"Who is the person you are talking about? Is he very strong?"
"I think you should know him. With his strength and reputation, he should be quite famous.
His name is Gildarts."
"So it's him." Uru's expression softened with realization. "I've seen him before. He's indeed much stronger than me."
But Leo immediately jumped up, unwilling to accept it.
"Impossible! Uru is the strongest wizard. There can't be anyone stronger!"
Uru opened her mouth to say something, but Noah raised a hand to stop her. He turned his gaze toward Leo.
"We'll know the truth soon enough, won't we?"
Leo pressed his lips together, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't argue further.
"Then I'll bring Gildarts here now," Noah continued. "We'll rest tonight and head out tomorrow to face Deliora."
In a blink, Noah teleported away. Moments later, he returned with Gildarts at his side.
"You said there's someone I know here," Gildarts said, glancing around. "Who is it?"
"That would be her." Noah pointed toward Uru.
Gildarts turned, his eyes narrowing slightly. "So it's you. I remember you said you'd given up being a wizard. What's going on now?"
"She has two disciples," Noah explained before Uru could answer. "One of them lost his parents to Deliora, who has reappeared in Prague in the northern continent. I want to help them, but I'm not confident about leaving them to face it alone. So I asked you to come as insurance."
"Deliora, huh?" Gildarts crossed his arms. "I've heard it's an immortal demon. For you to think about taking it on… you've grown into someone capable of handling monsters like that."
"You may not have heard me clearly," Noah replied evenly. "I called you here because I wasn't sure. You're the safeguard."
"But at least you've got the confidence to face it," Gildarts said with a grin.
"That's right."
Uru stepped forward then. "Let's rest for now. We'll head out to defeat Deliora tomorrow."
"Fine by me."
As the group dispersed, Gildarts leaned closer to Noah and whispered, "What's with that kid glaring at me? He's been staring since I walked in."
Noah chuckled quietly. "Before, Uru admitted you were stronger than her, but Leo didn't believe it. He insists Uru's the best. So when you showed up, he started sulking."
"Ah, I see." Gildarts scratched his head and let the matter drop. Together, he and Noah found a nearby inn to spend the night.
The next morning, everyone gathered again at Uru's friend's house. Gray had changed. Though his eyes were still clouded with hatred, he no longer acted recklessly. He sat silently, his jaw tight, but at least the storm in him had quieted.
Uru, Urrutia, and Leo sat off to the side. Leo still couldn't keep his eyes off Gildarts, glaring with childlike defiance, while Urrutia studied him with open curiosity.
Noah leaned closer and whispered to Gildarts:
"The one with black hair is Gray. He's the one who bears a grudge against Deliora. The boy next to him is Leo, and the girl at the end is Urrutia Uru's daughter."
"What?!" Gildarts nearly shouted, his eyes widening. "That's Uru's daughter? I clearly remember her saying her daughter was gone."
"I happened to meet Urrutia just after she escaped from the Magic Development Bureau," Noah explained quietly. "I was able to bring her back."
"So that's how it is." Gildarts let out a low whistle. "No wonder you and Uru snuck into the Bureau and stirred up such a big incident. But seriously, you're incredible you even rescued such a beautiful girl. What do you think, huh?"
With a mischievous grin, Gildarts slung his arm around Noah's shoulders.
Noah rolled his eyes. What was this uncle thinking? He was only ten years old. Even if he acted mature most of the time, there were limits he wasn't about to start thinking that way.
Pushing Gildarts's arm off and forcing him into a chair, Noah spoke firmly:
"If we go to defeat Deliora, they're all staying behind."
He gestured at Gray, Leo, and Urrutia.
Gray immediately shot to his feet. "No! I have to see Deliora defeated with my own eyes. I'm going too!"
Leo clenched his fists, his face full of determination. "I want to go as well! I want to see Uru's battle!"
Urrutia pressed herself against her mother's side, clinging to Uru's arm. "I don't want to be separated from my mother."
Noah scratched his head, clearly troubled. For a moment, he even considered knocking them out to stop them from following but if they woke up and chased after him, it would only make things worse.
After a pause, he turned to Uru. "Would you be able to protect them, Uru?"
"I'll protect them," Uru answered without hesitation. "As Gray's master, it's my responsibility."
"Then that settles it," Noah said. "Let Gray see Deliora's strength with his own eyes. Let Urrutia and Leo witness what a high-level battle looks like.
As for me, I want to challenge myself. I want to see how far I've come after all these years of training.
And besides, with Gildarts here as insurance, we're safe."
At that, Gildarts groaned loudly. "So basically, you called me just to clean up your mess."
Noah smirked. "I'm not afraid of losing, but if I do, of course I'd call my parents. And aren't you my parent?"
Gildarts blinked, caught off guard by the words. Then, slowly, a warm smile spread across his face. He said nothing more only laughed softly, his expression carrying the weight of quiet relief.
Although Uru was reluctant, he had no choice but to agree when he saw that everyone else insisted.
Once they packed up, Noah used teleportation magic to bring the group to Prague. But when they arrived, Deliora was nowhere to be found.
Noah released detection magic, his senses spreading across the land like ripples in water. His eyes narrowed. "Found it. Deliora is resting in a nearby valley."
He led everyone to a hilltop overlooking the place. From afar, they could see the massive demon sitting on the ground. Even at that distance, the crushing weight of its presence pressed down on them like a storm.
Noah turned to the others.
"Uru, make sure you keep your eyes on those three. I don't want any of them charging into my battlefield while I'm fighting. As for you, Gildarts I'll be counting on your cover."
Both of them nodded. Gray and Leo looked eager, fists clenched as if ready to rush forward, but under Uru's sharp gaze, they swallowed their impulses. Urrutia clung tightly to her mother's arm, silent but tense.
Seeing they had all agreed, Noah took Gildarts and instantly transported the two of them closer to Deliora.
After setting Gildarts down, Noah began walking straight toward the demon, who still rested with its eyes closed.
With each step, Noah let his magic swell. Golden light surged from his body, his black hair rising as though pulled by invisible force.
The ground beneath him split open with jagged cracks, stones trembling and lifting into the air. Waves of compressed air exploded outward with each step, scattering dust and debris.
His magic rose higher and higher. Arcs of golden lightning danced around him, his hair standing on end. His eyes glowed like molten gold, burning with terrifying focus.
From behind, Gildarts watched, deeply moved.
"I haven't seen you for just over a year… and your magic has already grown to this level. Incredible."
The oppressive surge finally reached Deliora. The giant demon stirred, its eyes snapping open. The valley trembled as the monster raised its head, and its gaze locked onto Noah.
...
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