Chapter 767 – The King of Fire
000
If you have studied even a little bit of knowledge about spirits – or, depending on your personal preference, there is a word that anyone with an interest in spirits has heard of.
The Spirit King is a mysterious yet powerful entity that is presumed to have great power just by hearing its name.
Simply looking at the word, it means the king of spirits, and the impression would be that it is a spirit so powerful that it dominates even high-ranking spirits that can destroy a village.
And that, to some extent, is not wrong, scholars who have been in contact with spirits say.
However, it should also be said that there is not just one king of the spirits.
It is similar to the king of humans, but the king of spirits also refers to a spirit who is the leader of the spirits within a specific group or region.
Therefore, the most powerful spirit there is called the spirit king, and depending on the situation, the middle-level spirit or even the strongest being in a power struggle such as acorn-growing among low-level spirits becomes the king of the group.
In this respect, there are quite a few scholars who feel that there is not much difference compared to the barbarism of humans.
But if you think about it, spirits are ultimately incarnations of elements that exist in nature.
In a natural world where the law of the fittest is natural, some have come to the conclusion that it is unnatural for humans to decide on a leader not by simple force but by law, money, knowledge, or bloodline.
In any case, if the Spirit King is the most powerful being among the spirits existing there, the spirit called Rex Ignis that Ventuna mentioned would also be the most powerful being among the spirits of the Magic Tower.
That is to say, just looking at the fact that he gave human bodies to the three spirits he created as a child, there is no doubt that he is a being who can use ancient magic.
However, among all the introductions, if there was one thing that disturbed Lila, it was the fact that the spirit was the one who had made a contract with her grandfather.
＂Why did my grandfather make a contract with the spirit of the Magic Tower…?＂
There weren’t that many wizards who made contracts with spirits, but they weren’t that rare either.
That is to say, in Helix, there were many people who made contracts with general nature spirits, even if they were not the spirits of the magic tower.
In particular, wizards who research elemental magic had many advantages that could be gained through contracts with spirits, who could be said to be the elements themselves.
Lila found communication with the spirits troublesome, so even after entering the Academy she did not make a contract with the spirits, although she could have thought that her grandfather might have done so. 〉
The problem is probably the spirit that made the contract.
Considering that her grandfather was called a hero for sealing the magic tower, the fact that he made a contract with the spirit of the magic tower was surprising, and it was different from her memories of her grandfather until now, who used the power of the magic tower. Because it was the opposite.
“Well. That’s just what I heard too. Only the parties involved will know why he signed a contract with Ignis. It’s an interesting topic, but Ignis must have noticed that Aqua and Petrus failed.”
However, Ventuna did not hear much from Ignis, and more than anything, since she gave bodies to Aqua and Petrus, there was a high probability that she was watching their every move.
The same could be said about Ventuna, but it may have been part of her contract that she could tell Lyla about Ignis.
“Did Aqua know too? About that guy called Ignis.”
“No. I was the only one who knew about Ignis. To be exact, he only spoke to me. … If you think about it, you might have expected Aqua and Petrus to fail to unseal the Magic Tower to some extent.”
Afterward, Ventuna began to tell the story of when she first took on human form.
It was true that after the death of Laila’s grandfather, her seal had weakened, and she was biding her time, thinking that with time, Ventuna would be able to break out of it on her own.
However, despite her preparations, she suddenly had a stream of consciousness coming from outside of her.
He laughed at Ventuna because she was a young and weak spirit, and forcibly took her out of her seal and gave her a human body.
To Ventuna, who was confused by being given her human body, Ignis revealed her true identity and purpose – namely, that she too would be completely freed from her seal, and that she would free herself from her seal as a limb for him.
To revive the three spirits, including the weakened Aqua.
However, even if Aqua and Petrus were given bodies, they would move to unseal the magic tower just like him, so they would not reveal their identities to them, and Ventuna was forced to make a pact by forcing her to keep her mouth shut.
And the situation went as he expected, but Aqua and Petrus ultimately failed to lift the seal.
“… So that means that his seal has been partially released, but not completely.”
When Lila, who heard all of Ventuna’s story, makes that judgment, Cleon also nods her head.
“If I could have done it myself, I would have done it. The fact that he tried to use you three as a gimmick means that he himself cannot escape the seal.”
“If you look at the situation, it would be right to think that way…”
Ventuna also seems to agree with what the two people say, but doubts still remain whether the entity known as the Spirit King really made such a poor plan and moved on.
Then Laila snapped her fingers at Ben Tuna, and all the chains around her body came loose.
Ventuna looked at the magic chains scattering and disappearing, and then she asked Laila.
＂Are you okay?＂
“It’s okay. I’ve already heard most of what I wanted to hear, and if you maintain your human form and live as a human, Ventuna, who was a spirit like Petrus, is no different from being dead. Unless you suddenly hit us in the back with the promise of unsealing the Magic Tower, we will no longer call you an enemy.”
＂…＂
Even after Ventuna didn’t respond to Laila’s words for a moment, she got up from her chair and asked a question.
＂What are we going to do now?＂
＂I should go to Grandfather’s seal warehouse, check the condition of the seal, and reinforce the necessary items. The thing that needs to be checked most is, of course, the seal of Ignis.”
Lilado, as she spoke, got up from the bed she was sitting on, and Ventuna answered.
＂Have you have ever been in?＂
“No, there isn’t one… When my grandfather was alive, I was told not to go in no matter what happened. … Oh, I see.”
There, Lila made a sound from her mouth as if she realized something.
Because she finally knew why her grandfather never allowed her to enter the sealed warehouse during her childhood.
Of course, there was a possibility that it could be dangerous if young Lila made a mistake and released the seal on her, but she knew that on her own, she would never do something so foolish.
However, in her grandfather’s eyes, she already had a record of doing such things.
At that point, she took the spirit stone of the magic tower and created a working spirit out of her spirit.
Although Lila later had her memory erased by him, she did not remember what she had done.
As Laila scratches her head over the fact that the only thing she feels bad about is that she was in fact at fault, Ben Tuna talks to Laila.
“Anyway, if you’ve never been in there, I’ll show you around, because I know at least what’s inside.”
“You three didn’t just go in and out of the warehouse while I was away, right?”
“At least not me. I don’t know what happened to Aqua and Petrus.”
When Lila gave her a questioning look, Ben Tuna sighed and shook her head.
001
Lyla, Cleon, and Ventuna headed to their grandfather’s sealed warehouse.
This old warehouse located on the outskirts of town does not seem to have any security at first glance, so you might be concerned that it may be too shabby for sealing dangerous items.
When you turn on the magic power, you can determine the identity of the person who came close to the warehouse, and if it is an unauthorized entity, you can see that a barrier is spread under the feet with fire spewing out without question and answer.
Moreover, flying magic cannot be used inside the barrier.
If you fly through the sky and come inside, the gravity-enhancing magic trap will immediately be activated, and you will fall from the air to the ground, shattering all the bones in your body.
Lila explaining this to Cleon.
After hearing the explanation, Cleon asks Laila a question.
“… That permission is something your grandfather decides, right?”
“When her grandfather was alive. When he passed away, he also took over control of the barrier, so now he can go inside if I allow him. The problem is-“
Lila then speaks while looking at Ventuna next to her.
“Now that I think about it, how did you guys get out of the warehouse!? They say it was after my grandfather passed away, but I didn’t even know you existed, so I didn’t give you permission!”
Laila speaks as if she doesn’t understand, but Ben Tuna answers her.
“Yeah, I walked out.”
“If you walk out, flames come out?”
“Did you say we got help from someone? Ignis, the Spirit King of Flame. “He was able to stop the flames that spewed out from under my feet the moment I left the warehouse.”
Laila responded to her words as if she didn’t understand.
Was it because her grandfather’s magic was blocked by the Spirit King’s protection, or was it a feeling that there was a way?
Either way, Lila stomps her steps as if she doesn’t like it, and she enters the barrier of the sealed warehouse.
Looking behind her, Ventuna just shrugged and looked up with a wry smile as she made eye contact with Cleon.
When she placed her hand on the old wooden door, which gave the impression that her miscellaneous items were really stuck in it without any decoration, Lila instantly flinched at the feeling of her magic flowing through the door.
＂What’s wrong?＂
“… Be careful, Cleon. It seems like there is someone inside who has already been released.”
In response to Lila’s answer, Cleon also took on a serious expression and placed his hand on the handle of Galatea hanging on her waist.
＂Is it Ignis?＂
“Well… I guess I should go inside and check.”
At Lila’s words, Cleon nodded as if he was ready.
Then, Lila wrapped her magic around her body and prepared for her shock, then turned the doorknob and opened the door of her sealed warehouse.
That moment-
Quang! As the sound rang out, a huge pillar of fire spewed outward from the entrance of the door, striking the bodies of three people, including Layla, who were standing in front of the door.
In fact, when the fire, which was like a dragon’s breath, spewed out in a straight line, the floor around the warehouse burned black due to the heat, and the rocks along the way melted.
Of course, it would have been normal for Lilado, Cleon, and Ventuna to be swallowed up in that pillar of flame and their entire bodies to be completely charred and reduced to ash-
＂I knew it would be like this…!＂
As Lyla cried out in her flames, a protective barrier stretched out from her staff, protecting her, Cleon, and Ventuna behind her.
Not only that, Lila slowly moves forward while pushing away the fire, and after seeing the flashing eyes beyond the flames, she speaks to Cleon.
＂Cleon! We must destroy what lies beyond the flames!”
“Ah…! It’s already ready!”
And then, at some point, Cleon transformed the form of Galatea, who had not been used for a while, into the form of a black bow, and cast a magic arrow on it, staring over Lila’s shoulder.
Then, Ventuna’s hand came up to Cleon’s back, and the magic power of the wind flowed from Cleon’s shoulder to her arm, wrapping around the arrow like a whirlpool.
“With this, you will be able to get through that flame. If you make a mistake, I will correct your orbit.”
＂Ha.＂
Cleon smiled as if that wasn’t going to happen, and let go of his hand that was holding his bow.
The arrow wrapped with Ventuna’s magic passed by Lila’s head and flew straight toward her front.
The arrow, which pierced through the flames at a speed beyond her sound, struck right in the center of Lila’s eyes, and from beyond it cracked! At the same time as the sound of something breaking inside her, a painful scream rang out.
Eventually, when the pillar of fire that was attacking them disappears, Lila and Cleon quickly run into the warehouse and confirm the identity of the thing that was spitting fire at them.
Then, what was there was a huge snake with a coiled body long enough to fill the space with the warehouse.
Its red scales, sinister eyes, and two horns protruding from its head were reminiscent of a dragon’s head, but it was questionable whether its body without legs or wings could be called a dragon.
The arrow stuck precisely in the area between the eyebrows was telling them that that person was the culprit who sprayed flames at them.
The size was certainly overwhelming, but Lyla knew that the body was caused by intangible magic, and so she was able to define what it was.
＂I can feel the power of the flame spirit… That means you are the Rex Ignis that Ventuna was talking about. For a name like the Spirit King, it looks ugly in many ways?”
At Lila’s words, Ignis made a groaning sound as if he was holding back pain, and then burned the arrow stuck in his head, destroying it.
Then, looking at Lila with those red eyes, she stuck out her tongue and made a threatening sound.
＂Lila Flamewatch… I finally met him… His flesh and blood…!＂
No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t look like he is sealed, but his body started in a huge complex in the innermost part of the warehouse, and it was probably impossible to completely escape from there, so part of it was connected to that complex.
Lila glances toward the jar, then raises her hand.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Then, she began chanting the sealing technique she had inherited from her grandfather.
“What!? No wait! Meeting you like this was something close to fate, but you sealed it like this without saying anything! Stop!”
Ignis seemed to be embarrassed by Lila’s reaction and tried to stop her by raising his voice.
When Cleon raises his sword to block Lila from attacking her, she screams and struggles.
But─
＂Sealed!＂
＂No!!＂
As soon as Lila finishes her spell, Ignis begins to pull her body towards her complex.
And, as he let out a long scream, his entire body ended up being placed in the jar.
Finally, once the lid of the jar is closed, the interior of the warehouse becomes quiet.
“… Well, it was easier than I thought.”
Lila shook her hands off as if she was dumbfounded.
＂…＂
Ventuna also had an expression that seemed a little different from what she expected, but Lila’s face looked like she was doing well.
“… The darkness has been sealed, so let’s go back and check if there’s anything strange inside the warehouse. When this is over, I can finally return to Asteris.”
As Laila said that, she turned her gaze towards the items in the warehouse.
But the very next moment.
Wow! If you think you heard a voice.
Just moments ago, a large crack appeared on the surface of the huge jar that sealed Ignis.
