Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys

At that moment, Neoro, who stood atop the city walls, heard rhythmic footsteps approaching from behind. Turning his head, he saw hundreds of City Guards swiftly advancing from the rear.

Clearly, they had also heard the tumult outside the city and assumed that this side of the wall had come under attack by some creature.

And in the sky, a Griffin Knight, discerning Lord Rein amid the pouring rain, spiraled rapidly downward.

This Griffin Knight was none other than Fishe.

Once he dismounted from his griffin, Fishe strode forward and apologized to Rein, "Lord Rein, do you remember me? During the battle with the cult's ancient hero Mong in Meister, I was there with Viscount Felk."

"Earlier, I'm truly sorry for mistaking you as..."

Rein pondered for a moment, then his face lit up with realization!

He remembered this Fishe, the young Griffin Knight who had brought them news.

"Hello, Fishe, I remember you. The visibility was poor just now, and you were simply doing your duty, so don't worry about it."

"Lord Rein, thank you," Fishe bowed slightly, visibly moved.

Neoro and Angus glanced at each other upon witnessing this scene and couldn't help but laugh.

This Griffin Knight was quite interesting.

It seemed as though he was looking at his own captain as if he were an idol.

"By the way, Lord Rein, do you wish to ride my griffin back to the city first?"

Thinking of his family, Rein pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, thank you. But... wait a moment, let me greet my companions first."

"Of course, you can."

When Neoro and Angus spotted Rein, he naturally noticed them on the city wall as well.

Soon, the three met beneath the wall.

"How did you get here? Thank you for your hard work," Rein approached and thanked them with a smile.

"Captain, don't be a stranger! Your matters are ours as well," Angus said straightforwardly, true to the military style.

"Wow, so this is the Second-level Liquidization Wizard, rare lava series?" Angus circled the Crystal Stone that was in Rein's hand, marveling.

Although he did not witness the fierce battle between his captain, Lord Rein, and the other party, the pitiful state of the ground and the giant humanoid rock kneeling on the grounds told him how intense the fight must have been.

"Yes, a tough one, but he's finally taken care of," Rein said, glancing at the Crystal Stone in his hand.

Then, a hawk's cry echoed through the sky, and a blue-and-white raptor spiraled down from the air. Notably, it clutched a flashing red Crystal Stone in its talons, catching everyone's attention.

When Rein took the heart-shaped red Crystal Stone from Blood Feather's talons, Neoro's eyes widened in shock and he exclaimed, "Captain, is this... the Heart of Lava?"

"The Heart of Lava? I don't know what that is, but this item seems to enhance the strength of the opponent's summons and must be quite valuable," Rein said, looking at the burning red Crystal Stone in his hand and shaking his head.

"That's it, that's the Legendary Level treasure occasionally found within the bodies of fire or lava elemental creatures—the Heart of Lava," Neoro said excitedly.

"Captain, may I take a closer look?"

"Of course," Rein handed it to Neoro casually.

Neoro scrutinized it closely, "Captain, this is indeed the Heart of Lava. You mentioned that the other party used this to enhance..."

Suddenly thinking of something, Neoro's face turned to aghast as he glanced at the kneeling stone figure.

Huh?

Angus, puzzled by Neoro's shocked expression, also became bewildered.

"That means the opponent's lava creature reached a power almost equal to Legendary!" Neoro murmured to himself.

Legendary?

Angus's eyes widened in shock as well.

Had their captain's strength reached such a level?

"By the way, how is everything at the manor?" Rein inquired.

"Captain, Viery and Evelyn are guarding the manor; there shouldn't be any security issues," Neoro responded.

"Alright, I'll take the griffin and leave first. Please convey the situation here to the City Guards," Rein nodded.

...

When Rein returned to the manor, it was already brimming with people.

On the outermost perimeter, the elite Night Watchman stood guard; a layer further in were the guards from the Sword Bearers Branch who had come upon hearing the news.

And at the very heart were the sheriffs of Mingster Province, a captain of the Sword Bearer guards, and a priestess from the Goddess Church whom Rein did not recognize.

Clearly, the recent assassination of the Great Priest Gomez had made the higher-ups of Mingster Province and the Church take the attack very seriously.

Rein's family, seeing him return, also stepped out under the protection of Viery and Evelyn, but the panic in their eyes was impossible to hide.

Especially Rein's mother, Emma, and his father, old Rein; it was their first time witnessing their son in battle up close.

The inhuman speed and strength, the tremendous destructive power, and the mystical witchcraft all left them utterly astonished.

The once familiar courtyard, now wrecked and steaming in the rain, gave off a scorching, burnt smell.

This made the elderly couple unable to hide their worry for their son.

And the beautiful Jennifer, it was also her first time seeing Rein, now a Great Knight, fighting an evenly matched opponent.