Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1597 - 551: Secrets Hidden in the Murals (Part 3)

Previously on Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys...

Rein and his companions explored a hidden cave filled with ancient murals depicting fierce battles from millennia past, where human warriors and wizards clashed with Evil Gods like the Nether Sea Goddess Hela and the God of Hunting Luen by the seaside. The scenes evolved to show humans gaining ground under a divine leader's guidance, only for later panels to reveal even the gods—both divine and evil—struggling against a colossal black Fiend Demon, its scythed form evoking a familiar terror. Puzzled by the implications that Fiend Demons might oppose the Evil Gods rather than ally with them, Rein ordered the murals shielded for preservation. Returning to the Isodre School Station, he encountered his mentor Mogaro with three Elven women: the enthusiastic Anna, who embraced him warmly; Elder Nasha, come to express gratitude for rescuing her clansmen; and Anna's recovering mother, Darien Yueling, who wished to meet him.

Not long before, Rein had saved one of the elven ladies from the hidden domain of the Dragon Scale Brotherhood.

Furthermore, based on her behavior and movements, it appears she's healed up, probably thanks to Elder Nasha's additional care once they arrived in the Imperial City, which sped up her healing.

"Elder Nasha, hello."

"Ms. Daryn, you're looking way better now." Upon noticing this, Rein quickly moved ahead and gave a slight bow to greet her.

Even though Rein ranks higher in power and standing inside the Dragan Empire than these two ladies, since they're Anna's seniors, he has to pay respects to them first as a matter of course.

Such politeness shows proper manners, and it's also a way to honor Anna.

"Your Crown, Rein, that's very polite of you. Congrats on turning into the Dragan Empire's youngest Guardian," Elder Nasha replied with her own polite gesture right away.

"Rein, thanks so much." Darien Yueling kept her warm smile going, eyeing Rein closely like she was sizing up a potential son-in-law.

In that instant, Rein sensed the weight of her stare, which felt even heavier than confronting a Divine Incarnation.

Once the short greetings wrapped up, everyone headed into the house's meeting hall and took seats.

Taking the chance, the skilled young lady Olena came up, passing a note to Rein and murmuring softly, "Sir, Prince Menia wants you back in the Imperial City over the next few days."

"Oh?" Rein took the note from Olena, unfolded it, and swiftly read over what it said.

The message was direct; Menia got a formal invite from the Federation, basically saying they want to team up with the Empire to check out the Floating City ruins amid the tough circumstances now, urging the Empire to dispatch specialists without delay.

Knowing Rein had ventured into the Floating City ruins once already, Menia sought his thoughts on it.

Yet Rein started mulling this over deeply.

Of course, Rein was eager to delve into the Floating City ruins, since deeper floors could hold the full 'Steel Heart' Advanced Meditation Method.

After all, the Ancient Goblins started the 'Steel Heart,' but... when it came to the right moment, he didn't intend to go in so early.

Rein's original plan involved holding off until he reached Fifth Level Full Moon Wizard rank, then tackling the Ancient Goblins' Floating City ruins for better safety, considering the fiends lurking there are really tough opponents.

"Hold on, maybe that ideal spot for my breakthrough I've been hunting is right in the Floating City ruins!"

All at once, a spark of insight hit Rein's thoughts, striking like thunder ripping apart thick clouds.

Before, he'd weighed various spots like the submerged Molten Lava Lake, a school's basement, or even building a room in Shirendil, but after thinking it through, nothing felt completely safe.

After all, even Empire Emperor Carlos II, with all the boosted protections and Witch Arrays in the Dragan Empire Palace, couldn't stop the demigod breakthrough's uproar from warning plenty of Evil Gods, who sent down their avatars to interfere.

Let alone those other spots mentioned.

Secret realms are way less ideal too; Rein had gone over various old books and accounts on the topic lately.

Attempting a breakthrough inside a secret realm could cause wild shifts in understanding because of missing spatial rules in the ascension, plus a big chance the realm itself gets wrecked, letting the Evil Gods pick up on it right away anyway.

So, among Rein's backup ideas before, one was heading to Monsoon and the Goddess Church to handle the breakthrough in their space.

In simple terms, it's borrowing the monsoon's force and the Goddess's might to hide the breakthrough's disturbance.

Sure, there's a catch; the Goddess Church in the Imperial City may refuse, since the Pope there isn't the known Bishop Shion.

On top of that, a major problem exists: beneath the Imperial City's Cologne Cathedral, a piece of the fiend demon's form remains sealed.

Should he rely on the Goddess's strength in that spot to cover the ascension surges, it could fail to fully hold back the Demon Power, sparking unexpected troubles, like... an escape?

But now, those old murals from medieval days hint that the ancient Floating City, tainted by fiend demons, could block the Evil God's detection.

Or maybe, should the Evil Gods detect the ascension surges, they'd hesitate about that location and couldn't bring their full strength to bear on him.

"The Floating City could turn out to be the superior option, though first I must confirm if the frescoes' scenes really match reality," Rein thought to himself.

Luckily, for this issue, a handy expert source sits available right here.

On medieval events, humans often dig up only scattered notes, yet elves stand apart; as a race with long lives, many of their writings stay intact nicely.

Rein turned to Elder Nasha next to him with a grin, "Elder Nasha, your arrival is spot on; I want to ask you about a few things..."

...