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Chapter 330 part 2

While Leania watched over them, and Hadiya and Earthima were mainly engaged in dialogue with water and wind spirits, Zebe entered the room beautifully dressed.

After a brief greeting, she sat down next to Leania, poured a full glass of water from the provided pitcher, drank it in one gulp, and began to speak without giving anyone a chance to interject.

Hadiya opened her closed eyes in surprise at the force with which Zebe spoke, as if she was either very tired or venting pent-up frustrations.

「Oh, I’m so tired, you know?

Just reporting that the Maffa clan has secured the escaped offering and great warrior brings jealousy from other clans, but in reality, it’s closer to them being houseguests than captives, and on top of that, we have Leania, a foreign element, with us as well?

If we could have captured Hadiya and the others with our own hands, we could have approached the other clans more boldly for negotiations, but…?」

After saying all she wanted to say, Zebe drank another glass of cold water and stuffed her mouth full of dried dates from a small glass bowl.

Zebe, who usually took care to maintain an elegant demeanor and not show weakness to others, seemed to be so tired that she had forgotten this.

「Either way, there’s no substitute for your Maffa clan gaining an advantage over other clans.

It’s only a difference in the degree of advantage, so it’s beneficial for you, and I find it offensive that you’re acting as if we’re at fault」

「Isn’t it a bit too unsettling to consider this unexpected good fortune when you’re involved?

Your combat ability to easily repel that Romel Shijya, your attitude as if you understand Shandia’s secrets that should be hidden.

And if you’re clearly a foreigner, we must also consider the possibility of intervention from other countries. You’re truly a troublesome person.

Even now, I can’t honestly say I’m not still hesitating about whether it’s okay to bring you along, since we haven’t been able to prove that there’s no danger of you doing something to the great spirit, who is the cornerstone of this country」

「Hmph, I want to say you’re an overly suspicious bunch, but it’s a reasonable reaction.

I understand the concern that nothing should happen to the foundation that supports the country.

If you understood me, you’d know such worries are unnecessary, but it would be too much to ask for that.

But let me tell you, I know a boy who’s about the same age as Hadiya and can control great spirits, and I know a magician who can summon Spirit Kings with a straight face.

Compared to those folks, the level of people in this country is low. I could take them down by force without needing any scheming」

The boy Leania referred to was Eksu, who had clashed with Dran the Magic Tournament, and the latter was Merle, who was still growing.

Especially Merle, who wasn’t even specialized in spirit magic, was such an exceptional magician that even the word ‘first-class’ wasn’t enough to describe her.

If the people of Shandia were to meet her, they might faint from shock.

It wasn’t clear how much of Leania’s words were true, but she showed no signs of lying and spoke confidently.

Zebe, Hadiya, and Earthima all seemed at a loss for words in response to Leania.

「Um, it’s amazing that someone around my age can control great spirits, but summoning a spirit king seems beyond human capabilities…

Given that spirit kings are on par with divinity, even if it were possible, wouldn’t it shatter one’s soul?」

Hadiya timidly attempted a common-sense rebuttal, to which Leania responded with a look that seemed to say ‘you know nothing’:

「Just as there are clergy who can summon gods without their souls shattering, there are those who can summon spirit kings safely.

Admittedly, they’re not commonplace, but if your world is limited to Shandia and at most its neighboring countries, I must say it’s far too narrow.

You need to broaden your perspective to the outside world rather than focusing on internal schemes, or you’ll fall behind irretrievably.

As a foreigner, it’s not much of a problem for me though」
Zebe and Earthima’s faces twitched at Leania’s implication that she wouldn’t care if Shandia was trampled by foreign countries, but it was probably a matter of indifference to Leania.

Even Earthima, who was considering leaving, would be moved if her homeland fell into dire straits, but for Zebe, born into a clan responsible for steering Shandia, it was incomparably more significant.

Leania’s statements, which seemed almost like nonsense, carried a persuasiveness that couldn’t be dismissed as such due to the overwhelming power and inexplicable intensity she had shown so far.

After that, it was decided that they would move to the place where the offering ritual was held, and after two days of preparation, Leania and the others left Dezarta.

Their destination was an underground lake spread beneath a huge cave on the outskirts of Shandia’s capital.

They would travel by sand ship across the sea of sand from Dezarta, taking about a day and a half.

Sand ships, which float by manipulating sand and propel themselves using the power of wind spirits, are widely used in desert regions including Shandia.

Leania and the others had no inconveniences except for their lack of freedom, and the meals brought in were considered luxurious in Shandia.

This was probably on Zebe’s orders. Given the short duration of the ship journey, Leania didn’t seem particularly displeased.

The underground lake where the offering ritual took place existed beyond a large hole hidden by spirit magic in the rocky desert, down a labyrinthine interior.

Originally a small lake, it had greatly increased its water volume through rituals based on contracts with great spirits, and by adjusting it to circulate throughout the country via underground waterways, it became a major driving force for the domestic unification of Shandia, centered on the clans that had formed the contract.

To keep the location secret, no clan was allowed to approach directly by sand ship.

Instead, after docking the sand ship in the capital, they had to ride camels to reach this underground lake.

Naturally, the escort for the group heading to the underground lake was assembled with the elite of each clan, with about six outstanding spirit users and warriors gathered around the group centered on Zebe.

Leania, riding a camel for the first time, seemed to be in an unexpectedly good mood, perhaps finding the swaying walk across the desert interesting.

The Maffa clan’s fierce guardians inwardly found it odd that Hadiya and Earthima were allowed so much freedom for supposed captives, but having been strongly instructed by Zebe, they didn’t show it in their behavior.

Wokua, the great spirit at the core of the ritual, normally didn’t show itself in the earthly world.

It would manifest in the underground lake through the ritual, using the souls of the offered ‘gifts’ as catalysts to create an inexhaustible water source, continuously saving the people of Shandia from thirst, and in turn, nurturing the desires that came from this abundance.

As the scorching sun cast the shadows of the group onto the burned sand, Leania hid her long black hair under a sand-repelling hood, seemingly enjoying the camel ride.

「Hehe, camel backs aren’t bad. Maybe I’ll buy a few to take back? By the way, Zebe, if we’re going to send Hadiya into the ritual chamber again, can I assume that people of considerable status from other clans will be sent as well?」

Zebe immediately answered the sudden question from Leania, who was swaying slightly behind her on a separate camel.

She had already grasped who would be attending.

While securing Hadiya had put the Maffa clan a step ahead, considering the future power struggle in Shandia, this was a critical moment.

Every clan was likely on edge, searching for their next move.

「That’s right. Some clans might send their clan leaders, but there’s no doubt that high-ranking elders close to the clan leaders will come.

The escorts they bring will surely be their homegrown members」

「Hmm. So, are there any small fries who might try to snatch Hadiya before we reach the underground lake?」

「I’d like to say that’s too much, but the water obtained through the ritual with Wokua is the key to this country.

If there’s a chance to grasp it, I can’t say for certain that there won’t be some fools who misunderstand and make a move」

「Huh. I suppose assassinating you, a Maffa clan elder, along with the escorts and abducting Hadiya would be too bad for their reputation」

Zebe felt a chill run down her spine as she witnessed Leania’s smile deepen and suddenly turn malicious.

Perhaps accustomed to her in their short acquaintance, Earthima unsheathed Soreiga, and Hadiya immediately called out to the spirits.

The surrounding escorts, noticing the three preparing for battle, hurriedly readied their own weapons and pointed them at Leania and the others, only to be showered with Leania’s thoroughly contemptuous words.

「Fools. You’re pointing at the wrong targets. Hadiya, Earthima, Zebe, I’ll handle this situation.

You lot hurry on to the underground lake or whatever. They probably won’t be able to follow that far」

Without waiting for a response from Hadiya and the others, Leania sent out thought magic to the surroundings, dragging out evil spirits, scorpions, shark-like monsters hidden in the sand, and the humans controlling them, flinging them in all directions.

Realizing the ambush of these miscreants as their screams faded into the distance, Zebe’s beautiful face flushed red with anger as she whipped her camel.

While Leania had preemptively dealt with the attackers surrounding them, other assailants were likely lying in wait along the path to the underground lake.

「Hadiya, get behind me! Zebe, I’ll take the vanguard, so please be wary of pincer attacks!」

Earthima didn’t mention pursuit from behind, trusting that Leania wouldn’t fail.

Zebe also placed a certain trust in Earthima’s combat abilities, praised as a great warrior, and ordered the surrounding escorts to prioritize evacuating with Hadiya from this place.

「All personnel, prioritize Hadiya’s safety and head for the underground lake.

Don’t let even a single finger of those filthy traitors touch her. Well then, Leania, I’m leaving this to you」

「Aye. Leave it to me. Hadiya, Earthima, go and settle this country’s tedious customs.

It’s only right that you, as citizens of this country, decide your future path from here on. I’ll just crush the fools who try to interfere with you」

「Leania, I am grateful! We shall go on ahead」

「Leania, please come after us soon! We’ll be waiting in the ritual chamber」

「Mm. I’ll have to be careful not to overtake you. Wahahaha!」

After watching Hadiya and the others’ camels kick up sand and gallop away, Leania leapt off her own camel with a relaxed attitude.

The camel, whether sensing the killing intent permeating the surroundings or not, stood still without showing signs of agitation.

Perhaps Leania was interfering with the camel’s mind.

「Well, well. It seems you’ve trained a bit in these past few days. I can tell you’re somewhat better than before.

If I remember correctly, you’re Romel Shijya, right?」

As Leania turned her gaze towards the sand dunes with a combative smile, the scenery blurred like a mirage, and Shijya appeared, revealing his well-toned upper body.

「Ah, I’m glad you remembered my name. I thought you’d want to know the name of the person who’s going to kill you.

I was worried that if you’d forgotten my name, I’d have to introduce myself again」

「Hmm, your frivolous attitude remains the same, but that psychokinesis just now is something you couldn’t have withstood when you attacked me at the inn.

You’ve trained well, haven’t you?」

「Haha, thank you. It’s worth hearing you say that after all my retraining.

So, I want you to experience my power to the marrow of your bones」

「Ha! I bet you were ordered to secure Hadiya, and yet.

Very well, I, in my kindness, will indulge your petty pride. I’ll send you off, you foolish man born in a stupid country that continues its worthless customs without thinking」

「…Hey, isn’t that a bit too harsh?」

If Hadiya and the others had remained here, they might have agreed with Shijya for once.