Chapter 77
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Chapter 77
The faint vibrations of the carriage ceased.
Lahedis, who had dozed off, noticed it and opened his eyes.
Perhaps from spending several nights restoring the barrier without sleep, he had collapsed into unconsciousness the moment he boarded the carriage.
Yet despite this deep slumber, Lahedis's brow was deeply furrowed when he awoke.
'Of all things, that kind of dream...'
The dream's details weren't entirely clear, but one thing remained vivid in his mind.
The Emperor believed Vivian to be the Demon King and was targeting her heart.
'Could the mana from the barrier have caused such a dream?'
The aura emanating from that mana bore an uncanny resemblance to Vivian's own.
Whether this was merely his imagination would become clear once he saw Vivian.
Lahedis shook off the uneasy feeling and descended from the carriage.
As always, it was Owen who greeted him.
"Welcome back safely, Lahedis."
"Where is Vivian? Is she in her room?"
"She went to the Hunting Festival with the Duke."
"The Hunting Festival?"
"Yes. The Imperial Princess herself sent an invitation."
"...How unnecessary."
Lahedis's brow furrowed deeper.
He was thoroughly displeased at sending Vivian to a place where the Emperor would be present, but the milk was already spilled.
At least Kaltz was accompanying them, so there shouldn't be any major problems.
'There's no need for me to go looking for trouble and draw the Emperor's attention.'
Judging that course of action to be far more dangerous, Lahedis decided to rest until the two returned.
But the moment he was about to enter the Estate.
Urgent footsteps approached from the direction of the main gate.
It was the Gatekeeper.
"Lahedis, a note has arrived..."
Lahedis accepted the note from the Gatekeeper with a puzzled expression.
Hector was the only person who would send a note to 'Lahedis, Knight of House of Edelwein.'
Yet he had been with Hector in the Forest just moments ago.
'What could have happened in that brief time?'
Lahedis quickly unfolded the note, and his eyes wavered.
The surveillance target has departed toward the Imperial Hunting Grounds, leading a group of men.
The surveillance target was Dias Hessen.
And currently, Vivian was at the Imperial Hunting Grounds.
Whatever Dias was plotting, a meeting between the two in that place would undoubtedly be an unwelcome reunion for them both.
It was then, as he stood engulfed in confusion.
"Disaster! A terrible disaster!"
A servant from the Duke's Residence who had stepped out briefly had returned.
"Apparently, there was an enormous explosion from the Imperial Hunting Grounds a moment ago. The Imperial Knights have already mobilized in that direction, and everything is in complete chaos!"
Upon hearing this news, both Lahedis and Owen's eyes flickered with alarm simultaneously.
"Shouldn't we go check on the Duke as well...?"
At the servant's words, Owen glanced toward Lahedis.
Since Lahedis was currently nothing more than a knight of House of Edelwein on the surface, Owen waited for instructions, even if only through a meaningful look.
But....
"...Lahedis?"
Lahedis bolted toward the Stable without any further instruction.
There was no time to hesitate.
Vivian was in danger.
* * *
'Ugh, so bright....'
I slowly opened my eyes, which had been squeezed shut against the sudden light.
Then a shimmering sphere came into view.
'What is... this?'
The moment I questioned it, the sphere began moving toward the beast.
And then....
"Screeeech!"
The beast cried out in agony, and the vines that had been binding me gradually began to weaken.
'It's... loosening!'
The instant the vines finally released me, Blackie rushed beneath me and caught me, cushioning the impact of my fall.
"Gasp.... Huff...."
As I breathed heavily, finally releasing the breath I'd been holding, the shimmering sphere that had appeared before my eyes drew closer.
I instinctively understood what it was.
I had experienced something identical ten years ago.
"A spirit...?"
The sphere flashed brightly twice, as if answering my words.
Judging by its shimmering appearance and the beast's reaction just now, this spirit seemed to be a spirit of light.
While the Dark Spirit dealt heavy damage to all life forms created from mana in this land, it inflicted little damage on beasts of the same chaotic attribute, and conversely, the spirit of light, possessing the opposite attribute, dealt great damage to beasts.
That was precisely why.
But looking around, there was no one who appeared to be a summoner.
Which meant....
'...I summoned it?'
The spirit of light circled around me as if it had read my thoughts.
I blinked as I watched the spirit.
'Is it possible to summon two types of spirits?'
Since becoming a spirit summoner, I had studied spirits to the best of my ability, but I had never encountered such a case.
Or rather, to be precise.
'I read that among the bloodlines close to the Demon King, there were occasionally those who could command all spirits... but that has nothing to do with me.'
Besides, the very existence of a demon race capable of commanding all spirits was merely a legend.
The Spirit of Light, as if sensing my bewildered state, drifted closer to me.
As if urging me to finalize the contract.
Watching the Spirit of Light, I steeled my resolve.
Whatever the case, if it had appeared in response to my voice to help me.
There was no reason to refuse.
"Then...."
I swallowed hard and extended my hand toward the Spirit of Light.
"I'm counting on you."
The moment my fingertips touched the Spirit of Light, a powerful force surged through me just as it had when I contracted with Blackie, and a mark was inscribed on the back of my hand.
It was then that the Spirit of Light, having received my mana through that mark, grew larger in size.
"Screech...."
The beast, which had momentarily faltered from the Spirit of Light's attack, regained its senses and began moving again.
Sensing this shift, the Spirit of Light immediately leaped toward the beast.
At the same moment, a massive beam of light erupted from beneath the beast.
"Roaaaar!"
The beast, writhing under the light attribute attack that countered its nature, soon lost its strength and collapsed.
As its massive body fell, the surrounding trees shattered, the ground caved in, and thick dust swirled into the air.
'That should be the end of it.'
I turned away from the beast's corpse, the Spirit of Light, and Blackie beside me.
"Let's go, you two."
I needed to return with reinforcements before the Imperial Princess grew exhausted.
But the moment I turned my body.
'What...?'
I felt a presence rapidly approaching from behind.
By the time I turned to look, the beast's vines were already inches from my face.
It was the very instant the vines were about to pierce through my body.
"...!"
Someone in robes suddenly appeared and swiftly severed the vines, then immediately rushed toward the beast and unleashed a barrage of attacks.
The speed was so incredible it was hard to believe it came from a human.
Of course, the beast was already weakened from the Spirit of Light's assault, but even accounting for that, this was a formidable display of skill.
The man, having dispatched the beast in the blink of an eye, turned to leave.
Strangely, his figure stirred an uncanny sense of familiarity.
Even though his face and body were hidden beneath the robes, I could see nothing.
At the same time, my heart began to pound fiercely.
Desperate hope and relief, mingled with the anxiety that this hope might be misplaced.
Something welled up from deep within my chest and caught in my throat.
I swallowed the emotion that threatened to choke me and parted my lips.
"Curtis Rohan...?"
The moment my voice echoed through the quiet forest.
The man's footsteps stopped.
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