Chapter 426

Words : 2277 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Rudger went out to Leathervelk to check on the condition of Alex and Pantos. “How are you feeling?” Rudger asked, looking at the two who were covered in bandages and the two nodded as if it was nothing. It was true that they had been seriously injured while fighting Luther, and they actually needed to rest for quite a while. However, because they both possessed exceptional talent, they were showing remarkable recovery abilities. Unlike Bellaruna’s opinion that it would take two weeks to move properly, they were able to walk around normally after just two days. “Well, it’s thanks to you. If our leader hadn’t stepped in to help, we probably would have been bedridden for life.” Alex shrugged playfully while Pantos remained sitting silently like a wooden statue. “Have you made any progress?” “I wasn’t just lying in the hospital bed doing nothing.” Alex muttered while tapping his forehead with his index finger. “I kept thinking about the technique that old man used.” Though his demeanor seemed casual, his eyes were serious. During his rest, he even reduced his sleep to continuously review that day’s fight. It was a fight against someone far stronger than himself so not a single moment could be wasted. Alex recalled, remembered, and engraved in his mind every single second without wasting even a moment, to the point where he could replay that moment of battle several times even in his dreams and now Alex had completely grasped the technique that Luther Wardot used. “Rotation and compression.” After muttering that, Alex asked Rudger. “Leader. Since you’re a magician, I think you’d roughly know. Can wind magic be compressed?” “It’s possible.” “To what extent do you think?” “It depends on the size. Compressing to a moderate level would be easy, but as the amount of magical power and scale increases, it becomes exponentially more difficult.” “Then.” Alex asked with a serious face. “To compress a typhoon into a ball the size of an adult’s fist, what level of mastery would be needed?” “...” Rudger pondered seriously. There was no way Alex would ask such a question carelessly. ‘A typhoon.’ Considering the size of the aura Luther drew out, Alex’s words were not an exaggeration at all. To compress that to a level much smaller than a human body? No matter how renowned a magician might be, such a thing shouldn’t be possible. At minimum, Rudger thought even a 6th-rank magician couldn’t do it. ‘As magicians rise in rank, the scale of their power grows.’ But Luther was the opposite. Instead of fully revealing the power of massive scale, he compressed it to the maximum and contained it. Perhaps the pure size of power might be slightly less than magic wielded by a 6th-rank magician but the density of power was on a completely different dimension. “It’s hard to imagine.” “If even you say that, then I guess it’s as I thought.” “From your mention of wind, it seems you’ve noticed that person’s characteristic.” “That’s right. That old man Luther Wardot, his aura has the wind element embedded in it.” Rudger had witnessed something similar before. Veronica Deville, the vice-commander of the Cold Steel Knights who managed and monitored the northern region was a knight who handled cold aura. It was a fearsome aura where each particle was imbued with cold energy, freezing opponents solid along the cut surface. It was very threatening and even affected the user themselves. “The strongest knight is an elemental aura user.” Thinking of Luther who swept through like a storm, it made perfect sense. Alex continued Rudger’s words. “And he even handles it properly. Just as I said earlier. It’s literally containing a massive typhoon within his body. Honestly, when I first thought of this, I wondered if I had gone crazy.” “But having seen the result, you must know it’s true.” “Yeah. Pantos said it, right? That it felt like facing rough waves. He must have instinctively sensed it too.” Alex gestured with his chin toward Pantos. Pantos himself showed no particular reaction to those words. “It makes sense how he easily deflected all attacks. He’s literally a living typhoon, isn’t he? Though he looks normal on the outside, there’s an incredibly powerful aura endlessly rotating and swirling inside, so attacks naturally get deflected. The fact that we weren’t shredded was probably due to his consideration.” “Can you copy it?” “Are you crazy? I can only imitate the elemental aspect to some degree. Making the aura rotate as much as possible is something I can learn. The next important thing would be compression. Having fought him yourself, you’d know, but that old man’s power density is different. To perfectly control such turbulent power, what kind of monster is he?” Moreover, Luther even changed the direction of rotation. While deflecting attacks with forward rotation, he would also absorb attacks by rotating in reverse. Alex still couldn’t forget the sight of his gray aura being absorbed into his grasp. From the total amount of power to how it was used, it was their complete defeat. “Just imagine someone like that wielding a sword. Can you picture it?” “I understand why he didn’t step forward in the capital.” While protecting the royal family was the priority, if Luther had stepped forward directly, the capital’s underground would have completely collapsed. Though he would say he could control his power, would that really be possible when facing demons? He was truly a living strategic weapon. “But now he moves, is that it?” Luther came directly to Leathervelk. And he had conversations with Rudger and exchanged moves. Though he withdrew without saying much, seemingly satisfied with whatever he saw, the fact remained that Rudger had one more subject to worry about. Rudger gazed at Alex and Pantos. “You two will have to do it.” They both understood what those words meant. If, in some uncertain future, Luther were to block their path again then Alex and Pantos would have to be the ones to face him. “I won’t tell you how or how much stronger you need to become. You’ve already seen the path, and with your outstanding talent, you’ve grasped it.” From the practice match with Pasius to the life-or-death battle with Luther. For these two who were originally gems of talent, there could be no better stimulus than this. What remained for them was to endlessly polish themselves. “I expect the best results.” Rudger left those words and departed from the hospital room. Right after, feeling the powerful aura burst out from beyond the closed door, he let out a small laugh. Though they acted normal in front of him, it seems they were quite frustrated. As he came out of the temporary hospital room onto the empty street, Bellaruna approached, carrying a large bag on her back. “Bellaruna. Are you heading to the capital?” “They said they’re sending someone from there. It’s troublesome, but what can I do?” Though Bellaruna said that, her face was full of anticipation. This time she could legally access the World Tree. Although it was a dead World Tree, the access rights to the World Tree Web still remained. If access was possible, she would be able to learn various information through it. “So. When is the person they’re sending coming?” “They, they said they’d be here soon...” Just as Bellaruna muttered that, they sensed someone approaching quickly from far away. Rudger’s gaze turned in that direction. “I wondered who they would send, so it was you.” “Keek.” The person who reached the meeting place also saw Rudger and made a strange sound that was hard to vocalize. Madeline unconsciously tried to step back, but she saw Rudger beckoning to her with his finger. She meekly approached with drooping shoulders. “It’s you?” “Uh, yes?” “The person who came to pick up Bellaruna, I mean.” “Well, I guess so...I suppose so?” When she tried to act friendly but Rudger glared at her once, Madeline immediately switched to formal speech. She was so thoroughly frightened that proper conversation seemed impossible. Rudger shook his head and said. “You can be comfortable. We’re partners now after all.” “Um...really?” “Yes.” “Then...!” “But not too comfortable.” “...Of, of course I wasn’t planning to.” Seeing Madeline breaking out in cold sweat, Rudger gave her a slightly disapproving look. He couldn’t understand at all how someone like her had managed to pass on her magic to Aidan. “Still, thanks for what happened in the capital.” Aidan and Madeline, thanks to those two, they were able to save Flora from Basara. Rudger hadn’t forgotten that debt of gratitude, which is why he expressed his thanks. Madeline, who didn’t understand those words at first, wore a puzzled expression before her eyes widened and she broke into a bright smile. “Ehehe. Oh, it was nothing.” “That’s enough, take her with you.” The words were thrown out carelessly and as if to match his words, Rudger turned around and left while Madeline watched him with a subtle gaze. “Ex, excuse me.” Just then, hearing a voice from beside her, Madeline finally came to her senses. “We’re leaving now, right?” “Oh, oh. Yeah.” “Are, are you curious about our leader?” “Leader...” Madeline had heard that Rudger Chelici had created his own organization. If there was an organization, there would naturally be subordinates as well. Bellaruna Petana, whom she was supposed to escort today, was one of those organization members and an executive of the U.N. Owen. Naturally, there were orders from the First Princess to treat her with utmost respect when escorting her. Madeline found this quite interesting. At least the Rudger she remembered was different from now. How should she put it, he was a man who had no room for leisure in life and was somewhat more withered. When she first encountered Rudger, that man called Jack the Ripper had empty eyes. Feeling terror at that, Madeline immediately lowered her head, and thanks to that she was able to survive but the one she met in the capital had changed quite a bit. ‘Somehow, he’s become a bit more human.’ From his attitude of stepping forward to save a student in the capital, to now personally checking on her who came to pick up Bellaruna. Madeline thought that this might be that person’s true self. “He, hehe. Then shall we get going? Being able to approach the World Tree again, I, I feel like I’m dreaming.” “...” This one’s a bit strange? She seems to be drooling a little bit. Madeline distanced herself from Bellaruna. * * * After sending off Bellaruna, Rudger headed to Royal Street. Since his destination was decided, his steps were unwavering. [House of Verdi] Though business hadn’t started yet, Rudger didn’t mind. As the owner of this place, he didn’t need anyone’s permission. “Ah. You came?” Violetta, who had been waiting, welcomed Rudger. Rudger responded with a nod and looked around the interior of the store. Besides Violetta, the manager, there was one other person in House of Verdi. The ash gray hair caught Rudger’s attention like a magnet. “Wow.” Rene, who was continuously gazing at the displayed dresses with admiring eyes, was so absorbed that she didn’t even notice Rudger’s arrival. “Do you like it?” “Yes. Especially this part is pretty...Te, Teacher?!” Rene belatedly noticed Rudger and hurriedly bowed her head. “I’m, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had arrived.” “It’s fine. More importantly, let me make a brief introduction. This is Violetta. She’s the manager of this place, House of Verdi.” “Nice to meet you.” “Ni, nice to meet you too.” When Violetta greeted her, Rene also politely greeted back. “This is Rene, a student from Theon. She’s the model who will wear the dress we’re making this time.” “But are you really a commoner? When I first saw you, I thought you were a noble.” “Wha?” Rene wiggled her body shyly at the compliment directed at her but Violetta was serious. She approached Rene and examined her from every angle. “Um, excuse me...” “Hmm. Clean skin, good hair quality. I can’t feel any excess fat either. Do you perhaps do any special care?” “Oh, no. Not really...” “My goodness. You’re like this without any care? I’m truly jealous. But that’s why it’s perfect.” Having finished her inspection, Violetta was beyond satisfied, her eyes literally sparkling with joy. “Really, I can hardly believe what I’m seeing. Inspiration is gushing out. Rather, a mediocre dress wouldn’t even bring out half of this child’s charm.” “Can you do it?” “It’s not a matter of can I do it. I must do it. This is also a matter of pride as a designer, not just as a manager.” Violetta quickly began drawing something on a small notebook she had prepared in advance. Her strokes were both delicate and fast. In an instant, Violetta completed the initial dress design and showed it to Rudger and Rene while tearing the paper from the notebook. “This will become House of Verdi’s greatest masterpiece dress.” Rene looked at the dress with a questioning expression. In contrast, Rudger looked at it and let out an intrigued exclamation. “This is something to look forward to.”

Chapter 426

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