Chapter 99
Although the war had ended, there were still wizards in the Fortnen Kingdom; therefore, they quickly received the news.
“And there….”
Jeremy added, his face solemn and frowning.
“It is said that some people, believed to be Killian Halos and Henus, have appeared.”
The expression on the Archmage deteriorated sharply.
“What?”
“I’m not sure; but from what I’ve been told, the man we previously saw during the war was also the same man that appeared now. It was as if he had been resurrected.”
That meant it was Henus.
Elena fidgeted.
Meanwhile, the Archmage made a decision.
“Call all the wizards right now.”
*****
Per the Archmage’s summon, the Tower Lords and their chief researchers gathered.
It took less than 30 minutes for all of them to assemble.
In fact, all the wizards – except for Jacob who resided in the Empire and not the Tower – had come within 20 minutes.
Once they’ve all gathered, the Archmage explained the current situation.
From Lupes’ confinement in the dungeon to the stories she learned from him, even the demons that started to attack the Fortnen Kingdom were mentioned.
After listening, the wizards were astonished, but they quickly came to their senses.
The Archmage instructed them.
“First of all, Jacob, you must guard the tower. Despite the warlock not coming all the way here, there’s still Lupes.”
“Yes, Archmage.”
It was decided that the East Tower Lord and his chief researcher would protect the tower while the other executives and the elite wizards from each tower would head to the Fortnen Kingdom.
According to reports, the number of monsters attacking the Fortnen Kingdom was not as alarmingly high as last time.
However, Killian Halos and Henus were mercilessly doing heavy damage.
So the Archmage was planning to head to the Fortnen Kingdom with only the elite wizards.
The others also agreed with her opinion.
So, the wizards quickly prepared to go out and gather again once done.
*****
Elena headed straight to her lab.
‘I should leave.’
It happened suddenly, but she remained calm.
She packed the potions she had prepared beforehand from her warehouse, promptly preparing herself. And before she could leave her lab, she paused.
‘Lexion…’
Even she could not predict how long this expedition would take.
She didn’t know if Lexion would visit while she was away.
There was a way to go to Lexion’s office, but it was too late now.
Lexion must have already fallen asleep.
It would be better to leave a letter in the lab than to go to an unoccupied office.
Hence, Elena wrote a letter for him and left the lab.
*****
Lexion squeezed his heavy eyelids and stood up from the desk.
A heavy feeling of exhaustion weighed on him, but his heart was happy.
‘From tomorrow, I can spend a little more time with Elena.’
In reality, however, he wasn’t very busy.
He just crammed several days’ worth of work into one day.
Just so he could spend time with Elena.
Thanks to Lexion’s hard work, he had more time to relax and rest for a few days.
Thinking of Elena, he unconsciously smiled.
‘It’s very late, but….’
He wanted to see her even if he was aware that she may be sleeping.
‘It’ll be just for a while.’
Without realizing it, Lexion’s lips curved up and crossed the portal.
As expected, her laboratory was still empty.
It was fine though.
Even if he went home, she would still be here.
Lexion stood in front of the lab door with light steps.
And there, he found a piece of paper stuck to the door.
At first, he wondered if it was one of her research papers; but then, when he glanced at it, he saw his name.
Lexion immediately took the paper and checked the contents.
To my dear Lexion,
After reading the first line, his smile deepened.
However, as soon as he saw the following words, his expression gradually turned gloomy.
By the time you’re reading this letter, I have already left for Fortnen Kingdom.
Due to an urgent matter that occurred in the tower, I had to go on a mission.
I’m sorry I couldn’t say this to you personally.
I don’t have much time, so I’ll come back and tell you the details.
Don’t worry too much, I’ll be back soon.
Elena.
With the words ‘left’ and ‘Fortnen Kingdom’ in her letter, Lexion quickly grasped the situation.
‘Did monsters begin appearing in the Fortnen Kingdom again?’
His brows furrowed.
Soon, Lexion’s eyes turned red.
‘Elena…’
He wanted to go to her right away.
He was aware that Elena was stronger than anyone else; moreover, he believed that she would return safely.
Nevertheless, she was his beloved.
‘It’s the Magic Tower’s business, there’s nothing I can do about it.’
Magic Tower didn’t want to accept help from the Empire.
If he recklessly went to the Fortnen Kingdom, he would only cause trouble to her.
So he had no choice but to wait.
And hoped for Elena’s safe return.
‘… Tonight is going to be a long one.’
*****
In front of the portal of Fortnen Kingdom.
Each tower’s executives and elite magicians gathered.
There were about 10 elite wizards in each tower, and although they were all different in gender and age, they were composed of people with abilities not inferior to a Chief Researcher.
Thus, about 40 wizards gathered in one place.
The Archmage stood firmly at the forefront of the wizards.
The wizards waited in silence.
The Archmage then broke the stillness.
“Destroy all the monsters present.”
Her solemn declaration boosted the wizards’ spirits.
Afterward, they moved to their respective areas.
The wizards of the West Tower, including the Archmage, would go straight to the Fortnen Palace, and the wizards of the other towers decided to take charge of the west and south of the kingdom.
Standing in front of the portal, Elena exhaled a little.
Before the battle began, she could feel herself getting nervous.
Finally, the time to cross the portal has come.
“Are you nervous?”
The Archmage – who was right in front of her – asked, staring straight ahead.
“… Yes.”
“Don’t be afraid. Because I’ll be with you.”
As soon as Karen finished speaking, she crossed the portal.
Elena, staring at her back, finally eased her expression.
And eventually crossed the portal.
“Aaaaah-!”
As soon as the place changed, a tearing scream was heard.
Elena turned her head toward where the scream came from and saw a dark, ominous sky.
Monsters were flying up above them.
“Sa–Save me!!”
A woman caught by a flying monster shouted over and over again.
At that moment, magical power erupted in front of Elena.
The Archmage fired her power to the monster that was trying to eat the woman.
“Ahhhh—!”
As the monster disappeared, the woman plunged back to the earth.
Again, Karen used her magic.
With her power, the woman was able to descend with ease.
However, it wasn’t just her who was being attacked by monsters.
Monsters were roaming all over the palace.
Screams erupted from various places, and it was truly a pandemonium.
“Defeat the monsters.”
The Archmage left with a word to the wizards and flew straight to the sky.
A flash of light came from her hand and began to annihilate the monsters.
At their leader’s action, the wizards also began to attack.
Elena immediately rescued those closest to her.
The ice that spewed out of her hand instantly froze three monsters.
Elena moved without stopping.
She rescued the servants and maids of the royal palace and obliterated the monsters.
She moved, biting her lips.
‘It’s enough to break through the barrier set by the barrier wizards.’
Even after the war ended, the Fortnen Kingdom still had a barrier.
Unfortunately, the monsters were able to pass through.
‘Is it the influence of Killian and Henus?’
Elena’s face hardened.
However, she did not stop and continued to kill the monsters.
There were corpses and wounded soldiers everywhere.
It broke her heart to see them, but Elena remained unyielding.
She could save a lot of people as long as she stayed alert.
Then, at some point, a familiar face caught her eye.
‘King Fortnen…?’
King Fortnen and his soldiers were fighting the monsters that were gathering at the entrance to the castle.
But things didn’t appear so good.
Behind King Fortnen were wounded soldiers.
He was risking his life to protect his people.
It was then.
Koo-!
A dark, tentacle-like substance lodged in front of King Fortnen.
A man got down on it.
With a malicious smile, the one who attacked King Fortnen was none other than–
“… Killian!”
Elena stood in between King Fortnen and the black magic forming in Killian’s hand.
At her sudden appearance, Killian’s eyes slightly widened.
Soon, his lips slowly curved up.
“Nice to meet you again.”
