Cck Cck Cck

  The sound of footsteps echoed in the barren hallways as heavy metallic boots hit the surface of the cold stone floors. There was barely any light inside, making the atmosphere gloomier than it already was.

  Traversing these lifeless hallways was the King of Alfrione, escorted by two knights cald in heavy armor and equipped with sharp swords. Even though they were wearis, one could still see the fieress in their eyes.

  The King of Alfrione, like the dark hallways, wore a stern and dark expression as he carried himself proudly. He was pletely different to how he usually was. He now wore the dignity and honor of a king.

  Creaakkkkk

  A short-lived sound was born in the gloomy hallways as the heavy metallic doors were opened. Oher side of the door were more people, surrounding what seems to be a womao a chair.

  At a closer look, the woman no longer moved. In fact, she was not evehing as her head hung low towards the ground. Her body was as cold as the floor and her plexion pale as snow. She was already dead.

  "Your Majesty..." ［Edward］

  One of the people present in the room was the General. Upon the King's entrance, he quickly lowered himself and bowed before the former. Following his gestures were the Lt. Generals, Albert, Ranzel, and Vanessa.

  "Raise your heads." ［Ernes］

  "As you and." ［Edward］

  The King only o say three words and the others followed at his behest. Evehe King's eyes were fixated on the woman on the chair, his expressions greeting mrim as time passed.

  "Edward, how was it?" ［Ernes］

  "I apologize, Your Majesty..." ［Edward］

  "I see... Another failure, huh..." ［Ernes］

  "Yes. She died even before we had the ce to interrogate her." ［Edward］

  An exasperated sigh left the King's mouth as he held his head with one of his arms, an irritated expression about him as he gritted his teeth in anger. He wao sm the walls with his hand but didn't. He tried to maintain his dignity.

  The others present pletely uood how the Ki. They also wao vent out their frustrations as it was not the first such a thing had happehey have already met numerous cases, yet all of them were failures.

  The woman in the chair was her than Rita. After being captured, she was brought to an interrogation chamber to extraformation out of her, but before they could even start, she was killed with the use of tract magic, like how other members of Iblis did.

  After their headquarters was destroyed, the remaining members of Iblis had begressive. The kingdom had increased vigince all over the kingdom, but it was not enough. There are still rats left around causing mayhem.

  While no one present knew when Iblis was going to strike, they had already predicted when they would. The biggest possibility is during the foundiival week when the rgest number of people will be gathered.

  In lieu of what might happen, security around the capital has been strengthened multiple folds, especially after what happened in the Royal Capital. They ot let the same disaster happen again.

  It was also out of the option to cel the foundiival, not only because it art of Alfrione's culture, but because it might cause unwarranted panic to the citizens and arm the ehey wao avoid it at all cost as they didn't know how many enemies were lurking nearby.

  "Your Majesty, I know we're already ied to them so much, but I think we will he heroes' help once again." ［Edward］

  "Haah... So it seems..." ［Ernes］

  The King could only sigh as closed his eyes, his face covered by his rge hands. The only thing on his mind was the safety of his subjects. He could only bme himself for being an inpetent king.

  ...

  The weekdays had ended and it was time frey and Yuna to enjoy their free days. Like st week, they had once again brought Galvin and Elnart to the Landevar mansion to py with Eliza.

  Over the past few days, Elnart, Galvin, and Eliza would always visit one another's homes to py. Because of it, they had grown closer to one another, with Eliza ag as their older sister.

  Being with children youhan her, Eliza had grown more reliable and responsible. There are even times wheakes it upon herself to escort the two home. Of course, there were also guards esc them.

  "Liz～ we've e to py again!" ［Yuna］

  "Un! ing～!" ［Eliza］

  It only took a single call from Yuna and Eliza came rushing over. Following behind her was her mother, Eleanora, who was taking a breather before heading to her offid starting w.

  There was no presence of Elise as she was still asleep in her room, resting the fatigue she accumuted over the week. Eine also wasn't present as she was in the Geldoria mansion, still sleeping like Elise.

  "Good m, Missus Eleanora. Sorry for disturbing you so early in the m again." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu, I don't mind it. Liz and the children are enjoying themselves and that's all that matters." ［Eleanora］

  Eleanora said as she looked at her daughter who had already started pying with Elnart and Galvin. The three were pying tag and were all over the garden, smiles blooming brightly on their faces.

  Everythi well like how it usually did when just a few moments after the children started pying, a guard came running towards the adults. The guard's face had a trace ening over it.

  "Y-Your Excelle-there's a me-meー!" ［Guard］

  "Now, now, calm down for a moment. We 't uand a word with how heavy you're breathing." ［Eleanora］

  "A-Ah, y-yes..." ［Guard］

  The guard let loose with Eleanora's words and gasped for air as he tried to calm himself down. It didn't take too long when his plexion turned healthy again.

  "Now, you tell us what you were trying to say before?" ［Eleanora］

  "Y-Yes... There's a messenger from the castle waiting outside the gates. The messenger said that His Majesty is summoning Lrey and Lady Yuna for an important matter." ［Guard］

  "Us?" ［Yuna］

  "Yes, that's what the messenger said." ［Guard］

  her Grey nor Yuna uood what the King was summoning them for, but they instinctively felt nothing good would e of it. After all, they were summo time just so that the other tter could serve pudding during the after party.

  Still, it was a summon from the King. They couldn't ignore such a thing especially sihey have yet to officially annouheir ranks. They also didn't want them to lose face either. Their only choice was to show up in the summon.

  "Alright, we'll be there in a moment. And... Missus Eleanora, sorry, but we're leaving the children to your care once again." ［Grey］

  "You don't have to be. It's a summon from His Majesty. It's not like you have any other choice. Don't worry, I'll make sure the children are alright." ［Eleanora］

  "Thank you, we'll make sure to repay you ter." ［Grey］

  "Well, if you're that insistent, a serving of ice cream would be nice. I've heard from Elize that they had some yesterday. I'd also like to have some myself." ［Eleanora］

  Eleanora smiled cheerfully whilst she reminisced about the taste of ice cream. Just like her daughters and niece, she was a woman who was fond of sweets. She preferred eating them over actual dishes.

  "Alright. We'll send enough for your Eliza and Elise to enjoy." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu, thank you～!" ［Eleanora］

  Eleaniggling softly, Grey and Yuna soohe manor and headed to the castle with the messenger. It was quite the brief trip sihe messenger brought a carriage along with him.

  Grey and Yuna tried to ask the messenger why they were summoned but the tter had no answers. He was only tasked to summon them but he himself had no idea why. Only the King and a few higher-ups knew.

  The moment Grey and Yuna arrived in the castle, they were immediately escorted to the throne room with haste. There was no problem with their entry as some of the guards were already familiar with them.

  "His Majesty has been waiting..."

  One of the knight's said in a low voice as he bowed his head to Grey and Yuna. The other knights also followed and soon after, a creaking sound reverberated all over the castle as the rge doors were opened.

  Just like their previous visit, there weren't any knights stationed ihrone room. The only ones presehe King, the Prime Minister, and the top five of the military, the General, the 3 Lt. Generals, and Kurt, who was a ander.

  "Grey, Yuna, you're here!" ［Ernes］

  "We came as quickly as we could... And it seems to be a serious topic this time around." ［Grey］

  ented Grey as he observed the King's solemn and haggard expression. With just a single g was easy to tell that the King hadn't been able to sleep well. Eveone of his voice was less lively than usual.

  "Haah... It's a long story. Would you care to listen?" ［Ernes］

  The King rubbed his temples once again. This time, he looked even more haggard as he remembered all the problems the kingdom is fag. They were problems which could cause the safety of the citizens.

  The King had previously expined everything to Grey and Yuna during their first meeting, but this time, he expi more thhly. Starting from the time the Headmaster was fronted by Maress Beldon up until yesterday's happenings, there was ail left behind.

  Predis and inferences about Iblis' moves had also been shared. They were supposed to be national secrets only accessible to a select few, but with the situation as dire as it is, they o infrey and Yuna about it.

  A heavy heart was bearing down on the King as he expined everything. He was a little ashamed and frustrated to ask the help of two youngsters who weren't even affiliated with the kingdom. Not to mention that they had already been saved by them before, he couldn't help but feel ashamed by his powerlessness.

  While the awarding ceremony has yet to happen, Grey and Yuna had already bee heroes who will be engraved in the kingdom's history. Repaying those heroes with more responsibilities made it seem like the kingdom was ungrateful and selfish. The King and the reatly hated that fact.

  "So it's Iblis once again, huh..." ［Grey］

  "Your Majesty, are you asking for our help in dealing with them?" ［Yuna］

  "Well, that and one more thing... If you , I would like your help in summoning familiars." ［Ernes］

  Grey froze as soon as he heard the King's words. Although he would like to help out the kingdom and save the i popuce, he felt flicted whether or not he should go as far as to summon them familiars.

  After the raid, the beast crystals have been divided equally to the partits. This meant that the kingdom received 4 of them. It was only uandable why the kingdom would use them to summon familiars and build up strength.

  There was only ohing which brey. It was that if that very power would be used in wars. Although the resulting familiars would be weaker than Grey and Yuna's, they would still be at B-rank. They are powerhouses which could equal thousands upon thousands of soldiers.

  While Grey was almost certain the King and the others present would never do that as they were judged "good" by his eyes, he couldn't say the same for the succeeding geions. It could cause the lives of many if something goes wrong.

  "Vanessa said you had summoned your familiars. I was hoping we could get your help in this matter." ［Ernes］

  "Srey, Yuna. We really need your help right now..." ［Vanessa］

  "No, it's alright." ［Grey］

  "Un. We uand your circumstances." ［Yuna］

  Although it was a little w that their personal information had been pried on without their sent, it was not like they didn't uand the other party's situation. Desperation was already evident in their voices.

  "Alright, I'll help you summon familiars, but in exge, I would like you to promise me ohing." ［Grey］

  "W-What is it?" ［Ernes］

  "Promise me that you would only use them to defend the kingdom and never use their powers to wage wars. This is my only dition." ［Grey］

  A bright glint of seriousness shone in Grey's eyes as those words left his mouth. It was one of the few times that he became serious. He was serious enough to send shivers down everyone's spine.

  Even Yuna who had been with Grey the most was taken aback by the dangerous glint in his eyes. The power dynamiside the room had pletely turned around. Grey was now the one who held the most authority within the ones present.

  Grey didn't even release his aura yet everyone present already felt suffocated from the pressure of Grey's words. They were all powerless in front of someone who was meant to bee a true king.

  "sider it done. I agree with your terms..." ［Ernes］

  The King slowly stood up from his throne as he faced Grey's pressuring gaze. Even though he was still shaken by the youth before him, he didn't back down and face it head on. He wore his dignity as king and stood his ground.

  "In my name as King, I, Ernes von Helvior Alfrione, son the kingdom's pride and honor that the Kingdom of Alfrine shall never use the familiars as tools of war and cause needless bloodshed! Everyone present in the room and the heavens above shall bear wito this oath!" ［Ernes］

  "I, General Edward von Sallerta bear wito the oath!" ［Edward］

  """We bear wito the oath!"""

  Oer another, everyone present in the room swore to the oath the King made. They also casted tract magic at their own will, thus creating absolute ditions which has a heavy price to pay.

  Grey had already ascertaihat they were sincere as he used "Judgement" on them. He did not expect them to go as far to use tract magic. It only proved how serious they were with their words.

  "How is it, Grey? Was that enough to prove our words?" ［Ernes］

  "Yeah, it's more than enough." ［Grey］

  The stern expression on Grey's face quickly faded away with time and was soon repced with a tent smile. It was only then that the King and everyone else breathed out a sigh of relief.

  The trad terms settled, everyone headed outside to the training ground to start summoning the familiars. It ecial, enclosed space where people 't easily gairy.

  "Is this space wide enough?" ［Ernes］

  "Yeah, or rather, it's too spacious." ［Grey］

  Grey once again looked around and examihe area. It was one which could easily fit more than three basketball courts, surrounded by high walls on all sides and void of any pnt life.

  It was not any normal training ground. It was one whily the highest ranks in the kingdom access. The walls were ented to withstand the attacks of those below B-rank, allowing high-rao let loose without prying eyes from the outside.

  "Hooh... Alright, let's begin." ［Grey］

  Inprehensible words were uttered from Grey's mouth as mana started to gather from the surrounding, trating in front of Grey as if a whirlpool was drawing every ounce of water nearby.

  Dim lights started to shine as a magic circle formed from thin air, taking a physical form using the mana gathered from the surroundings. Soon after, magies appeared as they engraved themselves into the magic circle.

  Just like before, the magic circle grew bigger and brighter with the passing of time. The intricad sophistication of the runes also improved with it. It didn't take long before the outer yers started to turn like the needles of a clock.

  Everyone marveled at the sight unfolding before them. It was like thousands of stars glowed at the same time, blessing the ground with their light. It was the first success from the dozens of failures everyone experienced.

  There were a handful of summoning experts in the castle, but none of them could make the same summoning circle Grey made. They were simply g in both knowledge and mana.

  A summoning circle ges in plexity and form depending orength and attribute of the familiar to be summohe strohe in of the beast crystal was, the more mana was required to kickstart the summoning circle. It was the main reason why the kingdom's experts failed no matter how hard they tried.

  "Alright, it's done. Just pce the beast crystal in the middle and drop a few drops of your blood in the magic circle. Just remember that the owner of the blood will bee the familiar's master." ［Grey］

  "Ah, y-yes..." ［Ernes］

  There were still traces of shod awe present on the King's face as he answered Grey. It wasn't only him, the Prime Minister was also amazed by how quickly and perfectly Grey made the summoning circle.

  Following Grey's words, the General soon stepped forward and pced a beast crystal at the ter of the summoning circle. It was the best amongst what the kingdom possessed, an A-ra crystal which has been stored ihe treasury for decades,

  The four beast crystals were to bee the Lt. Generals and Kurt's familiar. The stro shall be given to Albert, while the three which were on par with one another are given to Ranzel, Vanessa, and Kurt.

  The reason why it was made that way was because of the requirements to summon familiars. The familiars will only obey those who are at least on par with them, if the summoner is weak enough, they might go out of trol and attack the summoner.

  Another requirement was patibility. Although it doesn't matter much when only one summoner is involved, it is the deg factor when there is multiple. Poor blood patibility between summoners lead to failure aru of the beast crystal.

  In Grey and Yuna's case, not only were their bloods of the best quality, Grey also possessed the blood of divine creation which was not only patible to all types but plimehem as well.

  Soon after the General pced the beast crystal, he then took out a small dagger from the hidden partment on his belt and cut a wound in one of his fingers. It was only deep enough that it allowed a few drops of blood to trickle down the magic circle.

  Upon ing in tact with the General's blood, the inner yers of the summoning circle which were previously still, started to rotate fast. It became even faster when Grey ted the final ts.

  "Oh Great Beast who once walked the nds of Merusia, I hereby call you forth! Throughout the sky, the nds, and the seas, let your brilliance be known!" ［Edward］

  A loud rumble spread like wildfire throughout the ground as the General's words reded with the summoning circle. Soon after, the beast crystal broke and a storm of mana swirled in the surroundings.

  Like vapors densing into snowfkes during snowfall, the swirling mana slowly took a shape, being more intricate as the se reached its climax. The disastrous se only stopped when a pair of eyes glowed ihe dust cloud formed by the wind.

  The one summoned was a Quetzalcoatl, an A-ra which looked like a winged serpent with patches of its body covered ihers. It was a great match for the General who also happeo be of the wind attribute.

  "Are you the one who summoned me?" ［???］

  "I am. My name is Edward von Sallerta. I ask for your assistan proteg the kingdom. Please stand by my side." ［Edward］

  "... Very well... This one shall help fulfill the Master's goals..." ［???］

  As it fis words, the familiar bowed his head towards the General. Soon after, it was granted a name and fully became the General's familiar. One which was on par with him in strength.

  After the General's familiars, Grey made new summoning circles for the others to be summoned. Even though they were from the same ins, the resulting familiars weren't High Dragons like Grey and Yuna's.

  What was summoned were four Vangirs, B-ras which resembled golden tigers, only much bigger and equipped with a rge pair of bck wings. All were named by their respective masters.

  "I've done my part. Remember to keep your promise," ［Grey］

  "We will." ［Ernes］

  As the sun reached its Zenith, rge shadows were casted along the barren ground as five magnifit beasts stood proud. They will bee Alfrione's shield which will tio stand proud for the turies to e, but that's a story for another day.

  CHAPTER 95 END