The Greatest Warrior of All Time Returns-Chapter 426

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Chapter 426

The banquet of Spirit Summoners.

This banquet hall could essentially be considered a gathering meant for exchanges among young spirit summoners.

Since it was rare for promising young spirit summoners with notable talent from each continent to gather in one place, it seemed that occasions like this had been created for that purpose.

It was said that most of those who had passed this competition would be attending this banquet, held under the auspices of Azure Star, Algran Tevne, widely known as an authority in spirit magic.

Of course, none of that really mattered to me.

The one I wanted to meet was Azure Star Algran Tevne himself.

To be honest, from my perspective—having already obtained the qualification for evaluation for the Star Title—I could have just met him directly rather than attending a banquet.

But I concluded that it would be enough to briefly stop by the banquet hall, hear his opinion on spirit magic, and then leave.

Still, as I ended up wearing a neat formal uniform to attend the banquet against my intentions, I felt oddly irritated.

“I barely get enough time with Elpiria as it is.”

“Still, thanks to that, you did receive the pretty name Elpiria, didn’t you?”

It wasn’t just that she had given me the name Elpiria.

I had also received the blessing stored within the spirit stone, so from the perspective of the Spirit King Sylphid, it was practically giving away something extremely precious.

“Mm. Very handsome. Cool too.”

“You were like that from the first time you saw me. Always gilding someone’s face with praise.”

“I’ve never told a lie.”

“I wish I could’ve gone with you.”

“If Leon were participating under Leon’s own name, maybe. But if you’re attending under the identity of the young master of House Belmud, then I can’t go with you.”

Leaving behind that regret, she kissed my cheek.

“Do well.”

“Yeah. I’ll ask quickly and come right back.”

Leaving the lodgings, I headed toward the grand banquet hall located in the northern part of the Spirit Corridor.

A large number of carriages were already entering.

Among them, I noticed several people I had seen during the previous competition.

“Young Master Belmud. Your registration is confirmed. Please enjoy your time.”

After finishing visitor registration with the Librarian at the entrance, I stepped inside.

The sounds of an orchestra filled the air, and the scenery of the banquet hall unfolded before me.

Unlike an ordinary banquet hall, spirits fluttered here and there, laughing cheerfully and playing pranks like mischievous children.

As I entered, many eyes turned toward me.

Since I was wearing a mask, no one recognized me, but it seemed rumors about me had spread somewhat since the competition in the bamboo forest, because the attention was greater than I expected.

Before long, Eltemion—who had been surrounded by countless people—approached me.

“Welcome. I thought it wouldn’t make sense if you didn’t participate here.”

“Is that really something that doesn’t make sense? By ordinary spirit summoner standards, I’m just a half-baked spirit summoner.”

He firmly shook his head at my words.

“Even so, your skill isn’t fake.”

He held out his hand, asking for a handshake.

“Let me properly introduce myself. Eltemion Rubakara. I belong to House Tevne.”

Tevne!

The very same family as Algran Tevne, the greatest spirit summoner on the continent.

But when I showed a puzzled expression, wondering why his surname was Rubakara, he spoke calmly.

“Rubakara is my mother’s surname. My grandfather is Algran Tevne. That’s why I was able to get an invitation to the banquet he’s hosting.”

That made things flow even more smoothly.

I went straight to the point.

“Thanks for the invitation, but actually I came here to meet Elder Azure Star.”

“May I ask why?”

“There’s some spirit magic I need to confirm.”

He seemed to think for a moment, then nodded.

“When my grandfather arrives shortly, I’ll mention it to him.”

Our first meeting had been when he was covered in blood, and he had attacked me right after losing his spirit beast—but he definitely showed respect toward those stronger than himself.

He felt like a rather unusual personality.

“What the hell. Why is that guy here?”

At that moment.

Hearing a provocative voice, I turned my head—and as expected, Corison Jackper was approaching.

“That guy who got through because of pure luck thanks to a landslide. If not for that, he would’ve lost his spirit beast. You’re that guy from the cave, right? The one who was too scared to even come out.”

He clearly hadn’t even considered that I was the one who had caused the landslide at the cave entrance.

“Stop talking nonsense. Commoner. He’s not someone at your level to evaluate.”

“This bastard…”

At Eltemion’s cold assessment, Corison flared with anger, spirit mana rippling around him.

But perhaps he judged that clashing head-on with Eltemion was disadvantageous, because he redirected his hostility toward me.

“You think someone who passed through sheer luck is at a level to be here? If it were me, I’d be too ashamed to even show my face.”

“Corison Jackper.”

Eltemion’s voice turned icy, but Corison only shrugged.

“Well, whatever. There are plenty of people like that here anyway.”

“Corison Jackper. I told you clearly, didn’t I? He isn’t someone you’re qualified to compare to yourself.”

“Hah. You’re really going out of your way to defend him.”

Corison shrugged again.

It seemed Eltemion showing interest in me had drawn attention, which in turn attracted this guy’s aggression.

In this situation, the only ones wearing expressions of disbelief were Eltemion’s teammates and the two spirit summoners who were with me.

Of course, no one stepped in.

Regardless of skill, House Jackper was a fairly powerful family.

Still, considering his attitude toward the heir of House Belmud, it felt oddly strange.

I didn’t know the details about House Belmud, but it didn’t seem like something that should invite this kind of treatment.

Just as I was thinking that—

A message from the Librarian appeared.

[There was information indicating that House Jackper and House Belmud are not on good terms.]

‘That was a thing?’

[That is correct.]

I didn’t know that.

At that point, it made sense.

No one else was saying anything, yet only Corison Jackper was picking a fight from the start.

“Half-baked spirit summoner using some mutant spirit. What do you think you’re going to gain by coming here?”

Ignoring Eltemion and raising his voice to draw attention, Corison’s behavior made Lerban Code—who wasn’t on good terms with him—click his tongue.

“Does that brat really have to act like this even here?”

“Just leave him. Empty barrels make the most noise.”

I heard the brief exchange between Lerban Code and Behena Mobierty, who had previously confronted Corison.

“Well, if you’re dissatisfied, prove it with skill. But what can you even do with a mutant spirit that can’t grow—”

“Did you say Corison Jackper?”

I cut off his words as I walked toward him and looked down at him.

I wasn’t particularly tall myself, but Corison belonged to the shorter side.

Looking down at him with an emotionless gaze, I said quietly,

“This is our first time meeting, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“If someone you’ve just met acts this rude, it must be because you’ve never had your skull cracked for flapping your mouth carelessly.”

My voice turned cold, laced with faint killing intent.

He flinched and instinctively stepped back.

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But perhaps angered that he had recoiled, he immediately summoned a mid-grade fire spirit, a Salamander.

“A worthless bastard like you dares—”

“That’s enough.”

At that moment.

A sudden old voice rang out, and everyone’s gaze turned in one direction.

Soon, murmurs spread as eyes widened.

An idol to aspiring spirit summoners.

The greatest spirit summoner bearing a Star Title, produced by House Tevne.

Algran Tevne appeared, stroking his white beard.

Corison clicked his tongue and stepped back.

“Mutual contempt does not look good. You all walk the same path of spirits—wouldn’t it be better to get along?”

Speaking like an adult scolding troublesome children, he made Corison show an unhappy expression, but the latter didn’t say anything.

Even someone as unruly as him didn’t have the nerve to provoke someone bearing a Star Title.

“Grandfather.”

“Yes, Eltemion. Is this the boy you spoke of?”

“Yes. He’s an exceptional spirit summoner.”

“Ho…”

He quietly observed me.

Then his gaze landed on my mask.

“Is there a reason you are wearing a mask?”

“Ah. I have a scar on my face. It’s unsightly, so I’m hiding it.”

From somewhere nearby came Corison’s mocking laughter.

Crack!!

I hadn’t come here to entertain petty provocations.

Ignoring him, I flicked my finger.

An invisible shockwave carrying a curse struck Corison directly in the forehead.

“Kuaaagh!”

When he woke up tomorrow, his forehead would be swollen badly, and the swelling wouldn’t go down anytime soon.

He collapsed, clutching his head and rolling on the floor, seemingly unable to even comprehend what had hit him.

Though some attention briefly turned toward his scream, it lasted only a moment.

Perhaps because of his usual personality, no one approached him.

“Anyway, nice to meet you. It’s rather amusing for an old man to be among young saplings like you. Enjoy yourselves.”

With a kind smile, he turned to leave.

“Elder Azure Star.”

I called out to him.

“Yes?”

Perhaps because his grandson had spoken well of me, he responded with clear goodwill.

“I heard you are an authority in spirit magic.”

“Hehe. Thank you for saying that, but I’m merely a spirit summoner.”

“I actually came here to seek your advice.”

“To seek my advice?”

Someone like Azure Star must have had many people approach him this way, because he looked slightly troubled.

I spoke calmly.

“Yes. It’s a rather important matter.”

“Grandfather, perhaps you could speak with him for a moment—for my sake as well.”

Even without knowing the details, Eltemion appeared to be favorable toward me and made the suggestion calmly.

“Hm… very well. A short while should be fine.”

“Then shall we move somewhere else? This isn’t something others should hear.”

As I said that, he looked at me curiously, trying to gauge my intention.

I used the simplest method.

Thank you, Duke Catsey.

Voice transmission truly comes in handy.

– There seems to be a strange spirit magic circle installed in the Spirit Corridor. We need confirmation.

At my voice transmission, his eyes widened in surprise.

“You…”

He almost asked something more, but after glancing around at the people nearby, he turned.

“Follow me.”

* * *

Rather than asking about personal capability, I had sent him a voice transmission regarding an unidentified spirit magic structure installed in the Spirit Corridor.

Algran Tevne seemed to instantly realize that the power I had just used was based on aura rather than spirit arts.

“The power you used just now… it felt like aura-based power.”

The moment we entered a quiet lounge, he spoke with cautious vigilance.

I removed the mask from my face.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Elder Azure Star. I am Leon Cascadia of House Cascadia.”

His eyes widened in surprise at my introduction.

“Cascadia… Leon Cascadia… Could it be—the man Osberg praised endlessly was you?”

“Yes. I apologize for suddenly asking for your help like this.”

“No, not at all. I’ve heard much about you as well. The Bow Star Yuhav and the Light Star also spoke about you when I met them recently. They were proudly boasting that you granted their weapons mysterious power.”

“If you wish, I can do the same for you.”

“Hehe. That won’t be necessary. But this is unexpected. You can use spirit arts?”

In response, I lightly moved my hand and summoned Sur onto my palm.

A cute chick-like creature wearing a horned helmet appeared bravely, and he stared at Sur with fascination.

“Ho… Truly a fascinating spirit. It resembles what people call a mutant spirit, yet is completely different. It’s no wonder others misunderstand.”

As the topic shifted to spirits, curiosity filled his eyes as he examined Sur.

“Truly mysterious… I could ask endless questions about this spirit. But… they said you were the heir of House Belmud. Why hide your real identity and come here?”

I gave him a rough explanation.

That my application had been rejected.

That I was searching for the contractor of a Spirit King.

“Perhaps… do you know anything about the contractor of a Spirit King?”

“Hmm. Unfortunately, I’ve never met such a person myself. A Spirit King… it truly is extraordinary, but…”

Honestly, it was a hard story to believe easily.

“Well then. What is it you wished to ask?”

At his question, I unfolded the map of the Spirit Corridor marked by Melissa and Rebecca.

“This is…”

“During the competition, the spirit mana of the spirit summoners was being slowly absorbed without their knowledge. That absorbed mana was moving along paths like these throughout the Spirit Corridor.”

As I traced the winding routes resembling blood vessels with my finger, he observed the flow seriously.

“Certainly. This is spirit magic. And the method is clearly different from the existing ones installed in the Spirit Corridor.”

He stroked his beard while studying the map.

Then, as if remembering something, he pulled out a small old book from his belongings and opened it.

“Similar. Very similar indeed.”

Inside the book was a drawing depicting a nearly identical flow of spirit mana.

“The problem is that this text hasn’t yet been deciphered…”

He let out a short sigh.

“I will dispatch skilled spirit summoners to investigate further. This spirit summoner competition certainly does have some suspicious aspects, just as you said.”

“Thank you for taking this seriously.”

“No, this concerns the Spirit Corridor—if anything, I should be the one taking initiative. So don’t worry. The Spirit Corridor is layered with spirit magic built up over countless years by countless spirits who made their homes there.”

A Spirit King shouldn’t be something that could be dealt with so easily though…

“Even if something happens, it won’t become a major probl—”

Just as he was about to close the book—

KUUUNG!!!

A sudden explosive roar shook the entire banquet hall.

At the same time, an unknown spatial rift erupted, wrapping around and swallowing the entire hall.

“What is this?!”

Startled, Algran Tevne looked out the window.

The scenery outside was no longer the cityscape of the Spirit Corridor.

It was an entirely different space.

In other words, the entire banquet hall seemed to have been trapped inside another dimension.

“What in the world is happening…”

He muttered, unable to hide his confusion.

He didn’t seem to grasp it yet, but I had seen this kind of scenery once before.

[Identical to the unique domain manifested by the Mad King of Wind. In this case, intervention from a Spirit King is certain.]

The Librarian was right.

It seemed that the runaway mad Spirit King was causing trouble earlier than expected.

Talk about bad timing…

No—rather, this was convenient.

It saved me the trouble of searching.

Though it did mean that a large number of unrelated people had been dragged into this as collateral.

Whether aware of my thoughts or not, a massive blue presence—the trace of an enormous spirit—began to appear in the sky beyond the banquet hall’s outer space.

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