Chapter 62: Legacy Unearthed

The energy emanating from the magic circle was ominous.

An intact barrier might have withstood it, but not one riddled with cracks.

I have to get out!

Partan made his decision and leaped into the air.

He quickly scanned the surroundings again.

Nothing?

Shockingly, Gaon was nowhere to be seen.

Not just Gaon—no one was there.

The explosions from the fireballs had killed everyone.

Swish.

Partan looked at Baren, still floating above.

He had no choice but to accept it.

The information was wrong.

Baren was a 6th Circle mage.

At that moment, a massive icicle surged from the magic circle.

Partan veered in panic, but it was futile.

Astonishingly, the icicle changed direction to follow him.

Damn it!

The control was uncanny, almost instinctive.

Partan poured his remaining mana into reinforcing the barrier.

The icicle struck.

Crackle!

The barrier filled with cracks.

Partan realized it.

He couldn’t block it.

Shatter!

The barrier broke.

The icicle pierced his abdomen.

“Ugh!”

Partan screamed in agony.

Then he felt it.

The seal in his heart activated.

As it did, the pain vanished.

Strength surged through his body.

The downside? His mind grew foggy.

He already knew.

This was his final spark before death.

I’ll be waiting ahead!

At that moment—

Slash!

Partan froze.

He felt a sensation at his neck.

The world began to spin.

He saw his own body falling alongside him.

Thud! Thud!

His head and body hit the ground.

Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

As if coordinated, both burst into flames.

Baren—no, Rothes—watched Partan’s burning corpse and thought.

It’s on another level.

With Gaon’s help, her circles were restored and their bonds strengthened.

She had entered the 6th Circle.

As a result, Rothes was incomparably stronger than before.

What would it have been like?

She imagined.

Before entering the 6th Circle, before her bonds were strengthened, before her circles were fixed.

It didn’t take long to conclude.

It would’ve been impossible.

Even at her best, she couldn’t have killed Partan.

He was a perfect 5th Circle mage.

The corpse turned to ash, and the flames died out.

Rothes checked the surroundings one last time.

She’d already confirmed with her senses, but there could be something she missed.

Fortunately—and expectedly—nothing remained, including Partan.

The cleanup, as Gaon ordered, was complete.

After confirming with her senses and eyes, Rothes headed to their lodging.

It was a three-story mansion with a garden, a villa of the Etran County that ruled Asarun.

Upon arriving, she tilted her head.

Only Taylor was there.

“Where’s Gaon?”

“He said he had a stop to make and left after you did.”

“When did he say he’d return?”

“If he’s not back in 20 minutes, it’s a longer task, so he said to rest.”

At that moment—

“…!”

Rothes flinched.

She turned to look outside.

Her expression was grim.

“Master, is something wrong…?” Taylor asked, puzzled.

But then—

“…!”

He flinched too, looking in the same direction.

Someone had entered the garden.

It wasn’t Gaon.

Based on their energy, they seemed to be two 4th Circle mages.

…Not 4th Circle, probably.

The likelihood was low.

If they were truly 4th Circle, why would Rothes react like that?

Then Rothes spoke.

“The Banu brothers.”

“…!”

Taylor was shocked.

The Banu brothers were mages of the Gardion Tower.

Both 5th Circle Masters, they were quite renowned within the tower.

“Why are they…?” Taylor trailed off, glancing at Rothes.

It was because of her relationship with the Banu brothers.

They harbored resentment toward her.

How could a 5th Circle mage become an elder? Just because she was the Tower Master’s disciple?

They openly criticized her.

Naturally, Rothes was furious.

But she had to endure.

Because of their backer.

“No need to hold back,” Rothes said with a chuckle, seeing Taylor’s reaction.

“It’s all in the past.”

“Right!” Taylor exclaimed.

Rothes was no longer a 5th Circle mage.

She had entered the 6th Circle.

Having accumulated knowledge and energy for years, she was now nearly a 6th Circle Master.

Not Taylor’s opinion.

Not even Rothes’s.

It was Gaon who said she was close to mastery.

And if Gaon said it, it was true.

“But why are the Banu brothers here?” Rothes wondered.

She stepped forward and opened the door.

The brothers, reaching the middle of the garden, paused upon seeing Rothes, then approached with cold smirks.

The elder, Lyle Banu, greeted her.

“Elder Baren, it’s been a while.”

The younger, Fail Banu, merely nodded.

Taylor frowned at their greeting.

Rothes was an elder.

They should show proper respect.

Yet their attitude was blatantly insolent.

He wanted to respond in kind.

But he couldn’t.

Rothes remained calm.

Then she spoke.

“What brings you here?”

“We were returning from a mission and heard a strange rumor,” Lyle said, glancing inside. “We heard you were nearby, so we came to check.”

Rothes understood from his glance.

They heard about Gaon.

The Banu brothers were here because of Gaon.

What rumor, though?

Gaon had done many things.

Some were kept secret.

What had they heard?

“What rumor?” Rothes asked directly.

“We heard you’re traveling with a young mage named Gaon,” Lyle said. “And that he’s falsely claiming to be part of our tower.”

Rothes understood.

They don’t know the truth.

If they knew Gaon’s realm, they wouldn’t speak like this.

They’d be cautious, speaking indirectly.

“Is it true?” Lyle asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

He seemed ready to act if it was.

Rothes smiled.

“Half of it.”

Not the answer he wanted.

Lyle paused, then said, “So the other half is a lie. What part?”

Rothes dropped her smile.

Her face hardened.

“This feels like an interrogation.”

“It’s a serious matter,” Lyle replied.

“Serious enough for you to interrogate me? Since when does a high-ranking mage without a title question an elder? Or do you think you’re the Vice-Tower Master because he’s backing you?”

Rothes unleashed her words.

“…”

Lyle was silent.

He couldn’t respond.

She was right.

But being right didn’t mean he wasn’t upset.

Lyle scowled.

Fail, listening, spoke up.

“Baren! You lucked into the elder’s seat and now you flaunt its authority? You, the shame of the tower, dare—”

Fail erupted in anger.

Lyle didn’t join in.

Supporting him here would weaken their position later.

But he didn’t stop Fail either.

Fail’s outbursts were well-known in the tower.

And easy to handle.

Then—

“Lucked into it…” Rothes trailed off.

She activated all her circles and seized control of the surrounding space.

“You were unlucky, then? If not for Graxios, you idiots wouldn’t even have reached the 5th Circle.”

“…!”

“…!”

Normally, they’d have exploded with rage.

But Lyle and Fail couldn’t.

They stared at Rothes with disbelief.

She continued.

“Tell the Vice-Tower Master I’ll visit soon. Tell him to stop bothering me.”

***

In the Afain Forest near the city of Asarun.

Arriving, Gaon walked deeper, thinking.

This must be it.

The city of Bais, visited earlier, didn’t have the Sikrina family’s legacy.

The Afain Forest was the only place left.

If it wasn’t here?

Finding it would be impossible for now.

Gaon had no other leads.

He couldn’t stay in the Bretan Kingdom just to search for it.

There was too much to do.

Hoping the legacy was here, he extended his senses to their maximum.

Soon after—

“…!”

His eyes gleamed.

What’s this?

His senses detected nothing.

Yet something drew his attention.

He approached the spot.

“Dig.”

He cast Dig, creating a hole in the ground.

He saw it.

Thirty meters below.

A pristine staircase preserved by an array.

Gaon stared, puzzled, and thought.

How…

Even now, his senses detected nothing.

Yet his eyes saw it.

The flow of energy.

No way…

A memory surfaced, and his eyes widened.

Not the Sikrina family’s legacy—the Abyss’s legacy?

Energy flowing yet undetectable by senses—a paradoxical situation.

He’d encountered this before.

Seventy years ago, the Abyss’s Lord, Kuntel, whom Gaon killed, had this ability.

Gaon jumped into the hole.

He descended the stairs slowly.

Soon, he reached the end and entered a vast chamber.

A vivid purple barrier stood within.

He couldn’t see or sense what was inside.

This confirmed it.

Kuntel was involved.

Gaon smiled wider.

If Kuntel was involved, the legacy inside wasn’t ordinary.

He placed his hand on the barrier.

He’d destroyed such barriers countless times before.

Breaking or piercing it was as easy as breathing.

Crack!

A hole appeared, and Gaon peered inside.

Countless treasures lay within.

Maintaining his smile, he stepped through.

The chamber was filled with gems, weapons, books, and artworks.

Stored for the future…

As he surveyed, he froze.

In the center stood a round table.

Not the table, but what floated above it.

…A Dragon Heart?