Chapter 73: Freya’s Circle

The Festival Had Begun.

Although not much time had passed since the tragedy at the Academy, the festival was held nonetheless.

A new Emperor.

Even the goddess blessed the enthronement of the Empress of the Empire, Sylvia Verden.

‘How could the people remain indifferent?’

Moreover, Sylvia had declared in front of all the people at her enthronement.

She vowed to eradicate the root of all evil.

She announced the complete downfall of the Black Fang and declared war.

There was no choice but to be enthusiastic.

The cause was just, and the timing was perfect.

Public sentiment toward the Emperor was at its peak, and the anger against the Black Fang was equally strong.

Having already secured control over all palace officials before the enthronement, there was no need to worry about internal stability.

Thus, the festival was held with the belief that this time the wicked evil faction would be utterly destroyed.

They sang praises of the new Emperor and chatted happily.

Within the palace, a banquet was underway.

The music of the orchestra played softly, and dignitaries from various nations smiled and exchanged conversations without pause.

Among them, none was more crowded than the area around Sylvia.

Nobles had gathered, bringing rare treasures to congratulate her and hoping to utter even a single word.

Envoys from all over the world stood in long lines.

Seeing such a scene, one couldn’t help but think that being Emperor was no easy task.

Of course, many nobles had also flocked to Hio.

It was because of Sylvia’s recent action.

The Guardian Knight’s Medal hanging on his chest.

Perhaps feeling guilty for having handed it over abruptly without a proper ceremony, she personally fastened the medal on Hio’s chest and proclaimed it aloud.

Hio Pavlenko was the Guardian Knight of the Emperor and the Empire.

The greatest magician in the Empire.

And that was why this situation had unfolded.

“Sir Pavlenko, I am from the House of Count Asren…”

“Yes, that is the family leading the Yondan Merchant Association. Ha ha ha.”

“I am responsible for the House of Count Lambard…”

The nobles who surged in were courteous despite the overwhelming number.

Even if it was somewhat insincere, no one in this place would be rude to the Guardian Knight openly declared by the Emperor.

For a long time, it had been assumed that Vitalianus, the Imperial Sword Saint, would naturally fill that role, but suddenly a new figure appeared and took the position, sparking curiosity.

Moreover, even the Sword Saint had shown a favorable attitude toward him throughout the enthronement ceremony.

“Sir Pavlenko, it is an honor to meet you…!”

“Ha ha ha, the Guardian Knight of the Empire…”

Vitalianus stepped aside, and the newly emerged Hio Pavlenko took the stage.

Unlike Vitalianus, who showed no interest in politics or power, these nobles crowded to establish some kind of connection.

“Your hat suits you very well.”

Some even blurted out such blunt remarks.

Hio stored those sharp words in his mind as signs of sharp perception, smiling broadly.

At least, the perception that all magicians were frauds or jesters had somewhat changed.

Though most still treated him with a mask, Hio was confident that even that perception would gradually shift.

“Sir Pavlenko, I am—”

The banquet continued like that.

“…I’ll never do this again.”

***

Despite selecting only the more decent nobles to meet with, there were far too many.

He accepted those who came, unwilling to reject any connections, but it was overwhelmingly numerous.

After enduring for quite a while, he finally found an opening and slipped away.

“The Emperor really is no help at all.”

Sylvia could be seen inside the Grand Hall, and the long line still stretched out before her.

The line was formed to present rare Artifacts or treasures and to say even a word to Sylvia.

Hio shook his head briefly and moved on.

“That was definitely a Circle.”

Right after the coronation, he had accidentally spotted a young girl.

Her youthful face didn’t quite fit the atmosphere here.

Perhaps the same age as Irina… or maybe even younger — a girl with green hair.

Judging from her attire, she was not a noble of the Empire.

Since people with similar clothes gathered nearby, she must have been part of an envoy from a foreign nation.

Compared to the dazzling and distinctive styles of foreign countries, her outfit was plain.

Yet the Circle energy emanating from that seemingly ordinary girl was unmistakable.

The tightly gathered magic slowly revolving was so familiar that it was impossible not to recognize.

Purunel also noticed it.

—

There it is.

“Yes, it’s a Circle. Though only a 1st Circle and not even fully formed… it clearly took the shape of a Circle.”

“Definitely not complete.”

Still, it was undoubtedly a Circle.

“Wonder where she went…”

The reason Hio slipped out of the Grand Hall was to find the girl who emitted that Circle energy.

Where she came from.

Who taught her magic, and how.

So many questions stirred within him.

“Where did she learn magic?”

Exactly.

In this age of lost magic, to form even that kind of Circle required incredible talent and a proper magic instructor.

It was an era when it was difficult to find authentic spellbooks.

Because magic could no longer be properly cast from old spellbooks, all kinds of shortcuts and unorthodox methods had flourished, becoming accepted as legitimate magic.

Much like how Verga cast magic differently.

In that situation, having formed a Circle, even if incomplete, meant possessing an authentic foundational magic tome.

Or having a genuine magic teacher.

“Where did she go…?”

Hio searched here and there for the girl but could not find her anywhere.

Had she returned to the banquet hall? He peeked in but still saw no sign of her.

***

Some time passed.

As the sun set and the sky darkened.

“Isn’t that her over there?”

At last, he spotted the green-haired girl.

She was crouching in the garden, admiring flowers.

Her rare green hair and the familiar magical Circle feeling were unmistakable.

“Found you.”

He approached behind the girl, who was nodding as she admired the garden’s flowers.

“Heh heh heh.”

A smile escaped him without realizing it—a pleasant laugh that came from finally finding her.

Startled by the sudden laughter, the girl turned around.

Hio knew well that he first needed to lower her guard and approach her gently.

“Hey, little one.”

What was needed first was a bright smile.

And then, to pique her interest, bring up a common interest that a child would enjoy.

So he smiled wide to show he wasn’t harmful.

“Heh heh heh.”

He tried opening the topic of shared interest.

“Shall we play some fun magic games together?”

Fortunately, no one else was around to overhear.

She nodded vigorously!

***

Despite how suspicious Hio’s behavior was, the green-haired girl smiled brightly and nodded.

That was mostly expected.

Just by looking, Hio’s attire screamed, ‘I’m a magician.’

Besides, Sylvia’s declaration had just happened.

Everyone at the banquet had seen it.

So this little girl must have seen it too.

If she learned magic, she couldn’t help but be intrigued by the words ‘magician.’

“Alright. Let’s see… what would be good…”

He recalled magic from 1st Circle up to 3rd Circle.

Something not too flashy but something a child would enjoy… let’s see…

“This will do.”

He lightly raised his staff.

A basic 1st Circle summoning spell activated.

Skill — “Crow Summon” is activated.

From the staff poured dozens of crows.

Against the backdrop of the sunset sky, the scene of the birds taking flight somehow fit well.

Hio smiled with satisfaction.

Of course, he deliberately ignored the minor commotion in the garden.

“Kyaa!”

“What’s with all these crows all of a sudden!”

“Ew, creepy!”

The green-haired girl gaped at the scene but soon burst into a bright smile.

It was a smile that cleansed the hearts of those who saw it.

“How is it? Amazing?”

She nodded enthusiastically.

“Want to see something else?”

Nodded again!

“Then will you tell me where you learned magic?”

The girl continued to nod happily, but when asked this question, she squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.

“Then… who taught you?”

Shook her head left and right.

“What magic can you use?”

Again, shook her head.

“Where are you from then?”

Shook her head once more.

“…What’s your name?”

She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head as if she could never answer, then paused at the question.

***

After a moment’s hesitation, she crouched down and wrote her name in the dirt with her finger.

“Fr… e… y… a?”

At that moment—

“By the heavens, Freya!”

A man called out, spotting Freya from the opposite side and running over.

The green-haired girl, Freya, startled and quickly rose.

The man looked at Hio as he approached and immediately hid Freya behind himself.

“Sorry. Has Freya done anything rude…?”

“No, it’s fine. I was the one who approached her unilaterally.”

At a glance, he resembled an Imperial noble, but upon closer inspection, his clothing’s style and fabric were different.

Somewhat rougher and lighter fabric.

His accent was unfamiliar.

He was certainly from a foreign country.

He also examined Hio’s attire and nodded.

“You are the one at the banquet, right? The Empire’s new Guardian Knight…”

“Hio Pavlenko.”

“I am Mutins Kratz, from Arilleia.”

He extended a hand lightly and spoke cheerfully.

“I heard you are a magician… haha. This is truly impressive.”

The man, Mutins, withdrew his hand and laughed heartily.

He smiled incessantly.

“Ha ha.”

The problem was that his eyes were cold and glaring at Hio.

Hio could easily read Mutins’s tightly restrained emotions.

He was too familiar with such sentiments, having encountered them countless times.

Mutins’s eyes were filled with contempt.

It was difficult to understand why.

“Well, I’ll be going… my party is waiting. Freya, let’s go.”

It was no mere sneer or suspicion.

It was hostility beyond contempt.

‘Why did someone so openly hostile toward Hio, whom he had never met before, burn with such anger?’

And why was Freya hidden so tightly behind him?

Many questions lingered, but Hio smiled calmly.

As Mutins turned away, holding Freya’s hand, Hio called after them.

“Freya, it was nice meeting you today.”

Freya turned and smiled brightly, waving her hand.

Hio returned the smile and waved back.

“…Let’s go.”

The man no longer bothered to hide his contemptuous gaze as he glared at Hio, then dragged Freya away.

“This definitely reeks of suspicion.”

Well, there were still two more days of the banquet.

He could learn more little by little.

As he walked, Purunel muttered quietly within Hio’s spirit.

“You don’t even get angry despite being hated without reason.”

***

There were three NPCs known as the strongest in the game’s world.

The Imperial Golden Lion, Sword Saint Vitalianus.

The Head of Black Fang, Leader of the Black Mist, Atawolf.

And the last one.

Even at the moment the world ended and the server shut down, it was unclear whether he was dead or alive, with only speculation that he was dead.

The Ruler of the Western Sea.

Regarda.

He was from Arilleia.

The girl with the Circle, Freya, and Mutins had come from that very Arilleia.

An island nation surrounded by the sea.

And any Ventair Online player who had tried even a little knew this notorious country.

The reason was simple.

One could not enter Arilleia, which earned its notorious reputation.

Whether the government blocked entry or for some other reason remained unknown, but one undeniable fact remained.

Regarda, called the Sea Sovereign, had blocked every route into Arilleia.

Still, some players tried to force their way in, only to receive the dreaded death message at the hands of Regarda.

Naturally, both Regarda and Arilleia became infamous.

A mysterious kingdom, Arilleia.

Even as the Abyss deteriorated the world, Arilleia remained unmoved.

It showed no signs of activity.

At the time, Jijoncheonma was so busy defending the Empire that he didn’t have time to care about Arilleia, and the kingdom was forgotten.

“But if it appears like this, that changes everything.”

On the second day of the three-day banquet.

Though still chaotic and others were enjoying the festivities to their fullest, Hio continued to watch for opportunities.

“Heh heh heh heh. Hello, Freya?”

He found Freya, who was alone once again.

“Shall we play some fun magic games together?”