Chapter 329

'Shadow ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Step~'

Orchid ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Owl hummed through her nose as she stepped forward.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was a name given because she moved as though she were a shadow.

Her ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍movements looked like walking, but in truth, her speed was about twice that of an ordinary Night Walker.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the technique she had found most useful since becoming an 8-Star Walker.

'I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍never expected to become a Grand Walker so quickly~'

Unlike knights, who trained for combat against people, Walkers were trained for gathering information and assassination.

Thus, they generally grew more slowly than ordinary knights; even a Walker of great renown ended their career at 7-Star.

There had been a time when she thought she would be no different and lived after setting her own limits.

'Where did things start to change~?'

In contrast to her rapidly moving body, memories worth decades flowed slowly through her mind.

It began when she was an orphan in the slums.

She picked others' pockets to fill her hungry stomach and survived day by day. Whenever she was caught, she was beaten to within an inch of her life.

Naturally, she learned how to live without making her presence known.

Though she had not learned mana, she developed a Ranger's keen intuition.

It was a talent, and a Walker adopted her as his foster daughter.

Following him, she arrived at a place that secretly gathered and trained orphans.

An underworld guild.

Naturally, there was no proper care. By the time training ended, fewer than thirty percent of the thirty or so orphans had survived.

In that process, she refined her second heart.

An artificial heart that used natural energy to strengthen the body.

The Mana Heart opened a new world to her.

"For a Walker, a Mana Heart is what makes it possible to switch the body on and off."

It was exactly as the person in charge of training had said.

When a skilled Walker wrapped themselves in mana, they could hide their body as though they did not exist even while standing right in front of someone.

Hiding her existence from the world.

Using mana was not difficult for her, so much so that she awakened orchid-colored mana at a young age.

It was the second talent she discovered.

As she completed more missions, her superiors came to value her.

As her body grew more voluptuous with the years, worthless men began to pester her.

"Hee hee hee."

She lured about ten of them into bed and cut them down, regardless of their status.

The gazes that had flirted with her became fearful.

"The Night Swan suits you."

The guild elder who had chosen her personally bestowed a mask on her.

Orchid-colored mana and a swan mask.

It must have been from then on.

The epithet Orchid Swan began to spread throughout the world.

"The guild master is pleased with your achievements as well."

The man who had discovered her called himself her foster father and became the vice guild master.

"Strive to repay that trust."

"Yes~"

Missions were handed down without end.

Growth followed whenever she completed one.

She became one of the guild's best Walkers.

Everything was smooth sailing.

Her foster father's happiness was her own happiness.

In the missions he handed her, she took countless lives.

Then one day.

She received a mission that would change her destiny.

"Gray Hound has betrayed us."

It was a mission to assassinate a Walker who had fled.

He was a 6-Star Walker among the guild's top three, and the atmosphere was unsettled because he had shaken off pursuit teams again and again.

"Hee hee hee~ That is wonderful~"

She had only recently reached 6-Star and was brimming with confidence.

She had not stabilized it yet, but merely thinking of settling the guild's problem and easing her foster father's worry set her heart racing.

She followed the man's trail with the pursuit team.

Light step. Light step.

Even the lengthy pursuit was enjoyable, because she wanted to test the power she had newly gained.

She intended to question him before killing him.

Why had he made such a foolish choice?

What reward had another person promised that made him decide to betray the guild that had fed and housed him?

"I would like you to answer before you die~"

At the end of a pursuit that lasted several months, she met him in a secluded cabin.

In an instant, half the pursuit team was killed.

"They said you had only just reached 6-Star~"

The gap from the level reported to the guild was far too great.

Only after crossing swords with him did she learn it.

Gray Hound, who had honed Direction to its utmost limit, had mastered 6-Star.

It meant that he had deliberately concealed his ability from the guild and had planned his escape long ago.

Though he must have been exhausted by the long pursuit, she could not easily gain the upper hand.

His martial strength was clearly two levels above hers.

Slash— Slice— Squelch—

How many times had she been cut and stabbed?

They exchanged blows fierce enough for her to sense death for the first time in a long while.

"Ah……"

She let out a moan that might have come from pain or excitement.

"Aah……"

It had become difficult even to stop the bleeding with mana, and her vision was growing dim.

"Heh……"

Sword strikes teetering between life and death clashed again and again.

Just as her knees were about to buckle because she no longer had the strength to raise her sword.

Thud.

"……?"

Gray Hound's knees hit the ground.

"Hm……?"

Why had the man who had overwhelmed her only moments ago collapsed before her?

Unable to understand, she looked around.

"Ahh……"

The cabin that had become their battleground was strewn with the corpses of the annihilated pursuit team.

"Cough……"

Gray Hound coughed up blood that had turned purple.

"Hmph……"

The new poison the guild had issued before the pursuit team departed.

It had shown no effect no matter how many times they cut him, so she had wondered whether he had taken an antidote.

It seemed he had been fighting while containing the spread of the poison with his Mana Heart.

"Agh……"

In any case, she had survived.

Thud.

Kneeling, she poured the recovery potion she had not even had the chance to drink over her wounds and into her mouth.

The dizziness that had seemed ready to knock her down gradually subsided.

"What are you~?"

She leaned in close to the dying Walker.

As time passed, her breathing returned to normal.

Gray Hound's did not.

"Why did you betray the guild~?"

"You poor…… thing……"

His voice dragged with poison.

The voice bubbling with bloody phlegm told her death was close.

"Hm?"

"Even after…… achieving that much skill…… you can do nothing but serve as a puppet……"

Heh heh heh heh.

Gray Hound's body shook as blood soaked the floor.

"Did you go mad because you are dying~?"

Grab.

"……"

Gray Hound's hand clutched her collar.

"I lived as a hunting dog, but I will choose my own final death."

Grip.

The strength clutching her collar was so great that.

"Let go~"

Slash.

She had to pour mana into her sword and cut the hand off.

"You…… will learn…… the truth…… as well……"

"What are you talking about~?"

"Cornel……lia……"

"Cornelia?"

Gray Hound's head dropped to the floor before he could finish.

The mission was a success.

Her foster father's position grew solid, and several years later, he was recommended as the next guild master.

Her life did not change.

Missions only increased in proportion to the guild's growing scale.

The value of the information she handled rose in proportion as well.

Around then, she learned where the guild procured the orphans it raised as recruits.

That the orphans had not originally been orphans.

She did not care.

Whatever the past, the guild was her new home and family.

On the day she accepted a mission to assassinate a direct descendant of Cornelia.

"Orchid-colored mana…… You are from a collateral branch."

Had she not learned she was from a collateral branch of Cornelia, she would have continued that way.

The mission failed.

A direct descendant of Cornelia, synchronized with a Magic Tower, was beyond even her, who had mastered 6-Star.

The guild bore responsibility for a Walker who failed a mission.

The client wanted her dead to silence her.

A pursuit team closed in on her after she went into hiding.

"Really~"

It was a situation similar to that with Gray Hound.

The Walkers chasing her had newly made names for themselves within the guild.

"How annoying~"

The difference between her and Gray Hound.

It was that she had come into contact with the Violet Magic Tower through a direct descendant of Cornelia.

It had been only an instant, but her mana had synchronized with the Violet Magic Tower.

The sensation from that time made her grow further, allowing her to cross the wall.

An incomplete 7-Star.

Merely crossing the wall allowed her to see a world wholly different from the beings below it.

After she annihilated several pursuit teams, the weakened guild faltered badly.

Its rival guilds would not miss that chance.

A war broke out in the underworld.

Her foster father was displayed in the marketplace, brutally hacked to pieces.

"Goodbye~"

Standing beneath his mangled corpse, she discarded her swan mask.

What she chose anew was the owl mask her foster father had used.

After independently carrying out several missions, she moved her base to the western frontier.

It was only a matter of time before a Walker who had crossed the wall gained renown.

Orchid Owl.

The more renowned she became, the higher both the rewards and dangers grew.

After crossing the line between life and death countless times, she reached complete 7-Star.

Walkers gathered around her, and before long, the frontier guild Absinthe was established.

"Boss, why are you so obsessed with Cornelia?"

It was a question her vice guild master asked her one day.

"Just because~"

She merely smiled in her distinctive languid voice.

* * *

"Here~"

Orchid Owl stopped walking.

While she had been briefly recalling the past, she had reached the heart of the Red Magic Tower.

It was because her detection ability had multiplied through synchronization with the Violet Magic Tower.

"Charles~"

She called to the successor of the Violet Magic Tower, who was likely watching the present situation through her.

"What should I do now?"

* * *

[Mana……]

[Memories……]

[The fusion of hearts……]

Drago raised his head.

He thought he understood the source of that familiar feeling.

The being that continually tried to burrow into his domain.

[Charles Cornelia.]

The master of the Violet Magic Tower.

Dragon Hearts had to be absorbed immediately after they were torn out, so he had forced the process through in the Violet Magic Tower.

It seemed, however, that she had no intention of simply standing by.

While absorbing the energy accumulated in the Dragon Heart, he surrounded himself with the Authority of Haki.

The Authority of Haki blocked all magic.

Not even 9-Star magic was an exception.

'Yet she has pierced the Authority and interfered to this degree.'

The trigger for her awakening must have been the death of the Mixed Dragon Hazard.

[Has another 9-Star mage been born?]

The Empire's mages would have to fear it, but it did not matter to him.

[My purpose has been achieved.]

Crackle.

The Dragon Heart in his hand crumbled.

[Excellent.]

The energy accumulated in Hazard's heart.

It was not something a dragon that had lived less than a hundred years could possess.

He knew because he had taken Hazard's power.

[Certainly. You were a special being.]

By remaining with those born with destiny, Hazard had become a being with potential beyond his own limits.

Now it was Drago's, however.

All he had to do now was return to the Imperial Palace through the connected Magic Towers.

It was just as he was about to open a Gate.

[Hazard.]

A message entered his mind.

Charles Cornelia's voice.

'Magic does not work, so she resorts to such a pathetic trick.'

Hazard no longer existed…….

[Dragon.]

An unfamiliar word slipped out of Drago's mouth.

[……]

As he frowned at the word that had escaped unconsciously.

Shimmer—

A Gate made of violet mana opened before him, and Charles Cornelia appeared.

[There you are, Hazard.]

At her words, spoken with a faint smile on her somewhat tired face.

[Dragon dragon.]

Drago replied with an expression of complete incomprehension.

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