Chapter 61: Retreat and Restoration

Bao was the first to snap out of it.

“You said Belto and Kareem were together, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Are they being chased?”

They weren’t responding to communications.

And Kareem was dead.

Combining these facts, it seemed likely they were being pursued.

“…It appears so,” Arisa replied.

Hmph…

Bao let out a low groan at her words.

Even if they were being chased, it changed nothing.

Even if he sent reinforcements now, by the time they arrived, Belto would either have escaped or been killed—the situation would already be over.

“Phew…”

Bao exhaled deeply after the groan.

His mind was already reeling from the news of the five deaths, and now Kareem was gone too?

The possibility of Belto’s death only added to the chaos.

“I need to think for a bit. Leave the soul stone.”

He spoke to Arisa.

“Yes.”

Arisa placed Belto’s soul stone on the desk, bowed, and left.

Left alone, Bao closed his eyes.

He tried to make sense of the situation.

But his thoughts were a mess.

It felt like a fog had settled in his mind.

Irritation surged.

Why had this happened so suddenly?

Where had things gone wrong?

Everything was infuriating.

Rumble!

Bao’s energy leaked out, distorting the surrounding space.

But it was brief.

“Hoo…”

He exhaled deeply, calming his frustration.

Getting angry wouldn’t change anything.

After several deep breaths, he shook off the irritation completely.

He began sorting through the situation methodically, considering what to do next.

After careful thought, Bao reached one conclusion.

There’s no answer.

The losses were already catastrophic.

Many of the family’s strongest members were dead, and they hadn’t even recovered the Sikrina family’s legacy hidden somewhere in the Bretan Kingdom.

They needed to pull out now.

If they stubbornly tried to investigate the Bretan Kingdom or search for the legacy?

It would only lead to greater losses.

After long deliberation, Bao made his decision.

Better to plan for the future.

He would withdraw.

In time, the situation in the Bretan Kingdom would become clear.

The legacy wasn’t going anywhere.

They could return for it later.

With his decision made, Bao faced a new dilemma.

Should I report this?

Everyone knew about the 2nd Division’s annihilation.

But no one knew about the deaths of Bestick and the other family powerhouses.

Should he inform the others?

For the Abyss, reporting it was the right move.

It would minimize further damage.

But for the Sikrina family, hiding it was better.

If word got out that their strength had weakened?

Other families would move to seize their influence.

Let’s keep it quiet for now.

Having decided, Bao looked at Belto’s soul stone.

If only Belto could make it back alive…

At that moment—

Crack!

Belto’s soul stone split.

***

Bao said nothing.

He merely stared at the soul stone with a bitter expression.

“…I’m sorry,” Lamu said, his face and voice uneasy.

He glanced cautiously at Gaon.

“No, no need to apologize.”

Gaon smiled and replied.

He thought to himself.

As expected, he doesn’t know.

Interrogating Treasurer Lutein and the seven Sikrina family Abyss executives captured today had revealed much.

The eight, including Lutein, had infiltrated the Bretan Kingdom without informing the 2nd Division.

Their covert mission was to find the Sikrina family’s legacy hidden somewhere in the kingdom.

Naturally, they weren’t searching blindly—they had clues.

If Lamu knew, they’d have found it by now.

It was only natural Lamu was unaware.

If the clues were obvious enough for Lamu to know, the legacy would’ve been found and taken long ago.

One of two places, likely.

Gaon wasn’t without guesses.

Combining memories from the era before the Bretan Kingdom, when the Matilda Kingdom stood, with the clues, two locations came to mind.

There was a high chance the legacy was in one of them.

I’m going there anyway. I’ll check while I’m at it.

Gaon was already planning to travel across the Bretan Kingdom to dismantle the Ritual of Sacrifice and clean up the remaining lower-tier Abyss branches.

He could check the two locations along the way.

Finishing his thoughts, he spoke to Lamu.

“Keep an eye on the Maphion Kingdom’s movements. Contact me immediately if anything happens.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Then I’ll reach out later.”

“Thank you. Travel safely.”

Gaon nodded at Lamu’s farewell and strode off.

Soon, he saw Rothes and Taylor by the carriage.

He’d originally planned to have them wait at the Elrin Duchy until the cleanup was done.

But he changed his mind.

The lower-tier branches likely had few high-level operatives.

It would be a valuable experience for Rothes and Taylor.

But that wasn’t the only reason.

Gaon infused Pacheongi into his eyes, enhancing his vision, and examined Rothes.

He saw the flow of energy and her circles.

Confirming both, he smiled faintly.

I can fix it.

Rothes carried an unfortunate nickname: the mage with broken circles.

It was literal.

Two of her five circles—the second and fourth—were damaged.

Fixing them required destroying and remaking the circles.

That’s why Rothes had given up.

On fixing her circles and reaching the 6th Circle.

But not anymore.

Having reached the 8th Circle and broken the fifth wall, Gaon could see energy flows in detail.

He could now repair her circles without destroying them.

“Let’s head out.”

“Yes.”

“Understood!”

Both responded.

Taylor naturally took the driver’s seat, while Gaon and Rothes entered the carriage.

“We’re departing!” Taylor shouted, and the carriage began moving.

Gaon immediately released Pacheongi, creating a barrier inside the carriage.

“Is there something you need to say…?” Rothes asked, gauging his intentions.

Gaon spoke.

“I’ve reached the 8th Circle.”

“…!”

Rothes was stunned.

“C-Congratulations!” she stammered, her voice filled with genuine joy.

She was so shocked she tripped over her words.

Then Gaon continued.

“I made a promise, didn’t I?”

“?”

Rothes looked puzzled.

A promise?

But then—

“…!”

She realized what he meant and gasped.

Tears welled in her eyes.

Seeing Rothes on the verge of crying, Gaon quickly added, “Save the tears for after it’s fixed. Let’s start. Turn around.”

“Yes, sir!”

Rothes wiped her tears with her sleeve and turned.

Gaon placed his hand on her back and infused Pacheongi.

It flowed unimpeded toward her heart, where her circles resided.

Upon reaching her heart, it spread throughout.

A pattern appeared on Rothes’s face—a pain-suppressing secret art.

Gaon used it because restoring circles caused immense pain.

Fainting could cause bigger issues.

The pain-suppressing art was essential to prevent that.

He began manipulating her circles with Pacheongi.

Rumble!

As expected, her circles resisted.

But it was the Pacheongi of an 8th Circle.

The resistance was meaningless.

Gaon suppressed it, mending the cracks in the second and fourth circles and untangling their twisted connections.

The restoration was completed swiftly.

But he didn’t withdraw his Pacheongi.

Though the circles were fine, their bonds were weak in his view.

He severed and reconnected them, strengthening their cohesion.

With restoration and reinforcement complete, he withdrew his Pacheongi, deactivating the pain-suppressing art.

Swish.

Gaon stood.

“You did well,” he said to Rothes.

She sprang up, turned, and bowed deeply.

“Thank you so much. How can I ever repay—”

“No need,” Gaon cut her off.

“You’ve worked hard so far, and you’ll keep working hard, right?”

“Absolutely! I dedicate my life to you, Gaon!”

“No, no need to go that far,” Gaon chuckled.

“Check your circles first. The bonds are stronger, so your output should be higher.”

“…!”

Rothes, shocked, activated her circles.

She gasped.

50%?!

As Gaon said, her output was about 50% stronger than before.

She felt she could now hold her own against the 6th Circle mages of the mage tower.

Looking at her stunned expression, Gaon asked, “When will you enter the 6th Circle?”

Rothes had the potential for the 6th Circle.

Her energy was sufficient.

Her damaged circles had held her back.

Now that they were fixed, she could ascend immediately.

“Ah…”

Rothes let out a soft exclamation.

She’d thought she’d never reach that realm.

To achieve it so suddenly?

She was dazed, and tears streamed down her face.

Smiling at her, Gaon continued, “Do it now. I’ll help.”

***

At the Asarun branch, a lower-tier branch of the 2nd Division’s 1st Branch, located in the city of Asarun.

Fwoosh!

Partan, the branch leader, was burning stacks of documents.

At that moment—

Creak.

Della entered, carrying a box filled with more documents.

“Here they are. This is the last.”

“Good.”

Partan took the box and tossed it into the blazing flames.

The fire roared higher with the added fuel.

Watching the documents turn to ash, Partan said to Della, “Evacuation preparations?”

“They’ll be done in five minutes.”

“Good. As soon as they’re ready—”

At that moment—

“…!”

Partan looked up.

With a startled expression, he urgently drew up energy to create a barrier.

Boom!

An explosion sounded, and the ceiling collapsed.

Amid the falling debris, Partan saw fireballs, each 50 cm in diameter, hurtling toward him.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fireballs exploded, and Partan gritted his teeth, focusing on maintaining the barrier.

The explosions soon ceased.

Fortunately, the barrier held.

But it was barely intact, riddled with cracks.

Partan clenched his jaw.

The attack had consumed 80% of his mana.

Only 20% remained—not enough to fight, only to flee.

Is it him?

The 7th Circle archmage Gaon, responsible for the collapse of the 1st Branch and 2nd Division.

Had he come to clean up the lower-tier branches?

As the dust settled, Partan looked up.

An old man floated above.

Soon, Partan recognized him.

…Elder Baren?

It was Baren, an elder of the Gardion Tower, rumored to travel with Gaon.

A 5th Circle mage… how?

Baren was a 5th Circle mage with broken circles.

The spell just now had the power of a 6th Circle mage facing the wall.

No way a 5th Circle mage with broken circles could cast it.

Swish.

Partan quickly scanned the surroundings.

Gaon had to be nearby.

It had to be.

If that was Baren’s magic?

The Abyss’s information was gravely wrong.

At that moment—

Swish!

A magic circle appeared on the ground.