Leon remained in a fighting stance, his body enveloped in an overwhelming aura of magic.
His unwavering gaze stayed fixed on the group as he waited for an answer.
Ren thought to himself,
“If the worst happens… we’re going to have to run out of here.”
Beside him, Garrick had his own thoughts.
“Getting into a fight now would be the worst possible timing… especially against a monster like him.”
Mirelya simply watched Leon in silence.
Then Lysera took a step forward.
“Please wait, Guild Master.”
Leon didn’t take his eyes off the group.
“I’ll know if you’re lying.”
His voice remained calm but firm.
“I locked this room because I’ve cast a spell over it.”
He paused briefly.
Then he asked once more,
“So?”
Ren took a deep breath before answering.
“We’re not part of any infiltration group. We don’t even know anyone like that.”
Leon continued staring at them for another two seconds.
Finally, he spoke again.
“Very well…”
His expression became even more serious.
“Then tell me.”
“How did you escape that dragon inside the dungeon?”
Ren answered without hesitation.
“You knew about the dragon?”
Leon replied immediately, his tone unwavering.
“I’m the one asking the questions.”
Mirelya lowered her head slightly.
“O-Okay…”
Ren swallowed hard.
“We… ran away.”
Leon narrowed his eyes.
“Stop hiding information.”
His voice grew colder.
“Tell me the truth.”
Before Ren could answer again, Mirelya stepped in front of him.
Stretching out both arms protectively, she stood between Ren and Leon.
“We’re not your enemies, Guild Master.”
Leon shifted his gaze back to Ren.
“You’re Ren, correct?”
He studied him carefully for several seconds.
“I’ve never seen someone without mana.”
Ren looked slightly uncomfortable.
“W-What’s wrong with that?”
Leon answered bluntly.
“I want an answer.”
“How, exactly, did you deal with that dragon?”
Ren let out a long sigh.
Then he answered honestly.
“I punched the dragon.”
He paused for a moment.
“When it fell…”
“…we ran.”
Silence filled the office.
Leon continued watching the four of them for several long seconds.
Then…
A smile unexpectedly appeared on his face.
“My spell didn’t detect a single lie…”
He slowly shook his head.
“But why does that sound so absurd?”
A quiet laugh escaped him.
“Hahaha…”
The very next moment…
The mana surrounding Leon began to swell once again.
The invisible pressure immediately flooded the office.
With every passing second, his aura became denser…
Heavier…
Far more terrifying.
Mirelya’s eyes widened.
Mari looked around in confusion.
“G-Guild Master Leon…?”
Leon immediately turned toward her.
Only then did he seem to realize what he was doing.
“Ah…”
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Sorry, Mari.”
An embarrassed smile crossed his face.
“I forgot you were still here.”
A moment later, the overwhelming pressure vanished.
His mana returned to its previous level.
The air inside the office finally became breathable again.
Leon turned his attention back to Ren.
“What exactly are you, Ren?”
Before Ren could answer, Mirelya spoke.
“Ren is…”
She took a deep breath.
“…my Hero Summon.”
The office fell into complete silence.
No one moved for several long seconds.
It was Lysera who finally broke it.
“So…”
“That was it?”
She looked at Ren.
“That’s why you kept talking about your world…”
Leon silently observed the two of them.
Then he turned his attention back to Mirelya.
“You summoned a Hero… outside Altherion?”
His expression grew serious.
“Who helped you perform the ritual?”
Garrick answered immediately.
“Mirelya spent the entire day drawing runes around herself on the ground.”
He glanced briefly at Mirelya before continuing.
“She pushed her mana to its absolute limit.”
Then he crossed his arms.
“I stood guard the whole time.”
Leon remained silent for a few moments.
Then he murmured to himself,
“Runes…”
A slight frown appeared on his face.
“That kind of magic…”
“…should have disappeared long ago.”
Mirelya quietly clenched her fists.
Her head remained lowered.
She didn’t say a word.
Leon looked back at her.
“Very well…”
His voice remained calm.
“Congratulations.”
“You’re officially a suspicious mage in my eyes now.”
Then he turned to Ren.
“And you…”
He slowly stepped closer.
“You possess no mana…”
“…yet your physical strength is completely abnormal.”
He took a deep breath.
“That explains a few things…”
After a brief pause, he looked Ren straight in the eyes.
“Hero…”
“If you truly are a Hero…”
“…shouldn’t you be fighting the Demon Army?”
Ren remained silent.
His eyes slowly shifted toward Mirelya.
Before he could answer, Garrick spoke first.
“We’re going with the Hero.”
Leon frowned.
“Hm?”
His eyes moved from one member of the group to the next.
“Adventurers…”
“…traveling alongside a Hero?”
The office fell silent once again.
Several seconds passed.
Then Leon let out a faint smile.
“Are you trying to get yourselves killed?”
Mirelya took a deep breath before answering.
“A-All summoned Heroes eventually disappear…”
She lowered her gaze.
“You know that.”
She hesitated for a moment.
“…We just want to help him, at least.”
Leon folded his arms.
“That battle belongs solely to the summoned Hero.”
After a brief pause, he continued,
“But…”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that…”
“…as long as you help me with a few things.”
Ren raised his head.
“What things?”
Leon let out another long sigh.
Then, without warning, he changed the subject.
“What exactly do you know about Goro?”
Garrick answered without hesitation.
“We only met him twice.”
He raised two fingers.
“The first time was when we accepted the quest.”
Slowly lowering his hand, he continued,
“The second…”
His expression grew serious.
“…was when we went back to report what had happened.”
He let out a quiet sigh.
“But by then…”
“…it was already too late.”
Leon stared at Garrick for several long seconds.
Then…
The mana filling the office disappeared completely.
The atmosphere finally returned to normal.
Leon took a deep breath.
“Very well.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“You told the truth.”
He looked at the four of them once more.
“In fact… more than you needed to.”
Garrick raised an eyebrow.
“So… what now?”
Leon rested his elbows on the desk.
“Well…”
He glanced briefly at the map spread out before him.
“I had been waiting for the guild’s strongest adventurers to return.”
He paused for a moment.
“I intended to hand this mission directly to them.”
Then he looked straight at Garrick.
“I’m assigning this mission to the four of you instead.”
A subtle smile crossed his face.
“Besides…”
His gaze settled on Garrick.
“I imagine you’re in quite a hurry…”
“…aren’t you?”
Garrick looked genuinely confused.
“What do you mean?”
Leon kept his eyes fixed on him.
“I recognize that poison. The spells I cast throughout this office can detect things like that as well.”
His expression turned serious again.
“It’s a poison native to the Kingdom of Drakthar.”
Silence filled the office once more.
Leon walked over to an old wooden chest.
He began searching through a stack of documents inside.
After a few moments…
He pulled out a scroll.
“Here.”
He handed it to Garrick.
“This will be your mission.”
He pointed to a specific location marked on the map.
“There will be a rendezvous point here.”
“One of the Imperial Guards will explain how you’re to enter the Kingdom of Drakthar.”
Garrick carefully examined the map.
Then he murmured,
“The Kingdom of the Diverse Races…”
Leon nodded.
“Exactly.”
Garrick turned his eyes toward Lysera.
He needed to hear her answer.
Lysera remained silent for several seconds.
Then Garrick continued,
“I’m going to help Mirelya…”
He paused briefly.
“…save her family.”
Mirelya lowered her gaze slightly.
“They’re in a territory that was recently conquered by the Demon Kingdom.”
Lysera’s eyes widened slightly.
“The… Demon Kingdom?”
Mirelya took a deep breath.
Then she answered calmly.
“Yes… but before that…”
She looked at Ren.
“I’m sorry.”
She hesitated for a moment.
“But…”
“As you already know…”
She slowly raised her eyes again.
“…I most likely won’t be able to send you back once everything is over.”
She looked directly at him.
“It’s nearly impossible.”
“It would be suicide, Ren…”
Ren answered immediately.
“I’m twenty-eight years old.”
He gave an awkward smile.
“I died without ever building anything.”
“Ren…”
Garrick crossed his arms.
“Your strength…”
He glanced at Ren.
“And the fact that you don’t possess any mana…”
His expression remained serious.
“To say the least… they’re extraordinary.”
Leon sat back down in his chair.
Then he folded his hands on top of the desk.
“So…”
“We have an agreement.”
He looked at the four of them.
“You’ll travel to this location.”
He pointed at the map.
“When you arrive, wait for the Imperial Guard stationed there.”
“He’ll explain every detail of the mission.”
He paused briefly.
“I can’t reveal that information yet.”
Leaning back in his chair, he concluded,
“You may go.”
Mari walked over to the door and opened it, watching the group.
Lysera looked toward Leon.
“So…”
“Do we have to leave right now?”
Leon shook his head.
“No.”
“I suggest you spend the night at The Last Sip II.”
“It’s a large tavern, and it’s very close to here.”
Mirelya lowered her gaze slightly.
“But…”
“We’ll need money…”
Leon smiled faintly.
“Just tell them you were sent by me.”
“Guild Master Leon, of the Lions Guild.”
“They’ll put your lodging and dinner on my tab.”
Then he pointed a finger at them.
“Just…”
“Don’t overdo it, alright?”
Ren smiled faintly.
Leon continued,
“Tomorrow morning, a carriage will be waiting for you.”
“It’ll take you as far as a certain point.”
“After that, you’ll have to continue on your own.”
He paused briefly.
“Of course…”
“…that’s assuming you still want to accept the mission.”
Garrick looked out the window.
The sky was already beginning to darken.
“I think it’d be better to leave tomorrow.”
“Traveling at night would be a terrible idea.”
Leon simply nodded.
“I agree.”
Without another word, the group left the office.
As soon as everyone had stepped outside, Mari carefully closed the door behind them.
She turned back toward the four of them.
“Do you know where The Last Sip II is?”
All four shook their heads.
Garrick placed a hand on his forehead.
“How did I forget to ask that…”
He let out a small sigh.
“My head really is being affected…”
Mari smiled warmly.
“It’s alright.”
She let out a light laugh.
“Go straight for two blocks.”
“Then turn right.”
“You’ll find it without any trouble.”
Ren gave her a small nod of appreciation.
“Alright.”
“Thank you.”
The four of them began walking through the streets of Valtheris.
The city was gradually beginning to quiet down.
Market vendors dismantled their stalls, gathering their goods, crates, and folded fabrics.
Some merchants extinguished the lanterns hanging outside their shops, while others slowly closed their heavy wooden doors.
The aroma of freshly baked bread drifted from a bakery that was closing for the evening.
Farther down the street, a fruit vendor carefully packed away the last of his produce into large baskets.
The streets were still lively, though the crowd had changed.
People were now heading home, adventurers were searching for taverns, and horse-drawn carriages rolled slowly over the stone roads.
As the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, the city’s lanterns gradually lit up, casting a warm golden glow across the streets.
After several minutes of walking…
Mirelya looked up at the large building ahead.
“Wow…”
A small smile appeared on her face.
“The Last Sip II is much bigger than I expected.”
Garrick examined the building.
“I’ve never been here before…”
A faint smile crossed his face.
“Let’s see if it’s as good as it looks.”
Lysera looked at the tavern as well.
“And they have rooms too…”
Her expression relaxed slightly.
“That’s a relief.”
Ren smiled.
“Well…”
He looked toward the entrance.
“Let’s go in.”
The four entered the tavern.
The moment they stepped through the doors, they were greeted by the sound of dozens of conversations happening all at once.
The hall was spacious and bustling with people.
Some adventurers laughed loudly as they clinked their beer mugs together.
Others quietly enjoyed their meals while waiters and waitresses hurried between the tables carrying food and drinks.
After taking in the atmosphere for a moment, the four found an empty table and sat down.
Garrick rested his elbows on the table.
“Before we leave tomorrow…”
He looked toward the pouch containing the dragon scales.
“We need to sell these scales as soon as possible.”
Mirelya nodded in agreement.
“Yeah.”
She let out a quiet sigh.
“Guild Master Leon kept us there for quite a while.”
“By the time we left the guild, the shop was already closed.”
Ren looked around the tavern with curiosity.
“This place is really spacious…”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Heh.”
Just then, a red-haired waitress, her hair partially tied back, hurried cheerfully toward their table.
She greeted them with a bright smile.
“Hello!”
She gave a small bow.
“My name is Tessa.”
She glanced around at the four of them.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”
Garrick answered politely.
“We were sent here by the Guild Master of the Lions Guild.”
“Guild Master Leon.”
The very next instant…
Tessa’s smile vanished.
She folded her arms and replied in an openly mocking tone.
“Oh…”
She rolled her eyes.
“Of course it had to be that deadbeat.”
“I bet you’re here to stay the night too.”
The four exchanged bewildered looks.
“What?”
Tessa immediately smiled again as if nothing had happened.
“Oh, sorry about that.”
She made a small dismissive gesture with one hand.
“It’s not your fault that piece of trash owes us money.”
She then pulled out a small, worn notepad.
“So…”
“What would you like to order?”
Ren immediately broke into a cold sweat.
“She says things like that while smiling like an angel…”
“She’s terrifying…”
Mirelya was the first to order.
“I’ll have the beef stew, some bread, and an herbal tea.”
Lysera thought for a moment before speaking.
“For me…”
“Grilled fish, rice, and water.”
Garrick smiled.
“I’ll take the biggest meat platter you’ve got.”
“And a large mug of juice.”
Ren glanced at Mirelya.
“I think I’ll have the same thing as Mirelya.”
“And a glass of juice too.”
Tessa quickly wrote everything down.
“One juice for the kid.”
Ren frowned for a brief moment, but the pressure she gave off was far too intimidating for him to say anything.
“I’ll be right back with your order.”
With the same lively energy as before, she hurried off toward the kitchen.
…
Some time later…
Tessa returned from the dining hall.
She smiled warmly.
“Hello.”
“Sorry for the wait. As you can see, we’re pretty full tonight.”
She looked at the group.
“Your rooms are ready, and your dinner will be out shortly.”
She smiled once again.
“It’s all on Leon’s tab.”
“Though by the day after tomorrow, he’ll probably be on his knees begging us to postpone the payment…”
The four looked at one another for a moment.
Then Mirelya smiled gently at Tessa.
“I know you only did us a favor…”
“Thank you very much.”
She lowered her head slightly.
At that moment…
A man stepped out through a door beside the counter.
He had gray hair and a calm, friendly smile.
“Hello.”
He gave them a slight bow.
“My name is Edric.”
Smiling once more, he continued,
“You’re welcome to use the bath upstairs.”
He discreetly pointed toward the staircase.
Garrick lowered his head respectfully.
“Sorry for the inconvenience…”
“Mr. Edric.”
Edric let out a small laugh.
“Oh…”
He waved his hand.
“Don’t worry about it.”
He smiled.
“Enjoy yourselves.”
He looked at all four of them.
“If Leon sent you…”
His gentle smile never faded.
“Then I’m sure you’re trustworthy people.”
“Feel free to take a bath first if you’d like.”
“I’ll let you know as soon as dinner is ready.”
Without another word…
Everyone headed upstairs.
Ren walked toward his room.
The moment he stepped inside…
He looked around.
Then let out a long sigh.
“Finally…”
A faint smile crossed his face.
“A chance to rest.”
He looked toward the bathroom door.
“But first…”
“I’m taking a bath.”
“Then…”
He smiled again.
“I’m finally going to eat.”
Ren walked toward the bedroom door.
The moment he opened it…
He jumped slightly.
“Lysera!”
She was standing right outside.
Lysera looked straight at him.
“Hi, Ren.”
She lowered her gaze for a moment.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
She looked back up.
“Could we…”
She hesitated briefly.
“…talk later?”
Ren blinked several times.
“But…”
He tilted his head slightly.
“Why?”
Lysera answered immediately.
“Later, Ren.”
Her tone became a little firmer.
“Okay?”
Ren looked at her silently for several seconds.
Finally…
He took a deep breath.
Then answered calmly,
“Alright…”
Lysera gave him a small bow.
Then quietly walked away down the hallway.
Ren remained standing there for a few moments.
Still staring at the spot where she had been.
“I wonder what she wants to talk about…”
He scratched the back of his head.
“Well…” This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
“I’ll find out later.”
Without giving it any more thought…
He went back into his room.
Picked up a towel.
And headed toward the bathing area.
…
About an hour later…
The aroma of food had spread throughout the inn.
The four of them came back down to the main hall.
Edric placed the dishes on the table.
“Enjoy.”
He smiled kindly.
“I did the best I could.”
Ren looked down at his plate.
“Wow…”
He smiled.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen food like this.”
Edric chuckled.
“Then enjoy it.”
Everyone began eating.
For several minutes…
Not a single word was spoken.
The only sounds were those of wooden utensils against the plates.
After finishing nearly half his meal…
Ren let out a relieved sigh.
“Ah…”
“Now that’s what I needed.”
Garrick laughed softly.
“You look like a completely different person after eating.”
Ren smiled.
“I think starving hurts more than fighting a dragon.”
Mirelya let out a small laugh.
“That was oddly specific.”
Ren simply shrugged.
“Because it actually happened.”
The four quietly continued eating.
Several minutes later…
Once they had finished their meal…
Edric returned to collect the plates.
“I hope you enjoyed everything.”
Mirelya smiled politely.
“It was delicious.”
“Thank you.”
Edric gave a slight bow.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Without saying anything else…
He returned to the kitchen.
The dining hall was now almost empty.
Only a few adventurers were still talking on the other side of the room.
The atmosphere had become quiet and peaceful.
Then…
Lysera glanced discreetly at Ren.
“Ren…”
He looked up.
“Hm?”
Lysera quickly looked away.
“Could we…”
She took a deep breath.
“…talk for a bit?”
Ren remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he smiled.
“Of course.”
He stood up.
“Let’s go.”
The two slowly walked out of the inn together.
Night had fully settled over the city.
The streets were quiet.
Only a handful of lanterns illuminated the road.
They walked side by side for several moments.
Neither of them spoke.
Until…
Lysera finally broke the silence.
“Ren…”
He looked at her.
“Yeah?”
Lysera kept her eyes on the road ahead.
“You…”
She paused briefly.
“Are you really thinking about going back to your world?”
Ren fell silent for a few seconds.
Then he answered calmly.
“Before…”
“I was sure I wanted to.”
He lowered his gaze slightly.
“But now…”
He gave an awkward smile.
“I don’t even know if that’s possible anymore. Mirelya told me trying would be suicide…”
Lysera kept walking.
Without looking directly at him.
“If… you somehow manage to…”
She hesitated.
“…will you miss this place?”
Ren thought about it for a few moments.
Then answered honestly.
“I don’t know yet.”
He looked up at the sky.
The stars shone brightly above them.
“I’ve only been here for a short time.”
A faint smile crossed his face.
“But…”
He glanced briefly at Lysera.
“I’ve met some really nice people.”
“They even remind me of my friends.”
“That Yamada was always getting himself into trouble.”
“Heh.”
Lysera remained silent.
Continuing to walk at a slow pace.
Ren looked forward again.
“Why did you ask?”
Lysera took a deep breath.
Her fingers quietly tightened around the hem of her clothes.
It took her several seconds before she answered.
“Because…”
She lowered her head slightly.
“I’ve never met anyone…”
Her voice grew softer.
“…who came from another world.”
She finally looked up.
Meeting Ren’s eyes.
“And…”
She paused again.
“I wanted to understand you a little better.”
Ren smiled awkwardly.
“Honestly…”
“I’m just an ordinary guy.”
“They call me a hero here…”
“But there’s nothing special about me.”
He looked at his own hand.
“Other than this strength…”
“…which I don’t even know where it came from.”
Lysera broke the silence once more.
“So…”
She looked at him for a few moments.
“Are you really planning to defeat the Demon King?”
Ren nodded.
“Yeah.”
His eyes remained fixed ahead.
“I promised I’d help.”
Lysera slowly lowered her gaze.
“But… why?”
She paused briefly.
“You didn’t have to get involved.”
She looked back at him.
“After all…”
“You were summoned outside the kingdom.”
Ren remained silent for a few moments before answering.
“Mirelya summoned me to help her parents.”
He glanced discreetly at Lysera.
“They’re trapped in territory controlled by the Demon Army.”
He took a deep breath.
“When she told me about it…”
His expression became more serious.
“…she was completely desperate.”
He paused briefly.
“I could see it in her eyes.”
Lysera simply murmured,
“I see…”
Ren turned his attention back to the street.
“And as for going back to my world…”
He smiled bitterly.
“I don’t even know if that’s possible.”
He casually rubbed the back of his neck.
“I mean…”
“I should’ve died in that crash.”
Lysera blinked several times.
“You died… from falling?”
Ren shrugged.
“I think so.”
He frowned slightly.
“But that’s exactly what’s strange.”
He looked up at the night sky for a moment.
“How could someone be transported to another world…”
“…after dying?”
The two continued walking in silence.
After a few more blocks…
Lysera suddenly stopped.
She looked behind them.
“I think we’ve wandered a little too far.”
She turned back to Ren.
“Let’s head back.”
Ren smiled faintly.
“Ah…”
“Sure.”
“Heh.”
The two began walking back.
That was when Lysera noticed something.
Several blocks behind them…
A figure completely concealed beneath a large cloak was silently watching them.
The only visible feature…
Was a pair of crystal-green eyes.
Lysera immediately stopped.
“Hey!”
Her voice turned sharp.
“Who are you?!”
The very next instant…
The figure took a single step backward.
Then vanished into the city’s streets.
Ren looked toward where she was staring.
“What is it?”
Then looked back at Lysera.
“Who did you see?”
She continued staring at the spot.
“Hm…”
She frowned slightly.
“It looked like someone was watching us.”
Ren fell into thought.
“That’s strange…”
He quietly rubbed his chin.
“I had a similar feeling too.”
Lysera looked back at him.
Ren continued,
“As soon as I arrived in Valtheris…”
“I saw a woman wearing a hood.”
His expression turned serious.
“I had the feeling she was watching me.”
Lysera’s eyes widened slightly.
“W-We should head back.”
Concern filled her voice.
“It’s not a good sign to feel something like that in this kingdom.”
She paused briefly.
“Do you think…”
“…they’ve already figured out who you are?”
Ren shook his head.
“I don’t think so.”
Lysera remained silent for a few seconds.
Then asked,
“Then why did that old man…”
“Goro…”
She looked directly at Ren.
“…know who you were before the fight had even begun?”
Ren didn’t answer right away.
He rested a hand on his chin as they continued walking.
Remaining completely silent.
Beside him, Lysera spoke again.
“Now that I think about it…”
She lowered her head slightly.
“…I only realized it afterward too.”
Ren’s expression turned completely serious.
“Now that you mention it…”
He frowned.
“You’re right.”
He remained deep in thought for several seconds.
“How…”
“…did he know exactly who I was?”
The two spent the rest of the walk in silence.
A few minutes later…
They finally arrived back at the Last Sip II Tavern.