Chapter 546

Velkia’s sword moved.

The sword traced a beautiful pattern through the air, so exquisite that it was hard to believe it was being wielded by a mindless Undead.

As she watched the sword, Vihar’s eyes darkened.

It was certainly beautiful, reminiscent of falling flower petals.

However, it was different from the sword Vihar remembered.

Where warmth had once dwelled within its sword energy, there was now only a biting chill.

Crackle—!

The sword energy scattered like petals, mercilessly tearing through Vihar’s afterimages.

Vihar readjusted her grip on the dagger.

Fwoosh—!

The Aura of Flame erupted from her blade.

Whirr—!

At the same time, wind Aura swirled around the Aura of Flame.

'Incredible.'

Watching from deep within her consciousness, Chen Xia stared in shock.

Chen Xia had handed control of her body over to Vihar.

However, her consciousness had not disappeared.

In fact, all her senses felt clearer than ever.

Every movement.

Every gaze.

She sensed everything with startling clarity.

'Vihar resembles Leo-nim.'

Experiencing the duel between Velkia and Vihar from the closest possible vantage point, Chen Xia caught glimpses of Leo in both of them.

It was truly strange.

Their fighting styles and movements were completely different.

However, the breathing behind each attack, the feints they used to break their opponent’s balance...

Even the way they predicted their opponent’s next move.

Leo’s influence was unmistakable in both of them.

It was a realm Chen Xia could perceive only because she had entrusted her body to Vihar.

'She’s teaching me.'

Realizing that Vihar was giving her a lesson even in this situation, Chen Xia focused.

She engraved every one of Vihar’s movements into her memory.

Vihar took an Aura Step.

Moving as fluidly as water, she slipped inside Velkia’s guard.

A duel between a sword and a dagger.

The narrower the distance, the greater Vihar’s advantage.

She adhered to that fundamental rule more faithfully than anyone.

Having closed the distance in an instant, Vihar struck with her open palm.

Boom! Rumble—!

A blow as heavy as a massive boulder slammed into Velkia’s chest.

The ground around them caved in from the impact.

Yet Velkia did not even flinch.

'Armor of Animus.'

Chen Xia groaned as she observed the Magic protecting Velkia’s body.

She had seen Eiran use it before.

It was clearly the same Magic, but its defensive power was on an entirely different level.

“Back then, this was my limit,” Vihar said as Velkia swung her sword at her.

“My diseased body could no longer move.”

Clang—!

Blocking Velkia’s sword, Vihar continued.

“So it wasn’t your fault, Velkia.”

Vihar’s body vanished as though sinking into the ground.

For a moment, Velkia lost track of her.

Chen Xia felt as though every bone in her body were being crushed.

Vihar was clearly drawing out power far beyond what Chen Xia could withstand.

However, Chen Xia gritted her teeth and held on.

'If I lose consciousness, it’s over!'

The one moving Chen Xia’s body was Vihar’s Spirit.

However, her body had merely been borrowed through Possession.

If Chen Xia lost consciousness in this state, Vihar would also lose control of it.

'I’m used to pain! So hold on!'

'Thank you.'

Expressing her gratitude to the descendant enduring the pain with all her might, Vihar moved swiftly.

Even without her reason, Velkia’s movements remained chillingly sharp.

This was the power of one who had once carried the world and led its revival.

'But even so, she hasn’t regained her original strength.'

Vihar’s eyes coolly sought an opening.

The current Velkia could not defeat an opponent equal to or stronger than her.

And in this very place...

There was one person with power equal to hers—the only one in the world.

Slipping inside Velkia’s guard once more, Vihar pressed both palms against her chest.

Then she unleashed her Aura.

Flash! Boom—!

A massive shock wave erupted.

Hurled into the air, Velkia crashed to the ground and rolled.

“Aaaaah!”

Velkia screamed as she forced herself up.

But her strength soon gave out, and she slumped back down.

“Aaaaaaaaaah!”

Watching Velkia scream in pain, Vihar smiled bitterly as Chen Xia’s body gave out beneath her.

Chen Xia had lost consciousness.

Thud—!

Leo caught Chen Xia as she fell.

“Master... I leave the rest to you.”

“Got it.”

Seeing Leo nod, Vihar closed her eyes in relief.

Leo handed Chen Xia to Eiran, who had followed behind.

The situation was already under control.

All that remained was Velkia.

===

“Aaaaaaaaaah!”

Velkia screamed.

She hated it. She hated everything.

She cursed the world that had taken away the people she loved.

At the same time, she loathed herself for wanting to burn down the world her masters had risked their lives to save.

She hated herself for taking the life of someone who had been like a sister to her.

“Aaaaaaaaaah!”

What was she supposed to do?

What could she possibly do?

As she writhed in agony like a lost child...

Pat.

Someone placed a hand on her head.

At that moment...

Slash—!

Velkia swung her sword.

No matter how great the shock she had suffered, she could at least behead whoever dared touch her.

She hated the living.

Just as she was about to surrender to her instincts as a Corpse...

“What are you so upset about, you damn disciple?”

Her sword froze.

The voice was strangely familiar.

“You did enough... No, you did very well.”

“Ah...”

“Even though it was hard, you did your best. You didn’t just do your best; you did a magnificent job. But...”

As the hand roughly ruffled her hair, she felt ready to burst into tears.

“Why are you blaming yourself so much?”

It was the voice that always scolded her whenever she made a mistake.

“Hating the world we saved and trying to burn it down?”

However...

“That can happen. I would have done the same.”

It was also the voice that always took her side in the end.

“Hurting Vihar and causing her death?”

It was the voice she had always wanted to lean on whenever times were hard.

“She said it wasn’t because of you. So...”

Yet it was a voice she had never once allowed herself to lean on.

She had wanted to show him as soon as possible that she could stand on her own.

She wanted to become someone he could trust and rely on, not someone he had to worry about.

'Master Kyle, why don’t you ever praise me?'

'I did.'

'Only once.'

'I need to see you do something well before I can praise you.'

'Master Luna and Master Arron praise me all the time, though.'

'Those two would praise you even if all you did was eat the food they tossed your way.'

'Stingy.'

“You did well.”

Leo gently stroked Velkia’s head with genuine affection.

“You really did well.”

Velkia’s eyes regained their focus.

Staring blankly up at Leo, she murmured.

“Master Kyle...”

Leo removed his hand from the now-conscious Velkia’s head and smiled softly.

Then, without hesitation, he drove his fist into her jaw.

“Just die! Just die already! You worried me when you were a kid, and nothing’s changed now that you’re grown up!”

Lunia and Eiran stared in horror.

“Hey! Leo! Stop! She just came to her senses!”

“Le-Leo! Velkia had a hard time!”

Lunia clung to Leo’s arm while Eiran clung to his waist.

In the process, Chen Xia, whom they had been supporting, ended up sprawled on the ground.

Of course, they were in no state to worry about her.

“I’m hitting her because she came to her senses! I’m hitting her because I had a hard time too! Die! No, die one more time! You damn disciple!”

“Aaaaah!”

“Please calm down!”

Leo’s furious roars and the screams of Lunia and Eiran echoed through the sky.

“Is it... really okay to leave them like that?”

Chen Xia, who had regained consciousness while lying on the ground, asked with a sigh.

Her body had reached its limit. She could not even move a finger.

—She worried us so much that she deserves a few hits.

Chen Xia grinned at Vihar’s cold voice.

'I shouldn’t make Leo-nim worry in the future.'

===

The entire city was in chaos.

The Council Chair and the entire Templar force, which formed the Council’s core strength, had been subdued.

The Elves trapped in the underground city had escaped to the surface.

The group temporarily took shelter in a house that had remained intact amid the ruins of the battlefield.

Sitting in the living room, Lunia crossed her arms and sighed deeply.

“This is going to be a headache.”

“I agree.”

Eiran nodded.

Just thinking about the cleanup made her head ache.

“What are those two talking about?”

“They probably have a lot to discuss.”

Leo answered calmly.

“In the end, Velkia and Vihar were each other’s lingering regret.”

Velkia had become a Corpse because of her guilt over killing Vihar with her own hands.

Vihar had become a Spirit because of her guilt over being unable to help Velkia to the end.

Corpse and Spirit.

Though they had returned through different means, each had returned because of the other.

“Is there anything you want to say, Leo-nim...?”

“What is there left to teach a disciple who’s already grown up?”

Leo rested his chin on his hand and answered dismissively.

“Even if there were, she surely would have learned it by now.”

Chen Xia smiled softly at those words.

Listening to their conversation, Lunia spoke grumpily.

“Right, so none of this concerns the two of you?”

“Leo-nim and I only need to return to Lumene, after all,” Chen Xia replied with a grin.

Lunia’s fist trembled.

For some reason, she found that irritating.

Just then, Velkia entered, looking exhausted.

“Did you wait long?”

“Ah, Velkia!”

“Is your conversation over...?”

“Wait...”

The three girls froze halfway to their feet.

“Fortunately, there were plenty of ingredients left.”

The three girls trembled in terror.

“Ve-Velkia. We’re not really hungry yet...”

“You have to eat plenty after moving around so much. That’s how you grow big and strong.”

With a benevolent smile, Velkia began placing dishes on the table.

Seeing the amount of food, Leo frowned.

“This is too much.”

“You’ve grown terribly thin, Master.”

Velkia carefully clasped Leo’s wrists with both hands, pity written across her face.

“You’re nothing but skin and bones. I feel as though they might snap at any moment. This disciple’s heart aches so much.”

'Is she still not thinking clearly?'

—Master. Regardless of your mind, your body is still growing, so you need to eat well. I think you should eat a lot.

Vihar added with an expression much like Velkia’s.

“You can leave some behind, so please eat at least a little. I worked hard to make this.”

Leo clicked his tongue at his two disciples’ fussing.

“Fine.”

“You girls aren’t allowed to leave anything, understood?”

The three girls’ faces turned deathly pale.

“Ve-Velkia! Vihar! I am the Student Council President of Seiren!”

“Oh my, I’ve heard of Seiren. I hear it’s an incredible place. If you’re the Student Council President, you must hold a very important position.”

“Yes! Eldon is currently in complete chaos!”

“Oh dear... I’m sorry. It’s because of me.”

“No! It’s not because of you, Velkia! What I mean is... as Seiren’s Student Council President, I feel that I must go and resolve this situation immediately!”

“Ah.”

Velkia nodded.

“There’s a saying that the more hurried you are, the more you should take the long way around, right?”

“Pardon?”

“And if you want to accomplish great things, you need to eat even more.”

Velkia took food from Leo’s plate and piled it onto Lunia’s.

Lunia’s face turned white.

And so, the meal began.

The three girls were eating with dazed expressions when Leo leaned back in his chair and asked a question.

“I’ve been curious for a while.”

Leo looked at Velkia and Vihar.

“Why did you two fight so often in the past? You usually got along, didn’t you?”

Vihar let out an “Ah...” before answering.

—We fought because of you, Master.

“Because of me?”

—Yes.

Velkia spoke seriously.

“We argued over whether you should marry Master Luna or Lysinas-nim.”

“Why would you fight over that?”

“Do you think we fought for no reason?”

Velkia and Vihar stared blankly at Leo, their expressions filled with genuine pity.

“Right. So you think you’re all grown up now, huh?”

Grinding his teeth, Leo proceeded to punish Velkia again.

After another bout of commotion...

“This is nice, having time like this.”

Velkia smiled softly.

“I wish it could stay like this forever.”

She murmured as she looked out the window.

Before they knew it, dawn had passed, and morning had arrived.

(T/N: Velkia definitely has the granny vibes. haha)

***