Chapter 65

After a long time, Serena visited the Annihilation Squad Commander's office.

She was still moving alone to search for the disappeared Mainz Kimbel.

“Pantera Temple?”

“His tracks ended there.”

“Are you sure that guy was Mainz Kimbel?”

“The nature of his Mana had been altered, but it was unmistakably the remnant of his Mana.”

Serena said in a firm voice.

She had faced Mainz Kimbel twice.

Hearing her say it so definitively, he had no choice but to believe her.

“He’s definitely dead… I guess that guy, the Black Duke, used some kind of post-mortem magic.”

The head of the Black Magic Tower who supports the Second Prince.

An Arch Mage of that caliber might have developed some new kind of magic.

“Alright. Dig deeper into the Pantera Temple. Take one or two others with you if needed.”

“Understood.”

After hearing all of Serena’s report, Killian stood up from his seat and grabbed his sword.

“Where are you going?”

“I'm going to meet Sharle Cornelia.”

“……?”

“I heard that Cornelia's movements have been strange.”

When he told her what Aron had reported, Serena's face hardened.

She, too, had sensed that something was off.

“It is certainly strange. Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since the Head of Cornelia has shown himself.”

“Looks like he's also entered seclusion.”

Since the Head of Cornelia was also said to have mastered 7-star long ago, it wasn't an impossible guess.

“In that kind of atmosphere, it will be difficult to arrange a meeting easily.”

“There's a way.”

Killian held up the ring on his index finger.

“It’s a magic tool Sharle Cornelia gave me. The coordinates are already set, so I just need to use a Warp stone to get there.”

Serena nodded as if she understood.

“Will you be alright without an escort? You should at least take Yulian.”

She said this knowing that Yulian had recently been accompanying Killian in her stead.

“No. I’ll move alone. Besides, that guy will need some time alone as well.”

“……?”

“Achieving enlightenment is something one must ultimately do on their own.”

“You gave him a lesson.”

Serena understood the commander's words at once.

It was because she was aware that when you spent time with Killian, you would gain enlightenment and enter a growth phase without even realizing it.

Come to think of it, she had heard that the new scabbard she received was also Killian's achievement.

‘Have I been too stagnant?’

She had often acted alone since hearing the news of Mainz Kimbel's disappearance.

She was the first sword of the Annihilation Squad.

She had the responsibility to act as the commander's deputy in his absence.

“In that case, I will remain in the family.”

“What about the Mainz Kimbel case?”

“Right now, the Annihilation Squad's mission comes first.”

“That is also a mission of the Annihilation Squad.”

“……”

“I do not approve missions without reason. Continue investigating the Pantera Temple.”

“……Understood.”

“I will contact you within a week at the latest. If there is no contact even after a week has passed……”

“……?”

“Do what you think is best then.”

“……”

Even with the nonchalant command, Serena obediently nodded her head.

It was because she knew that if a person of Killian's skill was in danger, they would not be of much help.

“Stop by the family sometimes and check on the kids' swordsmanship too.”

Leaving the room, Killian headed straight for the medium-sized Warp stone installed in the family's basement.

Unlike the one installed in the elders' room, this one was constantly managed so that anyone could use it.

‘It seems possible to travel with the ring itself, but… there’s no need to overdo it.’

He stepped onto the Warp stone and infused Mana into the ring Sharle had given him.

Even with the Warp stone assisting, Mana was constantly being drained.

By the time Mana equivalent to a 6-star level had been drained.

Fwoosh.

The Mana from the Warp stone, resonating with the ring, enveloped Killian's body.

***

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a shabby hut.

A single hut was built in a clearing that looked like it was in a forest.

Killian looked down at his feet.

Unlike a typical Warp stone, a large magic circle was drawn there.

The remnant of Mana that had not yet disappeared was connected to the ring on his index finger.

“Double Warp Magic.”

It was a magic that restricted the movement of unauthorized individuals.

“I was wondering why she handed over the coordinates so nonchalantly.”

He could feel a considerable amount of Mana from inside the hut.

It seemed that he would have to pass through that door to reach Sharle.

Just as Killian approached the hut and was about to grab the doorknob.

Fwoosh.

Blue Mana flared up over the handle.

“Who are you?”

A voice was then heard from inside the hut.

It was a man's voice, tinged with deep distrust. At most, he looked to be in his late thirties.

“Killian of Eurasia. I'm here to see Lady Sharle.”

“Eurasia's…… Fourth Young Master?”

As if it was an unexpected identity, the man's voice became thin.

“Didn't you hear anything from Sharle? She said I could meet her if I used this ring.”

Killian held up the ring he was wearing.

It was about 30 seconds later that the man's voice was heard.

“You must wait until the procedure is complete.”

“How long?”

“I cannot give you a definite answer.”

His tone had become more polite than before.

But that wasn't what was important.

“Where is this? It doesn't seem to be the eastern Frontier. Is it the west?”

“I cannot tell you.”

“Is that so?”

Killian rested his chin on his hand.

It wasn't that he was short on time, but acting so passively didn't suit his personality.

“I'd appreciate it if Sharle came before I feel the urge to destroy the hut.”

“If you intend to draw your sword, I would advise against it.”

“Why?”

“If you use Mana recklessly here, you will fall into a reflux.”

He said that if any movement harmful to the Shik that made up the space was detected, such as a knight's swordsmanship or a mage's magic, an attack magic would be activated.

“How kind of you. The point is that I just need to avoid any harmful movements, right?”

“……”

Killian smiled and gripped his scabbard.

The justification was sufficient.

Swoosh.

When he infused Mana into the scabbard, a Sword Membrane that dominated the area spread out.

The range of the Sword Membrane that Killian created with intent was at a level that would not be lacking even if it were called Carpe.

And if he used the scabbard's other ability.

Tzzzzzz.

The Mana of the area began to be sucked into the scabbard.

The dozens of Shik spread around the hut.

The moment the Mana touched the Sword Membrane, they began to lose their form.

“Wa, wait……!!”

The man in the hut, understanding the situation belatedly, let out a flustered voice.

Killian paid him no mind and strengthened the Sword Membrane's Mana.

‘With this amount of Mana, there are twenty 5-star spells and ten 6-star spells. It’s enough to talk about reflux.’

It was certainly a level that would be difficult for anyone who wasn't a Superhuman to escape from.

Of course, Killian was far from the ordinary level.

Rumble.

When he began to reveal the momentum of a Superhuman in earnest, 50 percent of the magic inscribed in the area was sucked into the scabbard in the form of Mana.

Then, finally, as the illusion magic was dispelled and the space in the forest began to shake.

Fling.

“Stop!”

The hut opened, and a familiar face appeared.

“Sharle Cornelia.”

“Young Master Killian.”

She must have come in a hurry, as her breathing was ragged and her sweat-soaked hair was stuck to her face.

Behind her stood a man with a stiff face, who seemed to be the owner of the voice he had been talking to until a moment ago.

“Is this how Cornelia greets its guests?”

“It seems there was a slight misunderstanding with Pete. Why didn't you wait a little?”

Sharle said, shaking her head with a tired expression.

It seemed the name of the man from the hut was Pete.

“If I had known you'd come this quickly, I would have.”

“Fourth Young Master! I told you to wait… Do you know how many magic formulas you have damaged?!!”

“Was it twenty 5-star spells and ten 6-star spells?”

“……!!”

“Don't worry, about 30 percent of them are intact and undamaged.”

“How, how can you say that…!”

Once at the fact that he had completely grasped the number of magic formulas inscribed in the area, and once again at his attitude of reacting nonchalantly after destroying most of them.

It was the moment Pete, who had been made to shudder twice already since his first meeting with Killian, was about to shout loudly at the unacceptable situation as the person in charge of the hut.

Sharle reached out her hand and stopped him.

“No, Pete. It is my fault for not mentioning the Young Master's visit in advance.”

“This is not something for you to admit fault for, my lady. This is clearly the Fourth Young Master's arbitrary……”

“Pete.”

“……”

“Young Master Killian is my invited guest. Do you need more explanation?”

Unlike a moment ago, her tone was cold.

Pete, sensing the change in the situation, hastily bowed his head.

“I apologize. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Please restore the dispelled formulas.”

“Understood.”

“Young Master Killian, shall you follow me?”

‘So Sharle Cornelia has a side like Serena.’

Shrugging his shoulders, Killian entered the hut.

For a moment, Mana clung to his body, then the surrounding environment changed, and a reception room appeared.

It seemed the hut itself had a warp formula on it.

“Please sit.”

Sharle poured Killian some tea.

“I never imagined you would use the magic tool so quickly.”

Sharle sat down and sipped her tea. Unlike when he first saw her, she had regained her composure.

But there was a hint of impatience about her.

“There was a report that Cornelia's movements have been strange lately. Is there a problem with the Magic Tower?”

“A problem?”

There was a slight twitch on her face as she asked back.

“If the Magic Tower isn't the problem, then is the Head's training not going well?”

A question that mentioned Cornelia's Magic Tower and its Head at the same time.

A brief silence flowed in response to the bluffing question, which had no clear evidence.

“Are you asking that as the Annihilation Squad Commander of Eurasia?”

Sharle's voice was stiff.

“If something happens to your side, it will cause a setback in our plans too.”

“There are no problems in Cornelia.”

“For someone who says that, your movements regarding the Declaration of the Kingdom have been slow.”

“If we are to discuss the Declaration of the Kingdom, Eurasia should be the one to accommodate Cornelia.”

Sharle's lips held a smile.

At the same time, her eyes were sharp as she faced Killian.

“Young Master Killian, it is rude to ask about family matters.”

“We haven't built that much intimacy yet? And yet you gave me something like this.”

Killian took the ring off his finger and placed it on the table.

“A family's situation changes from moment to moment. Even in a blood alliance, one cannot interfere with family matters.”

“Well, you're not wrong.”

Killian stood up from his seat.

‘Something is going on in Cornelia.’

For now, confirming that fact was enough.

Although it would be somewhat risky, Eurasia would just have to prepare for the Declaration of the Kingdom with Cornelia excluded.

“I hope you resolve it well, whatever it is.”

“I'm sorry, Young Master. I truly hope our relationship does not grow distant because of this.”

“I agree.”

“I will input the coordinates for the Warp stone back to Pantera Temple. Let's meet again on a better day.”

Sharle opened the other door of the reception room.

‘The Double Warp Magic is seamless. This is something we should learn from.’

Maximizing the efficiency of movement through Double Warp Magic.

If applied to the Annihilation Squad, managing the intelligence network would become several times easier.

‘Cornelia must be the only family in the Frontier that can use a formula of this level so nonchalantly.’

“It was a short but enjoyable time.”

Being seen off by Sharle, Killian stepped towards the new door.

No, it was the moment he was about to step through.

CRASH!

An explosion was heard from the other door of the hut, the one Killian had come through.

And.

Fling!

The door opened, and a pale-faced Pete appeared.

“My lady! There's big trouble!!”

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