

“Kyaaak?!”

Celia was violently and instantaneously dragged straight through the barrier and into the depths of the palace.

“Celia!”

Abbad reacted instantly, summoning his arcane staff directly out of his spatial subspace.

Wheee-ooooh-ooooh-ooooh-ooooh—!

Kwagagagagagang—!

A localized, razor-sharp gale of monumental proportions instantly tore through the palace entryway. The sheer volume of wind pressure engulfed the entire perimeter, mimicking the destructive force of a massive typhoon.

Sis immediately dropped his center of gravity, planting his feet firmly to keep from being tossed aside by the howling gale. Meanwhile, Chelsea placed herself directly in front of Leo, actively manipulating the air currents to ensure he remained entirely shielded from the backlash.

“An instant cast without a single incantation? How is that even achievable?”

The sheer destructive output of the magic far surpassed what an ordinary second-year student attending Lumen should be capable of producing. Yet the truly astonishing aspect was that the spell fired off with zero verbal warning.

A completely voiceless spell. This was a highly specialized magical formula that Luna had previously bestowed upon Abbad.

Observing that the palace entrance remained absolutely flawless and unmarred despite his assault, Abbad’s expression grew significantly darker and more intense. A brilliant, sky-blue mana began to violently radiate from his form.

Recognizing that Abbad was becoming genuinely consumed by fury, Leo intervened calmly.

“Control your temper, this behavior doesn’t suit you.”

Hearing Leo’s voice, Abbad allowed his magical staff to lower back toward the earth and took a long, steadying breath to regain his composure.

“What exactly just happened? What reason could there be for Celia to be abruptly snatched away like that?”

As Chelsea pressed for answers with a frantic tone, Leo raised his eyes to scan the upper architecture of the palace.

“It appears whoever holds dominion over this palace intentionally pulled her inside.”

“But why her?”

“Because Celia also possesses the bloodline of the Tungan monarchy. She carries the inherent credentials required to trigger the gate. Though, as for the specific motive behind her sudden capture, I remain uncertain.”

Leo marched directly up to the palace gates and focused his vision on the magical threads.

‘I possess the capability to shatter this barrier through sheer brute force, however…’

If he chose to dismantle the seal using raw power, the resulting collateral damage to the surrounding environment would undoubtedly be catastrophic.

After evaluating the seal’s patterns for a brief moment longer, Leo reached to his hip and drew his blade.

Sring—

Watching this unfold, Abbad felt a wave of confusion wash over him.

‘I’ve never laid eyes on that weapon before.’

It was distinctly different from the sword Leo typically favored during combat. He was well aware that Leo wasn’t overly sentimental or picky regarding his choice of weaponry. Even so, he routinely equipped himself with exceptionally high-grade blades that easily earned the title of masterworks.

In contrast, the weapon currently resting in his grip appeared to be nothing more than a standard, unremarkable longsword that one could purchase in any ordinary armory.

Posteritas.

This was the crowning artifact forged by the legendary craftsman Dweno, which had been resting silently within the deep black cloak Leo had previously obtained from Lian.

For a brief flash, Leo’s irises shifted into a stark shade of gray.

‘Bible.’

His highly distinct personal magic.

With Bible fully engaged, Leo rapidly broke down the foundational mechanics of the active sealing ritual. Simultaneously, a muted gray magic circle began to manifest across the metallic surface of his blade.

“A nullification formula?”

Abbad muttered, watching intently.

Leo delivered a swift, precise strike with his weapon.

Skwak—!

The blade, dripping with concentrated gray mana, sliced effortlessly through the defenses of the palace entrance.

Right at that moment.

Clank—!

The heavy palace doors swung wide open.

Leo’s eyes immediately shifted back to their natural shade. He had infused the physical strike with Dispel specifically to slice through the magical knots holding the seal together.

To an outside observer, it might have looked like an effortless physical motion, but the underlying mental execution was extraordinarily intricate. Sealing enchantments constantly shift their internal structure from one millisecond to the next to prevent unauthorized tampering.

Leo had successfully calculated every single micro-alteration in real-time. In a fraction of a second, he designed a perfectly matching Dispel formula to counteract the seal’s sequence, effectively dissolving the lock.

While the outcome was highly effective, the sheer processing power required made the method terribly inefficient. Abbad wouldn’t even dream of attempting to replicate such a feat.

‘Could someone like Chloe manage something of that caliber?’

Abbad dismissed the thought with an internal shake of his head.

“How did you manage to pull that off?”

Chelsea questioned him, her voice dripping with amazement.

Leo pressed a hand against his throbbing forehead to ease the sudden tension and gave a quiet reply.

“I was simply copying the methods of a mage I am acquainted with.”

“Ah…”

“The world truly contains some frighteningly talented individuals. I wonder when I will finally get the chance to cross paths with someone of that level?”

“When the timing is right.”

Chelsea instantly pieced together that the specific mage Leo was referring to was none other than Luna. Abbad, remaining entirely oblivious to that context, simply felt a sense of awe regarding the sheer depth of talent scattered across the world.

“Now that the barrier is unraveled, are we all clear to step inside?”

Leo shook his head in response to Chelsea’s inquiry.

“No. I didn’t completely eradicate the seal’s infrastructure. I merely carved out a temporary opening.”

“Oh. Does that mean only big brother Leo is capable of stepping through?”

“Yes.”

Leo possessed the inherent lineage to open the gate and explore within, yet he had faced an explicit rejection from Ista, the entity governing the seal. All Leo had done was surgically remove that single restrictive variable from the magic.

“It will be best if I handle this alone.”

Leo directed a somewhat sharp, focused look toward the interior of the palace. Seeing his intense demeanor, Abbad let out a slightly self-deprecating smile.

“I have to admit, I’m a bit envious. You look exactly like a valiant knight setting off to liberate a captured princess.”

Noticing Abbad’s slightly strained expression, Leo responded plainly.

“Celia is hardly a damsel in distress.”

Hearing Leo’s assessment, Chelsea nodded her head in fervent agreement.

“Absolutely! If anyone actually manages to corner her, she’ll just fight her way out and cause a massive scene while doing it. So don’t lose sleep over it, big brother.”

“True enough.”

Abbad let out a soft laugh at Chelsea’s realistic perspective on her sister.

“Well then, I shall make my entry.”

Leo crossed the threshold into the palace grounds. Watching his figure depart, Abbad let out a long, heavy breath.

“There is really no need for you to be overly anxious. The Spirit of Purification does not possess a malevolent nature. Moreover, it would have no reason to inflict actual harm upon a descendant of the Tungan bloodline, considering they were its long-term covenant partners.”

“Let us hope that remains the case.”

Abbad offered a faint, fleeting smile.

“Because if a single hair on her head is harmed, I won’t overlook it—not even if the culprit is a Great Spirit.”

Hearing those bold words, Sis couldn’t help but feel a profound wave of respect inside his heart.

‘Incredible. Is this truly the individual destined to become the future ruler of Lwaryn?’

Despite his youth, the young man exuded an undeniably heavy, commanding presence.

Right at that juncture.

“Young Master Leo! Lady Celia!”

The heavy doors leading from the administration wing burst open, and Niel came sprinting into the courtyard, completely out of breath.

This specific sector was strictly off-limits to anyone lacking proper clearance. Seeing Niel suddenly barge into the restricted area, Chelsea looked visibly startled. Sis, instantly deducing that a major crisis must have unfolded, chose not to reprimand the young man for the unauthorized entry.

“Leo and Celia just stepped into the inner palace moments ago. Has an issue arisen, Senior Niel?”

In response to Abbad’s urgent inquiry, Machel, who had been running closely behind Niel, spoke up in a frantic, breathless voice.

“Just a few moments ago, an urgent transmission arrived from Gerdinger. Senior Torua, who had been staying as a visitor at the Gerdinger estate… has collapsed and is completely unresponsive!”

“What did you say?”

“Senior Torua?”

Abbad and Chelsea’s eyes widened in absolute shock.

“And that is not the worst of it! Mrs. Flobe, Young Master Leo’s mother, has been violently kidnapped by an unidentified perpetrator!”

Sring—!

Celia, observing the glowing crimson binding wrapped tightly around her wrist dragging her inward with terrifying speed, instantly unsheathed her blade.

Hwa-ruruk—!

The weapon she held was Flame Storm, a legendary blade that had been preserved for generations as a treasured heirloom of the Gerdinger family. Resting in Celia’s grip, Flame Storm erupted with a violent cascade of intense fire.

Skwak!

Accompanying a piercing sound, she brought Flame Storm down in a fierce slash directly against the spiritual chain.

Kaaang—!

However, the blade merely ricocheted off the surface without leaving a single scratch on the link. Celia clamped her jaw shut in frustration at the failure.

Goooooh! Hwa-rururuk—!

An immense, blazing aura of pure fire—so incredibly hot that it felt capable of reducing anything in its path to absolute ash—burst forth from Celia’s entire form. Her crimson eyes shone brightly, looking as though they were literally ablaze.

Saak—!

Focusing her absolute sharpest sword aura entirely into the very tip of her weapon, Celia sliced through the spiritual chain.

Instantly, the violent pulling sensation vanished entirely. Finding herself suspended momentarily in mid-air, Celia rapidly adjusted her center of gravity and dropped cleanly down to the stone floor.

Thud—!

She dropped into a low stance, immediately surveying her new environment with sharp eyes.

‘The main throne room?’

Celia’s vision focused.

Right at that second.

Clap— clap— clap—

“Most impressive. So this is the magnificent quality of flame that manifests when the lineage of Gerdinger and the bloodline of Tungan fuse together?”

Accompanying the rhythmic sound of clapping hands, a thoroughly haughty voice echoed through the space.

Celia’s eyes went wide as she turned her head directly toward the location of the voice. There, she observed a man lounging comfortably upon a grand throne.

The individual possessed flowing, sky-blue hair and matching eyes, with his locks cascading all the way down to his waistline, and his entire body was adorned with complex tattoos. His dark, sun-kissed bronze skin gave him the distinct appearance of a native from the southern regions, radiating an immense physical presence. He was exceptionally tall, boasting a highly defined, muscular physique.

The primary issue, however, was that he was completely bare-chested.

Celia found herself entirely thrown off balance as she stared at the man, who was currently sporting a wide, confident grin.

‘What in the world? Who is this absolute exhibitionist?’

Celia pushed herself up to her feet, her expression a mix of disbelief and annoyance.

“You are Ista, the Spirit of Purification, am I correct?”

“That is indeed correct, young woman. You may view this occurrence as a grand privilege.”

“Pardon?”

“For at this precise moment, you have been granted my personal endorsement.”

“I hate to break it to you, but I don’t possess even an ounce of natural talent required to be a spirit medium.”

“Yes. That particular detail is indeed quite a shame.”

Celia continued to speak, watching Ista thoughtfully stroke his own chin.

“My cousin, on the other hand, is perfectly capable of manipulating spirits. Wouldn’t he serve as a far more compatible choice for your pact?”

“Are you referring to that brat who was just pounding on my front gates?”

Ista’s facial features twisted into a look of deep irritation.

Witnessing that intense physical reaction, Celia flinched slightly. For some inexplicable reason, this powerful spirit harbored a deep-seated animosity toward Leo.

“Listen to me closely, girl,” Ista declared, his tone dripping with sheer annoyance. “In this entire world, there is nothing I despise more than a smooth-talking womanizer.”