When an individual bearing the title Spirit King exists, most would expect him to be regal, dignified, and majestic.
"My liege... the time to meet Lady Akasha for magic training has already passed. She's been waiting in the training grounds for hours."
But if you asked Cameron, the fairy knight, the reality was the complete opposite.
"Just five more minutes."
Estelon mumbled as he tossed and turned in bed, looking completely relaxed.
Cameron, wearing a full suit of armor, couldn't help but sigh.
Her king was always like this... lazy and acting like a complete NEET.
Most of the time, he left the management of the Sacred Forest to his subordinates just so he could slack off.
A complete hands-off boss.
Only when he appeared in public did he display a mature and kingly demeanor. But in front of those he trusted, his true self emerged.
'That means he considers me someone he trusts.'
Cameron thought, smiling softly.
Of course, when a great threat rises to endanger the Sacred Forest, Estelon is always the first to stand in its defense.
So even though his subordinates often grow frustrated with his carefree ways, their respect for him never wavers.
"Estelon! You son of a bitch!"
Just as she was about to continue persuading her king to get out of bed, a loud explosion erupted inside the room, followed by an angry shout.
As a knight sworn to protect her king, Cameron surprisingly didn't react much... she simply sighed.
"Akasha!"
Estelon shot up, eyes wide in shock as he stared at the giant hole in his wall.
Standing there was a beautiful woman with white hair and golden eyes.
"Akasha, wai—"
Before Estelon could finish, a hand grabbed his face and threw him skyward, creating another hole... this time through the roof.
"Lady Akasha, please calm down your anger."
Cameron tried to reason, but was immediately silenced when Akasha's murderous glare met her eyes.
Only when Akasha flew through the roof and disappeared from sight did Cameron exhale in relief.
"My liege, I wish you luck."
She muttered, signaling toward the door.
"You can come in now. Make sure to leave this place spotless."
Workers carrying tools and materials entered in droves and immediately began repairs.
The fact that no one seemed surprised meant this had happened many times before.
...
"Ouch!"
Thrown onto the ground, Estelon groaned and brushed the dirt off his back... only for a terrifying pressure to descend upon him.
'Ah, shit.'
He slowly looked up to see Akasha, the Legendary First Mage, her expression twisting into something scarier than a demon's.
"I've been standing in the training grounds, baking under the sun for hours," she said coldly.
"Do you know what I was thinking during that time?"
Her glare could have bored a hole through his skull.
"That... you care about me deeply?"
Estelon replied with a crooked grin.
The only answer he received was a searing beam of energy shot straight at his face.
With a sharp exhale, Estelon thrust out his hand, summoning a lime-colored barrier of light that shielded him from the destructive blast.
He glanced behind... and froze.
The entire mountain range was gone.
There was no deafening explosion, no shockwave... just a perfectly silent, controlled annihilation, as if the mountains had been erased from existence.
"I told you not to use your Spirit King powers during magic training."
Akasha scolded, clicking her tongue in annoyance.
"I'm only at the 8th tier!"
Estelon barked back.
"There's no way I can block that kind of attack with a simple magic barrier! Are you trying to kill me?"
To clarify... Estelon's power as the Spirit King, granted by the World Tree, was completely separate from the magic drawn from his mana core.
At present, he wielded two distinct power systems, which gave rise to two versions of himself.
One as Spirit King Estelon, and another as 8th-tier Archmage Estelon, disciple of Akasha Solmere.
The latter was the identity he used whenever he left the forest for personal reasons.
"Maybe if you actually worked hard, you'd have reached the 9th tier by now."
Akasha said with a sharp gaze.
"I'm not a monster of talent like you... someone who hit the 12th tier in less than 15 years!"
Estelon shot back, rubbing his temples.
"Do you have any idea how long it took me to reach where I am now?"
"I do. I'm your master, remember?"
She replied flatly.
"But I'm still disappointed that it took you a thousand years just to become a measly Archmage. Honestly, you're the least talented student I've ever had."
Her words hit him like an arrow through the heart.
"The dignified and respected Spirit King," she continued, "turns out to be a complete dunce at magic. If the world knew that, you'd be the laughingstock of every mage alive."
"Alright, alright! You can stop now!"
Estelon surrendered, raising both hands.
Akasha placed a finger on her chin, studying him in silence.
"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"
He asked, brow raised.
"I'm just curious... I should've asked this before," she murmured.
"But why do you even want to learn magic? You're already powerful enough as you are."
Her golden eyes met his calm blue ones as the forest breeze rustled the leaves around them.
"It's redundant," she continued.
"For someone like you... who was born with great power... to want to learn magic, a power used by mortals."
Estelon's answer, however, caught her off guard.
"I just think magic's cool. That's all."
He said it so casually, shrugging like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Cool?"
Akasha repeated, dumbfounded.
"That's it? No profound reason? No hidden purpose?"
She grabbed his shoulders and shook him.
"Yeah. Why? Do you want me to make one up for you?"
He teased, gripping her wrists to stop her.
"Pfft..."
His deadpan expression finally broke her composure.
Akasha smirked... then burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! I should've known... but hearing it from you directly somehow makes me feel relieved."
She wiped a tear from her eye, her expression softening.
'Estelon... you probably don't realize it. Ever since the day you saved me and took me in...'
'When I saw you command wind, fire, and earth with a mere gesture, I was inspired.'
'Because of you, I discovered magic. Because of you, mortals now possess the power to stand against the gods.'
'You were my beginning... though it still baffles me how someone like you can be so utterly untalented.'
Seeing her gentle smile, Estelon couldn't help but smile back.
After a moment of peace, Akasha's expression hardened once again.
"Now then."
She said, a dark purple flame flickering above her palm.
"Let's resume your training. And remember... no Spirit King powers."
'Flames with the Destruction Attribute?'
Estelon thought, eyes shrinking as he instinctively took a few cautious steps back.
Among the disciples of The First Mage, there was a hidden nickname that they used behind her back.
The Demon King of Training.
True to her title, her training methods were merciless. When it came to pushing others to their limits, she could be as cruel as the Demon King himself.
....
'Another memory fragment?'
Judas groaned inwardly, a low sound escaping his lips.
'Alfia and Akasha... those two are way too similar.'
'Don't tell me Alfia's brutal training unlocked that particular memory?'
He winced, raising his head as a dull headache pulsed behind his temples.
'Did I pass out?'
As his eyes fluttered open, the sharp scent of alcohol immediately filled his nose.
'Ah, right. After a successful dungeon dive together, we went to Mia's tavern to celebrate... and I got forced to drink after losing a bet.'
Looking at the passed-out figures of Alise and the others, Judas cast a spell on himself to sober up.
"Mister Spade... it seems you're awake."
He turned to Ryuu, dressed in her waitress uniform and carrying a tray of empty cups.
"You should go home. Don't worry about them... they'll wake up soon enough."
Judas nodded and tried to stand up, but his legs gave out and he tripped.
"!"
Ryuu noticed and tried to catch him—
"Ah..."
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), his hand landed on a compromising spot.
Judas froze.
His hand had completely cupped Ryuu's right breast, making the elf turn bright red.
'This scene...'
It reminded him of Bell's Luck development ability... how that white-haired rabbit always managed to get himself tangled up in situations like this.
'The Venerated One...'
A skill born from the world's favor.
'How is this doing me a favor!?'
Judas shouted in his mind.
"No way!"
"He did it!"
"Holy crap, I always wanted to do that."
"Nyaa~ look at Ryuu's face, meow!"
The rest of the customers and waitresses who witnessed this scene whistled and grinned lewdly.
"Bwahaha... Finally! A good show!"
"Kyaa!"
That day, Judas Spade became a legend among the customers of the Hostess of Fertility.
A new nickname was added to his growing list—
The Elf Slayer.
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