Chapter 85: Leo (Request Subscription!)

“This is Palkas, Palkas Guro. He’s about your age and also a very talented mage.”

Gao Deman introduced him with pride, clearly very pleased with the boy—he was the hope of their “Four Hounds,” the future of the “Four Hounds!”

“Greetings, both chairmen.”

Though Palkas carried an air of defiance, he was quite respectful before Makarov and Bob, bowing seriously to both.

“Good lad. Itachi look sharp.”

Makarov didn’t hold back his praise; after all, his grandson had just been lavished with compliments by his friends, so he owed them some face—but Palkas truly was quite impressive.

Bob also offered a few words of praise, prompting Palkas to burst into a hearty laugh. Then Bob called over his own junior.

A girl approached, her hair a vibrant green, wearing a blue hat, and beneath her red coat she wore something revealing—a mere undergarment exposing much of her skin. She looked only one or two years older than Mo En, yet her figure had developed remarkably well.

“This is little Kallen, Kallen Lilica, an outstanding celestial mage.”

Bob introduced her, then smiled at Mo En—his little Kallen was a true, orthodox celestial mage.

“Celestial mage?”

Mo En blinked in surprise. Had he actually encountered a real one?

But why did this girl look at him with such a sour expression? Like everyone owed her money—clearly not easy to get along with.

“Greetings, both chairmen.”

Kallen gave a reluctant greeting. She clearly disliked such occasions. With her elder-sister demeanor and that perpetual look of disdain, she radiated a clear “keep your distance” vibe.

“.”

Makarov and Gao Deman exchanged a glance. Neither old man would bother getting upset over a girl.

“Itachi kids go chat among yourselves.”

Makarov waved them off, signaling the three to find their own table and not disturb the elders. The old men had no real business tonight—this was a banquet, after all. Drinking, chatting, and bonding were the only agendas.

“Don’t drink too much.”

Mo En reminded his grandfather, who was already looking excited.

Mo En knew his grandfather always got drunk at these meetings, often returning to the guild reeking of alcohol.

Only because the old man was a powerful mage—any ordinary person would’ve died from this much drinking long ago.

“Stop nagging, Mo En.”

Makarov waved him off. How could he not drink when reuniting with old friends?

Mo En shook his head and turned to Palkas and Kallen. The three sat together at a nearby table. The banquet hall was already crowded, with guests seated at separate tables. It was large enough that the younger generation still found space.

Once seated, Palkas immediately grabbed his wine gourd, uncorked it, and took a long swig, his face lighting up with pleasure.

“If I’m not mistaken, Itachi’re underage, aren’t Itachi?”

Mo En remarked. In the Fiore Kingdom, the legal drinking age was fifteen. Palkas didn’t look two or three years older than him—he was definitely under fifteen.

“Hah! Don’t worry about details like that.”

Palkas, his hair tied back, laughed heartily and brushed off the topic. Curious, he turned to Mo En:

“Mo En, what kind of magic do Itachi use?”

He’d been itching to find out ever since his own chairman praised Mo En’s strength. Palkas was supremely confident—among his peers, he didn’t believe anyone surpassed him.

“Celestial magic.”

Mo En answered calmly, without flinching—right in front of Kallen, the real one, he spoke with perfect seriousness.

“Huh? Oh, celestial magic.”

At once, Palkas lost all interest in Mo En, abandoning even the thought of sparring with him.

What was the point of fighting a celestial mage? Fight their spirits?

Palkas trained in martial arts. He found celestial magic too insubstantial—like floating weeds with no roots.

Summoning spirits through keys required contracts and emotional bonds. The spirits had their own wills—getting them to cooperate was too much trouble.

“Celestial magic? What constellations do Itachi have?”

Palkas’s question drew Kallen’s attention. The proud girl finally looked directly at Mo En, demanding an answer as if it were her right.

“Uh, quite a few—I’ve got Pegasus, Little Horse, Orion, Crow, Draco, Swan, Pisces...”

Mo En counted them up. Between his armor, skills, and gear, the constellations tied to him were a messy bunch.

“Pisces?!”

At the mention of Pisces, Kallen’s eyes lit up. She didn’t care about the other random constellations—but Pisces? That made her heart race.

Ordinary constellation silver keys weren’t rare—multiple masters could contract the same one. But the golden keys of the Zodiac were unique: only one existed per sign, and only one master could bind it.

“Name your price. I’ll buy your Pisces key.”

Without hesitation, Kallen spoke.

“Huh?”

Mo En froze, wondering if he’d misheard.

Even Palkas, sipping his wine quietly, nearly choked.

“Itachi’re insane, aren’t Itachi?”

Palkas, slightly drunk, spoke bluntly—his usual unfiltered honesty on full display.

“.”

Mo En bit back laughter, reminding himself sternly: professional. Don’t laugh.

But seeing Kallen’s face darken, he couldn’t help it—he privately agreed with Palkas.

This girl must be mentally impaired.

Ordinary silver keys for common constellations were available everywhere. But the golden keys of the Zodiac?

Only twelve existed in the world, each wielded by a powerful mage. Any serious celestial mage would never sell one.

“Itachi drunkard, Itachi want to fight?! What’s it to Itachi?!”

Kallen glared at Palkas, teeth clenched, already gripping a golden key in her hand.

It was a golden key bearing the Leo insignia—the key to summon Leo, the first of the Zodiac spirits from the Celestial Realm. Her most powerful spirit.

“Hah! Fight? I’m afraid one punch might kill Itachi!”

Facing Kallen’s fury, Palkas fully embodied the Sigma male archetype—he clenched his fist and spat out words with zero respect for her.

“Hey hey hey! Stop it! We’re all allies! Talk it out, don’t fight! Palkas, calm down! Kallen, Itachi too—don’t start anything!”

Mo En stepped between them, trying to defuse the tension. But Kallen wasn’t buying it—the more he urged peace, the more she insisted on saving face, convinced she’d been insulted.

“I, who opens the path to the Celestial Realm; Itachi, who answer my call—through the gate, open! Leo’s Gate!”

Without hesitation, Kallen activated the Leo gate.

Smoke swirled, and out stepped a handsome man with wild, lion-like brown hair. He wore a formal black suit, white shirt, red tie, and blue-tinted glasses—looking oddly mismatched.

“Kallen, why did Itachi summon me?”

The man asked, his tone distant—he clearly wasn’t close to her.

(End of Chapter)