Chapter 213:


    Special Thanks to WK for the Coffee!! We will have 6 chapters next week I guess.


    -Mr.Graverobber


    The night Leticia was abducted.


    Leo and the Griffon Knight rely on the starlight as they keep running through the night sky.


    Without taking any break, they continue pursuing Leticia with Noir leading them.


    Leticia was abducted around midnight. It has been almost a full day since Leticia was kidnapped.


    Leo and the Griffon Knights are currently traveling on the sky above the north of the Imperial Capital. It is a distance where you normally have to change horses many times already to cover.


    Moreover, Noir wasnt just flying in a straight path. He has been making tight turns and switching directions many times to search for the faint traces of Leticia. The color of fatigue started to appear on the faces of the Griffons and the Griffon Knights.


    Fatigue, Weariness, Anxiety.


    Many feelings assault them, giving them the reason to stop their pursuit.


    Still, no one stopped.


    This is because Noir, who leads them at the front, and Leo, who rides on his back, never stopped.


    Many of the Anti-Empire factions in the Kingdom were the civil officials working at the Royal Castle. On the other hand, it was the soldiers who fought on the frontline who were in the Pro-Empire faction. That is because they are those who yearn for the Saint, as she ran through the battlefield together with them.


    The people who were selected to be her escort this time are those who apanied Leticia from the very beginning. They were those who always stayed close to Leticias side and had enough confidence in their ability to protect her.


    Their loyalty to the Saint is second to none.


    Thats why if Leo doesnt give up, they cant allow themselves to stop. They dont want to lose to a prince of another country.


    And there is one more reason. Another reason for them to not stop moving.


    Riding on the back a griffon is no easy task. The griffons are indeed the ones who do the running but riding it also causes them fatigue. That fatigue should affect Leo the most as he is but a beginner.


    However, Leo sat straight on Noirs back and continued to lead them. His back continued to inspire the Griffon Knights behind him.


    That being said, Leo himself doesnt have any leeway regarding that either.


    Noir did not fly while considering Leo on his back. Riding on him is much more difficult than any rampaging horses Leo has ridden.


    Still, Leo neverined. He thinks that it is fine.


    Noir, please.do your best just a little longer.


    There was no reply.


    However, the speed of Noir increased a little.


    It was a heavy burden for a griffon to fly around with a human on its back for a whole day.


    Still, Noir continued to fly, following only on faint trace of his master.


    Speaking of miscalctions on Grimoires side, there would be three.


    One is that there are more people who are smart enough to notice their trick than they expected.


    Another is that Leo took the Griffon Knights along with him in his pursuit.


    And thest one is the existence of Noir.


    Noir was not chasing the scent of Leticia herself. He didnt rely on such uncertainty.


    What Noir is chasing after is the trace of the Holy Staff. It is a faint trace that humans couldnt detect. However, Noir understood since his childhood that he would be able to find Leticia if he followed it.


    And because of its rarity, Grimoire did not leave the staff behind.


    Thats why their hiding ce has been discovered.


    Noir!?


    Leo shouts when he sees that Noir suddenly starts descending.


    He didnt show any sign that he is so fatigued that he needs a rest.


    Thats why Leo put his hand on the handle of his sword.


    He knows that Noir finally found them.


    DESCEND!!


    Following Leosmand, the Griffon Knights descend one after another.


    Noir keeps descending until he reaches what seems to be an ordinary vige.


    It is a vige you can find anywhere in the Empire.


    When they arrived, the vigers came out of their homes to see whats happening.


    Y, Your Highnessis this really the ce?


    Because it was such an ordinary vige, one Griffon Knight asked Leo.


    Without answering that question, Leo shouts.


    WHERE IS THE VILLAGE CHIEF!


    After he yelled out, an old man appeared from among the vigers.


    I, I am the Vige Chief, Milord.


    I am the Eighth Prince of the Empire, Leonard. I am chasing after a criminal organization. Have you seen anything unusual around here?


    Y, Your Highness!? Forgive my rudeness!


    Saying so, the Vige Chief and other vigers immediately kneel.


    Their surprise is natural. Seeing that, the Griffon Knights expressions clouded.


    No matter how they look at them, this is an ordinary vige.


    Answer my question. Have you seen anything out of the ordinary?


    I, I have not..! Please forgive me!


    Its alright. I didnt expect any good answer anyway.


    Saying so, Leo pulled out his sword and approached the Vige Chief.


    He then hit the Vige Chief with intense murder intent.


    The Vige Chiefs body shakes at the strong murder intent but Leo unhesitantly keeps getting closer and closer to him.


    Y, Your Highness..! I apologize for my disrespect!


    As I said, its okay. By the way, Vige Chief. It seems that your people stay up quitete today huh? They came out immediately after I arrived too. What were you doing?


    !!??


    Saying so, Leo brandishes his sword.


    Then, the Vige Chief stands up with a ball of fire in his right hand.


    DIEEEE!!


    The fire magic struck Leo.


    For a moment, Leo was wrapped in me and the Griffon Knights forgot to breathe.


    However.


    I tried imitating Nii-san from time to time you see. To be honest, I was only nning to bluff. But thank youNow I can kill you with a peace of mind.


    HIII!?


    Waving the me off with his sword, Leo decapitated the Vige Chief.


    At that moment, more than ten attack magics were cast toward Leo. However, Leo already started running with his posture lowered.


    ATTACK! THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF HIDDEN MECHANISM HERE! SEARCH EVERY HOUSE!


    Leo gives his instructions as he parries the approaching magic attacks with his sword.


    He then approaches one of the mages and cuts off their head without any hesitation.


    Leo has always been bad at cutting down living beings.


    We might understand each other if we talk it out. If I cut my opponent down immediately then I will lose the chance to do that.


    Hearing that typical Leos words, the masters who taught Leo swordsmanship held their heads.


    The Prince has talent but he will never be truly strong.


    Every single one of them tells this to the Emperor.


    A sword imbued with hesitation will never be strong. That was the absolute truth that the masters understood.


    As a swordsman, Leo is too sweet.


    However, Leo was getting stronger and stronger. Whether in the monster subjugation or battles he had with bandits, his results exceeded the expectations of his masters.


    However, that did not mean Leo overcame his weakness.


    Leos swordsmanship was so good that he could defeat them even though he hesitated.


    While feeling sorry for them, while regretting that it hase to this kind of result, while begging for their forgiveness.


    Leo has fought against his enemies up until now with his weakness as a swordsman exposed.


    Even the recent incidents didnt change that part of him. He keeps swinging his sword while enduring those feelings all the while telling himself that it is the thing that must be done.


    However, he was still carrying those unnecessary thoughts.


    Normally, you would only think about how to defeat the enemy in front of you. After all, That is how a swordsman should think in front of his enemy. But Leo was unable to do that.


    Leos mind is rarely clear in battle. The only time Leo experienced such a thing was the turmoil in the South where his opponents were lifeless monsters or Demons.


    Even if he was using all of his power, he cant get serious. That was how Leo has been up until now.


    However, for the first time, by concentrating his mind only on the idea of rescuing Leticiahe is able to get serious against human opponents.


    He no longer cares about the country or other people.


    The brilliance of Leos sword technique as he focuses himself on cutting down his enemy, despair the mages.


    If they release their magic at him, their magic will be cut down, if they try to start a chant, they will be approached with unbelievable speed. And once he gets to them, his speed is so fast that their barrier couldnt protect them and their neck will part from their body with a single sh.


    How can this be.even if hes called the Hero Prince.it was as if.


    It was as if they were facing against the Hero himself.


    While muttering such words, the mages head flew off.


    Leo on the other hand murmurs a reply.


    Id like you to not lump me together with Elna. That would be rude to her.


    Saying so, Leo uses magic and creates a me on his right hand.


    On the other side, five mages were also chanting fire attack magic as they aimed at him.


    Five against one.


    Although it is not a difference in power that could not be covered normally, Leo uses therge amount of magic power he inherited from the imperial bloodline and throws an enormous ball of me at the mages.


    The mes collide midair. However, the power of five mages couldntpete with his as their mes were swallowed by Leos me, and the mages themselves soon follow the same fate.


    With Leos lead, the mages who disguised themselves as vigers were mostly suppressed.


    Seeing that, Leo looks for Noir.


    He spots Noir smashing the wall of a certain house as he constantly raises a cry.


    Leo who judged that there must be something there immediately head to the half-destroyed house.


    As far as he can see, there is nothing out of the ordinary.


    However, Leo did not overlook the slight difort he felt.


    Under the broken bed. Feeling that there is something there, Leo put magic power into his sword and sh at it.


    Then, the barrier surrounding it copsed and a hidden door leading to the basement appeared.


    So this is the ce.


    Your Highness!


    We are heading in. Lets go.


    After giving his shortmand, Leo, with the help of the Griffon Knights, opens the hidden door and infiltrates the basement.


    -


    The basement wasrger than its outer appearance suggested.


    However, Leo keeps swinging his sword and gradually takes control over it.


    He then breached into a certain room.


    STOPPP!!


    There was a barrier at the center of the room. Inside that barrier, a staff was enshrined in the middle.


    The moment Leo saw that, he felt relief.


    He is now certain that she is here.


    The mages inside the room did not miss that chance.


    They tried to perform a pincer attack on Leo by casting attack magic at him from a close distance.


    However, Leo relies on his body reflex and intercepts them.


    DONT GET IN MY WAY!


    With a flow-like movement, Leo decapitated the mages without looking at them and sh at the barrier. He then grabbed the staff from inside it.


    For Leo who is not its true master, it is only a simple staff.


    Still, it was the driving force for Leo to move forward.


    After that, Leo went straight to the stairs on the other side of the room.


    For some reason, he was convinced.


    Leticia is just ahead.


    Thats why Leo never stop his legs as he ran down the stairs.


    On his way, he shed at the man standing in front of him and reached the ce that seems to be the prison.


    There, he found an old man wearing a robe, Auguste, and in front of him was a closed cage.


    Leticia is inside. He cant see her but he knows it. Joy and anger sprout in Leos heart at the same time.


    Prince Leonard!?


    I will have you return Leticia to me!


    Leo rushes at thest enemy in front of him but his advance is blocked by Auguste.


    Auguste has deployed a wall of Dead Spirits in front of him.


    Thats a shame! Its impossible to physically break my dead spirit wall!


    !?


    Leo noticed its danger before Auguste spoke.


    It is a sinister wall created byyers of ck smoke. The smoke constantly changes shape into that of human faces.


    It is a ck wall with numerous human faces protruding from it.


    Its horror was something Leo had never seen before.


    I am a mage who utilizes the grudges filled souls of the dead! A Dead Spirit Mage! Hear their voices of grudges and be driven mad!


    Saying so, Auguste advances the dead spirit wall toward Leo.


    On the other hand, Leo takes a breath and stands his ground.


    Then.


    [[me descended from heavenSave the virtuousO supreme holy meNobly burnAnd destroy the evil before me-Holy ze]]


    He chanted the holy me magic.


    Auguste is amazed at the advanced holy magic.


    However, his carefree attitude did not copse.


    As expected of the Hero Prince! You truly are blessed with talent! HOWEVER! With that level of magic, you can not purify my army of the dead!


    The holy me doesnt have enough power to purify the wall of concentrated dead spirits.


    Auguste is fully aware of that.


    You told me to return her but unfortunately Saint Leticia already belongs to Grimoire! You can not have her back!


    If Leo dies here he will be able to acquire an even more powerful dead spirit. Regret, Grudges. The stronger those are, the stronger the dead spirit will be.


    In front of the woman he loves, to have your life ended without being able to save her.


    Augusteughs to himself at the powerful dead spirit he is about to acquire but in response, Leo raises a voice full of anger.


    I see..then, I only have one thing to do.


    Saying so, Leo put the holy me on his left hand on the sword in his right hand.


    Magic Sword.


    It is a fusion of magic and sword techniques. This is a technique to create a pseudo magic sword.


    However, the higher the level of magic is, the higher the difficulty to actually aplish.


    When it came to a magic sword that utilized holy magic, it could be said that it is the most difficult technique to pull off. After all, among modern magic, holy magic itself is considered as the most difficult one.


    However, Leo aplished that on the spot.


    Even Auguste opened his eyes wide to what is happening in front of him.


    WHAT!?


    This is the first time.Ive never felt that I want to kill someone so clearly before!


    Saying so, Leo vertically cuts through the wall of dead spirits.


    The wall itself did not disappear however, the sword wreathing in holy me created a path for him.


    Before it could close up, Leo rushes toward Auguste.


    Kuh!!


    After the wall of dead spirits he has absolute confidence in was broken through, Auguste hurriedly releases more dead spirits toward Leo.


    However, Leo quickly cuts them down and closes his distance.


    Wait! If you want the Saint then I will return her!


    No need! If you say that she already belongs to you guys then as suitable for someone of the Adler house-I will just plunder and steal her back from you!


    Saying so, Leo stabbed his sword into Augustes chest.


    Perhaps it judges Auguste who is stained with dead spirit to be evil, the holy me burns his body from the inside.


    GYAAAAAAA!!!!


    With that death throe, Auguste turned to dust.


    Then, after seeing Augustepletely turned into dust, Leo looked towards the prison.


    <strong>Plunderer</strong>