Chapter 55

“Alright, you’re done!”

The lady said as she came down from the watchtower. She appeared to be chuckling.

“Done?”

“Yes. Good work, Leon.”

“I’m not tired. Not even a little.”

It was all so sudden and anti-climactic. I didn’t feel like I benefited from this practice at all.

I needed someone who could invade the area in a way where I had to sharpen my senses to the very limit. The difficulty here was so low as to be completely pointless.

“I was watching the whole thing. I’m impressed that you got all five of them so easily.”

“Lady, I’d like to try it again.”

“Eh?”

“I came all the way out here just to practice. And that was a sorry excuse for an invasion. So we should do it again.”

“Uhh…”

She glanced towards the five caterpillars–people rolling on the ground.

“…”

“…”

It seemed that they were trying to tell her something with her eyes.

“I think they had enough.”

“Oh, and here I thought tonight’s training was supposed to be for me.”

You’d think that a second round could be arranged if it was necessary.

“That’s true. But I think you’ll be fine without any training. You pass the test. Isn’t that right, grandpa?”

“…”

As he had been gagged, the old man just nodded his head.

“I pass? Is that how this works?”

That didn’t seem right.

“I don’t see the point in continuing. Unless we could get someone like Through, who uses magic as well, then further training would be meaningless.”

I see. That was also true. The enemy would be coming from Makoku.

It was very likely that there would be magic users among the attack force.

In that case, this setup would not be of much use.

You had to fight magic with magic.

The longer one used magic, the more uses they found for it.

A young magician, no matter how talented they were, would often fall behind when compared to a veteran.

The number of times and the number of ways you used magic was what counted the most.

“Well then, I really have a long way to go.”

“…I’m not sure why that’s what you got out of this?”

Her smile stiffened.

“I guess that I’ll have to train by myself.”

In order to go against these magicians, I would have to try to strengthen my magic, even if it’s just a little.

And so I thanked her and the Left Hands who cooperated, and then I melted into the shadows.

○

“…I don’t think he took that in the right way.”

Siluru muttered at the spot where Leon had disappeared.

The five Shadows that protected the castle.

They should have been tough opponents for defensive training. She had assumed that their experience would be a great advantage, and yet the results said otherwise.

She had watched as they were captured one after another and even wondered if they were getting caught on purpose.

“And that magic…”

It was so dark and it happened so quickly that she hadn’t been able to see very well.

But she did see the Left Hand gliding in the sky, and the sword slashing through the cloth.

It was clear who had been responsible for that.

But, how? They were so far away.

It would have made sense if he had thrown a knife.

She didn’t know how he had done it, but it had been cut directly.

It was no wonder Her Majesty had granted him total absolution, Siluru thought.

He could attack and defend.

How many enemies could match that?

“That Leon…what a nightmare.”

Siluru muttered at the empty sky, hardly noticing the tied-up people lying at her feet.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

They were all gagged, but seemed to be pleading with their eyes for her to untie them.

○

On my way back from the castle, I suddenly had an idea, and decided to head to the Dragon Master Grounds.

As I usually moved through the underground waterways, I had never actually gone inside.

This was also part of my training. It wasn’t out of curiosity or anything…I think.

And just like the Royal Castle, there were detection barriers.

Which meant nothing. I was used to this stuff.

I wouldn’t melt into the shadows. I could advance while relying on my senses.

There would likely be more complicated barriers as well, but those were usually only around the important buildings.

If I was just going to go through the Dragon Master Grounds, then there shouldn’t be anything too troublesome.

“Also…ah!”

Someone was patrolling the area. I looked out from behind the shadow of a wall.

As I wasn’t ‘Shadow Crossing’ now, I would be seen if I moved.

It looked like a security guard. And this one wasn’t relaxing either, his eyes scanned the area constantly.

And there was a dog as well. There were several things on the man’s belt that I wasn’t familiar with.

Maybe they were tools that created lights or sounds.

So the security was tighter than I had thought.

They didn’t just rely on magic, but had people patrolling the area as well.

And there was an advanced barrier around the building.

If I wanted to get through this place, it would take a little studying first.

I doubted I would succeed if I just went through without much thinking.

The dog turned towards me. Was it the smell?

Its brows seemed to furrow as if it had sensed something.

I quickly melted into the shadows.

The dog immediately lost interest and turned its head away.

Interesting. I would have to come back later.

And so I remained in the shadows and headed back to the dormitory.

I had made quite a few interesting discoveries today.