Clutching the branch beneath him, Leon's realization finally dawned. Tania's defeat in the novel wasn't solely due to Joshua's strength; it was also influenced by the dragon's unfavorable condition at that time."That's the crux of it," he muttered to himself.When Leon had read the novel, there was no further elaboration on the dragon's state. The author simply narrated the fight, and in that climactic battle, Tania met her demise. End of story.However, at this moment, Leon finally grasped the underlying truth.'Tania was suffering during that time.'Her pain had rendered her unable to harness her full power, which ultimately led to her defeat.However, at this juncture, all of that was inconsequential. Joshua remained unaware of Tania's condition, his mind consumed solely by thoughts of vengeance.Even as Leon and Tania engaged in their silent mental conversation, and the dragon momentarily seemed complacent, Joshua exploited the gap in her defenses and launched an unrelenting atta
Upon receiving such a revelation, Leon's eyes widened, rendering him utterly speechless. He was so taken aback by the disclosure that he couldn't muster any further questions.Despite his initial shock, Tania pressed on, her expression grave. "Fronti's... they're not your family," she said, her tone serious. "Your moth-"Before she could finish her words, Leon, for the first time, found his voice. "No," he declared, his expression marked by a deep frown. "They are my family." His voice resonated with unwavering resolve. "At least, for Leon, no one can replace that."Tania's words faltered for a moment, and she was momentarily silenced. She blinked her eyes and nodded."Yes, they are... and your other parents... aren't they real too?"Leon, in response to the question, reluctantly gave a nod. "You're correct," he acknowledged. His mind was entangled in a web of complexity, and he clenched his hand into a tight fist, despite maintaining a stoic expression.Tania believed she understood
Tania couldn't shake the feeling that Leon was holding something back, something more profound than he had already revealed. Her heart was in turmoil, and she desperately wanted to understand the reasons behind his sudden change in perspective. However, Leon didn't offer her an opportunity to inquire further in that moment.Upon their arrival at Tania's nest, Leon carefully positioned her on the soft terrain, taking great care not to disturb her injuries. The nest was nestled high in the mountains, a hidden sanctuary where the dragon could rest and recover. Tania, with a concerned look, watched as Leon knelt beside her, his expression still bearing that unreadable mask."Dan, please," Tania implored, finally summoning the courage to question, her voice bearing a blend of inquisitiveness and frustration. "You can't just drop a bombshell like that and then leave me hanging. Why did you only say it now?"Leon sighed and stared at her with a deep, contemplative gaze. He then shook his hea
Leon continued to cradle Manja in his arms, his expression remaining devoid of emotion. He fixed his gaze on the lifeless hen and observed a moment of silence, as if paying his respects to her. It was a mournful farewell to his loyal and loving companion, who had shared his life for so long. The two masked individuals, still immobilized by the strange aura, were unable to make any movements and found themselves trapped in a surreal and terrifying situation. Yet, this didn't mean they couldn't make any noise either. "Ugh! Y-you—how dare—" However, before the masked man could finish his sentences, Leon's cold voice pierced their ears, silencing them. "Silence! Can't you see I'm mourning here?" Leon's intense glare and the thickening aura surrounding him forced the two masked individuals to kneel on the ground. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, and they were unable to speak. 'What is with this guy?' 'I can't speak!!' After a moment, Leon shifted his attention back to Manja. He
Leon carefully carried the unconscious rooster back into the hut and gently placed it inside with the chicks. Afterward, he made his way to the cliff behind his dwelling. Seated there, he gazed out at the vast expanse of the ocean and then retrieved a ring from his pocket. His eyes fixed on the ring briefly before he averted his gaze, idly fiddling with it.In a soft, almost hesitant tone, he murmured, "You know, Nia..." He paused, his lips forming the words with care, "You asked me why I didn't tell you sooner, didn't you?"His gaze ascends to the sky, fixating on the drifting clouds, as his mind becomes entangled in thoughts and memories from the past two years.During that period, Leon's habitual morning routine involved waking up early, and a consistent part of it was going to the back of his hut, drawing water from the nearby well, and using it for his morning ablutions.However, ever since the first night he spent in that forest, there was an additional recurring element to this
While Luis remained visibly bewildered, Joshua, who had been observing from the background, finally stepped forward to mediate and defuse the tense situation. "Sir, please, lower your sword," he urged, keeping his hand on his hilt but refraining from drawing his weapon. "We didn't mean to provoke you. He simply confused you with someone else."Leon regarded Joshua with a blend of irritation and curiosity, gradually relenting and lowering his sword, though not without reluctance. His acted in this situation was truly remarkable.'I should receive an award for this,' Leon thought humorously.The knights maintained their vigilant stances but refrained from launching an attack. Luis, now regaining some composure, apologized, saying, "I apologize, sir. Something about you seemed familiar, which led to my confusion with my late brother."Leon's expression softened for a moment as he scrutinized Luis carefully. "I don't recall having a younger brother," he said, his tone less harsh than befo
Several days had passed since that fateful day, and Leon's daily routine had, for the most part, remained unchanged. However, if there were any notable differences to point out..."Hey, everyone... it's time to eat," Leon called out. He now had 'kids' to take care of, including their father."Hey, Tam, what are you up to? Come over here," he said, and the rooster swiftly responded, hurrying toward Leon upon hearing his name."You've done a great job looking after your little ones, huh?" Leon patted the rooster as a reward for caring for the chicks while he was away. "Though, in the first place, it should've been your responsibility." he added. Then, he turned his attention to the chicks."You're all growing up fast. Enjoy your meal, okay?"With that, he left the chickens and proceeded to the front gate."What's going on?" he inquired of his surroundings."It's been a few days, and now you've come. What's the reason?"His days had been relatively peaceful recently, but today seemed to
A few more weeks passed after the will had been conveyed to the four beasts. During this period, Leon made rounds in the forest to ensure the beasts were fulfilling their duties. However, Luis and Joshua no longer visited him after that one occasion. Leon believed this marked the perfect beginning of his peaceful days.But then, on that unexpected day, he found himself baffled, wondering, 'haa... just why did this happened?'As Leon looked around, three men were casually eating, while he was left in confusion.To understand why this occurred, we need to rewind to the time when Leon had just arrived in town to gather his supplies. As he strolled through the market, engaged in some price negotiations, he casually remarked, "This looks good too."Taking a bite of the pear in his hand that he had pay, he was startled when a sudden voice reached his ears."Oh..."He thus casually glanced back to determine if it was directed at him."Oohhh!!!"That's when he noticed three men dressed in com