94. Escape from the Pantheon (2)

Siertier emitted a resonant sound.

A sword newly made for me. Yet, it felt as if it had been with me for a very long time. The sensation of gripping the hilt was very familiar.

‘Siertier is the heirloom sword of the Reinhardt family.’

The Holy Lamir Empire. The sacred sword first used by the first Reinhardt when the empire was first established as a kingdom.

Although the head of the family a hundred years ago, Atlint von Reinhardt, had destroyed the sacred sword. It was now resurrected in my hands.

‘And I’ve rolled around very intimately with Erti, too.’

Since I was very connected to the will of that sacred sword. There was no need to tame it; Siertier had already become a sword just for me.

At that moment, Erti’s wings became a blessing, enveloping my hand.

——-

「Sacred Sword Siertier – Activated」

* Rank: Celestial

* Details: This is a sacred sword created through Jedin’s blessing. Even the apostles of the celestial realm send praises to its existence.

## Special Effects

: Can continuously maintain a 6th Circle Mana Heart.

..

..

[Special effect is activating.]

——-

At the same time, I could feel an intense energy gathering into my Mana Heart. Vastly different from my normal state.

I felt a torrent of Mana, evolved to the next level, wildly spinning within my Mana Heart.

‘This feeling is usually only felt during Dragonification Stage 2.’

Of course, I wasn’t using Dragonification right now. Dragonification granted me a buff that transcended human limits.

But it literally turned my half-human body temporarily into a dragon. It transformed me into a non-human form.

‘I can’t reveal that form carelessly in the Imperial Capital.’

Not only in the Imperial Capital, but in the Lamir Empire, dragons were considered demons. The fact that I, the heir of the Frontier Count and the son of the Great Saintess, was actually a demon could not be revealed carelessly.

That’s why Dragonification was a buff I couldn’t use openly. Of course, the power of the 5th and 6th Circles was worlds apart.

If I only presented myself as a human, as a Reinhardt. I would be losing an entire Circle.

‘It’s the difference between an Aura user and an Aura Master. A difference that’s on another level compared to a Circle below that.’

But right now, there was no need to regret that disadvantage at all. My current appearance was perfectly human. I wasn’t using the power of a dragon.

“H-How?”

And I swung Siertier as it was. The six guards who had been making the group nervous. All collapsed on the spot. Pussuk.

Lucia was very surprised and spoke softly next to me.

“I couldn’t properly grasp Yulian-nim’s movements with my dynamic visual acuity. I only vaguely chased after the afterimages…”

Just as she said. A moment ago, I had shown the movements of a Master perfectly, even without Dragonification.

‘Siertier’s Circle-raising effect. I used the Fusion Formula to the limit with that 6th Circle Mana Heart.’

The Reinhardt’s grandeur and the Orhain’s speed. The Mana Art Fusion Formula that contained both of those advantages.

My sword, swung in that Fusion Formula state.

Even the descendants of the Orhain family, who were famous for their exceptional speed, reaction, and dynamic visual acuity. Couldn’t perfectly read its movements.

“Don’t just be surprised, Lucia. You must have felt something too. From my movements.”

Lucia quickly nodded. I didn’t forget to stimulate Lucia like that.

‘As expected, the official name of the Fusion Formula. It’s better to call it that.’

My Fusion Formula was ultimately completed through Lucia. Instead of the temporary name Fusion Formula. I had already decided to name it Lucia-style Mana Art.

I whispered in her ear.

“If it’s a Lucia-style made with you. You, Lucia, will also be able to catch up to the realm I’ve reached quickly.”

“L-Lucia-style…”

For a moment, I could feel Lucia being very flustered. But there was no time to be leisurely here.

“Rosette. Cast transformation magic on all the group members as they are. The same magic spell you cast on Fabian’s group.”

“Transformation magic? Then the magic cast on those combat-focused students will be undone…”

“By now, the guards who drank the alcohol should be asleep. And with those three’s skills, there’s no need to worry.

Rather, being in drag is more of an ordeal for them. I continued.

“And even after leaving the Pantheon, there will be rebels everywhere. We can’t let our appearance be exposed like this.”

Rosette nodded. The group hurriedly broke through to Endier Hall. And when the back gate of the Pantheon began to appear beyond that.

I spoke to the group.

“Rosette should know where Marquis Aiterun’s reinforcements are gathering. Once we leave this place, we will use any means to escort Princess Lilia-jeonha to that place.”

“I’m in your care. Yulian-nim.”

Lilia wore a determined expression. The group left the Pantheon like that.

***

Chloe stood before a man with a very nervous expression.

The haughty noble lady of the Aiterun family. Silver hair and ruby-like red eyes that seemed to be compared to the finest fabric.

A beautiful appearance befitting her unusual silver hair and red eyes. And a voluptuous figure.

Furthermore, Chloe possessed not only the skills of an alchemist but also an exceptionally sharp business acumen that stood out even in a merchant family.

Naturally, she was aloof and arrogant in front of any man. Countless noble young masters had tried to win her heart and court her.

Chloe de Aiterun, who possessed all the virtues that could not be more perfect as a noble lady. Naturally, she saw men as nothing more than passing insects.

‘With this, I’ve conveyed everything I needed to say.’

However, Chloe respectfully clasped her hands in front of the man standing before her and bowed.

It was a formal greeting befitting a very high-ranking noble lady. There were only two men who could receive such a sincere greeting from her.

The first man was, of course, Yulian von Reinhardt. Chloe was still deeply in love with that man.

The reason she was bowing her head now was because of that Yulian.

“I understand what you mean, Chloe. I was also intrigued by your words, so I moved the private soldiers myself like this. For now, that is.”

And the man who received her greeting spoke to Chloe. That man was the other man.

Gerard de Aiterun.

He was the master of the Aiterun family, the owner of the best merchant guild on the continent, the Aiterun Merchant Guild. He was Marquis Aiterun, the great feudal lord who ruled the central region.

Of course, he was Chloe’s biological father. At Marquis Gerard’s words, Chloe wore an honest expression that was unlike her.

“Then, are you listening to my words, Father? That’s why you brought the family’s private soldiers all the way here…”

And the place where the two were was inside a field tent. Marquis Gerard, who was sitting in a chair inside, resting his chin on his hand, looked at Chloe.

Like his daughter, he had silver hair. And red eyes. A cold and aristocratic expression. It clearly showed that the two were father and daughter.

“No. It’s true that I’m interested in the opinion you mentioned. But I haven’t made a decision yet.”

“Those words mean…”

Marquis Gerard looked beyond the tent for a moment. The tent’s door was open, and all of the Marquis’s private soldiers were visible.

Although their fame was lacking compared to the Empire’s Three Great Knight Orders. All of those private soldiers were perfectly armed.

And the aura of each and every one of those soldiers was no less than that of the elite soldiers of the Three Great Knight Orders.

In fact, those who were well-versed in the Empire’s political situation evaluated that. Marquis Gerard had only not created a knight order for political reasons.

It was already openly said that the private soldiers he owned might be placed right after the Empire’s Three Great Knight Orders.

The Aiterun family’s immense wealth. With that superior capital, they were raising the current private soldiers and were recognized as the de facto rulers of the central region.

Down to his bones, he was a merchant, so he was observing. He, too, like Reinhardt of the north. Or Orhain of the south, was a person with great power that could shake the Empire.

That Marquis Gerard tapped the armrest of the chair with his fingertips. Soon, he looked at Chloe with an interesting expression.

“No. More than that, I didn’t know that you, Chloe, would so easily come to a conclusion on which side to take. Of course, it’s commendable that you informed me of that prior information in advance. But you also know, don’t you? Even if we possess these private soldiers. Our family is fundamentally a merchant family.”

Chloe hid her tension inside. And she pondered over the Marquis’s words. The family’s principle of action was always profit first.

Although Chloe had pushed aside her older brothers and won the heir competition. It was a decision that could be overturned at any time until she inherited the title of Marquis Aiterun.

In particular, Grius’s rebellion. The landscape could completely change depending on which side the Aiterun Marquis family stood on.

The opinion Chloe had told the Marquis was to oppose the rebels on the side of the anti-Grius faction guards. That is, those who were loyal to Princess Lilia.

‘Of course, Father has already decided which side to take. The central region directly borders Duke Pedro’s southern region. Helping Grius is obviously grabbing a rotten rope.’

From the beginning, Grius’s rebellion was a choice that couldn’t happen if he was in his right mind. The Empire’s strongest sword was naturally Essenmund and Frontier Count Wilhelm.

That veteran was only loyal to the Emperor, to the Asterik Imperial Family. Even if his rebellion succeeded.

After that, Grius would turn the White Night Knights and Essenmund’s elite soldiers, who were evaluated as the strongest in the Empire, into enemies.

Although they couldn’t immediately move a large army due to the mass outbreak of monsters. Even if a single company of the White Night Knights aimed their swords at the Imperial Capital.

It was clear that Grius wouldn’t be able to sleep comfortably for even a single day.

‘This rebellion is already tantamount to suicide.’

So, the central region should naturally help Lilia and maintain friendly relations with Essenmund.

Gerard was a man whom Chloe uniquely acknowledged.

No, until a few months ago, before Chloe fell deeply in love with Yulian, he was the only person she acknowledged. Even in alchemy. Marquis Gerard was already being evaluated as the best in Islan.

‘So, there’s no way Father would have thought my opinion was wrong. There’s no way Father would choose Grius.’

But Marquis Gerard wasn’t a person who threw words at her for no reason. In his words a moment ago, the Marquis emphasized that the Aiterun family was a merchant family (商家).

In other words, he wanted her to explain, as the heir of Aiterun, just how valuable the opinion she had said this time was. What the family could gain from that choice.

When Chloe fell silent for a moment after reading his intentions. Marquis Gerard opened his mouth first.

“You’re unusually slow to answer, Chloe. Does that mean it’s because of your affections for that Count of the Reinhardt family?”

Chloe’s heart sank for a moment. It seemed that her father already knew about the relationship between Yulian and her.

Of course, Chloe had never hidden her meetings with Yulian. No, she had even openly tried to show off her relationship with him to the point of inviting him to the family’s luxurious cruise ship.

‘As expected, Father is not easy to deal with.’

If he were a normal father. He would be curious about his daughter’s love life. But there was no way her father wouldn’t know that Yulian was the fiancé of the Third Princess, Lilia.

Even so, the fact that he bothered to express the word ‘affections’ meant.

It was definitely a word that contained the meaning that she was actively suggesting the movement of the Marquis family’s private soldiers this time not because of a merchant’s profit and loss calculation, but because of personal feelings.

‘If he doesn’t like my answer. He’s someone who can withdraw the family’s private soldiers to the territory right now.’

Of course, the Marquis wouldn’t join the rebels.

The Marquis had already calculated the point at which he could most efficiently deploy these private soldiers to the point where he could control Princess Lilia from behind in the future.

‘In fact, if you only think about profit. It might be better to move the private soldiers later.’

The reason Chloe had suggested moving the private soldiers so quickly was naturally for Yulian’s sake.

He had asked her to move the Marquis family’s private soldiers as soon as possible in order to quell the rebellion in the Imperial Capital as quickly as possible.

So, if things had gone as planned beforehand. Yulian and Lilia would already be coming here.

So, the Marquis’s private soldiers had to be stationed here. Soon, the Marquis urged her to answer once again.

“It’s a question of whether you’ve dragged the family’s private soldiers into your love affair. A smart girl like you can’t not know that. Isn’t that right?”

It was time to answer. Chloe spoke with her true feelings.

“Father. This suggestion is actually…”