Chapter 18

Zing!

The Deathcutter magic from Cage’s hand flashed towards Zeros. The target is clear, and the direction is correct.

“Whew.”

“Who’s the intruder though. Sheesh.”

Zeros murmured, sweeping down his flowing hair. There’s some sense of injustice in his eyes looking at Leona.

What? What do you want me to do then? If you want, you can become the 3 years old here.

“Yes, it’s aww mah fault fow being so young.”

Zeros shook his head, sticking out his lower lip.

While still on alert, Cage found a gap and quickly pulled her sword out.

Clang!

She wielded her blade once more and it striked like an arrow.

“This.”

The blade, trapped in Zeros tremendous grip, was gradually losing its aura of death.

He smirked, looking indifferently down at the grinding blade.

“One more shot, and I won’t let it slide.”

His golden eyes stared at her, almost like it pierced through her flesh. Cage gasped without realizing it.

A sensation she haven’t had in a very long time.

An unmistakable hostility.

Cage hardened her eyes. She spread her legs apart and gathered strength in her right hand. She seemed to be wanting to engage Zeros in battle once again.

“What awe you guys doing?”

Leona frowned and stood in front of Cage, her back facing her. Leona stared at Zeros.

“Cage, wou did a gweat job. And Zeros. Yow a piece of wok. Do wou want to die?”

Zeros’ expression turned gentle, as if doting, as he looked down at Leona.

“You’re not scary at all when you talk like that with such a small body.”

“When I’m a wittle bigger, yow dead.”

“But the princess is small right now.”

“But stiw, one of ush isn’t, wight?”

Leona’s expression turned serious. Like they’re really going to go for Zeros. So Zeros had a good laugh.

“Shut the hew up.”

“Oh, you speak beautifully.”

He burst into laughter again and put his hand on the top of Leona’s head.

Ugh. Leona opened her eyes fiercely.

“Who told wou to touch mah haiw!”

“Yes, yes. I’ll stop teasing you.”

“Hand!”

“Yes, yes. I’ll take my hand off.”

Zeros shrugged his shoulders with his hands up. His scrunched nose while smiling tells me he’s really happy.

That’s why Leona felt even worse. Because his snarky attitude was really unpleasant.

I’ll become strong soon. I’m gonna cut off one of his hands.

“I want to play more, but I’m afraid your sword hates me.”

“Hey, enough of yow twicks. Eben if wou do that, you won’t become the watha god.”

“Chet.”

Zeros clicked his tongue, erasing his expression as if he had never been depressed.

“I’ll see you next week.”

“Un. Go away.”

Tak. He snapped his fingers and said, “I’ll be back soon next time.”

“Yeah, go.”

“Yes, I’ll go safely as you said.”

At that moment, a rough wind blew in the water.

There was a huge whirlwind under his feet. The whirlwind that soared in a spiral quickly covered his body and then it disappeared.

The wind disappeared, and so did Zeros.

I couldn’t find any of his trace.

Leona slowly reached out into the air.

I was measuring the amount of mana I could feel in the wind.

Tingling. The tip of my finger hurts.

But it’s weird. Why does he seem so familiar? Really, where did I see him before?

I looked back on my memory, but I couldn’t think of anything. As if it were foggy…….

‘It’s strange.’

Leona crossed her arms and let out a small whine.

“Highness.”

“Who is he?”

Oh, Leona answered quickly.

“Mattha Zewosh. He teaches me.”

Cage gathered her eyebrows together. Looking at her rare change of facial expression, Leona tilted her head with her eyes wide open.

“Mya, do wou know about Mattha?”

“……”

But Cage did not answer. So Leona nudged Cage on the waist.

“Cage?”

“Ah! Yes.”

Cage came to her senses and answered by bending one knee to level with Leona’s eyes.

“Yes, I have. One thing I heard.”

“What?”

“He crazy.”

“Aha.” I must admit. He truly is crazy.

Leona nodded her head.

“Do wou think he’s stwong?”

“……Strong. More than the emperor, maybe.”

“Weally?”

“Battle, past, Hariel Plain. Overwhelming, that guy.”

The Battle of Hariel Plain, which Cage speaks of, took place during a war between the Hasis Empire and the now-defunct Eastern nation.

Ida.

The battle was famous because the empire had only one death. But the Eastern nation has tens of thousands of deaths.

They suffered a crushing defeat, and eventually the Hasis Empire won.

But how can he be that strong? I felt that he’s strong since he started using the Time Bind magic at will…

Damn it, it’s killing me.

I wanted to ask Cage more about Zeros. But her expression was so strange that my mouth wouldn’t open.

“But…”

Cage narrowed her brows even more.

The Deathcutter she shot was by no means a weak one. No one has ever held her blade with his hands like that except the emperor.

But how dare him, that mage.

“I’m getting angry.”

Cage’s eyes flared up. She was obviously angry.

“May I kill him, next time?”

‘Why are suddenly talking like this?’

Leona had no choice but to put on a tired expression.

“Awwow.”

After sitting for a long time, Leona felt stiff so she stretched out her body.

Oh, my god. That felt good.

I tapped my shoulder and let out a sigh of relief.

I left the room early today with Cage. It was to practice developing my mana.

It has already been revealed what magic she has, and with the emperor’s permission, Leona no longer had to hide and be able to practice magic.

“Pyu, this ish hawdah than I thawt.”

If I hadn’t been betrayed by Racus, this wouldn’t have happened.

Bastard. I’ll take that head off within 10 years.

Leona relaxed her gritted teeth and closed her eyes again because she couldn’t rest. She continues to breathe in and cultivate her mana.

The amount of potential mana of this body is 5 stars. This is enough for me to basically make up to 5 circles.

But now I am young and my body is imperfect. So, if I forcefully increase the circle, mana exhaustion could happen.

So I have to slowly draw the mana into my soul. That way I can use magic without a circle.

I hadn’t used circles when I was a witch. I simply felt and used the flow of mana.

Let’s not rush. First of all, raising the potential mana of this body comes first. Then let’s bring in mana into my soul.

Whooo.

Leona took a deep breath. She transferred her inhaled breath into the middle of her chest and felt a tickle.

Whooo.

The full mana inside Leona’s body began to flow out. The ground she was sitting on vibrated low.

‘And I should only use 3 circles in moderation.’

However, I do not know how skilled the people of the imperial family are.

The emperor is excluded because he seems to be a being close to the transcendent.

I’m probably the only different one among the members of the royal family…

I’ve never fought properly, so I don’t know.

I would want to know how far I could hide and how much skills I need to reveal.

However, I can’t fight blindly, and I have to be careful about rumors.

It was at this time that I continued to worry.

‘… What?’

I could feel the eyes looking at me. It wasn’t Cage’s aura.

Leona slowly raised her eyes, capturing the pulsating mana. She obviously told Cage not to let anyone in, but who was it this time? She quickly looks the other way.

“Who?”

Standing not far away was Ivek getting intercepted by Cage.

Ivek was holding something, and as soon as their eyes met, he smiled and waved his hand back and forth.

“Oh, dear.”

Leona tried to ignore him. But a flash of thought crossed her mind.

“The Awshmage Woman.” Leona murmured before  jumping up and stood. She immediately ran to Cage and Ivek.

“Aibek!”

Ivek stared blankly at Leona running towards him.

Her white hair, fluttering with her every move, was like a fluff. Fluffy fluff.

How about her milky white skin? It looked so soft that his hand would probably buried if he poked it.

Short limbs, round eyes, and reddish cheeks were all fatally cute.

Ugh. Ivek unknowingly grabbed his chest.

It seemed like you did a really great job coming to see Leona one last time before leaving this world.

“Hah, hah…”

Leona took deep breaths after arriving in front of Ivek.

Ivek quickly squatted down and looked at Leona.

“Are you okay? Would you like some water?”

“No no. Ish not a bwig deaw.”

Leona placed her chin on Ivek’s shoulder.

“Lesh fwight jush once.”

Damn. The tips of Leona’s cute lips rose.

“Bring it on.”